LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES. Tuesday, February 25, :45 a.m. Kent County Administration Building Room 310

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1 LEGISLATIVE AND HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, 7:45 a.m. Kent County Administration Building Room 310 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Dan Koorndyk; Commissioners Tom Postmus, Dick Bulkowski, Marvin Hiddema, Jack Horton, Paul Mayhue, Ted Vonk, Harold Mast, and Kenneth Kuipers ALSO PRESENT: County Administrator Daryl Delabbio; Executive Assistant to the Board Jim Day; Deputy Administrator Al Vanderberg; Assistant Administrator Mary Swanson; Civil Counsel Sherry Batzer; County Lobbyist Becky Bechler, PAA; Management Analysts Erika Rosebrook and Neal Getz; Human Resources Managers Gail Glocheski and Marilyn Beemer; Paralegal Sangeeta Ghosh; Fiscal Services Director Bob White; Undersheriff Jon Hess; Sheriff Department Chief Deputy Tom Hillen; Public Works Director Curt Kemppainen; and Sr. Administrative Specialist Pam Van Keuren NEWS MEDIA: Kyla King, Grand Rapids Press. Chair Koorndyk called the meeting to order at 7:45 a.m. I. PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS REVIEW - 63 rd District Court The Committee and Dona Gillson, District Court Administrator, reviewed the performance measurements for the 63 rd District Court. A copy of the performance measurements is on file in the Board of Commissioner's Office. II. PUBLIC COMMENT None. III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES Mr. Mayhue moved to approve the January 28, 2003, minutes as written. Supported by Mr. Vonk. IV. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE - Becky Bechler, Public Affairs Associates Ms. Bechler reported the Legislature is working under a new Governor, administration and various department directors; and while the Legislature is fairly new itself, it is faced with a very difficult time. The State of Michigan is experiencing the worst deficit it has ever had to deal with and is faced with a $1.7+ billion deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. The challenges for the appropriation process are monumental and these challenges have brought the Legislature to a near standstill. Governor Granholm recently submitted an executive order that included $158 million in cuts, which was approved by the Legislature. Governor Granholm is scheduled to make a budget presentation on March 6. It is anticipated that the Legislature will not raise taxes, but will however increase fees in almost every area, cut out various programs, and budget cuts will continue to be made in every department. It is hopeful that by mid April, once the budget has been presented, the Legislature will begin to focus more on legislative

2 Page 2 issues. Current legislation specific to Kent County such as the Millennium Park oil wells and Hotel/Motel Tax bills are being worked on and any new legislation that is introduced and has a potential to impact Kent County will be monitored. Mr. Mast asked if the cuts that are made this fiscal year would be included with the $1.7 billion cuts for the next fiscal year. Ms. Bechler clarified that the first segment of cuts of $158 million were to the current budget year. Another $1.7 billion in cuts are estimated to be needed for the next fiscal year. Mr. Mayhue asked for an update on the tax rollback and living wage issues. Ms. Bechler explained that there have been discussions on the tax rollback, but the republican legislature has made it very clear they do not intend to address this issue and believes that any slowing down of a rollback would actually be an income tax increase, which they are opposed to. Secondly, it is too early to tell what the outcome of the living wage issue will be and is unsure where the issue stands now with the House or Senate but will obtain and pass this information on the Board. Mr. Horton clarified that the Living Wage bill is a preemption bill, not a mandate, and would prohibit living wage ordinances. Mr. Koorndyk thanked Ms. Bechler for the report. V. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - APPOINTMENT TO BYRON AND GAINES TOWNSHIP LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES Mr. Delabbio stated approval is requested to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to appoint Chair Morren to the Gaines Township Local Development Authority and Commissioner Voorhees to the Byron Township Local Development Authority for terms expiring April 1, This request is proposed to go to the Board on February 27, A summary of the request follows: The township boards of Gaines and Byron, pursuant to Act 281 of the Public Acts of Michigan of 1986, have each established Local Development Finance Authorities (LDFA). The Board of Commissioners is required by the Act to appoint one Commissioner to each Authority for a 4-year term. Chair Morren is currently serving as the Board's appointee to both Authorities. Due to recent redistricting, Chair Morren is recommended to serve on the Gaines Township LDFA and Commissioner Voorhees on the Byron Township LDFA. No cost or funding is required. Mr. Postmus moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to appoint Chair Morren to the Gaines Township Local Development Authority and Commissioner Voorhees to the Byron Township Local Development Authority for terms expiring April 1, 2007.

