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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2005.10.17 - 36036WILLIAM R. PATTERSON Chairperson CHRISTINE LONG Vice Chairperson MATTIE MCKINNEY HATCHETT Minority Vice Chairperson October 17, 2005 Chairperson Patterson called the meeting of the General Government Committee to order at 1:14 p.m. in Committee Room A, Commissioners’ Wing, County Service Center, Pontiac, Michigan. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: William R. Patterson, Christine Long, Mattie McKinney Hatchett, Eric Wilson, Eileen Kowall, Will Molnar, David Coulter, Tim Melton COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT WITH NOTICE: Hugh D. Crawford and Vincent Gregory OTHERS PRESENT HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Dr. Thomas Gordon, Director HUMAN RESOURCES Heather Mason, Analyst INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Scott Oppmann, Manager, Systems Develop./Support Tammi Shepherd, User Support Specialist PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE David Gorcyca, Prosecutor APPLICANTS FOR HURON-CLINTON METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY Peter Walters, RVP, Guardian Industries Melvin Evans, Citizen Gary Wancour, Citizen BUSINESSES FOR BETTER ROADS Alan M. Kiriluk, Chairperson Jean Chamberlain, Committee Member THE DETROIT NEWS Maureen Feighan, Reporter GENERAL PUBLIC Mary MacMaster, Taxpayer HARLEY ELLIS/BBR Jim Page, Principal NORTH OAKLAND REPUBLICAN CLUB Dennis Pittman, Resident THE OAKLAND PRESS Charlie Crumm, Reporter OHLSA Ron Borngesser, CEO ROAD COMMISSION OF OAKLAND COUNTY Brent Bair, Managing Director STRATEGIC PUBLIC AFFAIRS Kim Haefner, Lobbyist TAXPAYERS UNITED Bill McMaster, State Chairman TRANSPORTATION RIDERS UNITED Robert B. Prud’homme OTHERS PRESENT, CONT’D TRANSPORTATION RIDERS UNITED, OAKLAND COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 1200 N. TELEGRAPH ROAD, PONTIAC, MI 48341-0470 Telephone (248) 858-0100 FAX (248) 858 -1572 GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Hugh D. Crawford Eric Wilson Eileen Kowall Will Molnar Vincent Gregory David Coulter Tim Melton GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 2 October 17, 2005 CONT’D. Larry Hands, Board Member Karen D. Kendrich-Hands, Board Member BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Bill Bullard, Jr., Chairman, District #2 Tom Middleton, Commissioner, District #4 Sue Douglas, Commissioner, District #12 Mike Rogers, Commissioner, District #14 Chuck Moss, Commissioner, District #20 Sheryl Mitchell, Senior Analyst Pamela Worthington, Committee Coordinator PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE PUBLIC COMMENT None APPROVAL OF THE PREVIOUS MINUTES Molnar moved approval of the minutes of September 26, 2005, as printed. Supported by Long. Motion carried on a voice vote. AGENDA Kowall moved to amend the agenda by adding the resolution titled, “Board of Commissioners – Opposition to HB 5274 – Requires Counties to Assume the State’s Financial Obligation to Park Authorities” to the agenda a s Item #6. Supported by Long. Motion carried on a voice vote. AGENDA ITEMS 1. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – APPOINTMENT TO THE HURON-CLINTON METROPOLITAN AUTHORITY - INTERVIEWS Due to the death of Jim Clarkson, a vacancy exists on the Huron -Clinton Metropolitan Authority. It is necessary to appoint someone to continue the six -year term, which expires on May 15, 2006. Interviews began at 1:16 p.m. Peter Walters, Melvin Evans and Gary Wancour were interviewed for the position. John Kostecki did not show up for his interview. RECESS AT 1:48 P.M. MEETING RECONVENED AT 1:59 P.M. Kowall moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that Peter Walters be appointed to the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority for the remaining six-year term that expires on May 15, 2006. Supported by Wilson. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 3 October 17, 2005 Motion carried on a roll call vote with Hatchett, Crawford and Gregory absent. 2. MR #05233 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – DEFERRAL OF ELECTIONS SYSTEM LEASE TO PURCHASE PAYMENTS FROM LOCAL COMMUNITIES Oakland County assisted local communities in acquiring new optical scan voting systems at an affordable cost by entering into Lease to Purchase Agreements to provide voting equipment. The Michigan Secretary of State had issued a memo indicating that the local jur isdictions that purchased new optical scan voting systems after November 2000 and before August 2003 are eligible for reimbursement under the Help America Vote Act of 2002. The resolution authorizes the terms of the Elections Systems Lease to Purchase Agr eements that were entered into with local communities to be modified to allow a deferral of current lease payments until September 30, 2006. This date was picked in anticipation that the State Bureau of Elections and Secretary of State’s Office will have reimbursed the communities within that timeframe. Coulter moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. The report also includes a recommendation that this resolution should be referred to Finance, since it has to do with payments to the County. Supported by Molnar. