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WEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
December 11, 2009
10:00 a.m.
1. Call to Order. C. Mulholland, WMRPC Chair, called the meeting to order at 10:20 a.m. Commission members and guests introduced themselves.
Roll Call:
Terry Burns – Allegan County
Mark Gifford – City of Big Rapids
Joseph Harper – City of Big Rapids
Gregg Yeomans – Ionia County
Paul Bullock, Treasurer – Mecosta County
Ray Steinke – Mecosta County
Charles McCafferty – Mecosta County
Leslie Wood – Montcalm County
John Johansen – Montcalm County
Tom Lindeman – Montcalm County
Dan Massy – Osceola County
Lillian VanderVeen – City of Wyoming
Sam Bolt – City of Wyoming
L. Charles Mulholland, Chair – At large
Howard Hansen – At large
Tom Jessup – Allegan County (alternate)
Staff:
David Bee – Director
Paul Leitelt – Planner
Nancy Murphy – Administrative Assistant
Guests:
James Turner – State Director, USDA Rural Development
Aileen Waldron – USDA Rural Development
Tina Porzondek – Reynolds Township
S. Michael Scott – Village of Howard City
Dennis Kent – Michigan Department of Transportation
Chris Thelen – Ionia County, CEDS Committee
William Mrdeza – Mecosta County, CEDS Committee
Robert Schuleit – Montcalm County, CEDS Committee
Chuck Birr – CEDS Committee
Paul Thibodeau – Richmond Township, Osceola County
2. Approval of Minutes
A MOTION WAS MADE BY R. Steinke to approve the minutes for the September 18, 2009, Commission meeting as presented. SUPPORTED BY G. Yeomans. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Public Comments
None.
4. Administrative Matters
Financial Statement
The Financial Statement was included in the meeting packet and covers the first month of Fiscal Year 2010, October 2009. D. Bee briefly reviewed the Financial Statement. He said that we are at the beginning of our grant years except for the EDA grant, which is for the calendar year and we are wrapping up that grant work. We just started work on the MDOT Planning and Asset Management grants. We have money in the bank and have been fortunate to be able to maintain a healthy account balance, able to meet payrolls and pay our vendors.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Johansen to accept and place on file the Financial Statement for the period of October 2009. SUPPORTED BY S. Bolt. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Report from Nominating Committee
J. Johansen, Chair of the Nominating Committee, said that he and Gregg Yeomans and Howard Hansen are on the Committee. We will have an Executive Committee vacancy next year because Tim Cochran will not be able to continue to serve as Vice-Chair due to the City of Wyoming’s new work schedule.
Nominations for WMRPC Officers are:
Chair – Charles Mulholland, At-large member
Vice-Chair – Don Disselkoen, Ottawa County representative
Treasurer – Paul Bullock, Mecosta County representative
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Johansen to accept the report from the Nominating Committee. SUPPORTED BY S. Bolt. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The election of officers will take place at the January Commission meeting. C. Mulholland commented that other people are welcome to run for an Officer position if they are interested.
Meeting Schedule for 2010
D. Bee briefly reviewed the meeting schedule for 2010, saying that there will be five Commission meetings, four Executive Committee meetings, and four CEDS Committee meetings. The January Commission meeting was scheduled for January 22 because there was a conflict on January 15, which would have been the regular date. The January Commission meeting will be held in Ottawa County.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY T. Burns to approve the 2010 Meeting Schedule. SUPPORTED BY D. Massy. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Resolution for Match for US EDA Grant
D. Bee said that we use our dues from members for the local match required for the grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA). We use the EDA grant funds to maintain our program. The notice from EDA indicated that their share would be 70 percent, with the required match of 30 percent. The percentage varies based on the current economic status, based on the most distressed member within our Region. The EDA grant is a three-year grant (2010–2012), which means that we need a dues commitment for the next three years.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY G. Yeomans to adopt the resolution to authorize the grant application by the WMRPC to EDA for 2010 through 2012, and to designate up to $55,000 of its membership dues to be used as matching funds for the grant over the three-year period. SUPPORTED BY L. VanderVeen. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
2010 Goals
D. Bee said that the review of the 2009 goals and the proposed 2010 goals had been included with the mailed meeting packet. If there is time, we can discuss the goals today; if not, they can be presented and acted upon at the January Commission meeting.
2009 Goals
D. Bee first reviewed the progress made toward the 2009 goals. Comments included the following:
Economic Development
We had our EDA peer review, which happens every three years. One region reviews another region. In the past, our reviewing region has always been in Michigan, but this year it was a region in Wisconsin.
EDA grants received for communities in our region included: a $4.2 million grant awarded to the City of Allegan and a $1.8 million grant for the City of Greenville – more than any other Michigan region.
We’ve been doing a good job maintaining the public/private representation mandated by EDA. EDA is happy with us. We continue to work with both communities and EDA, particularly helping communities with limited staff to prepare memos to EDA that provide information about proposed local projects.
