Archive for February, 2012

John U. Bacon

The Michigan women’s club hockey team beat the #1 ranked Michigan State women’s team twice down the stretch to finish second in the league, and earn a spot in the national tournament. Hats off to them.

Although I’ve coached high school boy’s hockey teams for almost a decade, a few years ago, I spent two years helping out the very same Michigan women’s hockey team – and I learned a lot more than they did.

It’s worth noting that I’m comparing only high school boys and college women, based solely on my observations of two hockey teams. Your mileage may vary.

My education started on day one. I dumped a bucket of pucks at center ice, grabbed one for myself, then stickhandled the puck around the rink. But something seemed strange, and it took me a while to figure out what it was. [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board passed a resolution expressing its intent to continue to work to improve transportation services and in support of a new regional transit authority (RTA) described in legislation currently pending in the state legislature.

The position expressed by the AATA is that the funding for any new RTA for southeast Michigan, described in legislation introduced in the state legislature in late January, should be supported with funds above and beyond the level expended by existing public transportation service. [For coverage of the proposed legislation, see "Michigan Regional Transit Bills Unveiled"] The legislation would create a four-county region for the RTA that would include Washtenaw, Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties.

From … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board approved two resolutions that together establish service between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metropolitan Airport. It’s expected to begin in April.

One resolution set the fares for the service (basic one-way fare is $15), while the other approved the contract with Indian Trails (Michigan Flyer) to provide the service based on a per-service-mile dollar cost. The service will be branded as “AirRide,” and given the route number 787, which is a change from a previous designation.

Details on cost to riders include a one-way fare of $12 for advance reservation (and limited refundability) or $15 with re-fundability up to time of departure. Round trip fare would be $22 for advance reservation … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board formally reset its committee membership and chairships to accommodate the departure from the board of two of its members in the last three months (Sue McCormick and Rich Robben) and the addition of one replacement (Eli Cooper.)

The planning and development committee will consist of: Anya Dale (chair), Eli Cooper and David Nacht. The performance monitoring and external relations committee will continue to consist of Charles Griffith (chair) and Roger Kerson. The board’s governance committee consists of the board chair (Jesse Bernstein) plus the chairs of the two other committees.

Robben resigned from the board in November 2011, but served through the January 2012 board meeting. McCormick resigned around the same … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board authorized an increase in a contract with Steer Davies Gleave (SDG), by $95,500 to $288,817. The current contract with the London-based consultant, initially hired two years ago to help develop AATA’s transit master plan, is for “implementation assistance” of the plan. The original implementation assistance contract was approved by the board at its July 19, 2011 meeting.

At that board meeting, some board members indicated they’d like to see SDG include more local resources as the process moves forward. The local planning firm Carlisle Wortman has since been engaged. The original contract with SDG for development of the transit master plan was for $399,805. It was previously extended and increased at … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board approved its annual resolution authorizing its CEO to apply for aid from the state of Michigan under Act 51 to provide transportation services. The resolution passed by the board cites AATA’s current year’s estimated revenue budget of “estimated federal funds $3,023,440, estimated state funds $10,988,677, estimated local funds $12,673,833, estimated fare box $6,552,000, estimated other funds $151,000, with total estimated expenses of $33,388,950.”

The budget amounts reflect the maximum that the AATA might use, provided it moves forward with elements of its transit master plan, which calls for expanded service.

This brief was filed from the fourth-floor boardroom of the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Ave, where … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board got an update on the first week’s performance of the increased service implemented on Route #4, between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, which the board approved at its Nov. 17, 2011 meeting.

At the board’s planning and development committee meeting the previous week, Chris White – AATA’s manager of service development – urged caution about the increased ridership and on-time performance on the routes. It’s just the first week and it’s possible that riders are simply switching routes. Compared to the previous week, before the implementation of the more frequent service, ridership on Route #4 increased 8% compared to a systemwide ridership decrease of 0.6%.

On Route #4, ridership numbers … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority board received an overview presentation of the results from a survey of Washtenaw County registered voters about their attitudes towards paying additional taxes to support transportation countywide.

On a key question about survey respondents’ inclination to support a 1 mill property tax, asked towards the beginning of the survey, 54% answered that they would definitely or probably support such a tax. [On  a similar question asked on a similar survey in 2009, 51% of respondents across Washtenaw County answered that they would definitely or probably support a 1 mill additional property tax to support transportation. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of taxable value.]

Asked a similar question … [Full Story]

In a resolution approved unanimously at the start of their Feb. 16 board meeting, University of Michigan regents called for an external investigation of actions related to a former UM medical resident who is charged with possession of child pornography. The resolution, moved from the floor by regent Martin Taylor, called the incident “one that is unacceptable to the regents and that we, the regents, feel we must do everything within our power to ensure that it is not repeated.” [.pdf of Taylor's statement]

The former medical resident, Stephen Jenson, is accused of viewing child pornography on a UM health system computer. The incident was reported in May of 2011 but was not acted on by university officials until November. Jenson … [Full Story]

Following a donation of $7.5 million from the William Davidson Foundation to the University of Michigan athletics department, the UM board of regents approved renaming the basketball player development center in honor of William Davidson, who died in 2009. The unanimous vote was taken at the board’s Feb. 16, 2012 meeting in an item added to the agenda during the meeting.

