Information on each
highlighted agenda item is available by clicking on the description of that
item.
1. May 14, 2008 Board of Directors Meeting Agenda
2. Minutes from April 9, 2008 Board Meeting
3. Status Report
4. DDA Financials – April, 2008
5. DDA Meeting Schedule for May & June, 2008
6. Committee meeting minutes
c) Economic Restructuring Committee
7. May Hotstuff
8. April Website Usage Statistics – not available at this time
AGENDA
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Wednesday, May 14, 2008,
at 3:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City
Hall –
1.
Roll Call
2. Approval
of the minutes from the meeting of April 9, 2008
3. Financial
Reports from April 2008
4.
Reports
a) Design Committee Report
b) Organization Committee Report
c) Economic Restructuring Committee Report
d) Creating Cool Promotions Committee Report
e) 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, APRIL 9, 2008
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL,
Denise Hufford read Roll Call.
PRESENT: DDA MEMBERS – Bo Brines, Mike Hayes, Marty McGuire, Sue Rabbage,
Ranny Riecker, Mark Ruhle, Jim Stamas, Claudia Wallin
ABSENT: Jenny Anderson,
Father Fleming, Paula Liveris, Jon Lynch, Jack
McCandless
PRESENT: STAFF – Denise Hufford, Keith Baker,
Margaret Maday, Stephanie Szostak, Bradd Maki, Daryl Poprave
PRESENT: OTHERS –
Patty Aspin (Chamber of Commerce), 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.
1.
Approval of past meeting minutes
Motion to approve the March 12, 2008 meeting minutes by Riecker. Seconded by Ruhle. Approved unanimously.
2.
Financial Reports for March 2008
Maday
presented the March 2008 financial statement. Motion to
approve financials by Hayes. Seconded by McGuire.
Approved unanimously.
3.
Reports
a)
Budget Committee
Riecker discussed
the updated budget. One change involves $30,000 that is no longer in the 08/09
equipment budget as it will be spent in the 07/08 budget.
Riecker read the
action item:
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
Seconded by McGuire.
Approved unanimously.
Wallin
thanked Riecker for her work on the 08/09 Budget.
b)
Design Committee
Baker
discussed the bids received for the bench replacement project. 5 bids were
received. LaVant Landscape was the lowest bidder with
Sugar Construction as second lowest bidder. Baker has received positive
references for LaVant Landscape and recommends that
the DDA Board award the bid to this firm. Wallin noted that we try to do
business with local firms when possible. Sugar Construction also has a good
reputation according to the City’s Purchasing Agent. City Council will choose a
local firm when the bids are within 2% of each other. Stamas
asked if the bids were all correct in their information. Baker responded that
yes, all bids were returned correctly.
Modern Metalcraft inspected each bench and anticipates that three
of the metal stands will need to be replaced. Sugar included repairs to the
stands in their bid, while LaVant did not. It would
be an additional charge.
Discussion regarding the difference in the bids (3%) and
the desire to hire local firms when possible. Brines felt the small difference in the bids made it worth while to use a local firm. Stamas
thought the Sugar bid was more complete since it included the repair costs.
McGuire
asked for clarification on the bid request and how the firms responded. Ruhle made a motion to accept the Sugar Construction and
Hayes seconded.
Rabbage asked if
the timing of the project could be completed in time. Baker responded that the
material lead time would cause the largest delay, but both firms felt the
project could be completed by June.
McGuire
asked if this is a purchase or a recommendation to City Council. Wallin
responded that it is a purchase and is in the current budget. Baker responded
that since it is under $20,000 the city manager would sign off on it.
(Issue tabled while the 2% guideline was researched.)
Poprave
discussed the issue with Dave Keenan, Finance Director, who stated that 2% is a
guideline created by staff that the City Council uses when choosing bids, but
is not a requirement the DDA Board needs to abide by.
Approved unanimously to award the bid to Sugar
Construction.
