Charter Commission info & meeting schedule

FYI, I cut & pasted this from a letter that was sent out so please excuse any formating issues:



July 23, 2010


Dear Detroit Supporter,

Thank you for your interest in the activities of our Detroit Charter Revision Commission. Your interest and participation in the process to update the legislation that provides our local elected officials with operational rules, policies, procedures, powers and limitations will help protect our rights and welfare as Detroit citizens for years to come. We need more people like you to engage in this vital process.

So far, the Commission has met bi-monthly in 17 different locations across the city, and scores of Detroiters have had an opportunity to hear and question a diversity of perspectives on such important Charter issues as:
Council/City Manager Form of Government
Balancing the powers between the executive and legislative branches of city government
Home Rule Cities Act
Qualifications for Elected Officials
Term Limits
Ethics and Standards
Corporation Counsel - Does S/he Represent the Mayor, City Council or You?
The Political, Social and Economic Implications of Council-by-Districts
Removal of Elected & Appointed Officials From Office
Police & Fire Commissions

Summaries of these presentations are available at the Charter Commission’s web page, located within the city of Detroit website, www.detroitmi.gov. Click-on “Departments,” and then, “City Charter Commission.”

Our next meetings will address Charter topics related to Economic Development and Planning [[July 27), and Privatization [[August 10), beginning at 6 p.m. We encourage you to attend and
learn, first-hand some of the issues involved and ways to enhance the quality of governance for Detroiters. Enclosed is a schedule of upcoming meetings, and we encourage you to attend and participate in shaping Detroit’s Charter.

The Commission’s process for the remainder of 2010 includes a series of community meetings and workshops, during which methodical information-gathering, fact-finding, and analysis regarding key Charter revisions will take place, and these findings and ideas will be brought to the community for organized deliberation, feedback and input.

In this regard, the Commission has several volunteer opportunities in its efforts to inform Detroiters about the Charter and obtain input and ideas on the topics. We need your help in getting the information to as many Detroiters as possible. We also need individuals with research skills to help us critically assess key issues and uncover best practices on policies and practices in other cities.

I am enclosing a list of volunteer opportunities designed to meet some of the immediate needs of the Commission. In addition to these, we also are in need of volunteers with technical abilities in computer science, networking and social media.

I have phone numbers and e-mail addresses for most of you who have attended Commission meetings, and will contact you over the next few days, to learn whether you can contribute some of your time to the Commission’s activities. And you can call the Commission office at 313-628-2517 to leave your name and number, or e-mail WhiteI@detroitmi.gov and I will return your call promptly.

Thanks again for your interest in our Charter revision process. The revisions will be determined by Detroiters like you, who want to make a difference in how our city is governed. I hope to see you soon.

With every good wish,

Ingrid White,
Volunteer Coordinator



Charter Commission Meeting Schedule
[[through September)


Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
Mayflower Congregational UCC
7301 Curtis Avenue
Detroit, MI 48221 [[Northwest Detroit)
TOPIC: Economic Development & Planning: The way forward to local economic recovery, balance & thoughtfulness.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
Kemeny Center
2260 South Fort Street
Detroit, Michigan 48217 [[Southwest Detroit)
TOPIC: Privatization

Tuesday August 24, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
Subject Expert and Meeting Location / TDA
Topic: Public Health & Health Care

Tuesday September 14, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
Subject Expert and Meeting Location / TDA
Topic: Enterprise Departments – Transportation, Water & Sewerage

Tuesday September 28, 2010 at 6:00 P.M.
Subject Expert and Meeting Location / TDA
Topic: Public Employees Pension

The Charter Commission meets at 6pm in locations across the city of Detroit on the first and fourth Tuesdays of each month. Meeting notices and locations are posted in the City Clerk’s office, 2nd Floor, Coleman A. Young Municipal Complex; on the city of Detroit’s website, http://www.detroitmi.gov/Departments.../Default.aspx; and on the 13th Floor of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Complex. Meeting notices meet an 18-hour notice requirement under the Open Meeting Act. Feel free to contact the Commission office by e-mail or phone for information.

