The Michigan Municipal League is encouraging its members to join us in support the August 5, 2014, ballot proposal, that if approved, would complete much needed reform to the state’s personal property tax. The League is part of the Strong & Safe Communities coalition that is supporting the ballot question.

There are multiple ways League members can support this effort:
1. Sign up to receive campaign email alerts at www.StrongAndSafeCommunities.com
2. Pass a resolution in support of the ballot proposal. A sample resolution is available here. It’s important to note that it is legal for local government bodies to approve resolutions in support of ballot issues as long as no public tax dollars are expended. So resolutions are OK.

The campaign has been in full swing for a couple weeks now and will continue to be active until the election in August. League members, for example, have participated in multiple news conferences and meetings with the editorial boards of local newspapers.

Again, we encourage our members to support the full replacement of PPT dollars with a significantly more stable reimbursement mechanism by voting “yes” on August 5.

If you have question specific to the ballot question and the PPT reform effort contact that League’s Samantha Harkins, Director of State Affairs, at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 734-669-6317.

The following article is a great example of a town-gown relationship between the University of Michigan and city of Jackson, Michigan. The Worldclass.umich.edu article, by Laurel Thomas Gnagey, is being reposted with persmission. Check out the related video here.

As the University of Michigan Blue Bus rumbled down I94 toward Jackson, some School of Information students took advantage of the drive to firm plans for their meetings that day with city officials. Others were engaged in more personal conversations. Perhaps not surprisingly, a few were sitting quietly, tapping on smart phones, tablets and laptops.

Their professor, Clifford Lampe, circulated the bus, answering questions about group projects and sharing copies of the Michigan Municipal League magazine, “The Review,” that had featured the class in the March/April issue. The weekly commute is valuable time for sharing information, bouncing ideas and sorting out issues.

The SI students are the first to be enrolled in Citizen Interaction Design, a course to develop information tools such as apps and social media sites to foster citizen engagement with government. Through a unique three-year partnership, students work on a number of projects with the city of Jackson.

UM students arrive in Jackson.

“The city actually identified 24 problems and we picked 10 of those to move forward with. These aren’t projects like fix my website, these are problems,” Lampe said.

On the March 28 ride to Jackson, James Richardson was “stressing” a bit about the outcome of his team’s work that, at the time, was in the hands of the city attorney for review.

“I just don’t know how it’s going to go,” he told Lampe.

Richardson is part of a team that worked on an open data policy, which would provide the public with access to policies and procedures from the inner workings of the city.

It’s clear from his comments that the second year master’s student will not be content with an “A” for effort on this one, expressing that he hoped the team could get on the city’s agenda to present the policy before the semester ended.

UM students meet with Jackson city leaders.

That opportunity came in April, and at a meeting on the 22nd council members unanimously adopted a first read of the ordinance that could make Jackson the first city in the state to have such a policy. Passage came after a few weeks of earnest debate and a bit of compromise.

Lampe said one of the lessons students learned is that some projects may be embraced wholeheartedly and some may take some time to be adopted, if ever.

“When you try to implement technology it’s the social issues that always are the thorniest,” said Lampe, associate professor in the school.

Another team learned this firsthand as well, tackling an issue many cities face. The group is working with the Jackson Police Department to develop a way for citizens to offer anonymous texts about crime. Department leaders had been hoping for some time to implement a system beyond the current telephone hotline.

Jackson Deputy Chief of Police John Holda talks about the project.

“This spoke to me. It just seemed like something really useful, something very practical, something that the citizens could really get behind,” said student Joshua Sanchez.

John Holda, deputy chief of police, said his department has received feedback from citizens of all ages that they would like to offer information to help solve major crimes like shootings, homicides and robberies in the city, but that they are fearful of retaliation.

“This is an opportunity for us to get something we believe will help us solve crime, help us reduce crime, and have a connection with the community that we don’t currently have in a very cost-effective manner,” Holda said of the Tips by Text app students are developing.

“We’re definitely on the right track to getting it built and implemented,” said student Angela Ng. “We’ve had a lot of support from the police department, which has been really great for us because they’ve really pushed us to move forward.”

Jackson Vice Mayor Derek Dobies discusses the project.

Yet another group is working on a system for providing the community easier access to city geographical resources.

The Maps and Apps team is working with the Geographical Information Systems Department to take data, including maps, globes, reports and charts, and make them accessible through a web application.

Student Jeremy Wdowik said working on this project has helped him better understand the inner workings of government, and offered a way to be involved while somewhat removed from the politics.