Davidson, a UM graduate and businessman who owned the Detroit Pistons and other teams, had been a major donor to the university over the past several decades. The William Davidson Institute at UM’s Ross School of Business was founded in 1992 through a gift from Davidson’s business, Guardian Industries.

UM president Mary Sue Coleman described Davidson as a beloved man who had … [Full Story]

At their Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, University of Michigan regents authorized moving ahead on several building projects – including two major housing renovations initially approved last year.

Regents authorized staff to issue bids and award construction contracts for the $116 million renovation of East Quad. The overall project had been approved at the board’s July 21, 2011 meeting.  Subsequently, regents signed off on a schematic design at the Nov. 17, 2011 meeting.  The 300,000-square-foot residence hall – located at 701 E. University, between Hill and Willard – houses about 860 students and the Residential College. The renovation is expected to be finished by the summer of 2013.

Authorization for issuing bids and awarding construction contracts was also given by regents for a … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the University of Michigan board of regents approved renaming the Computer Science and Engineering Building in honor of Bob and Betty Beyster. The building is located at 2260 Hayward Street, on UM’s north campus.

Bob Beyster, who received multiple degrees from UM, is founder and retired chairman of Science Applications International Corp., a research and engineering company. He recently gave a $15 million gift to the College of Engineering, which will be used in part to create the J. Robert Beyster Computational Innovation Graduate Fellows program. The effort will fund research in several fields that link high-performance computing, networking, and storage to applications of importance to society, according to a staff memo.

This brief was filed from the boardroom of … [Full Story]

A change to University of Michigan regents’ bylaws – approved at the board of regents at their Feb. 16, 2012 meeting – removed a provision requiring the president and executive officers to end their service no later than the end of the fiscal year in which their 70th birthday occurs. UM legal staff determined that the provision violated protections against age discrimination contained in the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

UM president Mary Sue Coleman will turn 69 in October of 2012. In November 2010, regents voted to extend her contract through July 31, 2014. If the retirement cap had remained in place, she would not have been eligible for additional contract extensions.

That change to the bylaws was one of seven … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 16, 2012 meeting, the University of Michigan board of regents authorized five items that required disclosure under the state’s Conflict of Interest statute. The law requires that regents vote on potential conflict-of-interest disclosures related to university staff, faculty or students.

The items often involve technology licensing agreements or leases. This month, the items related to the following businesses: Structured Microsystems LLC, H3D Inc., ImBio LLC, OncoMed Pharmaceuticals Inc., and OcuSciences Inc.

This brief was filed from the boardroom of the Fleming administration building on UM’s central campus, where the regents’ meeting is held. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

A bill introduced  by state Senate majority leader Randy Richardville (R-Monroe) on Feb. 15, 2012 would make explicit that graduate student research assistants are not entitled to collective bargaining rights under Michigan’s Act 336 of 1947. From SB 971: “An individual serving as a graduate student research assistant or in an equivalent position and any individual whose position does not have sufficient indicia of an employment relationship is not a public employee entitled to representation or collective bargaining rights under this act.”

If eventually passed by both the Michigan house and senate and signed into law, the amendment to the bill could resolve the question currently being debated on the University of Michigan campus about the organization of that institution’s graduate … [Full Story]

The University of Michigan has issued a press release outlining special parking accommodations on Saturday, Feb. 18 for five sporting events throughout the day, including the airing of ESPN’s College Basketball GameDay Show at Crisler Center. For the GameDay Show from 10 a.m. until noon, fans are asked to park in the Blue Lot around Crisler Center. For the basketball game at Chrisler, which begins at 9 p.m. against Ohio State, the normal lots surrounding Crisler and Michigan Stadium will be secured by 5 p.m. for permit parking, according to the university. [Source]

Following an executive session at its Feb. 15, 2012 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners unanimously approved labor agreements with four of the 17 bargaining units that had not previously settled with the county. These final four bargaining units represent a total of 36 employees – the prosecuting attorneys, the prosecuting attorney supervisors, attorneys in the public defenders office, and supervisors of attorneys in the public defenders office. In total, the county employs about 1,360 workers, and more than 80% of them are represented by labor unions.

All four agreements approved on Feb. 15 are identical, covering a three-year period from Jan. 1, 2012 through Dec. 31, 2014. Because these deals weren’t struck before the deadline to comply with Section 4 … [Full Story]

As part of funding for a Pure Michigan campaign focused on the Ann Arbor area, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners approved allocating $200,000 to the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), out of revenues from the county’s accommodations tax. The vote was taken at the board’s Feb. 15, 2012 meeting.

According to a staff memo, the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) is developing a Pure Michigan pilot program, entitled “Sense of Place,” to combine support for tourism and economic development. The Ann Arbor/Washtenaw County area has been chosen as the first region to be featured as a partner in this program.

