March 26, 2015
Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202 General Assembly Agenda Thursday, March 26, 2015
Detroit Institute of Arts 5200 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48202
Parking for this event will be in a secured self-parking lot on John R Street directly behind the museum. Click here for a map. Enter the building at the John R Street entrance. Please note that there are partial lane closures on Woodward Avenue in front of the DIA due to construction of M-1 Rail. This may cause temporary traffic delays.
2 p.m. – Registration Begins
2:30 p.m. - Detroit Institute of Arts Tours The tours will start promptly at 2:30 p.m. You must be pre-registered to attend. Members have a choice of two different tours: Highlights Tour: This tour will feature a variety of objects in a few galleries of the museum.
Rivera Court: Now a national landmark, learn the complex and intriguing story behind the man and the murals.
3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Executive Committee elections Members of the General Assembly will convene to elect SEMCOG’s Executive Committee in bloc caucuses by county, plus education. The Executive Committee is SEMCOG’s main decision-making body, which meets approximately eight times per year. Elected officials who are on the Executive Committee are also eligible to serve as SEMCOG officers. See the List of Nominees received so far and the Eligible Candidates included in the agenda.
4:30 p.m. - General Assembly convenes
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
C. Welcome DIA Director, President, and CEO Graham W. J. Beal Graham Beal has been the Director, President, and CEO of the Detroit Institute of Arts since 1999. He will welcome the General Assembly to what he refers to as the “people’s museum.”
D. Approval of Agenda
E. Public Comment
F. Approval of Consent Resolution 1. Financial Statements – February 2015 2. Approval of General Assembly Minutes – November 13, 2014 3. Receipt of Executive Committee Minutes – December 5, 2014, January 23, 2015 and February 27, 2015
G. Report from Chairperson: Kathy Vosburg, Macomb County Commissioner 4. Featured Speaker: Wayne County Executive Warren Evans Warren Evans, newly elected Wayne County Executive from the region’s largest county, will address the General Assembly. While new to the County Executive position, he also brings his experience as Wayne County Sherriff, Detroit Police Chief, and Assistant County Executive.
H. Report from Finance and Budget Committee Chairperson: Mandy Grewal, Supervisor, Pittsfield Township 5. 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary Action requested The General Assembly is requested to adopt SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary. The proposed budget is balanced at $10 million, a four percent decrease over SEMCOG’s current budget. This document presents financial information and work proposed in summary fashion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015. Background information and project descriptions to be carried out by SEMCOG and its pass-through agencies are contained in the 2015-2016 Work Program.
I. Economic Development Strategy, Kathleen Lomako, SEMCOG Executive Director 6. Members of the General Assembly will have an opportunity to provide input on the direction of the regional economic development strategy for Southeast Michigan. This strategy will guide investment of the region’s resources in ways that promote regional prosperity.
J. Report from Executive Director, Kathleen Lomako 7. Legislative Update
Upcoming Meetings Executive Committee – Friday, April 24, 2015 Executive Committee – Thursday, May 14, 2015 General Assembly – Thursday, June 25, 2015 – The Detroit Zoo
6 p.m. Reception in Kresge Court
Nominees for SEMCOG Executive Committee As of March 25, 2015
Livingston County Position Cities/Villages (1 delegate/1 alternate) Steve Manor, Councilmember, Howell Delegate Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1 alternate) Michael Sedlak, Green Oak Township Delegate Alternate
Macomb County Cities/Villages (2 delegate/2 alternate) Scott Stevens, Mayor Pro Tem/Council Secretary, Warren Delegate Jeff Yaroch, Councilor, Richmond Delegate John Dupray, Mayor, New Baltimore Alternate Mark Vanderpool, City Manager, Sterling Heights Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1 alternate) Dan O’Leary, Supervisor, Washington Township Delegate Robert Cannon, Supervisor, Clinton Township Alternate
Monroe County Cities/Villages (1 delegate/1 alternate) Robert Clark, Mayor, City of Monroe Delegate Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1 alternate) Jim McDevitt, Supervisor, Frenchtown Township Delegate Walter Ruhl, Supervisor, Whiteford Township Alternate
Oakland County Cities/Village (2 delegate/2 alternate) Bryan Barnett, Mayor, Rochester Hills Delegate Jeff Jenks, Commissioner, Huntington Woods Delegate Stephanie Carroll, Business Development Manager, Auburn Hills Alternate Erik Tungate, City Manager, Oak Park Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1alternate) Don Green, Supervisor, Milford Township Delegate Chris Barnett, Supervisor, Orion Township Alternate
St. Clair County Cities/Villages (1 delegate/1alternate) Pauline Repp, Mayor, Port Huron Delegate Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1 alternate) Delegate Alternate
_1001 Woodward, Suite 1400 • Detroit, Michigan 48226 • (313) 961-4266 • Fax (313) 961-4869 • www.semcog.orgg
Kathy D. Vosburg Jeffrey Jenks Robert Clark Rodrick Green 1 Phil LaJoy Karl Tomion Joan Gebhardt Kathleen Lomako Chairperson First Vice Chair Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Immediate Past Chair Executive Director Commissioner, Commissioner, Mayor, Trustee, Supervisor, Commissioner, Treasurer, Macomb County Huntington Woods City of Monroe Superior Township Canton Township St. Clair County Schoolcraft College
Washtenaw County Cities/Villages (1 delegate/1 alternate) Lois Richardson, Mayor Pro Tem, Ypsilanti Delegate Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1alternate) Rodrick Green, Trustee, Superior Township Delegate Mandy Grewal, Supervisor, Pittsfield Township Alternate
Wayne County Cities/Villages (2 delegate/2 alternate) Hilliard Hampton, Mayor, Inkster Delegate Dale Scrace, Mayor, City of Grosse Pointe Delegate William Wild, Mayor, City of Westland Delegate David Angileri, Finance Director/Assistant Administrator Alternate Robert Howey, Councilmember, Trenton Alternate
Townships (1 delegate/1 alternate) Phil LaJoy, Supervisor, Canton Township Delegate David Glaab, Supervisor, Huron Township Alternate
Education Bloc ISD/RESA (1 delegate/1 alternate) Don Hubler, Trustee, Macomb Intermediate School District Delegate Mary Blackmon, Treasurer, Wayne County RESA Alternate
Community College (1 delegate/1 alternate) Alan Anderson, Trustee, Wayne County Community College District Delegate Alternate
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General Assembly members Eligible for Executive Committee
The following Livingston County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Mr. Shea Charles, City Manager, City of Howell Mr. Steven Manor, Councilmember, City of Howell Townships Mr. Joseph Colaianne, Trustee, Hartland Township Mr. William Fountain, Supervisor, Hartland Township Mr. Patrick Hohl, Supervisor, Hamburg Township Ms. Jean Ledford, Trustee, Genoa Township Mr. Charles Menzies, Trustee, Hamburg Township Mr. Michael Sedlak, Clerk, Green Oak Township Ms. Paulette Skolarus, Clerk, Genoa Township Mr. Mark St. Charles, Supervisor, Green Oak Township Ms. Lucille Weaire, Trustee, Brighton Township
The following Macomb County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Mr. Scott Adkins, City Manager, City of Roseville Mr. Paul Cilluffo, Councilmember, City of Fraser Mr. Sean Clark, Administrative Supervisor/Citistat Coordinator, City of Warren Mr. Steve Duchane, City Manager, City of Eastpointe Mr. John Dupray, Mayor, City of New Baltimore Mr. David Hanselman, Mayor, City of Center Line Mr. Brett Harris, Trustee, Village of New Haven Mrs. Florence Hayman, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of New Baltimore Mr. Dennis Jokinen, Treasurer, Village of Romeo Mr. Michael Lee, Clerk, Village of Romeo Ms. Denise Mentzer, Commissioner, City of Mount Clemens Mr. John Michrina, City Manager, City of Center Line Mr. Jon Moore, City Manager, City of Richmond Ms. Jacqueline Noonan, Mayor, City of Utica Mr. William Osladil, Councilmember, City of Utica Ms. Suzanne Pixley, Mayor, City of Eastpointe Mr. Joe Rheker, Commissioner, City of Mount Clemens Mr. Scott Stevens, Mayor Pro-Tem/Council Secretary, City of Warren Mr. Robert Taylor, Mayor, City of Roseville Mr. Mark Vanderpool, City Manager, City of Sterling Heights Mr. Kip Walby, Mayor, City of St. Clair Shores Mr. Jeff Yaroch, Councilor, City of Richmond Townships Mr. Bill Bitonti, Trustee, Harrison Township Mr. Christopher Boyd, Trustee, Lenox Township
_1001 Woodward, Suite 1400 • Detroit, Michigan 48226 • (313) 961-4266 • Fax (313) 961-4869 • www.semcog.orgg
