The Michigan Department of Treasury partnered with the League, Michigan Townships Association, and Michigan Association of Counties for this webinar. Topics include local government economic impacts, state resources, and federal funding information.

Host: Lois Allen Richardson, President, Michigan Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials

Guests:Garlin Gilchrist, Lt. Governor, State of MichiganDr. A. Oveta Fuller, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan

Lt. Governor Gilchrist and Dr. A. Oveta Fuller led a discussion with MBC-LEO members on COVID-19, its impact on the African-American community, and ways that we can help our communities during this crisis.

Host: Matt Bach, Communications Director, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:Chris Hackbarth, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJohn LaMacchia, Asst. Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal LeagueHerasanna Richards, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League

Join us for an informal chat with our Lansing legislative team. This week's topics include the Governor's extension of the stay at home executive order; potential new executive orders regarding OMA/virtual meetings and election signature petitions; new federal legislation in the works to provide financial relief to local governments, and more.

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:Andy Brush, Cyber Security Partnerships, State of Michigan Department of Technology, Management and BudgetJeff Hoffman, Detective Sergeant, Michigan Cyber Command Center

Cyber attacks on municipalities rose aggressively in 2019, exposing cities across the country to massive data breaches, hijacked services, and costing communities millions. 2020 was looking to be more of the same, and now we are faced with supporting and securing a collection of new teleworkers due to COVID-19. Local government databases, utilities, emergency services are all at risk. Local communities often lack the resources and knowledge to fight back. Many municipalities are unaware of the resources and information that is available at the state level. In this webinar, you’ll hear about the impact of cyber attacks on local governments, what state departments are doing to protect your cities from attacks, and learn best practices on how to detect and respond to modern cyber-attacks against our communities in a growing digital world.

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Lisa J. Hamameh, Attorney, Rosati, Schultz, Joppich & Amtsbuechler, PC

On April 5, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-38, which relaxes the requirements for responding to FOIA requests received during the State of Emergency related to COVID-19. The stated purpose of the Executive Order is to protect workers who handle FOIA requests by allowing public bodies to defer all or some portion of requests that would require workers to report to work in-person. This webinar will help you understand how to handle FOIA requests under the relaxed rules and will offer suggestions for best practices.

Host: Emily Kieliszewski, Membership Engagement Specialist, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: Stephen Goldsmith, Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government and the Director of the Innovations in American Government Program, Harvard University

Leadership skills are never more important than in an emergency such as the coronavirus pandemic we are currently experiencing. In this webinar, Harvard Professor Stephen Goldsmith shares some of the best ways to harness leadership in times of crisis. He also highlights how to use technology to create a more responsive government that engenders citizen trust.

Host: Matt Bach, Director of Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:Dan Gilmartin, CEO and Executive Director, Michigan Municipal LeagueChris Hackbarth, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJohn LaMacchia, Asst. Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueHerasanna Richards, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League

COVID-19 is causing actions in the Governor's office and the Legislature to change rapidly. One of the latest changes is a new executive order protecting workers who handle FOIA requests. In this informal chat with our Lansing legislative team, participants were able to ask questions and get answers in real-time.

Host: Summer Minnick, Deputy Executive Director & CMO, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:Kerry Ebersole Singh, Director, Michigan 2020 CensusEric A. Guthrie, Demographer, State of Michigan

2020 Census operations have been extended due to COVID-19. In this webinar, you'll  hear about the changes and new deadlines. You'll also learn how Michigan has responded historically, the changing demographics, and projections for Michigan. Presenters will also share information about Michigan’s Complete Count strategy for increasing the state's response rate, and how to mobilize citizens to “Get Out the Counts” for their communities. The census online process will be explained, and a sample census questionnaire will be reviewed.

Host: Summer Minnick, Deputy Executive Director & CMO, Michigan Municipal League

Guest: U.S. Senator Gary Peters

U.S. Senator Gary Peters provided a first-hand account of the federal stimulus package and national response to the COVID-19 crisis during a special Michigan Municipal League webinar. The webinar is part of a series of informational tools, including regular emails, a constantly-updated resource page, and webinars, that the League is providing to our members during this unprecedented time in our world’s history.

 

Background on the CARES Act

Last week, the CARES Act (H.R. 748) was signed into law after passing with bipartisan support in Congress. The stimulus package provides $2.2 trillion in aid to counter the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This legislation is the third COVID-19 bill to be passed by Congress, following the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074) and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201).

Host: Matt Bach, Director, Communications, Michigan Municipal League

Guests:Chris Hackbarth, Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJohn LaMacchia, Asst. Director, State & Federal Affairs, Michigan Municipal LeagueJennifer Rigterink, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal LeagueHerasanna Richards, Legislative Associate, Michigan Municipal League

Governor Whitmer has issued Executive Order 2020-28 requiring the reconnection of service to residences that have had water service shut off. The order requires public water suppliers to immediately identify residences in their service area that do not currently have water service and to make best efforts to restore service to homes where service has been disconnected due to non-payment or damaged infrastructure. The order is effective for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.

 

On this Monday Morning Live webinar, our team covers the water reconnection executive order and:

$2 million fund being established through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to help communities reconnect homes to their water supplies

May election

City and state income taxes

Federal stimulus program

And much more