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WEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
December 12, 2008
10:00 a.m.
1. Call to Order. C. Mulholland, Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.
Roll Call:
Terry Burns – Allegan County
Ken Graff – Allegan County
Thomas Hogenson – City of Big Rapids
Mark Gifford – City of Big Rapids
Joseph Harper – City of Big Rapids
Gregg Yeomans – Ionia County
Ray Steinke – Mecosta County
Paul Bullock – Mecosta County
Charles McCafferty – Mecosta County
Marcia Walker – Montcalm County
John Johansen – Montcalm County
Tom Lindeman – Montcalm County
Edward Berghorst, Treasurer – Ottawa County
Tim Cochran – City of Wyoming
Lillian VanderVeen – City of Wyoming
L. Charles Mulholland, Chair – At large
Howard Hansen – At large
Tom Jessup – Allegan County (alternate)
Linda Howard – Mecosta County (alternate)
Staff:
David Bee – Director
Nancy Murphy – Administrative Assistant
Guests:
Terri Lynn Land, Secretary of State
Larry “Casey” Jones – Allegan County, CEDS Committee
Nora Balgoyen-Williams – Allegan County, CEDS Committee
Bill Mrdeza – Mecosta County, CEDS Committee
Chris Thelen – Ionia County, CEDS Committee
John Miner – Ottawa County, CEDS Committee
Chuck Birr – CEDS Committee
Lloyd Walker
Hester Berghorst
Bill Sikkel
2. Approval of Minutes
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Johansen to approve the minutes for the September 19, 2008, Board meeting as presented. SUPPORTED BY R. Steinke. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Public Comments
None.
4. Administrative Matters
Financial Statement
The Financial Statement was included in the meeting packet and covers the Fiscal Year 2008 through September 2008. D. Bee said that the annual financial audit took place in October and that report will be presented at the January 2009 Board meeting. He briefly reviewed the Financial Statement and said that everything is going well, with grant funds coming in as expected and expenditures as expected also. We spent all of the allocated funds for both EDA and MDOT. Although we did not spend all of the Asset Management funds, we did get closer than we usually do.
H. Hansen asked about Brandon Bartoszek, Planner. D. Bee said that he left about a month and a half ago. We had 16 applications for the Planner position and interviewed six candidates. The new person will start January 5, 2009.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY K. Graff to accept and place on file the Financial Statement for the period of October 1, 2007 through September 30, 2008. SUPPORTED BY E. Berghorst. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Report from Nominating Committee
D. Bee said that T. Burns is the Chair of the Nominating Committee, with J. Johansen and H. Hansen the other Committee members. T. Burns was not yet at the meeting, so J. Johansen presented the Committee’s report. He said that Chair Charles Mulholland and Vice-Chair Tim Cochran were willing to serve in those positions next year. The current Treasurer, Ed Berghorst, is retiring and will no longer be on the Board. Paul Bullock, Mecosta County Administrator, is willing to serve as Treasurer for 2009. The Board will act on the Committee’s recommendations at its January 2009 meeting.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY T. Hogenson to receive the report from the Nominating Committee. SUPPORTED BY T. Lindeman. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Board Meeting Schedule for 2009
The 2009 meeting schedule was included with the Board agenda. D. Bee said that the January 16 Board meeting is the regular organizational meeting. There will be two speakers: the auditor and Judy Barnes, with the Home and Building Association of Greater Grand Rapids. The January meeting will be held at the Fair Housing Center, located on the southeast corner of Division and Hall Streets in Grand Rapids.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY R. Steinke to accept the 2009 Board Meeting Schedule. SUPPORTED BY J. Johansen. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Appreciation for Retiring Board Members
C. Mulholland said that three of our Directors are departing and we want to recognize those three individuals for their service. The three people are:
Ed Berghorst
Marcia Walker
Ken Graff
The three retiring members were presented with a certificate to commemorate their service. The Board Chair thanked them for their service and told them that they would be missed; photographs were also taken.
2008 Supplemental CEDS
The Board received copies of the “2008 Supplemental Report to the 2007-2009 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy”. D. Bee said that the CEDS Committee and the WMRPC Board approved the report in the fall and copies have been forwarded to EDA and also to a variety of people within the Region. The 2008 report does not replace the 2007-09 report, but adds information to the original report, including supplemental projects and goals. He highlighted those new goals and the additional projects.
