City Council Cook

Shiawassee In Motion 1.0

2012-02-21T17:06:00.006-05:00

Leadership can come from government, but more likely the initiative, commitment, and team effort that defines community leadership comes from citizens and the groups they are a part of. We have seen that in Owosso around the creation of a dog park, historic preservation of downtown, several community actions to promote bicycling, and many other initiatives (click on links to learn some of the specifics). Local government can play a role in convening citizen groups, adopting plans and policies to provide guidance, and by employing certain tools (ordinances, financing, grants) for community change. However, the leadership typically comes from residents with a passion for a cause, local organizations with the capacity to carry out a mission, and from change agents young and old, wise or brash.

Sub-Regional Planning is perhaps the most recent, comprehensive effort to coalesce leadership for community improvement. Championed by the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce and using the expertise of the the Land Policy Institute of Michigan State University, a group of citizens and leaders from throughout Shiawassee County have been meeting for the last year to learn more about our changing economy, to identify the assets and challenges of our County, and to develop a plan to guide local actions and advocacy. While governments, including the City of Owosso, were involved in this work, it was largely driven by leaders of local organizations and businesses and by interested and engaged citizens. As such, the final plan, entitled Shiawassee In Motion 1.0, is a well-articulated, and informed, statement of community desires.

Shiawassee In Motion 1.0 identifies six focus areas for action and lists several potential initiatives that can be undertaken by the public and/or private sector working in conjunction with local citizens. The focus areas are:

Improve Collaboration, Cooperation and Communication between Governments. This has been a goal of several of us on the Owosso City Council and this plan may open up avenues by which we might work with our neighbors and other local governments in Shiawassee County. We need to find ways to better, and more cost-effectively, provide municipal services, spur economic growth, and improve the quality of life for all residents of the County. The first step is the proposed creation of a Shiawassee Intergovernmental Collaborative to bring cities, villages, townships, and County government together.
Assist, Accelerate, and Attract Business and Support Innovation and Entrepreneurs. This goal builds on the work of the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership (SEDP) and the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce. Our educational institutions, including Baker College, will also be involved in this effort. An initial goal is to build one or more business incubators in Owosso and other cities.
Support, Develop, and Leverage our Green Infrastructure. Our natural resources, working agricultural lands, and several rivers form the basis of our green infrastructure that we as a community should use to promote recreation and a higher quality of life, build on our historic--but ever-evolving-- agricultural economy, and help define us a place. The City of Owosso has taken a first step by convening local governments to see where we might collaborate on parks and recreation.
Talent Creation and Retention is key to the New Economy of the 21st Century. We have strong schools, but we need to add components that help students develop technical and other career-related skills. Early childhood education is an important component.
Placemaking also helps recruit and retain talented individuals of all ages, but particular attention need to be paid to creating a place that appeals to those in their 20s and those starting young families. Specific placemaking initiatives include strengthening arts and entertainment opportunities, celebrating our train history to promote tourism, expanding mobility options not based on the automobile, and building youth activity centers including aquatic recreation facilities.
Market, Brand, and Promote the County as a Region with one Voice. Several participants in the process repeatedly identified the need for all of us in Shiawassee County to speak with a unified voice and to work with one another, and not against each other. A first step is to expand the role of the Shiawassee Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Owosso , other communities, and the County as a whole need to position themselves to take advantage of the New Economy that depends on talent, innovation, a global perspective, and entrepreneurialism. Mark Wyckoff, the planning guru from the Land Policy Institute, congratulated the citizen leaders of Shiawassee County on the cooperation and foresight shown by being just the fourth region in the state to adopt such a community-based plan. He noted our many assets, from the Shiawassee River to strong educational institutions, and stated that we as a community need to be forward thinking, welcoming of newcomers and talented immigrants, commit to lifelong learning, and create interesting places in which to live, work, and play.

As a local elected official, I feel compelled to read and respond to the recommendations of our citizens and community activists. This is where we will find leadership for, and to, the future. You to need to be involved. Call the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce (989-725-1621) to get a copy of the plan and to volunteer to be a part of moving our community forward. More information also at www.shiawassee.chamber.org

Disclosure: the planning process that led to the creation of Shiawassee In Motion 1.o was funded by the Cook Family Foundation, my employer.

Older Housing and Regulation

2012-02-02T07:52:00.019-05:00

One of Owosso's defining features are the unique older homes that make up its neighbor-hoods. In many cases, these historic homes grace our streets and provide a wide range of housing opportunities, from restored Victorian single-family homes to affordable multi-family rentals. Unfortunately, a few of the older houses in our community have not been well-maintained, and these homes have become eyesores in the neighborhood and endanger the health and safety of their occupants. The challenge to the City of Owosso is how to prevent houses and apartments from becoming blighted. In doing so, local government must work with private property owners and establish an effective partnership with the housing industry (real estate agents, contractors, investors and financers) who of course are the engines for the rehabilitation and maintenance of housing in our community. A year and a half ago, the City Council held a special session to discuss housing (see summary here).

Aging Housing Stock. About three-quarters of the housing units in Owosso are more than 50 years old, which makes Owosso's housing stock much more like urban areas in Michigan than the rural areas and subdivisions surrounding the City (52% of the houses in Shiawassee County were built since 1960, while only 28% of Owosso's housing is less than 5o years old). Older homes go through changes as owners make repairs and upgrades, repaint, and remodel; sometimes they convert owner-occupied single-family homes to one or more rental units , or vice-versa. The role of buildings change as they age. However, older housing if not maintained begins to decay, and if electrical or plumbing systems fail, or if roof and windows begin to leak, the integrity of the structure can be compromised and the home can become dangerous or uninhabitable. Sadly, in recent years several homes in Owosso have become so dilapidated that they had to be demolished, a cost born by taxpayers and/or property owners.

Property Values. With care and attention, Owosso's older homes become historic points of pride; with uninterrupted time and neglect they become a blight on our neighborhoods. Because of Owosso's traditional town design of homes sitting forward on small lots along narrow streets, it is hard to ignore a residential structure at either extreme of condition. A recently renovated, or even painted, house can make a neighborhood look better and inspire property owners to make similar upgrades. Alternatively, a decaying house creates an atmosphere of decline that can make other homes look sad and may deter a homeowner from making new investments.

The property value of any particular home reflects, in part, the quality of homes surrounding it. Thus, many existing homeowners seek both formal and informal opportunities to urge neighbors to maintain their properties. City-administered building codes, nuisance laws, and zoning rules are among the ways that the community seeks to maintain housing quality. With the majority of homes owner-occupied in Owosso, it should be no surprise a very large majority of people in a recent survey feel that the City should take a strong position on enforcing regulations which seek to maintain the the housing stock.

Weak Housing Market contributes to our housing problems. The financial crisis of 2008-09 devastated the housing market locally and nationally, and we continue to see the results of that collapse of home prices: slow sales, a high number of foreclosures, a cautious mortgage market, and thus difficulties for those wishing to sell or buy homes. In Owosso, the collapse of the housing market is immediately apparent in three ways:

Decreased property values resulting in a decline in tax revenues for the City (see this earlier blog post for a description of that problem);
An increase in demand for rental properties, as people with less income and/or financing challenges are not able to buy;
Decaying older homes as foreclosed or for-sale homes sit vacant and time and neglect takes it toll.

The best remedy for these housing challenges would be an economic recovery and a stronger housing market. However, without such a recovery (and predictions that sustained and strong growth is several years away), the City must take action in an attempt to preserve Owosso's housing stock and ensure that neighborhoods maintain some stability.

Two Regulatory Efforts. Over the last two years, the City of Owosso has taken several steps to seek to maintain housing quality. First has been an effort to inspect rental homes to ensure they meet health and safety standards. This protects the occupants from living in homes that lack a furnace, that have electrical or other fire hazards, or where there are not two effective ways to exit an apartment (these and other code violations have all been discovered--and corrected--through inspections). Code enforcement also helps maintain the appearance and quality of homes for the benefit of the neighborhood and the long-term viability of our housing stock.

The second, more recent effort, is an attempt to deal with the many vacant, foreclosed, and sometimes abandoned houses in Owosso. A proposed ordinance, modeled on one in place in more than 50 cities in Michigan and elsewhere, would require that any foreclosed property that becomes vacant, or any home vacant for more than 180 days, be registered with the City. This enables that City to know who the owner of record is on a property, something that can be difficult when a house is foreclosed and changes hands several times between banks, investors, and homeowners. This allows the City to more effectively enforce ordinances that require lawns to be mowed and trash and other nuisances removed, as well as contact an owner when a home has been vandalized or may present a hazard to the neighborhood (on one bank-owned home the fence around a pool with water had fallen down). It is important to note that this registration, which carries with a $100 annual fee, is not imposed on homeowners who are in foreclosure, but on the institution or investor that comes into ownership of vacant property.

The proposed ordinance would also require that some form of home inspection take place before a vacant, foreclosed property is re-occupied. After sitting vacant as the foreclosure process plays out (an owner typically has six months to redeem a foreclosed home), many of these homes have suffered from the elements, decay which may result in mold, or vandalism of wiring, appliances, or plumbing. The inspection requirement helps a potential buyer know what they are getting into, and deters unscrupulous (or uninformed) speculators from buying, and then reselling, substandard property.

Working with the Private Sector. Some in the real estate industry have criticized the City for pursuing these modest regulatory approaches. They rightly point out that the private market very effectively provides a wide range of housing for residents of diverse incomes, family size, and residential need. They also point out that most real estate agents, investors and contractors live in our community and have a self-interest in improving the quality of our neighborhoods. However, the City has an important role to play in ensuring that all those in the housing industry interact fairly and not take advantage of the situation of depressed home prices and financially stressed residents. Housing is a capital good, and economic theory says there are two ways to make money off capital: 1) invest in it so that it produces income over time either through rents or future resale; or 2) exploit the the resource by taking income for a short period until the capital (i.e. the real estate) is run down. The existing residents of Owosso have a legitimate role in trying to push the housing market more to the former rather than the latter.

Keys to Success. The City of Owosso seeks to establish a partnership with the local housing industry to ensure that the housing available to our residents is safe, and to protect and promote the character of our neighborhoods. There are three keys to establishing such a successful partnership:

Clear rules so that everyone involved with housing--owners and sellers, landlords and tenants, and investors, real estate agents, and contractors--knows what to expect when doing business in Owosso. This also helps avoids anyone being taken by surprise or from any party taking advantage of another.
Professional Staff to be knowledgeable and available to work with all segments of the real estate industry and housing consumers. Recently, the City has hired a full-time building official to enforce housing codes (among other duties) and serve as resource person. He joins a professional planner and an experienced housing program staff. Finally, the City has used community policing grant funds to augment its public safety staff who also works to ensure that housing is safe and resident behavior legal.
Partnership depends on helping the private sector best serve the public good. Regulatory tools are the most easy for most local governments to reach for, but Owosso has been cautious in enacting ordinances, careful in applying them, and always open to feedback from residents and the real estate industry in how best to apply them. The other tools available to government are financial, and the City has received some State funds to operate programs to assist homeowners rehabilitate their homes and investors develop downtown housing. Hopefully, we can look for other useful tools to help rebuild Owosso.

The residents of Owosso have strongly voiced their concern about maintaining the quality of housing in our community and making our neighborhoods safe and desirable places to live. To achieve this objective, we rely on the private housing market. The City has a responsibility to prevent the worst abuses and excesses in the housing market. It also has a role in working with those members of the housing industry that share the goals of the community in making Owosso a great place to live for all its residents.

Social Media, Social Capital

2011-11-27T18:08:00.018-05:00

Is the internet good for society? For those of us who work to build up a particular place, should we be online or on the streets? Owosso has a new online social network designed to specifically strengthen community, and it seems off to a promising start.

Social Capital. Owosso, like most small towns, works as a community because of the many personal connections and relationships that underlie almost any business, governmental, or nonprofit endeavor. Things happen because people trust one another, or at least they know one another, and thus they know who to call on when they want to get something done. This basic aspect of community has been called "social capital." And just as a place can be evaluated by its economic capital (i.e. monetary wealth) and physical capital (i.e. buildings and infrastructure), we can measure the health of a community by the number and strength of personal connections that exist.

Historically, Owosso's social capital was built almost exclusively on personal encounters that occurred in coffee shops, on downtown sidewalks, and across backyard fences. Read Thomas Mallon's excellent novel "Dewey Defeats Truman," set in Owosso in 1948, to get a feel for how the casual gatherings in peoples homes, face-to-face business transactions, and political rallies in front of City Hall all helped citizens make new connections or deepen existing relationships. Today, we still run into one another in the supermarket parking lot, but people seem so busy and self-absorbed that sometimes weeks go by before I run into certain colleagues or friends.

Electronic Media: Good or Bad? Is the celphone, email, and the World Wide Web to blame for us being isolated from one another? Robert Putnam wrote a book called "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that noted the decline in social capital. The title comes from the odd statistical fact that the number of people who go bowling has increased over the last several decades, but the number of people who bowl in leagues has declined. His book recounts how the number of, and participation in, service clubs, organized social functions, and civic events have decreased. Our social capital seems to be eroding.

Among several causes he identifies, one is the rise in electronic communication avenues. He writes, "No sector of American society will have more influence on the future state of our social capital than the electronic mass media and especially the internet." He is not alone in decrying the potential isolating forces of the personal computer. We have a vision of the reclusive geek surfing, alone, through the waves of information and images provided by the internet. Of course, it does put limitless knowledge and worldwide connections on our desktop and now on our smartphones. But, as we participate in chat rooms about our favorite TV shows (or whatever), or conduct business in Asia (or wherever), are we losing connection with our neighbors? Do we know more about what is going on with Grammy Awards (the #1 trending issue on Twitter as I write) than we do with our own community?

CommonPlace. A new effort to use the internet to help people in a place-based community connect with one another has been started by some socially-minded entrepreneurs. Called CommonPlace (you can find our local version at www.ourcommonplace.com/OwossoCorunna), this initiative is now underway in several communities in the US to provide an internet tool for local residents and organizations to share information. Interactions include postings about lost dogs, parade announcements, new business openings, and formation of a community flute choir. Participants have used the service to find someone to practice sign language with, get rid of old equipment, and raise donations for a food pantry.

The idea is to replicate online the social sharing that occurs person-to-person in a community where people see one another regularly. "CommonPlace is designed to encourage users to engage with their neighbors," says organizer Heather Rivard, an Owosso native who returned home after graduating from college and took on the job of initiating this service. CommonPlace financially supported her work along with that of another community organizer. They have in 10 weeks worked signed up more than 900 participants.

Avoiding the Flames. CommonPlace is not unlike other social networks such as Facebook, the comment section of the online newspaper, or email services in that it provides a forum for sharing of information and events. However, it has avoided the negative comments, personal attacks, and rumor-mongering that sometimes dominates online systems. A positive tone has been maintained due to monitoring of posts, the clear delineation of the various forums on CommonPlace, and by limiting users to actual residents of Owosso and Corunna. One is required to provide a street address to sign up, although it is never listed online. This not only diminishes spam and other internet junk, it helps neighborhood posts to be targeted to geographically defined areas.

Social Media and Civic Life. CommonPlace serves primarily to connect neighbors to neighbors, using electronic rather than face-to-face communication. As a City Council representative, I have used it as another platform to provide information to constituents. For more than two years I have been providing a bi-weekly email to several hundred people with news from every Council meeting (if you would like to receive these updates you can sign up here). I have started to post a copy of this update on CommonPlace as a way to further dialogue. It is unclear yet whether this is reaching a new audience or otherwise facilitating the civic life in Owosso.

The City of Owosso, like other local governments, is trying to use the internet and social media as a way to engage citizens. With a limited budget, the City has yet to re-design its official website, but it still provides a static way to disseminate information. Recently, the City established a Facebook presence, something our neighbor Corunna has successfully promoted. In addition, Owosso has made use of online survey tools to garner citizen opinion on street light designs, park improvements, and the updating of its Master Plan. Still, a recent broad survey using both online and hard-copy options discovered that most residents still prefer something they can touch and write on as a way to exchange information and opinions.

Social Media, Social Capital. CommonPlace seems to be an interesting and positive step forward in building social capital in our community. If you have not joined, I would urge you to do so. If you do belong, then you need to not only read the daily updates that are sent out, but also post news, ask questions, or otherwise create opportunities for interaction. The internet is a tool, and it can be used for good or ill, but if it is not used to build community connections it will isolate us further. "Using social media without changing how we think about social change will create only more noise," says Allison Fine in her book "Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age." Interestingly, this 2005 book does not mention Facebook, a sign that the electronic landscape changes rapidly around us.

Recommendations for using social media to build social capital:

1. Get online, but use the tools that work for you. CommonPlace is intriguing, but you may find Facebook, Twitter, or other tools a great way to get connected. Don't feel it necessary to use them all, but try something out.

2. Use social media to reinforce, not replace personal interactions. It's extremely efficient to share information online, but take advantage of the tool to say thank you for the coffee just shared, or to post photos from a community gathering, or to organize another face-to-face meeting.

