Archive for May, 2011

Washtenaw County apportionment commission meeting (May 11, 2011): Under a redistricting plan adopted on Wednesday, the number of Washtenaw County commissioners will drop from 11 to nine starting in 2013 – reverting back to the number of districts the county had in the 1980s. Ann Arbor will lose a district under the plan, and two current commissioners – Leah Gunn and Yousef Rabhi – will be in the same district, the new District 8.

The redistricting also puts incumbents Alicia Ping, a Republican, and Democrat Wes Prater into the same district – the new District 3, covering south and southwestern Washtenaw County, including the city of Saline. The plan also keeps Scio Township mostly in the same district, District 1. Previously the township had been fragmented into several districts.

The vote came after more than a month of meetings and an hour of discussion and public commentary on Wednesday, including some harsh words from the only Republican on the five-member commission, Mark Boonstra. Boonstra, chair of the Washtenaw County Republican Committee, charged that he’d been pressured to adopt a 12-district plan that he said favored the incumbents and put Republican contenders at a disadvantage. Of the current 11-member county board, only three commissioners are Republican.

The plan that Boonstra says he was pressured to accept was the first one voted down on Wednesday – supported only by county clerk Larry Kestenbaum, who proposed it, and Cleveland Chandler, chair of the Washtenaw County Democratic Party. A second vote taken on a 9-district plan drawn by Boonstra was also defeated – Boonstra was the only one who voted in favor of it.

The final vote was for a 9-district plan drafted by county prosecuting attorney Brian Mackie and revised with input from other Democrats on the apportionment commission, including Kestenbaum and county treasurer Catherine McClary. It gained unanimous support from the full commission. [.pdf file of adopted 9-district county map]

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, based on population changes determined by the U.S. census. Until this week, only two plans had been offered: one for 9 districts, another for 12. However, just hours before Wednesday’s 5:30 p.m. meeting, several new plans were submitted for consideration. In total, 11 plans were considered by the commission – for 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 21 districts. One resident during public commentary said he’d attended several previous meeting, and that it was shocking to arrive and see so many new plans on the day of the final vote.

All county commissioners are elected to two-year terms. The new districts will be used in next year’s elections, for commissioners who will take office in January 2013.

For additional background about the redistricting process, see Chronicle coverage: “No Decision Yet on County Redistricting,” “County Board Districts Likely to Change,” “Public Gives Input on County Redistricting,” “Washtenaw Redistricting Work Begins” and “County Clerk Outlines Redistricting Process.” [Full Story]

The Detroit News reports on a University of Michigan study that examined the possible impact of pollution on minority children. According to the study, Hispanics and African-Americans in Michigan are more likely to go to school in a polluted area. The study’s lead author is Paul Mohai, a professor at UM’s School of Natural Resources and Environment. From the study: “Our findings underscore the need to expand the concept of environmental justice to include children as a vulnerable population. There is a need for proactive school policies that will protect children from exposure to unhealthy levels of air pollution and other environmental hazards.” [Source]

Last week The Chronicle received a cold-call from Suburban Chevrolet out at Wagner and Jackson roads with an offer to test-drive a Chevy Volt.

The sales consultant was keen to point out that Suburban Chevrolet was the first area dealership to have a vehicle available for test drives. But test-driving a car is pretty remote from The Chronicle’s mission, and even more remote from my personal transportation choice.

I share a membership in Zipcar with my wife, but don’t even remember the last time I’ve sat behind the wheel of a car myself. Zipcar, a car-sharing service, is like an insurance policy – a backup plan I never use. I get around by bicycle.

Still, in the Chevy Volt, I spotted a chance to write about a major public works construction project in downtown Ann Arbor – the Fifth Avenue underground parking structure, which will feature around 640 parking spaces on a lot that previously offered 192 spots.

