Jim Casha shows Mary Jo Callan, director of Washtenaw County’s office of community & economic development, a map of the Michigan state fairgrounds. Casha is advocating for the southeast Michigan regional transit authority to develop the site as a regional transit hub. (Photos by the writer.)

However, in the previous week, a jury had awarded nearly $1.2 million to a former Washtenaw County employee, Ali Aboubaker, who had filed a discrimination lawsuit against the county in 2011. Responding to a query after the March 5 meeting, corporation counsel Curtis Hedger told The Chronicle that the county would be evaluating its options for appeal. The administration would also be meeting with the county’s insurance carrier to discuss the situation.

In other action, the board gave initial approval to hire a contract position that would support budget-related work for the board and administration. The item had been originally considered, but postponed, at the Feb. 5, 2014 meeting. The vote on March 5 was 7-1, over dissent from Dan Smith (R-District 2). Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5) was absent.

Commissioners also voted to accept a grant from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the Youth Arts Alliance (YAA). Washtenaw County is the fiduciary for this five-county collaborative, which provides creative arts workshops to youth in the juvenile justice system. The county also provides office space for YAA.

The grant will pay local artists to install public art at each of the five county juvenile facilities, made with help from the youth at those facilities. The youth will also work with local musicians to create an original album. The alliance’s director, Heather Wilson, told commissioners: “We are seeing huge transformations with the kids experiencing creative arts as an outlet.”

During his communications to the board, chair Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8) laid out the application process to fill the seat on the Washtenaw County road commission board left vacant by the recent death of long-time road commissioner Fred Veigel. The deadline for submitting applications is Sunday, March 16. Rabhi hopes to make a nomination at the board’s March 19 meeting. The appointment would be to fill the remainder of Veigel’s term, through Dec. 31, 2014. During the March 5 meeting, commissioners passed resolutions honoring Veigel as well as local activist Lois Mayfield, who died on Feb. 21.

Commissioners also scheduled a public hearing to give input for the Washtenaw Urban County 2014-15 action plan. The hearing will be held at the county boardroom in downtown Ann Arbor during the March 19 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. It’s intended to solicit feedback about proposed projects and programs that the county intends to implement with federal funding – through community development block grant (CDBG), HOME and emergency shelter grant programs – from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

The March 5 meeting included an update from Diane Heidt, the county’s human resources and labor relations director, about a proposal to offer autism health care coverage for county employees. A formal resolution is expected to be on the March 19 agenda for the board’s consideration.

Public commentary included advocacy from Jim Casha, who has previously addressed the board regarding the southeast Michigan regional transit authority. Washtenaw County is a member of the RTA, and the county board appoints two representatives to the RTA board. Casha’s remarks focused on the benefits of using the former state fairgrounds as a regional transit hub, instead of private development.

Pending Litigation

During the March 5 meeting, the board went into closed session for about 45 minutes to discuss pending litigation. That topic is one of the exceptions allowed under Michigan’s Open Meetings Act.

Curtis Hedger, Washtenaw County’s corporation counsel.

The specific litigation was not mentioned during the meeting.

The most recent news regarding a lawsuit against Washtenaw County was a nearly $1.2 million jury award given to a former employee, Ali Aboubaker. The award in the discrimination lawsuit was handed down on Feb. 27 – less than a week before to the county board’s March 5 meeting. The lawsuit had been filed in U.S. District Court in Detroit on Aug. 29, 2011. [.pdf of Aboubaker's complaint] [.pdf of jury verdict]

According to the complaint, Aboubaker worked for the county from 1991 until he was fired in July of 2008. He was originally hired as a bus driver, and was a maintenance technician when he was fired. The complaint states that he ”faced severe harassment from his supervisors and co-workers on the basis of his race, religion and national origin.” The lawsuit alleges that Aboubaker was denied promotion, and was fired when he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The county denied the claims made in the complaint.

The award included $221,490 in wages and fringe benefits for the period starting in July 2008; $614,028 in future wages and fringe benefits that would have been earned until retirement; and $250,000 in other damages. The award also included $1 in punitive damages.

Responding to a query after the March 5 meeting, corporation counsel Curtis Hedger told The Chronicle that the county will be evaluating its options for appeal. The administration would also be meeting with the county’s insurance carrier to discuss the situation, he said.

If the award stands, it would be one of the largest ever imposed against the county. Hedger and county administrator Verna McDaniel couldn’t recall any other discrimination case of this nature.

Youth Arts Alliance

The March 5 agenda included a resolution to authorize accepting a $21,980 grant from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs for the Youth Arts Alliance (YAA).

Heather Wilson, Youth Arts Alliance director.

The YAA is a five-county partnership in southeast Michigan between the Washtenaw County children’s services department, the Monroe County youth center, the Lenawee County Maurice Spear campus, the Livingston County juvenile court, and the Jackson County youth center. It provides creative arts workshops to youth in the juvenile justice system.

Lisa Greco, director of the Washtenaw County children’s services department, said she was excited about the award to support the Youth Arts Alliance. Washtenaw County is acting as the fiduciary for the collaborative and the grant, she said. The county also houses the YAA office.

She introduced the team of people involved in the project who were attending the March 5 meeting: Kevin Mitchell, assistant director of the Washtenaw County youth center; management analyst Mike Langenright; Melissa Strong, director of the Monroe County youth center; Geremy Burns, director of the Jackson County youth center; and Heather Wilson, Youth Arts Alliance director.

Greco also thanked several others who couldn’t attend the meeting, including Jason Brooks from the county’s budget and finance department.

Greco noted that Wilson had been instrumental in getting this grant.

Wilson then addressed the board, describing the work of the YAA. It started in 2013 with four counties, she said, and more recently expanded to add Jackson County. During the YAA’s first year, over 1,400 workshops were provided to over 450 youth, with support from 48 community volunteers and a 20-person executive committee of juvenile justice professionals. The program operates in five of the 24 county juvenile facilities in the state, she said, “and we are seeing huge transformations with the kids experiencing creative arts as an outlet.” For any given workshop, 90% of the youth have never been exposed to the arts activity that’s presented, Wilson said. The workshops include visual arts, creative writing and theater.

Wilson joked that she didn’t know what was more impressive – the transformation of youth in YAA workshops, or the fact that five county governments were working together.

The grant from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs will pay local artists to go into each of the five county facilities and install public art – murals and mosaics that are made by the youth within that facility. The youth will also be working with local musicians to create an original album, Wilson said. YAA is planning a big event in September, she reported, saying she expected to see all of the commissioners there.

The county board can be proud of what’s happening, Wilson said. They should be proud of the visionary leadership in each juvenile facility to understand the creative needs of the kids in their care, “and how truly transformative and healing participating in the arts can be.”

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously authorized accepting the grant.

Road Commission Board

Applications are being accepted to fill the seat on the Washtenaw County road commission board left vacant by the recent death of long-time road commissioner Fred Veigel. The appointment process was announced by county board chair Yousef Rabhi during the March 5 meeting.

Conan Smith (D-District 9).

The deadline for submitting applications is Sunday, March 16. Rabhi hopes to make a nomination at the board’s March 19 meeting.

The appointment would be to fill the remainder of Veigel’s six-year term, through Dec. 31, 2014. Applications can be submitted to Peter Simms of the Washtenaw County clerk’s office at simmsp@ewashtenaw.org.

The road commission is overseen by a three-member board that’s appointed by the county board. The two current commissioners are Doug Fuller and Barb Fuller, who are not related. The organization manages the maintenance and repair of about 1,650 miles of roads in the county that are outside of cities and villages, including about 770 miles of gravel roads. The organization employs 115 full-time staff, down from 156 in 2004. [.pdf of 2013-2014 road commission budget] [.xls of all road commission projects 2014-2018] [.pdf list of unfunded projects 2014-2018]

The organization of the road commission has been the focus of a county board subcommittee that recently made a recommendation not to absorb the road commission’s operations into the county government. For more background, see Chronicle coverage: “No Major Change Likely for Road Commission.”

Veigel, who also served on the county parks & recreation commission as a representative of the road commission board, died on March 2.