3. Be nice, be responsible. It seems that the disembodied voice a keyboard provides encourages people to say/write/post some mean things. Likewise, sometimes we are quick to read into someone else's 140 character a bad intention that may not be there. Don't type out anything you wouldn't say in person to someone, and seek to clarify what others say before you react. Realize whatever you write online can show up somewhere other than you may have intended. Be transparent.

4. Invite others to join in. A frequent criticism of small towns is that while friendly at first, they are not always open to those who didn't grow up in the place. Social media can be a good way to reach out and create groups and gatherings that are welcoming to newcomers.

Books Mentioned:

Thomas Mallon, "Dewey Defeats Truman"

Robert Putnam, "Bowling Alone"

Allison Fine "Momentum"

Stay the Course: Four for City Council

2011-10-16T10:21:00.012-04:00

City Council of Owosso accepts recognition as a "Tree City."

Left to right: Gary Martenis, DNR rep, Mayor Ben Frederick, Tom Cook, Joni Forster, Cindy Popovitch, and Chris Eveleth.

On November 8, voters in Owosso will conduct a performance review of City government. If they like the work being done, they will return Ben Frederick and Chris Eveleth to the City Council. I believe we should stay the course of progress that has been set the past two years. In addition, two newcomers will be added to the Council. Personally, I know Lori Bailey and Richard Crutts well and I believe they will be effective additions to local government. Other candidates bring other strengths and I believe they have good intentions in running for City Council; I pledge to work with whomever is elected.

Much has been accomplished in the last two years since the last election, and I believe Owosso can make further improvements if we continue with the policies and programs now underway. Owosso's unique City Charter allows for a majority turnover in the Council, as occurred in 2010. The top three vote-getters in the election (Cindy Popovitch, Mike Erfourth and myself in 2010) are elected to four year terms (and thus we are not up for election at this time); the fourth place finisher (Chris Eveleth) is elected to a two-year term, and must run for re-election again. By having an election every two years, voters are able to create change, but the staggered terms also provide for a continuity in experience. I would argue that the experience that Ben Frederick and Chris Eveleth have gained is too valuable to lose from the City at this time of fiscal challenges and growth opportunity.

Here are five important accomplishments of the last two years:

New City Manager and Community Development Director. The City Council sets policies, adopts a budget, and passes local ordinances; it is the City Manager's responsibility to run local government. Hiring a City Manager is arguably the most important decision a Council makes, and I believe the current Council carried out both a responsible process and made an excellent decision in hiring Don Crawford. In turn, Don hired Adam Zettel, a professional city planner. Along with several other existing talented staff, they have made much progress in improved budgeting, cost-cutting and fiscal management, and development of Owosso. Importantly, the Council has been clear in setting goals for the work of the City Manager and for the first time in my knowledge, has incorporated these goals into the performance evaluation of his work.
Economic Development has been the top priority of the City Council, and continuing this direction is probably the best reason to stay the course. Early on we adopted a new policy on tax abatements that has not only supported new economic development (e.g. the expansion of Machine Tool & Gear, the renovation of the old Owosso Dry Cleaners as a home for a new employer), it has ensured that the policy is carried out equitably, and with an emphasis on the creation of good-paying jobs; existing companies and those who hire local people also get extra incentives. In addition, the City has built a strong working relationship with the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership.
Housing Improvement has been a personal point of emphasis for Mayor Frederick, and the Council has supported his initiatives to continue with the registering and inspection of rental housing. In addition, the City has secured several state/federal grant and loan programs to support housing rehabilitation. These efforts both improve the quality of life for those who live in our community and help protect neighborhood property values. Given foreclosures and the poor economy, much more work needs to be done; we need to not only stay the course, but also expand our partnerships with property owners.
Downtown Development was begun several years ago with the receipt of several grants, but the current City Council has continued to emphasize downtown improvements. Most notably, the Council adopted a historic district in the downtown and this has financially aided the redevelopment and expansion of several downtown businesses (for example, Freddie's and Hankerd's Sportwear). Importantly, the historic district has enabled the rehabilitation of the Lebowsky Center. One of the reasons I ran two years ago was because the previous Council was antagonistic to this effort (Mike Cline, currently running for office, called for its demolition). The creation of the new Shiawassee Performing Arts Center is not yet complete, and its important to have a supportive Council. Both Ben (Owosso Community Players) and Chris (Main Street Glow Parade) have volunteered their personal time to promote downtown.
Parks and Recreation are still a significant need in Owosso, and our financial picture has slowed progress. But for the first time in some years, the City has actually appropriated funds to match volunteer efforts to make capital improvements we will see in the spring (Kiwanis baseball fields and Bentley Park). In addition, the update of the City's Parks Plan as a step in the adoption of a new Master Plan has the potential to further enhance the quality of life in Owosso. The City Council will miss the advocacy that retiring councilmembers Gary Martenis and Joni Forster have brought to our parks; I hope the newly elected council members will carry on this work

There are several other accomplishments that I could cite, but the list above shows that the current Council has been a productive governing body. I believe it would be unfortunate to reverse course on any of these initiatives, and I am voting for the two incumbents on the Council to help ensure we continue to move forward in these areas.

Newcomers. In addition to Ben Frederick and Chris Eveleth, there are several other people running for the City Council. To me, it's important that the electorate choose two people with the experience and temperament to contribute to the current work of the City. Several of the candidates have served on the Council in the past, including Richard Crutts, who served during the Gregg Guetschow era, a time when several wise fiscal decisions were made. I personally know Dick and have confidence that he will serve with the best of intentions, be responsive to residents, and be open-minded in Council discussions. Of the newcomers, I worked with Lori Bailey when she was principal of Central School. She has a first-hand knowledge of the importance of Owosso as a place for families, and currently works doing small business promotion with the Chamber of Commerce. Both of these perspectives will be useful on the Council.

Cooperation and Leadership. Beyond the issues, the ability to get along with members of the public, City staff, and the other Councilmembers is a critical quality to consider when deciding whom to vote for. In our hyper-partisan political climate, we seem to think that our elected leaders should be at the head of protests, loudly pushing their ideology, and denigrating points of view that are not their own. Sadly, that attitude seems to creep into local government, even though City Council is a non-partisan office. The old-time small town rumor mill, and the new electronic forums of the internet, seem to feed off such controversy.

I think some members of the Owosso electorate perceive a lack of personal pyrotechnics as a sign of weak leadership or slow progress. But just because we are not calling each other names, or attacking City employees in public, does not mean that the current Council is not vigorously engaged in the issues. Attendance at a City Council meeting would reveal that we do not all agree with each other, and a close reading of Council minutes shows that our votes are often 5-2 or 4-3. However, we do not attack each other and while this leaves less for the media to cover, it does enable us to work together on the next issue, and the issue after that. It is important that the new members of the City Council contribute to such a positive working atmosphere.

A word about the leadership of our Mayor, Ben Frederick. The Mayor is elected to this post by the Council, and even though I was nominated for this post, I am happy that I voted for his selection as Mayor two years ago. Ben and I do not agree on all political issues, but we agree on the importance of effective local democracy. I have come to be quite impressed with his commitment and skill at having the Council work together, to honor the efforts of public servants, and to invite public participation. To achieve these aims, I have seen him subvert his own goals to support the common effort. Many times he could have grandstanded or obstructed the process to score political points; he has chosen instead to champion the democratic process. To me, this is the true definition of leadership: to bring together diverse points of view to work toward common goals.

For the reasons outline above, to continue the positive attitude of our local government, and to stay the course toward further economic growth in the City of Owosso, I am supporting Lori Bailey, Richard Crutts, Chris Eveleth and Ben Frederick for City Council on November 8.

I welcome your comments and your arguments in support of these or other candidates. Again, I am strong believer in the power of local democracy and am committed to working with whomever the electorate chooses to represent them.

Bike City

2011-06-20T11:36:00.005-04:00

To guide the work of the City of Owosso, the City Council has adopted goals for 2011-12. One of them is to make our community a Bike City: “Make Owosso a center for bicycle activity with new bike trails and other actions to promote biking in the community.” Bicycling is an important recreational activity that increases transportation options, improves the health of local residents, and makes our community a more attractive place to live for people of all ages.

On Friday, June 17, eighteen people gathered at Owosso City Hall to share information about current and potential initiatives to promote biking in the greater Owosso area. Although there may be other efforts also going on, twelve projects have been identified:

1. Bike Racks – the Design Committee of Owosso Main Street has identified eleven locations for new bike racks in downtown. These will have unique designs that replicate historic bicycles; they are being produced locally through Baker College. To learn more or be involved contact Dave Acton: dacton@chartermi.net

2. City of Owosso Master Plan – the City is in the process of putting together a new plan to guide development. It will reflect a recently adopted City Council resolution on Complete Streets, and will contain plans for new bike paths and routes, including a connection to the CIS Trail (see below), one end of which will be a few miles west of Owosso. In addition, the City is updating its Park and Recreation Plan. To provide input contact Community Development Director Adam Zettel at adam.zettel@ci.owosso.mi.us

3. The Live Healthy Coalition is a partnership of 14 organizations headed up by the Shiawassee Family Y, who is the recipient of a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal is to make policy, systems, and design changes to promote active lifestyles. For more information contact Dawn Reha at dreha@shiawasseeymca.org

4. SATA Bike Racks – the Shiawassee Area Transportation Agency has installed bike racks on the front of its busses and is now providing rides to those who want to bring a bike, either for short trips upon reaching their destination or to provide for a one-way bike trip. For more information contact sata@tir.com

5. Tuesday night bike rides leave from the Shiawassee Family Y at around 6:15. This is one of several informally organized community bicycling opportunities. For more information contact Rick Morris at houseofwheelsinc@gmail.com

6. Shiawassee CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau) is always looking to do more to promote tourism in Owosso and Shiawassee. They are looking into putting together a website to outline biking routes and otherwise promote organized and individual bike visits to the community. Contact Kim Springsdorf at kspringsdorf@shiawassee.org

7. CIS Trail (Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee) hopes to begin formal development next year on a trail that will run from just west of Owosso to Ionia through St. Johns. The right of way is secure and in conjunction with the Michigan DNR, Meijer Foundation, and others improvements will be made. Fundraising is currently underway with the receipt of a $15,000 grant from the DALMAC group. To become involved contact Avery Weaver at adweaver@charter.net

8. Mountain Biking at Collamer Park is being promoted with the development of trails and the recent hosting of the Curwood Fat Tire Race. For more information contact Jason Roka at rojas613@yahoo.com

9. The James Miner Trail continues to provide positive biking opportunities between Owosso and Corunna, though there is a need to improve and maintain the trail and provide better signage. To express your interest contact Owosso City Council member Joni Forster at joni.forster@ci.owosso.mi.us

10. BMX Park for bicycles is nearing completion by the City of Owosso along South Gould Street. Dirt is needed. Please contact Adam Zettel at adam.zettel@ci.owosso.mi.us

11. Share the Road signs are being offered through the Shiawassee-Owosso Kiwanis Club. This is part of an overall effort to provide education and support to bikers and drivers to respect the use of public roads by both forms of transportation. To seek a sign for installation contact Doug Cornell at mailto:doug@cornelltech.net

12. Owosso Bike Fest on August 14 brings a number of enthusiasts out to share their antique and specialty bicycles in the City parking lot in Westown (between Bradley and Cedar). For more information, contact Rick Morris at houseofwheelsinc@gmail.com

Shiawassee Bike City Network. It was agreed to establish an internet-based system to connect and inform bicycle supporters throughout the communities of Shiawassee County. Another meeting will be held in about six months to again share information. To become part of this network, or for more information, contact Owosso City Council member Tom Cook at citycouncilcook@gmail.com

Words Matter

2011-06-06T06:02:00.015-04:00

Talk may be cheap, but good communication supports healthy relationships in our families, effective workplaces, successful community organizations, and our democratic form of government. Sadly, when words are chosen poorly, or misused, or even abused, we all suffer.

When is it OK to call local officials criminals?

Recently, an online posting asked this question: "is destruction without vote to historic Owosso landmark a crime?" and went on to suggest that local officials acted illegally in allowing for the demolition of Holman Pool. Now, my purpose here is not to review the demise of this 50 year old recreational facility that was no longer financially viable to operate, maintain, or even renovate. Nor do I want to discuss the profound nature of a legal designation on the National Register of Historic Places (e.g Curwood Castle) and the unsupportable assertion that an old pool is such a landmark. Nor do I want to enter into a long explanation of the legislative role of the City Council versus the administrative role of the City Manager (the former is responsible for policy and budget, the latter for operations; in this case the budget clearly calls for pool demolition). Nor do I want to discredit any community member that has worked hard to provide for aquatic recreation in Owosso, for I hope they continue their efforts.

Rather, I want to make a point about public discourse in the process of government at all levels. Democracy depends on getting the best information, hearing the best policy proposals, and seeking the best solutions. Being open to public input, and allowing for public debate including vigorous argument, are essential to this process. I would go so far as to say that we need criticism, at least when founded on fact or an honest difference on policy direction. However, political debate at the national, state, and sadly even the local level has degenerated to name calling, the negative painting of an opponent's view, and harsh criticism of difficult decisions. Labeling someone a criminal (or a Communist, or a Nazi) is not likely to lead to reasonable debate and effective problem solving.

Complex Problems Require Trust to Resolve

It's not that such personal attacks sting, the issue of concern is what ad hominem arguments do to the ability of deliberative bodies to solve problems. Despite how the media and some political operatives behave, many of the problems facing representative government bodies cannot be reduced to a simple black-and-white, right-or-wrong definition. Issues like Holman Pool involve difficult fiscal decisions, regulatory requirements, and strong personal attachments. Other issues have unclear legal boundaries (e.g. medical marijuana) , or involve people's interpretation of their personal rights and responsibilities to neighbors (e.g. burning). Sorting through these complex issues requires a public body like the City Council to ask questions, try out potential solutions, and listen with an open-mind to various viewpoints. When someone has been calling you names, it is hard to engage in the give and take required to identify a solution that accommodates all points of view.

When faced with complex issues, as an elected official I have to trust that my fellow councilmembers, the media, and the public are willing to listen to a variety of ideas, fairly praise or criticize them, and suggest alternatives. However, solutions to complex problems tend to be complex as well, and opponents now quickly find a narrow angle of attack and exploit it. Take Holman Pool, rather than accepting the work of engineers and the careful recommendation of two different citizen committees headed up by a pool champion (Gary Martenis), opponents prefer to say the Council is anti-children and that City staff are engaging in illegal actions. Such attacks gain more comments on an online forum than a discussion of the decay of pipes or a cost-benefit analysis of aquatic recreation options, but they don't help democratic bodies make good decisions.

As an elected official criticized in this fashion, one can either fight back (and this makes you look combative and mean) or you can choose not to respond (and then appear snobbish or dismissive). What you would like to do is engage in a discussion, share some mutual education, and seek out common ground solutions. However, to do so, you have to trust you won't be attacked or called names. Without this trust, you can't communicate. If you can't communicate, you can't understand other viewpoints. If you can't understand, you can't change.

A Local, State, and National Problem

Perhaps I shouldn't complain, because the local attacks are minor compared to what occurs on the state and federal level. During the national health care debate, some opponents of the President's proposals were quick to label him a socialist, even though his plan depends on the private health care industry. It is valid to oppose to President Obama's initiative, but unfair and unhelpful to depict him as Adolph Hitler. Likewise at the state level, when Governor Rick Snyder supported new provisions to strengthen the role of Emergency Financial Managers he came under fierce personal attack. One law professor (!) even compared our popularly elected Governor with the despot King George III. Maybe such attacks garner media attention and campaign donations (or why else do they persist?), but it sure makes it hard for differing political parties to come together on the next difficult policy issues (witness the current name-calling and fear-mongering on Medicare reform).

Words Matter

Perhaps our democratic system is broken, though I hope not. Perhaps people feel so disenfranchised that they feel they have nothing to lose, or can't get any attention, unless they resort to screaming, derogatory personal comments, or outrageous claims. Fortunately, my experience in Owosso is that most people want to trust one another, find the good, and support solutions to the problems facing the community. However, one or two misplaced words can turn a conversation into an argument, corrode public trust, and lead to democratic paralysis. On the other hand, starting conversations with a question, listening to the full answer, and saying a few words of respect or even kindness can strengthen the relationships we all depend on.

Tree City

2011-05-03T07:30:00.005-04:00

If we make Owosso a pleasant place to live, we will attract talented entrepreneurs, retain engaged families, and spur investments in both homes and businesses. Quality of life is a key economic development strategy for the future of our community. And perhaps nothing says quality of life for a community than trees. Last year, we took steps to have Owosso designated a Tree City, USA and we were just recognized with this award for the second year.

