Corkboard: Monthly News from the Michigan Suburbs Alliance



	Volume 1 Number 8 \| January 2006
	In this issue... E.D. Message: Alliance heads up project linking economic development to rail Project Updates: Governor's Task Force makes policy recommendations In the News: Get a national perspective on the 2006 outlook for cities Upcoming Events: Fire up for the first Creating Collaborative Communities Workshop
	Message from the Executive Director A Time for Trains One hundred and seventy years ago, Michigan's first train took to the rails. Even by frontier standards if must have been an unusual trip. The rails were cut from oak trees. The car was pulled by a team of horses. The route between what is now Toledo and the boom-town of Adrian passed through (and often due to the weather, under) the thick swamp that covered most of southeast Michigan. The forty mile trek could take as long as two full days. Despite the hardship of the trip, it was cause for great celebration. The coming of the rail meant essential things for a community: new residents would move there, new businesses would crop up, the town would be connected in an important and constant way. A century and half later, these things are still true. Unfortunately, Michigan lags far behind other states in prioritizing any kind of mass transportation. Worse, we continue to base our perceptions of the importance of rail on a model implemented before the automobile was an essential part of the Michigan economy and lifestyle. Our use of rail since the advent of the interstate highway system has failed to keep pace with the changes in both society and transportation. Finish reading Project Updates Municipal Finance Members of the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Finance made a major step forward this past month by producing its preliminary policy recommendations. Click here to look them over. The group will be addressing more issues at its upcoming meeting on January 18th. It is open to the public, so mark your calendars! For more information on the Task Force, give Conan a shout or visit http://web1.msue.msu.edu/slg/ and click on the link on the right side of the page. Affordable Housing Residents from across the region turned up at MSHDA's public hearing last month to comment on the new 5-year strategic plan for affordable housing. While some of these attendees were pleasantly surprised to learn about the group's fusion of land use and affordable housing agendas, others saw it as a logical and obvious move. Overall, folks were encouraged by the connection. Since September, the Suburbs Alliance has been co-chairing the planning subgroup on land use, and the project will wrap up next month. Click here for more information on the group's activities. RRC The RRC pilot communities are wrapping up their technical assistance in January and we begin to prepare to announce the certification of the cities in late February. Stay tuned for further announcements in the coming weeks. back to top>> In the News See what local leaders around the nation think about the tax policy and budget issues that are affecting everyone from D.C. to L.A. The National League of Cities' report, Local Budget and Tax Policy in the U.S.: Perceptions of City Officials, offers a comprehensive glance of municipal leaders' views of current and future fiscal challenges. Quite an interesting read. With 2005 in the books, cities can now look ahead to a new, fresh year--and there is much to look forward to according to the Brookings Institution. Although 2005 was a year of catastrophes for some cities around the nation and financial crisis for many in Michigan, a new report predicts cities gaining control and becoming pivotal players in the global economy. Read the 2005 Year in Review to get a much-needed dose of optimism. back to top>> Upcoming Events Don't forget to r egister for the first Creating Collaborative Communities Workshop focusing on Fire Services. Registration is free, but spots are filling up fast, so don't procrastinate! It is shaping up to be a dynamic half-day, with an agenda that covers issues from start-up to marketing. City leaders and fire service providers will come away with the skills and knowledge necessary for developing successful fire service partnerships (and there's a complimentary breakfast to boot!). The Creating Collaborative Communities Workshop Series continues in the spring with three additional workshops focusing on public works and police services. For more information, contact Rachel Gartell. Fire Services Workshop Wednesday, January 19. 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fairlane Center at the University of Michigan - Dearborn The RRC Committee is hard at work finalizing the program's best practices and standards, and they could use an extra hand! Make a stop in Ferndale to join us, and as an added bonus you can warm up with some coffee and bagels. Contact Melanie Brown to learn more about the RRC program. Friday, January 20. 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Council Chambers at Ferndale City Hall We are still looking for vendors and sponsors for our annual Redevelopment Summit. Those interested should get in touch with Project Manager Melanie Brown. The Summit is scheduled for March, so stay posted for event details. Registration will begin soon! Join all three subgroups of the Governor's Task Force on Local Government Finance as they come together for their third full-body meeting. Click here for more information on the Task Force. Wednesday, January 18. 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Michigan Department of Treasury, Operations Center 1st Floor Conference Room 7285 Parsons Dr. Dimondale, MI 48821 back to top>>