Twenty-two of those new spots will be equipped with electric car charging stations. Dave Konkle, former energy coordinator for the city of Ann Arbor who now consults for the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority on its energy projects, identified the federal grant that’s helping to pay for the stations. The grant is worth $264,100 and will also pay for photovoltaic panels that will provide the energy for two of the spots – it was obtained through the Clean Energy Coalition’s Clean Cities Program.

That public project is closely tied to the assumption that visitors to downtown Ann Arbor will continue to make a personal choice for private transportation in the form of an automobile, and that some of those people will choose electric cars like the Volt.

The idea I want to think about in this column is that public choices depend on the sum of many private, independent choices made by actual people. It’s an idea that was driven home to me at a public transportation forum hosted earlier this week by the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority at SPARK East in Ypsilanti.

At that forum, Bob Van Bemmelen – recent Republican candidate for the Washtenaw County board of commissioners – had this advice for the AATA as it pitches to the public the idea of countywide public transit: You have to make it personal, he said.

So I’ll begin by telling you a little bit more about the Suburban Chevrolet sales guy who gave me a ride in the Chevy Volt – who is as much a car guy as I am a bicycle guy: Nic Allebrodt. [Full Story]

The Detroit News reports that Sean Morrison, director of the University of Michigan’s Center for Stem Cell Biology and a vocal advocate in the 2008 campaign to lift the state’s ban on embryonic stem cell research, has been recruited to lead a pediatric research initiative at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. From the report: “A faculty member since 1999, Morrison is among several high-profile stem cell researchers to leave U-M in recent years. … Morrison’s wife, Dr. Theodora Ross, a U-M cancer researcher and clinician, also landed a faculty appointment at UT Southwestern Medical School, and will be part of the university’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center.” [Source]

 

At its May 11, 2011 meeting, the Washtenaw County apportionment commission voted unanimously to adopt a redistricting plan that divides the county board of commissioners into 9 districts. [Update: .pdf file of adopted 9-district plan.]

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, based on population changes determined by the U.S. census. There are currently 11 districts represented on the county board of commissioners, including four in Ann Arbor. The new plan puts incumbent Democratic commissioners Leah Gunn and Yousef Rabhi into the same district – the new District 8 in Ann Arbor. It also puts incumbents Alicia Ping, a Republican, and Democrat Wes Prater into the same district – the new District 3, covering south and southwestern Washtenaw County.

Until today, only … [Full Story]

Just hours before a May 11 meeting of the Washtenaw County apportionment commission, which begins at 5:30 p.m., several new plans to redistrict the county board of commissioners have been submitted for consideration. In total, 10 plans will be considered by the commission – they are now posted in the lower-level conference room in the county building at 200 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor, and are available for public viewing before the 5:30 p.m. meeting. The meeting is also open to the public.

Redistricting occurs every 10 years, based on population changes determined by the U.S. census. There are currently 11 districts represented on the county board of commissioners, including four in Ann Arbor. Now being considered are plans … [Full Story]

Ann Arbor’s new municipal center – also known as the justice center, where the Ann Arbor police department and 15th District Court are located – gets a mention in a FARK.com thread about America’s ugliest buildings. [Source]

Washtenaw County board of commissioners working session (May 5, 2011): A consolidation is underway for three county departments that share similar missions and programs: providing services to low-income residents; support for low-income housing; help for job seekers; and projects designed to spur economic development.

County commissioners were given an update on these plans at their most recent working session. They’ll be asked to give initial approval to the consolidation at their June 1 meeting, with final approval on July 6.

Mary Jo Callan, who is expected to lead the new office of community & economic development, made the presentation and fielded most of the questions from commissioners. She is currently director of the office of community development, a joint department of the county and city of Ann Arbor, and one of the three departments slated to merge. The goal, Callan said, is to provide a more coherent approach to the broad spectrum of community development, from providing for basic needs to helping people get jobs. And in a climate of reduced resources, they’ll be eliminating duplication and cutting costs, she said, while making it easier for residents to get the services they need.