Kathy D. Vosburg Jeffrey Jenks Robert Clark Rodrick Green 3 Phil LaJoy Karl Tomion Joan Gebhardt Kathleen Lomako Chairperson First Vice Chair Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Vice Chairperson Immediate Past Chair Executive Director Commissioner, Commissioner, Mayor, Trustee, Supervisor, Commissioner, Treasurer, Macomb County Huntington Woods City of Monroe Superior Township Canton Township St. Clair County Schoolcraft College
Mr. Robert Cannon, Supervisor, Clinton Township Ms. Janet Dunn, Supervisor, Macomb Township Mr. Art Grimes, Trustee, Washington Township Ms. Linda Hartman, Treasurer, Chesterfield Township Mr. David Joseph, Trustee, Chesterfield Township Mr. Michael Koehs, Clerk, Macomb Township Mr. Dan O’Leary, Supervisor, Washington Township Mr. Richard Stathakis, Supervisor, Shelby Township Mr. Ronald Trombley, Supervisor, Lenox Township Mr. Kenneth Verkest, Supervisor, Harrison Township Ms. Elizabeth Vogel, Assistant to the Supervisor, Clinton Township Mr. Glenn Wynn, Director of Planning, Shelby Township
The following Monroe County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Mr. Robert Clark, Mayor, City of Monroe Ms. Dawn Gramza, Councilmember, City of Luna Pier Ms. Willene Harold, Clerk, Administrator, Village of South Rockwood Mr. Dan Swallow, Director of Economic and Community Development, City of Monroe Mr. Charles Londo, City Administrator, City of Luna Pier Mr. Daniel Tilley, President, Village of South Rockwood Townships Mr. Mark Baker, Clerk, Frenchtown Township Mr. Robert Dopkowski, Trustee, Milan Township Mr. William Frey, Supervisor, Erie Township Ms. Olga Mancik, Trustee, Milan Township Mr. James McDevitt, Supervisor, Frenchtown Township Mr. Walter Ruhl, Supervisor, Whiteford Township Ms. Jolene Upchurch, Clerk, Erie Township
The following Oakland County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Ms. Jane Bais-DiSessa, City Manager, City of Berkley Mr. Bryan Barnett, Mayor, City of Rochester Hills Ms. Jackie Beach, Mayor, City of Orchard Lake Village Mr. Tom Berman, Councilmember, City of Keego Harbor Mr. Mark Bliss, Councilmember, City of Madison Heights Mr. Barry Brickner, Mayor, City of Farmington Hills Mr. Michael Bridges, Councilmember, City of Farmington Hills Mr. Jim Campbell, Councilmember, City of Troy Ms. Stephanie Carroll, Business Development Manager, City of Auburn Hills Ms. Laura Casey, Councilmember, City of Novi Mr. Jay Cravens, City Manager, City of Bloomfield Hills Mr. Jeffrey Cuthbertson, Mayor, City of Rochester Mr. Michael Dul, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Bloomfield Hills Ms. Carol Eberhardt, City Manager, City of the Village of Clarkston Mr. Jim Ellison, Mayor, City of Royal Oak
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Mr. Donald Fracassi, Acting Mayor, City of Southfield Mr. Myron Frasier, Councilmember, City of Southfield Mr. Ronald Gillham, Mayor, City of Huntington Woods Ms. Suzanne Heiple, Councilmember, Village of Holly Mr. Kevin Hinkley, Mayor, City of Wixom Mr. Jeffrey Jenks, Commissioner, City of Huntington Woods Mr. Donald Johnson, Finance Director/City Manager, City of Royal Oak Mr. Robert Kalman, Mayor, City of Keego Harbor Mr. Edward Klobucher, City Manager, City of Hazel Park Mr. Henry Knight, Councilmember, City of Auburn Hills Mr. Adam Kochenderfer, Councilmember, City of Rochester Hills Mr. Mike Lennon, Councilmember, City of Ferndale Mr. Aron Lorenz, Councilmember, City of Sylvan Lake Ms. Penny Luebs, Mayor, City of Clawson Mr. John Magee, President, Village of Wolverine Lake Ms. Maria Mannarino Thompson, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Lathrup Village Ms. Gwen Markham, Councilmember, City of Novi David W. Marsh, Councilmember, City of the Village of Clarkston Ms. Ellen Marshall, Clerk/Assistant City Manager, Village of Beverly Hills Mr. John Martin, City Manager, City of Sylvan Lake Ms. Marian McClellan, Mayor, City of Oak Park Mr. Bruce McIntyre, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Orchard Lake Village Mr. Kurt Metzger, Mayor, City of Pleasant Ridge Mr. Mark Miller, Director of Economic & Community Development, City of Troy Ms. Sharon Miller, Administrator/Clerk, Village of Wolverine Lake Mr. Scott Moore, Commissioner, City of Birmingham Mr. Jerry L. Narsh, Chief of Police, Village of Lake Orion Mr. Mark Nickita, Commissioner, City of Birmingham Mr. Anthony Nowicki, City Manager, City of Wixom Mr. Phil O'Dwyer, Mayor, City of Berkley Ms. Melanie Piana, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Ferndale Mr. Scott Pietrzak, Assistant City Manager/Recreation Director, City of Pleasant Ridge Mr. Mark Pollock, City Manager, Finance Director, City of Clawson Mr. Steven Schneemann, Councilmember, City of Farmington Mr. Jeff Scott, Councilmember, City of Farmington Ms. Margene Scott, Councilmember, City of Madison Heights Mr. Erik Tungate, City Manager, City of Oak Park Mr. Ken Van Portfliet, President, Village of Lake Orion Mr. Jaymes Vettraino, City Manager, City of Rochester Mr. Jerry Walker, Village Manager, Village of Holly Mr. Allen Weaks, Councilmember, City of Lathrup Village Mr. Harvey Wedell, Councilmember, City of South Lyon Mr. Joe Young, Village Manager, Village of Oxford Mr. Kevin Ziegler, Councilmember, Village of Milford Townships Mr. Chris Barnett, Supervisor, Charter Township of Orion
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Mr. Greg Baroni, Supervisor, White Lake Charter Township Mr. Anthony Bartolotta, Trustee, Charter Township of Waterford Ms. Pauline Bennett, Clerk, Addison Township Mr. Paul Brown, CPA, Treasurer, Charter Township of Independence Ms. Mary Pat Chynoweth, Trustee, Charter Township of Highland Ms. Judith Cooper, Treasurer, Charter Township of Highland Ms. Cynthia Dagenhardt, Treasurer, Charter Township of Milford Mr. Dan Devine, Treasurer, Charter Township of Bloomfield Ms. Michele Economou Ureste, Supervisor, Charter Township of West Bloomfield Ms. Lori Fisher, Treasurer, Addison Township Mr. Mike Flood, Jr., Trustee, Charter Township of Orion Mr. Terry Gonser, Supervisor, Charter Township of Oakland Mr. Donald Green, Supervisor, Charter Township of Milford Mr. John Hicks, Trustee, Charter Township of Lyon Ms. Kathleen Jackson, Planning Director, Charter Township of Commerce Mr. Cary Junior, Economic Development Official, Charter Township of Royal Oak Mr. Patrick Kittle, Supervisor, Charter Township of Independence Mr. Christopher McLeod, AICP, PCP, Planning Director, Charter Township of West Bloomfield Ms. Laura Moreau, Clerk, Springfield Charter Township Mr. Leo Savoie, Supervisor, Charter Township of Bloomfield Ms. Donna Squalls, Supervisor, Charter Township of Royal Oak Mr. Gary Wall, Supervisor, Charter Township of Waterford Mr. Collin Walls, Supervisor, Springfield Charter Township Mr. Thomas Zoner, Supervisor, Charter Township of Commerce
The following St. Clair County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Mr. Daniel Damman, Mayor, City of Marysville Mr. Randall Fernandez, City Manager, City of Marysville Mr. Mark Klug, President, Village of Capac Mr. Mike LaPorte, Councilmember, City of St. Clair Ms. Dianne Lovett, Commissioner, City of Marine City Mr. Tom McCartney, Councilmember, City of St. Clair Ms. Pauline Repp, Mayor, City of Port Huron Mr. Rico Ruiz, Councilmember, City of Port Huron Mr. David Simpson, Commissioner, City of Marine City Townships Mr. Artie Bryson, Supervisor, Clay Township Mr. Robert Crawford, Clerk, Fort Gratiot Township Mr. Donald Dudas, Trustee, Port Huron Township Mr. James Jacob, Treasurer, Ira Township Mr. Thomas Kaufman, Deputy Supervisor, Cottrellville Township Mr. George Kish, Trustee, Fort Gratiot Township Ms. Kelly Fiscelli, Supervisor, Cottrellville Township Mr. Robert Lewandowski, Jr., Supervisor, Port Huron Township Mr. Brian Mahaffy, Supervisor, St. Clair Township Mr. Robert McCoy, Supervisor, Ira Township
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Ms. Tina Ritter, Trustee, Kimball Township Ms. Joyce Skonieczny, Clerk, St. Clair Township Mr. Robert Usakowski, Supervisor, Kimball Township The following Washtenaw County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Ms. Lois Allen Richardson, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Ypsilanti Ms. Michelle Aniol, Community Development Manager, City of Dexter Mr. Michael Armitage, Mayor, City of Milan Ms. Nicole Brown, Councilmember, City of Ypsilanti Ms. Martha Churchill, Councilmember, City of Milan Ms. Melissa Johnson, Councilmember, City Chelsea Mr. Shawn Keough, Village President, City of Dexter Mr. Brian Marl, Mayor, City of Saline Ms. Jane Pacheco, Councilmember, City of Chelsea Ms. Linda TerHaar, Councilmember, City of Saline Mr. Chuck Warpehoski, Councilmember, City of Ann Arbor Mr. Kirk Westphal, Councilmember, City of Ann Arbor Townships Dr. Thomas Borton, Lima Township Mr. E. Spaulding Clark, Supervisor, Scio Township Ms. Marilyn Engstrom, Supervisor, Northfield Township Mr. Howard Fink, Township Manager, Northfield Township Mr. Rodrick Green, Trustee, Superior Township Dr. Mandy Grewal, Supervisor, Pittsfield Township Mr. Alan Israel, Clerk, Pittsfield Township Mr. Jack Knowles, Trustee, Scio Township Mr. Mike Martin, Trustee, Charter Township of Ypsilanti Mr. Gregory McKenzie, Trustee, Lima Township Ms. Brenda McKinney, Treasurer, Superior Township Mr. Michael Moran, Supervisor, Ann Arbor Township Ms. Kristine Olsson, Planning Commissioner, Ann Arbor Township Mr. Harley Rider, Supervisor, Dexter Township Ms. Brenda Stumbo, Supervisor, Ypsilanti Township
