Grand Rapids Government & Legislative Affairs Summary 2023-2024
The City of Grand Rapids Government & Legislative Affairs office, led by Karyn Ferrick, focuses on managing legislative priorities at state and federal levels, advocating for statutory changes aligned with the city's strategic plan, and securing direct funding. The legislative team, including Mayor Bliss and Commissioners O'Connor and Ysasi, collaborates on setting the legislative agenda. Accomplishments in 2023 include expanding civil rights protections, establishing a land bank, and securing funding for various city projects.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS KARYN FERRICK
GOVERNMENT & LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICE PRIMARY FOCUS Legislative liaison and lobbyist for the City. Manage all City legislative priorities for both state and federal government which includes the creation, elimination or modification of legislation consistent with the City s strategic plan. Facilitate the adoption of a legislative priority agenda by the full City Commission. Collaborate with stakeholders, legislators and partners to find common goals and advocate on behalf of the City for statutory changes that are consistent with the City s strategic plan. Advocate for state and federal direct funding including coordinating Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Funded Project requests during the annual federal appropriations process. Manage and oversee the City s lobbyist contracts at the state and federal level. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 2
CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS LEGISLATIVE TEAM The team includes Mayor Bliss, Commissioner O Connor, and Commissioner Ysasi, City Manager, Government & Legislative Affairs. The team makes recommendations for the legislative priority agenda and provides input on advocating for legislative, policy, and funding priorities on behalf of the City. Government & Legislative Affairs: Acts as the liaison between the City and state and federal government and elected officials and their staff; Provides regular legislative, policy, and regulatory updates on legislative and budgetary items to the City Manager and the Legislative Team; and Coordinates advocacy and staff testimony before legislative committees and staff participation on key commissions and task forces. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 3
SUMMARY OF 2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS Public Act 6 of 2023 expanded the Elliott Larsen Civil Rights Act to add sexual orientation and gender identity or expression to categories statutorily protected from discrimination under the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. Public Act 52 of 2023 authorized cities and townships with a population over 50,000 in a county where there isn t a land bank to establish their own land bank. Public Act 119 of 2023 included direct funding for the City s 3rd Ward, $35M for fire stations and $6M for the MLK Park Lodge. Public Act 90 of 2023 codified amendments to the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to expand the definition of eligible activity to include housing development activities. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 4
SUMMARY OF 2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY ACCOMPLISHMENTS (continued) Public Act 89 of 2023 amends the Brownfield Redevelopment Financing Act to make necessary changes and allow additional transformational brownfield projects in our City like Factory Yards. Public Acts 81-88 of 2023, Proposal 2 implementation Prop 2 passed in November of 2022 and created a fundamental right to vote in Michigan and several voting rights expansions. Public Acts 229-235 of 2023, Clean Energy and Climate Action These new laws establish for Michigan a 60% renewable energy portfolio standard by 2035 and 100% clean energy standard by 2040, support energy efficiency, electrification and rooftop solar, invest in clean energy jobs, and authorize MPSC to consider climate and equity in regulatory decisions to prioritize the health and well-being of communities as energy production is expanded. House Bill 5048 (Fitzgerald) The City s top priority of authorizing an up to 2% levy for Grand Rapids on hotel/motel accommodations was passed by the legislature and ordered enrolled. The bill has not yet been presented to the Governor for signature. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 5
SUMMARY OF RECENT FEDERAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AWARDED Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) Program - Office of Sustainability and Mobile GR worked with Grand Valley Metro Council in support of GVMC becoming the lead agency for this application for Inflation Reduction Act funding. $1M was awarded, and City of Grand Rapids representatives sit on both the Policy and Technical Advisory Committees and will work in partnership with GVMC toward climate solutions. Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program (BRIC) Emergency Services and Parks & Recreation departments partnered and were recently awarded $14,557 in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that passed through the State for project scoping to perform a hydrologic & hydraulic study at Woodlawn Cemetery. Future application will be submitted for the hazard mitigation of the cemetery. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 6
SUMMARY OF NEW FUNDING OPPORTUNITY APPLICATIONS IN PROCESS $1.6M in Community Project Funding Included for the Butterworth Street Stormwater Project in the House Passed FY 2024 Federal Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The bill is awaiting final passage in the Senate and then will be presented to the President for signature. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program Grants from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to assist in implementing strategies to reduce energy user, fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. Renewable Energy and Electrification Infrastructure Enhancement and Development Grant Funding available through the Michigan Public Service Commission MPSC for the purpose of planning, developing, designing, acquiring, or constructing renewable energy and electrification infrastructure projects. Community Energy Management Program - Financial assistance available through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy EGLE to improve energy management and accelerate the implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 7
LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA AND PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
OVERVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA FOR 2024 Shifting from COVID recovery to prosperity. Deleting items that have been accomplished: 1. Permanent extension of social district enabling legislation, PA 27 of 2022 2. Allowing a city without a county land bank to establish an authority, PA 52 of 2023 3. Providing safe and equitable access to voting, PAs 81-88 of 2023 4. $30M investment in the Amphitheater project, PA 166 of 2022 5. Legislation authorizing cities to levy an excise tax on hotel/motel accommodations, enrolled House Bill 5048 Reorganizing and adding a priority for a total of 5 top legislative priorities for 2024. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 9
PROPOSED TOP 5 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2024 1. 2. River restoration and revitalization project *ADDITIONAL PRIORITY Responsibly protecting the health of all people and the environment through policies and investments that reduce carbon emissions, support climate adaptation and increase climate resiliency, including support for legislation authorizing community solar; enhancing distributed generation and grid reliability; and eliminating any cap on the installation of distributed solar. Fiscal relief, fiscal sustainability, and economic prosperity investment including: Authorizing the collection of a fee on the sale of architectural paint (*ADDED). Reforms to revenue sharing and municipal finance including support for the establishment of a revenue sharing trust fund and public safety and violence prevention fund; and implementing the recommendations of the Trial Court Funding Commission for district court funding reform (these specific initiatives were previously covered but not named). Expand investment options to allow the City to capture a higher return on investments (*ADDED). Restore Headlee s original allowance for upward and downward fluctuations in millage rates. 3. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 10
PROPOSED TOP 5 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2024 (continued) 4. Public safety policy and investments that advance safer communities, transparency, and positive community relationships and trust, with an emphasis on: a. Responsible gun ownership (*NEW). b. Responsible criminal justice reform and police accountability. c. Investment in safe neighborhoods and police relationships. 5. Investment and policies to support increased housing and ensure all residents have safe, stable, and permanent housing. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 11
Feedback from Commission Received feedback from Commissioner Knight that she would like to see specific language that indicates support for a ban on menthol in tobacco products. LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY AGENDA 1/9/2024 12
