Symbolic paper cranes were on display at the May 18, 2011 meeting of the Washtenaw County board of commissioners. The cranes represent the number of people in the county last year who used homeless support services. On screen in the photo’s background is Michael Appel of Avalon Housing, urging commissioners to support such services. (Photos by the writer.)

After much discussion, commissioners gave final approval to a brownfield plan for the Packard Square project, which will help fund environmental cleanup on the site of the former Georgetown Mall. The board also approved a $1 million grant application to the state Dept. of Environmental Quality for brownfield cleanup at the proposed $48 million development. Commissioner Wes Prater voted against the brownfield plan and the grant application.

The board postponed action until June 1 on a $1 million loan application to the MDEQ, as well as a request to authorize designation of the county’s full faith and credit as a guarantee for any loan that might be awarded, up to $1 million. They also discussed but ultimately postponed action on a broader public-private investment policy they’re developing, a policy spurred in large part by the request to back the MDEQ loan.

The policy discussion will likely be pushed back even further. At a May 24 briefing to review the June 1 agenda, commissioners learned from county staff that The Harbor Cos., developers of Packard Square, decided not to apply for the MDEQ loan. In light of that decision, the board is expected to take more time to flesh out details for its policy on public-private investment. And some commissioners – notably Leah Gunn – aren’t sure such a policy is even necessary. [Full Chronicle report on the May 24 briefing: "Loan Request Pulled for Packard Square"]

The other major item on the May 18 agenda related to funding for local human services nonprofits. The recommendations were made as part of a coordinated funding approach, combining support from the county, the city of Ann Arbor, the United Way of Washtenaw County, and the Washtenaw Urban County. More than 20 people spoke on the issue during public commentary, urging continued support for the county’s most vulnerable residents.

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to $507,500 in human services funding for 2011. Additional funds for 2012 and 2013 were also approved, contingent on the board’s passing those budgets later this year – it’s possible that allocations will change, as the county works to eliminate a $17.5 million deficit. Commissioner Dan Smith voted against the allocations, citing an objection to one line item. He later clarified for The Chronicle that he objected to funding for Planned Parenthood.

The board acted on several other items during its May 18 meeting, including: (1) approval of a brownfield plan for LaFontaine Chevrolet in Dexter; (2) setting the 2011 rate for the county’s general operating millage; and (3) initial approval to hire Experis (formerly known as Jefferson Wells) to perform internal auditing services for the county.

The board also gave inital approval to apply for a federal Dept. of Justice grant worth nearly $500,000 to support the Washtenaw County Cyber Citizenship Coalition (WC4). Commissioner Kristin Judge, who spearheaded the WC4 initiative, reported that Gov. Rick Snyder has asked the coalition to host with him a statewide “cyber summit” later this year.

Funding for Human Services Nonprofits

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to a resolution allocating $507,500 in children’s well-being and human services funding for 2011. The board was also asked for tentative approval of additional funds in 2012 and 2013, contingent on the board’s approval of those budgets later this year.

The allocations for these awards were recommended by a coordinated funding review committee. The process is being managed by the joint county/city of Ann Arbor office of community development, which is coordinating the funding efforts of the county, the city of Ann Arbor, the United Way of Washtenaw County, and the Washtenaw Urban County. [.pdf of funding recommendations]

The county board of commissioners approved this coordinated funding approach at its Nov. 3, 2010 meeting. Commissioners had been briefed on the effort at an Oct. 7 working session, and most recently discussed the process at its May 4 meeting. The Ann Arbor city council, at its meeting on Monday, May 16, tabled action on its human services allocations – along with all other budget-related items – until a continuation of the meeting, which is now set for May 31.

Human Services Funding: Public Commentary

About 20 people addressed the board on the topic of funding for human services. Many of them represented nonprofits that provide basic services, like food and housing, and many of them had previously spoken during public commentary at the Ann Arbor city council. Three people objected to funding of Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan.

This report summarizes their remarks, organized thematically.

Human Services Funding: Public Commentary – Housing

Susan Beckett of Scio Township told commissioners that she’s a volunteer working with Groundcover News, a monthly publication focused on issues of poverty and homelessness. It’s sold on the streets by vendors who are homeless, and she’s been told they’re the nicest vendors in the country – that’s because of the support services that are available to them, she said. These are people whose lives have been destroyed and whose future is horribly uncertain, she said, but you don’t see the kind of desperation in their faces that you see in others.

When Beckett moved to Scio Township about 20 years ago, it was during the last recession and her home was broken into more than once. “I don’t want to see us go back to that kind of desperation, where people are doing whatever they can to make ends meet,” she said. Beckett said the county’s Justice Project Outreach Team (JPORT) used to provide tents to the homeless. Recently a man she knows went to get one, but JPORT has stopped that service. The Delonis Center – the county’s homeless shelter – is full, she said, so the man has to sleep under a bridge.

Brian Nord talks with Julie Steiner before the May 18 county board meeting. Both spoke in support of continued funding for human services. Nord is board president for the nonprofit MISSION, which supports Camp Take Notice. Steiner is executive director of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance.

Brian Nord told commissioners that he’s lived in Ann Arbor for 6.5 years, and has worked for the last 2.5 years with Camp Take Notice. [Nord is president of the board for MISSION, a nonprofit that supports the camp.] There’s the lowest spot that people can reach on the grid, he said – Camp Take Notice is a step above that. Right now, there are already 30 people at the camp. Last year, it took until the end of the summer to reach that number, he said. People need support services, he said. “Where are they going to go if there’s no place to go after Camp Take Notice?” [Camp Take Notice and MISSION don't receive money from the coordinated funding pool.]

Jim Reisinger of Dexter spoke in support of Alpha House, run by the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Washtenaw County. It provides a good return on investment for county dollars, he said. Focused on families, the nonprofit provides shelter, food, counseling and other services. Volunteers contribute the equivalent of $330,000 in donated hours – that’s a good return, he said. [The funding ecommendations call for IHN to get $92,400 in funding.]

Three people spoke on behalf of the Ozone House, which provides shelter and other services for youth. Colleen O’Brien, who works at the drop-in center in Ypsilanti, thanked commissioners for their support. The drop-in center helps primarily African-American, low-income youth who have no place else to go, she said. Ten years ago, she said, they had about 100 visits each month – now there are 500 monthly visits from young people looking for a safe place to stay or a meal. Ozone House couldn’t provide its services without support from the county, she said. [The coordinated funding committee is recommending a total of $208,557 for Ozone House programs, including $97,625 from the county.]

