SCOPE SEMA quarterly publication of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Winter 2009 Renewing Southeast Michigan SEMscope 2008-2009 Officers Southeast Michigan Council of Governments 535 Griswold Street, Suite 300 Mary Blackmon Detroit, Michigan 48226-3602 Chairperson 313-961-4266 • Fax 313-961-4869 Treasurer, Wayne County www.semcog.org Regional Education Service Agency Mary Blackmon, Chairperson Robert Hison Paul E. Tait, Executive Director First Vice Chair Mayor, City of St. Clair Shores Publication Staff Susan L. Stetler, Communications Director Michael Spence, Staff Writer Robert J. Cannon Vice Chairperson Glenda Marks, Communications Coordinator Supervisor, Nick Friedrich, Senior Designer Clinton Township Please direct any questions about this publication Gretchen Driskell to Sue Stetler, 313-324-3428 or [email protected] Vice Chairperson SEMscope is a quarterly publication of SEMCOG Mayor, City of Saline ISSN#03071-1310 John A. Scott Cover photo: The inauguration of President Barack Obama, along Vice Chairperson with the pending federal stimulus package, has SEMCOG renewing its Commissioner, focus on Washington, ensuring that our member local governments and Oakland County transportation agencies will be in the best possible position to be able to spend as much money as Congress makes available through the package. Michael Sedlak Vice Chairperson Pictured is the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., which has been Clerk, the site of many famous speeches, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s Green Oak Township “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered on August 23, 1963 – a moment in American history recently revisited as the nation witnessed the inauguration of its first African-American president. The memorial was William T. Roberts constructed in the style of a classical Greek temple with 36 columns Immediate Past Chair meant to represent the Union at the time of Abraham Lincoln’s death. Mayor, On the north wall of the memorial is Lincoln’s second inaugural address. City of Walled Lake Paul E. Tait Preparation of this document was financed in part through Executive Director grants from and in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Transportation with the assistance of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and Federal Transit Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Printed on recycled paper. SEMscope – Winter ‘09 Contents Commentary We’re better when we’re together 2 Mary Blackmon, SEMCOG Chairperson 2009-2010 Legislative Policy SEMCOG platform calls for state 3 and federal policy 2009-2010 Legislative Maps State House Districts 7 State Senate Districts United States Congressional Districts Local Fiscal Issues Many local governments 10 will need to restructure Best Practices Plymouth Community Council 11 on Aging does a lot with a little Advocacy Bringing dollars and favorable 12 policy to Southeast Michigan SEMscope – Winter ‘09 1 Commentary A commentary from Mary Blackmon, Chairperson Treasurer, Wayne County Regional Education Service Agency We’re better when we’re together Tough times in Southeast Michigan make local government cooperation more essential than ever…whether it’s delivering local government or educational services (examples in AgileGov database on www.semcog.org) regional planning for the wise development and maintenance of our water, sewer and transportation infrastructure or advocating at the state and federal levels. This issue of SEMscope presents the 2009-2010 Legislative Policy Platform. This platform will guide us in working with state and federal legislators in the new session. It was developed by a task force chaired by Mayor Jack O’Reilly of Dearborn. The Task Force had representa- tion from all segments of our membership – urban, suburban, and rural; counties, cities, villages, townships, and schools; and Democrats and Republicans. As I participated with this diverse group, it was gratifying to see the members coalesce around our region’s critical issues. The resulting platform contains positions that are good for all in Southeast Michigan Now the hard work begins…moving the positions identified in this platform to legislative and regulatory reality. SEMCOG officers and staff will be advocating on the important transportation, community and economic development, environmental, and local government issues identified in the platform which begins on the next page. We have already begun. SEMCOG is working with our congressional offices to ensure that any federal stimulus package provides needed funding to Southeast Michigan by identifying projects that are “shovel ready.” We have also convened a public and private sector group to pursue federal transportation funding reauthorization. SEMCOG officers will soon be taking our positions to Washington, encouraging federal action on our platform when we meet with our senators and representatives. At the state level, we will soon host an Open House with the new and returning legislators, sharing our positions and the data and information available from SEMCOG that will help them make informed decisions. Our ultimate success, however, relies on you. We need your help in sharing these regional priorities with your representatives. We need you to make these positions real by sharing how they benefit your citizens, your community, and our region. We need you to be ready to support our efforts with letters, calls, e-mails, and personal visits at critical points in the legislative process. Watch for SEMCOG Legislative Action Alerts. If, at a critical moment a legislator is not hearing from their local community, they feel the issue is not important. Your input can make the difference between passage or defeat of issues crucial to local government. By speaking with one unified voice we can increase our effectiveness and improve the region we love. 2 SEMscope – Winter ‘09 Legislative2009-2010 Policy SEMCOG platform calls for state and federal policy EMCOG’S LEGISLATIVE POLICY Congressional offices was held in December Platform Task Force worked hard to where these key messages were presented. A Sdevelop a set of policies that all in our discussion on the property tax structure is likely region can support, focusing on issues of im- to arise this year, given the interest shown by portance to local governments and schools leadership in both the House and Senate. And throughout the region. Many issues were work continues on maintaining revenue sharing identified, but three were considered priori- for our communities. We avoided a cut in the ties – reauthorization of federal transportation current fiscal year, but given the budget chal- legislation, revenue sharing, and property taxes. lenges in our state, we must continue to tell our Work has already begun on the reauthoriza- legislators of the importance of this funding. tion legislation; SEMCOG convened a group Policies in this platform, developed for both the of public and private sector partners to develop state and federal levels of government, highlight a set of key messages as to the transportation the need to bring resources back to Michigan, a needs in our region. A policy briefing with key message on which we can all agree. * Indicates priority issues Transportation Issues *Reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU Transportation policies should support states with major international border crossings and trade corridors. The efficient movement of goods is critical to improving national, state, regional, and local economies. Policies must emphasize rebuilding aging roads and bridges. Transportation funding must be flexible to ensure that state, regional, and local needs are met. Michigan’s return on federal highway transportation dollars must continue to increase over the life of the authorization. The significant leadership role of local elected officials in the regional transportation planning process should be maintained and enhanced. State and federal transportation funding must increase and be more predictable and sustainable. Program dollars must support a wide range of transportation options (walking, bikes, cars, buses, trains, trucks, etc.). SEMscope – Winter ‘09 3 Legislative2009-2010 Policy Regional Public Transit Federal transit funding programs should emphasize support to urban areas with no or minimal rail and bus rapid transit systems. Rail, bus rapid transit, and buses must be improved by policy, funding, and regulatory actions. The Michigan transit funding formula should be revised to allow for increased funding to transit operators without reducing or shifting funds statewide. Formally create a regional transportation authority through legislation. Improve passenger access to Metro airport via public transportation (i.e., buses and rail). Amtrak Provide full funding for Amtrak passenger rail service. Aviation Support reauthorization of the Aviation Trust Fund to continue improvement of the air transportation system. Support recommendations from the state transportation funding task force report (TF2). Road Quality Ensure performance and accountability in road construction and maintenance. Funding In the short term, increase the state and federal gas tax, diesel tax, vehicle registration fees, and enable local option taxes. Ensure transportation revenues are used for their intended purpose. In the long term, state and federal transportation funding must increase and be more predictable and sustainable. Private investment in transportation infrastructure should be encouraged through support of public-private partnerships.