Michigan
Governor Rick Snyder signed a series of bills Wednesday, all specific to his
agenda for improving the City of Detroit.
Describing
the public lighting situation in the City of Detroit as “simply unacceptable,”
Governor Rick Snyder signed three bills Wednesday to create the Detroit
Lighting Authority, the creation of a Board to oversee the Authority, and the
funding mechanism for the Authority.
The
Authority will be composed of five members, two appointed by City Council, two
appointed by the Mayor, and one appointed by the Council chosen from a list
provided by the Mayor. The package of bills was House
Bill 5688 (now Public Act 392), House
Bill 5705 (now PA 393), and Senate
Bill 970 (PA 394).
A five bill package to create the Southeast Michigan Regional
Transit Authority was also signed, providing for a single body to coordinate
and facilitate all public transportation in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and
Wayne counties. The legislation, Senate Bills 445,
909,
911,
912,
and 967
(now Public Acts 387 – 391), asks voters to approve a vehicle registration fee
to support the region’s public transportation and provides for local control of
the Authority’s finances and decision making.
House Bills 5926
and 5463
were also signed, now Public Acts 395 and 396, respectively. HB 5926 provides
nonprofit organizations, such as Detroit’s Eastern Market, the ability to apply
for loans and grants under the Community Revitalization Program, while HB 5463 permits Detroit Downtown Development
Authority Funds to be directed to a new downtown arena for the Detroit Red
Wings.