The three departments – the office of community development (OCD), ETCS (the employment training and community services department) and the economic development & energy department – employ nearly 60 people with a combined budget of about $16 million. Staff cuts will likely result from the changes – those and other details are still being worked out.

Most commissioners expressed support for this effort, though some wanted more information – including a business plan for the new department – before their June 1 vote.

The working session also included a presentation and discussion on the Packard Square brownfield redevelopment, an issue that was initially debated at the board’s May 4 meeting. A Chronicle report on that part of the working session will be published separately. [Full Story]

The Washtenaw County board of commissioners has called a special working session for Tuesday, May 17 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss possible amendments to the county’s full faith and credit policy. In a related item, they will also discuss the proposed Packard Square brownfield redevelopment project, which was previously addressed at a May 4 board meeting and May 5 working session.

At its May 4 meeting, the county board was asked to give initial approval of a $1 million grant application and $1 million loan from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment, for brownfield cleanup at the Packard Square site – the former Georgetown Mall in Ann Arbor. Commissioners were also asked to authorize designation of the county’s … [Full Story]

The Detroit News reports that Sue Snyder, wife of Gov. Rick Snyder, has become the spokeswoman for Ele’s Place, a center for grieving children in Ann Arbor and Lansing. Says Snyder: “When my husband was elected governor of Michigan, suddenly I had people asking me, ‘What issues are you going to focus on as first lady?’ To be quite honest, my focus has always been on my family and my children, and I really didn’t see that changing very much. But (being first lady) is also a wonderful opportunity to combine my support for an organization like Ele’s Place, with a chance to raise awareness statewide on the important topic of grieving children.” [Source]

As of today’s deadline (4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, 2011), nominating petitions for a total of 12 candidates for 5 seats on the 11-member Ann Arbor city council had been filed. But only 10 of them have clearly achieved the required 100 signatures from registered voters in their ward.

In Ward 1, incumbent Democrat Sabra Briere submitted 106 valid signatures, and will not face a challenger in the Democratic primary. No Republican filed in Ward 1.

In Ward 2, the Democratic primary will feature incumbent Democrat Stephen Rapundalo (107 signatures) and Tim Hull (120 signatures).

In Ward 3, incumbent Democrat Stephen Kunselman (108 signatures) will contest the Democratic primary with Ingrid Ault (110 signatures) and possibly Marwan Issa. As of 4 p.m. … [Full Story]

National Public Radio reports that many universities are critical of a National Council on Teacher Quality effort to evaluate more than 1,000 teacher prep programs, saying the council’s methods are flawed. Results from the analysis will be published in U.S. News and World Report next year. The article interviews Deborah Ball, dean of the University of Michigan’s School of Education: “For example, most of the indicators people are discussing have to do with inputs like the quality of the entrance requirements. That’s a very strange metric. If I was a person looking for a program, I’d want to know what I’m going to learn while I’m there, not how selective the program is.” [Source]

An article in the Quadrangle – a publication of the University of Michigan Law School – tells how wood from trees torn down on UM’s campus are being turned into bowls, clocks and other objects, and sold at the UM Museum of Art store. From the report: “The artists also have made many objects from an elm tree – in particular, an elm that stood just east of Hutchins Hall and south of the Legal Research Building. The elm tree had to be removed in July 2009 to make room for the Robert B. Aikens Commons, the new two-story, 16,000-square-foot, glass-roofed space that will include gathering spots and studying spaces for [law] faculty and students. But it also needed to … [Full Story]

In a report on the May 4, 2011 Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting, we incorrectly stated that a network manager job that’s shared between the county and the city of Ann Arbor was held by James McFarlane. McFarlane previously held that job, but is now information technology manager. Dale Vanderford is the county/city network manager. We note the error here, and have corrected the original article.

At an Ann Arbor city council work session held May 9, 2011, mayor John Hieftje raised the possibility that the council’s approval of the city’s budget could be delayed this year. According to the city charter, the city administrator’s proposed budget must be adopted with any amendments no later than the council’s second meeting in May. Hieftje suggested that the council’s second meeting in May, which is now scheduled to start on May 16, might be recessed and continued until the last Friday of the month (May 27).