On Saturday, April 30, Arbor Day was recognized in Owosso with the planting of a white swamp oak tree on the banks of the Shiawassee River (if you look closely in this picture you can see Mayor Ben Frederick working with kids to complete the planting of this native species after he read the Arbor Day proclamation). This ceremony kicked off the second annual Green Up Clean Up organized by the Owosso Main Street program and the Friends of the Shiawassee River. This year, flowers were planted downtown, trash was picked up along the James Miner Walkway, and other community improvements were undertaken. In addition, a number of trees were planted along the Loop Trail, including several catalpa trees grown from seeds from the champion catalpa on the grounds of the State Capitol in Lansing. Catalpas are a large leaf southern tree, but Owosso is within the northern range of this species. The Shiawassee River environment is home to an overlap of southern trees like the catalpa, sycamore and Kentucky coffee tree along with northern species such as white pine and hemlock.

In addition to being pleasant to look at, trees provide several tangible benefits:

1. They reduce cooling costs by providing shade;

2. They filter pollutants from the air and help moderate climate change;

3. They prevent erosion and help keep the Shiawassee River cool;

4. They provide important habitat for birds and other wildlife.

All of these benefits add up to a better quality of life in our community. One of the goals of the City is to make Owosso a green community and trees play a large part in this effort. To become a Tree City USA, Owosso meets four requirements: it has a City Arborist with knowledge of tree care, it has a tree care ordinance, engages in a systematic tree planting program, and recognizes Arbor Day annually.

Look at Owosso from the air (or on Google Earth) and our city's residential areas look forested. Tree lined streets with sidewalks and historic homes are a large part of the character of Owosso that continues to attract and retain those people who will contribute to our economic future. Being a Tree City is not a costly investment for the City, but it is an important statement about the values we hold. John Rosenow, founder of the Arbor Day Foundation said "we commend Owosso's elected officials, volunteers and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest. We applaud communities that make planting and caring of trees a top priority."

The State Budget and Owosso

2011-03-01T13:38:00.009-05:00

As Michigan crawls its way out of the recession, the State faces difficult budget decisions. Owosso too is trying to find its way forward economically, and how the details of the State's budget are worked out could make our community a partner in--or a victim of--the State's recovery plan. Governor Rick Snyder proposes a major overhaul of fiscal planning at the State level, and several weeks ago introduced his new budget. Job growth is his primary goal, and to achieve this objective he proposes major cuts and restructuring of taxes on businesses. He also proposes significant reductions in several areas of State expenditures. According to the official budget document (click here), "the financial models of our state and local governments are unsustainable. Service duplication, debt, public employee compensation and unfunded retirement obligations are impacting the long-term fiscal health of state and local governments. Governor Snyder believes Michigan and its public institutions must correct course, stop spending money they don’t have, and implement pragmatic solutions to the economic and fiscal problems that exist." How will this budget effect Owosso?

Revenue Sharing. First and foremost to the City of Owosso, the Governor proposes a reduction in statutory revenue sharing. If approved by the Legislature, this will result in about a $461,000 cut in the City's revenues (which were budgetted at $6.7 million for this year). Untouched, because it is written into the State Constitution, is over $1 million in state aid the City receives. Revenue sharing was implemented to compensate local governments for not imposing local sales taxes. In other states, many cities have their own sales tax or receive a set percentage of sales tax revenues. In Michigan, statutory revenue sharing favors older cities with higher populations of lower-income residents.

For Owosso to weather the (estimated) seven percent (7.0%) cut in its revenues, it will likely be necessary to reduce labor costs, either through the elimination of positions or the reduction in pay and benefits. Governor Snyder's budget message suggests that the benefits municipal workers, as a whole statewide, receive are out of line with the private sector. While City spending on infrastructure improvements like sidewalks are sometimes identified as a source for budget cuts, these have generally paid for through state or federal grants, or specific local assessments. The City's unrestricted revenues are mostly dedicated to labor costs. There is little else to cut in the City's budget.

The Governor has proposed to restore in the State budget about two-thirds of the statutory revenue sharing, but distribute the funds through a new incentive program that would reward cities and townships for "best practices" which may include funding for regional cooperation. The specific details of this program have not yet been announced, nor is it clear whether local governments will be rewarded for existing, or future, best practices. The details of this program will determine how big a financial hit the City of Owosso takes. If we are recognized for existing regional cooperation (e.g. water), or given the opportunity to combine services (e.g. public safety), then perhaps we will thrive under this new program. If the program is designed primarily for urban and suburban communities that occupy one metropolitan area, then Owosso may not recover much or any of its lost revenue sharing dollars. Given the goal of job creation in the State, I would favor incentives that reward local governments that participate in robust economic development efforts (for instance, the City has committed at least $15,000 annually to the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership for several years).

Job Growth through Tax Cuts is the primary goal of the budget, and the Governor proposes to do away with the complicated Michigan Business Tax (MBT) and replace it with a flat six percent tax on corporations. Those businesses organized as partnerships and other limited owner structures will be exempt from most State taxes. This promises to be a boon to small and new businesses, and the Governor believes that "economic gardening" will result in broad and deep job growth. He also proposes to do away with targeted tax credits that are given to specific companies in exchange for commitments to create new jobs. This past approach of "picking winners and losers" benefitted our area with several expansions of manufacturing plants and other businesses that bring in dollars to our community. It is unclear whether these new jobs would have been created locally without these tax incentives, and it is unclear whether the proposed tax reforms will attract or spur equal or greater job growth. What is clear is that the changes would favor many locally-owned businesses and improve the economics for the creation of new jobs. To fully capture the benefits of the tax changes, we (the City and its many partners) will need to emphasize assistance to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Loss of Development Incentives. In the debates about taxes and spending, much less attention has been given to the potential loss of specific tax credits that have been key to new growth in Owosso. We have been fortunate in recent years to have several new projects built in Owosso, including the Comstock Inn, Woodward Station, and the under-construction Lebowsky Center. All of these projects have been made possible by the Brownfield Tax Credit, which the Governor's budget proposes to eliminate. Going forward, redevelopment of the downtown will depend on not only the Brownfield Tax Credit, but also the State's Historic District Tax Credit. Owosso went through considerable effort last year to put into place a historic district in its downtown, and in response we have already seen several property owners move forward with new storefronts or major reconstructions. Much of this private investment is made possible by the presence of the tax credits, which provide equity investment and improve the opportunities for financing (which has become quite difficult in the last few years). Loss of these development incentives would hurt Owosso's efforts to spur economic development.

The argument against "picking winners and losers" does not apply to these two tax credits, as they are available to any business who develops in certain areas. The Brownfield Tax Credit was put in place to encourage revitalization of downtowns and urban areas, many of which were contaminated in the past and for which there are extensive clean-up costs (this was especially true at the site of the Comstock Inn). Without this tax credit, there would be more empty, blighted lots in Owosso and throughout the state. Without this credit, state policy would push new development out into "green" fields with attendant environmental impacts. The Historic Tax Credit is even more limited in its area of application, but helps developers offset the higher costs of restoring older buildings. Both tax credits are major tools in helping cities like Owosso rebuild its tax base. If we lose revenue sharing dollars from the State, it becomes even more important to increase our tax base through redevelopment.

Summary. The Governor has called for "shared sacrifice" to put Michigan's fiscal house in order, and it would be unrealistic and unfair for Owosso not to do its part (there are also other impacts of the budget on education, health care, and other sectors of our community). And the Governor has the right primary goal in encouraging job growth. If successful, the changes in taxes and spending will restore Michigan's economy and that will do more for Owosso than any particular job program or new development. However, it is important that State adopt a plan that makes Owosso a partner in economic recovery. I believe our greatest contributions can come through creating a vibrant community that provides a platform for entrepreneurs. This platform would consist of a support system for small businesses and manufacturers, a growing downtown, and a community with a high quality of life. Owosso is building this platform for growth, and it seems appropriate to ask our Governor, and our legislative representatives, to adopt a budget--and accompanying policies--that allows us to be partners in, and not victims of, the State's recovery plans.

Regional Cooperation

2011-01-31T16:04:00.010-05:00

The City of Owosso and its neighbors have taken some important steps to improve regional co-operation, and the timing could not have been better. Two weeks ago the City Council approved an agreement with Owosso Township that puts in place a process for sharing the benefits and costs of a municipal water system. The next night, Governor Rick Snyder, in his state of the state speech, proposed that local governments consolidate services with their neighbors to reduce the cost of government. He also proposed to use State revenue sharing as an incentive to spur such coordination.

The Governor's proposal has yet to be defined, and yet to be approved by the Legislature, but the idea of regional cooperation among cities, townships, villages, counties, school systems and other units of local government has been gaining more attention and credibility in recent years. Of course, Governor Granholm proposed something similar during her time in office, and the idea never went anywhere. Additionally, there is much concern over the decline in the funds the State allocates to local governments. Revenue sharing was implemented some time ago as part of an agreement whereby the State restricted the ability of locals to levy sales and other taxes. In many states, a portion of sales tax revenues go directly to the jurisdiction in which the sale took place; revenue sharing in Michigan was supposed to be a more equitable alternative. The system worked well until the State started cutting back the payments to local governments. Now, many local officials resist any attempt by the State to further reduce or restrict these funds.

In Shiawassee County, there have been both failures and successes in regional cooperation. The recent water agreement came after decades of controversy and debate. There will now be a water system that encompasses all of Owosso and Corunna and the more developed portions of Owosso and Caledonia Townships. This will accompany the well-functioning Mid-County inter-governmental system that coordinates wastewater collection and treatment. And there have been specific cooperative actions to support new development as well as mutual aid agreements for public safety services througout the region.

Can, and should, there be more regional cooperation, or even consolidation, of governmental services among neighboring jurisdictions in Shiawassee County? The arguments in favor of the idea include the opportunity for cost savings in infrastructure, equipment, and staff. As well, regional cooperation might bring better planning and coordination of governmental activities that improve the quality of life and promote economic development. A decade ago, Team 21, championed by George Hoddy, made these arguments. On the other hand, there are concerns about giving up control and accountability of governmental services. Would a City Council be able to direct its staff and services in ways that would best serve the residents of the community?

What seems to be spurring the discussion of regional cooperation now is the opportunity to reduce the cost of government. There seems to be little interest in raising taxes at the state or local level, and with the economy sputtering, state and local revenues have declined. Even with signs of a slight economic recovery showing, revenues will lag for some time (see this earlier blog post). It's clear that costs need to be cut, and the opportunity for sharing services potentially offers a way to maintain services while cutting costs. However, local governments may need some statutory push or financial pulll to inspire local officials to reach across municipal boundaries. At the local level, careful attention needs to be paid to ensure that any cooperative agreement benefits all parties, is open to public scrutiny, and truly allows for more to be done with less. Nonetheless, regional cooperation will be a goal for 2011.

Owosso and its neighboring jurisdictions of Corunna and Caledonia and Owosso Townships have in place several working regional partnerships; the recent water agreement strengthens these relationships. Hopefully these will be recognized in any state budget or legislative change that seeks to reformulate revenue sharing. In any case, the recent work of local officials to increase trust and communication will put the mid-county region in a better place to pursue effective regional cooperation in the near future.

I was honored to be State Representative Ben Glardon's guest at Gov. Rick Snyder's State of the State address. Said Glardon "This is a truly historic time in Michigan, and the governor's business-style approach is exactly what our state needs to get back on solid footing. The governor talked about specific goals with expected results. With huge state budget deficits that seem to continue year after year, we must find new ways to properly budget taxpayer dollars, and Snyder's emphasis on value for our dollars is spot on."

Change is Coming to Lansing

2010-12-14T05:11:00.007-05:00

"If you want something different, don't keep doing things the same way," was how Doug Rothwell put it at the December 13 Summit of the Center for Michigan and the Business Leaders for Michigan. This was on the same day that Rothwell was named to be the new chair of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) by Governor-Elect Rick Snyder and outgoing Governor Jennifer Granholm who took the unprecedented step of jointly appointing a mostly new board to run MEDC. I was fortunate to be at the Summit, and I came away inspired and a little anxious after Rick Snyder spoke to the audience. Change is coming to Lansing, and the implications for elected officials and engaged citizens are profound.

"We are going to be bold" said the new Governor, and while he recognized that turning around the economy of Michigan will require a marathon of persistence, "our sprint will be at the beginning, not the end of the race." I have known Rick Snyder for several years now, and while he has a reputation of being cool and cerebral (i.e. a nerd), he was more fired up and passionate in this speech than I have ever seen him. "Get ready" he said, "it is time to stand up." While his speech was short on specifics, the day was filled with numerous speakers, and here are some things I think we need to prepare for:

Jobs and Economic Development were the #1 issue on everyone's mind. A first step was the remaking of the MEDC, and the Governor-elect and several Republican speakers stressed that government does not create jobs. The Michigan Business Tax (MBT) will be reformed in significant ways, but it also sounds like that specific tax incentives and other industry-targetted economic development efforts will be abandoned, or at least de-emphasized. Doug Rothwell noted that Michigan has the 48^th most burdensome business income tax among states. While he said that cutting taxes is not a long-term economic development strategy, in the short term state government has limited options to spur new private investment quickly. And, a big cut in business taxes would also get Michigan international attention because it is unexpected.

A business location specialist, Ron Pallina, who is author of a new book, Selling out a Superpower, said "We need to understand that we are competing with other nations. Companies say, 'we want to stay in US, but for us to stay here we need the least cost environment.' Today business location is a case of economic survival." His top three recommendations for Michigan: lower corporate taxes, create a right-to-work state, and foster more cohesion in the economic development team of elected officials, MEDC, and local economic development teams. "Michigan is not as well coordinated or speedy in its response to the need of employers."

Doug Rothwell also called for state investment in business incubators: "We need entrepreneurialism to grow our economy, but it takes time."

Budget Reforms. Michigan faces a $1.5 billion structural budget deficit in the coming year, and there will be short-term pain in addressing it. No one talked specifics, but I fear for the impacts on local revenue sharing which represents 25% of the City of Owosso's revenues. A lot of attention was given to the cost of public employees. This is a particular challenge for local governments, where employee compensation represents a majority of their costs; for the state, labor costs are only about 10% of the budget. Legacy costs for retired workers are also a looming challenge that could "eat up the entire stream of new revenues" according to Jeff Guilfoyle of the Citizens Research Council. There are $50 billion in unfunded pension and health commitments in the State, which is equivalent to $5,000 for every Michigan resident.

Solutions for budget reforms centered around multi-year budgeting and shared services. Robert Daddow of Oakland County advocates for the State to go to a multi-year budget. This will provide more stability, certainty, and understanding, especially to local governments and school districts. Oakland County has a three year budget. It gives local leaders more time to realize savings and solve problems; it spurs long-term thinking and avoids one-time budget fixes and gimmicks. Also, he stressed the importance of local governments to provide timely accounting reports to board and the public on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis. This year Owosso started providing detailed budget reports on a monthly basis; our budget however is an annual one.

Jack Poll, Mayor of Wyoming, the second largest city in Kent County, stated his belief that local governments can achieve cost savings and efficiencies through shared services. He cited the opportunities and challenges with doing this around firefighting services in Kent County. The primary stumbling block is reaching agreement on the desired, or acceptable, level of service. "We need an effective model and standard to measure ourselves against," he said in asking for the State to help facilitate service sharing. "We need to get the legislature to clear the decks to allow for inter-municipal cooperation."

Education. Mike Flanagan, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of Michigan, believes that local school districts should share services too. He does not see a need for the consolidation of local districts, but recommends that non-instructional services such as transportation be delivered by intermediate service districts. He also suggested putting in place statewide health insurance, benefits, and a salary schedule. He said that these changes would allow local boards and administration to focus on student achievement, rather than on labor issues and the delivery of services.

Beyond this discussion, there was little attention given to K-12 education. Rather, there were several calls for increased investment in early childhood education, which provides significant long-term benefits for kids. For every dollar invested in early childhood education, $17 will be returned in lower services and increased revenues. Higher education was also touted. John Austin of the Brookings Institute reported that Michigan is 50^th in the relative share of state budget allocations to higher education. He recommended that we leverage our world-class institutions for economic growth, citing the positive examples of the Research Triangle in North Carolina and Austin, Texas. "Universities are engines for local economic development, the growth of the state, and our global competitiveness."

Place-Making. John Austin also called for investments in the quality of life in Michigan. He noted that the growing regions of the country have world-class cities with culture, good transportation infrastructure, and a talented workforce . He also called for investments in our natural assets as a way to retain and attract an educated workforce: "Michigan is a beautiful state, but the beaches have got to be clean and the parks need to be open; Colorado has had great influx of talented people because of its natural resources. Our youth, our college graduates want to be part of sustainable communities and work in green industries; they do not perceive Michigan as a place for this – in fact, we have been antagonistic."

Bi-Partisanship. The day ended with a call for cooperation and action. Democratic State Senator John Gleason said that it was "time to put blame aside. Now is a unique opportunity for the State of Michigan. We have been too partisan in the Legislature. We cannot put forth our best effort because of the peripheral powers and parochial interests." Republican Jase Bolger, the new Speaker of the House, said that "our problems are too profound to let partisanship get in the way." Governor-elect Rick Snyder called all legislators "my partners" after being thanked by the Democrats for his efforts to reach out to them.

