April 21, 2008

State Affairs Report

Counties Given Veto Power Over Local Renaissance Zone Decisions – The Legislature last week, in a last-minute surprise, passed legislation giving counties a veto in renewing certain renaissance zones. HB 5600 (Sak, D-Grand Rapids), which would allow for alternative energy renaissance zones, was considered over three months and was sent to the governor. Last week, without notice, the bill was requested back from the governor and amended to require county consent before a municipality can extend a renaissance zone. This is the first time counties have been given veto power over local municipal decisions and is a tremendous detriment to economic development and jobs in local communities. The League is calling on legislators to, once again, request this back from the governor and strip it of this new provision. If that does not happen, the League is calling on the governor to veto this legislation as a dramatic and detrimental shift in economic development policy. Click here for the veto letter. Contact: Andy Schor

Local Road Funding Stripped Again – HB 5344 (Cushingberry, D-Detroit), a supplemental appropriations bill, was amended two weeks ago at the League's request to include the restoration of $6.5 million to the Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF). The TEDF funding would be used to support local road congestion relief in urban counties, as well as road projects in rural areas. The League worked to see the funding remain in the final version of the bill however, on Thursday, the money was stripped from the bill and it was sent to the governor. With votes of 79-29 and 37-1, and an opportunity to support local transportation programs was once again lost. Members are urged to express their disappointment to legislators and to ask the Legislature to provide support for local transportation at the next opportunity. Related News. Contact: David Worthams

Bills to Reimburse Locals for Lost TIF Capture to Have Hearing Tuesday – HBs 5539-42 are expected to have a hearing tomorrow in the Senate Commerce Committee. The bills provide a process for locals to capture revenue that they lost when the Michigan Business Tax exempted personal property taxes. Several amendments are expected on the bills which will help clarify the process. The committee may take testimony only and move the bills next week. Contact: Summer Minnick

Form for Double Principal Residence Bill Now Available – Two weeks ago, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed HB 4215 (Gaffney, R-Grosse Pointe Farms) which allows residents a second principal residence exemption for up to three years as long as one of the homes is for sale. To qualify for the exemption, residents must complete this form, developed by the Department of Treasury, and file it with their local governments by May 1. Click here for more information. Contact: Summer Minnick

House Committee Considers Scrap Metal Legislation – The House Commerce Committee heard testimony last week on HB 5694 (Brown, D-Pigeon) which would require second hand dealers and junk dealers to make copies of a driver license from a person selling scrap metal. The intent is to crackdown on copper and scrap metal theft. In addition, the committee discussed a draft bill (which has not been introduced) which would regulate scrap processors (similar to what current law already requires for junk and second hand dealers.) It would also tighten up record keeping requirements to deter scrap metal theft. The bills are supported by law enforcement and the business community. Contact: Samantha Jones

House Passes Energy Package – Thursday, the House passed its long awaited energy package. HB 5524 reforms electric choice (PA 141). The House passed version of the bill limits “choice” electric providers to 10 percent of the market, thus assuring regulated utilities a major portion of the market. HB 5525 requires utilities to produce energy efficiency plans and creates minimum energy efficiency standards. HBs 5548 and 5549 create Renewable Portfolio Standards and require 10 percent of the state’s energy to be produced by alternative sources of energy by 2015. HBs 5972-5944 and HB 5898 are tax credits offered to spur investment surrounding the Hemlock semi-conductor facility. Contact: Samantha Jones

Community Excellence Awards—Call for Entries – Will your community be among this year's regional winners? Attend your Regional Education Seminar and present a local success story to the attendees in your region. Your peers will vote; there will be one winner from each of the seven MML regions. Each regional winner will then compete at the League's fall Annual Convention for the Community Excellence Award Cup. One community will take home the cup for a year. Make it you!

Cultural Economic Development Case Studies Sought – The Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries Office of Cultural Economic Development and Michigan State University researchers are conducting cultural economic development case studies as part of the CEDOT program Cultural Economic Development Online Tool. Communities with programs or facilities that have utilized arts and culture to support economic development in Michigan can apply to become a case study. Facility examples include: performing arts centers, educational institutions, libraries, theaters, gardens, bookstores, museums, design studios, art galleries, ect. Program examples include: festivals, cultural heritage celebrations, historic preservation projects, arts and crafts fairs, special exhibitions, ect. Case studies will be researched and developed from those nominated. Click here for more information. Contact: Arnold Weinfeld

Save the Date: "Let's Get Moving" Legislative Day is Tomorrow – April 22 is the "Let's Get Moving" Legislative Day at the State Capitol. Transit riders, operators, managers and advocates from around the state are encouraged to be there to promote and protect public transit services. Any member interested in being a part of the Let's Get Moving Legislative Lobby Day, should RSVP with Capitol Services, Inc at (517) 372-0860 or csi@capitolservices.org. For those who are unable to attend, please ask your legislator to support transit efforts today; click here for talking points. Contact: David Worthams

April Construction Advisory Promotes Uniform Practices – On occasion, the League receives construction advisories from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The April '08 Construction Advisory provides state and local road agencies information to promote uniformity in interpretation and construction practices statewide. Previous advisories are available at www.michigan.gov/mot; members are urged to share these with their engineers and road infrastructure managers. Contact: David Worthams

Brownfields '08 Conference: Registration is Free, Ends April 23 – The 12th National Brownfields Conference is coming to Detroit's Cobo Center, May 5-7, 2008. The League is proud to sponsor this FREE event and reminds you that registration ends April 23. Click here to register online and be sure to checkout can't-miss educational, networking, business development and deal-making opportunities such as the Brownfields Transaction Forum.

Federal Update

Visit the League's Federal Webpage Today!

Save the Date

Lobby for Transit - Let's Get Moving Lobby Day
April 22, State Capitol

2008 Brownfields Conference
May 5-7, Detroit...FREE
Register by April 23

MML Regional Seminar: 2
April 25, Stevensville

MML Regional Seminar: 3
May 9, Cedar Springs

Michigan Transportation Asset Management Conference
May 21, Marquette

Sustainable Energy Project Development Workshop
May 22, Rochester

MAM Summer Workshop
August 6-8, Sterling Heights
Register by July 9 to Save!

Grants & Projects

Coastal Management Program
Submit RFP by May 1, 2008

MDOT Soliciting Local Bridge Program Project Applications
Apply by June 2

What's New

Keep the Promise Campaign: What will the League give your legislators this week? Click here to find out.

Community Excellence Awards—Call for Entries

League Survey
What are the most burdensome unfunded mandates the state places on local units of government?

What is a 14-Point Review? Find out from the League's Guest Blogger…
Kelli Sobel, Executive Secretary for the State Tax Commission

April '08 Construction Advisory

Sample Resolution: Great Lakes Compact and Water Withdrawal Tool

Sample Resolution: Transportation Funding

Contact State and Federal Affairs Division - 517.908.0305
Arnold Weinfeld, aweinfeld@mml.org
Summer Minnick, sminnick@mml.org
David Worthams, dworthams@mml.org
Andy Schor, aschor@mml.org
Samantha Jones, sjones@mml.org
Andrea Messinger, amessinger@mml.org
Nikole Brown, nbrown@mml.org