Inside 208

  DETROIT, Michigan – A recent federal court decision regarding cable television regulation is a major victory for Detroit and possibly for many other Michigan communities down the road. U.S. District Judge David M. Lawson ruled on July 10 that the law regulating uniform franchising of cable television can be [...]

This afternoon the Senate passed House Bills 5566-5570, a package that amends the Emergency Municipal Loan Act to include school districts and amend the criteria for qualifying. The current statute does not allow school districts to qualify for emergency loans. The legislation allows school districts to qualify. In addition it [...]

This morning the Senate Energy and Technology Committee passed Senate Bills 1083 and 1084, bills that would create an exception to governmental immunity under the MISS-DIG Act. The committee-passed substitute for Senate Bill 1083 rewrites the MISS-DIG Act and creates a structure to incent municipalities to comply with the Act.  [...]

This morning the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on HB 5466, a bill that prohibits a pubilc entity from requiring a contractor to defend the public entity or any other party from liability claims. The bill would prohibit an indemnification agreement between a public entity and a contractor for an [...]

This morning the Senate Appropriations Committee passed House Bills 5566-5570, a package that amends the Emergency Municipal Loan Act to include school districts and amend the criteria for qualifying. The current statute does not allow school districts to qualify for emergency loans. The legislation allows school districts to qualify. In [...]

This afternoon, the House Appropriations committee is taking testimony on two bills which deal with providing locals pension flexibility. The bills are HBs 5725 and 5726. HB 5726 (Rep. Opsommer, DeWitt) would allow bonding when communities switch from defined benefit to defined contribution, so communities could help smooth transition costs. A nearly identical [...]

The Michigan Municipal League has submitted a comment letter to the State Transportation Commission (STC) regarding the Draft Complete Streets Policy. The League received member feedback which was used to provide suggestions to the STC on ways to strengthen the Complete Streets Policy. The letter that was submitted can be viewed here: MML CS [...]

SAULT STE. MARIE, Michigan – Last week Travel Michigan/MEDC held a strategic planning work session in Sault Ste. Marie–one of many being held across the state this summer. Fueled by the success of the Pure Michigan campaign, the updated strategic plan will extend five years to 2017. The vision statement [...]

On Wednesday, July 18 the Senate Energy & Technology Committee is holding a hearing Senate Bills 1083 and 1084, bills that would create an exception for governmental immunity for a municipal corporation with respect to its obligations under the MISS-DIG Act. The bills as introduced are basically obsolete as we [...]

If you were out enjoying the weather over the last couple of months, chances are you were met by someone carrying any number of clipboards tryng to get you to sign a petition to place a issue on the November ballot.  And the clipboard holders wound up being very successful. [...]