Tyra Weatherspoon and Patricia Gwinner also came forward to talk about their support for Ozone House, saying they were there to speak on behalf of youth who need the services provided by the nonprofit. Gwinner said she knows what it’s like to be homeless. She asked: If the county cuts funding, where will young people go to get the help they need?

Ellen Schulmeister, director of the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County, told commissioners that the county has been a partner for the past 13 years – the Shelter Association couldn’t do its work without the county’s support. She gave the example of Matthew, one of the men who came to the Delonis Center, the county’s homeless shelter in Ann Arbor that’s run by the association. He thought he owned 40 Internet businesses and that he was a friend with the University of Michigan president. The staff at Delonis helped him, she said. Schulmeister asked the board not to give up on Matthew or any of the 1,300 other individuals that they see at the shelter. [The Shelter Association is slated to receive a total of $316,649 in coordinated funding.]

Charlie Andenberg, a case manager at the Delonis Center, gave an example of a woman who came to the shelter after she was laid off from her job and became homeless. She lacked health insurance, which exacerbated her medical problems. The example illustrated the need for social support services.

Paper cranes from Avalon Housing were transported to the lobby of the Washtenaw County administration building, awaiting display at the board of commissioners meeting.

Michael Appel, associate director of Avalon Housing, brought four others to the podium with him, each of them holding hangers loaded with a total of 4,738 paper cranes. The cranes represent the number of people who received homeless support services from a local agency in 2010. It’s a beautiful and stark reminder of people affected by homelessness, he told commissioners. He thanked the board for its policy leadership, including support of a task force that led to creation of the Washtenaw Housing Alliance and the Blueprint to End Homelessness. The coordinated funding approach shows that the county and other local governments and agencies can move forward together.

“The work we do saves money, ultimately,” Appel said, measured in fewer trips to emergency rooms, for example, and in more students graduating from high school and having a better opportunity for employment. They’re all leveraging money for a greater impact on the community. [Recommendations call for Avalon to get $140,974 in coordinated funding.]

Paul Lambert of Ann Arbor said he’s been a recipient of aid from Avalon Housing for more than 12 years, and a homelessness activist for many more years than that. There’s a real need for human services to be fully funded in this town, he said.

Kristen Klevering of the nonprofit SOS Community Services reminded commissioners that she had addressed them at their May 4 meeting in support of Barrier Busters. This time, she’d come with the development director of SOS, Ellen Offen, as well as a board member. She related a story about a woman with three young children who got sick and had fallen behind in her rent. The woman came to SOS recently on the verge of being evicted. SOS was able to help, and now Klevering is her case manager, working with her stay on top of things. Without the social safety net supported by the county, Klevering said, “people like her will be homeless.” [SOS is set to receive $90,859 from the county's portion, plus $124,577 from other coordinated funding.]

Human Services Funding: Public Commentary – Support Services

Barbara Niess May, executive director of SafeHouse Center, thanked the board for their support. Funding for human services from the county, city of Ann Arbor and other entities leverages millions of dollars back into the community from other sources, she said. Niess May described the services of SafeHouse, which provides a range of support – including emergency shelter and counseling – for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. They serve people from all across the county, she said, not just Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. The county’s funding is critical, and allows SafeHouse to leverage funds from the federal government as well as foundations nationwide. [Recommendations call for SafeHouse to receive $143,263 from the coordinated funding pool.]

Later in the meeting, Dawn Hertz of Dexter also spoke in support of SafeHouse, saying she volunteered there. Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate, she said, and SafeHouse serves all those who need their help.

Margie Hagene, chair of the board for Food Gatherers, was there to request the county’s ongoing support for that nonprofit as well as its social safety net partners. [Food Gatherers is slated to receive $87,486 in allocations from Washtenaw County's share of the coordinated funding pool.] She was aware that the county faces budget issues, but as they prepare to make tough decisions, she asked that human services not be reduced. Hagene reported that 138% more people sought food assistance from Food Gatherers and its partners in 2010 than in 2006. There is a need, she said, and they are grateful to the county for its long-standing commitment to serving the community’s most vulnerable residents.

Pam Smith, executive director of the Child Care Network, described the services of the 33-year-old nonprofit, which helps families find child care and provides scholarships to help pay for child care. Parents are successful because of the county’s support for Child Care Network, she said, noting that after food and shelter, child care is a household’s third-largest expense. [It's recommended that Child Care Network receive a total of $358,436 from the coordinated funding pool, including $218,378 from the county.]

Nancy Paul, executive director of Faith in Action, told commissioners that the nonprofit serves the Dexter and Chelsea areas, and has been providing support for residents in need for 31 years. For the past 5 years or so, they wouldn’t have been able to meet those needs without support from their alliances, including Food Gatherers. They can go after community grant funding now, because of their partnerships – if they were on their own, they wouldn’t be able to meet the needs of residents, she said. Paul urged commissioners to continue their support for human services.

Chuck Warpehoski, director of the Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice, said he knew the county was facing some difficult budget decisions, and he thanked them for their work. Caring for the vulnerable is one of the few things that diverse religious groups can agree on, he said. Because ICPJ doesn’t receive county funding, in some ways he’s a disinterested party, Warpehoski said. But as a resident, he’s not. An elderly neighbor of his with multiple sclerosis gets meals delivered to her home. Meal delivery isn’t a housing support service, he noted, but it helps her stay in her home – that’s good for her, her family and the neighborhood. It means one less vacant property on the block. The same is true for a summer youth program in Ypsilanti – families don’t have to pay for child care, so it helps them out financially. Support programs like these are good for the long-term self-interest of the county.

Lily Au of Ann Arbor spoke during two of the evening’s four opportunities for public commentary. During her second turn, she explained that her initial commentary had been a metaphor, to illustrate the need for direct funding to those in need – rather than using public funding for developers or administrative overhead. She held up a hand trowel, and explained that when residents at Camp Take Notice needed to go to the bathroom, they have to dig a hole seven inches deep to cover up the smell. These are the people who need help.

Human Services Funding: Public Commentary – Planned Parenthood

Paul Dobrowolski of Saline requested that the board not fund Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan. [Funding recommendations would give a total of $67,440 to the nonprofit, including $53,040 from the county.] They don’t need the money, he argued, and many of the women they serve don’t live in Washtenaw County. Abortions account for 20-30% of their revenues, he said, and they make money from selling oral contraceptives. Their CEO was paid $167,000 in 2008, Dobrowolski said. Finally, he noted that there are alternatives available – St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and Corner Health Center in Ypsilanti provide similar services, he said.

