Information on each
highlighted agenda item is avialable by clicking on the description of that
item.
1. April 9, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
2. Minutes from March 12, 2008 Board Meeting
3. Status Report
4. DDA Financials – March, 2008 – not available at this time
5. DDA Meeting Schedule for April & May
6. Committee meeting minutes
c) Economic Restructuring Committee
d) Organization Committee – no meeting in March
8. March Website Usage Statistics
10. Action Items
AGENDA
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at 3:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City
Hall –
1.
Roll Call
2. Approval
of the minutes from the meeting of March 12, 2008
3. Financial
Reports from March 2008
4.
Reports
a) Budget Committee Report
b) Design Committee Report
c) Organization Committee Report
d) Economic Restructuring Committee Report
e) Creating Cool Promotions Committee Report
f) Midland Downtown Business Association Report
5.
Public Comments
6.
Old Business
7.
New Business
Adjourn
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY
WHICH TOOK PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
Denise Hufford read Roll Call.
PRESENT: DDA MEMBERS – Jenny Anderson, Bo Brines, Mike Hayes, Jon Lynch, Jack
McCandless, Marty McGuire, Ranny Riecker, Mark Ruhle, Jim Stamas, Claudia
Wallin
ABSENT: Father Fleming,
Paula Liveris, Sue Rabbage
PRESENT: STAFF – Denise Hufford, Keith Baker,
Margaret Maday, Stephanie Szostak
PRESENT: OTHERS –
John Palen (Midland Issues), Cheryl Wade (Midland Daily News), Neil Hershfield (Dow Chemical Company)
Wallin called the meeting to order
at 3:00 p.m.
Wallin thanked outgoing Board
Member, Doug Chapman for his 22 years of service on the DDA Board. He was the
DDA chair for a number of years along with serving as the Design Committee
Chair. He was instrumental in the beautification of Downtown. We greatly
appreciate his service.
Wallin welcomed Marty McGuire,
Director of the Dow Gardens, as our new Board member. Marty has been with Dow
Gardens for about 9 months and mentioned the long history Dow Gardens and
Downtown Midland has enjoyed.
1.
Approval of past meeting minutes
Motion
to approve the February 13, 2008 meeting minutes by Hayes. Seconded by
McCandless. Approved unanimously.
2.
Financial Reports for February 2008
Maday
presented the February 2008 financial statement. Motion to approve financials
by Hayes. Seconded by Ruhle. Approved unanimously.
3.
Reports
a)
Design Committee
Anderson
discussed the recommendation for downtown benches. Design committee decided to
use the existing structure with a composite material for the top. The composite
has a 50 year warranty. The colors are mink for the bench tops with painted red
posts. This will coordinate with the wayfinding signage. This was the most cost
effective solution. Lynch was pleased to see the use of the composite material,
which will lower maintence costs. The cost will be from $36,000-$47,000. Thank
you to Thad Hallberg for his work providing the designs and color combinations.
Anderson read the action item.
ACTION ITEM
The
Downtown Development Authority Design Committee has decided on a bench design, material, and color
for the new downtown Midland benches. There are 97 benches to be replaced. The
estimated cost to replace the current benches with new composite material and
repaint the posts is $36,000-$47,000.
The Downtown Development Authority Board of
Directors hereby approves the new bench
design, material and color and authorizes the Design Committee to send out
Requests for Bid Proposals.
Seconded
by Stamas. Approved unanimously.
b)
Organization Committee
Baker
reported that the interview committee conducted six interviews and the
committee agreed on a preferred candidate. There is no announcement at this
time as he is still in negotiations with the candidate. He will send out
information as soon as it is official.
Wallin
discussed the mission statement. All the sub-committees have discussed. The
Creating Cool voted to switch the words “Enable” and “Foster”. Open for
discussion. Anderson agreed to change the two words, stating that the Design
Committee also discussed changing those words, but did not make a formal
recommendation to switch. Lynch moved to accept the updated mission statement
and Anderson clarified that the Design Committee did not change the statement,
but discussed it.
