MSA:Corkboard

Greentown: The Future of Community

If you are a mayor or elected official, public works director, park district director, planner, developer, architect, landscape architect or builder—or just interested in seeing how a community can become greener—consider making the trek out to Chicagoland for this one-day conference designed to help you create an eco-effective community. Key speakers include William McDonough, architect and author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. GreenTown will offer two tracks in the afternoon, one for established communities and one for fast-growing communities. Visit www.greentownconference.com for more information.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple
875 Lake St.
Oak Park, IL
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Michigan Policy Summit 2007: Investing in Michigan's Future

A day-long policy forum initiated by Michigan's progressive community, Michigan Policy Summit 2007 aims to galvanize participants behind an action agenda to move Michigan forward. Forward-looking speakers, breakout sessions and interactive forums are all in the mix. Learn more at http://www.michiganprospect.org/michigan_policy_summit/index.html

Saturday, September 8, 2007
Lansing, MI
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Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Act 312

Put away your boxing gloves and let down your guard. . .get ready for one of the most civil (and hopefully productive) discussions on Public Act 312 and its pesky cousin, binding arbitration. We'll start by identifying problems with the ol' PA 312, then explore some alternative negotiation models (hug it out?), and finally, discuss some of the structural changes being considered by the state Legislature. As always, the table discussions that take place will help shape Suburbs Alliance policy on the issue, and we'll present recommendations to Lansing policymakers in the follow-up issue of In the Ring. Whether you're an avid dissenter or simply want to join the choir, make sure your voice is heard! (You may have to come just to figure that out.)

Suburbs Alliance charter members receive two complimentary admissions—consider giving one to your union leader! Members can RSVP to brittany@suburbsalliance.org or (248) 546-2380. General registration will open soon at www.suburbsalliance.org.

Friday, September 28, 2007. 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
The Woodlands of Van Buren
39670 Ecorse Rd.
Wayne, MI 48184
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Visit www.suburbsalliance.org for more events!


Volume 3 Number 3: August 2007

On this Month's Corkboard... Director's Message: Midwest mantra Project Updates: RRCs shine In the News: Mini-boom in Eastpointe? Upcoming Events: M&M takes on PA 312
Woodward Corridor communities gear up for the '07 Dream Cruise
Director's Message
Solid Midwestern Values Under a blazing blue sky, I flew into Des Moines this week to talk metropolitan Smart Growth with Iowa’s civic leaders. Here at the invitation of 1,000 Friends of Iowa with the kind support of the Smart Growth Leadership Institute and EPA’s Office of Smart Growth, I’m offering new perspectives on land use strategies and metropolitan governance. Or, I’m supposed to be. Finish reading. . . back to top

Project Updates
Cheers for RRC Class of '06 The original group of Redevelopment Ready Communities continues to shine as they report some exciting progress this month. Here's the short list: Hazel Park created a stellar new powerpoint presentation that it uses to keep city council informed of economic development activities, Southfield won the Michigan Economic Development Association award for best website for a community under 100,000, and Eastpointe is updating its Tax Increment Financing Plan to incorporate community and site specific visioning. Tip your hat to these stand-out cities, and visit redevelopmentready.com for more highlights. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- T to the...O to the...D Scratching your head about how we can make metro Detroit a magnet for emerging talent and cutting-edge companies? TOD, my friends, TOD. Transit-oriented development presents major possibilities for economic rejuvenation in southeast Michigan—and the increased mobility and favorable environmental impact aren't too shabby either. You can read all about it in our new TOD brochure at www.MichiganTOD.org. And don't forget to sign up for TOD-related e-updates! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Internmania We've got a slew of internships available for students with a passion for southeast Michigan and a quick wit. As part of our revamped UniverCities Connection program, this fab group of fall interns will work both in the Suburbs Alliance digs and one or more of our member cities. Check out what we've got, and get those resumes in! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Are your services up to snuff? Help out with the next issue of The Suburban Hubbub by telling us what you think of your city services! In these trying economic times, many communities are being forced to scale back. Do you think your city is keeping up with the rest? If you live or work in one of our member cities, submit a headshot and a quote approximately 20-40 words in length, and you could be featured in the next issue! And to be fair, city managers, elected officials and staff should probably sit this one out. back to top

In the News
The city of Eastpointe is witnessing a "mini-boom" of construction by some accounts. Multiple new projects are surging to life in the southern Macomb County community, just one of which is a spankin' new city hall. Read Monday's Macomb Daily article to learn about other new (re)developments in the city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mergers—both of services and cities themselves—have been quite the hot topic in The Detroit Free Press this past month. Check out our personal favorite, "Sharing services spells savings," from July 30. And to those cities who are increasing efficiency, decreasing response times, and improving the overall quality of public service through collaboration, keep up the good work! back to top

Upcoming Events
Greentown: The Future of Community If you are a mayor or elected official, public works director, park district director, planner, developer, architect, landscape architect or builder—or just interested in seeing how a community can become greener—consider making the trek out to Chicagoland for this one-day conference designed to help you create an eco-effective community. Key speakers include William McDonough, architect and author of Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. GreenTown will offer two tracks in the afternoon, one for established communities and one for fast-growing communities. Visit www.greentownconference.com for more information. Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Frank Lloyd Wright's Unity Temple 875 Lake St. Oak Park, IL ------------------------------------------------------------------ Michigan Policy Summit 2007: Investing in Michigan's Future A day-long policy forum initiated by Michigan's progressive community, Michigan Policy Summit 2007 aims to galvanize participants behind an action agenda to move Michigan forward. Forward-looking speakers, breakout sessions and interactive forums are all in the mix. Learn more at http://www.michiganprospect.org/michigan_policy_summit/index.html Saturday, September 8, 2007 Lansing, MI ------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayors & Managers Policy Breakfast: Act 312 Put away your boxing gloves and let down your guard. . .get ready for one of the most civil (and hopefully productive) discussions on Public Act 312 and its pesky cousin, binding arbitration. We'll start by identifying problems with the ol' PA 312, then explore some alternative negotiation models (hug it out?), and finally, discuss some of the structural changes being considered by the state Legislature. As always, the table discussions that take place will help shape Suburbs Alliance policy on the issue, and we'll present recommendations to Lansing policymakers in the follow-up issue of In the Ring. Whether you're an avid dissenter or simply want to join the choir, make sure your voice is heard! (You may have to come just to figure that out.) Suburbs Alliance charter members receive two complimentary admissions—consider giving one to your union leader! Members can RSVP to brittany@suburbsalliance.org or (248) 546-2380. General registration will open soon at www.suburbsalliance.org. Friday, September 28, 2007. 8:00 - 10:00 a.m. The Woodlands of Van Buren 39670 Ecorse Rd. Wayne, MI 48184 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Visit www.suburbsalliance.org for more events! back to top Sign Up for the Corkboard © 2007 Michigan Suburbs Alliance, All Rights Reserved