The next Governor also stressed that the reform efforts were not just about government. "We all need to work together," he said. And Phil Power, the visionary force behind the Center for Michigan, called on us to be "all in for Michigan." Given these strong statements, the seriousness of the problems before us, and the passionate commitment of Governor-elect Rick Snyder, I anticipate some radical changes in government in the year ahead. Whatever our line of work or effort, private or public, we need to be clear about our own mission and look for ways to move forward with new partners. It is said that the Chinese character for crisis is the combination of chaos and opportunity. I think there will be lots of both.

Shop Downtown to Build our Local Economy

2010-11-22T04:09:00.008-05:00

The other day Joe Borgstrom (of Michigan's Main Street program, and the first director of the Shiawassee Economic Development Program) reminded me of the leaky bucket and its role in the economic health of our community. He also shared some data that reminds us of why we need to shop locally to get our economy going strong and employment as full as possible.

Our community, like all places, has a local economy where people buy goods and services from one another. Money comes into our community (the faucet) from a variety of sources: most importantly are the wages and other earnings from companies that make things here and sell them nationally or internationally; but money also flows into individuals and businesses that provide services to other outside the community; crops grown here and sold on the market also bring income; transfer payments (e.g. private pensions, Medicare, and other government aid) are also a major inflow.

When money comes into the community, it gets spent at the grocery store or other shops, at restaurants, for services like accountants or house cleaners, in buying supplies to run other businesses, to get healthcare, and in the form of donations to local charities or to pay local taxes. And of course when the local shopowner makes a sale, then he or she uses that income to buys goods and services. This is called the multiplier effect and has long been the subject of study by academics and the focus of economic development efforts.

Of course, not all the money that flows into the economy stays here. We make purchases at stores outside our community, we buy services from national companies, we shop online, and we pay taxes to the federal government. All of these outflows are the holes in the bucket. Typically, new dollars turn over several times in the local economy, thus filling the bucket, but they eventually seep out to other places as near as the regional shopping mall and as far as China for that new celphone or other electronic gadget.

The traditional approach of many economic development efforts is to increase the flows into the bucket, and Shiawassee County has done a relatively good job in recent years in supporting the growth of income-generating manufacturing companies; we need to do more, especially supporting entrepreneurs. However, we can also promote the local economy by seeking to plug the holes in the bucket of our local economy.

At this time of year, we can plug some holes and support our local economy by shopping downtown, eating at local restaurants, and making donations to local charities. A study from West Michigan found that when a dollar was spent at a locally-owned business, 68 cents of that dollar recirculated through the local economy. For every dollar spent at a national chain store in the local market, 43 cents stayed locally. These figures vary somewhat from business to business, but several other studies from other communities confirm the economic benefit of shopping locally. What is clear is that when we shop in other counties very little economic gain accrues locally. Online shopping is the worst for the local economy, with only a penny or two coming back to the community in the wages of postal or delivery workers.

After the holidays are over, we need to take a look at our local economy and figure out what other holes we can plug by identifying what retail, entertainment, services, business support, and supplier businesses our community is lacking. When we identify the outflows in our local economy we will be identifying economic opportunities for a local entrepreneur to fill, and if we grow our local businesses, we will grow our local economy.

In the meantime, as you do your holiday shopping, take a stroll downtown, check out our local businesses before getting in your car or online, take someone out for a meal, buy a local gift certificate, or swing by the Shiawassee Arts Center or the Four Seasons gift shop at the hospital or the Steam Railroading Institute. Think too about making a donation to a local charity as a meaningful way to show someone you care (for instance you can participate in Operation Friendship at Arc Shiawassee or buy a theater seat from the Owosso Community Players). When you shop locally, not only will you be supporting the local economy, you might run into an old or new friend out and about. And relationships, whether personal or economic, are what really make our community special. Happy Holidays!

Local Democracy is the Answer

2010-11-07T17:46:00.004-05:00

The mid-term election is over; now what? The Republicans, conservatives, and tea party activists are happy; the Democrats, liberals, and progressives are disappointed. However, if either side thinks there will be major change, for either good or bad, in Washington they are wrong. Whether your side “won” or “lost” in this election, you will not be successful in promoting your ideology unless you become active on the local level. It is time for all of us to get busy in our community.

Republican leader John Boehner said on Tuesday night that his party’s task will be “leading the drive for a smaller, less costly, and more accountable government here in Washington DC.” While voter dissatisfaction gave Republicans more seats in Congress, the federal bureaucracy will persist unless conservatives can show Americans how to get by without it.

Americans have shown repeatedly, as they did just two years ago in the Presidential election, that they want a better country. If the Republican party desires to rule in 2012 and beyond, they need to provide a way for Americans to work together for positive change. The tea party reminds us that the Constitution limits the federal government, but that document was written in an era where people banded together in their communities to help one another and looked to state government to regulate commerce. Times have changed in two hundred years, and if we want to return to a federal government envisioned by our founding fathers, we need to increase the capacity of cities, counties and states to solve the problems of today.

The Democrats were beaten in this election, but they are not going away because what motivates them transcends any particular vote. Their commitment to public education, helping those in need, protecting the environment, or other causes gives liberals the drive to create change. Democrats are successful when they show voters how government can effectively address these big issues. They did not make that case on Tuesday.

If Democrats want to regain power, they need to convince more people of the importance of their causes. More importantly, they need to show that government has some ability to solve problems. That is not going to happen at the federal level in the next two years. Progressive-minded activists need to work in their community so that more people understand and come to share their passion for change.

The electorate is angry, cynical and increasingly non-participatory. Less than half of the registered voters in Shiawassee County chose to exercise their constitutional right to vote last week. If either Democrats, Republicans, or independents hope that our democracy will continue to be an effective form of government, we all need to work to restore faith in government and the elected officials who represent us. “All politics are local” said the late congressman Tip O’Neil; thus the best place to start to re-engage voters is at the local level.

So, if you are either celebrating or bemoaning the election, its time to go work in your community. You can take action at the personal, organizational, and/or governmental levels. Personally, we should all try to live out in both word and action our convictions. If you feel like the federal government has failed to stimulate the economy, then think hard about how you might start a business, become involved in the work of the Chamber of Commerce, or at least shop locally. Or if you are frustrated that Congress failed to enact climate change legislation, then commit more fully to a green lifestyle, both as a way to reduce energy use and as an example others.

American history has shown that when people come together they can accomplish great things. Our voluntary sector is better organized than any other country, but they need to step up to the real issues facing the country. If you are opposed to Obama-care, then go to work to start a free clinic for those in our community who are uninsured, or volunteer for Respite or take time off work to help your elderly neighbor who needs help. If you support the health care reform efforts, then go to work to support Memorial Healthcare as a donor or volunteer. The key to health care in our community will be our local hospital, and its independence will be challenged by the health care reforms coming down the road.

Finally, get involved with your school, township, city or county government. That can mean service in an elected or appointed capacity, or it can just mean a willingness to work on making local government more effective. I have come to learn on the Owosso City Council that seven elected officials do not create change in our community; we can only help open doors so that the community can come together to support new businesses, build a new theater, or develop a dog park. Perhaps the best opportunity locally right now is for people to become active in one of the several planning efforts underway that will help chart the future of our community.

Democracy is a participation sport, and neither Democrats nor Republicans, nor any other party, will be successful at governance unless citizens feel like they can participate effectively in government, create positive change in their community, and thus make this a better country. Get involved.

A shorter version of this appeared in the Argus Press on November 6, 2010

Public Art

2010-10-20T15:03:00.011-04:00

Those of us who love Owosso, love it because it is unique (perhaps knowing and embracing the specialness of something is the definition of love). We share things in common with other small towns, but the particular mix of buildings, public spaces, and trees clustered around a north-flowing River make our community a unique place. And, according to planners and economists, it is place that will be the marketable resource that brings prosperity back to Michigan. That being so, the question then is, "What makes a place?"

You can go anywhere in Michigan--anywhere in North America for that matter--and you will find urban spaces (let's not call them places) that look and feel all the same. They have the standard mix of chain restaurants and big box retailers, they are served by--and serve--the automobile and parking lots abound. They are rarely memorable. In contrast, Downtown Owosso has a unique collection of businesses and storefronts, several areas for public gatherings, and wide sidewalks that make it pleasant to be a pedestrian. Thankfully, street trees and colorful plantings are also returning to our community. Increasingly, Owosso also has some unique artistic statements in visible spots (like the Ed Louch sculpture in front of the Chamber of Commerce; above), and this public art gives the final touch of uniqueness; it gives us character; it makes Owosso a true place.

Increasingly, sociologists and marketing experts find that consumers want something special when they shop, or make a choice about a home, or even invest in a business. In a complex, busy world of instant access and ubiquitous information, we want to find something that we can identify as our own; we want to be grounded. A true place like Owosso gives us that connection and help us to define our community and ourselves. To quote the great writer Wallace Stegner, "if you don't know where you are, you don't know who you are."

We are fortunate that our collection of historic, architecturally significant buildings in Owosso helps us know where we are. However, besides preserving and restoring our historic buildings, we can take several other steps to create a sense of place:

Public Art like sculpture and murals are a contemporary statement of uniqueness;
Streetscapes that provide energy, color, and pattern with decorations and flowers;
Lively Arts with street musicians, and performances in public venues like the Mitchell Amphitheater, and the rebuilding Shiawassee Performing Arts Center;
Galleries like the Shiawassee Arts Center and Mootzies;
Unique stores and lively shop windows, which are many and on the increase.

Public art in Owosso, at this time, needs some special attention because of the difficulties in completing a planned fountain in the new park at the corner of Ball and Exchange Streets. Of course, a dynamic water feature can also be a uniqueness to a place, but only if care and attention is given to ensure that it is truly different from other fountains. This presents two challenges. First, a fountain and a sculpture are not the same thing, and combining the two into a public artpiece takes a talented hand (or two). Second, fountains can be expensive both to install and operate. The City of Owosso and its Main Street Program have solved the first problem with a unique design by local artist and metalworker Arthur Johns; the second problem is proving to be more challenging.

While some despair at the cost realities, or believe that funds should never be spent on anything so frivolous as a fountain, I believe the answer is to proceed carefully and seek out cost-effective solutions. For the reasons stated above, we need public art like fountains to help keep Owosso's sense of place alive. We want to be neither a museum of historic structures nor a sterile shopping strip defined by cars and concrete. We need to find an economical way to provide for public art; if not the fountain in question, then some other unique statement.

Who should pay for public art like fountains, sculptures, and murals? Frequently such amenities have been provided by private businesses, individual donors, or arts organizations, but I believe it is appropriate for (some) public funds to be spent on the enhancement of our community. In Owosso, municipal government has long paid for street trees, flagpoles, holiday lighting, and attractive public buildings like City Hall. They all help create that special sense of place which is important to our community pride and identity and also the health of our local economy.

The proposed funding for a fountain/sculpture in downtown Owosso is to come from the property taxes paid by downtown property owners who are part of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) which is now part of the Owosso Main Street program. This special tax increment finance authority was set up several decades ago using a provision in state law. The revenues generated to the DDA are legally required to be spent in the downtown area and must benefit the property owners in that area. Enhancements in the form of public art that help make the downtown unique are a perfectly rational, economically desirable, expenditure of these funds. If a cost-effective engineering solution can be achieved, then a new fountain will help keep Owosso the unique place that we love.

The Wallace Stegner quote comes from an excellent piece in one of my favorite blogs (click here) put out by the Orton Family Foundation that supports true community building.

Housing and Neighborhood Issues

2010-09-02T12:06:00.004-04:00

On August 30 the Owosso City Council held a special meeting on housing and neighborhood issues. Below is an edited and updated e-mail I sent out. If you would like to receive regular updates by e-mail, let me know and I will put you on my list.

Three Housing Issues

1. Aging stock: about 70% of the approximately 6,700 housing units in Owosso are over 50 years old (note this correction from the first e-mail). Many of these homes are historic, affordable, and help make up a desirable neighborhood fabric. However, if these older homes are not properly maintained they may decay rapidly.

2. Vacant and blighted property: dilapidation, a weak housing market, and foreclosures have left too many houses in Owosso vacant. While there is no easy way to get a count, if 10% of the housing units are vacant that would mean close to 700 homes are empty. City staff estimates that 20 vacant homes have decayed to the point where they cannot be salvaged.

3. Health and Safety: older or poorly maintained homes can endanger both residents and neighbors. Inadequate wiring can present fire hazards, lead paint can endanger children, and blighted property can harbor criminal activity.

Code Enforcement options have been investigated by City staff and they are planning on increasing attention to compliance with the Property Maintenance Code adopted by the City in 1990. Existing building staff will be assisted by police and fire personnel to inspect the housing in the worst shape. The goal is to work with property owners and residents to ensure that homes meet some basic life safety and health requirements. This will help maintain our housing stock, prevent the further abandonment of homes, and reduce neighborhood blight and crime. We heard testimony about the necessity of ensuring quality living environments and encouraging new investment in our neighborhoods.

Rental Housing will be a focus, but there is no desire to be punitive to landlords. Rental housing is about a third of the housing stock, but about 50% of the current code enforcement issues. Several rental property owners testified and expressed general frustration with the City's attention to these issues, but they made few specific criticisms or suggestions. Owosso instituted a rental registration program last year, and there are now 1,924 units registered, which does not yet include all rental property. Fines can be assessed for non-registration, but have not yet been levied. Several landlords expressed their dislike for the $25 annual registration fee, although it was pointed out that registration fees in other cities are in the hundreds of dollars. The City's goal will be to work with landlords, and tenants, to ensure basic life safety and habitability standards.

Housing Rehabilitation Programs are now underway with a grant from the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority (MSHDA). These loans can assist both homeowners and rental property owners make improvements to their housing. In addition, City staff continue to work with housing programs from Shiawassee County, several nonprofit organizations, and private sector lenders, builders, and realtors. While we are off to a good start with these programs, it is clear that we need to look for ways to expand our efforts. In particular, I would like to be sure we are taking advantage of residential energy retrofit programs. The idea of creating new community and neighborhood organizations was also suggested, and the Mayor is currently seeking help on this endeavor.

New Housing is not a focus, as there is no general need at present to add to the overall housing stock. However, we did discuss the benefits and opportunity to provide downtown housing on upper floors and senior and other special needs housing. It was suggested we encourage new housing by rehabilitating some older non-residential properties.

City-Owned Vacant Property may become more of an issue as the City seeks to clean up blighted housing, although a lack of funding will limit these efforts. A draft policy on the disposition of city-acquired property was presented and may be acted on in the near future.

You can form a Neighborhood Watch group - we discussed the link between poor housing and crime and the positive role neighborhoods can play in promoting public safety and improving the housing stock. The Public Safety Department and Councilmember Gary Martenis have made attempts to form Neighborhood Watch groups, but have not had much interest. The Owosso Police has an interest and funding available to support the formation of such groups; please let me, any other City Councilmember or City staff know if your are interested. I believe this could be a useful tool to help improve Owosso.

A Housing Advisory Committee was suggested and the City may form a group of community residents, landlords, lenders, housing experts and others with an interest in Owosso. I volunteered to look into this option, so please let me know if you like the idea, are willing to help out, or have suggestions.

In sum, I think the City Council came away with a much better understanding of the challenges and the opportunities to improve housing and neighborhoods in Owosso. It won't be easy or quick, but I do believe we cannot ignore this issue; failure to protect and preserve quality housing will be detrimental to the community's future. I believe that our City staff has a great deal of knowledge, expertise, and commitment that will be of benefit. If we come together as a community, and not blame one another, I think we can make some positive changes that will benefit all of us who live in Owosso.

Bike Trails to Build Community

2010-07-13T21:02:00.013-04:00

I just got back from a tour of three great bike trails in Michigan and I came away excited about the opportunity for Owosso to promote tourism, strengthen our downtown, provide healthy recreation, bring the region together, and even promote early childhood learning. In three days, I biked the Hart-Montague Trail, Michigan's oldest rails-to-trails conversion, the Betsie River Trail that ties Frankfort, Elberta, and Beulah together, and the TART trail that is a centerpiece in Traverse City. Besides a sore rear end, I gained an appreciation of how good design and thoughtful planning can take advantage of these regional trails to build community.

All of the trails we rode are at least 15 miles long and attract a range of users. We saw other tourists like ourselves who purposefully travelled to bike the trails, locals out for exercise, kids on their way to somewhere, moms with strollers, and maybe even a commuter. We shared the trail with other bikers, runners, in-line skaters, and walkers. We saw solo folks with headphones, families on an outing, and friends talking away as they walked. These trails are used by a wide variety of people.

As we visited with folks, everyone spoke highly of the trails and their benefit to the community. One person shared with us how the trail had been opposed initially, but was now widely supported. Increased crime, use by a "bad element," or other fears had not materialized. All of the cities, and many of the businesses, along the trail had built special paths and installed directional signs to attract users to make a detour off the trail. Clearly, the communities along the trails value the economic development opportunities the trails create.