We did a good job promoting coordination with communities within the region and government and other organizations. We started work on a joint master plan with Howard City and Reynolds Township.
We work as much as possible with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), but there are not usually a lot of opportunities to maintain a close relationship with them. There is still room for improvement with this goal, and more association should be possible next year.
While we have established a partnership with the public and private sectors, the private representatives do not always have a clear role. Although EDA set that mandate, they did not include any implementation guidelines.
Transportation
We achieved all the objectives under the first goal that relates to maintaining an active and productive role with MDOT.
Regarding Goal 2, all regions in the state have an active role in the Asset Management program, and have embraced that program.
We continue to be involved with the M-40/M-49 and the M-66 Corridor Committees. Although we help to organize meetings for the former, the Ionia Economic Alliance coordinates the latter.
The map of non-motorized facilities will be completed soon.
Other Member Services
We finished work on the land use plan for the City of Big Rapids. It was a good project and they are happy with the process and the final product.
We continue to assist local communities with coordination and cooperation.
2010 Goals
D. Bee next reviewed the proposed goals for 2010. Comments included the following:
Economic Development
We will continue our active and productive role with EDA.
Goals 4 and 5 – We will pursue coordination efforts with communities, state and federal government agencies, and other organizations. We will work primarily with EDA on economic development, but will also seek opportunities to work with other community and economic development organizations.
Goal 6 – We will continue to review the CEDS Project Evaluation Criteria.
One change to the anticipated CEDS process is that we will not be doing a complete report in 2010 as we had planned. Instead, EDA wants us to do supplemental reports for the first two years of the 2010–12 grant cycle and then a full CEDS in the last year.
Transportation
D. Bee will not be the MAR representative on the Michigan Transportation Asset Management Council in 2010; he has been on the Council for the past five years.
We will continue to be involved with the corridor groups.
Although there are not any plans for new transportation projects at this time, that is always something we will consider and pursue if appropriate.
Member Services
There are several plans lined up for the coming year, including two recreation plans and one joint master plan. We will also continue to work on the shoreline study which involves wind turbines, farmland preservation, and economic development.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY D. Massy to approve the 2010 Goals and Objectives for the WMRPC. SUPPORTED BY S. Bolt. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. Staff Updates
D. Bee distributed his Staff Update (copy attached). The Update includes detailed information in the category of Economic Development, in addition to information about the categories of Transportation Planning, Member Projects/Initiatives, and Other. D. Bee briefly reviewed the bulleted items.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Johansen to receive the Staff Updates. SUPPORTED BY L. Wood. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
6. Guest Speaker – James Turner, USDA Rural Development State Director
J. Harper introduced Mr. Turner. He said that before he became Michigan Director of the USDA Rural Development, Mr. Turner worked for U.S. Senator Carl Levin for 30 years.
Mr. Turner said that during the last four or five years that he worked in Senator Levin’s office, he had the additional responsibility of monitoring renewable energy and alternative energy development in the state. He then talked about USDA Rural Development in the state of Michigan, saying that it has an important role in Michigan to move the state’s economy forward. Michigan has the second highest caseload of multi-family units. Their programs include housing preservation grants. Their community programs sector broke records, with $230 million. They served 175 cities, villages, and townships. Projects included police and fire facilities. They have a business and industry program, with $15.6 million awarded to municipalities and non-profit agencies. His boss wants him to do $100 million; as of today they have allocated $11.5 million. They are looking for businesses that need to refinance and need other financial assistance. Their loan guarantee program can be very valuable to local communities. They have financed some interesting projects.
Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack wants the agency to become more engaged in rural communities, to look for opportunities to collaborate. Their challenge as an agency is to get really engaged in rural communities. President Obama said to make sure that rural America is not left out of economic progress. Next Spring, a lot of new construction will begin. The agency’s mission is to ensure that communities in rural areas are creating wealth for residents, keeping rural areas populated and thriving. We need to figure out links between communities and regions and determine where we are, where we want to go, and how to get there.
Agriculture has become more diverse, with more options for farmers within a regional food system. There are opportunities to match local producers in rural areas with urban centers in order to supply residents with fresh grown produce.
The USDA Rural Development’s goals include the following:
Regional collaboration: Grow capital and local funding. Support businesses in rural areas. One grant funded a study to analyze markets in local food networks and explore options for collaborative partnerships.
Community building: Encourage local communities to talk to each other. Understand how economies complement each other.
Alternative energy is an important priority. An example of these efforts is a funding program to conduct audits on farms to optimize energy efficiency.
Broadband capacity: the goal is to expand coverage to all areas. The way that small towns compete in a global economy is with high speed internet access. Tele-medical services connect rural medical centers with big hospitals.
The most important thing that we can do is talking to each other – a new set of eyes can be valuable, need to partner. The high unemployment in the state means less money for local governments, but there is a crisis in Lansing too. We have to collaborate, establish and maintain partnerships.