Karen Walacavage of Ypsilanti said she was there to help commissioners understand why they shouldn’t fund Planned Parenthood. The services are redundant – they’re offered elsewhere, she said. She doesn’t want the county funding a “mega-nonprofit.” Walacavage also objected to Planned Parenthood spending money to lobby against organizations that oppose abortions.

Anne Mitzel of Milan was concerned about Planned Parenthood’s “triple-dipping” – getting money from the local, state and federal government. She said that abortions for blacks are disproportionate to the percentage of blacks in the general population. Planned Parenthood writes grants claiming they work to prevent abortions, she said, but looking at their target demographic – the black community – suggests otherwise. She concluded by saying, “We as taxpayers deserve better.”

Human Services Funding: Commissioners’ Response to Public Commentary

Several commissioners expressed thanks to the people who’d spoken. “It’s beautiful to see you here,” Yousef Rabhi told them, saying that the funding doesn’t mean anything without the people who provide the services. He noted that during the board’s budget retreat earlier this year, human services had emerged as a board priority. He hoped commissioners would keep the commentary they’d heard close to their hearts and find a palatable funding solution for everyone.

Mary Jo Callan, director of the county’s office of community development, talks with Derrick Jackson of the county sheriff’s office, prior to the start of the May 18 county board meeting. Callan’s office oversees the coordinated funding model used to allocate funds for human services nonprofits.

Kristin Judge said it was humbling to have the nonprofits thank the board, when it should be the other way around. It shows we live in a community that cares, she said. She thanked Chuck Warpehoski for putting human services into the context of the economy’s bottom line – it’s hard to quantify the net affect on tax revenue, but it’s there. Judge praised Brian Nord and Caleb Poirier, president and vice president of MISSION’s board of directors, for their work with Camp Take Notice. They’ve created a safe, amazing community, she said, that’s way more than just a step above homelessness.

Rob Turner noted that the board has talked about how the county can streamline operations so that there’ll be more funds available for human services. He noted that the board isn’t in the trenches – the people who’d just spoken to them are on the front lines. “We’re not boots on the ground – you are.” Turner said that when he served on the Chelsea school board, his favorite meetings were those when the boardroom was packed – as the county boardroom was that night. It’s important for people to come to these meetings, he said, and not just once a year. He concluded by saying that before he was elected to the county board, he hadn’t been aware of all the services and support the county offered. There is a safety net available to help people go from despair to self-reliance, he said.

Barbara Bergman said she recognized many of the people who had spoken during public commentary – many of them are friends, she said. “I wish we had more money,” she said. “I wish we could solve the problems of the county.” One of her goals, she said, is to turn every kid in this county into a taxpayer. They can do that by providing sufficient funding for schools, housing, food, recreation, mental health and family assistance, she said. “When we turn them into taxpayers, that means we can solve the problems in this county.”

Rolland Sizemore Jr. said he disagreed with Turner – the board is also in the trenches, just in a different way. They all care about the homeless, but it’s a question of what can they afford. That’s the bottom line, he said. At future meetings, other groups will come to lobby for funding too, he noted. The economy has caught everyone in a bind, he said, and they’ve never been in this position before.

Human Services Funding: Commissioner Discussion

Ronnie Peterson began the discussion by saying it was misleading to state that the board accepts these recommendations. The money isn’t there yet, he said – the board can’t commit to the funding, because they haven’t voted on the budget for 2012 and 2013.

County administrator Verna McDaniel explained that the board had already authorized $507,500 in children’s well-being and human services funding, as part of the 2011 budget that was approved last year. For the remainder of the total $1.015 million to be allocated, the assumption is that the board will allocate those funds as part of the upcoming budget process, she said.

Peterson maintained that the resolution they were being asked to approve would authorize the allocations – and that required that they authorize the funding itself. But they haven’t made a decision on the budget for next year, he noted – no money has been set aside for human services next year.

Kristin Judge said she shared some of Peterson’s concerns. She noted that when McDaniel presented a strategy for dealing with the county’s projected $17.5 million deficit in 2012-2013, one part included $1 million in cuts to human services funding. If they cut that budget, how can they stick to these funding recommendations?

McDaniel again stated that about half of the funding – $507,500 – was already allocated in the 2011 budget. In the background memo that accompanied the coordinated funding recommendations, she said, staff tried to make it clear that commissioners weren’t obligating the funds for 2012-13. She noted that in addition to the coordinated funding pool, the county funded other human services agencies for a total of about $3 million this year. All the agencies being funded know that the funding for 2012-13 hasn’t yet been set, she said.

Judge wondered what approach the county would take, if funding is cut. Would it be an across-the-board percentage from all agencies that are funded? McDaniel said that’s an option – it would depend on what the board wanted.

When Judge then asked if there was a reason why the board needed to vote on it that night, McDaniel said they wanted to move ahead on the 2011 allocations, since it had already been approved in the 2011 budget.

Judge said that in the future, it would be good to know what the strategy will be for funding cuts, if they are necessary.

Barbara Bergman argued against making across-the-board percentage cuts, saying that’s the least constructive thing they could do. She’d only support a more strategic approach, if cuts are necessary. Judge later clarified that she hadn’t been advocating for a percentage reduction, and that she agreed they should be strategic.

Dan Smith felt they needed to clarify language in the resolution. The only “resolved” clause stated that they were approving the allocations for 2011-2013, he said. The only money they’re really approving right now is the $507,500.

Wes Prater pointed out that part of the difficulty is in coordinating budget cycles for different entities. The city of Ann Arbor works on a fiscal year that begins July 1, while the county works on a calendar year. The state has yet another budget cycle, he noted – its fiscal year begins Oct. 1. He thought Peterson was correct in stating that they weren’t approving allocations beyond 2011, and he asked the county’s attorney, Curtis Hedger, whether they should change the wording of the resolution.

Hedger felt the issue was sufficiently addressed in the “whereas” clauses. However, if commissioners wanted to, they could amend the resolved clause to add that allocations are based in part on currently authorized funding of $507,500 and contingent on passage of the 2012-13 budget.

Conan Smith observed that the board goes through this process every year – it’s not unusual. Commissioners develop a two-year budget, but by law they can’t encumber the second year, and very frequently they make adjustments later. [For example, the county's 2010-11 budget was approved by the board in late 2009. Then in December 2010, the board approved adjustments to the 2011 budget as part of a budget affirmation process.]

