A Health Impact Assessment of Non-Motorized Transportation Improvements in East Lansing
Prepared for Michigan Department of Community Health Background In March 2012 the Ingham County Health Department, with support from the City of East Lansing, the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission, and the Marble Elementary Wellness Committee, received funding from the Michigan Department of Community Health to conduct a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) of key non-motorized transportation […]
Michigan Street Corridor Plan: A Health Impact Assessment
Prepared for City of Grand Rapids Planning Department The purpose of this Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is to examine the potential health benefits and risks associated with development alternatives for the Michigan Street Corridor Plan (MSCP), a multi-year, comprehensive effort to plan for continued investment and growth in the Michigan Street Corridor of downtown Grand […]
Economic Benefits of Michigan’s Nonprofit Sector 2012
Prepared for Michigan Nonprofit Association Executive Summary In the past decade, both Michigan and the nation have experienced a severe recession. Michigan, in particular, has been slow to recover from the economic downturn plaguing the nation at large. With multiple sectors of our economy struggling, nonprofit organizations are more important than ever, not only through […]
Michigan Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: 2013–2018
Prepared for The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Overview Michigan offers a wide range of outdoor recreation activities from the traditional (e.g., camping, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and off-road vehicle [ORV] trails) to the new and emerging (e.g., adventure racing, disc golf, white water paddling). Recreation opportunities can be found in the hundreds of state-owned parks, […]
Mediation and Other Alternative Dispute Resolution Techniques in Michigan State Agencies
Funding for this report was generously provided by the JAMS Foundation, the Michigan State Bar Foundation, and the Dispute Resolution Education Resources Inc. Over the past 25–30 years, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) at the community, administrative, and court levels has become increasingly popular with both consumers and practitioners. Originally conceived as a way to reduce […]
Final Report of the Michigan State Park and Recreation Blue Ribbon Panel
In recognition of the fact that Michigan’s park system has changed over time, and must continue to adapt to changes in resources, user interests, and facility needs, Governor Snyder issued Executive Order 2011-10, creating a Blue Ribbon Panel on State Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The Executive Order charges the panel with: Identifying the role of […]
Saginaw River/Bay Area of Concern: Restoration Plan for the Habitat and Populations BUIs
Prepared for United States Fish and Wildlife Service This restoration plan summarizes and updates years of work that has advanced restoration of two beneficial use impairments (BUIs) in the Saginaw Bay and River Area of Concern (AOC)—physical habitat degradation and population reductions of key fish and wildlife species.
Michigan’s Current Energy Plan: Research-based, Comprehensive, Flexible, Certain, Accountable, Reliable and Affordable
Background—Michigan’s Current Energy Plan and 25×25 The 25% by 2025 (25×25) ballot initiative, if approved by voters in November 2012, would amend the state’s constitution by requiring electricity providers to obtain by 2025 at least 25% of their electricity from renewable energy sources. The 25×25 initiative represents a significant departure from the state’s current energy […]
Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System: Major Changes in Recent Years and More Changes to Come
Prepared for Coalition for Secure Retirement–Michigan The Coalition for Secure Retirement–Michigan hired Public Sector Consultants to research and write an analysis of Senate Bill 1040, which was introduced in the Michigan Senate. Senate Bill 1040 seeks to decrease the retirement costs under the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS) for employers through a combination […]
Saginaw Bay Watershed and Area of Concern
The Planning and Zoning Center at Michigan State University, a department of the Land Policy Institute at MSU, hired Public Sector Consultants to review and summarize environmental and natural resource trends and conditions in the Saginaw Bay Watershed that led to the Saginaw River and Bay being identified as an Area of Concern through the […]