“I always wanted to try to get involved with government but I hate the politics. But when you can get into building things, and doing some cool things for the citizens, that’s when I get really excited,” he said.

Many of the students expressed appreciation that the course offered the chance to roll up sleeves and work on real problems.

Jackson City Manager Patrick Burtch discusses the UM partnership.

“Instead of doing a project that disappears at the end of a semester, this has a potential for being something long-lasting, and that actual people in the Jackson community will interact with,” said student Rachel Seltzer, member of the Maps and Apps team. “ So it’s very nice that it’s not contained to the walls of the classroom and that we’ve gotten to do something in which we’ve brainstormed, problem solved and partnered with an institution.”

City leaders have been impressed with the students’ work.

“I found them to be bright and articulate, and although that didn’t surprise me, I was surprised by the advanced level at which they thought and the processes at which they came to conclusions,” said City Manager Patrick Burtch.

“I think the students have had a real positive experience in having a hands-on opportunity to really dig into city affairs and find a lot of great solutions to our problems,” said Derek Dobies, vice mayor of Jackson.

Lampe gives a lot of credit to Jackson officials for launching into the partnership with the university.

“The great thing about the city is that they were incredibly enthusiastic about the really paradigm shifting approach, both in terms of what our goals is—to increase citizen interaction—but also in terms of reimagining town-gown relationships.”

Citizen Interaction Design was developed when the School of Information leadership challenged faculty to come up with courses and activities that engaged students in unique ways. SI encouraged engaged learning initiatives across the school by providing financial support for course development. Lampe also was able to secure Third Century Initiative funding.

In addition to the full class, the work on the Jackson partnership began last summer with a single intern, continued with a fall reading seminar that included Jackson officials, and culminated in the winter term design course. This summer half-a-dozen interns will continue to work with the city and the full course will move to the fall semester.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has released a Frequently Asked Question document regarding the changes recently made to the Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices (GAAMPs) and the areas of impact these changes affect. That can be found here: Right to Farm FAQ.

It is important to note and remember the Right to Farm Act has always and continues to be protection for farms (defined as  land, plants, animals, buildings, structures, including ponds used for agricultural or aquacultural activities, machinery, equipment, and other appurtenances) commercially producing farm products.

The changes recently approved by the Commission add a new category 4 that states land is not suitable for livestock if the area of the community is primarily residential (defined as more than 13 homes within 1/8 of a mile of the animals, or with any home within 250 feet of the proposed facility) AND does not allow for agricultural use.  This would still allow a local community to have an ordinance allowing livestock within their community in these areas if they choose to do so.

The approved site selection GAAMP is available here.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use issues.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.

The EVIP/CIP Category 3: Unfunded Accrued Liability Plan is due on June 1, 2014.

Submissions can be emailed to TreasRevenueSharing@michigan.gov or faxed to 517-335-3298 up to (and including) 11:59pm on Sunday, June 1, 2014. 

Please check Treasury’s website for additional information, including the required Certification Form 5074, available templates and FAQ’s.  The list of required documents is also available on Treasury’s website.

When filling out the Certification Form, the “Contact Name” should be the person who can answer questions pertaining to the submitted plan.  Usually this is the person who has completed the plan.  The Chief Administrative Officer’s name does not need to be the contact name (unless he or she can answer questions pertaining to the submitted plan).

Additionally the League has worked with MERS to put together a template that may be used when sending information to Treasury. That form is available online.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

The application for FY 2014 – Round 2 of the Competitive Grant Assistance Program (CGAP) is now available.

The application is available on the Department of Treasury’s website.

There is approximately $8.0 million in CGAP funding available for this round.  Applications are due to the Michigan Department of Treasury by June 25, 2014.  Starting on June 2, 2014, the grant panel will begin reviewing the grant applications submitted.  Qualified grants may be awarded on a rolling basis.

If you have specific questions you can always contact me or the Department of Treasury directly at TreasRevenueSharing@michigan.gov

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

Yesterday the House passed the omnibus budget that included changes to EVIP.

Under this proposal category 1, the dashboard, would remain in effect without change.

One change made on the House floor was to eliminate one category. As the budget passed out of committee, category 2 would require 5 percent of the second EVIP payment to be committed to road construction or preservation.This provision has been eliminated.

Category 3 as passed out of committee is now Category 2. This would require 5 percent of the payment to be committed to unfunded liabilities. The language further says that a community that receives less than $50,000 in EVIP funding would not have to comply with the EVIP requirements.

