Author Archives: John LaMacchia II

DEQ to Host Workshops on Lake and Wetland Protection Tools for Local Governments

Posted on by

Michigan has 11,000 inland lakes and over 1,850 units of government who share a role in keeping those lakes clean for future generations. Four workshops will be held in Michigan during the summer of 2015 to help local officials and concerned citizens understand the benefits of inland lakes to communities, the regulations that govern them, and the opportunities for enhancing protection at the local level.

Workshop Dates and Locations:
• July 21: Franklin Twp. Hall, 3922 Monroe Rd. (M-50), Tipton (Lenawee County)
• August 3: Kensington Metropark Farm Center, 2128 W. Buno Rd., Milford (Oakland County)
• August 6: North Central Michigan College Library Conference Center, 1515 Howard St., Petoskey (Emmet County)
• August 10: Van Buren Conference Center, 490 S. Paw Paw St., Lawrence (Van Buren County)

Each workshop will be held from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and lunch will be provided. The fee is $20 per person and registration is required 10 days prior to each workshop. Topics will include: the importance of inland lakes and wetlands, what you can do at the local level, natural features setbacks, existing legal framework, and how to get started in your community.

For more information or to register, visit www.VanBurenCD.org or contact Erin Fuller at 269-657-4030 x112 or erin.fuller@mi.nacdnet.net.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

MDOT Local Agency Programs Planning Guide and Federal Obligation Authority

Posted on by

MDOT has posted the FY 2016 Planning Guide on their Local Agencies web page. Please click here to view.

MDOT  Local Agency Programs (LAP) has also posyed an update on the federal obligation authority making its way through the FHWA and MDOT funding formulas. The final funding amounts will not be announced for 3- 4 weeks, the new obligational authority will result in a limited amount of new project obligations. It is anticipated that the current backlog of projects LAP is holding would exhaust this new obligational authority. Agency can use the “Advanced Construct” funding method, however your agency could be liable for the federal share if Congress does not appropriate additional funding for FY 2015. To view the update please click here.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

House Commerce Committee Passes Bill Preempting Local Control of Transportation Network Companies

Posted on by

HB 4637 would provide statewide regulations for a Transportation Network Company (TNC). The most recognizable TNC operating in Michigan today is Uber. This bill would preempt local control of a TNC but it does allow for locals to enforce provisions of the statewide regulation. A few communities in Michigan have already negotiated contracts with and regulate TNCs. This would make those contracts null and void.

The statewide regulation would provide uniform standards for insurance, vehicle safety inspections, background checks, and driving records. Although there was opposition from many groups the bill was passed out of committee. The League is opposed to this bill and has testified in opposition.

We anticipate this bill seeing floor action before the Legislature breaks for the summer at the end of this week. On the other side of the Capitol, the Senate has been working on legislation, SB 184, that would continue to protect local control and allow communities to regulate TNCs. The League is support of the Senate bill and hopes to fine a resolution to this issue in the near future.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

HHS Issues Final Recommendation for Community Water Fluoridation

Posted on by

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) oral health program is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released the final Public Health Service (PHS) recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay.

The new recommendation is for a single level of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. It updates and replaces the previous recommended range (0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter) issued in 1962. The Office of Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance in the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will continue to advise and assist community water systems to achieve this new recommendation.

In Michigan, the majority of the Public Water Systems adjust fluoride levels to be in line with this updated PHS community water fluoridation recommendation. Fluoridation of public water supplies in the United States began close to 70 years ago in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Currently, more than seven million Michigan residents have access to community water fluoridation to improve oral health.

For more information please click here.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Bill Allows Locals First Crack at Surplus Snow Removal Equipment

Posted on by

HB 4368 would require the Michigan Department of Transportation to make surplus snow removal equipment available for sale to local units of government before otherwise disposing of it.

Under current law and practice, excess or surplus MDOT equipment, including snow removal equipment, is sold through DTMB public auction. Local agencies are currently eligible to bid for equipment at auction but under this legislation they will have the first opportunity to bid. The League supports this legislation.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

House Road Funding Plan Sent to the Senate

Posted on by

With almost entirely republican support, a twelve bill package that represents Speaker Cotter’s transportation plan was passed out of the House today and sent to the Senate. The plan that would use existing revenue and prioritize future dollars to provide an additional $1.1 billion in funding for roads and bridges and was broken down into the following five categories.

$792 million from the General Fund
$135 million from Reprioritizing Restricted Funds
$117 million from Tax Fairness
$38 Million in New Revenue
Reforms and Efficiencies

General Fund: The $792 million the Speaker proposed will come from prioritizing general fund spending and assumes cuts can be avoided due to expected future growth in revenues. This is phased in over 4 years with $442 million being dedicated in FY 16, $492 million in FY 17, $617 million in FY 18, and $792 million in FY 19. After FY 19 the number will grow by the rate of inflation or 5%, whichever is less.

Reprioritizing Restricted Funds: Of the $135 million, $75 million will come from tobacco settlement dollars currently in the 21st Century Jobs Fund, $60 million from the states tribal gaming compact. These bills gut MEDC funding and potentially many of the programs our members have benefited from.

