HB 5951 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. We have many communities that have already negotiated contracts with and regulate TNCs. This would make those contracts null and void. The League is opposed to this bill.

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

Yesterday Senate Local Government Committee voted out HB 5045. This bill would allow a local unit of government to pass an ordinance that would allow golf carts on roads under their jurisdiction. The following requirements must be met.

• Must have a population less that 30,000
• The operator must be at least 16 years of age and have a valid drivers license
• The golf cart must be operated on the far right side of the roadway
• You can only operate the golf cart between a half hour after sunrise and a half hour before sunset
• Drivers must use hand signals to indicate turning and stopping

The golf cart cannot exceed 15 mph and can not operate on a road with a speed limit of more than 30 mph

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

Yesterday the House Commerce committee posted, and House Bill 5856, a bill to amend the DDA act to provide for additional transparency and reporting requirements as well as adding in fund accumulation restrictions, was added to the agenda. We were working off of a substitute bill that had been sent to us last week: TIF sub latest

This bill has been a thorn in the League’s side this year, and in our view it was not ready to be passed by the committee. Yesterday we talked to committee members in the House lobby to relay our concerns.

This morning at the start of committee, Chairman Frank Foster announced that House Bill 5856 was being pulled from the agenda, and that the committee would not take up this legislation this year. The legislative session ends next week, and the committee’s failure to take up this legislation means that the bill will die at the end of December. The legislature will have to reintroduce it and begin the process anew.

We do not anticipate this being the end of this issue, and we welcome continued conversations next term. We’ve heard from the Governor’s office that there is an interest by the administration to continue reviewing this issue. We look forward to being part of a comprehensive discussion on the best way to utilize economic development tools.

Thank you to all of our members for the hard work and continually reaching out to their lawmakers. It obviously makes a difference!

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League handling municipal finance issues.  She can be reached at sharkins@mml.org or 517-908-0306.

This morning the House Committee on Michigan Competitiveness refused to hear our testimony in opposition to House Bill 5977. So we did a video of what we would have said and posted it on the internet and on our social media outlets (Facebook and Twitter).

This is an extremely harmful piece of  legislation that would prohibit local units of government from creating a “community benefits ordinance”. The League vehemently opposes this bill because it is an egregious violation of local control.

Currently, Michigan communities are allowed to negotiate with developers and contractors when developing certain parcels of property. A developer, for example, may ask for a tax break and the city, in return for the tax break, could have the developer expand or repave a road or street that will service the new project. The city, in exchange for grants, tax abatements or other economic development incentives, could ask the developer to hire local workers, pay a certain level of wages or benefits and engage certain subcontractors or local businesses.

This give-and-take-type of negotiations is common and extremely beneficial to a community. However, this legislation would end all that and drastically tie the hands of local governments. The bill would prohibit a local government from creating a community benefits ordinance and doing negotiations for the betterment of the community. Imagine a roofer coming to your house and you not being able to negotiate the price of the new roof, the color, the type of materials used or anything to do with that roof. That’s what this bill does.

The committee first met on this issue last week and met again on it this morning. We were expecting to testify but weren’t allowed and instead the committee reported the bill to the full House. Please contact your legislator and ask him or her to oppose!

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League handling municipal finance issues.  She can be reached at sharkins@mml.org or 517-908-0306.

There are many transit options in Michigan and the state needs a comprehensive funding plan that will support all of them.

The Michigan Municipal League needs every mayor, manager, council member and municipal employee to call their state Senators today and ask them to reject the House transportation plan and pass the transportation-funding solution approved by the Senate on Nov. 13.

The Senate’s plan provides real support for our complete transportation system. The House proposal, passed late Thursday without a single Democratic vote, would shift dollars away from local governments, schools, transit and the general fund into roads.

The House plan relies on projected revenue increases, wouldn’t allow communities to benefit from a growing economy, and claims it would “hold communities harmless.” But we’ve played this game with revenue sharing dollars. The League has very serious concerns and we need your help to express our strong opposition to this proposal.  Shifting money over to road funding is not a comprehensive solution to the road funding problem. For additional details on the two plans go here.

Call your Senators today and tell them to support the Senate plan and oppose the House proposal. Go here to our Action Center to get their contact information. Here are some talking points to use when calling them:

• We need to fix the roads and our transportation system without hurting local governments, schools and public transit.
• We stand behind Governor Snyder and his desire to solve this road-funding problem with new revenue. Taking money from others is not the right solution.
• The legislature should not solve the road funding problem by reducing revenue sharing and relying on “projected economic growth” forecasts to make up for lost revenue. This is a risk we cannot afford.
  

  East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett talks transit on Let It Rip.

To help craft your responses, check out a recent interview League Board Vice President and East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett did on Fox 2 Detroit. On the “Let It Rip” program with Rep. Anthony Forlini, Triplett did an excellent job discussing why the Senate proposal is best, how the House plan would hurt communities, schools and transit, and why additional revenue is needed to support a comprehensive transportation plan. To hear Triplett’s responses to hard-hitting questions, watch segment 1 and segment 2 from the show.

If you have additional questions, please contact the League’s John LaMacchia II at 517-908-0303 or at jlamacchia@mml.org.

This morning the House Committee on Michigan Competitiveness heard testimony on House Bill 5977. This is an extremely harmful piece of  legislation that would prohibit local units of government from creating a “community benefits ordinance”. The League vehemently opposes this bill because it is an egregious violation of local control.

Currently, Michigan communities are allowed to negotiate with developers and contractors when developing certain parcels of property. A developer, for example, may ask for a tax break and the city, in return for the tax break, could have the developer expand or repave a road or street that will service the new project. The city, in exchange for grants, tax abatements or other economic development incentives, could ask the developer to hire local workers, pay a certain level of wages or benefits and engage certain subcontractors or local businesses.

This give-and-take-type of negotiations is common and extremely beneficial to a community. However, this legislation would end all that and drastically tie the hands of local governments. The bill would prohibit a local government from creating a community benefits ordinance and doing negotiations for the betterment of the community. Imagine a roofer coming to your house and you not being able to negotiate the price of the new roof, the color, the type of materials used or anything to do with that roof. That’s what this bill does.

The committee recessed for session and will reconvene on Tuesday, December 9 at 9:30 am. We anticipate the committee will vote on the legislation at that time. Please contact your legislator and ask him or her to oppose!

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League handling municipal finance issues.  She can be reached at sharkins@mml.org or 517-908-0306.

This afternoon the Senate has passed Senate Bill 247, a bill that would allow establishments licensed to sell alcohol in central business districts to stay open and serve alcohol until 4 a. m. on Saturdays and Sundays, expanding the current 2 a.m. limit.

Senate Bill 247 would require a majority vote of a local unit of government to allow an establishment wishing to stay open until 4 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. They must be located in a central business district of the city, village or township to qualify. Licenses would cost $10,000 annually.

The legislation now goes to the House for approval.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the League handling municipal finance issues.  She can be reached at sharkins@mml.org or 517-908-0306.