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Executive Committee meets September 22 SEMCOG's Executive Committee will meet on Friday, September 22, 2006, at 1 p.m. at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport Hotel, located at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (2501 Worldgateway Place, Detroit 48242; 734-942-6500). Jon Hypnar, Director of the North Terminal Development Project, will discuss the new terminal. Action items to be considered include:
Contact: Kathleen Lomako, SEMCOG Deputy Executive Director.
CEDAC focuses on cultural economic development on September 8 SEMCOG's Community and Economic Development Advisory Council (CEDAC) will focus on cultural economic development at its Friday, September 8, 2006 meeting. David Magidson, Director of the Center for Arts and Public Policy at Wayne State University will present the report, The Arts and Culture Process of Economic Development: An Effective Resource for Community Growth. This report states that, "Traditionally, arts and culture activities have been considered luxuries, readily available during good economic times, not so important, and therefore, ignored during poor times; the result has been a series of ups and downs. Today, however, we've learned that this does not have to be the case because arts and culture — both for profit and nonprofit — play a vital role in economic development as well as helping to build and maintain solid, high-quality communities." Dr. Magidson will introduce a new diagnostic tool for cultural economic development. In addition, Susan Mosey, President of the University Cultural Center Association, will discuss how her organization is using arts and culture to promote enhanced public awareness and appreciation of the unique character and resources of Midtown Detroit. CEDAC begins at 9:30 a.m. and will end by noon. Contact: Ken Bishop, Community and Economic Development Administrative Assistant.
Upcoming SEMCOG Universities focus on regional operations and November ballot proposals Regional Operations: An Alternative to Building and Maintaining Roads — Thursday, September 21, 2006, 9 a.m.-noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.), SEMCOG's Ambassador Room. At this half-day forum, transportation stakeholders will learn about and address the need to integrate operations into management of the region's transportation system. The presentation will focus on the how road agencies need to include operating the transportation system along with building and maintaining it. Tom Bruff, Transportation Engineering Coordinator at SEMCOG, and Mark Hallenback, Director of the Washington State Transportation Center, are the scheduled presenters. This workshop is co-sponsored by the Michigan Department of Transportation. Contact: Sally Walt, SEMCOG Transportation Programs Administrative Assistant, to RSVP. 2006 Ballot Proposals — Thursday, October 5, 2006, 9 a.m.-noon (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.), SEMCOG's Ambassador Room. This half-day workshop will educate public officials and community leaders on the statewide ballot proposals that will be voted upon in the November 7, 2006 general election. The Citizens Research Council, a public policy research organization committed to providing factual, unbiased research, will present information (including any potential interactions between ballot issues) on each of the six ballot proposals — Stop Overspending (SOS), Educational Funding Guarantee (K-16), Michigan Civil Rights Initiative Petition, Eminent Domain, the state constitutional amendment to protect Department of Natural Resources funds, and the Dove Hunting Referendum. Contact: Raymonia Dale, SEMCOG Executive Assistant, to RSVP. SEMCOG University workshops are free-of-charge for SEMCOG members and partners; there is a $75 charge for nonmember local governments. Seating is limited. Please respond as soon as possible. You can register online at www.semcog.org; the link to each workshop is under Planning Issues on the home page.
Institute for Local Government announces courses for elected officials The Institute for Local Government at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, in collaboration with regional and state associations, announces upcoming courses for municipal officials and school board members to help them professionally and productively serve their communities. The courses are offered at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Fairlane Center complex in the north building (19000 Hubbard Drive, Dearborn). The series of Thursday night classes run from 6-9 p.m. and include a light dinner and networking opportunity beginning at 5:15 p.m. in Room 127. The first three classes are listed below:
The cost for each class is $80. Registration information and course descriptions are available at www.umd.umich.edu/iflg. Contact: The Institute for Local Government, via e-mail at Institute.for.local.government@umd.umich.edu or call (313) 593-5140.
SEMCOG hosts DWSD meetings with communities on 2007-2008 water and sewer rates Beginning in October, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) will hold a series of three meetings with its community customers on the 2007-2008 water and sewer rates. Structured similar to last year's customer meetings, preliminary budget data will be presented as it becomes available throughout the process, culminating with the proposed rates in advance of the formal public meetings. All water and sewer customer communities are encouraged to attend all meetings. Meetings will be held in the Ambassador Room of SEMCOG's office in the Buhl Building:
Please refer to the DWSD Web site — www.dwsd.org — for the final meeting schedule with times, 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, Senior Planner, SEMCOG Environmental Programs.
New at www.semcog.org SEMCOG has enhanced its online map catalog to allow free downloads of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. Most GIS data that is created and maintained by SEMCOG will be available for free download. This includes land use/land cover, generalized community master plans, and sewer service areas, among others. Paper copies of these maps are still available for purchase in 34x44 "E" size. Thumbnail images guide you through the catalog, and 8½ x11 size PDF documents display map information using Adobe Acrobat Reader. Find the SEMCOG Map Catalog at www.semcog.org using the dropdown menu on the home page under Products, then Maps. Contact: Ann Burns, SEMCOG GIS Coordinator.
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