ADOPTED - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Agenda Item No. 19

Introduced by the County Services and Finance Committees of the:

INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT FOR THE TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL URBAN/RURAL SERVICE DISTRICT/BOUNDARY COMMITTEE AND THE PURSUIT OF THE 2009 LAND INFORMATION ACCESS ASSOCIATION (LIAA) PARTNERSHIPS FOR CHANGE: SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES GRANT

RESOLUTION #09-297

WHEREAS, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission adopted the “Regional Growth Choices for our Future” report and poster plan; and

WHEREAS, members of the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and other local communities have passed resolutions in support of the Regional Growth Project; and

WHEREAS, the “Regional Growth Choices for Our Future” project, if fully implemented, will:

· Reduce congested lane miles on regional roads by approximately 50% and save taxpayers between 1.6 and 4.8 billion dollars in road improvement costs which would otherwise be required if current trends are unchecked;

· Save the equivalent of three townships of agricultural land and open space;

· Reduce air pollutants by tens of thousands of kilograms per day, leading to public health benefits and lower long term public health costs; and improve the region’s quality of life and economic competitiveness, including urban redevelopment opportunities, in an increasingly global economy greater than would occur under current public policies; and

WHEREAS,  the Urban and  Rural Service Districts/Boundaries (URSD/USB) Committee is an implementation activity of the “Regional Growth Choices for Our Future” project; and

WHEREAS,  the  URSD/USB Committee  and its  members have demonstrated  a multiple year commitment to the study of service boundaries and shared services between jurisdictions; and

WHEREAS, the Committee is pursuing a policy solution to the issue of urban service expansion based on the following elements of regionalism:

ADOPTED - SEPTEMBER 22, 2009

Agenda Item No. 19

RESOLUTION #09-297

· Establishing visions and goals, and setting new policy to achieve those goals;

· Looking at process: using visioning and planning to create a fair structure;

· District and boundary lines that are flexible;

· Collaboration emphasized through voluntary agreement;

· There is a binding trust rather than accountability;

· Empowerment created by the constructive involvement of many communities; and

WHEREAS, the urbanized core communities and the rural communities that surround it are equal partners in this endeavor, the entire region will benefit from the outcome of a successful urban service boundary strategy in terms of the farmland and natural resource protection, savings in infrastructure costs, and air pollution reductions listed above; and

WHEREAS, the Committee is determined to successfully implement an urban service boundary policy that strengthens relationships between local jurisdictions based on trust and equitable distribution of resources; and

WHEREAS, the most efficient manner to declare an equitable policy is to complete a detailed study and analysis of existing implementation strategies.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners declares its support for the Urban/Rural Service District/Boundary Committee and its pursuit of research and grant opportunities related to the successful and equitable development of an urban service boundary policy, including the 2009 Land Information Access Association (LIAA) Partnerships for Change: Sustainable Communities Grant.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board Chairperson is hereby authorized to sign this resolution and transmit it to all other governments and agencies involved in the URSD/USB Committee and related research and grant activities, as an indication that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners supports and endorses this proposed project for the region. 

COUNTY SERVICES:  Yeas:  Celentino, Koenig, Holman, Copedge, Grebner, Vickers

 Nays:  None              Absent:  None             Approved 9/15/09

FINANCE:  Yeas:  Grebner, Bahar-Cook, Tennis, Davis, Dougan

    Nays:  None         Absent:   Nolan        Approved 9/16/09