C. Smith said he was in favor of this current funding resolution, because it put a stake in the ground and indicated their support for human services. It gives people a way to hold the board’s feet to the fire. He added that he’s 100% behind the funding recommendations, and he won’t vote for a dollar less when the board is asked to approve the 2012-13 budget.

Peterson said he clearly wasn’t advocating for cuts. But the fact is that commissioners don’t know how they’ll cut the millions of dollars they need to balance the budget, he said. It’s difficult for him to tell employees that they’ll have jobs next year, when he knows that pink slips will likely be flying in November and December. It’s the county board’s job to set the budget, he said, and they shouldn’t be delegating that role to a committee – referring to the review committee that made coordinated funding recommendations for human services. The board needs to consider the future of its employees, too, he said.

Judge took issue with C. Smith’s remarks about not making cuts to the funding recommendations. They’ve already said that there’s a target of $1 million cuts to human services funding in 2012 and 2013, she noted. She wanted to be clear with the nonprofits that if the county’s budget changes, those allocations will be different.

Yousef Rabhi felt that one of the whereas clauses could address the concerns that other commissioners were raising:

Whereas, the full award of these funds is contingent on passage of the 2012 and 2013 Budget allocation process;

Prater pointed out that budgets are estimates of both anticipated revenues and expenses. “Budgets are not written in stone,” he said. At the end of each year, they always make adjustments to the next year’s budget, he added.

Dan Smith observed that the budget process has only begun in earnest about a month ago, with the release of the county’s equalization report. He moved to amend the coordinated funding resolution as Hedger had suggested, adding to the resolved clause [italics indicate amended text]:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the FY 2011-2013 Children’s Well-Being and Human Services funding awards to the nonprofit entities listed below, based in part on the currently authorized funds of $507,500 and contingent on passing the 2012-13 budget, and authorizes the Office of Community Development to negotiate contractual agreements in accordance with the County’s purchasing procedures, subject to approval as to form by the Office of Corporation Council, the annual recommendation is as follows: [.pdf of full amended resolution, with list of funding allocations for Washtenaw County]

Bergman said it would be easier to follow the discussion about the board’s resolutions if the lines of text were numbered. Deputy county clerk Jason Brooks indicated that it would be possible to do that.

Outcome: The board gave initial approval to the funding recommendations, as amended. Commissioner Dan Smith voted against the allocations, citing an objection to one line item, which he didn’t specify during the meeting. He later clarified for The Chronicle that he objected to funding for Planned Parenthood of Mid and South Michigan. For the county’s allocations, final approval is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

Packard Square Brownfield Proposal

On the board’s agenda were several items related to the Packard Square project in Ann Arbor, on the site of the former Georgetown Mall, including requests for approval of a brownfield plan, a $1 million grant application to the state Dept. of Environmental Quality for brownfield cleanup at the proposed $48 million development, a $1 million loan application to MDEQ, as well as a request to authorize designation of the county’s full faith and credit as a guarantee for any loan that might be awarded, up to $1 million.

Board chair Conan Smith passes out copies of the policy he drafted to guide county investment in public-private partnerships. In the foreground is commissioner Alicia Ping.

Within the context of Packard Square – prompted by the developer’s request for the county’s full faith and credit – commissioners also discussed a broader public-private investment policy, a subject they had initially debated at a May 17 special working session. Based on the discussion at the working session, board chair Conan Smith had drafted a policy that he distributed to commissioners a few hours before Wednesday’s meeting.

The Packard Square project has been the topic of some controversy at the county level. The board had been asked at its May 4 meeting to give initial approval to the grant and loan application. It was the loan guarantee that raised concerns among some commissioners, who were uncomfortable putting the county potentially on the hook for a private developer – especially since back taxes were owed on the property, and the county is facing a large deficit in the coming years.

Instead of voting on May 4, the item was taken up at a May 5 working session, and again at a special working session called for May 17.

The brownfield plan would enable the developer to use up to $5,840,558 of tax increment financing over 14 years to support cleanup of the site, where a dry cleaning business operated. In addition to cleanup activities, TIF funds would have been used to repay the $1 million loan and to pay $23,000 annually for administrative fees to the county’s economic development & energy department, which manages the brownfield program. The development includes 230 apartments, plus retail and office space. The Ann Arbor city council approved both the Packard Square site plan and brownfield plan at its May 2, 2011 meeting.

At its May 18 meeting, the county board considered these items at both their Ways & Means Committee meeting and their regular board meeting – held back-to-back. Typically, initial votes are taken at Ways & Means, then moved to the regular board meeting two weeks later.

The board also held a public hearing on the topic of Packard Square’s brownfield plan. In addition, two residents spoke about the project during the meeting’s general public commentary.

Packard Square Brownfield: Public Commentary

Local attorney Jim Fink said he was speaking on behalf of his friend and client, Albert Berriz, CEO of the real estate firm McKinley Inc., who wasn’t able to attend the meeting. Fink then read aloud a letter that Berriz sent to county administrator Verna McDaniel. Berriz called the development of the former Georgetown Mall a “very risky venture,” and that he wasn’t sure why the county would do this given its other financial challenges and limited resources.

Berriz stated that he and his partners have invested tens of millions of dollars buying and renovating real estate in the county. “We are proud to claim over 500-plus McKinley team members gainfully employed in the region operating those assets. Before we risk our county’s balance sheet in this way, I urge [you] to consider that those of us risking our own balance sheets, and creating real jobs in the county, are doing so without coming to you and asking the county to provide capital for our efforts.”[.pdf of Berriz letter]

Jim Burns of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 252 in Ann Arbor said he was standing in solidarity with his colleagues in Detroit. He pointed out that Bloomfield Park – a failed commercial project by The Harbor Cos., the same developer as Packard Square – was a complete bust and a terrible eyesore. It’s partially constructed, and sits as a monument to how the developer bungled the job, Burns said. On behalf of the roughly 1,000 members of IBEW Local 252, Burns urged the county to stay out of the business of financing private development.

Packard Square Brownfield: Public Commentary – Commissioner Response

Rob Turner pointed out that the county is not investing in Packard Square – they’re not taking money away from human services to put into private development. The issue they’re considering is whether to use the county’s full faith and credit to back a loan for the developer from the state, he said. If they can help create jobs and clean up a blighted area, he added, that’s their priority – it’s not a priority simply to help a developer.

