Important City Council meeting tonight
phi...@mindspring.com
Ann Arbor City Council will vote tonight (Monday) on the Transit Master
Plan that was previously tabled. There is some resistance to
this plan by several members on the council. There is a public comment
period before the vote. Anyone who can, please attend to speak on
behalf of the AATA Master Plan to be sure our position is heard and
council knows that there is broad public support for this.
The council session begins at 7pm.
Thank You,
Pete Hines
Nancy Shore
More specifically, City Council needs to hear that residents support the
City moving forward with the 4-Party Agreement. That's what they are voting
on tonight. Moving forward with the 4-party agreement allows the Transit
Master Plan process to continue. This does not mean that funding has been
secured. When and if there is need for a millage vote, that will be brought
to the voters as well. So a vote to support the 4 party agreement is a vote
to move forward with the master plan process.
For more info, you can visit http://movingyouforward.org/
--Nancy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nancy Shore
Director, getDowntown Program
For all of the latest downtown Ann Arbor commuting news, follow us on
Twitter @getdowntown and like us on Facebook facebook.com/getdowntown
518 E. Washington
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
email: na...@getdowntown.org
work: 734-214-0114
cell: 734-747-1108
fax: 734-668-2525
Thank You,
Pete Hines
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Vivienne Armentrout
a new authority, called an Act 196 authority. The Transit Master Plan
is a parallel process that is already going forward (a number of its
components have already been implemented). The proponents of the new
authority believe that restructuring our local transit authority under
Act 196 will enhance expansion into a more regional transit system.
It is important to note that the 4-party agreement, once passed by all
parties (Ann Arbor is the first to pass it, assuming that happens
tonight or in the near future) (The other three parties are Ypsilanti
City, AATA, and Washtenaw County), is a binding contract, though it has
many contingencies. It is not just "a framework for discussion" though
it is being widely characterized as that.
Sabra Briere, who favors the Transit Master Plan, has written a briefing
"white paper" on the subject.
http://gallery.mailchimp.com/0099f6fb814a0d1b1def0fe74/files/AATA_Master_Plan_brief.pdf
Another bit of information: Tonight includes a public hearing on the
subject. That means that it is not necessary to sign up for public
comment. It also means that as many people as wish to can speak.
Vivienne
LuAnne Bullington
"Let's be very clear what is in the agreement before Council. The agreement
obligates the city to transfer the present tax millage to a new county
transportation authority. It further requires that the assets of the AATA,
our buses, the bus station etc be turned over to this transportation
authority. The city will have representatives on the board of the
transportation authority, but only a minority representation. The agreement
is written like the sale of a property, the city is required to do these
things after contingencies are removed.
Let's also be clear what the agreement does not do. It does not guarantee
that the current level of service in the city of Ann Arbor will be
maintained. It does not guarantee that the present Ann arbor millage will be
spent in the city of Ann Arbor. Perhaps the most significant problem is that
the agreement does not provide a means for Ann Arbor to withdraw, with a
return of the millage and assets, if the county transportation authority
proves unsatisfactory to the citizens of Ann Arbor."
Nancy Shore
I don't have a comment to add, but I would encourage folks to check out this
Myths and Facts sheet about the agreement for more information:
http://movingyouforward.org/Media/Files/Public-Transportation-Agreement-Myth
s-and-Facts
Vivienne Armentrout
supported by the facts. Here is just one:
"MYTH: Ann Arbor will not be able to unilaterally withdraw from the
Public Transportation Agreement.
FACT: Ann Arbor is NOT obligated to join or participate in the transit
authority. The Public Transportation Agreement merely provides a
transparent framework for discussions to continue and sets clear goals
that must be met before a new transit authority can be created. Nothing
else."
But if you read the agreement, you will see that it is a contractual
commitment. Once signed by all parties, it does not differ from any
other contract in that it imposes certain requirements and actions on
the signatories.
What it does is to set the stage for the county to pass Articles of
Incorporation for the Act 196 authority. If you read those (still in
draft form) you will see that it calls for the County to file them
immediately. Once they are filed, according to Act 196, the authority
is established and has many powers, as does any authority. It will have
a board that can enter into agreements, accept grants, apply for loans,
and levy any legal taxes.
The one out for Ann Arbor at that point is that each unit of government
in the county has 30 days to "opt out". That appears to be the ONLY
opportunity for Ann Arbor to withdraw.
There are many versions and many amendments floating around, so it is
difficult at this point to make statements, The one currently before
council has an amendment that transfer of assets (AATA's hard capital
assets, financial assets, and the Ann Arbor millage) cannot take place
until Ann Arbor voters vote for a "countywide" public funding measure,
presumably a millage. But if such a millage does pass countywide, Ann
Arbor's taxpayers would still have to pay the additional millage (I have
this from an attorney).
