Let’s put our priorities in the right place!

[youtube=http://youtu.be/kJQf4B111cg&rel=0&w=575]
[dropshadowbox align=”left” effect=”lifted-both” width=”90%” height=”” background_color=”#efe266″ border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” inside_shadow=”false” ]Farmington Hills is a great place. But we face a lot of challenges. As a member of City Council, I will make sure that your priorities come first. I’ve identified a few key areas that will be critical to maintain Farmington Hills as a vibrant city now and for future generations.[/dropshadowbox]

Fight Foreclosures and Preserve Neighborhoods

Although the housing market has improved, housing foreclosures remain a problem and a potential blight on our neighborhoods.  Farmington Hills should work with the State of Michigan land bank to quickly address abandoned houses that are foreclosed and convert them to occupied, renovated homes.

About 40% of the housing in Farmington Hills are now rental units.  The previous City Council refused to adopt an ordinance that would require inspections of rental homes by City building code experts.  These types of inspections in other tri-County cities have succeeded in maintaining the quality of the housing stock, increasing the safety of rental homes, and stopping foreclosed rental homes from deteriorating residential property values.

As a County Commissioner, I organized a community town hall meeting to advise residents about foreclosure prevention programs.  I also went door to door in senior citizen neighborhoods to spread the word about energy efficiency programs available to seniors.  As a member of the Farmington Hills Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, I worked to stop commercial intrusion into residential neighborhoods.

The City’s Master Plan calls for new incentives for property owners to redevelop their properties.  To implement the Master Plan the City Council will have to adopt new zoning ordinances.  As a Planning Commissioner, I have been working on new zoning ordinances which will keep a significant separation of commercial buildings from residential neighborhoods while providing incentives to business owners to update their buildings.

Improve Mass Transit

Seniors citizens, the disabled, and students rely on SMART bus service for access to medical appointments, grocery stores, classes, and other necessities of daily life.  SMART bus service provides approximately 35,000 trips within Farmington Hills and Farmington to these users.  In addition, SMART provides commuter bus service to downtown Detroit and throughout Oakland County for workers who choose that form of transportation.

The SMART bus millage will expire in 2014.  In 2012, the City Council voted only by a one vote margin to allow Farmington Hills residents the opportunity to vote on whether to continue this vital millage.  Despite approximately 75% of Farmington Hills’ voters voting to approve this millage in 2012, its continuation – and the right of Farmington Hills residents to vote on whether they want the millage – is in jeopardy.  Strong advocates of mass transit are needed on the Farmington Hills City Council.

As a County Commissioner representing Farmington Hills I led the effort to expand bus service throughout Oakland County.   I was the leading spokesman in 2010 and 2012 to encourage the Farmington Hills and Farmington City Councils to put the SMART millage vote on the ballot.

Promote Economic Development

There are too many vacant commercial properties on Orchard Lake Road, Grand River Avenue, and other major thoroughfares in Farmington Hills.  There are also too many commercial properties in Farmington Hills in need of updating and renovation.  As a Planning Commissioner and member of the Grand River Corridor Improvement Authority, I am working on plans and ordinances which would encourage private property owners to reinvest in these buildings.  This will boost Farmington Hills’ property tax base and the property values of adjoining residential neighborhoods.  These plans and ordinances are being developed with the goals of reducing traffic, encouraging walkability, and limiting the size of commercial buildings that are near single family homes.  Ultimately, the City Council will have to adopt these plans and ordinances if they are to take effect.

As a Planning Commissioner, I worked to reduce the time the City review process for proposed development takes – without reducing the quality of that review – so that private property owners can move forward promptly with their efforts to update their properties.

While Farmington Hills is in a better financial condition than many southeast Michigan cities, it still faces challenges in balancing its budget and meeting long-term financial commitments.  The next City Council’s primary focus should be on creating long-term financial stability for the City so that the service offered to residents will be maintained.  My 35 years of local government experience in budgeting and municipal finance will be invaluable in this process.

Protect the Environment

Farmington Hills does a great job in promoting recycling. But it could do better.  The technology now exists to expand recycling opportunities to apartments, condos, and office buildings.  Leadership is needed on the City Council to push these opportunities to the forefront.

As a Planning Commissioner and County Commissioner, I supported efforts to encourage private property owners to adopt “green” building practices that will save money, reduce energy usage, and reduce pollution.   The City Council will have opportunities in the future to consider whether to promote these practices.    As a Planning Commissioner, I supported an ordinance to encourage business to install charging stations for electric vehicles.

Fracking is a fairly new process of forcing oil and natural gas from the ground.  The long-term environmental effects of fracking are still unknown.  While it might be possible to safely conduct fracking in unpopulated areas, it is clearly not appropriate for Farmington Hills.  Residential neighborhoods in the southern part of Farmington Hills have deposits of natural resources underneath their homes.  Every effort should be made to prevent fracking in Farmington Hills.