Draft WMRPC 2009 Goals and Objectives
The Board received copies of the draft WMRPC 2009 Goals and Objectives and D. Bee asked the members in attendance to review those goals prior to the January 2009 Board Meeting. At the January meeting, the Board will discuss and approve the Goals and Objectives for the 2009 calendar year. The first half of the draft report lists the 2008 Goals and Objectives, along with information about actions that were taken toward the achievement of those Goals. The second part of the memo lists the proposed Goals and Objectives for 2009; goals are divided into the categories of Economic Development, Transportation, Member Services, and Additional and New Initiatives.
5. Staff Updates
D. Bee distributed a Staff Update (copy attached) The Update includes information in the categories of Economic Development, Transportation Planning, Member Projects/
Initiatives, and Other. D. Bee briefly reviewed the bulleted items.
D. Bee said that there has been a lot of interest in funding projects and that the CEDS report is a good list of projects that are ready to go.
D. Bee said that there has been good news for some communities within our Region that did not receive recreation grants from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) last year but are likely to receive grants this year. Those communities include Wyoming, Greenville, and Portland.
D. Bee also gave members his “annual driving report”. In 2008, he drove 15,099 miles for the Region. Trips included travel to Cleveland for an EDA conference and also to Wilmington, Ohio, at the request of EDA to tell them about Greenville’s experience with their substantial job losses when Electrolux moved their operations to Mexico.
6. Round Table / Regional Issues
E. Berghorst – Ottawa County. Unemployment in the County is up to 7.5 percent, with 750 workers laid off in December. The office furniture business has been affected by the economic decline; including Gentex which made permanent cuts of 400 jobs. There is some good news: the site of the former Delphi plant in Coopersville has been purchased; it is not yet known what the new owners will do with the property, but the future business might be related to the dairy industry.
T. Burns – Allegan County. Thanks to Dave Bee, the County submitted its request for available funds from the federal economic disaster relief package. He talked about the negative impacts that result when people throw away unused prescription drugs which get into the eco-system.
T. Hogenson – City of Big Rapids. The City received notice that it will receive funding assistance from the MDEQ Revolving Loan program to help finance work on their wastewater treatment system; they had thought that they would have to sell bonds in order to fund the project themselves. The City also received a loan from the USDA Rural Development to purchase a new aerial platform ladder truck for their Fire Department. Everyone should visit beautiful Big Rapids.
W. Mrdeza – CEDS Committee / Mecosta County Development Corporation. They have had some challenges with some manufacturers, especially the auto-related businesses. But other manufacturing companies are considering adding new employees. The Mecosta County Development Corporation has been working closely with the County on the Brownfield Redevelopment program and they are starting to receive nominations for sites; they see the program as a good development tool. The Tullymore development includes a golf course and residential property for a total investment of at least $40 million and will have a significant impact on the county. The development has been able to continue to sell home sites and condominiums despite the difficult housing economy and they are still on track.
M Gifford – City of Big Rapids. The City has been fortunate the past few years to receive several grants for downtown development. Implementation of those projects will start in 2009. One of their grants is from the Vibrant Cities program funded by MSHDA. They also received two DNR grants last year, one for park land and another for the extension of their Riverwalk project. They are the first municipality in the state to secure approval for a low-interest loan from USDA Rural Development. Work is progressing on their master plan, with assistance from Dave Bee and the WMRPC.
C. McCafferty – Mecosta County. He said that he is a private sector representative and works as an architect and community planner. The construction market has fallen apart. He serves on the County Planning Commission, which is drafting an ordinance for a wind energy system. When the County received an application to build a residential wind tower, they realized that there was no applicable zoning regulation in place. They are using Ottawa County’s excellent ordinance as a model in developing one for Mecosta.
L. Howard – Mecosta County. She highlighted the manufacturing sector in the county. Yoplait continues to be very successful and a viable business. Leprino Foods is expanding. The agricultural industry is holding its own in today’s economy. It is important for the Board to hear about the value and importance of agricultural business.
P. Bullock – Mecosta County. They have some construction planned. They lost an inmate due to a design flaw, but he was later captured.
R. Steinke – Mecosta County. The County has proposed a balanced budget.
C. Thelen – CEDS Committee / Ionia County. There is a $400,000 Brownfield Redevelopment project in the Village of Lake Odessa. The business would have gone out of business without that funding. Consumers Energy is preparing for five years in the future when Michigan’s economy will be rebounding and there will be increased demands for energy.
J. Harper – City of Big Rapids. The City is trying to move forward in meeting the challenges in Michigan. They are looking at wind energy as an area with good potential for future economic development. They will give the Presidential transition team a wish list of projects that includes expansion of facilities for alternative energy sources.