The following Wayne County members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Cities/Villages Mr. James Allen, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Northville Mr. David Angileri, Finance Director/Assistant Administrator, City of Southgate Mr. Ned Apigian, Councilmember, City of Dearborn Heights Mr. Michael Bowdler, Mayor, City of River Rouge Ms. Cindy Bower, Clerk, City of Taylor Mr. Arthur Bryant, Councilmember, City of Grosse Pointe Woods Mr. Daniel Clark, Councilmember, City of Grosse Pointe Park Ms. Kerreen Conley, Mayor, City of Belleville Mr. Peter Dame, City Manager, City of Grosse Pointe Mr. Jonathan Dropiewski, Mayor, City of Flat Rock Mr. Todd Drysdale, City Administrator, City of Wyandotte Mr. Alfred Fincham III, City Administrator, City of Grosse Pointe Woods
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Mr. James Gorris, Mayor, City of Gibraltar Mr. Daniel Grano, Councilmember, City of Grosse Pointe Park Mr. Daniel Guzzi, Mayor, City of Rockwood Mr. Hilliard Hampton, Jr., Mayor, City of Inkster Ms. Lisa Hicks-Clayton, Councilmember, City of Dearborn Heights Mr. Robert Howey, Councilmember, City of Trenton Mr. Christopher Johnson, Mayor, City of Northville Mr. Ted Kedzierski, Mayor, City of the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores Ms. Pam King, Councilmember, City of Garden City Ms. Diana Kollmeyer, City Manager, City of Belleville Mr. Brandon Kritzman, Councilmember, City of Livonia Mr. Joseph Kuspa, Mayor, City of Southgate Ms. Thelma Kubitsky, Deputy Mayor, City of Westland Mr. David Mackie, Executive Director DPS, City of Taylor Ms. Karen Majewski, Mayor, City of Hamtramck Mr. Bob Muery, Police Chief/City Manager, City of Garden City Mr. Christopher Papineau, Councilmember, City of Woodhaven Mr. Darrel Penix, Councilmember, City of Woodhaven Mr. Kenneth Poynter, Mayor, City of Harper Woods Mr. Shane Reeside, City Manager/Clerk, City of Grosse Pointe Farms Mr. Dale Scrace, Mayor, City of Grosse Pointe Mr. Randolph Skotarczyk, City Manager, City of Harper Woods Ms. Stacy Striz, Mayor, City of Melvindale Ms. Sheri Sutherby Fricke, Councilmember, City of Wyandotte Mr. Derek Thiel, City Administrator, City of Gibraltar Ms. Cindy Trombley, City Administrator, City of Rockwood Mr. Jim Wagner, City Administrator, City of Trenton Mr. William Wild, Mayor, City of Westland Mr. Mark Wollenweber, City Manager, City of the Village of Grosse Pointe Shores Mr. Lev Wood, Councilmember, City of Grosse Pointe Farms Townships Mr. Robert Bechtel, DDA Director, Van Buren Township Ms. Lily Cavanagh, Treasurer, Redford Township Mr. Garth Christie, Clerk, Redford Township Ms. Nancy Conzelman, Clerk, Plymouth Township Mr. John Cronin, Trustee, Brownstown Township Mr. Tim Faas, Director of Municipal Services, Canton Township Mr. David Glaab, Supervisor, Huron Township Mr. Philip LaJoy, Supervisor, Canton Township Mr. Brian Loftus, Supervisor, Grosse Ile Township Mr. Craig Moody, Deputy Supervisor, Sumpter Township Mr. Robert Nix II, Supervisor, Northville Township Mr. Brian Peters, Trustee, Brownstown Township Mr. Dale Reaume, Manager, Grosse Ile Township Mr. Richard Reaume, Supervisor, Plymouth Township Mr. Fred Shadko, Trustee, Northville Township Ms. Kathlene Van Wasshnova, Clerk, Huron Township Mr. Johnny Vawters, Supervisor, Sumpter Township Mr. Leon Wright, Clerk, Van Buren Township
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The following Intermediate School District members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Ms. Susan Benson, Program Dir., Community Programs/Special Projects, Oakland Schools ISD Ms. Mary Blackmon, Treasurer, Wayne County RESA Mr. Daniel Danosky, Superintendent, LESA, Livingston County Ms. Barbara DeMarco, Board Treasurer, Oakland Schools ISD Mr. Dale DeSloover, Board President, Monroe County ISD Mr. Don Hubler, Board Trustee, Macomb ISD Board of Education Mr. Gary Kaiser, Treasurer, LESA Board of Education, Livingston County Mr. Max McCullough, Vice President, Macomb ISD Board of Education Mr. Scott Menzel, Superintendent, Washtenaw Intermediate School District Ms. Nancy Swanson, Assistant Superintendent, Monroe County ISD Ms. Mary Jane Tramontin, Board Trustee, Washtenaw Intermediate School District
The following Community College members are eligible for nomination to the Executive Committee: Mr. Vernon Allen, Jr., Board Vice Chair, Wayne County Community College District Mr. Alan Anderson, Board Treasurer, Wayne County Community College District Ms. Rose Bellanca, President, Washtenaw Community College Ms. Joan Gebhardt, Treasurer, Schoolcraft College Mr. Terry Gilligan, Trustee, Schoolcraft College Mr. James Kelly, President, Macomb Community College Ms. Marjorie Kreps, Trustee, Monroe County Community College Ms. Nicole McKee, Manager of Institutional and Govt. Relations, Macomb Community College Ms. Diana McKnight-Morton, Trustee, Washtenaw Community College
9 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Income Statement for eight months ending- February 28, 2015
CURRENT ACTUAL % OF TOTAL MONTH YTD YTD
REVENUES: FEDERAL REVENUE 25,543 127,057 1.9% STATE ADMIN FED REVENUE 443,338 3,872,379 57.2% STATE REVENUE 54,552 309,252 4.6% OTHER REVENUE 18,504 121,063 1.8% OTHER ADMIN FED REVENUE 0 0 0.0% LOCAL -AVAILABLE (117,947) 535,705 7.9% LOCAL -USED 124,995 1,034,407 15.3% IN-KIND REVENUE 0 0 0.0% MISC REVENUE 0 180 0.0% INTEREST INCOME 185 1,755 0.0% ------TOTAL OPERATIONAL REVENUE 549,169 6,001,799 88.7% ------
PASS THRU-FEDERAL 0 85,296 1.3% PASS THRU-STATE ADMIN FED 241,918 519,330 7.7% PASS THRU-STATE 0 13,035 PASS THRU MATCH/IN-KIND REVENUE 58,308 145,706 2.2% ------TOTAL PASS THRU/IN-KIND REVENUE 300,225 763,366 ------TOTAL REVENUE 849,395 6,765,165 99.8% ------
EXPENDITURES:
SALARIES 273,404 2,297,364 36.9% CONTRACTS 146,310 574,966 9.2% IN-KIND MATCH 0 0 TRAVEL 21,734 143,103 2.3% SUPPLIES 8,255 103,534 1.7% OTHER EXPENSES 77,315 904,508 14.5% MEETING EXPENSES 4,273 60,460 1.0% MEETING REVENUE 0 0 0.0% EXPEND OFFSET 0 0 0.0% FRINGE BENEFITS 135,640 1,380,223 22.2% ------TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 666,931 5,464,158 ------PASS THRU EXPENSES 241,918 617,661 9.9% PASS THRU/IN-KIND MATCH 58,308 145,706 2.3% ------TOTAL PTM/IN-KIND EXPENSES 300,225 763,366 ------TOTAL EXPENSES 967,156 6,227,525 100.0% ------
REVENUE OVER/(UNDER) EXPENSES (117,762) 537,640 ======pg1
10 Southeast Michigan Council of Governments Year-to-date Actual to Budget Comparison Eight months ending February 28, 2015
% OF LINE YTD ACTUAL ANNUAL BUDGET ITEM BUDGET
REVENUES: FEDERAL REVENUE 127,057 0 0.0% STATE ADMIN FED REVENUE 3,872,379 8,011,041 48.3% STATE REVENUE 309,252 123,201 251.0% OTHER REVENUES 121,063 311,706 38.8% OTHER ADMIN FED REVENUE 0 0 0.0% LOCAL -AVAILABLE 535,705 1,953,600 27.4% LOCAL -USED 1,034,407 0 0.0% IN-KIND REVENUE 0 0 0.0% MISC REVENUE 180 0 0.0% INTEREST INCOME 1,755 11,000 16.0% ------TOTAL OPERATIONAL REVENUE 6,001,799 10,410,548 57.7% ------
PASS THRU-FEDERAL 85,296 0 0.0% PASS THRU-STATE ADMIN FED 519,330 1,375,363 37.8% PASS THRU-STATE 13,035 0 0.0% PASS THRU MATCH/IN-KIND REVENUE 145,706 326,154 44.7% ------TOTAL PASS THRU/IN-KIND REVENUE 763,366 1,701,517 ------
TOTAL REVENUE 6,765,165 12,112,065 55.9% ------
EXPENDITURES:
SALARIES 2,297,364 4,537,986 50.6% CONTRACTS 574,966 1,674,620 34.3% IN-KIND MATCH 0 0 0.0% TRAVEL 143,103 292,200 49.0% SUPPLIES 103,534 141,800 73.0% OTHER EXPENSES 904,508 1,329,552 68.0% MEETING EXPENSES 60,460 95,600 0.0% MEETING REVENUE 0 0 0.0% EXPEND OFFSET 0 0 0.0% FRINGE BENEFITS 1,380,223 2,308,099 59.8% AR CONTIGENCY 0 30,691 0.0% ------TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 5,464,158 10,410,548 52.5% ------PASS THRU EXPENSES 617,661 1,375,363 44.9% PASS THRU/IN KIND MATCH 145,706 326,154 44.7% ------TOTAL PTM/IN-KIND EXPENSES 763,366 1,701,517 44.9% ------TOTAL EXPENSES 6,227,525 12,112,065 51.4% ------
REVENUE OVER/(UNDER) EXPENSES 537,640 0 ======
67% COMPLETE pg2
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General Assembly Meeting Minutes November 13, 2014
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance Chairperson Kathy Vosburg called the General Assembly meeting to order at 4:31 p.m. at University of Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Chairperson Vosburg led the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairperson Vosburg honored the memory of longtime Sterling Heights Mayor Richard Notte, recently deceased. SEMCOG Executive Director Kathleen Lomako remembered recently deceased SEMCOG staff member Jeffrey Tumidanski. A moment of silence was observed for the two men.