At the March 5 county board meeting, commissioners passed a resolution honoring Veigel for his work. [.pdf of resolution honoring Veigel]

Outcome: This was not a voting item.

Staff for Budget Work

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to a proposal to hire a contract position that would support budget-related work for the county board and administration. The item had been originally considered, but postponed, at the board’s meeting on Feb. 5, 2014.

Washtenaw County administrator Verna McDaniel.

This process started on Nov. 20, 2013 meeting, when commissioners gave direction to county administrator Verna McDaniel to research and recommend staffing options that would support the board’s community investment priorities. As part of adopting a four-year budget, the board set up a new strategic model to help it determine where the county’s resources should go. The board set goals as well as outcomes that are intended to measure how those goals are being achieved.

The priority areas for investment that were approved by the board in 2013 are: (1) ensure community safety net through health and human services, inclusive of public safety; (2) increase economic opportunity and workforce development; (3) ensure mobility and civic infrastructure for county residents; (4) reduce environmental impact; and (5) ensure internal labor force sustainability and effectiveness.

The dollar amount for this position wasn’t included in the resolution, which stated that “compensation shall not exceed the scope of the Administrator’s authority.” The administrator has discretion to spend up to $50,000 on professional services contracts, and up to $100,000 for any proposed goods, services, new construction or renovation. [.pdf of staff memo and resolution] A four-page job description had been included in the Feb. 5 board packet. The person would report to the county administrator in terms of daily operations. [.pdf of job description] [.pdf of scope of services]

The issue was debated at some length during the board’s Jan. 22, 2014 meeting, when commissioner Ronnie Peterson (D-District 6) questioned the process for hiring this kind of staff support. On Feb. 5, several commissioners expressed concern about spending money on this position and wanted more details about funding and duties, which led to the postponement.

There was no discussion of this item on March 5.

Outcome: On a 7-1 vote, commissioners gave initial approval to a contract staff position for budget work, over dissent from Dan Smith (R-District 2). Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5) was absent. A final vote is expected on March 19.

Public Hearing for Urban County Plan

The March 5 agenda included a resolution to schedule a public hearing for March 19. The purpose is to get public input for the Washtenaw Urban County 2014-15 action plan. The hearing will be held at the county boardroom in downtown Ann Arbor, 220 N. Main St., during the March 19 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.

The county is soliciting feedback about proposed projects and programs that would be implemented with federal funding – through community development block grant (CDBG), HOME and emergency shelter grant programs – from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015. [.pdf of action plan]

The Urban County is a consortium of Washtenaw County and 18 local municipalities that receive federal funding for low-income neighborhoods. Members include the cities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Saline, and 15 townships. “Urban County” is a designation of the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), identifying a county with more than 200,000 people. With that designation, individual governments within the Urban County can become members, entitling them to an allotment of funding through a variety of HUD programs. The Urban County is supported by the staff of Washtenaw County’s office of community & economic development (OCED).

Two HUD programs – the Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership – are the primary funding sources for Urban County projects.

Outcome: Commissioners set the public hearing for feedback on the Urban County master plan, to be held on March 19.

Health Care Coverage for Autism

During the March 5 meeting, Felicia Brabec (D-District 4) noted that a subcommittee of the board has been working with Diane Heidt, the county’s human resources and labor relations director, to develop an option for the board to consider on offering health care coverage to county employees for the treatment of autism. The subcommittee includes Brabec, Andy LaBarre (D-District 7) and Ronnie Peterson (D-District 6). The board previously had been briefed on this issue at its Jan. 22, 2014 meeting.

Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8).

On March 5, Heidt reported that they are continuing to gather information on what kind of coverage might be offered. All county employees are offered a core level of preferred provider organization (PPO) coverage, she explained, with the option to buy additional coverage levels. The employee premium-sharing for the core coverage is $75 per month. That’s what the county had negotiated with its bargaining units, Heidt said. The other levels of coverage have higher premiums for the same coverage, but the deductibles are lower.

If the county offered a rider for the autism spectrum disorder that’s provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, then the county would be able to seek reimbursement from the state of Michigan for any covered services related to autism. If the county offered some kind of coverage other than the BCBS rider, however, then it would be opening itself up to additional liability if a significant claim came in and the state decided not to reimburse it, Heidt said.

Heidt noted that Brabec and LaBarre are seeking additional information from clinicians in the field, regarding the kind of coverage that might be available.

LaBarre reported that he recently spoke with the parent of a student with autism who goes to school where his wife teaches. [LaBarre's wife is a special education teacher.] They talked about out-of-pocket costs, and the parent told him it cost about $30,000 annually. “It’s a significant, significant burden,” LaBarre said.

Brabec said that some of the information they’d be gathering relates to the cost of offering coverage for dependents aged 18-26, who aren’t eligible for reimbursement from the state.

Heidt reported that a resolution for the board has been drafted, and she hoped to bring it forward at the board’s March 19 meeting.

Conan Smith (D-District 9) asked whether it was within the purview of the county administrator to decide whether to offer the autism coverage to employees. He indicated that he didn’t think the board needed to vote on it. Heidt replied that the administration plans to seek board approval, because of the additional cost that offering the benefit would entail. [At the board's Jan. 22 meeting, Heidt had estimated that offering the coverage would result in up to a 5% increase in medical expenses, or up to $1 million annually. The county would expect to be fully reimbursed by the state of Michigan for the amounts that are allowed under the autism program.]

Dan Smith (R-District 2) wondered if Heidt knew what other companies are doing to cover autism treatment. Heidt replied that she’ll put that information in the memo that will accompany the resolution, based on information gathered from the Autism Alliance of Michigan and other sources. Many large corporations offer the coverage, she said, and several states mandate it.

Outcome: This was not a voting item.

Homeland Security Grant

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to authorize the acceptance of $444,215 from the federal homeland security grant program, to fund projects and positions in the county sheriff’s office for a period from Sept. 1, 2013 through May 31, 2015.

According to a staff memo, each project was reviewed and recommended by Washtenaw County’s homeland security task force. Major allocations include $117,983 for the Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team; $107,704 for Washtenaw County Sheriff Emergency Services; and $90,000 to continue funding an existing crime analyst position in the sheriff’s office. The position is dedicated to the Detroit/Southeast Michigan Fusion Center, which coordinates crime analysis efforts and regional information sharing. [.pdf of staff memo]

Outcome: Commissioners gave initial approval to authorize the grant acceptance. A final vote is expected on March 19.

“Prescription for Health” Grant

The March 5 agenda included a final vote to accept a two-year $226,357 ”Prescription for Health” grant from the Kresge Foundation. It will fund a part-time staff position and requires a $54,250 match from the county’s public health department. Commissioners had given initial approval to this item at their Feb. 19, 2014 meeting.

The county’s previous funding for this program was a two-year, $361,519 Kresge grant from Jan. 1, 2011 through Dec. 13, 2012. According to the program’s website, the purpose is ”to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among patients with low income, and to build capacity of clinics to expand the traditional medical model to include the food system.” The program also aims to strengthen relationships between clinics, farmers markets and the local food system. [.pdf of grant application]

According to a staff memo, analysis of feedback from 930 participants in 2011-2012 showed the following results:

Both years, the average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables increased by nearly one cup per day among patients who visited their local farmers market as measured by a pre- and post-program survey.

Participants overwhelmingly agreed that visiting the farmers market helped them and/or their family members eat more fruits and vegetables (96% Year 1; 94% Year 2).

Participants increased their awareness of other resources in the community. Both years, the number of participants who said they were aware that food stamps (Bridge/EBT cards) could be used at local farmers markets greatly increased from pre- to post-program (48% difference from pre to post Year 1; 43% difference Year 2).

Participants indicated that they were very likely to visit the farmers market again in the future at the conclusion of the program (98% Year 1; 97% Year 2).

The program had a positive economic impact on the local farmers markets, generating over $26,000 in new sales ($5,967 Year 1; $20,279 Year 2). Prescription for Health represented 9% of total sales at the Downtown Ypsilanti Market and accounted for 23% of the total sales at the Chelsea Bushel Basket Market.

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously voted to accept the Kresge grant.