I regret that AATA has taken its advocacy to this level. We may
disagree on the policy decisions (should Ann Arbor pay for transit to
other communities? Or not?) and we may not see the future in the same
way (will the current plans for commuter rail create a problem for the
bus service?) but we should not be misrepresenting the effect of
documents executed in plain language.
Vivienne
LuAnne Bullington
HE has plans to create a multi county Regional Bus Rapid Transit Service and
his service would include Washtenaw County. He will create it through
proposed legislation.
The Governor's multi county transit system, which includes Oakland, Macomb,
Wayne and Washtenaw Counties would be able to pass bonds, levy taxes and
float loans.
The Mayor of the City of Ann Arbor ALSO wants to create an additional multi
county transit service which would include Livingston (in year 3) and
Washtenaw Counties, using his resolution to create a "framework". His new
transit authority would be able to pass bonds, levy taxes and float loans
too.
If the Mayor's new regional transit service passes, the City of Ann Arbor
and Ypsilanti tax payers could be on the hook for a triple whammy in tax
burdens. The rest of the county could be hit twice to support the Mayor's
along with the Governor's proposed, regional transit services. Included in
the Governor's legislation is a plan that may NOT permit any OPT OUTS.
The Mayor's resolution needs to be postponed until people living in Ann
Arbor, Ypsilanti and all of Washtenaw County can see the details in the
Governor's proposed, regional transit service along with the details in the
Mayor's proposed, regional transit service.
LuAnne Bullington
Isn't some or all of your funding coming through AATA?
Nancy Shore
Yes it is. And I am an AATA employee.
LuAnne Bullington
And you are extremely good at your job.
Vivienne Armentrout
shows getDowntown has had success in increasing bus and bike commuting
downtown.
On 1/23/2012 2:07 PM, LuAnne Bullington wrote:
>
> And you are extremely good at your job.
>
> *From:*wb...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf
> Of *Nancy Shore
> *Sent:* Monday, January 23, 2012 1:50 PM
> *To:* wb...@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* RE: [WBWC] Do we REALLY know what is in that agreement?
>
> Yes it is. And I am an AATA employee.
>
> On Jan 23, 2012 1:46 PM, "LuAnne Bullington" <lua...@comcast.net
> <mailto:lua...@comcast.net>> wrote:
>
> Hi Nancy,
> Isn't some or all of your funding coming through AATA?
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>
> [mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf Of
> Nancy Shore
> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 11:33 AM
> To: wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: RE: [WBWC] Do we REALLY know what is in that agreement?
>
> Hello all,
> I don't have a comment to add, but I would encourage folks to check
> out this
> Myths and Facts sheet about the agreement for more information:
> http://movingyouforward.org/Media/Files/Public-Transportation-Agreement-Myth
> s-and-Facts
> <http://movingyouforward.org/Media/Files/Public-Transportation-Agreement-Myth%0d%0as-and-Facts>
> --Nancy
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Nancy Shore
> Director, getDowntown Program
>
> For all of the latest downtown Ann Arbor commuting news, follow us on
> Twitter @getdowntown and like us on Facebook facebook.com/getdowntown
> <http://facebook.com/getdowntown>
>
> 518 E. Washington
> Ann Arbor, MI 48104
> email: na...@getdowntown.org <mailto:na...@getdowntown.org>
> work: 734-214-0114 <tel:734-214-0114>
> cell: 734-747-1108 <tel:734-747-1108>
> fax: 734-668-2525 <tel:734-668-2525>
> <http://facebook.com/getdowntown>
>
> 518 E. Washington
> Ann Arbor, MI 48104
> email: na...@getdowntown.org <mailto:na...@getdowntown.org>
> work: 734-214-0114 <tel:734-214-0114>
> cell: 734-747-1108 <tel:734-747-1108>
> fax: 734-668-2525 <tel:734-668-2525>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>
> [mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>] On Behalf Of
> phi...@mindspring.com <mailto:phi...@mindspring.com>
> Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 10:04 AM
> To: wb...@googlegroups.com <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>
> Subject: [WBWC] Important City Council meeting tonight
>
>
> Ann Arbor City Council will vote tonight (Monday) on the Transit
> Master Plan
> that was previously tabled. There is some resistance to this plan by
> several members on the council. There is a public comment period
> before the
> vote. Anyone who can, please attend to speak on behalf of the AATA Master
> Plan to be sure our position is heard and council knows that there is
> broad
> public support for this.
>
> The council session begins at 7pm.
>
> Thank You,
> Pete Hines
>
>
>
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Washtenaw Bicycling and Walking Coalition" group.
> To post to this group, send email to wb...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:wb...@googlegroups.com>.
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> wbwc+uns...@googlegroups.com
> <mailto:wbwc%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com>.
> For more options, visit this group at
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>
>
> --
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>
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>
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>
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