The additional time would allow for greater clarity on an issue related to the tax increment finance (TIF) capture for the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. The city brought to light last week … [Full Story]

Alex Young – head chef and managing partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse in Ann Arbor – received the prestigious James Beard Foundation award Monday night for top chef in the Great Lakes region, according to an Associated Press report published in the Wall Street Journal. He has been nominated for this award for the past four years. [Source]

Bill Reynolds, Washtenaw County’s deputy administrator, has been on medical leave from his job since April 8, and is expected to be out for at least the next few months. County administrator Verna McDaniel included the news in her May 9 monthly newsletter.

Reynolds’ paid leave is related to post-military issues. In his most recent military experience, Reynolds was deployed to Iraq in 2004 with a Marine Corps reserve unit, and was a senior officer leading civil/military operations in Al Anbar province. Diane Heidt, the county’s human resources and labor relations director, said that Reynolds is expected back on the job after he returns from medical leave.

Kelly Belknap, the county’s finance director, has been named interim deputy administrator, and was introduced with that title at a May 5, 2011 board working session. Pete Collinson, finance accounting manager, is now interim finance director – a role he held for several months following the retirement of Pete Ballios in 2009.

Reynolds has been on the job just under a year – the county board of commissioners approved his hire at their June 2010 meeting, and he started work on June 21, 2010, with a salary of $138,000. Reynolds was the first hire of McDaniel, who was deputy administrator under Bob Guenzel. Guenzel retired as county administrator in May 2010, and the board of commissioners promoted McDaniel into that job. Before coming to Washtenaw County, Reynolds was the administrator for Chippewa County, Wisc.

[Full Story]

Washtenaw County board of commissioners meeting (May 4, 2011): Budget challenges touched most agenda items, either directly or tangentially, during a four-hour board meeting.

The board got a quarterly update for the current year’s budget, as well as a progress report on development of the 2012-2013 budget. County administrator Verna McDaniel reported that thanks to a less-than-expected drop in property tax revenues, a two-year projected deficit has fallen from nearly $21 million to $17.5 million.

To address the deficit, the county is preparing to begin negotiations with its 17 labor unions, hoping to get $8 million in cuts to employee compensation and benefits over the next two years. They also hope to make $8 million in savings from organizational restructuring.

An item not on the agenda drew attention, particularly from commissioner Ronnie Peterson. A coordinated funding effort for local nonprofits – allocating funds from the county, the city of Ann Arbor, Washtenaw Urban County and Washtenaw United Way – is nearing its final stages. The county board will be asked to vote on funding recommendations at its May 18 meeting. However, nonprofits leaders have already been notified of those recommendations, and some attended the May 4 meeting to lobby for support. Peterson sharply criticized the process – which the board had approved last year – saying they seem to have ceded decision-making authority for the funding. He didn’t like it.

A development-related issue also raised financial concerns for some commissioners –  the proposed Packard Square development in Ann Arbor. The board was asked to give initial approval of a $1 million grant application and $1 million loan from the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources and Environment, for brownfield cleanup at the site. Commissioners were also asked to authorize designation of the county’s full faith and credit as a guarantee to any loan that might be awarded, up to $1 million.

Commissioner Wes Prater argued that items related to significant financial issues must first be addressed at a working session, according to board rules. After some debate, Prater’s motion to postpone action on Packard Square was approved by a majority of commissioners, moving it to a working session the following day. A Chronicle report on that session will be forthcoming.

The meeting also included approval of expanded IT collaboration with the county, the city of Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, and the appointment of Michael Smith as the new director for the county’s veteran services office. And during the time for communications from the board, commissioner Dan Smith indicated that he and Yousef Rabhi are working on changes to compensation for commissioners – they’ll likely be bringing a proposal to the board later this year. [Full Story]