SAMPLE VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

1. Meeting Prep.
o Prepare agenda/info. packets:
§ Agenda
§ Current newsletter
§ Commission activities update
§ Summaries of all panel discussion issues, pro and con
§ Meeting schedule, including standing committees
§ Standing committee membership list
§ Volunteer sign-up card
o Contact volunteers to assist in meeting set-up and with sign-in table
o Help set-up meeting hall:
§ Outdoor signage placement
§ Arrange sign-In table:
· Sign-in Sheets
· Pens
· Name tags
· Info. packets
§ Beverages/refreshments arranged
§ Test all electronic equipment
o Serve as timekeeper
o Lead table-discussions

2. Communications/PR Functions
o Website updates
o Networking and social media interface
o Prepare media listing, including community newsletters
o Prepare letters to newspaper editors
o Identify establishments that will allow Commission flyers to be displayed
o Create flyers announcing Commission meetings/activities
o Distribute:
§ Press releases
§ Conduct literature drops/canvassing in communities where Commission activities will be taking place
o Proactively schedule community org. presentations to apprise community of Commission progress, and receive input/feedback
o Newsletter prep.
§ Schedule [[volunteer) photographer for events
§ Document meeting/event highlights
§ Draft news articles
§ Newsletter lay-out

3. Research
o Investigate, analyze and document “best-practices” in other cities relative to complex Detroit charter issues;
o Help identify infrastructure implications and resource requirements to implement key charter revisions

4. Admin/Office/Clerical
o Assist in meeting arrangements
o Contact volunteers as needed
o Create signs for events
o Transcribe meeting minutes, presentations
o Data entry:
§ Volunteers
§ Meeting attendees
o Prepare mailings

Next Charter Commission meeting is Tuesday, August 10, 2010 @ 6pm, Kemeny Center in Southwest Detroit


City of Detroit, Charter Revision Commission [[2009)
32nd Floor, Cadillac Tower Building, Detroit, Michigan 48226

Press Release ˆ Detroit Charter Revision Commission
Detroit Public Employee Retirement Systems

Tuesday, August 10, 2010 - @ 6:00 p.m. at Kemeny Recreation Center 2260 South Fort Street, in Southwest Detroit [[48217)


In January 2010, the Detroit Free Press reported „The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission [[SEC) and a federal grand jury have requested records on at least two pension deals totaling $40 million‰ from Detroit‚s retirement systems. The Free Press reported in August that Detroit's pension [boards] routinely ignored their own rules and invested millions with companies that refused to disclose when they pay middlemen to broker deals. Articles like these and others have eroded the confidence that city workers have in the managerial operations of a system designed to protect their interests after retirement.

These types of articles, subsequent convictions of elected officials for corruption and questionable investments, along with pending investigations have highlighted problems with Detroit public employee pension system. This difficulty is leaving individual employees and state government to question the governance structure of the retirement system. While the state of Michigan continues to ferret out legislative options to redirect the system and as state, local and federal law enforcement authorities work their way through the criminal consequences derived from the „play to pay‰ environment in local government, the Detroit Charter Revision Commission is looking for ways, under the existing „home rule‰ provisions of the Charter, to impact the governance structure of Detroit‚s two retirement systems to force more public disclosures, accountability and transparency.


The current Detroit Charter references Retirement Plans in Section 11-101 to 104. Under these provisions the Charter directs that detailed rules be promulgated by city ordinance and the general governance structure of its governing boards be established.

To discuss the current and potential alignment of governance structures as well as the purpose and intent of public employee retirement systems, the Detroit Charter Revision Commission will host an informational panel discussion on the structure and mission of the Charter and public employee mandated retirement systems. The meeting will be held Tuesday, August 10, 2010 @ 6:00 p.m. at Kemeny Recreational Center, 2260 South Fort St., Detroit, Michigan in Southwest Detroit [[48217).

The Commission has assembled a panel of subject experts including Joseph F. Rankin, Partner in the certified accounting firm of Plante & Moran. Plante & Moran provide services to public and private firms with specialization in auditing, accounting, tax preparation and business and individual financial management. Also, on the panel is Walter Stampor, Executive Secretary of the Retirement System City of Detroit [[RSCD). RSCD is the governance body for the City of Detroit‚s General Retirement System and the Police & Fire Retirement System. The final panelist is Thomas R. Sheehan, a former Trustee of Detroit‚s General Retirement system. Mr. Sheehan is representing the Detroit Retired City Employee Association, a non-profit organization that represents the majority of Detroit civilian retirees.

Mr. Rankin will discuss the various types of retirement systems and plans available to city employees, the oversight authority involved in public systems, reporting and disclosure requirements. Mr. Stampor will address critical issues and challenges to the current retirement system. Mr. Sheehan will provide a local perspective of a group of retirees who have often petitioned and fought for change within the city‚s two retirement systems. Jointly, the panel will explore the proper balance between individual employee interests, system investment policy and critical governance structures that will protect the interests of plan members.

Each panel member will have 15-20 minutes to present their ideas on the above. After presentations, the members of the Charter Commission will ask questions of the panel on their presentations or topics related to the Charter revision process. Following the exchange between Commissioners and panel members, the Commission will open the floor for public comments and questions. If you have questions about this meeting, please contact Gregory Hicks, Executive Director, 2009 Detroit Charter Revision Commission at 313-628-2516.

-end-