Packard Square Brownfield: Public Policy

The first issue that the board took up related to the broader public policy question about conditions for investing in public-private partnerships. Though the policy was prompted by debate over when the county should issue its full faith and credit, the policy was also being designed to apply to issuance of bonds, adoption of tax increment financing plans, or cash investments.

Board chair Conan Smith, who drafted the policy, said he tried to incorporate elements from the previous night’s working session. He reviewed the main points of the policy, which lists five criteria for investment. Projects must have: (1) a clear public benefit; (2) local government support; (3) no outstanding tax liabilities; (4) a minimal risk of loss; and (5) a limitation on the total county liability. [.pdf of full draft policy]

The final criterion – a limitation on total county liability – hadn’t previously been discussed in detail. C. Smith explained that he wanted to ensure that in the absolute worst case scenario, the county would still have three weeks of operating capital on hand and as much protection as possible, in case a project goes belly up. That part of the draft policy stated:

VII. Limitation of Total County Liability

The total liability for general obligation bonds or encumbrances of the County’s full faith and credit related to public-private partnerships shall not exceed the following limits:

i. If the County’s unrestricted fund balances are less than eight percent of regular general fund expenditures, the limit shall be three percent of regular general fund expenditures;

ii. If the County’s unrestricted fund balances are greater than eight percent but less than seventeen percent of regular general fund expenditures, the limit shall be seven percent of regular general fund expenditures;

iii. If the County’s unrestricted fund balances are greater than seventeen percent of regular general fund expenditures, the limit shall be twelve percent of regular general fund expenditures.

Wes Prater clarified that the policy referred to unrestricted fund balances of the general fund.

Washtenaw County commissioners, from right: Rob Turner, Ronnie Peterson, Barbara Bergman, Yousef Rabhi.

Barbara Bergman said she wanted to include something about the track record of the developer, their successes and failures, as well as the amount of time they’ve worked on local projects. C. Smith replied that based on their previous discussion, the consensus seemed that local government partners would be in a better position to evaluate that. In the past, it would have been handled by the county’s planning department and planning advisory board, he said, but those entities no longer exist. It would be a substantive and costly process for the county to vet developers in that way, he said.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. agreed with Bergman, saying there were too many examples of developers simply changing their company’s name after a failed project. The county should do some research on the developer before getting involved, he said.

Wes Prater wanted to include more information about the credit history of the individual or company.

Yousef Rabhi said he was a little uncomfortable with the criterion regarding local government support. That section states:

IV. Local Government Support

The County shall not invest in a project that does not have the support of the local unit of government in which it would be developed. Local government support may be evidence by any of the following:

a. Issuance of the local unit of government’s full faith and credit for the project or evidence of other financial involvement in the project;

b. Approval by the governing body of a land use plan or other development plan;

c. Resolution of the governing unit; or

d. A letter of support signed by a majority of the members of the governing body.

Rabhi said he wanted to make it stronger – the last item simply asked for a letter, and that didn’t seem sufficient. He suggested requiring two of the four items showing support, rather than just one.

Prater suggested that instead of requiring a letter of support, they could ask for a resolution of support, so that the local government would need to vote on it. Ronnie Peterson noted that some local governments have limited resources, and a resolution might be all they can offer.

Dan Smith felt very uncomfortable with the options for local government support, except for the first one – showing financial involvement. If a local municipality isn’t willing to put any skin in the game, he said, he wasn’t sure why the county should invest. In general, he wasn’t comfortable using government money to support private development except under very limited circumstances, and he wasn’t sure the policy made that clear.

Rob Turner said he wouldn’t want it to be an obstacle if a local government wasn’t capable of giving its full faith and credit – that shouldn’t stop a project. He agreed that asking for a letter of support was too weak, and preferred asking for a resolution of support instead. And they should be welcoming outside developers who haven’t previously worked in this area, he said – there are ways they can be vetted, but the county shouldn’t be putting up roadblocks.

Kristin Judge thanked C. Smith for his leadership, and said it was great they were developing a policy. However, she was concerned that they were rushing this through because of one project. Board policies are a big deal, she said, and they should take the time to flesh it out. She confirmed with Curtis Hedger, the county’s corporation counsel, that he hadn’t had time to research it.

Peterson said he was ready to take the initial vote that night. They’d had a very healthy discussion the previous evening, he said, and he felt comfortable because this was just a policy – they weren’t making any commitments to investing, and not one dime would be spent until they approved it.

D. Smith said he didn’t feel comfortable voting on something they’d just been given a few hours before the meeting. He appreciated the work involved in getting a draft done so quickly, but preferred to postpone action until the board’s June 1 meeting. Prater agreed, and moved to postpone.

Outcome: The board voted to postpone action on the policy until its June 1 meeting – voting against postponement were Barbara Bergman, Conan Smith, Ronnie Peterson, Yousef Rabhi.

Subsequent to the May 18 meeting, at a May 24 briefing to review the June 1 agenda, commissioners learned from county staff that the developers of Packard Square decided not to apply for the MDEQ loan. In light of that decision, the board is expected to take more time to flesh out details for its policy on public-private investment. [Full Chronicle report on the May 24 briefing: "Loan Request Pulled for Packard Square"]

Packard Square Brownfield: MDEQ Grant

As part of the brownfield cleanup, Packard Square developers want to apply for a $1 million loan from the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality. The funds would be used for removing contaminated soil on the property, as well as monitoring, testing, and other related activities.

Originally, the grant application and a $1 million loan application were presented as a single item on the agenda, but before deliberations they were separated out and considered independently.

Wes Prater asked if there were still unpaid taxes on the property. Dan Smith noted that the county treasurer, Catherine McClary, had emailed commissioners to report that back taxes hadn’t yet been paid, and that they would need to be settled before the grant could be accepted. [Earlier in the month, McClary reported that Harbor Georgetown LLC owes 2009 taxes totaling $178,025.26 and 2010 taxes of $159,845.57, if paid on or before May 31, for a total of $337,870.83. Interest increases each month. The 2009 taxes are in forfeiture – that is, if not paid by next year, the property would face foreclosure.]

Outcome: Commissioners unanimously gave initial approval for the brownfield grant application to the MDEQ for Packard Square. Later in the meeting, they also voted to give final approval for the grant, with dissent from Wes Prater.

Packard Square Brownfield: MDEQ Loan

The board was asked to consider a $1 million loan from MDEQ for the Packard Square project, as well as a request to authorize designation of the county’s full faith and credit as a guarantee for any loan that might be awarded, up to $1 million.

