Port Cities Policy Agenda

1
Port Cities Policy Agenda John K.
Kerr Director of Economic Development Grants
Management Detroit/Wayne County Port
Authority Port Cities Collaborative
Meeting Tuesday, October 7, 2008
2
Maritime Legislative Agenda

• State funding for port cities
• Infrastructure
• Tourism Planning Development
• Portfield Redevelopment
• Dredging of harbors
• Federal State Legislative Agenda
• Water Withdrawal
• Water Quality
• Transportation Development
• Alternative Energy Projects
• Port Authority Act

Lansing
Washington, D.C.
Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
3
Maritime Legislative Agenda

• Wisconsin Commercial Ports Association (WCPA)
  Strategic Issues
• Funding levels and eligibility requirements for
  WDOT Harbor Assistance Program
• Competing land uses and downtown redevelopment
  impact on port activities and opportunities
• New revenue-generating opportunities must be
  secured to finance WCPAs interests
• Economic Development of the Wisconsin ports
  requires diversity of cargo
• Maintain Wisconsins existing port property for
  exclusive port use through public acquisition
• Maintain sufficient dredge material disposal
  capacity and pursue beneficial reuse
  opportunities
• Port security will impact terminal operators in
  Wisconsin

• WCPA Opportunities
• Federal regulatory changes that allow for short
  sea shipping (i.e. Harbor Maintenance Tax)
• Expanded disposal capacity opportunities
  especially beneficial reuse
• Influencing legislation
• Governors recognition and commitment to
  increase funding at Wisconsins ports
• Legislation on Port Development Zones offering
  tax advantages for capital investment

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
4
Port of Detroit Maritime Legislative Agenda

• Annually appropriations of 10 million in
  specifically designated funding for the dredging
  of
• various Port of Detroit docking areas and the
  disposal of dredged spoils, including the
  creation
• of new capacity in existing confined disposal
  facilities and/or the beneficial reuse of the
  dredge
• spoils elsewhere.

• Update and modernization of existing Public Act
  639 of 1978 (Port Authority Act) to reflect
• the needs of todays economic climate and
  development finance needs

• An extended shipping season on the St. Lawrence
  Seaway and Great Lakes to the full year
• to allow development of shipping to serve the
  northern coast of the United States.

• Creation and funding of a Michigan Port
  Assistance Grant Program within the State of
• Michigans budget.

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
5
Port of Detroit Maritime Legislative Agenda

• Support efforts to develop short sea shipping
  in the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes to
• move freight by water as an alternative to
  transporting cargo via rail or truck. Shipping
  routes
• in the Great Lakes and along the coast of the
  U.S. are substantially underutilized. This is an
• opportunity to move freight off of congested
  highways and rail corridors and onto water.
• Specifically, we are seeking
• Revisions to the Harbor Maintenance Tax to
  encourage short sea shipping while
• providing funding for necessary navigation
  improvements
• Funding for development of facilities at the Port
  of Detroit for roll-on/ roll-off ships
• Development of U.S. Customs and other Homeland
  Security capabilities related to
• container movements out of the Port of Detroit
• Congress to enact H.R. 981, legislation exempting
  the movement of certain cargo
• from the U.S. Harbor Maintenance Tax

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
6
Port of Detroit Maritime Legislative Agenda

• Other legislative needs?
• Recreational Enhancement of our Waterfronts
• Habitat Restoration of our waterways, inland
  lakes and streams
• Joint marketing efforts statewide amongst port
  communities
• Green port initiatives
• Public Access enhancement and resources to
  fulfill community goals
• Portfield (brownfield) redevelopment
• Passenger transportation amongst port communities

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
7
Outdated Legislation

• Special-Purpose Authority
• Own real and personal property
• Enter into contracts
• Bonding Capacity
• Obtain federal, state and foundation grants
• Condemnation Capabilities

• Problems with PA 639 of 1978
• Hasnt been updated since it was first drafted
• Definitions for Financing are too narrow
• No set of authorized purposes
• No ability to mortgage or create security
  interest

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
8
Proposed Legislative Changes

• Port Economic Development Facility
• Any real or personal property, including
  machinery, equipment, plants,factories, offices,
  buildings and other structures and facilities
  that are related to,useful for, or in
  furtherance of an authorized purpose.
• Authorized Purpose
• Activities that enhance, foster, aid, provide,
  or promote transportation,economic development,
  industrial development, recreation,
  governmentaloperations, culture, education,
  housing, or research within its territorial
  jurisdiction.
• Ability to mortgage or create a security
  interest in a project

Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008
9
Thank You!
John K. Kerr Director of Economic Development
Grants Management Detroit/Wayne County Port
Authority P [phone] ext. 311 E
kerr_at_portdetroit.com
Presentation Port Cities Policy Agenda Port
Cities Collaborative Meeting Detroit/Wayne County
Port Authority October 7, 2008