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.
a)
Approval of past meeting minutes
Motion
to approve the March 12, 2008 meeting minutes by Riecker.
Seconded by Ruhle. Approved unanimously.
b)
Financial Reports for March 2008
Maday presented the
March 2008 financial statement. Motion to approve financials by Hayes. Seconded
by McGuire. Approved unanimously.
c)
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.