Honoring Fred Veigel and Lois Mayfield

Commissioners passed resolutions honoring Fred Veigel and Lois Mayfield for their service to Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County. Mayfield died on Feb. 21. Veigel passed away on March 2.

Conan Smith (D-District 9) called both of them wonderful advocates and ardent supporters of the community. “I didn’t agree all the time with either one of them, but I really valued their passion,” he said. Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8) echoed Smith’s remarks, saying he’d attended Mayfield’s memorial service at St. Mary’s Student Parish. [Veigel's funeral was held the following week, on March 10.]

Mayfield’s resolution cited several examples of her work, including serving as executive director of the Welfare Advocacy Program in Ann Arbor, and vice chair for the Ann Arbor Democratic Party’s mature adult issues committee. The resolution stated that she “served as a mentor to countless leaders, stood tall among the powerful – and when necessary – kept them in line with the sheer force of her character.” [.pdf of resolution honoring Mayfield]

The resolution honoring Veigel cited his 23 years of services as a Washtenaw County road commissioner, and as a member of the Washtenaw County parks & recreation commissioner since 2000. He was the longest-serving president of the Huron Valley Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO. [.pdf of resolution honoring Veigel]

Outcome: Both resolutions pass unanimously.

Communications & Commentary

During the March 5 meeting there were multiple opportunities for communications from the administration and commissioners, as well as public commentary. In addition to issues reported earlier in this article, here are some other highlights.

Communications & Commentary: Prisoner Re-Entry Program

Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8) announced that Joe Summers is organizing a forum on Saturday, March 29 to discuss the Washtenaw prisoner re-entry program. There’ve been some cuts in state funding, so a group of local citizens are trying to figure out how to sustain the initiative. No location had yet been determined, he said.

Alicia Ping (R-District 3) and Andy LaBarre (D-District 7).

Ronnie Peterson (D-District 6) asked whether any county staff were involved in this program. Rabhi said he knew the sheriff’s office was involved to some degree.

Peterson told other commissioners that it was important to be aware of the program and its lack of support. The board should take an interest, because it’s an important program, he said. You can’t send people home, who’ve paid their debt to society, without a support system and without resources. Without sufficient state funding, Peterson noted, the responsibility falls on the local communities. It’s a statewide problem, and the system should be changed, he said. He hoped the board would have more discussion on this issue.

Conan Smith (D-District 9) told Peterson that county prosecutor Brian Mackie is active on the prisoner re-entry steering committee, as is Delphia Simpson from the county public defender’s office, Ellen Schulmeister of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, and several others. Smith noted that a little funding is provided through the local coordinated funding program, in which the county participates. It’s a big concern, Smith said. “In this down economy, we’ve seen a real decline in the strategic support for this issue.”

Washtenaw County has been a leader on prisoner re-entry in Michigan, Smith said, “and we should stay in that position, by all means.”

Andy LaBarre (D-District 7), who chairs the board’s working sessions, said he’d make a working session available for this issue to discuss it further.

Communications & Commentary: Regional Transit Authority (RTA)

Jim Casha addressed the board, saying he was there again to talk about the southeast Michigan regional transit authority (RTA) and the possible acquisition of the Michigan state fairgrounds. [He had previously spoken about this issue at at the board’s Jan. 8, 2014 and Jan. 22, 2014 meetings.]

Dan Smith (R-District 2).

He showed commissioners a map that indicated the locations of several buildings on the site that could be used for a temporary or permanent regional transportation hub at a very low cost. “You really can’t have a better location for a regional transportation center,” he said.

Casha questioned whether the transfer of the property is being handled legally, and whether the public should have had the opportunity to bid on it at a public auction. [The property had been transferred to the Michigan Land Bank in 2012. In the fall of 2013, the land bank's board voted to transfer the property to a development team that includes Magic Johnson.]

Casha hoped to convince the RTA board to at least try to delay the transfer of the land, so that it could be evaluated as a possible public transportation center. He said he’d attended the recent Detroit Policy Conference, where it was stressed that Detroit problems need to be addressed on a regional level. If there’s no effort to collaborate on a regional level, Detroit’s problems will never get solved. “What better way to solve a regional problem – especially a regional transportation problem – than by building an iconic regional transportation hub,” Casha said.

The RTA board seems to be stalling, Casha said. He argued that they’ve failed to pursue the fairgrounds, they’ve failed to hire a director, and now they’ve postponed putting a tax proposal on the ballot until 2016. They need to speed up the process, he said. He wanted the county commissioners to pass a resolution requesting that the RTA board ask the land bank to postpone transferring the fairgrounds until the RTA has evaluated it. He also wanted the county board to formally request that SEMCOG [the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments] cease meeting with private developers and instead start protecting the interests of the SEMCOG member communities.

Communications & Commentary: Thomas Partridge

Speaking during both opportunities for public commentary, Thomas Partridge called on commissioners to address the housing needs of county residents, especially during the cold winter. Residents also need access to affordable transportation, health care and education, he said. There should be no excuses from the county to take on these issues. The goal should be to eliminate homelessness in Washtenaw County by building affordable housing throughout the county, and by supporting viable public transportation.

Partridge also demanded that all meetings of all county boards and commissions be held in the boardroom of the county administration building in downtown Ann Arbor, and be taped for broadcast on Community Television Network and posted online. The county is too fragmented, he said. The Washtenaw Community Health Organization (WCHO) should have a representative attending the county board meetings. He contended that the WCHO is working with the legislature that’s “under the right wing leadership of the Snyder administration” to take away the rights of Washtenaw County residents to have considerate, friendly health care. The WCHO board holds its meetings at its Zeeb Road office, he said, out of public view. Too many other boards and commissioners are doing the same thing, Partridge said. That kind of thing lends itself to corruption, he said.

Present: Felicia Brabec, Andy LaBarre, Kent Martinez-Kratz, Ronnie Peterson, Alicia Ping, Yousef Rabhi, Conan Smith, Dan Smith.

Absent: Rolland Sizemore Jr.

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. The ways & means committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [Check Chronicle event listings to confirm date.] (Though the agenda states that the regular board meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., it usually starts much later – times vary depending on what’s on the agenda.) Public commentary is held at the beginning of each meeting, and no advance sign-up is required.

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According to a staff memo, each project was reviewed and recommended by Washtenaw County’s homeland security task force. Major allocations include $117,983 for the Washtenaw County Technical Rescue Team; $107,704 for Washtenaw County Sheriff Emergency Services; and $90,000 to continue funding an existing crime analyst position in the sheriff’s office. The position is dedicated to the Detroit/Southeast Michigan Fusion Center, which coordinates crime analysis efforts and regional information sharing. [.pdf of staff memo]

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

UM football game day street closures (pink) with detour route (purple).

Vehicle access on the fourth side of Michigan Stadium, on university property, will also be restricted.

The street closures are new security measures. According to the staff memo accompanying the resolution, it’s part of an effort to increase safety by creating a vehicle-free zone around the stadium, and involves a cooperative effort with the University of Michigan, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the city of Ann Arbor police department.

Most of the traffic controls would be in place for the period starting three hours before a game until the end of the game. However, in an amendment to the resolution made during the council’s Aug. 8 meeting, the closure of the southbound lane on Main Street was restricted to just one hour before the game start.

Traffic controls include the following. E. Keech Street between S. Main and Greene streets would be closed. Access to Greene Street from E. Hoover to E. Keech streets would be limited to parking permit holders. The westbound lane on E. Stadium Blvd. turning right onto S. Main Street (just south of the Michigan Stadium) would be closed. And S. Main Street would be closed from Stadium Blvd. to Pauline.

During the meeting an amendment was made to the resolution, stating that after the first three football games, the AAPD will meet with the neighborhood and make a report at the city council’s Oct. 7 meeting.

The council’s vote was 7-4 with dissent coming from Sabra Briere (Ward 1), Margie Teall (Ward 4), Marcia Higgins (Ward 4), and Sumi Kailasapathy (Ward 1).

This brief was filed from the city council’s chambers on the second floor of city hall, located at 301 E. Huron. A more detailed report will follow: [link]

Washtenaw County administrator Verna McDaniel gave a budget update to commissioners at their Jan. 16, 2013 meeting. (Photos by the writer.)