Szostak
presented her 2008 annual flower display design. It has a dragon theme to
coordinate with the Summer Sculpture series “Summer of
the Dragons” and uses hot colors of red, orange, yellow, and purples. Szostak
thanked Dow Gardens for their generous donation of 20 flats of annuals.
Szostak
reported that seasonal crews have begun cleaning planting beds downtown.
Saturday,
March 29th a group of volunteers from the Master Gardeners Club
helped prune trees on Main Street and Szostak would like to thank them for
their help.
c)
Organization Committee
Baker announced
that Tony Kullick has been hired as the new DDA
Executive Director. Tony will be retiring from the City of Mt. Pleasant as
their Planning Director. He has degrees from both Western Michigan and Eastern
Michigan. He has worked for the City of Mt. Pleasant for 20 years and the City
of Flint for 10 years previously. Baker has received many positive references
and anecdotal comments about Tony. His official start date is June 3, 2008, but
he will also spend a few partial days in Midland prior to that date.
d)
Economic Restructuring Committee
Hayes
reported 7 downtown vacancies for lease and one property for sale.
Hayes
reported that the committee is looking for some help recruit retail into
downtown area. The committee is looking at some retail recruiting firms.
Hayes
reported that Christine Greve from the Michigan Small
Business and Technology Center at Delta College has lots of free help and
consultations available for small businesses.
e)
Creating Cool Committee
Wallin
reported on some upcoming events including Parade Your Pet, Summer
of the Dragons, and the MCV Summer Solstice Event.
Parade
Your Pet is Saturday, May 10th. Bring your pet and win prizes for
best costume, best trick, most like their owner, and more. Registration starts
at noon and is free. Sandy Clark from I’ve Been Framed has agreed to chair this
committee.
Wallin
reported that the Summer of the Dragons sculpture
series has 20 dragons for downtown. Five sponsorships are still available for
$750 each. Your sponsorship is recognized through October. Please contact the
DDA office for more information. Kick off party is
Friday, June 6 from 5-7 pm and will feature crafts and activities.
June 21
MCV presents the Summer Solstice with activities from 5-9 pm and a concert
featuring Empty Pockets from 9-midnight. Jugglers, musicians, and more!
Approximately 5,000-6,000 people attend this event.
f)
Midland Downtown Business Association
Patty
Aspin reports that the Summer Solstice has a renaissance theme. Plans are
moving ahead and the committee is very excited.
Aspin
shared that the MDBA has created a Legacy program to recognize businesses that
have been downtown for 25+ years. Nominations are requested and the MDBA board
will choose three businesses each year to recognize at the MDBA annual meeting
in July.
Sidewalk
Sales have been renamed Main Street Marketplace and will be held July 10-12.
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 3:37
p.m.
Reports
Design Committee
-
Riverfront
Surveys and Ad Hoc Committee
-
Bench Replacement
Update
-
Kiosk
Installation
-
Horticulture
Update, Stephanie Szostak
Organization Committee
Economic Restructuring Committee
-
Space available
downtown
Creating Cool Promotions Committee
-
Maria Pate, Northwood
University Marketing Study
-
Events
-
Parade Your Pet,
May 10
-
Tunes by the Tridge, begins June 5
-
Artist Market,
begins June 5
-
Summer of the
Dragons Kick Off Party, June 6
-
Midland Highland
Festival, June 14
-
Great Lakes Loons
All Star Game and Activities, June 15-17
-
MCV presents the
Summer Solstice Stroll, June 21
MDBA Report
-
Music on Main
Street, June 1
-
Main Street
Marketplace, July 10-12
-
Annual Dinner,
July
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.
June
2008
June 4 ....................... Organization
Committee..................................................... 3
p.m.
June
10..................... Economic
Restructuring Committee................................. 3
p.m.
June
11..................... DDA Board
Meeting - Council Chambers........................ 3
p.m.
June
17..................... Creating
Cool Promotions Committee....................... 11:30
a.m.
June 24..................... 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.