In addition the House proposes changing how EVIP funds are distributed. A local unit would receive a 1 percent increase if they were eligible for payment in the current fiscal year or $7.14609 per capita, whichever is greater. The per capita formula would add include hundreds of additional communities to the formula without regard to service provision.

We appreciate the step of eliminating one burdensome EVIP requirement. It’s certainly a step in the right direction. We do, however, have significant concerns about the per capita distribution language and its disregard for both local control in spending and distribution to communities who provide services. We will continue to work on language that helps invest in communities who provide essential services and does not penalize them by requiring that they spend money as the legislature dictates. Contact your legislators and urge them to oppose the formula changes.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org

The National League of Cities is hosting a free webinar on May 28th. The Supreme Court’s decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway clarifies allowable prayer practices before local government bodies and state legislatures.  Join Tom Hungar, Gibson Dunn, who argued this case before the Supreme Court, Douglas Haney, City Attorney for the City of Carmel, Indiana, and Lanny Proffer, former General Counsel for the National Conference of States Legislatures, in a discussion about how the Court’s ruling affects both state and local government.

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/444252274

This FREE webinar is co-sponsored by the State and Local Legal Center, the International Municipal Lawyers Association, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Title: Government Prayer after Town of Greece
Date:Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer
Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

Last week, the White House released it’s long term Transportation Bill. This is in the midst of a federal transportation crisis, as Congress struggles with how to address the insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund – set to run out of money by the end of the summer. It is unclear if Congress will be able to come to a resolution on a long term fix in the middle of the mid term election cycle, or if they’ll scramble to find a short term fix until the lame duck session. The Press Release is listed below:

DOT 39-14
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Contact: Press Office
Tel: 202-366-4570

Secretary Foxx Sends Transportation Bill to Congress
GROW AMERICA Act would create jobs, provide certainty for country’s future growth

WASHINGTON – U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx today unveiled a long-term transportation bill he is sending to Congress for consideration as the House and Senate face looming deadlines to avoid the economic uncertainty and job loss that would ensue if the Highway Trust Fund runs out of money this summer. The GROW AMERICA Act reflects President Obama’s vision for a four-year surface transportation reauthorization bill that would create millions of jobs and lay the foundation for long-term competitiveness, rebuilding crumbling roads and bridges while providing much-needed certainty for local and state governments and addressing the country’s future needs.

“I visited eight states and 13 cities as part of my Invest in America, Commit to the Future bus tour this month and everywhere I went, I heard the same thing – people want more transportation options and better roads and bridges to get them where they need to go,” said Secretary Foxx. “Failing to act before the Highway Trust Fund runs out is unacceptable – and unaffordable. This proposal offers the kind of job creation and certainty that the American people want and deserve. I have been pleased to see that members of both parties are already working together to solve these challenges, and I look forward to continuing our discussion and to supporting and building on the good work that’s already been done.”

On February 26, Secretary Foxx joined President Obama to announce a plan to address the nation’s infrastructure deficit with a $302 billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal. As outlined in the FY2015 budget, the plan will invest in our national infrastructure network, increase safety and efficiency, and provide greater access to ladders of opportunity, all without adding to the deficit, by relying on the President’s proposed pro-growth business tax reforms.

The GROW AMERICA Act is based on this plan, and represents a number of proposals that have historically attracted bipartisan support including:

• Addressing the shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund and providing an additional $87 billion to address the nation’s backlog of deficient bridges and aging transit systems;
• Creating millions of new jobs to ensure America’s future competitiveness;
• Increasing safety across all modes of surface transportation, including increasing the civil penalties the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can levy against automakers who fail to act quickly on vehicle recalls;
• Providing certainty to state and local governments that must engage in long-term planning;
• Reducing project approval and permitting timelines while delivering better outcomes for communities and the environment;
• Bolstering efficient and reliable freight networks to support trade and economic growth; and
• Creating incentives to better align planning and investment decisions to comprehensively address regional economic needs while strengthening local decision-making.

“GROW AMERICA makes the sizable investment needed to improve our country’s roads and bridges,” said Deputy Federal Highway Administrator Gregory Nadeau. “Improving U.S. infrastructure is a national priority, and will ensure America’s economy remains robust for generations yet to come.”

“The Administration’s proposal makes forward-leaning investments in ladders to economic opportunity for the many millions of Americans who want to work, or simply need a reliable and safe way to get to work,” said Deputy Federal Transit Administrator Therese McMillan. “The GROW AMERICA Act will put thousands of Americans to work on repairing and expanding our aging transit infrastructure, while training women, minorities, and veterans to fill the jobs gap in transit through innovative new workforce development programs.”