Tax Fairness: The House eliminated the Earned Income Tax Credit resulting in a $117 million for roads.

New Revenue: $38 million will come from diesel parody (raises tax on diesel to 19 cents and ties it to inflation) and increased fees on electric and hybrid vehicles ($30 increase for hybrids and $100 increase for electric).

Reforms and Efficiencies: The House passed bills will require competitive bidding on all MDOT and local road projects over $100,000, require MDOT and local road agencies to secure warranties for projects over $2 million, and allow townships contributing greater than 50% to a road project over $50,000 to require competitive bidding.

Other highlights: The current gas tax will remain at 19 cents but will be tied to inflation. All of the new money will be sent to MDOT, Counties, and Cities and Villages resulting in no increase for the comprehensive transportation fund.

The proposed package of bills has less than $40 million in new revenue. It neglects to make a much needed investment in transit and jeopardizes economic development funding many of our communities benefit from. This plan also impacts the long-term certainty our communities need to plan and one of the key factors for our opposition.

The League firmly believes we must find a sustainable long-term solution to the problem that includes new revenue that is dedicated to the entire transportation system and these bills do not do that. We have offered testimony on multiple occasions explaining or dissatisfaction with this proposal. Our advocacy efforts will continue to focus on a solution that includes new revenue and makes much needed investments in public transit.

We look forward to working with the Senate and are hopeful that this package can be improved significantly.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

House Commerce Committee Hears Testimony on Bill Requiring Statewide Regulation of Transportation Network Companies

Posted on by

HB 4637 would provide statewide regulations for Transportation Network Companies (TNC). The most recognizable TNC operating in Michigan today is Uber. This bill would preempt local control of a TNC but it does allow for locals to enforce provisions of the statewide regulation. A few communities in Michigan have already negotiated contracts with and regulate TNCs. This would make those contracts null and void.

The statewide regulation would provide uniform standards for insurance, vehicle safety inspections, background checks, and driving records. The League is opposed to this bill and will be testifying next week in regards to our issues with local preemption.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

House Road Funding Plan Passed Out of Roads and Ecomomic Development Committee

Posted on by

The House road funding plan that would that would rely primarily on future growth, cuts to MEDC, and the elimination of the earned income tax, to raise $1 billion for road and bridge repairs was voted out of committee today. With the exception of one bill, the 12 bill package was voted out on a party-line vote with the five Republican committee members voting yes.

The proposed package of bills has less than $50 million in new revenue. It neglects to make a much need investment in transit and jeopardizes economic development funding many of our communities benefit from. This plan also impacts the long-term certainty our communities need to plan and one of the key factors for our opposition.

The League firmly believes we must find a sustainable long-term solution to the problem that includes new revenue that is dedicated to the entire transportation system. We have offered testimony on multiple occasions explaining or dissatisfaction with this proposal. Our advocacy efforts will continue to focus on a solution that included new revenue and makes much needed investments in public transit.

It is anticipated that the full House will vote on these bills out next week.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Committee Hearings Continue on House Road Funding Plan

Posted on by

The Roads and Economic Development committee held a second day of hearings on the House road funding plan. The committee first took testimony on HB 4615, HB 4614, and HB 4616 which would increase the diesel fuel tax to 19 cents per gallon on October 1, 2015 making it equal to the tax paid on gasoline, and beginning in 2016 would adjust the tax for inflation or by 5 percent, whichever is less. The changes would generate $45 million in new revenue. Next the committee heard testimony on HB 4612 would raise registration fees on hybrid and electric vehicle generating about $5 million in new revenue.

These four bills are the only bills that generate new revenue for roads. The League has continually stressed the point that our current infrastructure needs cannot be solved without a significant and dedicated source of new revenue and continue our opposition to any plan that does not address this concern.

Finally the committee took testimony on, and the League testified in opposition to, HB 4607 and HB 4608. These two bills would cut MEDC funding by $145 million and redistribute that revenue to roads. This redistribution of revenue would have a potentially devastating effect on the Community Revitalization Program, Public Spaces and Community Places program, and many other MEDC grant opportunities our members take advantage of. Additionally the funds that would be diverted to roads would bypass any additional funding for public transit further continuing the trend of not investing adequate resources to improver or entire transportation network.

Next week the committee will hold it final day of testimony and will discuss bills that will dedicate General Fund dollars to roads.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.

Conference Committee Finalizes $400 Million in General Fund Spending on Roads

Posted on by

The House and Senate conference committee on transportation today approved a $400 million contribution from the General Fund to go towards road fixes. Approximately $140 million will be used to ensure that the state can match all available federal aid highway funds. The remaining $240 million will be distributed to MDOT, county road commissions, and cities and villages. This is different from General Fund spending in each of the last two years when legislator we allowed to select projects throughout the state.

As a result of this budget agreement Cities and villages will receive and additional $56.8 million in FY 16. We will provide the breakdown of these additional dollars when they are available. Although more funding is being provided it still falls far short of the revenue needed and the Legislature cannot sustain the practice of one-time funding for a road fix long term.

John LaMacchia is a Legislative Associate for the League handling transportation, infrastructure, and energy issues. He can be reached at jlamacchia@mml.org or 517-908-0303.