B. Sikkel – The Michigan Association of Counties (MAC) also has suggestions for the Obama Transition Team’s emphasis on public works. They want to promote local projects in Michigan to ensure they are high on the new Administration’s priority list. We have a lot of critical bridges and roads construction work to be done.
K. Graff – Allegan County. Casco Township’s Planning Commission is rewriting its ordinances to facilitate better designed affordable houses. Their master plan will be updated next year. The revised plan will focus on shoreline protection, with an emphasis on the preservation of natural features and a rural lifestyle. They will also be looking at wind energy.
T. Jessup – Allegan County. Haworth will be laying off 350 employees. At the same time, Perrigo is adding 500 jobs. The County is reviewing options for a jail expansion; they want to avoid the necessity of a millage and are moving in the right direction. In Casco Township a housing developer filed for bankruptcy; they are removing homes and reshaping the landscape.
H. Hansen – At-large. He works for Parkland Properties; their developments include the Boardwalk and Union Square in Grand Rapids. Real estate sales have slowed due to the economy and because people can’t get financing. One of their projects – Highpoint Flats in Muskegon – is doing well and still taking reservations. His advice to the public sector is to be cautious and to make sure that projects will be viable before they initiate them. The days of “build it and they will come” are gone.
N. Balgoyen-Williams – CEDS Committee / Allegan County. Michigan Works! is working to find jobs for job seekers. Haworth is laying off 350 people. They are retraining them and trying to keep people in the community. Perrigo will be expanding over the next five years.
C. Jones – CEDS Committee / Allegan County. The MDEQ and MEDC have funds available for farmland preservation. The “Healthy Waters, Rural Pride” project has a grant with a 75/25 match requirement. There is a $1.0 million project to continue rural county water bumper strips in the back, with filters to prevent chemicals from getting in the water. The Allegan County Soil Conservation District is working on that project with them. Senator Patricia Birkholz met with them; she is involved with the Great Lakes Water Pact. The Macatawa Area Coordinating Council has a mapping project related to farmland preservation, working with watersheds and all water related resources.
C. Birr – CEDS Committee. He talked about a project that started in 2004 in the Hartford and Watervliet area. Two cities, two townships, and two counties worked on coordinated planning for a corridor improvement project. He said that it is important to think about planning across governmental units and regionally.
L. Walker – He is the former mayor of Greenville, which is the hometown of Fred Meijer and site of the very first Meijer Thrifty Acres. Greenville is also the former home of the world’s biggest refrigeration factory, before Electrolux moved its operations to Mexico. Greenville has a new business now, United Solar Ovonic, which manufacturers thin solar film, for which there is tremendous demand. The company has two plants now, with 400 to 600 employees, with plans to expand to 800 workers soon. They could become the largest solar plant in the world one day.
M. Walker – Montcalm County. There are other bright spots in Montcalm County. The County’s new WMRPC representative will be Leslie Wood, who will be an excellent member.
T. Lindeman – Montcalm County. The Marvel refrigeration plant is going well and is a bright spot in the county. The United Solar Ovonic operation is just one year old and already expanding; they are looking for skilled employees.
J. Johansen – Montcalm County. Thank you to Dave Bee for working on the County’s two transportation projects and for providing his guidance and support. There is a new sewer project; they formed a district and are moving forward. They are moving the fairgrounds from Greenville to a site in the township north of that city; the first year of operations at the new location will be 2010. On Monday, they will resolve the issue with Sietsma Farms in Pierson Township related to a bio-mass plant; the project was initially turned down but the business reworked the proposal and it will probably be approved.
J. Miner – CEDS Committee / Ottawa County. The year 2009 with be the 80th year celebration of the Tulip Time Festival, which always happens the first week in May. He would like to convince MDOT to improve the interstate from the Allegan County line to Holland on US-31; the road is in very poor condition and serves as a major route for tourists. He is doing consulting work with a Latin American group in efforts to help Hispanics with their job search in a competitive economy; one-third have been successful in getting jobs.
G. Yeomans – Ionia County. The biggest thing in the County is the State closing a small corrections facility, which will have an impact on the whole area. There is development along the M-66 corridor. They are doing work at the airport; Ionia County operations will be independent from private hanger rentals.
L. VanderVeen – City of Wyoming. In 2009, the City will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The community recently lost both a movie theater and an auto dealership. But with change comes opportunities for new business ventures. They have a new DDA Director.