We were impressed with how the cities of Frankfort, Montague, and Whitehall had linked the trail to their downtowns. In Hart, one end of the trail was extended to link it to a municipal park and campground. Traverse City is located at the center of the TART trail and pulls people in from multiple directions. At the south end of the Hart-Montague Trail, a new trail extension, signs, public art, and attractive plantings pulled us into downtown Whitehall where we did some shopping. As we explored further, we learned that the City had used state grants, downtown tax increment funds, and local school funds to extend the trail through town to a park, library, and the high school. They also had a special stretch of the trails where families could take along pre-schoolers and stop at special stations where they could interact with their children and aid in their development. These trails provide a wide array of benefits.

Owosso has the opportunity to replicate these community development successes. First, we have an existing and long-standing trail along our riverfront that connects to Corunna. We can build on the foresightful work of our predecessors that put the James Miner Trail in place. Second, a significant trail is being developed that will run from Ionia to St. Johns to just outside Owosso. Finally, there have been discussions about developing a trail from Corunna to Durand, that if linked to the Miner Trail could provide a trail connection between the Grand Trunk Depot and the Steam Railroading Institute. I believe there are four steps we should take as a community and a region:

1. Protect and improve the James Miner Trail between Owosso and Corunna in conjunction with Caledonia Township and the Owosso Community Airport;

2. Support the completion of the Clinton-Ionia-Shiawassee Trail and come up with a plan with Owosso Township to finish, extend, and connect the trail into downtown Owosso;

3. Work with other local governments and community groups to investigate the options for converting to a trail the abandoned rail line between Owosso, Corunna, and Durand;

4. Develop effective signage and other publicity to promote the use of the trail by both tourists and locals in the community.

None of this is easy. It will require planning, cooperation between jurisdictions, partnerships with community groups, and the raising of both private and public funds. However, if communities smaller than ours in northwest Michigan can realize the development of such great trails, I am convinced that Owosso and our neighbors could pull it off as well. In the end, it will help build our community.

How Best to get a Public Opinion

2010-07-01T15:48:00.004-04:00

I want to ask your opinion about asking your opinion. Since before I was elected, I have sought out public input through this blog, a facebook page, e-mail updates, and purposeful encounters with the electorate. Seven months into my tour of service I have come to appreciate the questions, suggestions, and feedback. However, the June 21 meeting of the Owosso City Council has raised some questions for me about the role of public opinion in local government.

You may have been at the meeting, or read about the big discussion of the plan of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to convert south M-52 to a three lane highway. MDOT has proceeded with this plan because of a request from the City of Owosso several years ago, and because their experience has shown that single lane roads with a center turn lane are safer than highways with two lanes in each direction. However, there has been a large and vociferous expression of public opinion in Owosso against this plan, and the City Council voted 4-3 to request MDOT to keep M-52 a four-lane road. The final decision will be MDOT’s to make.

I voted against this recommendation, but I support the decision of the Council. Since then, I have been thinking a lot about my role as your representative and how to best consider public opinion. I think there are four key choices to be made, or balances to be achieved, and I welcome your input on any or all of them.

Expert Opinion versus Popular Opinion. The difference between these two was stark on the issue of M-52’s restriping. The meeting started with a traffic safety engineer from MDOT presenting data and analysis showing three lanes would result in 25 to 40 percent less accidents and would do so without any decline in level of service (i.e. no backups or delays. Her professional opinion from 14 years of experience was in favor of the three lane idea. Popular opinion was contrary and strong, with over 20 people making public comments against the three-lane proposal. The choice was clear: listen to the informed, expert opinion or go with the frequently expressed opinion of Owosso voters.

As a City Council representative, I find this kind of choice difficult. I believe that my job is to make decisions that are in the best interest of the City, and when a large number of people speak out against (or for) a policy, I want to heed their will. On the other hand, I know that many of the issues we face are complex, with significant financial, legal, or technical issues to consider. For this reason, I tend to give weight to comments made by informed experts, whether that be our experienced City Manager, legally trained City Attorney, or MDOT traffic engineer. Likewise, I tend to give extra attention to testimony made by members of the public when they clearly have experience with an issue. For instance, I listen closely to a youth baseball coach when upgrades to our ball fields are being considered. But how much weight should we give to one expert as opposed to the input of many interested voters?

Direct Democracy versus Representative Government. The idea that everyone has a voice is a bedrock of American democracy and the right to vote. Since we cherish the right to vote, there is a popular idea that key local issues should be put to a vote of the public. Someone suggested that the M-52 lane decision be on the ballot, there have been letters to the editor suggesting that all tax and fee increases be voted on by the public, and there is strong public opinion that any change in burning regulations be put to a vote.

What local issues should be voted on? Or, if it were possible to take a poll on every issue, how should the results be used? On the M-52 issue, it was suggested that the results of a Facebook query should guide the City Council decision. Small local governments in New England still use a town hall meeting, where all voters in attendance at an annual meeting are given a vote to approve the budget and make key decisions. If public opinion should carry the day on local decisions, what is the most effective and equitable way to measure that public opinion?

When I was younger I lived in California and was excited about the use there of ballot measures to decide matters of public policy. At the local level, the propositions on each ballot were given a letter starting with “A” and one time we got to vote on Propostions X, Y, Z, and AA. Quickly, not only did the number of decisions become overwhelming. I also learned that local and state governments had difficulties responding to changing circumstance, because laws adopted as a ballot proposition could only be modified or repealed by another vote.

Instead of lots of public votes, Michigan laws and Owosso practice tilt toward representative democracy. That is, the local electorate chooses seven City Council members who are given the job of making decisions for the entire community. As your representatives, we take the time to read a lengthy board packet of material twice a month, conduct additional research on issues, attend meetings and listen to public testimony. We take into consideration a variety of opinions, and try and make a decision that we believe to be in the best interest of the community. We are not required to poll the citizens, or give every voice equal weight, or even listen to input outside of meetings. But all of us value public input. The questions are two: how do we best get input? And what should we do with the input we get (especially when it conflicts)?

Voiced Opinion versus the Interests of the Unrepresented. I am committed to the idea that public input is desirable and necessary, but am not sure how best to determine the will of the electorate. Or do we need to seek it out at all? City Council meetings are open and the public is given the opportunity to speak both at the beginning and the end of the meeting (although State law only calls for one place on the agenda for input). In addition, certain actions require a public hearing to be held. Are these comment periods sufficient opportunity for public input, or should we seek out more?

Over 20 people spoke at the meeting when we considered the M-52 issue, and all of them spoke in favor of keeping the highway at four lanes. It was pointed out that there are thousands more residents in Owosso that did not speak; do we need to try and guess at their interests? I heard from several people who favored the three-lane proposal, but who did not speak at the meeting; should we consider their opinion? In addition, several people who spoke at the meeting reported that they did not live in Owosso, but they had businesses or owned property in the City. Should we consider their opinion more or less than an Owosso voter? What about those who do not know they have an interest in the issue or cannot speak? In this case, who is speaking for the victims of automobile accidents that might be prevented? In other cases, such as investments in our water system, who is speaking for the future residents of Owosso, who may not even be born yet?

Quantity versus Quality. The final balancing to consider is between the volume of public opinion and the content of the input provided. When a lot of people speak out on an issue, and speak out forcefully, I take notice. If people care enough about an issue to take time to come to a City Council meeting, we should listen to what they have to say. At the June 21 meeting, the Council voted to extend the 30 minutes normally allotted to public comment so that everyone would have an opportunity to be heard. On the other hand, when opinions are repeated frequently they start to become statistics, with so many “for” and so many “against.” How much public testimony is enough?

Typically, at public hearings I find myself listening for new information, novel arguments, or a perspective not yet shared. While I welcome all public input, I find a conversation with a voter more valuable than a brief comment or a long harangue. If several people are involved in the give and take of an extended dialogue on a topic, I tend to learn more about an issue. My recent invitation to “Walk and Talks” on the day of City Council meetings have produced some good discussions; interestingly the one on June 21 had people favoring a three-lane approach.

None of Us Alone is as Smart as All of Us Together. In the end, as I think about public opinion, I come back to a commitment to open, representative democracy and a belief in the wisdom of teams. I think it unworkable, and probably unwise, to put every issue up to a public vote or for the City Council to depend solely on the counting of public opinions. The democratic process that chooses seven people to make decisions for the entire City has proven to be a good method for soliciting, weighing, and evaluating public opinion. However, the process only works well if every elected official is open to receiving input from a variety of viewpoints, and if they are committed to listening with an open mind to that input. I believe that the members of the current City Council have this commitment.

Importantly, each Councilmember comes from a different background and has a unique set of acquaintances and a network of contacts. Sometimes the uniqueness of a councilmember comes through as an individual bias for or against certain public policy issues. However, with seven representatives soliciting input and measuring public attitudes, we are likely to get not only a variety of voices, but a variety of perspectives from which to evaluate the opinion of the public. Most importantly, the success of representative democracy depends on the willingness of the seven member of the City Council to honestly share their interpretations of the public interest and to debate one another on the merits of the issue. It also requires a councilmember to recognize that they are sometimes wrong in their decision, or at least be willing to accept the decision of the majority.

In the end, and most of the time, I believe the shared decision-making responsibility of our local government both reflects well on the full range of opinion and serves the best interest of Owosso. I believe that the present City Council desires to represent all of the public fairly and, most importantly, wants to serve well the future of our community.

Your Opinion Sought. On this, as with all issues, I welcome your input. I have posed several questions, and while I have tried to answer some of them, I am interested in your opinion. How should the Council best gauge the public interest?

George Hoddy's Legacy

2010-06-14T16:21:00.010-04:00

At the age of 105, George Hoddy has passed away (you can read the Argus Press news story here), but I know his influence on our community is not over. I have known George since I returned to Owosso 15 years ago, worked with him on the Team 21 effort and other community endeavors, and met with him regularly. After encouraging me in my run for City Council, he would call me up with suggestions and I welcomed the chance to sit with him and hear the perspective of someone who came to Owosso during the Depression and who had a lifelong commitment to creating jobs, encouraging business growth, and building up our community. I learned two important lessons from George, and I believe there are two important parts of his legacy we need to continue.

Lessons Learned. When I think of what I learned from my talks with George, two main points will stay with me:

1. Care about the Institutions of the Community. George was an incredibly loyal man. He was loyal to his company and the people who worked for them, and he was loyal to the community in which he and his employees lived. He recognized that a successful business needed a successful community and he worked hard to either support, transform, or create the organizations and institutions that made this community work. He joined the hospital board to ensure there was good health care for his employees; he ran for the school board because he felt the community needed a strong education system; he recruited Baker College to Owosso because there was a vacant property and because he knew such an education institution would support both education and business. He donated, he made calls, he lobbied elected officials, and he served (for years and years) because it was the right thing to do. His was the era when commitment meant more than joining a Facebook page, when change occurred not because of a letter to the editor, and when loyalty meant sticking with people and organizations even when they were out of favor.

2. Common Sense Makes the Most Sense. It is easy to get caught up in policy debates, political posturing, personal gossip, and media spin, but George never was. He always had a no nonsense approach to issues that was borne out of his training as an engineer and his experience as a businessman. Sometimes he offended people, sometimes he was rebuffed, but you always knew where he stood; his common sense logic was always clear. Frequently, the power of his presentation was sufficient, but even when he did not gain his objective, he was never defeated. He was not ever deterred from his goal, when I knew him, of industrial development and job creation. The last time I saw him, he told me "Give 'em Hell! Don't let them give you the run-around."

The George Hoddy Legacy. We are all sad to lose George from our community, but the testament of our devotion to him will be how carry on some of his work. He was the end of an era, but we should not think of his passing as the end of a way of life. Rather, we should be committed to continuing on those things he stood for. For me, two pieces of his unfinished work will be a focus:

1. Support for Entrepreneurs. George Hoddy was a sparkplug, a risk taker, and a hard worker. He was smart, and he applied himself diligently to see his business ideas realized. This is the definition of an entrepreneur, and we should appropriately remember George in the same way we think of Henry Ford, CS Mott, and Charles Kettering (who recruited George from Ohio State). While George was part of the history of American, and notably Michigan, industrialism before, during, and after World War II, we should not think of his passing as the end of entrepreneurialism in our State or our community. The nature of business is changing: away from automobiles to health care and renewable energy, and away from manufacturing to knowledge- and service-based industries. But we still have, and need, business people (yes, women as well as men) who have good ideas and have the moxie to realize them. Our role, as a community, is to help create an environment that spawns entrepreneurs, and as public and private organizations, that provides support to those willing to start a new business. George Hoddy was brave enough to start a business in the Depression; who will be the George Hoddy of this generation in this time and place?

2. Regional Cooperation. I got to know George Hoddy late in his life when we worked together on Team 21 at the end of the 20th century. George understood clearly that new business growth depended on local government doing two things. First, cities and townships need to provide the infrastructure necessary for industry, in particular water and wastewater services. Second, local government needed to be efficient in the use of their revenues to get the most out of the taxes paid by business. George was no fan of government, and he told me several stories of his frustrating experiences at City Hall, but I never heard him suggest we could do without government; nor did I hear him complain about paying taxes. He just had a simple expectation that government should work effectively to meet the needs of local businesses.

After long years of personal experience, and then witnessing disputes between the units of local government in mid-Shiawassee County, George had a common sense solution: the Cities of Owosso and Corunna, and the Townships of Owosso and Caledonia should either merge into one local government (George liked the name "Curwood"), or at least cooperate closely in the construction of infrastructure and the provision of municipal services. Using his good name and his effective powers of persuasion, he brought a number of individuals from businesses and private organizations together with elected officials and staff from the local units of government. His logic was clear, and he was encouraged by several studies from MSU and the testimony from various experts that showed how much could be saved by combining services. What he did not anticipate, nor could he fully understand, was the level of distrust among local officials and their resistance to change. In the end, the strong attachment elected officials had to their particular units of government hampered Team 21 from achieving the objectives George hoped.

In retrospect, and ironically, George Hoddy in his nineties may have been ahead of his time. Now, as local governments are facing their own fiscal challenges, and as our economy becomes more dire, the benefits of cooperation may now be apparent to more people. But distrust and resistance persists. If we want to honor George Hoddy, we should strive to bring about regional cooperation among our units of local government. George Hoddy is gone, let's hope his good ideas, his approach to issues, and his loyalty to institutions can become his legacy to this community, a community which is not defined by policitcal boundaries.

Laying a Foundation for Future Growth

2010-06-01T15:24:00.011-04:00

"The State of Michigan is beginning to experience modest economic growth," says the State Treasurer while reporting that sales and income tax revenues are now heading in a positive direction (see details here). Economist now think, and politicians now hope, that the worst is behind us. If the economy is soon to recover, the question for Owosso is "Are we ready?" A small municipality like ours cannot change the overall direction of the economy, which is largely driven by national polices and international forces. However, when the economic flow increases as the depression melts away, will Owosso be in a position to channel some of the run-off for positive growth here?

The City of Owosso has long been committed to economic development with a number of talented city staff helping out private companies that want to grow. As well, the City has supported the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership and remains one of its largest financial supporters. SEDP, made up of both local governments and private businesses, plays a key role in helping both existing and prospective businesses grow in our community by working with developers, investors, and other government agencies like the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Building on this history, there are three new steps underway that will help Owosso be in a position to take advantage of the economic recovery:

1. A new tax abatement policy

2. New infrastructure

3. Main Street program.

And there is one more step that the City needs to take to be fully ready: a new master plan.

1. Tax Abatement Policy. The City Council is scheduled on June 7 to adopt a new policy to encourage economic development in Owosso. Local government has few tools to incentivize job growth, but state law authorizes cities to grant a reduction or elimination of property taxes in several unique types of cases, such as industrial development, re-use of contaminated infill "brownfield" sites, and some other redevelopments. These tax breaks can help reduce the cost of new facilities, subsidize new equipment investments, and help improve the financial viability of a new venture. On the other hand, tax abatements cost the City precious revenue.

The City of Owosso has crafted a policy that ensures that tax abatements are given to economic development ventures that represent major investments, create jobs, and provide higher wage jobs. The formula for tax breaks is a little complex, but in sum, the more jobs created at the the highest wages get a waiver on property taxes for more years. Companies with a long history here, and/or those that hire Owosso residents are also rewarded with longer abatements. The goal is to help encourage and assist economic development and job growth in Owosso, but do so in a careful way that ensures that decisions to forego tax revenues are made in an equitable manner that provides the greatest benefit for our community. As the economy recovers and the private sector begins to look at new investments, the new tax abatement policy will hopefully attract and encourage businesses to grow in Owosso.

2. New Infrastructure. We look to private businesses to create job growth, but government has a role to play in providing a well-equipped community to support new development. This means not only good tax policies and effective public services, but also sufficient and well-designed roads, water systems, and other public infrastructure. Owosso has been putting in place several platforms for new growth. Most visibly they include new sidewalks and streetscape improvements in our downtown. Local businesses have asked for, and are contributing downtown tax dollars to, these public upgrades. As the economy recovers, and entrepreuneurs look to start or expand a business, downtown Owosso should be an attractive location. Likewise the improvements to M-52, one of our major entryways into town, will make the entire City a more appealing community.

