Since beginning work at the MML some 8 years ago, I have always marked the official start of summer by the annual trip to visit members in the Upper Peninsula through our Region 7 meeting.  Always an anticipated event not just because of the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the UP and the hospitality of local officials in the region, but also because it means a road trip with colleagues and an opportunity to relive such events of years gone by.

This year was no different as we rolled our way across the bridge to Bessemer in the far western UP.  Ten hours in a car with family, let alone co-workers, is a challenge at any point in time, but this year was made easier by the outstanding weather, scenery and of course the company.

And as is the case with any of the League’s meetings, there was a lot of listening and learning from each other and presenters. I was even given the opportunity to present on the League’s place-based strategies with a focus on the MIPlace Partnership Initiative. However, what I hoped would be an uplifting session was in the end as challenging as any I’ve given, having forgotten the golden rule of presentations…know thy audience.

It hit me during the question and answers session. A councilman spoke to thank me for the session, since it made clear for him that he did not want his community becoming anything like those I had spoken of. Having lived in larger communities downstate, he was now very satisfied being in a small town that offered amenities more in tune with a family lifestyle than with that of attracting a young and talented workforce.

As we talked, I noted that at the end of the day it is up to the local community and its leaders to figure out who they are and what they want to be.  And as I thought about our discussion later and talked with colleagues, I realized that what I should have been focusing on was the larger picture of what it means in 21^st century terms for local officials to provide a high “quality of  life”.

You see, my presentation focused on the latest demographics and market research showing the groups prevalent today and what they’re looking for in a community.  And while that is all well and good, what got lost in translation is the fact that the amenities the two largest groups in society today (young people and empty nest baby boomers) are looking for relate back to quality of life not just for them but for all of us.

Attributes such as walkable downtowns and neighborhoods, quality public spaces such as parks, different housing options including mixed-use commercial residential in our downtowns, and transportation options like bike lanes are all part of a broader package of qualities that work to make a community vibrant and resilient, whether you are looking to attract young professionals, families, retirees or all three groups.

This has always been the point of the League’s emphasis on “place” and we are finding it to be true time and again as we uncover successes across the state in communities big and small, urban, rural and suburban.  If nothing else, our trip not only again confirmed how geographically large and diverse our state is, it also confirmed that each and every community across the state has something to offer toward providing a high quality of life for residents and visitors alike.

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Andy Schor, HB 4478, passed the full house on Thursday that would allow a person who is unable to write or who cannot sign a signature due to a physical disability to use a signature stamp on election documents (voter applications, absentee ballots, absentee envelopes, etc).  Currently, the law states that individuals who cannot write are allowed to make their mark.  This legislation adds in the ability to use a signature stamp (a preservation of their signature from in the past) instead of a “mark” and defines physical disability.

The League is supportive of this legislation.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.

This morning the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bills 4622 and 4793, bills that make some procedural changes to the Michigan Drain Code.

More specifically HB 4622 would modify the procedures for changing the boundaries of county drainage districts. It would modify the process by eliminating boards of determination and allowing review by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

House Bill 4793 deals with the taking of private property. It updates the statute to make it consistent with condemnation proceedings outlined in the Uniform Condemnation Procedures Act.

The committee did not vote on this legislation.

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 Appropriations Committee held testimony on HB 4785, a bill that would increase existing fees for licensing EMS personnel, vehicles and operations. This bill is part of the FY 2014 budget agreement, and the total increase anticipated (just over $1 million) has been built into the FY 2014 Department of Community Health budget.

The argument for the change is the fee increase is needed to maintain the current licensing and regulatory program for EMS. The bill would, however, increase costs for local EMS services.

According to an analysis by the House Fiscal Agency current fee rates were established in 1991. The analysis includes a chart tracking the proposed fee increases.

We have concerns about this increase in cost for our local EMS departments, and we are working with members to determine the impact of these fee increases to get that information to legislators.

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

This morning the Senate unanimously passed HB 4743 a bill providing more local control on the use of fireworks passed the House following significant complaints from local units of government after last July 4.

The bill would require retail locations to post signs informing the public where to find the Fireworks Safety Act and copies of the local municipality’s ordinances regarding time limits for the use of the fireworks.

