Urban Cooperation Act Bills Go to Governor With Employer, Employee Support
 Last week, legislation was passed that that makes changes to the Urban Cooperation Act and corresponding statutes to ensure a more efficient and effective process to share services. The legislation had sign-off from the League, MPFFU, FOP and POAM. For years the League has been pushing for changes to these statutes to remove language that stated that no employee may be harmed. The result of this language was that employees would (or could) be bumped up to the highest levels of wages and benefits in negotiations. This language has now been stricken from the Acts. In addition, language that stated every employee must be transferred, potentially resulting in transfer of employees not necessary to a new authority, was also stricken. MORE>
State
Affairs Update
 Brownfield Replacement Bill Passes Committee, But Restricts Development and Jobs - The Community Revitalization legislation (SB 567) passed the House Commerce Committee last Wednesday. It hit a small snag, though. The bills create a program to replace the former Brownfield and Historic credits, and spend the $100 million allocated in the budget. There has been controversy over whether or not to include language allowing for this money to be used for obsolete and blighted properties (as it has for the past 11 years). MORE>
Municipal Partnership Act Passes
Workers’ Comp Bill Heads to Senate
Bill to Fix Renaissance Zones and Income Tax Issue Passes Committee
PERA Bills Heads to Governor
Senate Committee Reviews Energy Law
Fireworks Bill Passes Senate Committee
Michigan Rail Summit 2011 Held
Community Collaboration Summit in Kalamazoo on December 6
2011/2012 Pay and Benefits Survey Now Available
Michigan Shared Services Community Goes Live
Federal Update
 League Officials Meet with President Obama - On two consecutive weeks, League officials had the opportunity to meet with President Obama and administration officials to discuss initiatives of importance to communities. During the first visit, League CEO and Executive Director Dan Gilmartin, along with Hamtramck Mayor and League President Karen Majewski, Saline Mayor Gretchen Driskell, and Troy Councilwoman and former League President Robin Beltramini, joined other state League officials from around the country for a day at the White House. The following week, League Director of Strategic Initiatives & Federal Affairs Arnold Weinfeld was invited by our national partner, Transportation for America, to hear from the President on funding for transportation and infrastructure. Then, during a question and answer session, he was given the opportunity to address the President on the need for greater investment in transportation and spoke about Governor Snyder's own efforts to invest in transportation for our state. MORE>
2012 Local Program Funding in Hands of Conference Committee
Transportation Authorization Bill Introduced in Senate
Repeal
of Three Percent Withholding Rule
Foreclosures
and Neighborhood Stabilization
Congressmen
Camp and Upton Need to Hear From You
21st Century Communities
 Free Community Planning and Design Assistance Available Through EPA Building Blocks - Through a grant from EPA's Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities program, two non-profit organizations are offering free technical assistance to communities looking to improve their sustainability and physical design. Livability Solutions, a coalition of cutting-edge planners that includes the Project for Public Spaces, Dan Burden's Walkable and Livable Communities Institute, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, and the Congress for the New Urbanism, is offering one or two-day workshops "intended to provide communities with strategies to enhance livability, to create lasting economic and environmental improvements, and to effect positive change for their residents. MORE>
Oakland University Serves Entrepreneurs
Build
Communities Through Art: Grants Available
UM/ULI
Real Estate Forum Nov 9-10, Detroit
Economics
of Place
Book Released, Available from League at Amazon
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