Executive Committee meets on April 29

SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet on Friday, April 29, 2005, in SEMCOG's downtown Detroit office.

Action items under consideration include:

• approving an amendment to the FY 2004-2006 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) that will add 51 projects and delete 17 projects; total net increase from this amendment is $56.3 million, representing $39.6 million in federal, $9.6 million in state, and $7.1 million in local funding; and
• approving a resolution in support of Michigan Senate Bill 51, which would amend PA 146, the Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act of 2000 (OPRA); this bill would enhance the OPRA incentive by allowing businesses that rehabilitate property to add space or stories to a building and still receive the tax benefits of an obsolete property rehabilitation district.

In addition, there will be a presentation on the activities of the Southeast Michigan Consortium for Water Quality, an update on air quality issues, and an update on advocacy efforts for the Community Development Block Grant program. Contact: Amy Malmer, SEMCOG Legislative Affairs Coordinator.

Metropolitan Affairs Coalition convenes forum, The Public Deficit Crisis: Solutions for the Detroit Region, on April 26

Metropolitan Affairs Coalition will convene a regional forum on how state and local government budget issues and proposed solutions may impact communities and businesses in Southeast Michigan. It is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2005, from 7:30 a.m.-11 a.m. at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, MI.

The forum will feature a broad spectrum of experts in delivering, financing, and restructuring public services, as well as offer the perspectives and insight of leaders from the private sector. The dialogue will help lay a foundation for the actions that will be necessary to confront this public deficit issue and protect our region's quality of life and economy.

Peter Hutchinson, co-author of The Price of Government, will be one of the featured speakers. A panel discussion, moderated by journalist Tim Skubick, will feature Vicki Barnett, Mayor of Farmington Hills; John Bozzella, Vice President of Public Policy and State Governmental Affairs, Ford Motor Company; Dr. Joseph Ohren, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Master of Public Administration Program, Eastern Michigan University; Dr. Douglas Roberts, Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research, Michigan State University; and Larry Simmons, Sr., Chief Information Officer, Wayne County.

Event and registration information is available online at www.mac-web.org. Contact: Call (248) 336-8618 for ticket information.

SEMCOG partners with Urban Land Institute to present forum, Development's Next Wave: Active Seniors and Young Adults, on May 18

To help developers and government understand the changing consumer and economic base that will impact the success of real estate development projects, SEMCOG has partnered with the Urban Land Institute Detroit District to present Development's Next Wave: Active Seniors and Young Adults on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, from 8:30-11:45 a.m. (registration begins at 8 a.m.), at the Southfield Public Library Auditorium (26300 Evergreen Rd., Southfield, MI 48076).

Renowned University of Michigan and Brookings Institute demographic scholar William Frey and other experts will discuss the changes occurring for key economic groups ¾ active seniors, young adults, and new immigrants. Successful real estate projects that target these key market segments will be presented as case studies. These include Pulte's Del Webb active senior living developments, as well as new projects targeting young adults. These developments are also leading to spin-off commercial development opportunities.

Seating is limited and registration is required; fees range from $30-50. You can register online at www.semcog.org; the link to the forum is under Planning Issues on the home page. Contact: Jerrie Belavy, ULI Detroit District Council, (248) 807-1600, or e-mail jbelavy@comcast.net; or Kevin Johnson, Senior Planner, SEMCOG Community and Economic Development.

2005 Taubman Fellows selected

Robert Brackenbury, Washtenaw County Commissioner, and Philip M. Cavanagh, Wayne County Commissioner, have been named Taubman Fellows and will attend the prestigious Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University this summer.

Administered through SEMCOG, Taubman Centers' Fellowship for Executive Excellence provides local public officials with demonstrated leadership an opportunity to improve their management skills and broaden their awareness of effective approaches to public sector problems. Since 1991, Taubman Centers has sponsored the fellowships and underscored its support for the development of effective leaders in local governments in the Southeast Michigan region. Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.

Membership Outreach election results

SEMCOG announces the new members of the Executive Committee elected at the Membership Outreach meetings.

St. Clair County
Re-elected as the delegate representing cities and villages is Port Huron Councilman Mark Steinborn; the alternate is Port Huron Mayor B. Mark Neal (newly elected). Re-elected as the delegate representing townships is Ira Township Supervisor John Jones; the alternate is Cottrellville Township Supervisor William H. Zweng (newly elected).

Livingston County
The delegate representing cities and villages is Howell Mayor Pro Tem Steve Manor; the alternate is Brighton Councilman Steve Monet (both re-elected). Elected as the delegate representing townships is Green Oak Township Clerk Michael Sedlak; the alternate is Hartland Township Treasurer Kathie Horning (both newly elected).

Macomb County
Re-elected as the delegates representing cities and villages are St. Clair Shores Mayor Robert Hison and Mt. Clemens Commissioner Dave Herrington; re-elected as alternates are New Baltimore Councilman Richard Runels and Richmond Councilor Jeff Yaroch. Newly elected as the delegate representing townships is Clinton Township Supervisor Robert Cannon; re-elected as the alternate is Clinton Township Deputy Supervisor Eric Jackson.

The elections are for a one-year term beginning July 1, 2005. Contact: Durene Brown, SEMCOG Membership Manager.

Pavement preservation course set for April 28-29

The Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council will sponsor a two-day course intended to provide transportation officials and practitioners with a comprehensive understanding of pavement preservation. It will be held on Thursday and Friday, April 28 and 29, 2005, at the Detroit Marriott (Livonia, MI). The course is free to for state, county, or local agencies. Contact: Patte Hahn, National Center for Pavement Preservation, (517) 342-8220, or e-mail hahnp@msu.edu.

Water quality public education campaign recognized by Clinton River Watershed Council

SEMCOG is a regional planning partnership of governmental units serving 4.9 million people in the seven-county region of Southeast Michigan striving to enhance the region's quality of life.  Regional Update is a publication of SEMCOG, financed through funds from state and federal grants and dues from member communities. Joan Flynn, Chairperson Vice Chair, Macomb County Board of Commissioners Paul E. Tait, Executive Director  Susan L. Stetler, Editor  SEMCOG contact information:  Southeast Michigan Council of Governments 535 Griswold Street, Suite 300 Detroit, MI 48226-3602 313-961-4266 - Fax 313-961-4869 staff e-mail:lastname@semcog.org  www.semcog.org

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Local Governments Advancing Southeast Michigan