B. Roll Call Amy Malmer, SEMCOG staff, called the roll.
C. Welcome Yousef Rabhi, Chair of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, welcomed General Assembly attendees.
D. University Introduction Introduced by Board Chair Rabhi, Cynthia Wilbanks, Vice President for Government Relations at the University of Michigan, described how communities can access University of Michigan resources.
E. Approval of Agenda Chairperson Vosburg asked if there were any additions to the agenda. Hearing none, Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners Chair Yousef Rabhi made the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried.
F. Public Comment Chairperson Vosburg offered members of the public three minutes to comment on any agenda item. There were no comments from the public.
G. Approval of Consent Resolution Canton Township Supervisor Phil LaJoy made the motion to approve the Consent Resolution items: Financial Statements – September 2014; Approval of General Assembly Minutes – June 26, 2014; Receipt of Executive Committee Minutes – July 31, 2014 and October 3, 2014. The motion carried.
H. Report from Chairperson: Kathy Vosburg, Commissioner, Macomb County Chairperson Vosburg welcomed four new SEMCOG members: the City of Allen Park, Shelby Charter Township, Macomb Community College, and Washtenaw Community College. She also congratulated the City of Keego Harbor and the City of Livonia for earning SEMCOG’s Sustainable Community Leader award.
I. Report from Local Government Revenue Task Force Chairperson: Suzanne Pixley, Mayor, City of Eastpointe
Page | 1 12 Chairperson Suzanne Pixley presented the recommendations of the Local Government Revenue Task Force for adoption. Motion made by Chairperson Pixley. The motion carried.
General Assembly Resolution to Adopt the Local Government Revenue Task Force Findings and Recommendations
WHEREAS, local governments have been devastated by the loss of property tax revenue since the Great Recession;
WHEREAS, local governments have also seen a significant decline in state shared revenues, deepening the loss of local funding;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG’s Local Government Revenue Task Force Report, Running on Empty, identifies two groundbreaking findings that discover issues significantly impacting local government revenues;
WHEREAS, seven recommendations have been developed to provide long-term funding solutions for local governments;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this 13th day of November 2014 THAT the General Assembly of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, adopts the policy recommendations contained in SEMCOG’s Local Government Revenue Task Force Report, Running on Empty;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the revenue policy recommendations be integrated into the 2015- 2016 SEMCOG Legislative Policy Platform and other regional planning efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the policy recommendations be advocated for and promoted through SEMCOG activities and in coordination with other local and regional planning efforts.
J. Report from Transportation Coordinating Council Chairperson: Dan O’Leary, Supervisor, Washington Township Chairperson Dan O’Leary presented the Regional Nonmotorized Plan for Southeast Michigan for adoption. Motion made by Chairperson O’Leary. The motion carried.
General Assembly Resolution to Adopt the Nonmotorized Plan for Southeast Michigan
WHEREAS, the nonmotorized system includes pedestrian and bicycle travel used for both commuting and recreation. It includes on-road facilities such as bike lanes, bicycle parking and wide shoulders, and off-road facilities such as side paths and trails;
WHEREAS, Southeast Michigan includes over 2,600 miles of existing bikeways and shared-use pathways, and communities plan to construct approximately 1,500 more miles in the future;
WHEREAS, the nonmotorized network provides environmental, economic, health, and social benefits that are vitally important to individual communities and the region;
Page | 2 13 WHEREAS, the Nonmotorized Plan for Southeast Michigan ties all the components of the region’s nonmotorized system together into an identified system and benchmarks the existing nonmotorized system, identifies deficiencies, visions where we want to go, and provides policy recommendations on how to get there;
WHEREAS, 10 regional strategies and over 60 actions have been developed to direct implementation of the plan;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this 13th day of November 2014 THAT the General Assembly of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, adopts the Nonmotorized Plan for Southeast Michigan;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the nonmotorized strategies be integrated and incorporated into the regional transportation plan and other regional planning efforts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the regional strategies be advocated and promoted through SEMCOG plan implementation activities, educational training workshops, and in coordination with other local and regional planning efforts.
K. Report from Legislative Task Force Chairperson: Phil LaJoy, Supervisor, Canton Township Chairperson Phil LaJoy facilitated an exercise to develop priorities for SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Legislative Policy Platform. The results will be incorporated into the final platform which will be presented to the Executive Committee for approval in December.
L. Report from Executive Director, Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Lomako noted the legislative updated provided by Dykema and included in the meeting agenda. She remarked on the passing that afternoon of transportation funding legislation in Michigan Senate. She emphasized the urgent need for an adequate funding package to be finalized for the state by the end of the year. She then commented on the results of SEMCOG’s recent member survey, which reflected high satisfaction, and noted that the Finance and Budget Committee will use the results to help craft SEMCOG’s work program.
M. Upcoming Meetings Chairperson Vosburg noted the following upcoming meetings: Executive Committee – Friday, December 5, 2014 General Assembly – Thursday, March 26, 2015, Detroit Institute of Arts
There being no further business, Chairperson Vosburg adjourned the General Assembly meeting at 6:01 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Trevor Layton Committee Clerk
Page | 3 14 General Assembly Meeting Attendance November 13, 2014
Unit of Government Delegate Alternate Livingston County County Steven E. Williams Reid Krinock Kathleen Kline-Hudson Cities and Villages Howell Steven L. Manor Townships Genoa Jean Ledford Green Oak Susan Daugherty Hamburg Charles Menzies
Macomb County County Kathy Vosburg
Cities and Villages Eastpointe Suzanne Pixley Mount Clemens Joseph Rheker, III Denise Mentzer New Baltimore Florence Hayman John Dupray Sterling Heights Mark Vanderpool Utica William Osladil Warren Sean Clark
Townships Chesterfield David Joseph Clinton Elizabeth Vogel Lenox Jeanette Ventimiglia Shelby Shannon Filarecki Washington Dan O’Leary
Education Macomb ISD Board of Education Max McCullough Macomb Community College Nicole McKee
Monroe County Education Monroe County ISD Dale DeSloover
Oakland County Cities and Villages Farmington Jeff Scott Farmington Hills Barry Brickner Hazel Park Michael Webb
Page | 4 15 Unit of Government Delegate Alternate Huntington Woods Jeffrey Jenks Keego Harbor Robert Kalman Madison Heights Margene Scott Southfield Donald F. Fracassi Troy Mark F. Miller Townships Commerce Kathleen Jackson Lyon John Hicks Milford Donald Green Orion Chris Barnett
St. Clair County County Karl Tomion
Washtenaw County County Andy LaBarre Yousef Rabhi Cities and Villages Dexter Shawn Keough
Townships Lima Thomas Borton Pittsfield Mandy Grewal Superior Rodrick Green
Education Washtenaw Intermediate School District Mary Jane Tramontin Scott Menzel Washtenaw Community College Diana McKnight-Morton Michelle Mueller
Wayne County County Milton Mack
City and Villages Detroit Brenda Jones Gibraltar James Gorris Grosse Pointe Shores Mark Wollenweber Grosse Pointe Woods Arthur Bryant City of Melvindale Stacy Striz Northville Christopher Johnson Wayne Susan M. Rowe
Townships Brownstown Brian Peters Canton Philip J. LaJoy
Page | 5 16 Unit of Government Delegate Alternate Huron David A. Glaab
Education Wayne County RESA Mary Blackmon Schoolcraft College Terry Gilligan Wayne County Community College District Alan Anderson
Associate Members MDOT Denise B. Jackson
Delegates-At-Large Area Agency on Aging 1-B Tina Abbate Marzolf Southeast Michigan Community Alliance Gregory Pitoniak
Guests Michelle Aniol City of Dexter Gayathri Akella Washtenaw County Public Health Christina Archer Charter Township of Lyon Kari Arend MDOT Allison Beatty Yankee Air Museum Eva Bedford City of Milan Margaret Bossenberry Guest Steve Brock City of Farmington Hills Ryan Buck Washtenaw Area Transportation Study David Callanan Yankee Air Museum Todd Campbell City of Saline Kathy Corfman City of Saline Erika Davis ITC Michigan Rebecca Devooght University of Michigan Julie Edwards Michigan Department of Transportation David Evancoe Road Commission for Oakland County Mark Ferrall Washtenaw Area Transportation Study James Finkley City of Hazel Park David Flaisher Guest Joan Flynn City of Warren Deb Freer Ann Arbor Transportation Douglas Fuller Washtenaw County Road Commission Terry Gibb Michigan State University Stephen Grady City of Detroit, Council President Jones’ Staff Robert Grostick City of Milan John Hayman Guest Kalley Hess City of Melvindale Steve Hopper Yankee Air Museum Ray Hunter Yankee Air Museum
Page | 6 17 Sean Kelley Mannik & Smith Group Christopher Kippola Washtenaw County Lynne Kirby MDOT Mark Knapp Guest James Kosteva University of Michigan Pam Labadie Huron River Watershed Council Alexis Leavitt City of New Baltimore Mariah Lewis Washtenaw County Public Health Kira Macyda Washtenaw County Kari Martin MDOT Bonnie McInerney-Slater City of New Baltimore Stephen McNew Monroe County ISD Tedi Milgrom Washtenaw County Public Health Jason T. Morgan Washtenaw Community College Jim Neilson Hamburg Township Mona Parlove City of Pontiac John Pitts City of Detroit Christine Rahs Washtenaw County Michael Rein University of Michigan Joshua Salazar HDR Nick Sapkiewicz Washtenaw Area Transportation Study Jack Scott Guest Dan Smith Washtenaw County Lisa Solomon University of Michigan Cynthia Stump ITC Michigan George Swan Wayne County Community College District Jessica Thomas Rehnmann Group Anita Twardesky Huron River Watershed Council Nathan Voght Washtenaw County Peter Voorhees URS Michael Webb City of Hazel Park Philip J. Weipert Oakland County Commissioner Jessica West Pittsfield Charter Township Christopher Wigent Wayne County RESA Cynthia Wilbanks University of Michigan Brian Williams Conway Township
SEMCOG Staff Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Carmine Palombo Deputy Executive Director Isidoro Alastra Internal Support Bill Anderson Executive Office Audrey Austin Internal Support Dave Boerger Local Government Effectiveness and Collaboration Alex Bourgeau Plan Implementation Grant Brooks Membership/External Affairs
