DDA Board Meeting

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 3 pm

MINUTES

Committee Members Present: Marty McGuire (Chair), Jenny Anderson, Bo Brines, Dan Cline, Mike Hayes, Jon Lynch, Ranny Riecker, Mark Ruhle, Doug Thompson, Claudia Wallin

Committee Members Absent: Susan Rabbage

Staff Present: Selina Tisdale

The DDA minutes from the June 9, 2010 meeting were approved as submitted. Riecker/Hayes

DDA Executive Director, Selina Tisdale, presented the financial report from June 2010. Financial reports approved as submitted. Lynch/Wallin

Selina Tisdale provided an update on the 2010 Totally Turtles Sculpture Series. Five turtles were visiting the Reece Endeavor Garden Walk June 20-22. Committee is busy preparing for the September 23 public auction of the sculptures.

Horticulturist, Stephanie Szostak reported that she and her crew are heavy into the garden maintenance phase of the summer. Irrigation issues that had surfaced earlier in the season have been fixed. They are not identifying the fungal diseases that they had experienced in past years. Forestry plans to prune and remove buckthorn growing along the riverbanks during August/September.

Assistant City Manager Jack Duso provided a board informational on Public Act 501 Liquor Licenses and their availability to the downtown district.

Committee Reports

• Executive Committee – Chair Marty McGuire reported that:
• The DDA has received a letter of resignation from Sue Rabbage. City Manager, Jon Lynch, reviewed the process for filling DDA positions should begin with board members identifying potential candidates who should seek an application through the City Manager’s office. Lynch will review the applications and make the appointment, which is confirmed by Midland City Council.
• The executive committee has been reviewing the smoking material liter issue that has ensued following the Michigan smoke-free law passed in May. The committee is recommending that the City of Midland place smoking receptacles throughout the Downtown to help accommodate this increased litter. Lynch responded that the City would be happy to work with staff to have aesthetically appropriate receptacles placed.

· Economic Sustainability – Mike Hayes reported that:

• The meeting date for this subcommittee has changed to the fourth Wednesday of the month to better accommodate the DDA Board meeting schedule.
• He reported that the Downtown Post Office would be closing in August; that there are two new leases in the Downtown; and that two incubator applications and one façade application had been received and under review.

· Communications Committee – Chair, Claudia Wallin, reported that the Communications Committee did not meet in June. There was an update provided on the August 12 Taste of Downtown event.

· Budget and Finance – The committee did not meet in June.

· MDBA Board – newly elected MDBA President, Patty Aspin, provided an update on activities of the MDBA.

No public comments were made.

Meeting adjourned at 3:45 pm.