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Crawford and Gregory absent. AGENDA Chairperson Patterson requested to move item #6, “Board of Commissioners – Opposition to HB 5274 – Requires Counties to Assume the State’s Financial Obligation to Park Authorities” up on the agenda to be taken up before Item #3. There were no objections. 6. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – OPPOSITION TO HB 5274 – REQUIRES COUNTIES TO ASSUME THE STATE’S FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO PARK AUTHORITIES The resolution reflects that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners objects to the raid on counties’ Revenue Sharing Reserve Fund, which is intended to replace state revenue sharing dollars. House Bill 5274 would require counties t o make up the lost funding to park authorities from its Revenue Sharing Reserve Fund, which is derived from the county general operating millage. The resolution reflects that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners urges its legislative delegation to reject and defeat HB 5274. Wilson moved approval of the attached suggested resolution. Supported by Long. Motion carried on a roll call vote with Crawford and Gregory absent. 3. MR #05245 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – SUPPORT FOR INVESTMENT IN QUALITY TRANSIT ALONG THE WOODWARD CORRIDOR The resolution reflects that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports a solid investment in quality transit in Southeast Michigan, especially along the Woodward Corridor, as a proven and powerful tool to alter current development patterns and build vitality in our existing communities. Melton moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 4 October 17, 2005 Wilson moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that the resol ution be amended, as follows: 1. Amend the title of the resolution, as follows: Board of Commissioners – Support for Investment in Quality Transit Along the Woodward Corridor in Southeast Michigan 2. Amend the 1st WHEREAS paragraph, as follows: WHEREAS in Oakland County, Woodward Avenue is the historic development engine of our many of our established communities as the connector to the City of Detroit; and 3. Amend the 3rd WHEREAS paragraph, as follows: WHEREAS if we can alter current development patterns to tak e advantage of existing infrastructure in established communities, the established urban communities along the Woodward Avenue corridor in Southeast Michigan will become more vibrant and regional efficiency will increase, thereby reducing costs to Oakland County taxpayers; and 4. Amend the BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph, as follows: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports a solid investment in quality transit in Southeast Michigan, especially along the Woodward Corridor as a proven and powerful tool to alter current development patterns and build vitality in our existing communities. 5. Add an additional BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED paragraph, as follows: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this adopted resolution should be sent to the State Legislature, SEMCOG, MDOT, the Road Commission of Oakland County and the legislative lobbyists for Oakland County. Supported by Melton. Motion to amend carried on a roll call vote with Crawford and Gregory absent. Main motion, as amended, carried on a roll call vote with Long and Kowall voting no and Crawford and Gregory absent. KOWALL MOVED TO REOPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, LIMITING EACH SPEAKER TO THREE MINUTES. SUPPORTED BY MELTON. PUBLIC COMMENT Robert Prud’homme, President of Transportation Riders United, commended the General Government Committee for their vote on MR #05245, Board of Commissioners – Support for Investment in Quality Transit Along the Woodward Corridor. He expressed his support for public transportation, especially along the Woodward Corridor. GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 5 October 17, 2005 Larry Hands, Board Member of the Transportation Riders United, congratulated the General Government Committee for their vote on MR #05245. He said that quality transit produces the economic development, when