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WEST MICHIGAN REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
BOARD MEETING MINUTES
January 18, 2008
9:30 a.m.
1. Call to Order. C. Mulholland, Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY J. Johansen to approve the appointment of new Board members by members of the WMRPC. SUPPORTED BY R. Steinke. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
Roll Call:
Ken Graff – Allegan County
Joseph Harper – City of Big Rapids
Michele Andres – City of Cedar Springs
Gregg Yeomans – Ionia County
Shawn Seal – Ionia County
Joe Marhofer – Ionia County
Ray Steinke – Mecosta County
Paul Bullock – Mecosta County
Marcia Walker – Montcalm County
John Johansen – Montcalm County
Tom Lindeman – Montcalm County
Edward Berghorst, Treasurer – Ottawa County
Mark Knudsen – Ottawa County
Tim Cochran – City of Wyoming
Lillian Vanderveen – City of Wyoming
Joanne Voorhees – City of Wyoming
L. Charles Mulholland, Chair – At large
Regina Davis – At large
Howard Hansen – At large
Tom Jessup – Allegan County (alternate)
Staff:
David Bee – Director
Brandon Bartoszek – Planner
Nancy Murphy – Administrative Assistant
Guests:
Steven Law – Timberland RC&D
John Miner – Ottawa County
Eric VanDop – Brickley DeLong
2. Approval of Minutes
A MOTION WAS MADE BY G. Yeomans to approve the minutes for the December 14, 2007, Board meeting as presented. SUPPORTED BY J. Johansen. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. Public Comments
None.
4. New Board Member Orientation Materials
D. Bee talked about the Board Member Orientation booklet. He said that this is something that we do every year. It gives Board members a good idea about what goes on in the Region, what their responsibilities are, and who the Board and CEDS Committee members are. He read the Table of Contents. K. Graff suggested that the list of Board members should include their e-mail addresses. D. Bee said he would get a list to everyone.
5. Guest Speaker – Steven Law, Coordinator, Timberland RC&D
Mr. Law talked about Michigan’s seven Resource Conservation & Development areas. The RC&D program is a national program that is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The RC&D program guides the conservation, development, and utilization of natural resources; improves the general level of economic activity; and enhances the environment and standard of living in authorized RC&D areas. It improves the capability of units of government and local non-profit organizations in rural areas to plan, develop, and carry out programs for resource conservation and development.
The RC&D program provides funding or technical assistance to local communities in the following categories:
Land Conservation
Water Management
Community Development
Land Management
6. Administrative Matters
Financial Statement
D. Bee reviewed the Board Financial Statement for the period of October 1, 2007 through November 30, 2007, the first two months of the Fiscal Year. We have used all funds from our EDA grant because we spent more time on the CEDS process, which was different than in previous years. We are also spending EDA funds to provide assistance to local communities more than in the past. C. Mulholland said that our expanded EDA focus is also related to the fact that the Chicago EDA office has a smaller staff now and they need more assistance from regions.
D. Bee said that we are also spending more of our MDOT budget earlier in the Fiscal Year than we have in the past. This is due in large part to our involvement with the Greater Greenville Transportation Committee. Overall, we are doing well financially for a small organization. The State’s financial status has not affected us so far. Dues payments from members are starting to come in.
A MOTION WAS MADE BY E. Berghorst to accept and place on file the Financial Statement for the period of October 1, 2007 through November 30, 2007. SUPPORTED BY J. Marhofer. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FY 2007 Audit Report
Eric VanDop, from the accounting firm of Brickley DeLong, presented an overview of the WMRPC’s audit for fiscal year 2007 (ending September 30, 2007). He said that the opinion letter is usually the item of most interest to Board members. That letter states that the WMRPC’s financial position conforms to generally accepted accounting principles. The opinion is an unqualified, or “clean”, opinion, which is the highest possible determination.
Mr. VanDop reviewed financial statements from the audit report, including Revenues and Expenditures, changes to Fund Balance, and Indirect Costs. The presented information showed comparisons with 2006. He said that with a grant driven organization such as ours, revenues and expenses are generally in balance. We do have a healthy reserve.
The auditor’s management letter included one recommendation for internal accounting controls related to the preparation and review of formal year end financial statements. In their opinion, the WMRPC should appoint an individual who has the technical skills and experience necessary to thoroughly understand the year end financial statements. This situation is common for smaller organizations with limited resources and personnel.
7. Private Sector Representatives
D. Bee said that the Executive Committee had discussed appropriate and meaningful involvement for the WMRPC Board’s private sector representatives, and whether we are addressing their needs. They thought that we could distribute a survey to determine the opinions of Board and CEDS Committee members toward both the meetings they attend and also the organization’s overall mission and goals. D. Bee read the proposed survey to the members at the meeting. The survey includes questions specifically for the Board and for the CEDS Committee as well as questions for members of both groups. D. Bee said we will send out the surveys soon so that the results are available for Board review at the March meeting.
8. 2008 Focus Areas/Goals
D. Bee reviewed the progress towards the WMRPC’s 2007 Focus Areas. He then discussed the draft WMRPC Focus Areas for 2008. The 2008 Focus Areas were prepared with a new format that is more consistent with traditional planning. Instead of “focus areas”, the list includes goals, with three objectives under each goal. Also, the economic development section uses goals from the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).
A MOTION WAS MADE BY K. Graff to approve the 2008 Focus areas. SUPPORTED BY H. Hansen. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Round Table / Regional Issues
P. Bullock – Mecosta County. The County was advised that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) had awarded them a $735,000 grant for clean up of scrap tires. The site is located in Barryton, on the Chippewa River. The clean up will be completed in a two-phase process. They are hoping to have the tires gone by March of this year.