Loan funds would have been used to pay for some of the demolition on the site, as well as for work associated with treating the new development with vapor intrusion barriers and other measures to minimize the potential environmental hazards to the new development. The intent was for the developer to repay the loan with brownfield tax increment finance (TIF) revenue.

County staff told commissioners that an irrevocable letter of credit would be required as a condition of the county offering its full faith and credit to back the loan. Together, the loan and grant would shorten the TIF period from 18 to 14 years – after that, taxing entities would receive the full amount of taxes from that property.

During a discussion about the loan at the May 18 meeting, Yousef Rahbi said that since the board hadn’t yet finalized the public policy regarding county investments in private developments, he’d feel most comfortable moving consideration of the loan to the June 1 meeting.

Alicia Ping objected, saying they’d talked about it for hours at board meetings and two working sessions. Everyone knows how they’ll vote, she said. Kristin Judge agreed, saying she’d received an overwhelmingly negative response to the loan from the community. Barbara Bergman said that people don’t want the loan – she wasn’t sure if it was because of this specific project, or because of the broader public policy issues. At any rate, she was against postponing.

Outcome: On a 7-4 vote, commissioners postponed action until their June 1 meeting on the $1 million loan application to the MDEQ for Packard Square. Dissenting were Barbara Bergman, Kristin Judge, Alicia Ping and Wes Prater. The developers subsequently decided not to apply for the MDEQ loan.

Packard Square Brownfield: Brownfield Plan

Yousef Rabhi began the discussion by noting that this is a traditional brownfield plan, just like many others they have previously approved. There is no use of the county’s full faith and credit, he said, and the developer can’t get any TIF (tax increment finance) revenue until the project is completed. Nor can TIF revenue be tapped if taxes aren’t paid. [.pdf of Packard Square brownfield plan, without attachments]

Outcome: The board gave initial approval of the Packard Square brownfield plan at its Ways & Means Committee meeting, with dissent from Wes Prater.

Rabhi moved that the brownfield plan and grant be forwarded immediately for consideration at that evening’s board meeting, when commissioners could take a final vote.

Outcome: The board approved moving both the Packard Square brownfield plan and grant for consideration at their board meeting later that evening, with dissent from Rolland Sizemore Jr.

Packard Square Brownfield: Brownfield Plan – Public Hearing

Two people spoke during a public hearing on the brownfield plan at Wednesday’s board meeting.

Bruce Measom of Bloomfield Hills-based Harbor Companies, the project’s developer, listed several public benefits to the project. He noted that the contamination from the dry cleaning business was perched on an underground clay layer, but needed to be cleaned up – especially for residential development on the site. [According to the brownfield plan, installation of sub-slab vapor barriers to contain the contamination is estimated to cost $950,360.] Measom also highlighted the underground stormwater detention system they planned to install, noting that currently there is no management of runoff on that site.

They also plan to upgrade 1,500 feet of the city’s sanitary sewer, at a cost of about $400,000, plus make upgrades to water mains on the nearby side streets. Among the other public benefits he cited: (1) the creation of about 45 jobs after the facility is complete, plus hundreds of local construction jobs while it’s being built; (2) a new “pocket park” on the western side of the site, which will be open to the public; and (3) residential density as part of an infill project, which meets city goals.

Thomas Partridge also spoke in support of the project. He criticized commissioners for not attending Ann Arbor city council meetings to unite the efforts of the city and county. It’s disappointing, he said, that the board hasn’t done its homework about this project. This area needs the jobs that Packard Square will create. Partridge said that commissioner Yousef Rabhi, a Democrat representing one of Ann Arbor’s districts, is acting like a Republican by throwing up hurdles. He urged commissioners to advance this project.

Packard Square Brownfield: Brownfield Plan – Final Discussion

After the public hearing, the board continued discussion of the Packard Square brownfield plan. Rolland Sizemore Jr. asked Measom whether the construction jobs would be union or non-union. If they were non-union, would they abide by the Construction Unity Board (CUB) agreement? Meason said it would likely be a combination of both union and non-union jobs.

Conan Smith questioned whether CUB would apply to a brownfield project. Part of the county’s procurement policy, CUB agreements call for contractors to use union labor, or to abide by the existing collective bargaining agreements of the appropriate labor unions. Curtis Hedger, the county’s corporation counsel, wasn’t sure if the developer could be required to abide by a CUB agreement.

County commissioner Wes Prater.

Yousef Rabhi said that at a meeting of the county’s brownfield redevelopment authority board, the developer had indicated that he’d make an effort to hire local workers. They also said they’d try to find local businesses for Packard Square’s retail space, Rabhi said. He noted that the 601 S. Forest development, which had been awarded brownfield status, had received complaints from local labor unions, saying the developers there had used non-local, non-union labor. Rabhi stressed that it’s important to create jobs, but he hoped they would hire from the local skilled workforce.

Wes Prater asked Measom if his firm had talked with leaders of the county’s building trades – if they’re serious about working with labor unions, they need to start a dialogue. Measom said they’d already been speaking with local contractors, and are well into the process of soliciting bids. Because the project has received an invitation letter from the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for financing, they need to pre-screen contractors for their HUD experience, he said.

Prater noted that if the developer accepts HUD financing, they’ll be required by federal law to comply with the Davis Bacon Act, which requires that public works projects pay prevailing wages. In that case, Prater said, the developer might as well do a CUB agreement too, to guarantee there would be no work stoppages whatsoever.

In addition to the HUD financing – which Measom said could total $20-$22 million – Prater wanted to know what other funding sources they’d be using. Anne Jamieson-Urena – director of brownfield and redevelopment incentives for AKT Peerless Environmental and Energy Services, who’s working with the developer – said they could provide that information.

Rob Turner pressed Measom about the contractors they’d be hiring for the project. Measom said they haven’t awarded the contracts yet – they don’t have a signed construction agreement. Turner strongly urged Measom to consider local contractors for the work. He was also interested in whether the CUB agreement would apply to this project.

Rabhi told commissioners that the issue of CUB is something he hopes to discuss with the brownfield development authority board. Hopefully they can put more stringent rules in place for future projects, he said.

Alicia Ping clarified that taxes would be paid before the county accepted grant funds on behalf of the project, and that no monies would be dispersed until the taxes are paid in full. Measom noted that the developers have tax appeals pending for the 2009 and 2010 amounts, and that once they reach an agreement on that, they’ll take care of the outstanding taxes.