Although a much smaller general fund deficit of $3.93 million is projected for 2014, McDaniel hopes to make $6.88 million in structural changes that year – a combination of new revenues and cuts in expenditures. If that happens, “we’d be done – we’d have no deficit” going forward, McDaniel said, because those cuts and revenue increases would compound and carry over into future years.

To do that, for 2014 the goal is to generate an additional $1.2 million in revenue, reduce operating costs by $2.96 million, cut $100,000 from outside agency funding, and find $2.62 million in reductions to employee compensation and benefits.

McDaniel noted that for 2012-2013, the county overcame a $17.5 million deficit – but only about $7.3 million of that came from structural changes. Yousef Rabhi, the board’s chair, noted that even though the $6.88 million target is lower, the cuts will be a challenge because many services are already cut to a minimal level.

The board has set a planning retreat for Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. – to be held during its regular working session – to talk about budget priorities.

In other action at the Jan. 16 meeting, commissioners were appointed to more than 40 boards, commissions and committees. [.pdf of 2013 appointments listing] Because of changes approved late last year, commissioners will receive stipends based on the number of groups on which they serve, and the number of meetings that they are expected to attend.

Though there are still some details to be determined, a tentative tally of stipends shows a total of $8,800 for all nine commissioners, with individual pay ranging from a low of $0 for Ronnie Peterson, the only commissioner with no appointments, to $2,700 for Yousef Rabhi, whose appointments include several that are mandatory because of his position as board chair.

Unlike the previous per diem system – when commissioners had to request payments, which were administered by the county clerk’s office – the stipend payments will be pro-rated, aggregated and paid out biweekly as part of a commissioner’s paycheck. No one is responsible for monitoring attendance, and absences will only be addressed if brought to the attention of the board chair.

During the Jan. 16 meeting, commissioners also approved a variety of federal grants, primarily related to funding for homeland security and job training. And given initial approval was an application for a $20,000 grant to fund expansion of an after-school program called “Telling It” in the West Willow and MacArthur Boulevard housing developments – low-income neighborhoods on the east side of Washtenaw County.

The grant application is unusual in that it’s the first time a county unit – in this case, the sheriff’s office – has sought funding through the coordinated funding pilot program, which was designed to support human services more effectively in this community. The coordinated funding is a partnership of Washtenaw County, the city of Ann Arbor, the United Way of Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw Urban County, and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

County Budget Update

The county works on a two-year budget planning cycle. Its fiscal year matches the calendar year. In late 2011, commissioners set the budget for 2012 and 2013. However, because state law mandates that the board must approve the budget annually, commissioners voted on Dec. 5, 2012 on a budget “affirmation” for 2013, making several adjustments to the $102.8 million general fund budget. This year, they’re beginning the two-year cycle anew, planning for 2014-2015, with a longer-term view through 2017.

At the Jan. 16 meeting, county administrator Verna McDaniel and her financial staff gave commissioners an overview of the county’s current financial condition, setting the stage for preliminary estimates of the budget in 2014 and beyond.

County Budget Update: Current Conditions

In many ways, the county is in a better financial situation than it has been for several years, McDaniel told the board. The county maintains a AA+ bond rating – the second highest possible rating – with a debt ratio of 0.96%. That’s well below the 10% level that it must maintain by board policy. Although the county has tapped its general fund reserves to balance the budget in recent years, it has used less of the reserves than expected.

Chart showing sources for the $102.8 million general fund revenues in 2013. The largest source comes from taxes and penalties – 59%. Another 20% of revenue comes from fees and services. (Chart provided in Jan. 16 board packet.)

It’s important to remember that several factors are still in flux, McDaniel said. A portion of the state’s revenue-sharing program will now be tied to incentives, which will affect how much funding the county receives. Starting next year, the county will only be getting about 75% of the amount it has historically received, she said – or about $4 million annually. About 20% of that $4 million will be tied to the state’s incentive program requirements.

This year, the county will receive about $2.7 million in state revenue-sharing, and will be drawing down the $4 million that remains in the county’s state revenue-sharing reserve fund. After this year, that reserve fund will be depleted.

Property tax revenues are still falling, though the decreases have begun to stabilize, McDaniel said. The original projection for 2012 was for a 5% decline in property tax revenues, but in fact revenues fell only 0.77%. For 2013, projections call for a 2% decline.

The state has also repealed the personal property tax. McDaniel said she hopes there will be replacement revenues for that, but the legislature hasn’t yet determined what that might be.

In general, Washtenaw County hasn’t been hit as hard as other communities, McDaniel noted, “but the impact has been significant to us.” Property taxes won’t return to the robust levels that the county was accustomed to for quite some time, she said.

Another significant factor relates to federal funding. The county has already started to see reductions in federal grants, and further cuts are expected, McDaniel said. “The question that remains for the board is how the general fund should respond to these reductions in non-general fund areas – that’s going to come to you.”

The county really won’t know the full picture for 2013 until April, when the annual equalization report is completed. McDaniel stressed that her presentation was a preliminary picture, and that she’ll be bringing a more detailed report in May.

County Budget Update: Current Conditions – Expenditures

Turning to the expense side, McDaniel noted that since 2002, the county has been managing reductions in its budget due to decreases in state revenues and property tax revenues. Most departments have been cut by at least 20%, and are now “down to the bone,” she said. “We don’t have fat in our organization, so [budget cuts] will be an even bigger challenge.”

Personnel costs account for 67% of the county’s expenses in the general fund budget – or about $65 million. Fringe benefits equal about 66% of salaries, and health care costs are expected to increase over 8% annually. The county has been able to offer excellent wages and benefits in the past, McDaniel said, “but this is something we’re going to have to monitor.”

Chart of Washtenaw County 2013 general fund expenditures. Public safety services – including the sheriff’s office and jail – account for 54% of the budget, while judicial expenses are 18% of expenditures. (Chart provided in Jan. 16 board packet.)

Because the county is a service industry, personnel costs are the largest expense. The county’s unions have helped achieve previous budget goals in the past few years, McDaniel said. Contracts negotiated in 2011 resulted in most union and non-union employees not getting salary increases in 2012 and 2013, with “step” increases for union employees frozen in 2013. Separate agreements were made with two unions – Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) and the Command Officers Association of Michigan (COAM) – that are expected to save a total of $5.6 million over a four-year period through 2015.

This year, McDaniel said, the county will be entering into negotiations with nearly all of its 17 bargaining units, which have contracts that expire on Dec. 31.

Another major expense category is appropriations to non-general fund activities, which accounts for 16% of overall expenditures. Those expenses include the child care fund, public health, environmental health, and infrastructure, among others. For mandated services, the levels of serviceability need to be reviewed carefully, McDaniel said. Because those levels are “squishy,” she said, the administration needs to negotiate with other county elected officials to determine an appropriate budget. [Though units like the sheriff's office, prosecuting attorney's office, courts and clerk's office are overseen by elected officials and provide state-mandated services, their budgets must be authorized by the county board of commissioners.]

By function, 54% of the county’s general fund budget is allocated to public safety, with another 18% allocated to the judicial system. Another major expense category is general government costs (23%), which include county administration, human resources, IT, finance and other administrative services.

Tax appeals are another factor on the expense side, McDaniel said. Until recently, the county only budgeted about $100,000 to cover appeals that might be made on property tax assessments. Since the economic downturn, more people are appealing their assessments, she said. The 2013 budget includes $1 million to cover possible appeals.

All of this comes at a time when the community needs the county’s services more than ever, McDaniel said. She also noted that there has been a transition internally within county government, with two new commissioners, new board leadership, and more than 100 retirements at the end of 2011 that created a “brain drain.”

McDaniel reminded commissioners that the county overcame a $17.5 million deficit over the two years of 2012 and 2013. However, about $7.3 million of those reductions were one-time savings, not structural. So there’s more work to do, she said.

