Public Policy

Through education of newly elected, veteran elected officials at the state and local government level, Michigan State University Extension helps ground Michigan’s 1,858 local governments (townships, villages, cities and counties), 14 multi-county regions, 12 federally recognized tribal nations, and various state agencies with strong, evidence-based  information that helps in sound decision-making on public policy issues . MSU Extension educators include experts on various public policy issues and effects of government programs, regulation, incentives, strategies and more. By working together with local elected and appointed officials, and interested citizens, MSU Extension is able to provide education on critical local and state issues.

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• Sample Wildfire Hazard Zoning helps communities protect against property and life loss

  May 15, 2013 | Brad Neumann | Wildfires are common in Michigan, and individuals and local governments both play roles in addressing wildfire mitigation and protection to make communities safer.

• May is bike month: Support health and reinforce place by becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community

  May 12, 2013 | Brad Neumann | Whether biking to commute or for recreation; to maintain health or the environment, celebrate May as National Bike Month and help your community become a Bicycle Friendly Community.

• The role of a local food policy council

  May 2, 2013 | Michelle Walk | Local food policy councils have the ability to affect change without having to enact legislation.

• New Open Meetings Act notice requirements

  April 17, 2013 | Kurt H. Schindler | Michigan’s Open Meetings Act meeting notice requirements have changed. Notices now must be on government websites, emergency meeting notice requirements have also changed.

• Zoning moratoriums should only be done with caution

  April 17, 2013 | Kurt H. Schindler | Local governments might adopt a moratorium to prevent development until after rules are established. This can be perilous and some may question if moratoriums are legal. Do so with caution and make sure the municipal attorney is directly involved.

• Parliamentary procedure: What is a motion to rescind?

  April 16, 2013 | Julie Pioch | Board members sometimes realize the need to change their mind regarding an issue before them. One method of revisiting a past decision is the motion to rescind.

• Parliamentary procedure: What is a motion to reconsider?

  April 16, 2013 | Julie Pioch | Board members sometimes feel the need to change their mind regarding an issue before them. One method of revisiting a past decision is the motion to reconsider.

• Parliamentary procedure: How do you handle a motion?

  April 16, 2013 | Julie Pioch | A good first step to ensure effective meetings is to know how to properly handle a motion.

• Parliamentary procedure: What is a parliamentary authority?

  April 16, 2013 | Julie Pioch | Using Robert’s Rules of Order to help build an official parliamentary authority allows groups to run effective meetings and members to feel like a valuable part of the process.

• New rural water quality protection guidebook prepared by Michigan State University

  April 13, 2013 | Brad Neumann | New guidebook is a “must have” that details best management practices that lower the impact of land use activities on water bodies and provides sample language for community master plans and zoning ordinances.

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