Fiscal, Environmental Sustainability Focus of Congress’s First Year
July 30, 2009
DETROIT – The Millennial Mayors Congress set the direction for its first year of operation last week, deciding to address the fiscal and environmental sustainability of its member communities. Community reinvestment and energy efficiency topped the action agenda articulated by the members. Additionally, the group called for increased and more flexible investments in the region by state and federal agencies to help address a systemic municipal finance crisis.
“The economic future that young people want is one in which environmental sustainability and economic development go hand-in-hand,” said Andy Wakeland, Millennial Representative from Madison Heights. “Focusing on sustainability can produce many opportunities for stimulating our regional economy, and we need to be proactive about taking advantage of them if we expect metro Detroit to be viable 20 years from now.”
Fiscal stability of local governments emerged as a top concern of the group—a concern they plan to address in a limited but measurable way at the local level by pursuing cost savings through energy efficiency and conservation measures. Local action will likely be complemented by a call for state action to remediate flaws in the municipal finance structure that severely constrain local budgets.
“It’s become an essential quality of life issue,” said Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley, the chair of the Congress. “If we are to create attractive communities in a vibrant metropolitan region, we need to be able to provide the essential services that people expect in a community.”
Besides addressing the top concerns of financial stability for communities, representatives hope the initiative will help the region overcome its “Rust Belt” image and appeal to young, mobile workers who tend to prefer regions with a “green” reputation. Maximizing the impact of economic investment and job creation in this regard will be another key focus of the Congress. It plans to explore opportunities for attracting green investment and industries to the region, developing the workforce, encouraging start-ups and entrepreneurial efforts, and incentivizing green building.
“By building sustainability and efficiency into our policies and practices, we can simultaneously address some of the most pressing issues facing the communities of metro Detroit,” said Pixley. “Our critical priorities—reducing expenses, transitioning the regional economy, creating jobs, and attracting and retaining talent—decidedly intersect the issues of energy and sustainability.”
The executive committee of the Congress will begin working next month to explore possible actions, partnerships and tools for implementation. By the end of the year, Congress representatives plan to adopt a resolution outlining specific outcomes that each participating community will commit to pursue.
Ideas and suggestions about initiatives, strategies and partnerships are welcome. Please submit them to Sharon Carney at sharon@suburbsalliance.org.
DETROIT – The Millennial Mayors Congress set the direction for its first year of operation last week, deciding to address the fiscal and environmental sustainability of its member communities. Community reinvestment and energy efficiency topped the action agenda articulated by the members. Additionally, the group called for increased and more flexible investments in the region by state and federal agencies to help address a systemic municipal finance crisis.
“The economic future that young people want is one in which environmental sustainability and economic development go hand-in-hand,” said Andy Wakeland, Millennial Representative from Madison Heights. “Focusing on sustainability can produce many opportunities for stimulating our regional economy, and we need to be proactive about taking advantage of them if we expect metro Detroit to be viable 20 years from now.”
Fiscal stability of local governments emerged as a top concern of the group—a concern they plan to address in a limited but measurable way at the local level by pursuing cost savings through energy efficiency and conservation measures. Local action will likely be complemented by a call for state action to remediate flaws in the municipal finance structure that severely constrain local budgets.
“It’s become an essential quality of life issue,” said Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley, the chair of the Congress. “If we are to create attractive communities in a vibrant metropolitan region, we need to be able to provide the essential services that people expect in a community.”
Besides addressing the top concerns of financial stability for communities, representatives hope the initiative will help the region overcome its “Rust Belt” image and appeal to young, mobile workers who tend to prefer regions with a “green” reputation. Maximizing the impact of economic investment and job creation in this regard will be another key focus of the Congress. It plans to explore opportunities for attracting green investment and industries to the region, developing the workforce, encouraging start-ups and entrepreneurial efforts, and incentivizing green building.
“By building sustainability and efficiency into our policies and practices, we can simultaneously address some of the most pressing issues facing the communities of metro Detroit,” said Pixley. “Our critical priorities—reducing expenses, transitioning the regional economy, creating jobs, and attracting and retaining talent—decidedly intersect the issues of energy and sustainability.”
The executive committee of the Congress will begin working next month to explore possible actions, partnerships and tools for implementation. By the end of the year, Congress representatives plan to adopt a resolution outlining specific outcomes that each participating community will commit to pursue.
Ideas and suggestions about initiatives, strategies and partnerships are welcome. Please submit them to Sharon Carney at sharon@suburbsalliance.org.
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