County Budget Update: Projections

Looking ahead, McDaniel provided preliminary estimates that show a general fund deficit of $3.93 million for 2014, which translates to 45.9 full-time-equivalent employees. That’s followed by projected deficits of $4.88 million in 2015 (56.9 FTEs), $6.53 million in 2016 (76.4 FTEs), and $9.27 million in 2017 (108.1 FTEs). McDaniel stressed that the projected deficits reflect a compounding impact if no action is taken. In addition, the FTE figures were merely a translation to show how many employees would hypothetically be affected in order to balance the budget – it’s not a policy decision to have layoffs, she said. McDaniel said she wanted to make that clear so that people in the organization wouldn’t be scared.

From left: Kelly Belknap, the county’s finance director, and finance analyst Tina Gavalier.

The projections assume a 2% decrease in property tax revenues for 2013, followed by only minor increases – 1% annually – in property tax revenues for each of the following four years. Other assumptions include lower state revenue-sharing and an 8% increase in costs for fringe benefits, with no across-the-board salary increases. However, the projections assume that step increases and longevity pay would be reinstated for union employees, and that there would be no furloughs or banked leave days.

McDaniel noted that most current union contracts expire at the end of 2013. The unions have formally requested a special conference with administration on Jan. 23, she reported. [After the meeting, Caryette Fenner – president of AFSCME Local 2733, the county government’s largest union – clarified for The Chronicle that the purpose of the meeting is to discuss possible responses to the state's right-to-work legislation. For a report on a Jan. 3 board working session about that issue, see Chronicle coverage: "County Board Weighs Right-to-Work Response." For a look at how the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority is responding to right-to-work legislation, see: "AATA OKs Labor, Agency Fee Accords"]

Nothing is off the table, McDaniel said, because even with 0% salary increases, the county still faces a deficit.

Contracts for police services – under which other municipalities pay the county for sheriff deputy patrols – are expected to include a 1% increase in both 2014 and 2015, but no subsequent increases in 2016 or 2017. That’s not a policy decision, McDaniel said, but a conservative estimate for budgeting purposes.

County Budget Update: Proposed Response

McDaniel stressed the importance of taking a long-term view, as well as the need to make some cultural changes. The county can’t be all things to all people, she said, and previous “needs” might now need to be re-evaluated as “wants.”

To do this, the board needs to give direction to the staff. An upcoming retreat will be focused on providing that direction, she said, and staff will be listening intently to discern the board’s priorities. The county needs to define its core services and determine what kind of community impact they want to make. McDaniel referred to a June 2009 article in the Harvard Business Review – “Making the Best of a Bad Situation,” by Robert Sutton – that describes what employees need during difficult times, including predictability, control, understanding and compassion.

McDaniel highlighted the impact of making $6.88 million in structural cuts in 2014. If that happens, “we’d be done – we’d have no deficit” going forward, she said. To reach that goal, the administration is proposing to generate an additional $1.2 million in revenue, reduce operating costs by $2.96 million, cut $100,000 from outside agency funding, and find $2.62 million in reductions to employee compensation and benefits. In that regard, McDaniel noted that 327 employees currently have what’s called a “Cadillac” health care plan. Under new federal health care laws, the county government will pay a 40% tax starting in 2018 if those plans remain in place.

McDaniel noted that for 2012-2013, the county overcame a $17.5 million deficit – but only about $7.3 million of that came from structural changes. Although the $6.88 million might seem like a “walk in the park” to some, she said, it needs to be done in the context of departments that have already made deep cuts.

She noted the importance of partnering, when it makes sense to shift county services to other organizations. As an example, she noted that this happened when the Ann Arbor District Library took responsibility for handling the Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled, which in the past was part of the county government. She also cited examples of partnering with the city of Ann Arbor on dispatch operations, and participating in the coordinated funding approach for human services. McDaniel noted that other examples of collaboration are posted online.

Felicia Brabec led her first meeting as chair of the Washtenaw County board’s ways & means committee.

Overcoming the projected deficit is a great challenge, McDaniel said. She added that she felt really good about the county’s financial situation in 2013, “barring any crazy surprises nationally or state-wise.” But the 2013 strategy is using general fund reserves to balance the budget, she noted. “We need to get out of the business of using fund balance to balance the budget,” she said. Instead, the county should put an additional $4 million into those reserves. It’s important because those reserves are used to pay bills during the first six months of the year, before taxes are collected in July.

McDaniel also floated some questions that commissioners should consider in their upcoming deliberations: (1) Do current budget allocations have the impact that commissioners desire? (2) Should the general fund be used when there are federal/state revenue reductions in non-general fund programs? and (3) What community area(s) can the county least afford to impact any further?

The board has set a planning retreat for Thursday, March 7 at 6 p.m. – to be held during its regular working session – to talk about budget priorities. McDaniel said that March through August will be the time when the “meat” of budget preparation will occur – with labor negotiations, town hall meetings with employees, and internal analysis of departmental budgets. The goal is to bring a draft budget to the board in September, with adoption by the board in November.

County Budget Update: Board Discussion

Conan Smith wondered if the 1% projected increase in property tax revenues in 2014 through 2017 takes into account personal property tax reforms. Yes, McDaniel replied, but the projections assume there will be an 80% reimbursement of PPT. Tina Gavalier, the county’s finance analyst, reported that the projections reflect a $390,000 decrease in PPT.

McDaniel added that the county isn’t counting on the PPT replacement revenues, and the budget projections might have to be revised later this year. The board will get another budget update in May.

Regarding the police services contracts, Smith asked if the 1% increase is for revenues or expenditures. It’s a projected revenue increase to the county, Gavalier said. The contracting communities also will pay for any increases in fringe benefits.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked about the $100,000 cuts to outside agencies – what organizations are included? McDaniel said the outside agency funding is a separate list that includes human services groups like the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, as well as dues and membership fees.

Alicia Ping wanted to see what would happen if different percentages were plugged into the projections. For example, instead of a projected 2% decrease in property tax revenues for 2013, what would the outlook be if revenues decreased only 0.77% – as was the case in 2012? She asked the finance staff to send that information, and also to calculate a 0% change in 2014, followed by an increase of 0.75% in 2015.

Andy LaBarre asked for clarification about how the projected deficit of $9.271 million for 2017 relates to the $6.88 million in structural changes that McDaniel proposed in 2014. McDaniel replied that the deficit compounds each year if nothing is done. The $6.88 million is the “magic figure” that if achieved, would eliminate the need for cuts in future years, she said. LaBarre characterized it as a “silver bullet.”

Yousef Rabhi, the board’s chair, praised McDaniel and her staff, saying he was proud to have a team like hers to lead the county through this difficult time. Even though there was some optimism in her presentation, which isn’t a bad thing, he said, Rabhi emphasized that the county has already been through a couple of rounds of major cuts. So they should be optimistic “in a measured sense,” he said, and understand that the $6.88 million in new revenue and cuts will be a challenge.

Ronnie Peterson asked when the structural changes might occur. McDaniel replied that the county won’t know what its 2013 revenues will be until April, when the equalization report is completed. She’ll be giving the board an update in May.

Peterson asked for a report on what’s happening at the state and federal levels, and how those changes might impact the county budget. He wanted to know if the board would be discussing the proposed structural changes at the retreat. He expressed concern about employees, noting that they have sacrificed a lot to keep the organization afloat. “Only so much blood is available from those who come to work every day,” he said. Peterson advocated for soliciting comments from employees about how to approach these changes. He wanted to ensure that employees continued to provide services, and were not forced to become recipients of those services.

Responding to Peterson, Rabhi said he’d like to accommodate some of those points during the upcoming retreat.

Conan Smith said it was nice that the county doesn’t have the same severity of budget challenges that they’ve faced in the past few years. He appreciated the focus on structural changes and the long-term outlook that McDaniel and her staff are taking.

McDaniel said the county needs to keep an open mind about the budget planning period. They’ve been looking at two years, but she’d like the board to entertain the possibility of looking beyond that.

Smith noted that Oakland County has moved to a three-year budget planning cycle, and it’s had a positive impact. He said he’ll keep an open mind, but he’s also concerned about the strictures that a longer budget cycle would put on future boards. [Commissioners are elected to two-year terms.] It would be helpful if McDaniel identified parts of the budget where longer-term stability is more important, he said, as well as places where having more flexibility is easier to accommodate. That would allow for flexibility to pursue commissioner interests, he said, as well as to respond to emerging issues throughout the community.