R. Steinke – Mecosta County. The County has a new EMS Director. Things are going well.
E. Berghorst – Ottawa County. The County banned smoking from restaurants and bars. Grand Valley State University (GVSU) says that they are exempt from the smoking ban on University property. County residents can no longer put fertilizer on their lawns since the County enacted a ban on the application of phosphorus-based fertilizers.
S. Seal – Ionia County. The City of Ionia has a 425 agreement with Orange Township.
T. Jessup – Allegan County. Eagle Lake near Bloomingdale is considering a public sewer project. The consolidation of Allegan County’s courts is expected to be complete by August.
K. Graff – Allegan County. Casco Township is having problems with surrounding communities encroaching on their boundaries related to water and sewer facilities. Casco ends up paying for services used by the other townships. Another problem they have is communication with residents about public meetings. Since they don’t have a daily local newspaper, they can’t get the meeting notices in the paper in time. How do other localities deal with these two issues?
D. Bee said that Big Rapids has the same problem with difficulties involved in getting public participation. T. Jessup suggested that they place a big sign on a well-traveled route to tell people about upcoming meetings. K. Graff said that they have serious issues in process and they need public input, and no one knows about what’s happening. Someone suggested a short newsletter distributed to residents. C. Mulholland said that it is a continuing challenge to first, make sure people are aware of ongoing issues and activities and second, to get enough participation from the public.
J. Marhofer – Ionia County. Roads in Ionia County are not as well maintained as roads in Kent County.
T. Cochran – City of Wyoming. The Metro Health Village development was named Newsmaker of the Year 2007 by the Grand Rapids Business Bureau. The development has a 175-acre campus which has attracted many high quality projects. Projects include a technical education facility, the YMCA, and a Hyatt Regency.
M. Andres – City of Cedar Springs. The City purchased an abandoned foundry that was formerly privately owned. They are exploring the status and options for the property, including possible Brownfield designation and funding for clean up.
L. Vanderveen – City of Wyoming. The Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters Committee is exploring energy alternatives; Michigan is running low on energy. DTE Energy is promoting nuclear energy. The Chamber would support a study. They are all proud of the Metro Health Village project. They are also promoting development along the 28th Street corridor, with both realtor and marketing consultants working on plans.
H. Hansen – At-large. His company, Parkland Properties of West Michigan, is working on a project in Muskegon (called Highpoint Flats) at the old Comerica Tower; they have a Renaissance Zone designation until 2023 and they are taking construction bids. The company’s focus is on adaptive reuse of obsolete properties with an emphasis on affordable housing.
G. Yeomans – Ionia County. He asked S. Seal if the courthouse security is working out. S. Seal said that yes, it is working and now they are trying to secure the courthouse and limit incoming people to one entrance at a side door. Visitors are all right with the restrictions, but the employees are not happy. With different court locations, it would be expensive to consolidate operations. The one-door entrance strategy is a first step to see how it is accepted. T. Jessup said that in Allegan, they tried to improve court security two years ago and it has been both expensive and unpopular.
M. Walker – Montcalm County. The County Board’s Health and Human Services Committee will recommend to the Board that the County adopt a smoke-free policy for employees on County property and up to 25 feet away; they are behind other counties in taking this action. The Health Department, which is a three-county department, tried to enact a smoke-free policy for all public buildings, but one county was opposed. Cherry Street Health Services in Grand Rapids opened a clinic in Greenville to serve the uninsured and underinsured, and they have been providing a valuable service to the community.
T. Lindeman – Montcalm County. They are experiencing general economic decline. The Building Department reduced their staff. Delta Properties bought the old Electrolux warehouse and might develop the site. The County continues to face economic issues.
J. Voorhees – City of Wyoming. The Metro Health Village is doing well. However, 28th Street is still a concern. The City Council is working on a moratorium on billboards; the language was not specific enough and a few large billboards were put up. They are also working on an ordinance that would permit Sunday alcohol sales for retail businesses; it is already allowed at restaurants. They expect to have the final vote soon that would rescind the cost recovery fee.
M. Knudsen – Ottawa County. There is a small ethanol plant on a farm. The community thinks it’s an industrial use. The County is sponsoring training programs for the Citizen Planner program and AICP credit programs.
J. Harper – City of Big Rapids. Board member Mark Gifford is in Lansing today to meet with the Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and Natural Resources related to problems with sewage disposal. The City will be working with the Region on their master plan. The final version of the new Federal energy bill removed alternative energy earmarks that were included in earlier drafts and would have benefited Michigan.
10. Election of Officers
G. Yeomans presented the report of the Nominating Committee because the Committee Chair, Tom Hogenson, could not attend this meeting. He said that the three current Officers were all interested in continuing their service.
The Committee recommends the following for 2008 WMRPC Officers:
Chair – Charles Mulholland, At-large
Vice-Chair – Tim Cochran, City of Wyoming
Treasurer – Ed Berghorst, Ottawa County
11. Staff Updates
D. Bee distributed his one-page 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.
He said that he had lined up a speaker for the March Board meeting. Andrew Such with Michigan Energy Future will talk about renewable energy.
12. Other Business
C. Mulholland said that in wind energy production, most components are foreign manufactured. J. Harper said that Michigan does not have a comprehensive energy plan. D. Bee said that companies do not have support from the State, in the form of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), that they need to go forward with energy projects. There is good potential for new industries in the energy field.
13. Adjournment
A MOTION WAS MADE BY K. Graff to adjourn. SUPPORTED BY T. Lindeman. MOTION APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 11:10 a.m.
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