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Executive Committee meets December 1 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 1, 2006, in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office. Action items to be considered include:
Faye Alexander Nelson, President and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, will report on the progress the conservancy has made on the reclamation and improvement of the public spaces along the Detroit riverfront. Kirk Steudle, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation will discuss MDOT's efforts to work with local governments in Southeast Michigan and the importance of using asset management. Contact: Kathleen Lomako, SEMCOG Deputy Executive Director. Public meetings on Ann Arbor to Detroit transit study scheduled for December 4-6 Three meetings with the public have been scheduled to discuss the results of the five rapid transit alternatives in the Ann Arbor to Detroit corridor. Public meetings will be held:
Comments can also be sent to SEMCOG Information Services. Deadline is December 31, 2006. Contact: SEMCOG Information Services. Southeast Michigan municipalities secure $14.5 million in sewer grants Throughout much of 2005, SEMCOG worked closely with several state legislators to ensure that the $1 billion Great Lakes Water Quality Bond and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund supported Southeast Michigan sewer infrastructure needs. Thanks to the leadership of Rep. John Stakoe and Sen. Patricia Birkholz, a new grant program was created when the Michigan Legislature approved the transfer of $40 million from the Great Lakes Water Quality Bond Fund to the S2 grant program. This grant program provides funding of up to $1 million to assist communities in planning and designing needed sewer infrastructure improvements. In April of this year, about 60 participants representing communities across Southeast Michigan took part in a SEMCOG University designed to introduce them to the new grant program and provide information on how to apply for funding. When the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced the initial award of 67 grants, $14.5 million dollars of the $26.4 million dollars awarded was to Southeast Michigan communities, with the majority of those awards going to the SEMCOG members who participated in the SEMCOG University. Applications are under review by the state for the remaining $13.6 million in the grant program. Additional grants will likely be awarded in February. In the coming year, SEMCOG will continue to advocate for additional state and federal funding for municipal wastewater infrastructure grants and low-interest loans. Contact: Ted Starbuck, SEMCOG Environmental Programs Senior Planner. Integrating Environmental Issues in the Transportation Planning Process: Guidelines for Road and Transit Agencies By its very nature, transportation infrastructure (roads, bridges, nonmotorized pathways, transit routes, and facilities) and the people and vehicles that use it impact the environment — both natural and built. It is important to consider this interaction when planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining the transportation system. With that in mind, SEMCOG has developed a regional analysis of the impact of planned transportation projects on the environment and a series of guidelines for mitigating impacts. It is intended that these guidelines be used by road and transit implementing agencies. A draft document outlining this process and the guidelines is available for review on SEMCOG’s Web site at www.semcog.org/TranPlan/RTP. Comments are requested by December 12, 2006; please submit comments to Information Services. Contact: Jennifer Evans, SEMCOG Transportation Coordinator. Workforce Development Task Force meets on November 28 SEMCOG’s Workforce Development Task Force will meet on Tuesday, November 28, 2006, at SEMCOG’s Downtown Detroit offices to discuss the economy and workforce development challenges facing the region. The task force was established to create a dialog between government, education, and the private sector. The focus will be on preparing Michigan’s workforce for the knowledge economy while assisting current businesses to succeed. Contact: Naheed Huq, SEMCOG Community and Economic Development Manager. Impacts of housing foreclosures conference on December 6 SEMCOG staff is coordinating an important conference on behalf of the Michigan Community Development Directors Association on the impact of housing foreclosures on communities and individuals. The conference will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2006, from 8 a.m.-4:15 p.m., at the Lansing Center. Information will be provided on the impact foreclosures have on blight and local revenues, foreclosure prevention strategies, credit counseling, and loan restructuring. This statewide conference is co-sponsored by the Detroit HUD office and the Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Contact: Naheed Huq, SEMCOG Community and Economic Development Manager. SEMCOG hosts final DWSD meeting on December 11 The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) will hold the third and final meeting with its community customers on the 2007-2008 sewer and water rates on Monday, December 11, 2006 in the Ambassador Room of SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office (535 Griswold, Suite 300). The focus will be to present the technical information used in formulating water and sewer rates and receive feedback from customers. The meeting will consist of two sessions. Wastewater rates will be discussed in the morning session (10 a.m.-noon), with water rates being addressed in the afternoon (1-3 p.m.). Contact George Ellenwood, DWSD, at (313) 964-9460 to RSVP. All sewer and water customer communities are encouraged to attend both sessions. Lunch will be provided at SEMCOG from noon to 1 p.m. If you want to participate in the lunch, please contact George Ellenwood at least two days before the meeting. Please refer to the DWSD Web site — www.dwsd.org — for agendas and background materials. Proposed rates for 2007-2008 will be in place prior to the public hearing, scheduled for early 2007. Contact: Ted Starbuck, SEMCOG Environmental Programs Senior Planner.
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