|
The value of membership How can you reap the benefits of your SEMCOG membership? By becoming involved so you can take the strength of our regional partnership back to your community. This includes knowledge of regional issues affecting your community such as access to transportation funding and region-wide strategies for achieving new air quality standards. It includes the exchange of ideas for tackling local issues such as stormwater management, more efficient service delivery, and traffic safety. Finally, the benefits of SEMCOG membership include greater access to state and federal programs. SEMCOG members represent both the diverse interests in our region as well as a willingness to work together to improve the quality of life for every community in the region. SEMCOG remains committed to balancing the needs of older communities, rural areas, and growing populations. These are the fundamental reasons why membership remains steady. Get the most from your investment in SEMCOG by filling delegate and alternate positions on the General Assembly, signing up for advisory council membership, and seeking election to the Executive Committee. All officials from member communities are encouraged to attend SEMCOG meetings. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
Local government finance continues to be important topic SEMCOG members serving on the Local Government Finance Task Force continue to guide activities related to local government finance issues. During the past 18 months, SEMCOG members attending General Assemblies have heard an expert panel on local government finance; learned about local-level partnerships that are strengthening government services; and discussed the condition of Southeast Michigan’s key infrastructure systems. In addition, three workshops on the topic have been held for members; the most recent focused on healthcare financing. The task force has also guided SEMCOG policy related to support for changes to the General Property Tax Act and a publication on financing essential services with user fees. Educational programming for SEMCOG members on a variety of local government finance issues will continue in 2006. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
SEMCOG advocacy protects local priorities When you need action in Lansing or in Washington to better protect community quality of life, the ability to speak collectively with 150 other local governments greatly strengthens your voice. In 2005, SEMCOG advocated for an environmentally sound and cost-effective strategy to meet the new air quality standards. With guidance from SEMCOG members serving on the Air Quality Task Force, we have determined that lower vapor pressure fuel is the most effective way to clean the air, and is considerably less onerous than other options such as mandatory auto emissions testing. We expect legislation allowing lower vapor pressure fuel during summer months will be introduced soon. SEMCOG and other local government advocates across the country have succeeded in preserving funding for the widely used Community Development Block Grant program. While we are confident the program will be funded in FY 2006, other proposals could jeopardize funding levels or the types of projects eligible for CDBG funds, especially in the Midwest. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
SEMCOG helps local governments obtain funding from new transportation bill SAFETEA-LU, the new federal transportation bill, includes more than $350 million in earmarked projects for Southeast Michigan, among them a variety of transit, road and bridge improvements. What does this mean? Funding for earmarked projects is, for the most part, not additional funding. Rather, it is Congress directing money to specific projects from the total allocation of funds we would otherwise receive. These earmarks pose some challenges. We have to come up with the 20 percent local match on the federal funds. We have to allocate other federal funds to complete the portion of projects not fully covered in the earmark. And, we have to wait the full five years of the bill before we can secure all the itemized dollars. Contact: Carmine Palombo, SEMCOG Director of Transportation Programs.
Continuing education through SEMCOG U SEMCOG University, SEMCOG’s successful program that gives local member governments the knowledge to advance Southeast Michigan, continues to offer half-day or full-day workshops free-of-charge to SEMCOG members in our downtown Detroit office (there is a $75 fee for nonmembers). Upcoming topics include context sensitive solutions, highway design that balances performance and safety with other community values (January 18); traffic incident management (February 22); and brownfield redevelopment, where from here (February 8). Contact: Sue Stetler, SEMCOG Communications Manager.
Resources available for local governments Through SEMCOG, members have a variety of resources. Information Services answers questions and does customized research for members Monday-Friday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.). SEMCOG's Web site (www.semcog.org) is available 24/7 and includes the easy-to-search publications database (most recent reports are available to download in PDF); Community Profiles (community statistics for every community and county in Southeast Michigan); traffic crash data from 1997-2004 (create customized reports for specific communities; also information on high-crash intersections); and Joint Public Services database (see what types of services communities have done together to save taxpayer dollars and be more efficient). Contact: SEMCOG Information Services.
Tools to educate citizens SEMCOG's public outreach efforts that can help local member governments educate their citizens. The Ours to Protect water quality campaign meets the public education component for Phase II stormwater communities; materials may be purchased by SEMCOG member communities at a discounted rate. In the transportation area, the second edition of A Citizens' Guide to Transportation Planning in Southeast Michigan outlines the steps a transportation project must undergo to be funded and implemented, and the numerous opportunities for public comment. Citizens' Guides are available free-of-charge to member communities for distribution to residents. SEMCOG also has a variety of tabletop displays — focusing on water quality, deer crashes, RideSharing — that member communities can borrow for use in public buildings. Contact: SEMCOG Public Outreach.
SEMCOG comes to you: Annual outreach meetings scheduled Each year there is an opportunity for SEMCOG members to gather in their home county. At these meetings, members learn about recent SEMCOG efforts to assist local decision makers. Members also have the opportunity to voice their top priority issues. And, because elections to the Executive Committee are held at these meetings, members have the chance to enhance involvement in SEMCOG. The 2006 outreach meeting schedule is: Livingston County, Genoa Woods, February 28; Oakland County, Bloomfield Radisson, March 1; St. Clair County, St. Clair Inn, March 2; Washtenaw County, Weber’s Inn, March 9; Monroe County, Cabela's, March 16; Wayne County, Holiday Inn Southgate, April 4; Macomb County, Andiamo Italia, April 5. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Executive Office Coordinator.
|
|||