Often overlooked, our water and wastewater systems are an important infrastructure as well to support economic development. Several industries have located here because of the quality, supply, and low cost of our water delivery system. Recent water rate restructuring made by the City Council, which will be continued in the next budget, ensure that there will be adequate investment in the upkeep of this water system (see earlier posting; click here). The City in conjunction with our partners Corunna and Owosso and Caledonia Township, have begun to look at our wastewater treatment plant, which is now more than 30 years old. We will soon need to make upgrades here to maintain this necessary economic infrastructure in our community.

3. Owosso Main Street Program. When it comes to our downtown most of the attention seems to be given to new sidewalks, building upgrades, and other visible improvements like the new flower baskets. While these are important, there are other things going on that also help lay the groundwork for economic recovery of commercial business in our community. Owosso is participating in the Main Street Program, a comprehensive local effort supported by the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and linked to national expertise on downtown revitalization. While public infrastructure and urban design are an important component of this effort, the Main Street Program also focuses on the economic structure of downtown to ensure complimentary and mutually beneficial growth of retailers. Technical assistance with marketing, customer service, and promoting the right mix of businesses are all part of this effort to encourage economic development downtown. All of this helps both existing businesses to grow and new enterprises to start.

Our community is at its best when people collaborate and work to support one another. The Owosso Main Street Program is a prime example of such an effort with businesses working together with community members and local government to promote business growth. The addition of the arts community with a reconstructed Shiawassee Performing Arts Center (the Lebowsky Center) further strengthens the partnerships. The creation of a downtown historic district (see earlier posting here) will aid the Owosso Community Players in their efforts, and create further economic incentives for downtown property owners to upgrade their buildings and invest in new growth.

A Master Plan. The primary power that local government can use to help, or hinder, private economic investment is its land use authority. The zoning decision to allow for a new development of a particular kind (e.g. retail, industrial, office) in certain places can encourage, deter, or just direct growth. Likewise, particular requirements on new development that protect the public health, safety, or welfare (e.g. driveway locations, fire safety concerns) may impose some costs on a construction project. It is important that the City of Owosso use these tools in an equitable, effective, and efficient way. The policy tool that guides these important land use decisions is the Master Plan. A Master Plan also provides specific guidance on where to make important infrastructure investments in roads, utilities, and other public facilities; these decisions can also have a significant impact on growth and economic development.

Sadly, Owosso has only a 1969 plan adopted for the mid-county area. An update is needed. The City set aside funds in its 2009-10 budget for a new master plan, but the city was unable to initiate this activity. Now, planning consultants are being interviewed, the City Manager is looking for a new Community Development Director to help with the process, and the City Council is committed to seeing a new plan put into place. Under State law, the responsibility for developing the plan rests with the City's Planning Commission. The adoption of a new Master Plan for the City of Owosso will give our community a policy foundation for encouraging economic development.

In the end, economic growth comes from individual decisions to invest, expand, and grow, but local government can both set the stage for the private sector as well as play a role as a partner. With strong and clear policies--and a plan--in place, the City will be best positioned to benefit from the economic recovery we all hope is underway.

Dog Park Effort Shows How to Do It

2010-04-25T14:26:00.009-04:00

Our community is at its best when people come together to get things done. Such community-building can be a formal, organized effort like the Owosso Main Street program which is authorized by State law and supported with local revenues, or an informal coming together of like-minded people who want to make a change for the better. I learned more about such a grassroots effort when Jeff Selbig and I took my dog for a walk on Saturday.

Jeff and some friends have been working to create a dog park in Owosso. Such public gathering spots have become popular in other cities because they allow pets to get some exercise, and they allow for both owners and their canines to socialize with one another, which is healthy for the dogs and helps build community among humans. Dog parks can be simple fenced-in playfields of an acre in size or elaborate doggy playgrounds with toys and landscape features that allow dogs to explore and exercise. No matter what the size or design, both people and dogs have come to appreciate them. It seems like we are all busy these days and even though electronics allow us to connect to others, people increasingly seem to look for places to talk to others face to face. Dog parks offer the chance for dog owners to share their interests with one another.

The supporters of a dog park have been meeting regularly (most Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at Guido's Coffee Shop in the Woodard Station building) and have formed a Facebook group (click here) under the name Owosso Bark Park. They have more than 400 fans. This group has worked hard to look at locations, dog park design and operations, rules and liability issues, and community concerns. Currently, the preferred location is Adams Park on the north side of Owosso (that's Jeff in the phtoto showing off the site to my dog Rambo). Fund-raising efforts have also begun and plans are being made for a Wag'n Walk event on Sunday, June 6 to raise money and awareness. If you would like to be involved in any part of the dog park effort, send an e-mail to owossobarkpark@gmail.com.

The Role of Local Government. I believe local governments need to pay attention to the actions of its residents and be responsive when people come together to get something done. The City of Owosso has a parks plan and an active Parks & Recreation Commission, and this community body has expressed its support for a dog park. Especially given this endorsement, I believe it is the role of the City to find ways to lend its assistance to the Bark Park organizers. Of course, the City has a responsibility to solicit the opinions of the whole community, look carefully at the design and operation costs of a dog park, put in place rules, and protect the liability of the City and park users. However, the City should make sure it is not creating any unnecessary roadblocks as it carries out its duties. Even better would be for the City to find a way to support this and similar efforts.

Sometimes local officials get enamored with their own positions and plans, municipal power in general, or particular ideologies. However, while we need to bring our own experience and knowledge to bear on decisions of policy and public investment, we should keep in mind the community groups who are working hard to make improvements. I think the best strategy for moving Owosso forward is to foster, encourage, and support citizens who come together with a commitment to a cause. Communities become strong when people feel like they can be a part of things and make a difference. The Owosso Bark Park is a testament to the positive power of people.

I urge your involvement in the Bark Park effort, or other group efforts to improve our community. I welcome your feedback on the dog park idea or any other City issue.

Budget Challenges are Here to Stay

2010-03-30T19:27:00.017-04:00

Recently, most Owosso property owners received news of a tax break when they opened their 2010 Notice of Assessment. The taxable value of homes in our City went down an average of about 6 percent. Upcoming tax bills from the City (which also reflect school and county taxes) will be going down for most homeowners, but the amount of the decrease varies. As individuals, this is welcome relief at a time when all of us face a difficult economic situation, too many residents struggle to find a good paying job, and record numbers of homeowners are trying to stave off foreclosure. Having our property taxes go down will be a help in these tough times.

However, when we look at the reduction in property taxes from a city-wide standpoint, we see both some immediate problems and some long-term challenges. Well over half of the City's General Fund revenues come from the local property tax. The drop in property values results in a reduction of about $230,000 in revenues this year. This follows a $110,000 drop last year. In fact, the recent reductions in property values take the City back to a revenue level they earned in 2004. The following table outlines the State Equalized Value (SEV) and the taxable value of property (in millions of dollars), the tax rate (millage) and property tax revenues (also in millions) for the last seven years. The taxable value of property lags the SEV because of Proposition A, which limits the rate at which property tax assessment can rise. The millage rate has declined slightly over time because of the Headlee amendment, which limits the rate at which city tax revenues can increase. In any case, the decline in tax assessments while offiering relief for property owners, puts a burden on the City of Owosso to cut expenses commensurate with the drop in revenues (click on the "budget" label to the right to see more background on how this comes at the same time as other financial challenges to the City).

Impact of Prop A on taxes and revenues. State ballot Proposition A, passed in 1994, overhauled and reduced property taxes in Michigan and changed the way we finance education in our state. However, its passage came during a period of relative economic health and steadily rising property values. One impetus for Prop A was the relief it offered from increases in property tax assesments that led to higher tax bills. Prop A contained a provision, reasonable at the time, that the taxable value on one's property should not increase faster than the rate of inflation, or 5 percent, whichever was less. Again, this was good news for existing homeowners, and while it limited the growth in tax revenues for local governments, their revenues still increased annually, and at a rate that could be estimated with some accuracy.

Also, Prop A required the taxable value of a home, upon sale, to be reset to reflect the news sales price (this is now called the pop-up tax ) and catch up on the lag between SEV and taxable value created by Prop A's limits on increased assessment. Again, while this was sometimes a surprise to new homeowners, it did help keep local government revenues increasing, albeit more slowly, over time.

In the last three years, Michigan changed in ways that the authors of, or voters for, Prop A probably never anticipated. First, property values stopped rising, and then dropped dramatically. While at first some people's assessments continued to rise despite the economic malaise, as the taxable value continued to make up the lag behind SEV, by 2010 most homeowners will now see an actual drop in their taxable value, thus the tax savings for individuals and the lost revenue for the City. At the same time that property tax revenues dropped, the housing finance crisis brought the sale of new homes to a virtual stop, and thus there were few new re-assessments from sales.

But the problem will be with us for years. . . Just like a family or business with less income, the reduction in property tax revenues has required the City to review priorities and make some painful cuts in spending. The budget process for the City of Owosso has officially started, and this year promises to be more difficult than last year. However, unlike a business anticipating an upturn in the economy, the City cannot look forward to a quick restoration in tax revenues if and when the economy recovers.

Remember the limitations on the increase in taxable value set by Prop A? They apply whether we are in a boom period or in a recovery period. Thus, if the economy turns around in 2011, home values stabilize and then begin to increase, the most our taxable value can increase is 5 percent; and given (thankfully) the era of low inflation we are in, the cap on increase in assessed value will probably be less. Thus, while it has taken only two years for property values to dive more than 20% it will take at least 4 years, and probably more, for taxable values to recover. The highwater mark for property tax revenues was 2008, it may be a decade until we return to that level.

Given the lasting impact of the recent downturn in property values, it will be necessary for the City to look at long-term reforms and reductions in public services. If there are short-term fixes available, they will only put off the necessity of making permanent cuts in city expenditures.

How much is water worth to you?

2010-03-08T20:25:00.006-05:00

Every morning Owosso residents turn on the tap in their sink and fill up a glass of water, or mix up a pitcher of orange juice, or add water to their pancake mix, or just wash their face. We take it all for granted, but almost a billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water, and suffer disease as a result. In Owosso, the constant presence of safe, clean, and sufficient water in our homes seems as regular as rain in March. Of course, there is story behind the reliability of our public water system, and the City Council now needs to take action to ensure that this system continues to be a viable resource to our community.

Every day on average the City of Owosso pumps, treats, and delivers 1,600,000 gallons of water to the residents of Owosso, Corunna and parts of Caledonia and Owosso Charter Townships. This is accomplished through the maintenance of six wells, a recently upgraded water treatment plant, over 100 miles of pipes, and the 24 hour attention of a professional staff. The water is high quality, meeting or exceeding all the standards set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. And for this the average household in Owosso currently pays about $200 per year.

Not only does the water system provide us clean water to drink and wash with (and flush our toilets!), but it is an economic development asset. Several industries have located in the mid-county area because we provide high quality water in sufficient volume and at a reasonable price. In an era where parts of the country face serious questions about the continued availability and security of their water, our plentiful water supply in the Great Lakes state is a competitive advantage. Finally, as we as a community wrestle with public safety questions, we cannot forget that a well maintained water system is also a major tool in firefighting and other disaster responses.

As a City Council representative, I had the opportunity to tour our water treatment plant and I came away impressed and thankful for the previous work of my predecessors in office, and the past and current staff of the City of Owosso, most notably Gary Burk, the utilities director. Our community is fortunate that people had the foresight to build and maintain this most basic and necessary municipal infrastructure. We would not easily be able to build or afford it today.

Although we enjoy the benefits of a sturdy water system built up over 100 years, there are costs to providing water. The City operates six wells, and pumping the water up from an aquifer 100 feet underground takes energy, the cost of which keeps rising. Although the water that comes out of the ground is safe to drink, the City chlorinates it and adds fluoride to protect and promote the health of the community. Our groundwater contains a high concentration of iron and other minerals (as my friends in the townships will tell you). The City softens the water from 509 to 172 parts per million and in the process generates waste lime that is recycled as an agricultural product. Still, handling this material, which softens the water without sodium chloride like home systems, costs about $100,000 annually.

It costs a little over $1.5 million a year to provide and treat our water, maintain the pipes, and provide for billing and administration. Paying people to operate and keep up our water system accounts for about 40 percent of the cost. For instance, the City is required to have an operator present at the water treatment plant at all times. Last year, the revenues of the water system, which includes charges to both residential and industrial users as well as a wholesale rate to the City of Corunna, amounted to $1.4 million. Looking just at operations alone, the finances are not sustainable.

Of course, current operations are only part of the story. The great value of the water system is in its infrastructure that delivers water to the tap in our homes. To have a safe and continuous water supply the City must continue to reinvest in this system. Much of the pipe network is at least 50 years old and some of the pipes predate record keeping. Although the City has limited itself to only the most necessary replacements, an aging system requires constant attention. Earlier this decade, the city replaced and upgraded its water treatment plant and took on debt to make these repairs. To keep up the system, the City has been drawing down a water reserve fund (wisely established and built up in earlier times), but this too is an unsustainable practice.

Owosso’s water system suffers from the same decline our tax base does. There are fewer residents in Owosso than in the post-World War II decades when the system was expanded. And there are fewer industries and commercial users. And everyone has become more frugal and efficient in the use of water for technological, economic, and environmental reasons. The end result is a decline in water usage from 594 million gallons in 2001 to 510 million gallons in 2009. Revenues have decreased proportionately, and the basic costs of maintaining the system must be shared by fewer users.

The first response was to eke out efficiencies in staffing and operations, as well as deferring maintenance. Staffing is now down to a single operator at most times, the minimum required by law. As well, the billing cycle was changed from monthly to quarterly to reduce the administrative costs of collection; this change alone saves the average customer about eight dollars per year. It is hard to find a leaner way to run things.

The responsibility we have as the current stakeholders is to not only pay our own way for the water we use, but to make the necessary investments in the system that will ensure that the next generation of residents have the infrastructure in place to support the community’s health, safety, and economic well-being. This does not mean any major upgrades in equipment, but it does require that aging pipes be replaced and the system maintained in working order.

The City Council is looking at fee increases for this year and next. While we would all prefer not to take this step in the current economic climate, water rates have not been raised in five years. Currently, the typical residential customer pays about $50 per quarter. In addition, typical sewer fees for this user are about $63 (our wastewater treatment system is another important infrastructure in need of attention and will be the subject of an upcoming discussion).

The Council will have before it a proposal that will increase quarterly water fees for a typical user to about $64; the associated sewer costs will go up to somewhere around $68. These are average estimates, and because water charges depending on usage and size of service there are great variations in individual bills. Still, the increases in fees will keep our charges below that of other municipalities with water systems similar to ours. For instance, residents in Adrian, which has a few more users than our systems, pay $74 for water and $98 for sewer. The typical Durand resident pay $113 for water and $146 for sewer. More complete data on charges in other communities and the details of the water costs and revenues of our system are available from some very thorough reports put together by engineer Gary Burk. Let me know if you would like to receive the data.

In the end, I feel a responsibility both to the current and future users of the water system to ensure that we both pay for the water we are using as well as set aside funds. The prudent financial move is to ensure an adequate reserve fund for our water system, in case of an emergency. Five years ago the fund stood at close to $2 million, if we continue to deplete the reserve fund it will dip below a million dollars this year. While this sounds like a lot of money, much more could be needed to make repairs in the event of a disaster or massive equipment failure.

Importantly, I feel a responsibility to the future of our community to take care of the water system built up over past decades. Modest rate increases now will enable us to maintain the system, replace pipes, and invest in other needed upgrades. One of the great assets in our community is its infrastructure, and we are derelict in our duty if we only take advantage of that infrastructure without ensuring that it is there for the next generation.
The water rate increases will be undertaken with an eye to minimizing the impact on users but also with a sense of stewardship to the infrastructure. I welcome your thoughts and input.

For more information on international water issues and responding to this crisis, click on the picture above

Historic Downtown Owosso

2010-02-17T17:00:00.011-05:00

What makes downtown Owosso unique? It starts with its architecture that embodies the history of our community. Downtown Owosso has long been the commercial center of Shiawasssee County and the intensity of economic activity for more than a century has left a dense collection of multi-story buildings with interesting brick and wood constructions. But this architecture provides more than a history lesson. It provides the basis for a special shopping and entertainment experience that could help revive our local economy. But how do we make the most of this historic architecture as an economic resource? This will be the work of the Owosso Main Street Program and the research of the recently formed Local Historic District Study Committee.

The Local Historic District Study Committee was created by a resolution of the Owosso City Council and a nine member committee was appointed by the Mayor. The purpose of the Study Committee is to research and document the historic resources of downtown in preparation for the City Council to establish a historic district. By establishing the committee, the Council has proactively stated a desire to create a historic district. The work of the Study Committee is defined by state law (Public Act 169 of 1970) and their work will be reviewed both by the City of Owosso Planning Commission and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). The Study Committee will recommend geographic boundaries for the district and forward a draft historic preservation ordinance to the City, but the decision of whether to establish a district rests with the City Council, not the Committee.