Page | 7 18 J. Thomas Bruff Plan and Policy Development Ann Burns Data Collection and Analysis Jody Egelton Internal Support Scott Failla Internal Support Nick Friedrich Internal Support Naheed Huq Plan Implementation Mark Jones Plan Implementation Misty Jordan Internal Support Ginger Juncker Local Government Effectiveness and Collaboration Susan Krichbaum Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Jacque’l Lake Internal Support Trevor Layton Membership/External Affairs Xuan Liu Data Collection and Analysis Amy Malmer Membership and External Affairs Amy Mangus Plan Implementation Glenda Marks Internal Support Saima Masud Plan and Policy Development Brian Mohr Data Collection and Analysis Jeffery Nutting Data Collection and Analysis Kajal Patel Plan Implementation Brian Pawlik Plan Implementation Susan Phillips Plan and Policy Development Carmil Quick Internal Support Susan Stefanski Membership/External Affairs Sue Stetler Membership/External Affairs Sirisha Uppalapati Data Collection and Analysis Kevin Vettraino Plan Implementation Margaret Warner Internal Support
Page | 8 19
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approval of Agenda
City of Huntington Woods Commissioner and SEMCOG First Vice Chairperson Jeffrey Jenks called the Executive Committee meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Mr. Jenks welcomed the new Representatives-elect to the Michigan House of Representatives who were in attendance: Derek Miller, representing the 28th district in Warren and Center Line; Michael Webber, representing the 45th district in Rochester and Rochester Hills; and Robert Wittenberg, representing the 27th district in southern Oakland County.
In lieu of a formal roll call, Mr. Jenks asked attendees to introduce themselves.
City of Grosse Pointe Mayor Dale N. Scrace made the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried.
B. Public Comment
Mr. Jenks offered members of the public three minutes to comment on any agenda item. No comments were made.
C. Approval of Consent Resolution
Canton Township Supervisor and SEMCOG Vice Chair Phil LaJoy made the motion to approve the items in the consent resolution: Receipt of Financial Statements – October 2014; Approval of Executive Committee minutes – October 3, 2014. The motion carried.
D. Report from Chairperson: Vice Chair Jeffrey Jenks, Commissioner, City of Huntington Woods
Mr. Jenks announced that applications for the 2015 Taubman Fellowships to Harvard University, for which local elected officials and appointed staff from SEMCOG member communities are eligible, are now available. Mr. Jenks noted that red ribbons provided by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers serve as a reminder to plan ahead and designate a non- drinking driver during the holiday season.
E. Report from the Transportation Coordinating Council Chairperson Dan O’Leary, Supervisor, Washington Township Transportation Coordinating Council Chairperson Dan O’Leary, Supervisor, Washington Township, summarized a proposed amendment to the 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program. Mr. O’Leary noted that three public comments were made during 20 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 2
the public comment period for this amendment: one suggesting that SEMCOG hold evening meetings to allow for easier public comment in person; one in support of the US-23/I-96 Interchange reconstruction project; and one from Detroit City Councilman Gabe Leland in support of the Metro Region Lighting amendment. Motion made by Mr. O’Leary that the Executive Committee approve the TIP amendment. The motion carried.
Executive Committee Resolution Approving an Amendment to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program for Southeast Michigan
WHEREAS, SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, is the designated policy committee and Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Southeast Michigan Study Area;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG is responsible for the development of a Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), which is required by both the Federal Transit Administration and the Federal Highway Administration;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG is required to develop amendments to the FY 2014-2017 TIP pursuant to the transportation planning provisions of Title 23 of United States Code (USC) Section 134;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG’s amendments to the FY 2014-2017 TIP include a fiscal analysis that identifies sources of anticipated revenue and how identified projects will be funded, and thus, are financially constrained;
WHEREAS, the FY 2014-2017 TIP was analyzed in accordance with the State Implementation Plan for Air Quality as required by the provisions of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 51for air quality conformity and found not to exceed present and future emission budgets in all analysis years;
WHEREAS, the amendment to the FY 2014-2017 TIP is consistent with the 2040 Regional Transportation Plan for Southeast Michigan, constrained to reasonable revenues, and was made available for public review and comment;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this 5th day of December 2014 THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, approves the addition of 23 projects to, and the deletion of 16 projects from the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SEMCOG has determined that the amendment to the FY 2014-2017 Transportation Improvement Program conforms to the State Implementation Plan for Air Quality as required by provisions of Title 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 51 and Title 23 CFR Part 450.
21 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 3
F. Report from the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Chairperson: Debbie Dingell, Congresswoman-Elect, 12th District Presented by MAC President Kathleen Lomako SEMCOG Executive Director and MAC President Kathleen Lomako reported that partner organizations SEMCOG and MAC continue their great relationship and summarized the priorities of the 2015 MAC work program. Motion made by Washtenaw County Board of Commisisoners Chair Yousef Rabhi that the Executive Committee approve SEMCOG staff involvement in the MAC 2015 Work Program. The motion carried.
Executive Committee Resolution to Approve SEMCOG Staff Participation in the 2015 Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Work Program
RESOLVED this 5th day of December 2014, THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, approves SEMCOG staff involvement in the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition 2015 Work Program.
G. Report from the Legislative Policy Task Force Chairperson: Phil LaJoy, Supervisor, Canton Township Legislative Policy Task Force Chairperson Phil LaJoy, Supervisor, Canton Township, summarized the key components of the Legislative Policy Platform and stressed the need for elected officials to work together to turn the ideas into reality. Motion made by Mr. LaJoy that the Executive Committee approve SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Legislative Platform. During discussion, City of Grosse Pointe Mayor Dale N. Scrace proposed an amendment stating that language stressing the legitimacy and importance of SEMCOG’s current seven-county regional formation be added to the platform. The amendment was approved, and the motion carried.
Amendment to 2015-2016 Legislative Policy Platform
Regional Governance SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, was formed through the initiative of its member governments and their recognition of the interdependence of the seven counties within the region. The commitment each community has made to the others is the strength of the organization. SEMCOG is the forum where those accountable to citizens – elected officials – can work together to enhance the complex economic system that exists in the region. • Maintain the region’s jurisdictional boundaries as determined by its member governments. • Support programs that allow the regional structure to support its local governments.
22 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 4
Executive Committee Resolution to Approve SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Legislative Policy Platform
RESOLVED, this 5th day of December 2014, THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, approves SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Legislative Policy Platform for advocacy purposes.
H. Report from Executive Director, Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Kathleen Lomako reported that SEMCOG had released information to the news media about the declining condition of our roads and that the release was met with interest. Ms. Lomako shared the latest information on the Michigan Legislature’s efforts to pass road funding legislation. Amid discussion, a motion was made by City of Inskter Mayor Hilliard Hampton that SEMCOG’s Executive Committee pass a resolution in support of the Senate-passed package of bills impacting transportation funding and opposing the House-passed packaged of bills. The motion carried.
SEMCOG Executive Committee Resolution to Support the Senate-adopted Transportation Funding Legislation and to Oppose the House-adopted Transportation Funding Legislation
WHEREAS, SEMCOG represents counties, cities, villages, townships, Intermediate School Districts, and Community Colleges within the seven-county Southeast Michigan region;
WHEREAS, state gas tax revenue does not increase over time because the tax is based on consumption rather than cost;
WHEREAS, the state gas tax has remained unchanged since 1997;
WHEREAS, federal-aid-eligible roads within the SEMCOG region have gone from a situation where 4 percent of the roads were determined to be in “poor” condition in 2004 to a point where 43 percent of the roads evaluated this year were categorized as “poor”;
WHEREAS, roads in poor condition cost vehicle owners additional expense in repairs and endanger those who travel on the roads;
WHEREAS, local road agencies have reduced winter plowing and salting activities due to budget constraints, further endangering those who travel;
WHEREAS, state transit funding sources have remained unchanged since 1987;
WHEREAS, the SEMCOG region’s transit systems are currently considered deficient when compared to other major metropolitan regions in the country;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG supports increased funding for road and transit needs implemented over the quickest possible timeframe;
WHEREAS, SEMCOG opposes efforts to divert existing revenue sources that fund local government and local public schools in order to fund transportation needs; 23 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 5
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this 5th day of December 2014, THAT SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, supports the Senate-passed package of bills to enhance transportation funding based on their ability to generate significant new revenue for our roads and transit systems phased-in over a reasonable period of time and containing provisions that will allow the funding to grow in future years;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT SEMCOG opposes the House-passed package of bills impacting transportation funding because they fail to generate enough revenue to reverse the deterioration of our roads, offer no relief for the immediate problems of underfunding, cripple our transit systems, divert a significant existing revenue stream from public schools and divert significant revenues from local governments.
Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool suggested that SEMCOG organize a news conference at which local government leaders could stand together to bring attention to the key messages within this resolution. It was agreed that SEMCOG would organize an event to do so.
Ms. Lomako shared an educational video produced as part of a series about the facts behind water bills from SEMCOG, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s Technical Advisory Committee, the City of Livonia, and the Oakland County Water Resource Commissioner’s Office. Ms. Lomako shared details about an upcoming SEMCOG University on intergovernmental collaboration.
I. Upcoming meetings
Executive Committee – Friday, January 23, 2015 Executive Committee – Friday, February 27, 2015 General Assembly – Thursday, March 26, 2015, Detroit Institute of Arts
There being no further business, the Executive Committee was adjourned at 2:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Trevor Layton Committee Clerk
24 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 6 Executive Committee Meeting Attendance December 5, 2014
Delegates/Alternates Present Representing Steven Williams Livingston County Steve Manor Livingston County Townships Michael Sedlak Livingston County Townships Pam Lavers Macomb County Suzanne Pixley Macomb Cities and Villages Mark D. Vanderpool Macomb County Cities and Villages Jeff Yaroch Macomb County Cities and Villages Dan O’Leary Macomb County Townships Robert Cannon Macomb County Townships Helaine Zack Oakland County Jeffrey Jenks Oakland County Cities and Villages Margene Scott Oakland County Cities and Villages Bryan Barnett Oakland County Cities and Villages Donald Green Oakland County Townships Chris Barnett Oakland County Townships Karl Tomion St. Clair County Marsden Murphy St. Clair County Pauline Repp St. Clair County Cities and Villages Yousef Rabhi Washtenaw County Rodrick K. Green Washtenaw County Townships Raymond Basham Wayne County Hilliard Hampton Wayne County Cities and Villages David Angileri Wayne County Cities and Villages Dale Scrace Wayne County Cities and Villages Phil LaJoy Wayne County Townships Bryan Barnhill II City of Detroit Brenda Jones City of Detroit Max D. McCullough Macomb Intermediate School District Denise Jackson Michigan Department of Transportation
Ex-Officio Members Delegates At-Large Tina Abbate Marzolf Area Agency on Aging 1-B Greg Pitoniak Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
Transportation Providers David Evancoe Road Commission for Oakland County
Guests Derek Miller Michigan Representative-elect, District 28 Michael Webber Michigan Representative-elect, District 45 Robert Wittenberg Michigan Representative-elect, District 27 Eleonor “Lenlen” Jenks Guest Lauri Pixley City of Eastpointe Lana Zaghmout Office of25 Detroit Councilmember Raquel Castañeda-Lopez Executive Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2014 Page | 7
SEMCOG Staff Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Carmine Palombo Deputy Executive Director William Anderson Executive Office Grant Brooks Membership/External Affairs J. Thomas Bruff Plan/Policy Development Steve Brudzinski Plan Implementation Trevor Brydon Plan/Policy Development Jody Egelton Internal Support Scott Failla Internal Support Naheed Huq Plan Implementation Susan Krichbaum Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Jacque'l Lake Internal Support Trevor Layton Membership/External Affairs Xuan Liu Data Collection and Analysis Amy Malmer Membership/External Affairs Saima Masud Plan/Policy Development Robert Morris State Legislative Activity Jeffery Nutting Data Collection and Analysis Kajal Patel Plan Implementation Brian Pawlik Plan Implementation Susan Phillips Plan/Policy Development Sue Stetler Membership/External Affairs Stephanie Taylor Data Collection and Analysis Kevin Vettraino Plan Implementation Natalie Youakim Plan/Policy Development
26
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 23, 2015
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approval of Agenda
Macomb County Commissioner and SEMCOG Chairperson Kathy Vosburg called the Executive Committee meeting to order at 1:01 p.m.
In lieu of a formal roll call, Ms. Vosburg asked attendees to introduce themselves.
Canton Township Supervisor and SEMCOG Vice Chair Phil LaJoy made the motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried.
B. Public Comment
Ms. Vosburg offered members of the public three minutes to comment on any agenda item. No comments were made.
C. Approval of Consent Resolution
City of Grosse Pointe Mayor Dale N. Scrace made a motion to approve the items in the consent resolution: Receipt of Financial Statements – December 2014; Approval of Executive Committee minutes – December 5, 2014. The motion carried.
D. Report from Chairperson: Kathy Vosbug, Commissioner, Macomb County
Ms. Vosburg introduced Kirk Steudle, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. Mr. Steudle presented details of significant upcoming projects in the SEMCOG region and the potential impacts of the May ballot proposal that would increase transportation funding.
Ms. Vosburg’s report also included an update of the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan, or SIP. St. Clair County Planning Commission Chairman Marsden Murphy made a motion to approve the St. Clair River and Lake St Clair Strategic Implementation Plan. The motion carried.
Executive Committee Resolution Approving the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan
WHEREAS, the Lake St. Clair system has significant biodiversity supporting over 70 fish species, approximately 38 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 90 species of birds, and
27 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 23, 2015 Page | 2
WHEREAS, the Lake St. Clair is a world-class fishery – generating approximately $1.7 billion annually, and
WHEREAS, Lake St. Clair’s natural areas provide numerous opportunities for ecotourism such as kayaking and canoeing, boating, fishing, hiking and biking, and
WHEREAS, SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, facilitates the Lake St. Clair/St. Clair River Protection and Restoration Partnership (the Partnership);
WHEREAS, the Partnership is responsible for implementing the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Comprehensive Management Plan and for developing the 2015 St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan;
WHEREAS, the 2015 update to the Strategic Implementation Plan contains 107 projects from Macomb, Oakland, and St. Clair Counties, and contains approximately $200 million of actions to protect, restore and enhance the Lake St. Clair Watershed;
WHEREAS, an implementation strategy for priority projects will be developed based on meetings with the state and federal funding agencies to move projects from planning to implementation;
WHEREAS, the Partnership will provide direct assistance to sponsors of priority projects in developing project descriptions and scope of services;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, this 23rd day of January 2015, THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, approves the St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair Strategic Implementation Plan.
Ms. Vosburg summarized the results of SEMCOG’s 2014 Member Survey, which showed satisfaction scores ranging between 8.1 and 9.3, on a 10-point scale, on measures such as ease of reaching staff, speed of response to requests, accuracy of information/response to requests, and follow-up provided. She said that SEMCOG will increase efforts to better engage members through direct communication, attending local meetings – increasing our presence at council/board meetings, and hosting more programs/training sessions – holding these at a variety of locations within the region.
E. Report from Finance and Budget Committee Max McCullough, Vice President, Macomb County ISD Mr. McCullough reported that SEMCOG would benefit from specialized project management software that would enhance the ability to track and monitor various projects. Motion made by Mr. McCullough that the Executive Committee approve the purchase of a project management software package from EcoInteractive. The motion carried.
RESOLVED, this 23rd day of January 2015, THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to purchase a software application from EcoInterative for $59,880, with annual hosting, maintenance, and support fees in the same amount annually.
28 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 23, 2015 Page | 3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Executive Director, or her designee, is authorized to enter into a purchase arrangement with Data Transfer Solutions, should negotiations with the above vendor be unsuccessful.
Mr. McCullough reported the receipt of SEMCOG’s annual audit and Independent Auditor’s Report.
F. Report from Executive Director, Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Kathleen Lomako thanked all SEMCOG members who attended the December road funding press conference. Her report also included details of the May 5 ballot proposal. Ms. Lomako presented data on the state of the region, noting that indicators show Southeast Michigan is on the rebound but not yet making up losses from the Great Recession. Her report also included a federal legislative update.
G. Upcoming meetings
Executive Committee: Friday, February 27, 2015 General Assembly: Thursday, March 26, 2015, Detroit Institute of Arts
There being no further business, the Executive Committee was adjourned at 2:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Trevor Layton Committee Clerk
29 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 23, 2015 Page | 4 Executive Committee Meeting Attendance January 23, 2015
Delegates/Alternates Present Representing Steven Williams Livingston County William Green Livingston County Kathleen Kline-Hudson Livingston County Steve Manor Livingston County Cities and Villages Kathy Vosburg Macomb County Robert Cannon Macomb County Townships Robert E. Clark Monroe County Cities and Villages Matthew Gibb Oakland County John Scott Oakland County Phil Weipert Oakland County Helaine Zack Oakland County Margene Scott Oakland County Cities and Villages Stephanie Carroll Oakland County Cities and Villages Donald Green Oakland County Townships Karl Tomion St. Clair County Marsden Murphy St. Clair County Dianne Lovett St. Clair County Cities and Villages Yousef Rabhi Washtenaw County Lois Allen Richardson Washtenaw County Cities and Villages Rodrick K. Green Washtenaw County Townships Tupac Hunter Wayne County Raymond Basham Wayne County David Angileri Wayne County Cities and Villages Dale Scrace Wayne County Cities and Villages Phil LaJoy Wayne County Townships George Cushingberry City of Detroit Bryan Barnhill II City of Detroit Mary Blackmon Wayne County RESA Max D. McCullough Macomb Intermediate School District Kirk Steudle MDOT
Ex-Officio Members Delegates At-Large Tina Abbate Marzolf Area Agency on Aging 1-B Greg Pitoniak Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
Transportation Providers David Evancoe Road Commission for Oakland County Julie Edwards MDOT – Metro Region
Guests Sue Camilleri Waterford Township Douglas George Consulate General of Canada Karen Joliat Waterford Township Tony Kratofil MDOT 30 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes January 23, 2015 Page | 5
Rob Morosi MDOT Triette Reeves DDOT Jack Scott Guest
SEMCOG Staff Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Carmine Palombo Deputy Executive Director William Anderson Executive Office Grant Brooks Membership/External Affairs J. Thomas Bruff Plan/Policy Development Ann Burns Data Collection and Analysis Scott Failla Internal Support Naheed Huq Executive Office Calvin Johnson Plan Implementation Susan Krichbaum Metropolitan Affairs Coalition Jacque'l Lake Internal Support Trevor Layton Membership/External Affairs Amy Malmer Membership/External Affairs Robert Morris State Legislative Activity Jeffery Nutting Data Collection and Analysis William Parkus Plan Implementation Kajal Patel Plan Implementation Susan Phillips Plan/Policy Development Susn Stefanski Membership/External Affairs Sue Stetler Membership/External Affairs Stephanie Taylor Data Collection and Analysis
31
Executive Committee Meeting Minutes February 27, 2015
A. Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call Approval of Agenda
Macomb County Commissioner and SEMCOG Chairperson Kathy Vosburg called the Executive Committee meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
In lieu of a formal roll call, Ms. Vosburg asked attendees to introduce themselves.
