Resources
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How to take Minutes For Administrative Decisions
Published on May 31, 2016
Taking minutes for the county board, city council or township board is one task. But the job of taking minutes for an administrative body (like a planning commission, zoning board, appeals board) is very different. -
Freedom of Information Act
Published on May 31, 2016
The Freedom of Information Act applies to nearly all records of a planning/zoning department, planning commissions, zoning boards and zoning boards of appeals. Includes 2018 amendments. -
Elected Officials: Dealing with Constituent Complaints on Planning and Zoning Issues.
Published on May 31, 2016
Elected officials frequently hear from constituents who are unhappy with a decision concerning a zoning permit, site plan, or the enforcement of a zoning ordinance. -
Anti-S.L.A.P.P. Bills introduced in State House
Published on May 31, 2016
Discussion on law suits filed to stifle public participation at public meetings Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (S.L.A.P.P.). A public policy paper by Gary Taylor. -
Legacy Costs Facing Michigan Municipalities
Published on January 26, 2016
An update to the 2013 Report: Funding the Legacy -- The Cost of Municipal Workers' Retirement Benefits to Michigan Communities. -
Sources of Information for Forest Products Exporting
Published on November 23, 2015
When managers of small or medium sized businesses initially investigate exporting, one of their most important and time-consuming tasks is gathering information about international business. -
Beyond State Takeovers: Reconsidering the Role of State Government in Local Financial Distress ...
Published on November 11, 2015
This report’s practical recommendations are aimed at assisting the C.S. Mott Foundation, state and local officials, and Michigan residents in identifying a more effective policy and legal approach to local fiscal crises. -
Flint Fiscal Playbook: An Assessment of the Emergency Manager Years (2011-2015)
Published on November 11, 2015
This case study seeks to understand the economic and fiscal trends that led to state receivership and analyzes the impacts of the emergency manager policy on the city’s fiscal health. It updates trends presented in a previous case study. -
Knowledgeable Navigation to Avoid the Iceberg: Considerations in Proactively Addressing School District Fiscal Stress in Michigan
Published on June 20, 2015
This paper proposes a proactive, evidence-based financial health indicator system that may prevent many school districts from severe fiscal crisis. Fifty-seven Michigan school districts ended 2014 with a deficit or projected deficit. -
4-H Citizenship: Government Is Us! A Civic Engagement Curriculum for Youth Groups
Published on April 16, 2015