Why create a historic district? In the case of downtown Owosso, economic development has created the current interest in historic preservation. First of all, any property owner located within the historic district will have access to a tax credit equal to 25% of the cost of redeveloping a property. In addition, other state, federal, and private sector grants and incentives also become available with the establishment of a historic district. This additional source of funding is an economic necessity for several current and potential projects in downtown, including the Armory, Lebowsky Theater, and the rebuilding of burned out or vacant buildings.

A local historic district will become active when the City Council adopts an ordinance that establishes guidelines for any new development within the district. Like with any zoning, the City has leeway in what these design standards allow and prohibit, but the goal is to create a cohesive look and feel to the downtown. These standards will also serve to deter the loss of historic buildings and protect the investment property owners have made in restoring storefronts. There are several other good reasons to establish a district, they are outlined here: Benefits of a local historic district .

Main Street. In addition to supporting the private sector redevelopment of downtown buildings, a push to understand, recognize, preserve, and promote the architecturally significant storefronts in Owosso is part of an overall downtown revitalization effort being led by the Owosso Main Street program. In the last decade, it has become clear that people are looking for unique shopping and entertainment experiences. While on-line shopping and big-box retail strip centers can deliver low cost merchandise, Americans are increasingly looking for richer community experiences when they shop. They want to know the person who they are buying from, and to build a relationship based not just on sales price, but also service. They want to support local businesses and have their hard-earned dollars stay within their community. And they are looking for unique goods and services not available at the mall. The business in downtown Owosso have historically provided these opportunities, and there is room for growth.

Downtown Owosso has a future in more than retail, though that is an important part of the mix. Culture has long been part of downtown, and more entertainment opportunities are being created not only with the (re)construction of the Shiawassee Performing Arts Center, but with galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, and even coffee shops. The success of several downtown Art Walks shows that people like to come downtown to mingle, be entertained, and do some associated shopping. But to be a popular draw, downtown needs to preserve and showcase its historical buildings. Our architecture is a cultural resource in its own right, but these gems help to signify that coming downtown is a special experience. Architectural character is part of the formula for success, but the Main Street Program recognizes that the streetscape needs to be upgraded, other public investments in infrastructure made, specific business types be recruited and supported, events and festivals conducted, and all of downtown promoted. Historic preservation is just one component of economic revitalization.

The future of downtown Owosso is in its past, and the work of the Historic District Study Committee is will help to document and define that past. The Committee's report will then allow for the City Council to preserve that past and encourage new development. It will then lay the groundwork for private property owners and developers to make investments in new buildings, start businesses, and exercise the entrepreneurial spirit that has long been part of Owosso's success.

I am the chair of the Historic District Study Committee and I welcome your input, participation, questions, and support. Click here to visit the Google Group site for the Historic District Study Committee. There you will find background information, more links, and a calendar of meetings.

Oklahoma! in Owosso

2010-02-07T09:40:00.006-05:00

What makes a community? People, and a fierce commitment to the place in which the people find themselves. This is the story of Oklahoma! the latest musical by the Owosso Community Players. This story for your thought and enjoyment is on display February 12, 13, and 14 (more info here ).

Oklahoma is the story of a specific place, the turn-of-the-century Midwest territory shortly before statehood, and two people trying to find their love with the help and the hindrance of those around them. It is a noble quest, but both Curly and Laurey are too proud to admit that they want something better for themselves. They have to overcome both themselves, the conflicts within their community, and an encounter with evil to reach the greater good. While we can see the story as a typical boy-meets-girl, girl-falls-in-love, boy-relents-bachelorhood, couple-lives-happily-ever-after story, the play says something more. The meta-story is found in the musicial's setting in a geographic place and the community of people who define that place.

The signature song of the musical ("Ooooklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plain") occurs not at the beginning of the play, where it might be used to define the setting of a generic love story, but rather at the end of the play, where the song, perhaps the greatest celebration of place of any broadway show tune, serves as the culmination of all the events that have gone before it. Yes, we are happy that Curly has given up his cowboy life to settle down with Laurey on the farm, but we are also so in love with this specific place, this territory about to become a state, that we shout out its name with an exclamation point. We thrust our fist in the air with "A-Yipio-ee-ay" and sing along "we know we belong to the land, and the land we belong to is grand." (See Hugh Jackman leading the song here )

We often think of musicals as pollyanna views of life, and while Oklahoma! has lots of feel good moments, the story contains several conflicts and a very dark strain. Yes, we feel good when the play starts out with "Oh what a beautiful morning" on the farm, but soon we are thinking of the advantages of big city life when we are told that "Everything is Up to Date in Kansas City." Simple Ado Annie is more intrigued with the exotic traveling salesman than her hometown beau. Then, we see the conflict between fenced-in farmers and free-roaming ranchers. Maybe life in our little town is not so great after all. Still, we go along with Curly and Laurey as they come to accept their inevitable romance. Just as we are ready to retreat to happy-ever-after, the troubled character of Judd dances darkly onto stage. If they are going to achieve something significant, they will have to face evil and overcome it. The second act forces us to worry that circumstances, conflict, and evil will doom our young lovers. (Spoiler alert!) Of course it doesn't, but that makes the triumph of Oklahoma more complete. As Aunt Eller says at the end of the play, "You can't deserve the sweet and tender in life unless'n you're tough."

Go see Oklahoma! by the Owosso Community Players. This rich story is done well by, and done right by, the acting, singing and the set in this particular production. Enjoy real people putting on a real play in a real place with real, live music. And pay attention to the story, and see what it tells us about creating a special sense of place in Owosso as well as Oklahoma.

Learning Opportunity

2010-01-22T10:41:00.006-05:00

The Shiawassee River as a Key Piece of Community and Economic Development will be the topic of a presentation on Tuesday, February 23, 5:30-7:00 pm, at Caledonia Township Hall, 135 N. State Road.

David Lossing, Mayor of Linden, will describe how their community has taken advantage of their riverside location to further community development, including providing for recreational access, and describe upcoming plans. Mr. Lossing has been the Mayor of the City of Linden since 2004 and has been involved in a number of regional discussions in southern Genesee, Oakland and Livingston counties dealing with land use, multi-use bike paths, and the establishment of the Shiawassee River Heritage Water Trail. He’s involved with a number of local and statewide organizations and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Michigan Municipal League. He also serves as the director of government relations at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Shiawassee River

2010-01-11T08:19:00.008-05:00

Two workshops in the next few weeks will present some tools the City of Owosso can use to preserve, develop, and utilize its most vital natural resource, the Shiawassee River. Looking both backwards and forwards in history, one sees the Shiawassee River at the center of our community's economy and quality of life. Owosso started here in the 19th century because of the River, and the River again offers the community a chance to create a special sense of place in the 21st century.

The Friends of the Shiawassee River (www.shiawasseeriver.org) are offering two opportunities to help understand the ecological and economic importantce of the River. On January 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Baker College Welcome Center, experts from the planning and engineerng firm Wade Trim will present Fish Passage and Recreation Potential on the Shiawassee which will discuss the very successful replacement of a dam in Chesaning. This act of river restoration replaced an aging dam in danger of failure with a set of scenic rock rapids (see photo below). Importantly, this change provides for the passage of walleye and other aquatic life, which improves both the environmental quality of the river and opens up large stretches for increased sport fishing. Owosso has three small dams, and Corunna has one large one, all of which are various states of disrepair. Wade-Trim will outline options for replacing these dams and enhancing the natural qualities of the Shiawassee.

The Shiawassee River as a Key Piece of Economic Development is the second important learning opportunity. Originally set for January 28, the date is now being rescheduled. The workshop will feature David Lossing, the Mayor of Linden, a small town upstream on the Shiawassee that has used the River as an asset to promote downtown development and recreation opportunities. He will highlight other mutli-jursidictional efforts in Genessee and Shiawassee County which seek to promote a green community using a blue asset, the Shiawassee River. Check in with the Friends of the River website (www.shiawasseeriver.org) for exact date and location of this meeting.

Both of these sessions will be valuable for anyone who cares about our communities, the Shiawassee River, and the life--human and aquatic--that makes good use of our most precious water resource.

2010 Goals

2010-01-05T22:12:00.007-05:00

Like any successful organization or team, the City of Owosso needs a set of goals to guide its efforts. Otherwise, good initiatives may not be achieved because of a lack of policy focus or insufficient dedication of resources. Without goals, an organization tends to become reactive, not proactive. With goals, an organization states clearly its objectives so that those on the inside know how best to direct their energies; those on the outside can align their efforts to complement or support an organization's goals that agree with their own.

At the first meeting of the year, the City Council continued a discussion of priorities for municipal action in 2010. It is the responsibility of elected representatives to set direction; the execution of goals are the responsibility of city staff. Both activities must be informed by, and actively involve, community residents and others with a stake in the success of the City.

After considerable discussion, the City Council voiced its support for the following seven goals. The language, with some modification, for each goal comes from the City's Blue Ribbon Committee Report completed last year. These goals are still a working draft and have not yet been adopted.

CITY OF OWOSSO GOALS FOR 2010

1. Public Services. Fiscal soundness and growing revenues sources are required to provide quality services and maintain our infrastructure.
2. Economic Development. Provide leadership and effective policies to encourage the diversification and continued growth of our local economy. We will actively collaborate with our community partners to produce economic benefit to all citizens.
3. Neighborhoods and Housing. Promote comprehensive neighborhood planning and active housing programs to ensure vibrant housing markets, a diversity of housing opportunities, and safe and healthy residential environments.
4. Parks, Recreation and Culture. Promote and maintain a high quality of life by providing diverse opportunities for recreation, entertainment, and physical health. Establish public/private partnerships to develop key facilities for residents and visitors of all ages and abilities.
5. Downtown. Create a sense of place in our community that attracts visitors, new residents, and additional investment.
6. Green Owosso. Promote a sustainable community, conserve natural resources and enhance the Shiawassee River and other natural assets.
7. Communications and Marketing. Utilizing a variety of media and technology, strive to market our services, communicate our mission and values, and engage citizens in the decisions of city government.

The Council has also discussed some specific actions to move toward these goals in 2010. Obviously, more work needs to be done to define these priorities. The Council asked the City Manager to develop an outline and timeline for setting specific action priorities for each of these goals. Finally, all of this work must provide input to, and must be shaped by, the difficult budget exercise the City must undertaken in the next few months.

YOUR INPUT IS DESIRED. Are these the right goals for Owosso in 2010 and subsequent years? Did we leave anything out? Is the language unclear? Importantly, what specific ideas do you have for achieving these goals?

These goals and priorities will be reviewed at the next City Council meeting, January 19 (moved to Tuesday because of the Martin Luther King Holiday)

It's a Wonderful Life, in Owosso

2009-12-20T16:01:00.011-05:00

After being elected to City Council, I begin to see many things in a new way, including old holiday movies. If you are a regular viewer of the great Frank Capra holiday movie "It's A Wonderful Life" starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed, I invite you to watch it this year thinking about how communities work, and the role we each play in the health of the place we live.

In addition to inspiring thankfulness for one's family and friends,"It's a Wonderful Life" has a primary message spoken by the angel Clarence: "Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" Of course, we may feel that more acutely in a small town because there is less chance, for good and bad, to be anonymous. But what we do here makes a difference.

But there are other messages to find in the movie for Councilmembers, community volunteers and committed citizens. At the end of a year when the economy has not been kind to Owosso, I am thinking about how people can work together to help neighbors become homeowners. While the movie follows the frustrated dreams and redemption of George Bailey, the sub-story is about the Bailey Building and Loan. While stodgy and struggling, the Building and Loan was a community-based institution whereby local people were not only encouraged to save up for their own financial dreams, but those savings were made available to their neighbors in the form of mortgages. It was an organized way for neighbors to help neighbors, including immigrants, the poor, and the powerless.

In the last few years, we have discovered the housing finance system, which we thought of as local and relationship-based, had become the plaything of speculators, large impersonal institutions, and short-term investors. This created space for the greedy, both among homebuyers and lenders. Housing, which had been the reward, for and reservoir of, personal savings, became a source for unchecked spending and personal debt. After the weak foundation of this new housing finance system cracked, the housing market built upon it could no longer stand. The result in Owosso has been several hundred foreclosures, personal employment and financial opportunities lost, and declining property tax revenues. It feels as if Potter left Bedford Falls and moved to Wall Street.

The challenge for Owosso and other small towns is to rebuild the local-to-local systems that made the customers of the Bailey Building and Loan homeowners. Fortunately, we still have good local lenders, and some committed organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Capital Area Community Services. We need these and other groups to come together to find ways in which we can use our local resources to help our residents become homeowners and occupy the vacant homes that are found on almost every block of our town. I am hoping the City of Owosso and its new housing program can help be a catalyst and leader in this effort.

There are some other lessons from "It's a Wonderful Life" remember Sam Wainwright, the local business climber who makes it big in New York? Well, he stays in touch with George Bailey, and it's George who recommends the use of a local vacant factory to house a new business venture. We too need to build the contacts with our many alumni who move away and find success elsewhere; let's encourage them to make investments in Owosso, or perhaps even move back home.

Finally, the thing Owosso has never lost is its ability to raise up talented young people of character, just like George Bailey. And just like Bedford Falls, we take pride in our high school graduates and we love to help them achieve their dreams, whether they be college, travel, entrepreunership, or some form of service to their country or community.

Despite the tough times in Owosso, we are not Pottersville. Let's always remember the difference one life makes, and all the lives that each of our lives touches. Think how much more of a difference we can make if we are deliberate in the care of our relationships, the exercise of our values, and our love for our community. "Merry Christmas you old beautiful Building and Loan!"

Tough Budget Choices Ahead

2009-12-02T04:09:00.017-05:00

The City Council has begun the process of putting together a 2010-11 budget and the first signs warn that there will be difficult decisions to be made. For reasons explained below, Owosso faces a $2.4 million shortfall on a general fund budget of six to seven million dollars. The good news, if there is any, is that we have begun the budget process early to allow for lots of input and for discussion of options and priorities. The City Charter requires the City Manager to submit a budget in April for adoption in May. We have a lot of work to do before then.

In January, City department heads will submit their budget needs for the necessary staff, equipment, and training to carry out the responsibilities of their offices. They will use their best judgement to determine whether police cars and other capital investments need to be replaced, new staff hired, repairs made to equipment or facilities, and investments in City infrastructure undertaken. Past analysis predicts that these costs of maintaining the City will increase about $1.1 million next year. This so-called "structural deficit" can, and will be, trimmed as the City Manager and his team put together a budget, but doing so is an implicit decision to defer investments in what keeps Owosso going.

In addition to the $1.1 million structural deficit, six factors are combining to make next year's budget difficult:
1. Local property tax revenues will decrease $250,000 as a result of declining property values and a declining tax rate. The State's Headlee amendment and other reductions have lowered the property tax in Owosso from 14.5 mils in 2001 to 13.4 mils now.
2. State revenue sharing will decrease $250,000 as a result of Michigan's difficult budget realities. In the last six years, annual support from the State to the City has declined $600,00, and further reductions may yet hit us. We should all contact our representatives in Lansing to recommend against such cuts.
3. State transfer payments for road repairs will decline $100,000; the City's share of state taxes collected on gas and vehicle weights no longer are sufficient to meet local road maintenance needs.
4. Pension obligations to retired city employees are anticipated to rise $200,000.
5. Contractual obligations to city employees will require a $200,000 increase in wages and benefits.
6. An old landfill that the City of Owosso used needs to be cleaned-up and the City's share of those costs may be $300,000.

While these predictions may not be as severe as outlined above (on the other hand, revenues may decline further and exacerbate the budgt picture), the City needs to plan to make $2.4 million in reductions in its planned expenditures in 2010-11. The City Manager believes he can continue to find efficiencies that could yield significant savings. Tough decisions will also need to be made about what capital improvements and other long-term investments to scale back or postpone. Still, to deal with the shortfalls it will likely be necessary to reduce spending on the current services the City offers.

One option is to cut spending across the board, and given that a large part of the City's budget is spent on personnel, then such a cut could be quite negative on our employees.

As you look at the existing expenditures (see pie chart), the largest portion of general fund revenues are dedicated to public safety (police, fire and ambulance) and a proportionate budget cut would have the biggest impact on these important services. Thus, the comprehensive evaluation now begun may offer some valuable ways to reduce the cost of the programs without sacrificing the quality of public safety programs (see previous post, "Optimizing Public Safety").