McDaniel agreed that a certain amount of flexibility needs to be built into the budget planning. It’s important to be nimble, she said, especially in this economy.

Smith then turned to the issue of cash flow as it relates to the county’s general fund balance. He noted that McDaniel had alluded to the need for those funds to cover the long gap between December and July, when the county’s property tax revenues are collected. He pointed out that the county came very close to depleting the fund balance last year – and finance director Kelly Belknap confirmed that this had been the case.

He highlighted McDaniel’s comment that the county should add another $4 million to its general fund reserves. McDaniel elaborated, saying that when she and other county staff meet with bond rating agencies in Chicago – for refinancing or other issues – the county has to meet a litmus test related to its solvency. One thing those agencies look at is the county’s general fund balance. If the amount were closer to 20% of the total general fund budget, the county would likely get a better bond rating. “We’re close to the top, but we’re not at the top,” she said. So the county needs to look at what can be done to “fatten up that fund,” she said.

Washtenaw County commissioner Conan Smith.

Smith replied by saying that the county needs to do a comparative analysis of an incrementally better bond rating and what that rating might deliver – in terms of interest rate percentages on the debt that the county holds – and weigh that against the county’s ability to spend those reserves on community challenges instead. If adding to the reserves in turn improves the county’s bond rating, but only saves a few million dollars in interest, “then it may not be worth it,” he said. The money might be better spent on core community challenges, Smith said, so it’s important to be smart about that comparative analysis. Solid bond ratings and cheap interest are important over the long term, but the county shouldn’t shortchange more short-term needs, he said.

McDaniel added that it’s also important to look at the interest that can be earned from investing the reserves.

Smith said that over the years there have been calls for increasing the fund balance. He noted that former commissioner Jeff Irwin, who’s now a state House representative for District 53, advocated for a fund balance closer to 16%. At the same time, the county’s bond counsel has told the board that the county won’t be penalized as long as the fund balance is above 10%. “There’s a lot of give between 10 and 20,” Smith said, “and that’s where this board really needs to weigh in, on what to do with that money.”

Smith’s next line of questioning related to expense projections for personnel. A 0% salary increase applies to most, but not all, of the 17 bargaining units representing county employees. He clarified with McDaniel that contracts for employees represented by the Police Officers Association of Michigan (POAM) and the Command Officers Association of Michigan (COAM) don’t expire until the end of 2015. Tina Gavalier, the county’s finance analyst, said that expense projections factor in a 1% salary increase for POAM and COAM members in both 2013 and 2014.

Smith also highlighted the fact that the projections don’t include unpaid furlough days or banked leave days, but that it might be something that the administration could request for future labor agreements. When McDaniel affirmed that it wasn’t included in these budget projections, Smith replied “I think we’re still going to need it.” He said he appreciated that the projections were conservative both on the revenue side as well as in the county’s ability to reduce expenditures.

Felicia Brabec asked about the timeline for the state’s decision to eliminate the personal property tax (PPT). McDaniel replied that the PPT will be fully eliminated by 2016, but it will be incrementally eliminated for some businesses starting in 2014. There will be minimal impact in 2013, but the county will start seeing cuts in PPT in 2014. She suggested that Raman Patel, the county’s equalization director, could give the board more information on that at a working session.

Andy LaBarre asked whether McDaniel had any thoughts about the impact of a possible default at the federal level, and how that might affect the county. McDaniel said that if there are federal cutbacks, the county would have to scramble and the board would need to give direction about how to address the situation. For example, if a program is primarily funded through federal grants and that funding is cut, would the board want to authorize general fund dollars to support the program? If so, what other programs would be cut instead?

Rabhi noted that the Washtenaw Urban County – a consortium of local governments – receives federal funding for low-income housing and other programs. The staff have done projections, in the context of possible federal sequestration (automatic cuts), and determined that the best case scenario would be a 10% decrease in funding for local programs. “The worst case scenario could be a lot worse,” he said.

Brabec observed that even if sequestration doesn’t occur, federal and state money could be cut. So departments that bring in a lot of those funds need to start thinking about that possibility as well, she said.

Outcome: This was a non-voting agenda item, and no action was taken.

Commissioner Appointments

Each year, commissioners are appointed to various boards, commissions and committees – 43 in total. These appointments are made with nominations by the board chair, and a vote of the full board.

This year, board chair Yousef Rabhi scheduled an appointments caucus immediately prior to the start of the board’s Jan. 16 meeting to hash out details. Commissioners had sent him their preferences beforehand. The caucus was attended most commissioners, with the exception of Dan Smith and Ronnie Peterson. Kent Martinez-Kratz left the caucus early due to a family emergency.

The group generally reached consensus on their appointments. One exception was on appointments to the county parks & recreation commission. Dan Smith has served for the past two years, and had told Rabhi that it was the only appointment he really wanted. However, Conan Smith – who previously had served on the parks & rec commission before his tenure as board chair in 2011-2012 – now wanted to return to the position. Rabhi decided to appoint Conan Smith and reappoint Rolland Sizemore Jr. to WCPARC.

In addition to their general interest in a particular appointment, commissioners’ preferences sometimes were dictated by the time of day or day of the week when these boards or commissions meet. This was especially a factor for the commissioners who have full-time jobs, or jobs that are less flexible in allowing them to take time off during the day.

Commissioner Appointments: Stipends

Related to appointments, the biggest change this year is how commissioners will be compensated for the work on boards, committees and commissions. In the past few years, commissioners have been able to tap a $3,500 “flex” account from which they could seek mileage reimbursements and per diem payments for meetings that qualified for extra compensation. The payments required that commissioners submit forms to the county clerk’s office, requesting per diems or mileage reimbursements.

Chart showing tentative 2013 county commissioner stipend payments.

At their Dec. 5, 2012 meeting, commissioners approved replacing per diem payments with stipends, effective Jan. 1, 2013. Commissioners had previously debated the issue at their Nov. 7, 2012 meeting, giving the increase initial approval at that time.

The stipends are based on the number of boards, committees and commissions on which a commissioner serves, and the number of meetings that commissioners are expected to attend. Stipend payments range from $50 per year for groups that meet only 1-2 times annually, up to $1,000 for groups that meet more than 24 times. No stipends are paid for groups that meet only sporadically or on an as-needed basis.

In addition, commissioners are paid a base salary of $15,750. The leadership positions – board chair Yousef Rabhi; chair of the ways & means committee, Felicia Brabec; and chair of the board’s working session, Andy LaBarre – are paid an additional $3,000 annually. The board vice chair, Alicia Ping, receives an additional $1,000 annually.

Commissioners can continue to request reimbursement for mileage to authorized meetings. Commissioners also receive fringe benefits, including $1,163 that the county pays into a retirement account for each commissioner, as well as payment of 50% of health care insurance if the commissioner chooses to obtain health care through the county as a part-time employee.

For additional background on commissioner compensation – including a previous controversy related to the per diem payments – see Chronicle coverage: “Compensation Change for County Board?”