The bill also would require retailers to comply with the National Fire Protection Association Code, and clarify that a retailer or a person issued a consumer fireworks certificate is responsible for remitting all fireworks safety fees to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. It would also require retailers to remit the fees within 20 days after the end of each month.

The bill would allow municipalities to regulate the use of fireworks within counties of 750,000 or more persons to 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. on New Year’s Day only, for all other days surrounding national holidays the hours are 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. For municipalities within counties with a population fewer than 750,000 ordinances can be enacted regulating the times of 1 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the day before, the day after and the day of national holidays.

The bill is now on its way to the Governor for his signature.

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

Today the House passed SB 79, a bill to allow small wine makers (making less than 5,000 gallons of wine per year) to sell and provide tastings at local farmers markets.  A new “farmers market permit” is created that the small wine maker must obtain from the liquor control commission.  A small wine maker would have to obtain approval from the farmers market manager and the local police department prior to a permit being issued.

The permits are subject to the quota system.  There will be one farmers market permit allowed for every 1500 population in the county.

There is a 60 day implementation period from signage of the bill to allow the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to get all the necessary paperwork around before it goes into effect.  There is also a 2 year reporting requirement for the liquor control commission to provide an assessment to the legislature on the effectiveness of these permits and whether they should continue to issue them.

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.

This morning the House Regulatory Reform Committee continued hearing testimony on a package of legislation that would crack down on scrap metal dealers to limit scrap metal theft.

House Bills 4593-95 were introduced to the committee. The bills seek to close “loopholes” in the current scrap metal laws by requiring dealers to keep more detailed records including information of individuals who remit scrap metal as well as a photograph of purchased scrap metal.

In addition the legislation strengthens the “do not purchase” list in the current law to add additional requirements. It also requires dealers to only make payment to an individual via check, money order or an electronic payment card that can be used to get cash from an ATM on the seller’s premises.

The committee did not vote on the legislation and will continue the discussion.

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

If you are looking to enhance your farmers market or know of someone looking to start a food truck business, be sure to touch base with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation as they have created two new programs to assist with these very activities.

The Mobile Cuisine Startup Program is equipped with $100,000 to assist new or existing food truck businesses.  They will provide a one-time grant of up to $10,000. There must be matching funds of at least 25 percent as well as a viable business plan and registered to do business in Michigan.

The Farmers Market Grant Program is aimed at assisting existing farmers markets (operating for at least four years) making the market more accessible to residents with a one-time grant of $10,000 to $50,000.  There must be matching funds of at least 50 percent.

Applications for both the Mobile Cuisine Program and the Farmers Market Grant Program are due by July 1 with award winners being announced at the end of July.

For more information on these two programs, please visit michiganadvantage.org.

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.

HB 4629 passed out the full House today.  This bill was created in most part to deal with issues that were presented to MDOT from a federal audit done on the Highway Advertising Act. If these issues (definition for digital billboards, definition for non-conforming billboard, etc) are not address, the state will lose a portion of their federal transportation funding.  This bill was introduced last session and because of the short time frame of lame duck, didn’t pass.  This bill would allow a local unit of government to create a more stringent policy than that at the state level if they so choose to.  We also asked that the word “operation” be added into what can be regulated by the local unit of government to ensure that digital billboards would be encompassed in that definition.  The bill also changes the spacing requirements for digital billboards from 1,500 feet to 1,750 feet and to make the “dwell time” 8 seconds instead of 6 seconds.

The bill now moves onto the Senate for consideration in committee.

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.

This week the House Oversight committee heard testimony on HB 4001 and HB 4314.  Committee started late because session ran late so there was a shortened time frame for testimony.  Mike Fisher, attorney for the city of Livonia, testified in opposition to the bills.

The substitute for HB 4001 (HB 4001) still does not allow for the true cost of FOIA requests to be recognized and creates onerous invoicing requirements.  It also creates penalties if the municipality does not respond to a request in time while leaving out any sort of penalty for those who are abusing the system.

HB 4314 creates a commission at the state level to hear FOIA appeals.  As the bill is right now, there is not one member of a municipality, etc who actually has to deal with the FOIA request.  It is made up of representatives from media groups.

The League is opposed to both pieces of legislation.

Nikki Brown is a legislative associate for the League.  She can be reached at nbrown@mml.org or 517-908-0305.