We need to get capital markets back in the game. The USDA’s guaranteed loan program can fund up to 80 percent of projects. In some cases, economic stimulus / TARP funds can be used. They are hoping that Rural Development will be a real partner with our communities.
D. Bee said that Aileen and Paul at the Rural Development Grand Rapids office are both great to work with. They treat each project as “their” project and nurture them. They have 30 funding programs and try to find a way to finance proposed projects. If there isn’t a possible USDA funding source, they will refer applicants to other sources. Although it’s called “rural”, larger communities are included too, with eligible populations up to 50,000.
7. Round Table / Regional Issues
Terry Burns – Allegan County. After working on the jail project for ten years, the County has selected and purchased a building, the former Haworth facility in the City of Allegan. The building is the best place to locate the jail and has the infrastructure already in place, saving the County $1,750,000. They can move into the facility next year.
Gregg Yeomans – Ionia County. The airport is doing quite well. They are building new hangers and the facility is self-funded. The financial situation is gloomy.
Leslie Wood – Montcalm County. Montcalm Community College (MCC) has a new President after 25 years. He has been at the college for six months now and they have started to see some changes. MCC has maintained its interest in purchasing the County fairgrounds property; if they do make that purchase, they would expand their Michigan Technology Education Center (M-TEC). They received a grant for a “little house on the trailer”. Grant funds will be used to build a house that features the use of alternative energy. The house will then be transported to local schools to educate students and build interest in alternative energy. They might install solar panels on the Greenville City Hall building and other public facilities.
John Johansen – Montcalm County. He complimented USDA and said that the County receives great cooperation from the agency people that they work with. He said that projects that used to take 12–15 months to get started are a lot faster now – when they see a need, they respond to it quickly.
Tom Lindeman – Montcalm County. Economic conditions are still quite trying. There are two new facilities coming into Greenville. Things continue to be slow.
Ray Steinke – Mecosta County. Thirty-nine tons of tires have been cleaned up at the Remus site. He said that pictures of the clean-up are available on their website.
Mike Scott – Village of Howard City. He said that the Village had received an EDA grant for work on their wastewater treatment plant. The grant-funded work will enable them to serve additional industry and residential customers. The Village is enjoying working with the Region and Reynolds Township on the joint master plan.
Bill Mrdeza – Mecosta County Development Corporation. Ferris State University is the fastest growing university in the state. The county’s unemployment is declining.
Joe Harper – City of Big Rapids. He said that Dave Bee and Mark Gifford worked hard to put together the City’s master plan. He would encourage other communities to use available regional resources.
Tom Jessup – Allegan County. The new County jail has been a 20-year project. They were able to purchase good existing buildings, with a potential savings of $5.0 million for the County.
Howard Hansen – At large. We won’t see any new development until there are more jobs. Businesses need confidence in the jobs situation first.
Charles McCafferty – Mecosta County. The design and construction business is flat and won’t get better until the economy improves.
Mark Gifford – City of Big Rapids. City Commissioner Lynn Anderson is the new representative to the WMRPC, but she wasn’t able to attend today’s meeting. The City appreciates all Dave Bee’s hard work on their master plan. The City has grants for work on their streetscape. The City often uses USDA Rural Development funds for its projects; Paul Bristol is in their community a lot. Projects include a new airport hanger and a new aerial ladder truck for their fire department; they are also talking about a new library.
Dennis Kent – MDOT. He talked briefly about ongoing and future projects.
Dan Massy – Osceola County. Yoplait is expanding. There will be 25 new jobs at the facility; the jobs have great pay and benefits and the company received over 2,000 applications. Lake County had a prison with 1,200 beds; after a private company took over the operations, there are now 1,700 beds.
Lillian VanderVeen – City of Wyoming. Although the transit initiative was turned down by voters, they still hope they can do something and continue to have an ongoing dialogue related to transportation issues. The City’s mall is floundering and the DDA is trying to work on it. The City started a Monday-through-Thursday work schedule in order to reduce costs; it seems to be working all right. The new dog park is a big success; the park was funded with private donations, at no cost to the City.
Sam Bolt – City of Wyoming. A new committee is working on a master plan for 28th Street. The corridor was the “miracle mile” back in the 70’s, but today businesses are struggling. General Motors wants to quickly move the site of the closed plant on 36th Street because it is expensive for them to maintain. The property includes 25 acres and has rail access and infrastructure in place.
Tina Porzondek – Reynolds Township. The Township is working with Howard City on a joint master plan. They have shared goals.
Charles Mulholland – At large. The Region can provide valuable assistance to local communities as they face declining revenues to fund their operations. He is the MAR President. MAR had a very productive meting in early November. They are merging policy and directors into one board. The organization is looking at ways to strengthen regions, working with each other and also with the state.
Leslie Wood said there is a new program in Michigan that connects local organizations with college students who work as interns, and provide either paid or non-paid help.
8. Other Business
None.
9. Adjournment
A MOTION WAS MADE By L. VanderVeen to adjourn. SUPPORTED BY G. Yeomans. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
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