Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Present: DDA Members: Jim DeHaan, Margene Buckhave, Lou LaChance, Dave Larsen, Jim Long, Greg Presley, Rick Shaffner.

Absent: Christopher Johnson, Lynda Heaton

Also Present: City Manager Gary Word, DDA Director Lori Ward, DPW Director Jim Gallogly, Recording Secretary Carol Kasprowicz, Dave Cole of Great Harvest.

The meeting was called to order by Vice-Chairman Jim DeHaan.

It was requested that the minutes of the May 4, 2004 meeting be amended to read "and the allocation of $16,000 for 30 hours/weekly of parking enforcement." The minutes of the meeting of April 20, 2004 and the amended minutes of May 4, 2004 were approved as presented.

Bodnar, on behalf of the Northville Central Business Association (NCBA), had requested funds of $2,500 to finance the rental of children’s inflatable "bounce" structures to be placed in the bandshell area on July 3^rd, the day of the Independence Day parade. This was being proposed to entice the parade watchers to stay in the downtown area after the parade and, hopefully, patronize Northville’s shops. Discussion took place over the history of the DDA’s support of NCBA activities, and it was noted that matching funds by the NCBA were a significant factor in the financial arrangement. Bodnar stated the NCBA did not have funds to match the $2,500 but requested that the matching requirement be waived for this occasion. It was pointed out that the FY04 budget regarding contributions to the NCBA for similar activities had not been depleted. Caution was expressed at setting a precedent concerning contributing to NCBA activities without equivalent funds from the NCBA.

Motion Long, seconded by Presley to grant the request of the NCBA for $2,500 for the purpose of renting children’s bounce structures to be placed in the Bandshell area on July 3, 2004. Voice vote: Yes: Buckhave, LaChance, Long, Presley, Shaffner. No: DeHaan, Larsen. Motion carried.

Bodnar requested that the stand-alone newspaper racks, presently placed in the alley on Center Street between Tuscan Café and Sparrs Flower Shop, be replaced with a 4-unit newsrack similar to those recently purchased for placement in two areas of downtown. It was stated that the newsracks were purchased through the Mainville Fund and it was believed that any additional funds were committed elsewhere. It was pointed out that the area in question is on private property and, as such, any permanent fixture placed by the City would require an easement. Bodnar stated that the administrator of the Mainville Fund stated he would entertain a request in the next fiscal year. It was suggested that the NCBA deal directly with the Fund regarding this request.

At its regular meeting of June 7, 2004, the City Council reviewed the original proposal from the Gibbs Planning Group regarding updating the Commercial Planning Study of 1997 for an amount not to exceed $14,500 plus reimbursables. They referred the proposal back to the DDA with instructions to expand the proposal to include a mechanism for public participation, and an update of the retail marketing analysis. Gibbs has submitted a revised proposal to the DDA that included these additional segments at a cost of $38,500 plus reimbursables.

Discussion/Comments:

- All market data will be revised from the 1997 study.

- Is the market analysis needed to make the decision of whether a deck is needed? Will the market analysis be the foundation of parking decisions?

- Do we need a deck now or can we postpone the deck and handle the parking problems with a parking management plan. Funds will be available for other projects if the deck is not built at this time.

- Concern over the time factor in completing the study.

- Frustration at time spent in planning with little action to show for it.

- Support the proposal for the credibility that will be brought to sustain the DDA’s decisions on parking and development.

- Support developing a relationship with someone who will continue to update the retail marketing data.

- Dismay at the increase in cost of the study with the additional segments.

Motion Presley to recommend to City Council the acceptance of the Gibbs Proposal for retail analysis not to exceed $38,500 plus expenses which should include a model for future retail information on a periodic basis. Motion failed.

Motion Shaffner, seconded by Long to recommend to City Council the acceptance of the original Gibbs Planning Group for an amount not to exceed $14,500 plus expenses. Voice vote: Yes: Buckhave, DeHaan, LaChance, Long, Shaffner. No: Presley. Motion carried.

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz

Recording Secretary