Outcome: The board gave final approval to the Packard Square brownfield plan, with dissent from Wes Prater.

LaFontaine Chevrolet Brownfield

On the agenda was an item asking for initial approval of the brownfield plan for the $5.3 million LaFontaine Chevrolet redevelopment project in Dexter.

Brett Lenart, left, of the county’s economic development & energy department, which manages the county’s brownfield redevelopment authority, talks with Lou Stultz of Canopus Environmental Group. Stulz is working on the LaFontaine Chevrolet redevelopment project, which is seeking brownfield status.

The LaFontaine brownfield plan would enable the use of up to $330,330 of tax increment financing (TIF) for 4 years to pay for cleanup work, including asbestos and lead abatement. Of that amount, $25,410 would support the county’s brownfield program management, and $50,820 would be deposited into the county’s Local Site Remediation Revolving Fund. The project is expected to retain 76 jobs and create 50 new ones, and to increase the annual tax revenues to the county from $4,516 to $11,119 after the TIF ends. [.pdf of LaFontaine brownfield plan, without attachments]

LaFontaine Chevrolet Brownfield: Public Hearing

Two people spoke during the public hearing. Josh Bloom of Bloom General Contracting spoke on behalf of the owner, Matt LaFontaine, in support of the brownfield plan, saying they are very excited about the project. He pointed out that it would result in LaFontaine being a LEED-certified [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] auto dealership. Bloom thanked the board for their consideration.

Lou Stultz – a senior project manager with Ypsilanti-based Canopus Environmental Group – was also on hand. He would be working on the project and was there to answer questions, if the commissioners had any for him. They did not.

Thomas Partridge also spoke, saying more information is needed about the project. It was an important development, he said, and he questioned why all the details about this project and Packard Square hadn’t been made available.

Outcome: Commissioners voted unanimously to give initial approval to the LaFontaine Chevrolet brownfield plan. A final vote approval is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

2011 County Millage Rate

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to establish the 2011 county general operating millage rate at 4.5493 mills – unchanged from the current rate. Several other county millages – including those for parks & recreation, emergency communications and the Huron Clinton Metroparks Authority – are levied separately, bringing the total county millage rate to 5.6768 mills.

Outcome: Without discussion, the board unanimously voted to approve setting the 2011 general operating millage rate. A final vote is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting. A public hearing on the millage rate will also be held at that time.

Urban County Annual Plan

Commissioners were asked to give initial approval to the Washtenaw Urban County annual plan from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. The plan must be submitted to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), outlining specific projects and programs that the Washtenaw Urban County will undertake with HUD funding from the federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, HOME grants and Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG).

The Urban County is a consortium of 11 local governments that receives federal funding for programs that serve low-income residents and neighborhoods.

The county is expected to receive $3,602,480 from these programs during the coming fiscal year. A $448,920 in-kind county match is required.

Outcome: The board voted unanimously to approve the Washtenaw Urban County annual plan. Final approval is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

Internal Auditor Contract

The board was asked to give initial approval to hire the professional services firm Experis (formerly known as Jefferson Wells) to perform internal auditing services for the county for five years. At its Dec. 1, 2010 meeting, commissioners had authorized the county administration to issue requests for proposals for these services. The county received 10 responses, and a review team narrowed the selection and held interviews with three firms. The team’s recommendation for Experis was unanimous, according to a staff report.

The total cost for internal audit work in 2011 is $87,500. It would include: (1) overall internal control review and risk assessment ($25,000); (2) more detailed internal control review for two county departments ($55,000); (3) establishing a fraud hotline ($7,500); and (4) eight hours of internal control training for county staff (no charge).

Internal Audit: Commissioner Discussion

Barbara Bergman began by saying she had a lot of questions about this item. She felt that $7,500 for setting up a fraud hotline was expensive, since there were already other ways to get information about potential fraud. She referenced the “great WCHO fraud” of 18 months ago, and said a fraud hotline wouldn’t have caught the person – she added that she wasn’t going to describe what happened, because she didn’t want to give directions for someone to repeat it.

Bergman also noted that the county has received awards for its audits. And in the context of their budget situation, the amount they’re being asked to spend each year – $87,500 – would pay for two mid-level employees, she said. The internal audit seems too generalized, and she didn’t understand the motivation for doing it.

Conan Smith said he shared Bergman’s concerns, but wondered if they could insert a one-year-out clause into the contract, which would allow them to assess performance after a year and end the contract if it wasn’t worth the expense. County administrator Verna McDaniel said they could negotiate that into the contract.

C. Smith said they might also find weak internal controls that, if modified, would result in savings to the county. He thought it was appropriate to test the process at least for a year.

Wes Prater pointed out that the county’s auditors, Rehmann, state in their letter of engagement that they aren’t doing an internal audit. They offer the county the option of hiring them to do an internal audit, he said, but he didn’t think it was appropriate to have the same firm do both jobs.

Rob Turner clarified that the cost was $87,500 per year, not the total for the five-year period.

Yousef Rabhi also felt uncomfortable with the amount, though he did like the idea of a fraud hotline. He noted that the staff memo indicated part of the work would be to assess the “tone at the top.” What did that mean? he asked. Pete Collinson, the county’s accounting manager, explained that of the different aspects of internal controls, the most important one is the “control environment” – that is, is an organization ethical? Are the board and top administrators committed to ethical values? Setting that tone has an important impact on the rest of the organization, he said.

Rolland Sizemore Jr. said he wasn’t at all happy about this contract – spending about $400,000 over five years to have someone come in and tell them how to run their business. He said he keeps asking the same thing – did staff check with other counties, to find out what peer organizations are doing?

Kelly Belknap, interim deputy administrator, told Sizemore that she knew the finance departments at some counties had their own internal control staff – Washtenaw County previously had staff do that, she said, but the task had been eliminated over the years due to budget cuts. She said she hadn’t called other counties to see how they handled internal audits.

Commissioners Kristin Judge and Rolland Sizemore Jr.

Sizemore said if the staff couldn’t pick up the phone and call other counties, “then I’ve got a major problem with that.” He said he’d support it initially, but he hoped the administration would return with some comparative information before the board’s final vote. Belknap said they’d make some calls.

Bergman asked again about the fraud hotline. What was the $7,500 buying? Sizemore said he didn’t know why they needed an outside firm to set up a hotline, when the county already had an IT (information technology) staff.

