Downtown Development Authority Minutes

Director Ward outlined the plan proposed by City Staff to institute a shuttle system for employees who would be willing to park in a remote location of downtown. The orange dots (used to designate employee parking) will be eliminated from all downtown parking lots. Long term parking is available along east and west Cady Street. The shuttle program:

- Would begin Wednesday, December 1, 2004 and will run through Saturday, January 22, 2005, Monday through Saturday.

- Parking would be available at an area in the Northville Downs parking lot.

- Would run from 7:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

- Would be free to passengers for the holiday season; a cost of $1 per round trip would begin on January 3, 2005.

- Proposed route would start at the Northville Downs lot, proceed north to Dunlap Street, Dunlap to Main, right on Main, Main to Wing, right on Wing, Wing to Dunlap, right on Center, Center to the Northville Downs. There would be approximately six drop off / pickup sites in the downtown.

- Cost of the program to the DDA, including rental of the bus, cost of drivers, and cost of gasoline, totaled approximately $175 per day or $1,050 per week.

Questions asked dealt with the purpose, cost, and particulars of the program. Extensive discussion ensued regarding the value of the proposed shuttle system. Points made in favor of the shuttle included issues of safety perceived by employees leaving work after dark, and the need to experiment with possible solutions to parking management problems. Points of dissension included the relatively high cost for a limited number of participants, the availability of parking on Cady Street, and the belief that the safety concerns could be addressed in other ways.

It was suggested that if the shuttle was to be implemented, immediate action must be taken to inform all downtown employees. It was also suggested that a review be conducted sometime late December on the use of the shuttle system prior to continuing it in January.

Motion Presley, seconded by Buckhave to approve the recommendation to implement the Shuttle Program with the provision to meet in December to review the status of the program. Ayes: Buckhave, Heaton, LaChance, Johnson, Presley. Nays: DeHaan, Larsen, Long, Shaffner. Motion carried.

Director Ward reviewed the status of the Gibbs Planning Study and stated a presentation is proposed to take place on the evening of December 9^th at 7 p.m. The Downtown Steering Committee will be reviewing the draft report on Monday, December 13, 2004 at 7 p.m. It is anticipated a final report will be submitted by Gibbs Planning Group sometime in February 2005.

Motion LaChance, seconded by Shaffner to call a special meeting on December 9, 2004 at 7:00 p.m., to take place either in the Senior Community Center or the Council Chambers, for the purpose of hearing a presentation on the Planning Study as prepared by the Gibbs Planning Group. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

Carol T. Kasprowicz
Recording Secretary