3 Page 3 Supported by Mr. Horton. Mr. Kuipers asked if LDFA's are comparable to DDA's. Mr. Delabbio replied there are slight differences between the two. LDFA's can be used for special projects or industrial projects and are not limited to downtown, but have the same philosophy of a DDA of using tax increment financing to operate. Mr. Kuipers requested the following: a comparison between the DDA and LDFA, a breakdown of which entities within Kent County have DDA's and/or LDFA's, and which Commissioners are representing them. available. Mr. Delabbio stated that he would be glad to provide this information as soon as it is VI. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - AGRICULTURAL PRESERVATION BOARD APPOINTMENTS Mr. Delabbio stated approval is requested to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to appoint Commissioner Jack Horton; Bill Hirsch, Dennis Heffron, and Jim May (Agricultural Interest); Susan Lovell (Township Government Representative); Gary Postma (Real Estate or Development Interest); and Tom Nederveld (Conservation Interest) to the Kent County Agricultural Preservation Board. This request is proposed to go to the Board on February 27, A summary of the request follows: The Board of Commissioners adopted a Purchase of Development Rights Ordinance on November 26, 2002, which included the establishment of a County Agricultural Preservation Board (APB). Per statutory guidelines and the adopted ordinance, the APB shall consist of (a) one County Commissioner, (b) three individuals with agricultural interests, (c) one representative from township government, (d) one individual with real estate or development interests, and (e) one individual representing local conservation interests. Citizen and Commissioner interest in serving on the APB was solicited in January. Forty-three resumes were received (Agricultural interest - 16; Commissioner - 2; Conservation interest - 9; Real Estate/Development interest - 5; Township government - 11). The APB Subcommittee (Commissioners Koorndyk - Chair, Bulkowski, Horton, and Mast) reviewed all resumes and interviewed 15 candidates. Per the ordinance, members of the APB shall serve 3-year terms, with the exception that the Commissioner shall be designated on an annual basis. Initial terms are staggered (eg. One agricultural rep and the real estate/development rep will serve "one-year" terms ending December 31, 2004). The APB Subcommittee's appointment recommendations to fill the respective slots and the initially staggered terms are:

4 Page 4 Bill Hirsch, Agricultural, through December 31, 2004 Gary Postma, Real Estate/Development, through December 31, 2004 Jack Horton, Commissioner, through December 31, 2004 Dennis Heffron, Agricultural, through December 31, 2005 Susan Lovell, Township, through December 31, 2005 Jim May, Agricultural, through December 31, 2006 Tom Nederveld, Conservation, through December 31, 2006 No cost or funding is required. Mr. Mast moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to appoint Commissioner Jack Horton; Bill Hirsch, Dennis Heffron, and Jim May (Agricultural Interest); Susan Lovell (Township Government Representative); Gary Postma (Real Estate or Development Interest); and Tom Nederveld (Conservation Interest) to the Kent County Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) for the stated terms. Supported by Mr. Postmus. Mr. Mayhue expressed concern that the appointments lack diversity and feels that there should be a more diverse group on the APB given the nature of it and the effects it will have on the Hispanic population as well as African/Americans in the community. Mr. Koorndyk explained that the subcommittee could only work with the applicants that applied for the appointments. The APB is advisory to the Board of Commissioners, so there will be an opportunity for input from all Commissioners. APB. Mr. Kuipers asked if the ordinance prohibits adding a second commissioner to serve on the Mr. Vanderberg explained that the membership was set up in accordance with what the statute calls for as a minimum. The ordinance would be required to be amended to add additional members if desired. Mr. Horton stated that the subcommittee was under the assumption that the APB could not be expanded to allow for more members due to statutory/ordinance language, but believes it may be beneficial to revisit this issue at some point in the future. Mr. Kuipers inquired about how the staggered term limits were arrived at. Mr. Vanderberg commented that the assumption was that it will take most of this year to establish the APB and make it functional. Per the statute, the APB will first need to put together its operating procedures, establish by-laws, establish an application procedure, and develop final criteria before the APB will be fully functional.

5 Page 5 VII. BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS - STANDING RULES Mr. Delabbio stated approval is requested to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to adopt the Standing Rules. This request is proposed to go to the Board on March 13, A summary of the request follows: The Standing Rules were adopted by the Board of Commissioners on April 26, 2001, and subsequently amended on September 13, The Board is required to adopt the Standing Rules no later than the second meeting in April of each odd-numbered year. The Board of Commissioners' Standing Rules Subcommittee (Commissioners Horton, Koorndyk, and Vaughn) reviewed the Standing Rules. Suggestions and changes to the Standing Rules were solicited from all Commissioners in January and February of The proposed Standing Rules are a result of Commissioners' input and routine language reviewed by Civil Counsel. The Standing Rules Subcommittee and Civil Counsel recommend the Standing Rules as presented. No cost or funding is required. Rules. Mr. Postmus moved to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to adopt the Standing Supported by Mr. Mast. Mr. Kuipers asked if Section 4.1, Page 11, item B.7 regarding review of the County s policy and procedures for collective bargaining, and item C regarding the Committee annually reporting its results of the department performance measurements review to the Finance Committee are necessary to keep. Mr. Delabbio replied that there is a formal document prepared each year that includes review of the departments performance measurements, but has not been formally presented on behalf of the Legislative Committee to the Finance Committee. Mr. Mayhue feels the above stated items should remain in the Standing Rules but would like to see more information presented on it. The information on bargaining could especially be necessary and useful in the future. Mr. Mast agreed and reminded the Committee that the Human Resources Department has often provided updates in the past regarding union negotiations. VIII. MISCELLANEOUS

6 Page 6 Budget Parameters Mr. Delabbio informed the Committee that the Finance and Physical Resources Committee established parameters for the 2004 budget and has recommended a one-year moratorium on new positions that would require a general fund appropriation. IX. 9:08 a.m. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business for discussion, Chair Koorndyk adjourned the meeting at ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL FOR DISTRIBUTION prv