Belknap said it was a trust issue – the hotline is intended to be anonymous, but if a county department sets it up, employees might doubt that they can truly keep their identity secure. However, Sizemore elicited from Belknap that finance department staff would be checking the messages. So how did that ensure trust and anonymity? he asked.

Sizemore also objected to the fact that no one from Experis had bothered to come to the meeting, yet they wanted over $400,000 from the county.

Rabhi clarified that Collinson had been the staff member who previously did internal audits as part of his job, but Belknap said that even then the county didn’t have the resources to do audits at the same level as Experis could. Rabhi said it hurt him a little that they were hiring an outside agency for something that had been done in-house.

Belknap noted that staff issued the RFP at the request of the board. They were asked to look into this as an option, and they did the best they could, she said – even negotiating for a lower price than was originally proposed.

Wes Prater said he hoped they’d approve the contract. He reminded commissioners that a county employee had embezzled about $1 million over 16 years. He hoped the internal audit wouldn’t uncover anything, but the board is responsible for financial oversight.

Ronnie Peterson said he shared Sizemore’s concerns, and wanted more comparative information. Overwhelmingly the county’s employees are loyal and devoted, he said, but things happen. He suggested that employees could be trained to do the internal audits in the future.

Bergman proposed an amendment that called for a one-year contract, rather than the originally proposed five-year period. Prater objected, preferring C. Smith’s suggestion of negotiating an opt-out clause after a year.

Outcome: The amendment passed, with dissent from Wes Prater and Alicia Ping.

Outcome on full resolution: Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution as amended to shorten the contract to one year, with the possibility of extending the contract over additional years. A final vote is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

Cyber Crime Prevention Grant

On the agenda was an item for initial approval to apply for a federal Dept. of Justice grant worth nearly $500,000 to support the Washtenaw County Cyber Citizenship Coalition (WC4), a community‐policing model focused on preventing cyber crime.

The grant would support the hiring of a senior management analyst, with the goal of creating and distributing the WC4 “best-practice toolkit” to other communities nationwide. The funding would also help develop a pilot program that would be set up to respond to cyber crime complaints. Similar to 911, it would be a single number that could be called if someone falls victim to a cyber crime. WC4 is working with the FBI Cyber Division in Washington, D.C. and the Southeast Michigan United Way 211 program on this initiative.

Outcome: Without comment, commissioners approved the grant application to support the work of WC4. Final approval is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

Later in the meeting, Rolland Sizemore Jr. commended Kristin Judge for spearheading the WC4 initiative – she received a round of applause from the board. Judge reported that Gov. Rick Snyder has asked the coalition to host with him a statewide “cyber summit” later this year. She said it doesn’t hurt that David Behen – Washtenaw County’s former deputy administrator – is now in Lansing. [Behen is the state's chief information officer.]

Weatherization, IT Collaboration, Veterans Affairs Director

Commissioners gave final approval to several items that were initially approved at its May 4 meeting.

The board voted to accept funding from a U.S. Dept. of Energy weatherization assistance program that would provide $241,863 in federal dollars to the county. Administered by the county’s Employment Training and Community Services (ETCS) department, the funding would help weatherize 31 properties for eligible residents – homeowners or renters with a family income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level ($45,088 for a family of four).

The hiring of Michael G. Smith, Jr. as the county’s veteran services director, effective May 23, 2011, was also given final approval.

Also approved on May 18 was an interagency agreement with the city of Ann Arbor and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA), allowing the two entities to collaborate with the county on technology services. [.pdf file of draft interagency agreement] The agreement includes an extension, through 2015, of the contract for a network manager job that’s shared between the county and city. That contract, first signed in 2008, expires in June of 2011. The two entities save about $81,577 annually because of the shared position. The board also gave final approval to share costs with the city for a deal with the firm EMC, paying for storage area network and backup services.

Misc. Communications, Public Commentary

Some commissioners made reports during the time available for communications from the board.

Kristin Judge highlighted a letter they’d received from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Michigan Council 25, asking for a letter from the board opposing state House bill 4059. The bill would limit the times when labor could meet with county administration, which AFSCME felt should be a decision for local officials to make. [.pdf of AFSCME letter to the board]

Judge told her fellow commissioners that she planned to bring a resolution to an upcoming meeting, to support AFSCME on this issue.

Barbara Bergman passed out brochures with information on the Regional Alliance for Health Foods, noting that the Washtenaw Community Health Organization (WCHO) is participating in the program. The school-based health centers provide services to Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ypsilanti Public Schools and the Willow Run Community Schools.

Misc. Public Commentary

Thomas Partridge spoke during the evening’s six opportunities for public commentary, including the two public hearings reported above, for a total of 26 minutes. During his four other public commentary times, Partridge pressed two primary themes: (1) criticism over the county’s handling of the Packard Square and LaFontaine Chevrolet brownfield projects; and (2) the need for better representation by elected officials at all levels.

He called for the support of a recall effort against Gov. Rick Snyder, and noted that President Barack Obama has backed away from his commitment to the American people. Partridge said it’s incumbent upon everyone to make sure that there are competent candidates to contest elections at all levels.

Partridge also expressed concerns about the integrity of local law enforcement officials, and objected to the use of medical marijuana. He called for a countywide master plan to deal with controlled substances.

Commissioners Response to Public Commentary

Yousef Rabhi wanted to clarify that the brownfield plans had received scrutiny – a long process had occurred before they were brought to the board for approval. In addition, the board had discussed it at previous meetings – including a special working session the previous night, devoted to policy issues related to public-private partnerships, and to the Packard Square proposal. The resolution they had approved earlier that evening, he noted, was so that Packard Square developers could apply for a state grant – county money isn’t being given away.

Present: Barbara Levin Bergman, Kristin Judge, Ronnie Peterson, Alicia Ping, Wes Prater, Yousef Rabhi, Rolland Sizemore Jr., Conan Smith, Dan Smith, Rob Turner.

Absent: Leah Gunn

Next regular board meeting: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building, 220 N. Main St. The Ways & Means Committee meets first, followed immediately by the regular board meeting. [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 comment sessions are held at the beginning and end of each meeting.

The total cost for internal audit work in 2011 is $87,500. It would include: (1) overall internal control review and risk assessment; (2) more detailed internal control review for two county departments; (3) establishing a fraud hotline; and (4) eight hours of internal control training for county staff.

The contract was originally proposed for a five-year period. Several commissioners raised concerns about the expenditure to an outside firm, and the resolution was amended to shorten the contract to one year. Final approval is expected at the board’s June 1 meeting.

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.