Reimbursement OK’d for Planning Conference

Three Ann Arbor planning commissioners will be reimbursed for expenses related to an October conference in Traverse City, following action taken by the full commission at its Nov. 7, 2012 meeting.

Bonnie Bona, Ken Clein and Evan Pratt attended the Michigan Association of Planning’s annual conference on Oct. 17-19. They will be reimbursed for roughly $600 each to cover registration ($325 each) and lodging expenses ($273 each for two nights at Grand Traverse Resort). The planning commission bylaws allow for such reimbursements, assuming the commission approves the expenses.

According to planning manager Wendy Rampson, the city’s planning unit has a conference and training budget of $8,000 for the current fiscal year. That funding is intended to cover training for planning staff, planning commissioners and zoning board of appeals members. In addition, the historic district commission has a separate conference and training budget of $200. If necessary, budget funds can be shifted from planning to historic preservation.

This brief was filed from the second floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron, where the planning commission meets. A more detailed report will follow: [link]