T. Cochran – City of Wyoming. He is the new City Planner. There are both good and bad things happening in the City. Good things include the redevelopment of the former site of Rogers Department Store. It was a white elephant of a building and Bob Israels purchased the property and remodeled the facility and opened a new Klingman’s Furniture store. The new store has been exceeding expectations, with a service area that extends all the way to St. Louis. The closing of Studio 28 was something that they had anticipated for the past few years; they are optimistic about prospects for new development at that location. The closing of the General Motors stamping plant was a major setback and will have a serious negative impact on businesses in the area. The facility there is a two million square foot building. As recently as 2006, GM made a major investment in the plant, including new presses. It is not yet known what impact the GM plant closing will have on the Delphi plant located in the city.
7. Guest Speaker – Terri Lynn Land, Secretary of State
C. Mulholland introduced Ms. Land and said that at one time she was on the WMRPC Board, representing the City of Grandville. As Secretary of State, Ms. Land has been successful in efforts to streamline and modernize the processing of license plates.
Ms. Land said that she lives in Byron Township and talked about the time when she was young and served on the WMRPC Board. At one of the Board meetings, she met the Supervisor of Byron Township, who later became her husband.
The Secretary of State’s office has two major responsibilities – motor vehicle registration and driver’s licenses, and elections. In the motor vehicle realm, her office has changed the model of how they do business, with the goal of getting people in and out of their branch offices in an efficient and timely manner. They changed the staff at the local sites to a “McDonald’s” style, with a Branch Manager and an Assistant. They have consolidated their offices from 168 down to 142, and expect to get down to 130 offices. Her department has brought services to the local area.
They also have increased their online services, where people can renew their license tabs in a more convenient and cost-effective manner. They have 1.5 million transactions every year at a cost of $2.00 per transaction, compared to the $5.00 cost at a branch office. They also have an auto dealership based tabs program, as well as self-service stations, located outside of new offices, that function like an ATM and print out the license tab, at a cost of $2.00 per transaction. They have made trailer plates permanent and in the future might eliminate automobile tabs as well. New Jersey has gone to tab-less licenses. A similar program in Michigan would give owners a permanent plate that they would renew every five years; the State would still charge an annual fee.
Driver’s licenses have become an issue during the past few years. After 9/11, the Federal government became involved in the process related to identification. The States still decide who does and does not get a driver’s license. In Michigan we do everything all in one place, although most states do it differently. Plans for a national “real ID” have been postponed. They have an agreement with Homeland Security to implement a program of “enhanced driver’s licenses”. Drivers will be required to provide proof of citizenship and residency, show their Social Security cards, and prove their real legal names. The cost of $35-40 will be less expensive than a passport. An important consideration is our $1.0 billion trade activity with Canada – we have to expedite movement across the border to facilitate that trade.
Elections are the other major responsibility of the Secretary of State. After the 2000 problems in Florida, the federal government became more involved in local elections. We have a great system in Michigan, with universal use of the optical scan technology. There is one company that provides the equipment, which enables lower costs and better accountability. The department’s goal for elections is to have the newspapers just report the results of the voting, without mention of any issues. The local election clerks do a great job. Michigan is the only major state that has the same system.
The Secretary of State is also involved with the option to authorize organ donation on driver’s licenses. 3,100 people are waiting for a transplant and there were only 600 operations last year, so we need to encourage more donors.
The department is working diligently to save expenses wherever possible. They have decreased the number of employees by five percent and have been successful in the achievement of cost savings without any reduction in their excellent customer service.
L. VanderVeen asked if Michigan has any plans to implement an early voting program like they have in many other states. Ms. Land said that her department supports early – or “no reason absentee” – voting. In states that have the option, many people vote early and it makes the whole process more convenient and efficient. She believes that voters should have more options. In an early voting program, there would be a super precinct at city halls and absentee ballots would be run through the machine, with the results available after the polls closed on election day.
Ms. Land responded to T. Burns’ question about the license revocation process and said that the “driver’s responsibility” fees have not worked out as the Legislature expected it would, with revenues closer to $80 million than the anticipated $200 million. People who are charged with a driving under the influence (DUI) violation often can’t afford to pay their fines and then get caught in the legal system. It would work better if the State eliminated the two-year payment option and changed it to one-year and add financing provisions. Now, fines are processed through the Treasury Department, but she would like payments linked to the Secretary of State system. After two DUIs, people probably would not get their driver’s license back.
8. Other Business
None
9. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 12:05 a.m.
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