City of Grosse Pointe Mayor Dale Scrace made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion carried.
B. Public Comment
Ms. Vosburg offered members of the public three minutes to comment on any agenda item. No comments were made.
C. Approval of Consent Resolution
Wayne County RESA Treasurer Mary E. Blackmon made a motion to approve the items in the consent resolution: Receipt of Financial Statements – January 2015; Approval of Executive Committee minutes – January 23, 2015. The motion carried.
D. Report from Chairperson: Kathy Vosbug, Commissioner, Macomb County
Ms. Vosburg introduced Douglas George, Consul General of Canada. Mr. George presented details of the New International Trade Crossing between Detroit and Windsor.
Ms. Vosburg’s report included a summary of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed revision to ozone air quality standards and what a revision would mean for Southeast Michigan. Ms. Vosburg also unveiled SEMCOG’s new website and reported on the SEMCOG officers’ visits to Southeast Michigan’s congressional delegation and attendance of the National Association of Regional Councils Conference in Washington, DC.
E. Report from Finance and Budget Committee Chairperson: Mandy Grewal, Supervisor, Pittsfield Township Ms. Grewal reported that SEMCOG’s Finance and Budget Committee has completed a recommended FY 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary. Motion made by Ms. Grewal that the Executive Committee approve the committee’s
32 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes February 27, 2015 Page | 2
recommendation for General Assembly adoption of the Budget and Work Program summary. The motion carried.
RESOLVED this 27th day of February 2015, THAT the Executive Committee of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments:
• approves the FY 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary;
• recommends General Assembly adoption of FY 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary, specifically adopting revenues and expenditures of $10 million; a Membership Dues Schedule; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goals; and Pass- Through Funds;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to contract with the agencies interested in funding the tasks contained in the Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to make changes in the FY 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary as may be necessary during the final negotiation and discussion process which shall be reported back to the Executive Committee;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to file applications, requisitions, and necessary supporting documents with respective federal, state, and other agencies as required by these agencies;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to commit the matching funds as required by the contracts and grant agreements negotiated pursuant to the FY 2015-2016 Work Program;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to enter into pass-through funding and in-kind match agreements with agencies to perform work identified in the FY 2015-2016 Work Program;
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to execute and file with grantor agencies assurances or any other documents required effectuating the purposes of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
• authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to set forth and execute affirmative minority business agreements in connection with the work program’s procurement needs.
F. Report from Executive Director, Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Kathleen Lomako summarized the household travel survey being conducted by SEMCOG and MDOT and showed a promotional video explaining the survey that all SEMCOG members are encouraged to share with their residents. Her report also included a presentation of SEMCOG’s new web page devoted to education on the May 5 33 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes February 27, 2015 Page | 3
ballot proposal. Ms. Lomako encouraged SEMCOG members to attend a March 4 SEMCOG University about the Transportation Alternatives Program.
G. Upcoming meetings
General Assembly: Thursday, March 26, 2015, Detroit Institute of Arts Executive Committee: Friday, April 24, 2015
There being no further business, the Executive Committee was adjourned at 2:27 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Trevor Layton Committee Clerk
34 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes February 27, 2015 Page | 4 Executive Committee Meeting Attendance February 27, 2015
Delegates/Alternates Present Representing Kathleen Kline-Hudson Livingston County Michael Sedlak Livingston County Townships John Paul Rea Macomb County Kathy Vosburg Macomb County Pam Lavers Macomb County Mark Vanderpool Macomb County Cities and Villages John Dupray Macomb County Cities and Villages Dan O’Leary Macomb County Townships Robert E. Clark Monroe County Cities and Villages James McDevitt Monroe County Townships David VanderVeen Oakland County Jeff Matis Oakland County Jeffrey Jenks Oakland County Cities and Villages Margene Scott Oakland County Cities and Villages Stephanie Carroll Oakland County Cities and Villages Donald Green Oakland County Townships Chris Barnett Oakland County Townships Karl Tomion St. Clair County Marsden Murphy St. Clair County Pauline Repp St. Clair County Cities and Villages Yousef Rabhi Washtenaw County Rodrick K. Green Washtenaw County Townships Mandy Grewal Washtenaw County Townships Tupac Hunter Wayne County Milton Mack, Jr. Wayne County Raymond Basham Wayne County Hilliard Hampton Wayne County Cities and Villages David Angileri Wayne County Cities and Villages Dale Scrace Wayne County Cities and Villages Mary Blackmon Wayne County RESA Max D. McCullough Macomb Intermediate School District
Ex-Officio Members Delegates At-Large Greg Pitoniak Southeast Michigan Community Alliance
Transportation Providers David Evancoe Road Commission for Oakland County Julie Edwards MDOT – Metro Region Douglas Fuller Washtenaw County Road Commission
Guests Steve Brock City of Farmington Hills Douglas George Consulate General of Canada Phil Kraft Congresswoman35 Candice Miller’s office Executive Committee Meeting Minutes February 27, 2015 Page | 5
Jack Scott Guest
SEMCOG Staff Kathleen Lomako Executive Director Carmine Palombo Deputy Executive Director William Anderson Executive Office Grant Brooks Executive Office J. Thomas Bruff Plan/Policy Development Trevor Brydon Plan/Policy Development Ann Burns Data Collection and Analysis Jody Egelton Internal Support Nick Friedrich Internal Support Naheed Huq Executive Office Jacque'l Lake Internal Support Trevor Layton Executive Office Xuan Liu Data Collection and Analysis Amy Malmer Executive Office Glenda Marks Internal Support Brian Pawlik Plan Implementation Sue Stetler Executive Office Stephanie Taylor Data Collection and Analysis Kevin Vettraino Plan Implementation Joan Weidner Plan/Policy Development Natalie Youakim Plan/Policy Development
36 SEMCOG Finance and Budget Committee Mandy Grewal, Chairperson Supervisor, Pittsfield Charter Township
March 26, 2015
TO: General Assembly
SUBJECT: 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary
Summary of action requested The General Assembly is requested to adopt SEMCOG’s 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary. This document presents financial information and work proposed in summary fashion for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015. Background information and project descriptions to be carried out by SEMCOG and the Pass-Through agencies are contained in the 2015-2016 Work Program.
Policy implications Pursuant to Article IV. Section B. of SEMCOG’s Bylaws, the proposed budget, schedule of membership fees, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goals, and Pass-Through Funds, which were reviewed and recommended for adoption by the Finance and Budget Committee and the Executive Committee, are presented for your review and approval.
Background The proposed budget is balanced at $10 million, a four percent decrease from our current budget. This proposed budget supports the ongoing operations of SEMCOG with a similar staffing level as contained in the current budget. The seven percent decrease in salaries reflects several retirements of more senior staff, with more modest salaries projected for new or replacement staffing. Several specialized grants will be ending in the 2015-2016 calendar year. Projected dues, in-kind match, and interest income are down slightly. In total, there is a four percent decrease in revenues.
The proposed budget also continues several contracts that support significant pieces of regional work – the Household Travel Survey and Aerial Photography. Two new projects that will require significant contracts have been added to the budget. They are modeling updates for the long- range travel demand model, and an economic development project as a part of the Regional Prosperity Initiative work. These contracts support regional planning, while providing accessible information to the region’s local governments.
This budget continues to reap the benefits of our recent move which include a reduced and more efficient office space. Our office provides a working environment that enhances staff productivity, is attractive to workers of the future, and creates a dynamic environment for bringing thought leaders together to make important regional decisions.
The Operating Budget and Work Program Summary was released for public comment on February 19, 2015. The comment period will end at the General Assembly on March 26, 2015. 37 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary
Actions by other committees The Finance and Budget Committee recommended Executive Committee approval at its meeting on February 5, 2015. The Executive Committee recommended General Assembly adoption at its meeting on February 27, 2015.
Action requested General Assembly approval of the attached resolution.
38 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary
General Assembly Resolution to Adopt the 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary
RESOLVED this 26th day of March 2015, THAT the General Assembly of SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments:
adopts 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary, specifically adopting revenues and expenditures of $10 million; a Membership Dues Schedule; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Goals; and Pass-Through Funds;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to contract with the agencies interested in funding the tasks contained in the Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to make changes in the 2015-2016 Annual Operating Budget and Work Program Summary as may be necessary during the final negotiation and discussion process which shall be reported back to the Executive Committee;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to file applications, requisitions, and necessary supporting documents with respective federal, state, and other agencies as required by these agencies;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to commit the matching funds as required by the contracts and grant agreements negotiated pursuant to the 2015-2016 Work Program;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to enter into pass-through funding and in-kind match agreements with agencies to perform work identified in the 2015-2016 Work Program;
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to execute and file with grantor agencies assurances or any other documents required effectuating the purposes of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; and
authorizes the Executive Director, or her designee, to set forth and execute affirmative minority business agreements in connection with the work program’s procurement needs.