What do you think? The budget is complicated, with multiple revenue sources, legal requirements, and contractual obligations all limiting the options available. Still, some questions can be asked and answered now, and your input will be important:

Do you observe any areas of City Government where funds can be saved? Do you see waste? What services could be delivered more efficiently?
In your opinion, what City services could be scaled back with the least negative impact? That is, if we have to cut, what would you willing to do with less of?
What investments in equipment and facilities are the most critical and cannot be deferred?
In previous years, the City has spent general funds on street repairs (in addition to state funds for roads) to address critical transportation needs; should we continue this practice?
Only 3% of the city budget goes to park maintenance and improvements; should this be increased? And if so, from where do we redirect dollars?
Owosso has recently been successful in getting a variety of grants, but frequently they require some small outlay of general funds; should we continue to leverage our dollars this way?
Should the City pursue a Headlee override to restore property tax rates to earlier levels?
In our economic climate, are there options for revenue increases that would be acceptable, or should we continue to live within our (declining) budget?
Would you be willing to pay additional taxes for roads? parks and a pool? public safety?any other special benefit?

Again, we are early in the budget process and I start out being a novice and without any particular bias. So, please educate me where you can. Or if, like me, you don't have much specific knowledge, let me know what your priorities and concerns are. Thank you for your continued participation.

Optimizing Public Safety

2009-11-17T18:46:00.006-05:00

We live in a safe community and quite appropriately many of us value the police, fire, and ambulance services the City of Owosso provides. We all have personal stories of how a public safety employee was of great, even life-saving, service to us or one of our family members. However, these benefits do not come cheaply. According to the 2009-10 budget, the City spends over $3.5 million annually on public safety. This represents 56% of the City's general fund expenditures.

In recent months, several citizens have raised appropriate questions about inefficiencies in our public safety programs. In particular, people have questioned the management structure of having a public safety director and a police chief and a fire chief. Do we need three managers of public safety? In response to a citizen petition, the previous city council put forward an ordinance amendment that would eliminate the public safety director position. It was not clear if this proposal would result in the elimination of an employee or any salary savings.

The discussion got me thinking about how to best organize the City of Owosso public safety programs. Future budget challenges (due to declining revenues from the state and from property taxes) further spurred me to ask questions about how to provide the highest level of police, fire, and ambulance service at the lowest cost. In other words, how do we optimize our public safety programs?

At last night's (11/16) City Council meeting I requested that the City Manager provide us with information on several options for reforming our public safety programs. I suggested eight areas for research:

1. Elimination of the Public Safety Director position and other administrative restructuring.

2. Creation of a true Public Safety Department where police, fire, and ambulance personnel are cross-trained and provide support for one another in their duties.

3. Regional cooperation with surrounding jurisdictions whereby we expand on current mutual aid agreements to see if it possible to provide necessary services with less manpower or equipment.

4. Contracting some city public safety services to surrounding jurisdictions; apparently in the past Owosso has provided ambulance services.

5. Contracting with private companies to provide services.

6. Use of volunteers; currently the City saves considerable money through the volunteer services of Community Radio Watch.

7. Cooperation with the County Sheriff and/or the State Police; recently the City has examined closely cooperation in drug enforcement through the State MAGNET program.

8. Use of grant funds; e.g. Neighborhood Watch programs

The City Manager promised to provide an analysis of these and other options by the December 21 Council meeting. Importantly, there will be a financial analysis of these options so that we can compare the costs, as well as any non-financial benefits or risks, of each of these options. In addition, the experience of City employees will be drawn on through a formal request to the relevant unions for their ideas and input.

I am no expert on public safety, and some of the suggestions outlined above may be impractical or not lead to any cost savings. There are undoubtedly other ways to optimize public safety programs; for example, someone in the public hearing raised the idea of better managing overtime schedules of police and fire personnel. What I believe is important at this time is to get on the table as many options as possible so that they can be compared with one another and the best opportunities identified for saving taxpayer funds.

What ideas do you have for optimizing the public safety services in Owosso? Do you have any reaction, information, or insight to any of the options outlined above? It is critical that the public weigh in with their opinions. Thank you.

New Council, New Mayor

2009-11-09T21:52:00.007-05:00

Four new members of the Owosso City Council were sworn in tonight (from left to right): Mike Erfourth, Cindy Popovitch, Tom Cook, and Chris Eveleth. As well, Ben Frederick was selected as Mayor and Cindy Popovitch chosen to be Mayor Pro Tem. I am excited to be working with these people, and the other two city councilmembers, Joni Forester and Gary Martenis.

I was flattered to be nominated for the Mayor's spot, which followed a number of requests supporters had made of me to consider serving as Mayor. I declined this opportunity for two reasons: 1) I believe the Mayor's position should go to someone who has been on the Council because they have more experience to draw on; and 2) because I believe that sometimes one can be a more effective leader when one does not have the restrictions of an official leadership position. There is a lot to be done in Owosso, and I want to be an advocate for change.

I believe Ben Frederick will be a good mayor. For the last several months I have observed him at council meetings, and he seems committed to the mechanics of good decision-making. He wants a good process, as well as a good outcome. I have seen him work hard to ensure that good information is available to the Council, that a variety of opinions are heard, and that the public has access to the process. I have also had the opportunity to talk through several issues with him. It's clear we won't agree on everything, but I feel as if we will be able to communicate well and work toward compromise where needed. That should yield good policy. Several people told me he was ambitious and someday seeks higher office. To me, that is not a bad thing. Drive and commitment are how things get done; a lazy or disinterested Mayor would not serve our community well. Right now, Ben Frederick is our Mayor, and I hope that by working with him we can both accomplish a lot for Owosso.

Cindy Popovitch will be a good second in command. Her performance in the election proves she can connect well with the public, and that will be an important quality as the City moves forward. I am happy that she will get more visibility and recognition for all of her hard work on behalf of Owosso.

It's important to remember that the Mayor has very little power in the city manager form of government that Owosso has. The Mayor's primary function is to chair the meeting, and the Mayor Pro Tem's task is to fill in when the Mayor is absent. As well, the Mayor presides at official functions. Ben and Cindy will do these jobs well. The Mayor makes appointments, and this is an important task; I feel confident that Ben will seek the input of other council members when making appointments.

Again, I am excited about this team, and ready to get to work. We will be immediately busy at our next meeting when we hold a public hearing on an ordinance amendment to eliminate the public safety director position from the city government structure. I have had a few thoughts on this (see earlier posting of my letter to the editor), but I would welcome your thoughts on this topic.

What would be the best structure for the management and operation of Owosso's fire, police, and ambulance services? Please share with me your suggestions.

Thank you for your support.

Let's Talk About the Important Issues

2009-10-23T15:36:00.012-04:00

How can we get our community to focus on the imporant issues? I have a proposal.

One of the key concepts I have taught in Leadership Shiawassee for the last several years is Stephen Covey's idea of "first things first." Life is busy, and often we give our time and energy to issues that are in our face at the moment. Sometimes this is unavoidable, but if we are constantly in a reactive or crisis mode we may overlook those issues which are important, but not necessarily urgent. I believe this is one of the challenges currently faced by our city government.

As I talk with voters, concerns about jobs, the economy and the large number of vacant homes in our community come up often. Recently, I sat down and read through the City Council minutes for the last year (you can follow the link on the lower right side of this blog if you want to do the same). Distressingly, the issues of our economy and foreclosures have come up very rarely. Other topics have also been overlooked.

There may be good reasons for the City Council's time to be taken up with other matters. However, when the issues important to the community are not front and center on the City Council agenda, then it becomes easy for progress to be stalled, for staff to become sidetracked to other issues, and/or for the community (and community partners) to lose sight of the goals the City has for its future.

I have a four part proposal to make First Things First for the Owosso City Council:

1. PRIORITIES Select a few (no more than four or five) key issues to be the top priority for the City in the year (or two) ahead. Such goal setting is the responsibility of the Council, but should be done with the informed guidance of staff and a wide range of community input.

2. PLAN A specific work plan for each of these items should be developed by staff and approved by the Council. For some issues, there is already an outline of a plan (see the Blue Ribbon Committee Report); for others it may be necessary to assign it to a group like the Planning Commission to put together a plan. It is important to not get bogged down in process here. One quick way to achieve a plan for a topic such as economic development would be to hold a one-day summit of key players, partners and the public to identify action goals.

3. PROGRESS Schedule regular reports for City Council meetings on each of the priorities. This helps keep these issues foremost for pubic action, allows the private sector and public partners to align themselves with City efforts, creates accountability for elected officials and City staff, and lets the electorate know what their local government is doing. These reports on important issues should be, literally, at the top of the agenda.

4. PUBLIC INPUT Finally, I would like to see our City Council move to a meeting structure used by the Owosso School Board for several years to help improve dialogue with the community in their decision-making. The idea is for the first meeting of the month to be one of discussion and the subsequent meeting to be one of action. With this format important topics are considered, potential ideas identified, and input sought from the public and interested parties without the pressure of urgent decision-making cutting short discussion. Then two weeks pass in which Council members can seek out public opinions and concerns before taking formal action. Obviously, there are some issues which are straightforward and/or urgent for which this format is not needed, but I do believe it could help Owosso move forward effectively on those issues which are most important to the future of the community.

We elect City Council representatives with the hope that they will take the time to identify, understand and act on the important issues facing our community. I hope these ideas can help keep these first things first on the City's agenda. What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

Public Safety letter to editor

2009-10-10T06:11:00.009-04:00

The following appeared as a letter to the editor

I am running for City Council because I believe our local government needs to take a more comprehensive, informed, and strategic approach to the issues facing our community. Attending recent City Council meetings, I have observed that one such issue is public safety. At the meeting Monday night (Ocotber 5), the City Council had three separate discussions about our police services: 1) possible, though as of yet undefined, reform of the position of the public safety director; 2) options for cooperation with the State Police MAGNET team to reduce drug crimes in our city; 3) the initiation of neighborhood watch programs in response to a community policing grant.

Regardless of the specific merits and challenges with each of these issues, I am concerned that the City Council took up each of these issues in an ad hoc, unprepared, and inconclusive way. We need a comprehensive review and then thoughtful adoption of a strategy for police protection in our community. Public safety (police, fire, ambulance) is the most important service local government provides and the single largest component of the City’s budget.

Rather than making reactive decisions to proposals brought before it, the City Council needs to provide leadership. We need our elected representatives to step back and define priorities and goals for our public safety services, look at the variety of options available to the City, analyze financial implications, and adopt a long-term plan that gets us the best public safety for the least dollars. Most importantly, this public safety plan should be developed with the input of the citizens of Owosso, with the advice of city staff and employee unions, and in consultation with other law enforcement and public safety partners.

I was disappointed that on Monday night the three City Council members currently running for re-election either said nothing during these discussions, asked for basic information about public safety programs, or criticized law enforcement personnel. I was impressed that Councilman Ben Frederick, who is not up for reelection, did his homework and put together the motion to fund the MAGNET program.

It is not surprising that some members of our community feel a need to circulate petitions in an attempt to reform our public safety programs. I generally don’t support petitions because I believe that our elected representatives should be addressing the issues of concern to the public, adopting effective policies, and then ensuring that our tax dollars are well spent in the operation of vital municipal services. That is why I am running for office.

We need City Council representatives that can take a big picture view of issues, are willing to take the time to become informed on matters before it, and then can provide the leadership necessary to put in place effective and comprehensive programs. The City’s difficult budget situation was also mentioned at Monday night’s meeting; if we are to successfully negotiate the stormy financial weather ahead, we need elected representatives that are able to chart a course and stick to it.

I welcome your ideas and questions about public safety, specific police services, and the role of City Council in providing leadership on these and other issues.

My Experience

2009-09-02T21:34:00.005-04:00

I believe that I am prepared and well qualified to serve on the Owosso City Council because of my experience in these important areas:

LEADERSHIP - I am one of the co-founders of Leadership Shiawassee and for the past 13 years I have been one of the facilitators/instructors of this program that helps prepare and inspire community leaders. In addition, I have held a number of leadership positions including Chair of the Memorial Healthcare Board of Trustees and Chair of the Shiawassee Great Start Collaborative for early childhood.

VISION - I served on the City of Owosso's Blue Ribbon Commission which provided strategic direction to the City Council. I have also played an active role in several other community visioning exercises (e.g. Mayor's Community Forum, Team 21, Quality of Life Initiative).

SERVICE - I was named Citizen of the Year by the Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce in recognition of my service to the community. I am also a member of the Owosso Rotary Club, whose motto is "service above self."

EXPERTISE - I have a college degree in City Planning and worked for three years as a Deputy Director at the California Department of Housing and Community Development. I also served on the City of Owosso Planning Commission.

COMMITMENT - I was the co-chair of the Join the Courageous Campaign to build a new cancer center at Memorial Healthcare. In 2006, I raised funds for The Nature Conservancy in Michigan by completing a 460-mile hike across the Upper Peninsula.

GO GREEN - I was a co-founder of the Friends of the Shiawassee River and have participated in their river clean-ups and other activities for over 10 years.

Six Important Issues

2009-09-01T20:54:00.008-04:00

I am motivated to run for Owosso City Council primarily because I feel an obligation to serve my community. However, there are six issues (or opportunities) that I believe the City Council needs to address, and I am committed to pursuing these issues if elected:

ECONOMIC GROWTH – unemployment in our community is at the highest level in decades. Our first priority as a City must be to help the private sector create new jobs. I believe we can make Owosso an even better place to start a business or grow an exisitng one. I have been involved with the Shiawassee Economic Development Partnership since its beginning, and as a part owner of a small business (Wolverine Sign) I understand what the City can do to help industry and commerce grow.

TAX EFFICIENCY – we need to ensure that public tax dollars are well spent in the delivery of municipal services and the promotion of growth. In the current economic climate, the community cannot afford new taxes. Instead, we need to take a close and reasoned look at the services the City provides and figure out ways to reduce costs and serve the public in the most efficient way possible. I also feel that the City has an important role to play in making sure that your federal and state tax dollars are well spent. Some grants are appropriate for our community; others are not. When we secure outside funding, we need to spend these tax dollars in the most effective way to promote economic growth.

HOUSING – we need to protect residential property values in Owosso by promoting homeownership and reducing the number of vacant homes in our neighborhoods. There are a record number of foreclosed and for-sale homes in our community. We need to ensure that these homes do not create a blight in our neighborhoods and we need to take action to help these homes be sold to new homeowners. The City has not taken advantage of private and public programs to reduce foreclosures, promote homeownership, and ensure quality rental housing. I worked for several years as a Deputy Director in the California Department of Housing and Community Development and I will use my expertise to improve our neighborhoods.

QUALITY OF LIFE – we need to create more recreational and cultural activities for youth, families, and residents and tourists of all ages. Owosso has some great parks, but we have not organized ourselves well to maintain or improve our recreational facilities. The loss of Holman Pool was very unfortunate. Likewise, the City could play a much more positive role in encouraging cultural activities for our residents. The loss of the Lebowsky Center was also unfortunate. I would like to work with the public and private sectors to help rebuild a Shiawassee Performing Arts Center, provide a pool, and improve other cultural and recreational opportunities. I think there is an opportunity to work with neighboring local governments and community organizations to help improve the quality of life for all our area residents.

RECYCLING – we need to find a way to promote curbside recycling of household and yard waste. People are concerned with burning in Owosso, and I believe we can help reduce the need for burning if we provide better and more frequent pick up of yard wastes. I also think it is possible to provide curbside recycling of household waste. I will also look into other ways to have Owosso Go Green!

COMMUNICATION - whatever policy issues come before the City Council, I believe our elected representatives have an obligation to engage in respectful, two-way communication with voters, residents, businesses, and all the affected parties. If elected, I pledge to be both a good listener and to share what I learn by serving. I will make time available, attend community meetings, and use this blog and other forms of communication to exchange information and opinions. The more we all know, the better decisions we can make for our future.

MY GOAL is to make Owosso an even better place to live, raise a family, retire, start a business, pursue a career, and enjoy life in a small town. I hope you will join me in this effort.

Why I Am Running for City Council

2009-08-18T20:11:00.005-04:00

I'm a fan of Owosso. I grew up here and graduated from Owosso High School. After a career as a city planner and housing specialist I returned to Owosso to raise a family (the picture shows my children, Abbie and Gus, and my wife, Anna Owens, at the most recent river clean-up.) I believe we all have an obligation to serve the community and country in which we live, and I have done so for 15 years as a representative on various committees for the City, as a board member of local non-profits, and as a volunteer for several community causes. I now feel it is time for me to serve in elected local government.

The City of Owosso has a proud history and a future full of potential, but I believe we are at crossroads for our community. For the first time in 60 years, the population of Owosso has dipped below 15,000 residents. We are facing difficulty economic times with too many empty houses in our neighborhoods and too many empty storefronts in our downtown. However, we can take action to invigorate our local economy, improve the quality of life for our residents, and engage the community in building a better future. But a brighter tomorrow is not guaranteed. With new staff and new programs at City Hall, we need leadership and vision on the City Council in order to make the most of the opportunities. The community cannot afford new taxes, so it is also important that we have expertise in positions of responsibility to ensure that tax dollars are spent efficiently to most effectively deliver municipal services and promote growth.

I hope you will share your ideas about how to make Owosso better and join me in shaping the future of our community. Thank you for your support.