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SaveMICity - Debra Horner on U-M annual public policy survey - Episode 15

Host:
Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Debra Horner, Project Manager, University of Michigan Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP)

On this episode, the League's Tony Minghine talks with U-M's Debra Horner, who heads up the annual public policy survey conducted by the Center for Local, State, and Urban Policy (CLOSUP). For the past 10 years, CLOSUP has been surveying Michigan's cities, villages, townships, and counties on a variety of topics, including fiscal health, poverty, energy, opioids, and - most recently - relationships on their councils and boards. Based on the survey results, they compile a variety of reports to help municipalities in their policy-making decisions. The data is also available online at http://closup.umich.edu/

Limelight - Matt Resch, Successful ballot proposals - Episode 9

Host:
Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Matt Resch, Founder, Resch Strategies

In August 2018, Michigan saw overwhelming success with hundreds of proposals on local ballots. Of the 847 local proposals Michigan residents voted on, 808 - or 89% - were approved. Michigan residents stepped up to invest in local services. But what makes – or breaks – a local ballot proposal? As more communities explore revenue-generating options, a successful proposal requires significant groundwork, including smart messaging and voter engagement. On this episode of Limelight, Matt Resch, founder of Resch Strategies - a communications, public relations, and issue management firm - shares his on-the-ground expertise. 

Michigan Politics, Huh? - Andrew Brisbo, Exec Dir of Marijuana Regulatory Agency - Episode 19

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Andrew Brisbo, Executive Director, Marijuana Regulatory Agency
Christopher Johnson, General Counsel, Michigan Municipal League
Jennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League

Michigan recently released the emergency rules for adult use/recreational marijuana. In this episode, we talk with Andrew Brisbo, head of the state's Marijuana Regulatory Agency, about some of the specifics and the fast-approaching deadline for communities to opt in or out of permitting recreational marijuana establishments.

SaveMICity - Tony Minghine interview on Craig Fahle Show - Episode 14

Host: 
Craig Fahle

Guest:
Tony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

The League's Tony Minghine appeared on The Craig Fahle Show on Deadline Detroit to discuss municipal finance, our SaveMICity initiative, and our advocacy for major changes in how Michigan funds cities, villages, and townships. Listen to this great interview!

SaveMICity - Monica Galloway, Flint councilmember - Episode 12

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Monica Galloway, Councilmember, Flint

Tony talks with Flint Councilmember Monica Galloway about the impact that lost revenue sharing has had on her city's finances. As she became more aware of the seriousness and complexity of the municipal finance issue, she decided to join the first group of local government officials to become trained as SaveMiCity Ambassadors. The ambassador program provides local officials with the knowledge and presentation skills they need to educate lawmakers and the public on our state's broken municipal finance system. Learn more on our SaveMICity website.

Michigan Politics, Huh? - Former State Rep. Rob VerHeulen - Episode 18

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Former State Rep. Rob VerHeulen (R-Walker)

At the Michigan Municipal League's 2019 Capital Conference, former State Rep. Rob VerHeulen was honored with one of the League's 2019 Legislative Awards of Merit. In the State House, VerHeulen was a tireless advocate of local government through his role helping shape the General Government budget, personal property tax legislation, work on local court funding concerns, and the costs associated with the new Indigent Defense Commission standards. In this episode, VerHeulen talks about what it means to him to be honored by the League for his legislative service.

Limelight - Award winners Paula Zelenko & Mark Vanderpool - Episode 8

Hosts:
Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
Paula Zelenko, Mayor, Burton
Mark Vanderpool, City Manager, Sterling Heights

On this episode of Limelight, we sit down with two of our award winners at the League's 2019 Capital Conference. Paula Zelenko was honored with the Michael A. Guido Leadership and Public Service Award. And Mark Vanderpool was honored with the Jim Sinclair Exceptional Service Award. Learn more about the accomplishments of these two municipal leaders that earned them these distinguished awards.

 

Economics of Place - Dr. Carolyn Lukensmeyer, National Institute for Civil Discourse - Episode 10

Host:
Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guest:
Dr. Carolyn J. Lukensmeyer, Executive Director, National Institute for Civil Discourse

At the Michigan Municipal League's 2019 Capital Conference, Dr. Lukensmeyer was a featured speaker on civil discourse, presenting strategies for tough conversations with community members, councilmembers, and legislators. In this podcast, Dan Gilmartin sits down with Dr. Lukensmeyer to delve a little deeper into navigating the uncertainty of the current political climate. 

Michigan Politics, Huh? - Sen Jim Stamas & Rep. Jim Lilly - Episode 17

Host:
Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:
State Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland)
State Rep. Jim Lilly (R-Macatawa)

State Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland) and State Rep. Jim Lilly (R-Macatawa) were honored with Michigan Municipal League's 2019 Legislators of the Year Award at Capital Conference. On this episode, they talked about the key legislation they've worked on with the League and the value of placemaking in Michigan communities. 

SaveMICity - Lynn Markland, Mich Municipal Exec Pres - Episode 11

Host: Anthony Minghine, Deputy Executive Director & COO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Lynn Markland, Michigan Municipal Executives President and Fenton City Manager

If you visit Fenton, Michigan, you may see a community that seems to be doing pretty well. There are new buildings and businesses downtown and its many restaurants are packed pretty much on any given evening. But Fenton is like any other Michigan community in that just below the surface it’s struggling. Years of disinvestment by the state into Michigan communities has taken its toll on every Michigan community, including Fenton. Fenton City Manager Lynn Markland sits down with the League’s Anthony Minghine to give the “in the trenches” perspective about Michigan’s broken system for funding its communities. Markland is a big supporter of the League’s SaveMICity initiative – so much that the topic of the broken system was recently covered in-depth in Fenton’s local newspaper. Minghine and Markland talk about that and how Markland recently became the 2019 president of the Michigan Municipal Executives. It’s a great conversation and definitely worth your time.