ATTEST: ______DATE: ______Committee Clerk
39 Congress Set to Tackle Series of Contentious Issues. Over the course of the next several weeks, Congress is expected to focus on a number of highly contentious issues that will once again divide the Congress along partisan lines. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of the nomination of Loretta Lynch to succeed Eric Holder as the nation’s Attorney General. The debate over whether or not to confirm Lynch is likely to be the next phase in the debate over the President’s controversial executive order on immigration. Additionally, both the House and Senate are expected to debate the FY 2016 budget resolutions. With the return of sequestration looming, this year’s debate in both the House and Senate is expected to be highly combative. There is a wide range of disagreement between Democrats and Republicans, as well as differing opinions within the Republican conference, about whether to prevent or postpone sequestration, to protect defense funding from sequestration or to let it take place in an effort to bring down the annual budget deficit. After approving a budget, Congress’s job will not get any easier with transportation reauthorization, international trade deals and renewal of the Export-Import bank all on the agenda in coming months.
Lawmakers Focus Attention on FY 2016 Budget. After passing a one week extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at the end of February, Congress reached an agreement on a bill to fund DHS through the remainder of FY 2015 and President Obama signed it into law on March 6. As a result, Congress can now turn its full attention to crafting the FY 2016 budget. Unlike last year, Congress does not enter into the process with an agreement on the discretionary funding caps to guide the process. Congress must start from scratch to develop a Budget Resolution by the statutory deadline of April 15. Although Congress routinely misses this deadline and in many years never actually passes a Budget Resolution, there is pressure on Congress to pass a budget resolution this year in order to address sequestration. After a two-year budget deal negotiated in December 2013 provided some relief from sequestration in the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years, the sequester will be back in effect in Fiscal Year 2016 unless Congress acts to prevent it. The Obama administration has proposed a series of spending reductions and tax increases to replace the sequester. One of the spending cuts proposed in President Obama’s plan is to reduce funding for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by approximately $200 million, which was met with strong opposition by lawmakers at a recent appropriations hearing. Not only is CDBG extremely popular with local governments but it enjoys strong support in Congress since it was one of the few ways for federal dollars to flow into many local districts in the absence of earmarks. However, the proposed cuts to the CDBG program demonstrate the challenges faced by the President and Congress in the face of sequestration. Unless President Obama and the Republican-controlled Congress can reach a budget agreement that addresses the sequester, programs with strong support by both parties are likely to be subject to significant spending cuts. Negotiations are currently underway in search of a solution, but all indications at this point are that even if Congress provides some relief, sequestration is likely to remain in effect in some form.
40 Federal Legislative Update March 2015 Page 2 of 3
Deadline Nearing to Renew Transportation Funding. The current authorization that funds federal highway and transit programs runs through May 31, 2015 and House and Senate committees responsible for writing the reauthorization for MAP-21 are working to produce legislation. The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee has completed a series of hearings and is now drafting a bipartisan proposal largely expected to mirror the six-year extension of current transportation funding levels that passed the committee in 2014. The EPW bill from last Congress would have raised local governments’ STP allocations to 66.7%. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is scheduled to hold a second hearing on the topic of reauthorization on March 17 with a legislative proposal following sometime in the spring. Various other proposals dealing with surface transportation programs and funding mechanisms have already been introduced, but there is not yet a consensus about a funding source. Funding proposals range from increasing the gas tax (not likely to be enacted) to taxing crude oil exports to using one-time revenue from business tax reform to fill the Highway Trust Fund funding shortfall. President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget included a proposal to use $238 billion in one-time revenue from business tax reform to make whole the Highway Trust Fund and make new infrastructure investments as part of a $478 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization. A legislative version of the tax repatriation proposal has been introduced by Senate EPW Ranking Member Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and similar ideas have also been put forth by Senator Rand Paul (R- KY), as well as included in the comprehensive tax reform draft bill released in the last Congress by former Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp.
Legislation Introduced to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species in the Great Lakes. Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Candice Miller recently introduced S. 589/H.R. 1135, the Defending Our Great Lakes Act, which directs the Army Corp and federal agencies to implement some of the specific strategies outlined in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS) and to coordinate with regional stakeholders on other long-term solutions. The bill would authorize projects at a critical control point near the western end of the Chicago Area Waterway System-the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. The GLMRIS report called for the construction of an engineered channel to put control technologies in place like additional electric barriers, carbon dioxide bubble screens, underwater sound canons and pheromones at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam. The Army Corps of Engineers announced in December that they are evaluating which technologies will be most effective at keeping invasive species out of the Great Lakes Basin. This bill gives the Corps the flexibility to choose from all of their available options prior to making a decision. There are 12 additional members of the Michigan delegation who are original cosponsors of the bill, including Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Representatives Dan Benishek (R-MI), Mike Bishop (R-MI), John Conyers (D-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Dan Kildee (D-MI), Sandy Levin (D- MI), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Dave Trott (R-MI), Fred Upton (R-MI) and Tim Walberg (R-MI).
A-10’s Once Again on Chopping Block, Future BRAC Possible. The Fiscal Year 2016 Air Force Budget Request once again proposes to retire the fleet of A-10 Warthog close-air support aircraft. Retiring the A-10 fleet would save the Air Force $428 million in 2016 and $4.2 billion over the next several years. However, member of Congress strongly oppose the Air Force proposal on the grounds that the Air Force does not have yet have a new aircraft to replace the A-10 to carry out the important mission of providing close-in air support to combat troops on the ground. As you may recall, the Air Force made a similar proposal to retire the A-10s in FY 2015, but Congress included language in last year’s Defense Appropriations bill that prohibited funding for retiring the aircraft. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), one the most vocal supporters of the A-10 and the new Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has vowed to block any efforts by the Air Force to retire the aircraft in 2016.
41 2 Federal Legislative Update March 2015 Page 3 of 3
As mentioned in a previous story, the two year budget deal that provided temporary relief from sequestration expired at the end of the 2015 While many in Congress have called for the sequester to be replaced, all indications are that is likely to remain in effect in some form. At a recent, Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing, many leading voices in the defense community stated that it will be extremely difficult to maintain current defense infrastructure under the spending caps required by sequestration. The Pentagon has requested funding to begin the planning process for a future round of Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC) only to have that request to be blocked by Congress. However, sequestration increases the possibility of a future round of base closures and may force Congress to allow the Pentagon to begin the process if they cannot reach an agreement to prevent sequestration.
Resolving Tax Issues This Congress Remains a Longshot. Tax reform continues to be at the top of the agenda for the new chairmen of the tax writing committees, Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI), respectively of the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee. However, chances are slim that an overhaul will happen during this Congress. For a time, it seemed possible that Congress could try to pass corporate tax reform as a compromise between maintaining status quo and a comprehensive restructuring of the tax code. Early on, President Obama stated his preference for corporate-only reform (and proposed to use newly created revenues to pay for transportation infrastructure legislation), but it appears that key members of Congress are not in favor of a piecemeal approach and because, in practice, individual and corporate taxes are so intertwined. Regardless, the Senate Finance Committee has created five working groups to assess different areas of the tax code with Senator Stabenow leading the working group on individual income taxes. Chairman Ryan has stated that if tax reform does not happen before August 2015, it probably will not happen until after the next presidential election.
Negotiations on the Marketplace Fairness Act are ongoing with Republicans in the House and the Senate trying to come to an agreement on how to move forward with modifications. The latest proposals include one from Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) that would address complaints about the complexity of remitting sales taxes to 45 states and more than 7,500 local jurisdictions by exempting small businesses with annual revenues of $1 million or less; and one from Congressman Robert Goodlatte, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee that would enforce the collection by remote online vendors of sales taxes at the rates in effect in their own states, not the home states of buyers. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) has a proposal similar to Senator Enzi. Opponents of the Goodlatte bill, including the National Governor’s Association, contend buyers would be paying taxes in states in which they did not receive services and cannot vote (taxation without representation) and would give vendors a strong incentive to move to lower or no-sales tax states. According to reports, Chairman Goodlatte is still vetting his proposal with the goal of leveling the playing field for traditional retailers and collecting comments from members and groups. The debate about online sales tax has also been complicated by efforts to block new state and local taxes on Internet access and other types of communications services like mobile devices. No timeline has been set for a resolution of the issue.
This update was prepared by Andy Buczek and Mary Beth McGowan, Government Policy Advisors with Dykema’s Federal Government Relations Practice. As part of our service to you, we regularly compile short reports on new and interesting developments and the issues the developments raise. Please recognize that these reports do not constitute legal advice and that we do not attempt to cover all such developments. Rules of certain state supreme courts may consider this advertising and require us to advise you of such designation. Your comments are always welcome. © 2014 Dykema Gossett PLLC
42 3 SEMCOG Officers 2014-2015
Kathy D. Vosburg Chairperson Commissioner, Macomb County
Jeffrey Jenks First Vice Chair Commissioner, Huntington Woods
Robert Clark Vice Chairperson Mayor, City of Monroe
Rodrick Green Vice Chairperson Trustee, Superior Township
Phil LaJoy Vice Chairperson Supervisor, Canton Township
Karl Tomion Vice Chairperson Commissioner, St. Clair County
Joan Gebhardt Immediate Past Chair Treasurer, Schoolcraft College
Kathleen Lomako Executive Director