In
response to a question from McGuire, Wallin stated that the driving force was
the tone of “enable” and thought that “fosters” set a better tone. Anderson
agreed that “fosters” seemed more empowering. Hayes discussed the strategic
planning debate. Hayes thinks both words are important and both words keep the
downtown focused. Stamas thought “fosters” is more action oriented and feels
either works. McCandless agreed with Stamas. Lynch recognizes that the mission
statement is for consumption by the general public and we need to keep in mind
how people will consume the message in the broader community. Both words are
almost interchangeable.
Wallin
read the Action Item.
ACTION ITEM
The
Midland Downtown Development Authority has decided to update its Mission
Statement. The new mission statement will be:
The Mission of the Downtown Development Authority is
to foster a dynamic downtown environment that enables economic growth.
The Downtown Development Authority Board of
Directors hereby approves the new Mission
Statement.
Riecker
seconded. Approved unanimously.
c)
Economic Restructuring Committee
Hayes
reported good discussion at the Economic Restructuring meeting. Raymond James
Financial is now downtown.
Hayes
discussed availability of two properties on Ellsworth. Both houses have been
removed and are now available for development. Contact the DDA office if
interested.
The H
Hotel’s restaurants will be opening mid-May to mid-June with a grand opening
sometime in fall, 2008.
Hayes
discussed retail recruitment downtown. The Economic Restructuring committee
would like to work with Sid Allen, president of the Chamber of Commerce to
possibly hire a consultant to help downtown recruit retail and business
establishments. Budget matters were also discussed.
Hayes
reported 7 downtown vacancies for lease and one property for sale.
d)
Creating Cool Committee
Wallin
reported that the Summer of the Dragons sculpture series has 20 dragons for
downtown. Nine sponsorships are still available for $750 each. Your sponsorship
is recognized through October. Please contact the DDA office for more
information.
Wallin
reported that June will be a very busy month with the dragons, the Great Lakes
Loons All Star Games and the Summer Solstice events.
e)
Midland Downtown Business Association
None
f)
Horticulturist Report
Szostak
reported on her 2008 Spring Bulb plans. 12,000 bulbs were planted in the fall.
Tulips, daffodils, and grape hyacinths will start coming up once the snow
melts. Annual display will be presented at the April meeting.
Szostak
reported that Main Street trees were pruned last month. The tree lights had to
be taken down for pruning, but they are now back in the trees. Interviews for
seasonal crews have begun.
Public Comments
None.
Old Business
None.
New Business
None.
Adjourn
There was
no further business to come before the Board. Riecker moved that the meeting be
adjourned. Hayes seconded. Meeting adjourned at 3:29 p.m.
Reports
Budget Committee
-
2008/2009 Budget
Action Item
Design Committee
-
Bench RFP Action
Item
-
Annual Flower
Design, Stephanie Szostak
Organization Committee
-
Executive
Director Search, Keith Baker
Economic Restructuring Committee
-
Space available
downtown
Creating Cool Promotions Committee
MDBA Report
April
2008
April
2....................... Organization
Committee....................................................... 3
p.m.
April
8....................... Economic
Restructuring Committee................................... 3
p.m.
April
9....................... DDA Board
Meeting - Council Chambers.......................... 3
p.m.
April
15..................... Creating
Cool Promotions Committee....................... 11:30
a.m.
April
22..................... Design
Committee................................................................ 3
p.m.
May
2008
May
7........................ Organization
Committee....................................................... 3
p.m.
May
13...................... Economic
Restructuring Committee................................... 3
p.m.
May
14...................... DDA Board
Meeting - Council Chambers.......................... 3
p.m.
May
20...................... Creating
Cool Promotions Committee....................... 11:30
a.m.
May
27...................... Design
Committee................................................................ 3
p.m.
*All DDA committee meetings are held at the DDA office at 300 Rodd
Street, Suite 201 in Downtown Midland unless otherwise noted.
ACTION
ITEM
The
Downtown Development Authority Budget Committee has updated the DDA budget for the
2008-2009 fiscal year. The Downtown Development Authority hearby recommends for
approval the 2008-2009 DDA annual budget to the Midland City Council.
ACTION
ITEM
Awarding
of the downtown bench replacement project. Bids due April 8th.