Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority - Regular Meeting

Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority 400 Franklin Street SE Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49507 August 17, 2022 @ 11:00 AM ICCF Community Center PRESENT: Helen Harp, Kristian Grant, Darel Ross, Commissioner Nathaniel Moody, Jonathan Farman, Commissioner Senita Lenear ABSENT: Eric Williams, Reuben Ramos OTHERS: Verah Narh Kamara, Kelsey Liebenow, Carlos Calderon, Karen Bryan, Monk Matthaeus, Ajamu Bernard I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 11:02 AM by Chair Helen Harp II. Public Comment on Agenda Items None. III. Minutes Approval Approval of Minutes from July 20, 2022 No comments or questions were noted. Motion to approve the minutes from July 20, 2022. RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Kristian Grant, Vice-Chair SECONDER: Senita Lenear, Commissioner YEAS: Harp, Grant, Ross, Moody, Farman, Lenear ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos IV. Action Items 1. Fiscal Year 2023 Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority Budget Adoption Verah Narh Kamara presented the budget and noted that there were no changes at the City Commission level and this will be the final stage in the budget preparation process. Motion to adopt the fiscal year 2023 budget as presented. Generated 8/30/2022 04:43 PM Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 2 August 17, 2022 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Senita Lenear, Commissioner SECONDER: Kristian Grant, Vice-Chair YEAS: Harp, Grant, Ross, Moody, Farman, Lenear ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos 2. Southtown Facade Improvement Program Projects Ms. Kamara presented this item and noted that the TMT Automotive grant application has been withdrawn because they have submitted a new quote for their application. Ms. Kamara added that the board can approve the other two applications for a total of $25,000. Helen Harp was hoping there will be representatives from UMCH to answer some questions regarding the use of minority contractors for their project. Motion to approve the façade program grant applications for 900 Division Ave. and 2427 Eastern Ave. for a total of $25,000. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Senita Lenear, Commissioner SECONDER: Kristian Grant, Vice-Chair YEAS: Harp, Grant, Ross, Moody, Farman, Lenear ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos 3. Sponsorship Request for One Peace Festival - