Countywide transit authority creation delayed with amendment by Washtenaw County commissioners
After two months of debating changes to the articles of incorporation for a new county-wide transit authority, the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners approved its end of a four-party agreement Wednesday night - but tacked on a last-minute amendment that will further delay the creation of an authority.
In a narrow 6-4 vote, commissioners approved the four-party agreement that included a new amendment to the articles of incorporation to call for a four-fifths majority of the new transit authority board to approve changes to their articles, instead of a two-thirds majority as originally written.
Though the vote to add the amendment was unanimous, Commissioners Alicia Ping, Wesley Prater, Dan Smith and Rob Turner voted against the resolution for the four-party agreement. Commissioner Rolland Sizemore Jr. was absent.
The vote means the agreement will now have to go back to the other parties involved - the Ann Arbor Transit Authority’s Board of Directors and the city councils of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti - to approve as amended.
“I’m not in support of the resolution, but I feel this will pass anyways,” Ping said earlier in the meeting.
Rob Turner
Lisa Allmendinger | AnnArbor.com
The governments of both Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti debated the articles of incorporation at length and each made changes to them as they saw fit.
The county board was the last of the four parties in the agreement to vote on the measure after it won the approval of the other members.
Commissioners spent hours debating amendments to the articles of incorporation - most of which were proposed by Commissioner Smith - but in the end had decided against using any of them in the spirit of moving the four-party agreement to a total consensus so AATA could move forward quickly with filing the articles of incorporation to create the new entity.
“I have no problems with the role of public transit. We have a largely ministerial role in this process, in adopting the articles of incorporation,” Smith said. “I am not satisfied with the articles of incorporation as they stand for the previous reasons I discussed.”
Leah Gunn
“Local governments without much representation in the authority could have the structure of the authority change without their voice,” Turner said, expressing his concern for the more remote areas of the county he represents.
Commissioner Leah Gunn immediately responded to his proposed amendment.
“Asking a board of directors to have to be unanimous would be unfair,” Gunn said.
Gunn suggested an amendment to Turner’s proposed amendment, that would change the requirement to a four-fifths majority of the board - a move that later won the full approval of the rest of the commissioners.
“I keep hearing from Gunn about how much Ann Arbor is sacrificing for this, and it just sounds like an Ann Arbor authority that’s allowing the outside areas to come in,” Turner said. “That bothers me, it’s not going to be a county authority. I’m going to have to vote no on this, and that breaks my heart.”
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
Veracity
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 : 5:51 a.m.
The 4-Party County Authority (4-PTA) will exist only if a millage (probably a half mill) is passed by voters of the four participants. Once established all AATA moneys from state and federal grants as well as the 2.05 millage will be controlled by the board members of the 4-PTA. Of the 15 board members, Ann Arbor will have only minority representation with 7 board members. Therefore, the 4-PTA board can use AATA funds to finance operations outside of Ann Arbor. The board can even provide formerly AATA funds to the Washtenaw Corridor Improvement Authority (WCIA) which will institute its "Re-Imaging Washtenaw" program. But most likely the money given to the WCIA will be used to entice and support developers who build along Washtenaw Avenue. And when the 4_PTA board reassigns AATA funds, transportation services within Ann Arbor will be curtailed in proportion to services supported elsewhere. The only way that Ann Arbor citizens can prevent the reassignment of its transportation funding and associated transportation dislocations is to defeat the millage proposal when it comes up for a vote.
Madeleine Borthwick
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 6:20 p.m.
Until AATA addresses the JOKE that "night ride" has become, nothing else they do matters much to me. inside the Ride Guide(route and schedule information), there is a section under the heading of "Night Ride" that clearly states "all night ride trips must begin OR END in Ann Arbor." I know people who have been stranded because BLUE CAB has repeatedly violated this. I have heard the stories from other people who waited for several hours for their "night ride" because of lost orders, from people whose "night ride" never showed up at all. this never used to happen when Yellow Cab had the Night Ride(note the absence of quotation marks)contract. Since BLUE CAB took it over, it has become a pathetic joke. Not that I think it's funny. BLUE CAB needs to lose this contract, NOW. until/unless this happens, "Night Ride" will continue to be a mess, and people will continue to be stranded because BLUE CAB continues to ignore the rules. AA.com, I hope that you won't delete this, even though the content isn't as rosy as you would doubtless like it to be. Those of us who depend on AATA for most of our transportation needs have a right to know about what BLUE CAB has been doing all these years.
