SEMCOG, Executive Committee — IN-PERSON ONLY

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments
Politics

1001 Woodward Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48226 Detroit, MI 48226 (Directions)

Suite 1400 (Woodward Room)

Parking validation is provided. See the source website for parking location and instructions.

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Detroit - MI Documenters Team

Note-taking by Shiva Shahmir

The committee elected two vice chairs and heard a presentation on DTE’s plans to cut power outages 30% by 2029 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. DTE’s Power Improvements Map shows progress on neighborhood investments. SEMCOG introduced its Wetlands Mapper Tool.

Live reporting by Nathaniel Eichenhorn

The committee elected two vice chairs and heard a presentation on DTE’s plans to cut power outages 30% by 2029 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. DTE’s Power Improvements Map shows progress on neighborhood investments. SEMCOG introduced its Wetlands Mapper Tool.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 2/33

The meeting is kicking off with introducing new attendees. Wayne co commissioners Kinloch and Oakland Co commissioner Smiley

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 3/33

Over 100 participating governments so far.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 4/33

They have a neato QR codes that link the agenda. I scanned it for you:

https://qr-codes.io/UaDN7J

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 5/33

They approved the minutes and agenda for the last meeting and quickly moved on.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 6/33

They called for one blic comment, and there was none, even though the meeting room is pretty packed

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 7/33

They pulled item 4 from the consent agenda and approved the rest. So they separated out a provision for fundraising for future SEMCOG events

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 8/33

The Taubman institute is sponsoring a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School. https://www.hks.harvard.edu/educational-programs/executive-education/senior-executives-state-and-local-government

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 9/33

A local mayor is speaking about his experience in the fellowship. He described growing in his learning and in his abilities as a municipal executive. Another former fellow described how much he valued the collaborative environment and sharing of ideas and methods.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 10/33

They’re taking nomination for this year’s SEMCOG Regional Showcase Award. 2024’s winner was the Ford Fair Lane Fishway project

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 13/33
Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 14/33

Now Oak. Co. Comm’r Philip Weipert is giving the Nominating Committee report.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 15/33

The chosen nominees:

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 16/33

Now the chair is conducting the election now. They are voting with individual keypads

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 17/33

The nominees were duly elected with an overwhelming majority I missed the slide, but it was nearly unanimous

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 18/33

And now:

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 19/33

Mahoney: DTE is here to serve you!

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 20/33

Mahoney emphasises now that DTE is not only very old, but also very big (I’m paraphrasing)

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 21/33

He says that achieving all three of these benchmarks “is not a sucker’s bet”. I wonder what odds MGM would lay on DTE’S reliability and affordability.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 22/33

Just fyi: Mahoney is aiming for net zero by 2050, which is 25 years from now. This screenshot is from the Climate Clock

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 23/33
Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 24/33
Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 25/33

An attendee asked about removing old trees, and Mahoney said he wants to do better, and lays then lame squarely on the shoulders of residents and homeowners who do not give DTE permission to cut their trees.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 26/33

Mahoney got a question about whether DTE would be willing to create a fund to bury power lines and he was emphatic that such a thing would be “impossible” and said that it’s the state of Michigan’s responsibility.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 27/33

An attendee pointedly explained that he has had three power outages in as many months describing them as “monthly power outages” that last for days. He asked if DTE’s million-dollar profits are puzzling considering the company’s failure to provide adequate service

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 28/33

Mahoney:Let me be clear, DTE making a profit is good for you, and we’re working on service. I reject the premise of the question.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 29/33

Presentation on the Legislative Policy Platform for the year. You can find it here:
https://www.semcog.org/desktopmodules/SEMCOG.Publications/GetFile.ashx?filename=2025-2026LegislativePolicyPlatform.pdf

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 30/33
Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 31/33

Compagnoni and Wright emphasize their position against ballot initiatives and State mandates on things such as fiscal laws and state zoning regulations. I think it’s safe to say a fundamentally conservative set of positions.

Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 32/33
Nachum Eichenhorn @eichenhorn.bsky.social 33/33

An attendee asked what the governments will do with the inevitably reduced gas tax revenue sharing with the emergence of EVs in the roads. Answer: it’s unclear, and this is complicated by efforts in Lansing to reroute gas tax revenue away from revenue sharing with local govs and toward fixing roads

Agency Information

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

The Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) supports local planning through its technical, data, and intergovernmental resources. The work SEMCOG does improves the quality of the region’s water, makes the transportation system safer and more efficient, revitalizes communities, and spurs economic development.

More from this agency

SEMCOG, Executive Committee — IN-PERSON ONLY

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Friday, Feb. 28, 2025

1:00 p.m. EST

SEMCOG, Executive Committee — IN-PERSON ONLY

Southeast Michigan Council of Governments

Friday, April 25, 2025

1:00 p.m. EDT