“The GROW AMERICA Act will provide rail with a predictable, dedicated funding source and the tools needed to drive the next generation of rail safety and development,” said Joseph C. Szabo, Federal Railroad Administrator.  “It lays out a comprehensive strategy to eliminate risk on railroads through data-driven enforcement, proactive safety programs that identify risk in advance, and strong capital investment.  The safety gains identified in the bill, coupled with new investments in a higher performance rail network will move rail into the 21^st Century.”

“Commercial bus travel is increasingly popular and this legislation will build on our unprecedented efforts to make it even safer by expanding oversight to bus ticket brokers and the locations where motorcoaches can be inspected,” said Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “In addition, it will ensure fair pay for long-distance bus and truck drivers who are often paid by the miles they travel, not their total time on-duty, and face economic pressure to jeopardize safety by driving beyond the mandatory limits.”

“Whether traveling by motor vehicle, walking or bicycling, we are committed to ensuring that Americans reach their destinations safely. Our approach will continue to support both safer behavior and safer vehicles to prevent deaths and injuries on our roadways,” said Acting Administrator David Friedman, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “As the nation’s top regulator of the automotive industry, we hold manufacturers accountable for defect and compliance issues regarding their products and are seeking to further our ability to do so in the future, including increasing civil penalty limits nearly 10 times to $300 million.”

“On a typical day, more than 6.1 million tons of hazmat move throughout our nation’s transportation network,” said Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrator Cynthia Quarterman.  “The GROW AMERICA Act promotes efficiencies and improvements that will help PHMSA ensure that the transport of hazmat by road, rail, air and water continues to move safely and efficiently.”

Earlier this month, Secretary Foxx traveled across the country on his Invest in America, Commit to the Future bus tour, with visits to manufacturers, bridges, freight facilities, and highway projects to raise awareness of America’s infrastructure deficit. Secretary Foxx met with business leaders, stakeholders and members of communities to discuss the projects that work, projects that are needed, and to ask them to commit to a future with an American transportation system that’s second-to-none.

In the face of current uncertainty of federal transportation investment, many states have postponed or canceled needed transportation projects altogether. And without additional investment, deficiencies in our nation’s infrastructure will cost businesses more than $1 trillion every year in lost sales. Despite this growing need, the Highway Trust Fund, which provides most of the federal support for state transportation projects, is on track to start bouncing checks as early as August. In January, the Department of Transportation began posting a ticker online so the American people can track the remaining funds, available here.

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

 

Local Solutions to Pay for Your Infrastructure Projects: Infrastructure Funding & Financing

This free webinar is being hosted by the National League of Cities on Tuesday, May 13th from 2:00 – 3:00. To register, click here.

Investment in infrastructure is critical to the economic development of this nation.  Not only does it pay for much needed transportation projects, but it is a job creator, a revenue generator, and a helps promote partnerships between a variety of stakeholders.  With federal funding in jeopardy, states and localities are having to explore new funding options to pay for their transportation infrastructure investments.

The National League of Cities, along with the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, will be hosting this webinar to help participants understand the ins and outs of alternative financing and funding mechanisms.  Presenters will explore a variety of sources and what contributes to an effective “financing toolkit.”  Participants will hear from speakers from Austin, TX and Tampa-Hillsborough, FL on how they are collaborating with key stakeholders on transportation financing options that best serve their communities.

Speakers

Mike Heiligenstein, Executive Director, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, Austin, TX and President, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association

Howard Lazarus, Director of Public Works, City of Austin, TX

Joseph Waggoner, CEO and Executive Director, Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority

Summer Minnick is the Director of Policy Initiatives and Federal Affairs. She can be reached at 517-908-0301 or sminnick@mml.org.

A sample resolution supporting the statewide ballot on August 5, 2014 for Personal Property Tax reform to go into effect is now available on the League’s website here.

The campaign to pass the August 5, 2014 ballot proposal, the last step in personal property tax (PPT) reform, kicked off last month with a series of press conferences. The Michigan Citizens for Strong and Safe Communities coalition is seeking to pass a ballot referendum that would allow for use of a portion of the currently collected statewide use tax to fully reimburse communities for PPT loss.

The coalition has launched a website and you can also follow it on Facebook and Twitter.

We encourage members to support the full replacement of PPT dollars with a significantly more stable reimbursement mechanism by voting “yes” on August 5. If your community passes and/or takes up this resolution please let the League’s Matt Bach know at mbach@mml.org as he is tracking the number of resolutions among Michigan cities, villages and urban townships.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League handling economic development and land use issues.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.