Tanzor
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
AATA's currently operation is tax payer subsidize to the tune of 24,000,000 dollars per year. AATA's five year expansion plan will require 38,000,000 dollars in capital and increase operating cost by 13,000,000 dollars per year. AATA's incredible appetite for tax payer money is disturbing to say the least. Take the "Nite Ride" program as an example, AATA pays Blue cab over 500,000 dollars a year to provide cab service, in turn Blue cab charges 5 dollars a ride. There are several cab services available in Ann Arbor, why does AATA need to "subsidize" cab service? If someone needs a "Nite Ride" why can't they just call a cab and pay the fare? Uncontrolled spending is killing this country; the majority of the AATA's 24,000,000 dollar subsidy is "government funds". Our national debt is approximately 15.9 trillion dollars and climbing, approximately 40% of every dollar our government spends is borrowed.
pest
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.
Those that vote FOR this - I will vote AGAINST. Way to costly and only benefits a very small percentage.
TAG
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
I believe in and support appropriate frequent service public transit in high population areas such as A2 and Ypsi. I believe a county wide system is way to costly, for what it might provide considering the relatively low population density and distances involved.
G. Orwell
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
Politicians are selling out the voters by giving this "Authority" far too much power. People need to take back their government. Vote all thosed supporting this out of office.
DennisP
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 2:04 p.m.
RUKiddingMe: From Michigan Compiled Laws 124.458 at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(dblycbr1yczyhj45rsbesg45))/mileg.aspx?page=getobject&objectname=mcl-124-458 The people don't have a direct vote on this. The Authority is created solely by resolution of the political subdivisions involved, in this instance: Ann Arbor, Ypsi, Washtenaw County. It appears that Washtenaw County can act on behalf of all the towns and cities in its borders in initiating the Authority. Each township, etc then has 30 days to withdraw after receiving notice of the formation of the authority. A political sudivision involved directly in the formation of the authority (AA, Ypsi, County) has 30 days after the articles are finalized to withdraw. There is no popular vote required. Withdrawal would be by act of the township supervisors, city councils, etc. After 30 days it becomes difficult and expensive for member communities to withdraw. They can only withdraw if approved by a 2/3 or greater vote of the remaining member divisions or by an election called through petition signed by 20% of the voters in the county or other member political division. The election must be held before the expiration of any tax imposed to finance the authority. If voters approve withdrawal, the political subdivision must remain part of the authority until the tax expires and the tax must continue until then. In addition, any other the subdivision has to pay any other costs it may be obliged to pay under terms of the agreement. In other words, after 30 days it will be very difficult for any community to withdraw from the authority and it could be expensive to do so. This authority will have taxing authority up to 5 mils on property in the borders of the authority. Voters must approve of the tax. MCL 124.459 and 124.468
Ken
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
The smaller Townships and Villages have the opportunity to walk away from this during the "opt Out" period. Now is the time to talk to your Township Trustees and Village Council.
RUKiddingMe
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 6:22 p.m.
DennisP, thanks very much for the info; it is greatly appreciated. It seems like the A2 council folks have already committed to this, so even a mass showing of disapproval by A2 voters won't do anything. That's awful. Everyone not in favor of this should remember to vote.
dotdash
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 3:46 p.m.
What if the voters do not approve the tax? What happens then?
Mike
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 1:25 p.m.
You better hurry. The roads are being narrowed and we'll need buses to get around because the roads will be unable to handle the capacity necessary............
Ron Granger
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
This new authority is going to raise taxes on us and force us to pay for transit in other communities. Just watch.
RUKiddingMe
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 11 a.m.
I sure do hope more people vote no. This should not happen. Is there any way for the average citizens to stop this, or is this just going to happen no matter what? Like the millions spent on the train station already?
LXIX
Thu, Aug 2, 2012 : 10:53 a.m.
A pig in a poke? how about a cig in a coke ? Almost as digestable and nutritious as this proposal is to the happy taxpayers.