The campaign will feature a $1 million national TV ad campaign. Ann Arbor SPARK, the local economic … [Full Story]

The Washtenaw County board of commissioners, at its Feb. 15, 2012 meeting, gave final approval to a five-year, $460,000 project to study and improve conditions at Whitmore Lake. The lake is located in Washtenaw County’s Northfield Township and Livingston County’s Green Oak Township.

The effort – focusing on removal of invasive weeds – is a continuation of a project that began in 2003, and was renewed in 2007. It’s overseen by the county board of public works. The project’s cost will be recovered through special assessments on over 800 parcels near Whitmore Lake.

This brief was filed from the boardroom of the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

A resolution that was tabled from the Jan. 4, 2012 meeting of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners was approved at the Feb. 15 meeting, and broadens options for commissioners in voting on resolutions. Wes Prater cast the sole vote of dissent, but there was no discussion of the item before the vote.

The resolution, proposed by Dan Smith, changed the board rules to give commissioners the option of abstaining from a vote. His resolution amended the section on board resolutions, adding the following statement: “Members may abstain from voting on any resolution expressing support (or opposition), but otherwise taking no action.” Some commissioners had objected to the change during a brief discussion at the Jan. 4 meeting, and the board had … [Full Story]

At its Feb. 15, 2012 meeting, the Washtenaw County board of commissioners approved a $415,000 contract with the Humane Society of Huron Valley that will provide animal control services for the county just through Dec. 31, 2012. The county’s previous contract with HSHV, for $500,000 annually, expired on Dec. 31, 2011. Since then, the two entities have been operating under a $29,000 month-by-month contract.

County officials say the new contract will provide time for ongoing talks to develop a longer-term solution to animal control services in Washtenaw County, including services that are mandated by the state. During the rest of 2012, the county will work with HSHV to determine the cost of an animal service unit, and eventually will issue a … [Full Story]

A restructuring of support services in administration, finance, information technology and facilities management was given initial approval by the Washtenaw County board of commissioners at its Feb. 15, 2012 meeting. The changes are estimated to save the county $326,422 annually, and result in the net reduction of four full-time jobs. A final vote is expected at the board’s March 7 meeting.

The changes entail creating a new “cross-lateral” team of four current senior managers: Kelly Belknap, director of finance; Greg Dill, infrastructure management director; Curtis Hedger, corporation counsel; and Diane Heidt, director of human services and labor relations. The proposal also calls for putting two positions – including the job of deputy county administrator – on “hold vacant” status. Another 11 positions will … [Full Story]

Detroit Metro Times publishes a cover story on Matt Jones, an Ypsilanti singer-songwriter who’ll be performing at the publication’s Feb. 29 Blowout pre-party: “Though Jones, like any songwriter worth his salt, has had to work through heady personal problems, his tunes have never slipped into the goofy supernatural or the too sentimental. Jones is not one of those ‘Midwest beardo-sensitive types’; in fact, if the cello and upright bass creak out stark lullaby basics, it always is given a warm, just-barely jovial gloss by Jones’ melodies, words and breathy delivery.” [Source]

In a press release issued today, Gov. Rick Snyder announced the appointment of Joseph F. Burke to the 15th District Court in Ann Arbor. Judgeships on a district court are ordinarily chosen in non-partisan elections. The governor’s appointment fills the vacancy left by Julie Creal, who resigned last year citing health reasons.

At least three other candidates applied for the post: local attorney Tom Bourque, assistant Washtenaw County prosecutor Eric Gutenberg, and district court magistrate Colleen Currie all confirmed that they had met the Dec. 9, 2011 application deadline.

According to the press release from Snyder’s office, Burke “… began his legal career as an assistant prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County in 1982. He then went into private practice in … [Full Story]

The blog for Ann Arbor’s getDowntown program is posting bike love poems received from its Valentine’s Day contest, including a “bike-ku.” [Source]

Matt Roush of WWJ Newsradio 950 reports on a Recycle Ann Arbor Earth Day video contest. The nonprofit is asking students in grades 6-8 who live in Washtenaw County to submit a video on “Why I Recycle.” It should be less than three minutes in length and submitted by March 30. More details and contest entry forms are online at www.recycleannarbor.org. [Source]

Editor’s note: This column appears regularly in The Chronicle, roughly around the third Wednesday of the month. 

David Erik Nelson

This installment of the column will be published in two parts. Mostly that’s because Nelson wrote too many words this month.

Listen: I’m fully aware that a healthy, employed man in a functioning industrialized democracy kvetching about his phone service is basically the canonical First World Problem.

In my defense, this is illustrative kvetching; c’mon, it’ll be fun!

I have AT&T for my home phone and high-speed Internet service. In September last year this service took a nose dive; suddenly my Internet connection would suffer hours-long periods of dropping, negotiating, reconnecting, then dropping again – a process that I could readily monitor, since my phone line was now so lousy with modem whistles that I could hear little else (although callers could hear me with crystal clarity, which made me sound somewhat prematurely demented as I hollered for them to speak up over all the damn noise). [Full Story]