Here’s a summary of appointments for each commissioner [.pdf of 2013 preliminary appointments listing] [.pdf of final appointments resolution]:

• Kent Martinez-Kratz (D-District 1): Coalition for Action Remediation of Dioxane (CARD) ($300); Health Emergency Response Coalition ($100); Local Emergency Planning Committee ($100); Police Services Steering Committee ($300). Total appointments: 4 ($800).
• Dan Smith (R-District 2): Economic Development Corp. ($0); Emergency Telephone District Board ($0); Local Development Finance Authority – Superior Township ($0); Michigan Township Association ($0); Retirement Commission (WCERS) ($300); Space Plan Committee ($150). Total appointments: 6 ($450).
• Alicia Ping (R-District 3): Economic Development Corp. ($0); Emergency Telephone District Board ($0); Local Development Finance Authority – Saline ($0); Police Services Steering Committee ($300); Public Safety & Justice Oversight Committee ($0). Total appointments: 5 ($300).
• Felicia Brabec (D-District 4): Community Action Board ($150); Emergency Telephone District Board ($0); Literacy Coalition ($100); Sustainable Revenue for Supportive Housing Services Task Force ($100); Washtenaw County/City of Ann Arbor Community Corrections Advisory Board ($100). Total appointments: 5 ($550).
• Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5): Accommodations Ordinance Commission ($150); Community Action Board ($150); Detroit Region Aerotropolis ($100); Emergency Medical Services Commission ($100); Homeland Security Taskforce ($150); Local Development Finance Authority – Augusta Township ($0); Local Development Finance Authority – Ypsilanti Township ($50); Parks & Recreation Commission ($300); River Raisin Watershed Council (TBD); Road Commission ($500); Space Plan Committee ($150); Workforce Development Board ($150). Total appointments: 12 ($1,800).
• Ronnie Peterson (D-District 6): No appointments.
• Andy LaBarre (D-District 7): Area Agency on Aging 1-B ($250); Community Collaborative of Washtenaw County (formerly Human Services Collaborative Council) ($50); Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) ($250); Washtenaw Metro Alliance ($0); Washtenaw Urban County ($300). Total appointments: 4 ($550).
• Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8): Agricultural Lands Preservation Advisory Committee ($300); Brownfield Redevelopment Authority ($300); Criminal Justice Community Collaborative ($100); Drainage Board ($300); Emergency Telephone District Board ($0); Head Start Policy Council ($150); Community Collaborative of Washtenaw County (formerly Human Services Collaborative Council) ($50); Public Safety & Justice Oversight Committee ($0); Public Works Board ($300); Solid Waste Consortium ($300); Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) ($250); Washtenaw Area Transportation Policy Study Committee (WATS) ($300); Washtenaw County Food Policy Council ($100); Washtenaw Metro Alliance ($0); Washtenaw Urban County ($300). Total appointments: 14 ($2,700).
• Conan Smith (D-District 9): Drainage Board ($300); Environmental Health Code Appeals Board/Public Health Advisory Committee ($300); Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission ($300); Retirement Commission (WCERS) ($300); Sustainable Revenue for Supportive Housing Services Task Force ($100). Total appointments: 5 ($1,300).

Commissioners have the option of waiving their stipends by giving written notice to the county clerk. Otherwise, starting in February the stipend payments will be automatically pro-rated, aggregated and paid out biweekly as part of a commissioner’s paycheck. The payments are made based on the assumption that commissioners will attend the meetings for boards, commissions and committees to which they’ve been appointed.

Rules related to attendance are laid out in the county board’s rules & regulations, which were approved at the board’s Jan. 2, 2013 meeting. In part, the rules state:

Habitual non‐attendance of Commissioners at meetings to which they have been appointed shall be reported to the Chair of the Board. If a member is absent three consecutive times without a reasonable excuse, he or she will be considered as having vacated his or her seat and a new Commissioner shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board and confirmed by a majority vote of the Board members elected and serving.

However, no one is responsible for monitoring a commissioner’s attendance to these meetings. Their attendance will be recorded as part of the meeting minutes for each board, committee or commission, but those minutes are not always easily accessible or provided in a timely way. Rabhi told The Chronicle that he is committed to ensuring that minutes for all of these groups will be made available.

Outcome: The commission unanimously approved various appointments for commissioners. Dan Smith and Kent Martinez-Kratz were absent.

After the vote Rabhi thanked commissioners, saying he put a lot of time and thought into the decisions, and he didn’t want anyone to take it personally if they didn’t get the appointment that they had requested.

Other Appointments

In addition to commissioner appointments, the board was asked to appoint members to the county’s workforce development board and food policy council.

Four nominations were made to the 15-member Washtenaw food policy council, all for terms ending Dec. 31, 2014: Amanda Edmonds, William Alt, Nicole Miller, and Patti Smith. The goal of the council is to support local small and mid-sized farmers by fostering policies that encourage local food purchasing and production. Formation of the council was approved by the county board at its March 21, 2012 meeting.

Nominated for reappointment was Scott Menzel to serve on the county’s workforce development board, which provides oversight of various job training programs and services. Menzel, whose previous term expired on Dec. 31, 2012, is superintendent of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD). His new term runs through Dec. 31, 2015.

Outcome: All appointments were approved unanimously, without discussion.

Homeland Security Grants

Three agenda items related to homeland security grants were on the Jan. 16 agenda.

The county board was asked to authorize a change in fiduciary for homeland security grants. The Southeast Michigan Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) board oversees homeland security funding and policy for this region. The UASI has named Macomb County as regional fiduciary. Previously, Oakland County held that designation. The change requires that Washtenaw County sign a new inter-local fiduciary agreement with Macomb County before any funds from previously awarded grants can be distributed.

Marc Breckenridge, the county’s director of emergency management.

The county is receiving $816,713 in 2011 federal homeland security grant funds, for a period through May 30, 2014. The emergency services division of the county sheriff’s office has identified 10 projects to be funded with the grant, which will also help pay for three employees in that division. Allocations include $106,948 for the Washtenaw Metro SWAT Team; $87,500 for outdoor warning sirens; $82,000 for a vehicle and equipment for the Washtenaw County Hazardous Materials Response Team; and $75,000 for the Washtenaw County Road Commission to buy mobile, portable, and control station radios.

An additional $308,202 from a separate 2012 homeland security grant – for a period through May 31, 2014 – will fund a new standby power generator for the road commission ($150,000) and additional outdoor warning sirens ($125,202), among other projects.

According to a staff memo, Washtenaw County has received about $8.29 million in homeland security grants since 2001.

Homeland Security Grants: Board Discussion

Marc Breckenridge, the county’s director of emergency management, was asked to explain why the approval of these grants was happening at this time. He told commissioners it was a little complicated, and that the delays in part related to a decision by the Southeast Michigan Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) board to change fiduciary from Oakland County to Macomb County. Some of the other counties in the UASI didn’t think that Oakland was doing a good job, he said. So the grants had to be rewritten and signed off by Macomb County, before the funding could be rolled out to the individual jurisdictions.

Outcome: All grants were approved unanimously.

Grant for After-School Program

County commissioners were asked to support an application for a $20,000 grant to fund expansion of an after-school program called “Telling It” in the West Willow and MacArthur Boulevard housing developments, low-income neighborhoods on the east side of Washtenaw County. [.pdf of grant application]

From left: Washtenaw County sheriff Jerry Clayton and county commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr.

According to a staff memo, the Telling It program focuses on developing creative writing and literacy skills for at-risk youth. It would support an effort to fight gang-related activity – specifically, the dozen or so “cliques” in the Ypsilanti/Willow Run area. The memo defines cliques as gangs “without bylaws, or a code of ethics, ultimately heightening the threat. Criminal behavior is viewed as a rite of passage as youth longing to belong to something in some areas where they are being offered very little positive influence during the school year. The Sheriff’s Office has recognized the need to provide after-school enrichment programs that are not purely sports based.”

One of the main concerns in West Willow is an underground culture of “fight clubs,” according to the sheriff’s office – where teenage boys promote fighting between teenage girls, with the fights videotaped and uploaded to YouTube.

The grant application is unusual in that it’s the first time a county unit has sought funding through the coordinated funding pilot program, which was designed to support human services more effectively in this community. The coordinated funding is a partnership of the county, the city of Ann Arbor, the United Way of Washtenaw County, the Washtenaw Urban County, and the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation.

The process has three parts: planning/coordination, program operations, and capacity-building. The approach targets six priority areas, and identifies lead agencies for each area: (1) housing and homelessness – Washtenaw Housing Alliance; (2) aging – Blueprint for Aging; (3) school-aged youth – Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth; (4) children birth to six – Success by Six; (5) health – Washtenaw Health Plan; and (6) hunger relief – Food Gatherers.

The grant application for Telling It would help pay for four program facilitators, a program director, and a psychotherapist to serve as a training consultant. It would fall under the coordinated funding category of capacity building.

Commissioner Conan Smith had previously raised some concerns about using the coordinated funding program, which was designed to support local nonprofits, to pay for a county-sponsored initiative. He has said that if it’s important to the county, the county should find a way to pay for it without using money that’s meant for outside agencies.