you do it correc tly, in the regions and places that need the economic development. He supported the Woodward Corridor as the starting point for quality transit in Southeast Michigan. Karen Kendrich-Hands, Board Member of the Transportation Riders United, thanked the General Government Committee for their vote on MR #05245, and expressed her support for quality transit. Mary MacMaster, taxpayer from Lake Orion, expressed her support of MR #05248, Board of Commissioners – Process for Consideration of Board of Commissioner’s Leadership Stipend and Fiscal Year 2006-2007 Budget Amendment and urged the General Government Committee to support it. Scott Oppmann, Manager, Systems Development and Support, Information Technology, gave a status report on Wireless Oakland. The se lection of pilot communities has taken a little longer than anticipated, but it’s for a good reason. The partner has recently brought on a large partner that will help them on the build-out. They will look at other technology. The partnership contract needs to be finalized. Once that is done, then the pilot communities will be announced, which should be later this month. There will be six to seven pilot areas identified, and it is important that each of these areas are accomplished by the middle of next year. The plan is to implement the six or seven pilot areas and have the contract with the private partners finalized by the end of this year. For the communities that are not among the six or seven pilot areas, they will have a build - out within the contract to allow them to be added. In regards to a legislative issue, House Bill 5237, a bill to amend the Michigan Telecommunications Act, 1991 PA 179, at this time it is still in review through the Committee on Energy and Technology. This bill would not affect OakNet or other County services today because the County would be grand-fathered. However, in five years the next generation of OakNet or CLEMIS may have some boundaries that the County does not agree with. Information Technology has been working with the Michigan Association of Counties to provide a unified response to the legislature on House Bill 5237. Bill McMaster, State Chairman of Taxpayers United, expressed his support of MR #05248 and urged the committee to vote yes on it. He also expressed his concern regarding MR #05245. He stated that it is up to the people to vote yes or no on a new transit system because the money would have to come from property taxes. He gave the example of DARTA, which he said the Court of Appeals ruled unconstitutional because it did not get the vote of the people to pay those taxes. AGENDA Chairperson Patterson requested to move Item #5, “Road Commission – Businesses for Better Roads – PowerPoint Presentation”, up on the agenda to be taken up prior t o Item #4. There were no objections. 5. ROAD COMMISSION – BUSINESSES FOR BETTER ROADS – POWERPOINT PRESENTATION Brent Bair, Managing Director of the Road Commission for Oakland County, handed out some documents for the presentation. One of the document s showed bond issues, new tax levies, GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 6 October 17, 2005 extensions or alterations of current taxes for transportation, etc. that were voted on in other states and the results of the votes. Mr. Bair stated that congestion is getting worse in Oakland County, as well as the condition of the roads. Existing funding for roads is inadequate to deal with the problem, and neither Lansing nor Washington D.C. will be helping Oakland County with funding. Michigan is ranked No. 3 in having the worst roads in the nation. Michigan tax dollars are being used to adequately fund education, health and welfare, but not roads. Michigan is still in the bottom seven states per capita in spending money for roads. The Michigan Transportation Fund, the State -collected gas tax, is the largest single source of finances for roads in Michigan. The diesel gas tax makes up the remainder. Michigan’s gas tax is one of the lowest in the nation. It is not enough to keep up with inflation. Oakland County has the most heavily traveled and congested road s in the state, and they are approaching gridlock faster than any other area in the state. It is estimated that it would cost $1.7 billion ($1.3 billion on Road Commission roads and $400 million on city/village streets) over the next ten years to addres s congestion on Oakland County’s local roads. At this point, Oakland County will receive less than $200 million in federal funds to address congestion. That means Oakland County will experience a shortfall of more than $1.5 billion to address road congestion. These roads were not built to handle suburb to suburb travel, and it is costing motorists money every year. The $1.7 billion would be necessary to widen roads to ease congestion. The Michigan Department of Transportation receives federal money; however, they keep 75% of the money, and that leaves 25% to be spread to all communities in the State of Michigan. Businesses for Better Roads (BBR) studied a variety of options to solve this problem. The solution would be to create a “Self-Help Congestion Fund” made up of money raised locally and used locally. While they continue to study alternatives, they came up with three possible options of how the proposal might be funded. Option 1 would consist of an additional ½% local sales tax; ½-mill county property tax; 20% vehicle registration fee increase and $25 driver’s license fee increase. This option would generate $152 million annually. Option 2 would consist of an additional ½% local sales tax; ½-mill county property tax and a 0.35% property transfer fee. This option would generate $151 million annually. Option 3 would consist of an additional ½% local sales tax; ½-mill county property tax; 0.23% property transfer fee; 10% vehicle registration fee; and a $15 local drivers license fee increase. This option would generate $151 million annually. Option 3 is the one the BBR favors most. However, implementing any of these or other revenue-generating proposals would require a significant, sustained effort over multiple years. For the examples above, all but the property tax would require enabling state legislation. Most would require local voter approval. The local sales tax would require statewide voter approval. The BBR is finalizing a specific proposal that may include all or some of these elements. 4. MR #05248 – BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS LEADERSHIP STIPEND AND FISCAL YEAR 2006-2007 BUDGET AMENDMENT GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 7 October 17, 2005 The resolution reflects that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners amends the Fiscal Year 2006 and Fiscal Year 2007 Budget by removing the expenditure of $18,500 in Fiscal Year 2006 and $25,000 in Fiscal Year 2007 from the Board of Commissioners’ Administration Budget. These expenditures were put in place to cover the cost of the classifica tions of Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners at an annual salary $10,000 higher than the salary assigned to the Commissioner classification; Vice Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners at an annual salary of $5,000 higher than the salary assigned to the commissioner classification; and Majority and Minority Party Caucus Chairpersons at an annual salary $5,000 higher than the salary assigned to the commissioner classification. Melton moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that t he resolution be adopted. Supported by Molnar. Long moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that the 4 th WHEREAS of the resolution be amended, as follows: WHEREAS because the amendment for the additional stipend for Board of Commissioner’s leadership did not go through the committee process ,. the amount of misinformation that has been publicized regarding this issue has caused confusion; and Supported by Melton Motion to amend carried on a roll call vote with Crawford and Gregory absent. Melton moved to report to the full Board with the recommendation that the NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph be amended, as follows: NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the Fiscal Year 2 006 and Fiscal Year 2007 Budget by removing the expenditure of $18,500 in Fiscal Year 2006 and $25,000 in Fiscal Year 2007 from the Board of Commissioners – Administration Budget, to cover the cost of the new classifications., and eliminate the associated classifications. Supported by Long. ROLL CALL VOTE: AYES: Long, Kowall, Molnar, Melton and Patterson (5) NAYS: Hatchett, Wilson and Coulter (3) Motion to amend carried on a roll call vote with Crawford and Gregory absent. Main motion, as amended, carried on a roll call vote with Hatchett voting no and Crawford and Gregory absent. COMMUNICATIONS A. August 24, 2005 – Oakland County Library Board Minutes B. August 24, 2005 – Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency Board of Directors’ Minutes GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE Page 8 October 17, 2005 Kowall moved to receive and file the Communications. Supported by Long. Motion carried on a voice vote. OTHER BUSINESS/ADJOURNMENT There being no other business to come before the committee, the meeting was adjourned at 4:47 p.m. ________________________ _______________________________ Pamela Worthington Lawrence Doyle Committee Coordinator Administrative Director NOTE: The foregoing minutes are subject to Committee approval.