Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Motion DeHaan, seconded by Buckhave to approve the minutes of October 16, 2004 as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Bateson presented the audit to the DDA Board members and stated the audit earned an "unqualified report" which is the highest level of report that can be received in an audit. Several points made during the presentation included:

- Net revenue for the DDA including captured taxes and operating levy was $923,419.

- Total expenditures totaled $721,973, which included operations of the DDA office, public works maintenance, deck maintenance, and debt service.

- Total year end Fund Balance amounts to $1,238,473.

- The DDA is continuing to pay general obligation bonds for Mainstreet ’93 and will continue through to 2009.

Motion DeHaan, seconded by Buckhave to accept the audit report as presented. Motion carried unanimously.

Director Ward reviewed the October DDA financial report regarding revenue and expenditures to date, and answered several questions posed by the members.

A brief report was given on the recent Parking Committee meeting which included building owners, retailers, and residents. The Parking Committee recommended:

- The removal of all orange dots in Parking Lots #2 and #3 (Wing and Dunlap, and the lot behind the Marquis Theater).

- The institution of a shuttle bus system for transporting employees from a long-term parking area to the downtown.

- The development of a long-term parking structure.

- The restriction of downtown residents to park only in their block.

- The enforcement of parking in a 3-hour parking lot versus a 3-hour parking space.

Discussion ensued over the method and timing of initiating a downtown shuttle system.

Motion Presley, seconded by DeHaan to schedule a special DDA meeting for Tuesday, November 30, 2004 at 8 a.m. for the purpose of addressing the introduction of a downtown shuttle system. Motion carried unanimously.

Ward outlined the progress of the Gibbs Planning Group regarding the Planning Study. Gibbs will be meeting with the Downtown Steering Committee to go through three models of potential growth in the downtown and detail the market research he will have conducted. It was requested that the information be distributed to the Steering Committee members prior to the formal presentation.

Councilmember Swigart spoke of the City’s need of an overall comprehensive plan for the downtown and he stated that the Gibbs report should be a part of the planning process and not the only tool.

Councilmember Hartshorne spoke of the need for a table-top deck at Wing and Main Street. He stated prior objections to a deck had to do with the height of the proposed deck.

It was stated that the Gibbs study could answer questions regarding the future of the downtown which would lead to the best solution for the parking problem. Additionally, if further work and/or information is required to reach a consensus regarding the future direction of the downtown, it was stated that the work needs to be done quickly and, if the expertise available in the community is insufficient, the outside expert must have knowledge of Northville.

Motion Heaton, seconded by Shaffner to purchase the building and property located at 116 East Dunlap Street for the purchase price of $425,000. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Recording Secretary