Outcome: Initial approval was granted unanimously. A final vote is expected on Feb. 6.

Job Training Grants

Three items on the Jan. 16 agenda related to an initial vote on funding for three workforce development programs – totaling about $1.35 million. The programs are overseen by the county office of community and economic development (OCED), which manages the local Michigan Works! office.

The grants include $1.16 million in federal funding for Partnership. Accountability. Training. Hope. (PATH), an orientation and job placement program for people who are applying for or receiving welfare assistance. The program was previously called Jobs, Education and Training (JET).

The county board also was asked to give initial authorization to a $111,750 increase in federal grant funding for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Dislocated Worker program. The additional funds will increase the program’s budget from $801,669 to $913,419. The program provides training for unemployed workers as well as on-the-job training for employees who need additional skills.

The third grant is $84,783 for the Food Assistance Employment and Training program, to provide job training for people who are receiving food assistance.

Outcome: Without discussion, authorization for the three grants was given initial approval. A final vote is expected at the board’s Feb. 6 meeting.

Communications & Commentary

During the evening there were multiple opportunities for communications from the administration and commissioners, as well as public commentary. Here are some highlights.

Communications & Commentary: Pure Michigan and Right-to-Work

Ronnie Peterson brought up the issue of the county’s contribution to support the promotion of tourism in this area, in collaboration with the state.

By way of background, the county collects a 5% excise tax from hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts and other small accommodations businesses, which is then distributed to the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti convention & visitors bureaus and used to promote tourism and convention business.

The county keeps a portion of those tax revenues to pay for the cost of collection and enforcement. On Nov. 18, 2009, the board approved a five-year agreement with the CVBs, from 2010 through 2014, that increased the county’s share of the accommodation tax revenues from 5% to 10%.

At the board’s Sept. 21, 2011 meeting, commissioners amended the county’s contract with the CVBs to address the process for distributing excess funds that might accumulate from the county’s 10%, if that amount exceeds the expenses required to administer and enforce compliance with the tax. Beginning in May 2013, the county will continue to retain 10% of the tax proceeds, plus 10% of any remaining fund balance. If additional funds accumulate in the fund balance, they are to be returned proportionally to the two convention & visitors bureaus – 75% to Ann Arbor, and 25% to Ypsilanti.

At its meeting on Feb. 15, 2012, the county drew on those excess administrative funds, voting to allocate $200,000 to help fund a Pure Michigan campaign focused on the Ann Arbor area. At the time, more than $350,000 had accumulated in the administrative fund from the county’s share of the accommodation tax revenues.

On Jan. 16, Petersen said he had utmost respect for the local CVBs, but he was concerned about what the county might be contributing to the state’s Pure Michigan campaign, and how that money was being spent to promote the new right-to-work law. The county funds are designated to promote local tourism, Peterson said, and “I’m hoping our local money is not being spent for another purpose.”

He was referring to a controversy over full page “Pure Michigan” advertisement in the Jan. 8, 2013 issue of the Wall Street Journal, paid for by the Michigan Economic Development Corp. (MEDC). The ad in part touted the fact that Michigan is now a right-to-work state. Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican who signed the legislation late last year, has criticized the ad.

Seven of the nine county commissioners – including Peterson – are Democrats, and opposed the right-to-work legislation. At their Jan. 3, 2013 working session, the board discussed the impact of right-to-work on the county government’s union employees, and explored possible responses.

Communications & Commentary: RTA

Conan Smith reported that Gov. Rick Snyder had appointed Paul Hillegonds, senior vice president of corporate affairs at DTE Energy, to chair the new southeast Michigan regional transit authority, which includes Washtenaw County. Smith said that it’s a non-voting position, but an important one. DTE’s main offices are in Detroit, but Hillegonds spends a lot of time in Ann Arbor, Smith said, adding that Hillegonds will likely be keenly interested in how those two communities are connected.

Smith noted that Hillegonds had served as speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives at a time when there was a 55/55 partisan split, describing the period as genial and productive. Hillegonds is a strong consensus builder, Smith said, and will be highly effective as RTA chair. [Link to a Jan. 17 WDET interview with Hillegonds about the RTA appointment.]

By way of background, Smith has been a strong advocate for the RTA, both as executive director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance and as chair of the county board in 2011 and 2012. Specifically, he advocated for the inclusion of Washtenaw County in the authority, which also includes the city of Detroit and counties of Wayne, Macomb and Oakland.

His position has not been shared by the majority of elected officials on the county board or the Ann Arbor city council. On Nov. 7, 2012, the Washtenaw County board – which Smith chaired at the time – brought forward a resolution rescinding its previous support for Washtenaw County’s inclusion in the RTA. [.pdf of resolution to rescind support of the RTA]

And on Dec. 10, 2012, the Ann Arbor city council unanimously passed a resolution requesting that the state legislature amend the law to exclude Washtenaw County from the initial area of the RTA. The Ypsilanti city council is expected to consider a similar resolution at its Feb. 5 meeting. That amendment is something that state representative Jeff Irwin (D-53) has indicated to The Chronicle that he’ll be working on in the 2013 legislative session.

Gov. Rick Snyder signed the legislation into law in December 2012, giving each jurisdiction 90 days to make appointments to the RTA board. In Washtenaw County, those appointments must be made by the county board chair. Because Smith’s term as chair was ending on Dec. 31, 2012 – and because he wanted to make the RTA appointments himself – he pushed through an accelerated application and interview process.

Interviews with five finalists were held on Dec. 27, with three of those finalists participating via Skype. Smith announced his selection in an email sent on Dec. 31 just before 5 p.m., appointing Liz Gerber and Richard “Murph” Murphy. Gerber lives in Ann Arbor and is a professor at the University of Michigan Ford School of Public Policy. Murphy is an Ypsilanti resident and programs director for the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, the organization that Smith leads.

For additional background, including actions taken to address conflict-of-interest issues because Murphy is an employee of Smith’s, see Chronicle coverage: “Gerber, Murphy Named to Transit Board.”

Communications & Commentary: Public Commentary

Only one speaker, Thomas Partridge, addressed commissioners during the time set aside for public commentary. He criticized Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, saying that Snyder’s state-of-the-state address – which was being given at the same time as the county board meeting – was certain to contain bad news for the state and the county. He described Snyder as a bully with an unending appetite to destroy longstanding liberties and rights of Michigan residents, including the right to collective bargaining.

Present: Felicia Brabec, Andy LaBarre, Ronnie Peterson, Alicia Ping, Yousef Rabhi, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith.

Absent: Kent Martinez-Kratz, Dan Smith.

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. The ways & means committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [Check Chronicle event listings to confirm date.] (Though the agenda states that the regular board meeting begins at 6:45 p.m., it usually starts much later – times vary depending on what’s on the agenda.) Public commentary is held at the beginning of each meeting, and no advance sign-up is required.

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The county board was asked to authorize a change in fiduciary for homeland security grants. The Southeast Michigan Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) board oversees homeland security funding and policy for this region. The UASI has named Macomb County as regional fiduciary. Previously, Oakland County held that designation. The change requires that Washtenaw County sign a new inter-local fiduciary agreement with Macomb County before any funds from previously awarded grants can be distributed.

The county is receiving $816,713 in 2011 federal homeland security grant funds, for a period through May 30, 2014. The emergency services division of the county sheriff’s office has identified 10 projects to be funded with the grant, which will also help pay for three employees in that division. Allocations include $106,948 for the Washtenaw Metro SWAT Team; $87,500 for outdoor warning sirens; $82,000 for a vehicle and equipment for the Washtenaw County Hazardous Materials Response Team; and $75,000 for the Washtenaw County Road Commission to buy mobile, portable, and control station radios.

An additional $308,202 from a separate 2012 homeland security grant – for a period through May 31, 2014 – will fund a new standby power generator for the road commission ($150,000) and additional outdoor warning sirens ($125,202), among other projects.

According to a staff memo, Washtenaw County has received about $8.29 million in homeland security grants since 2001.

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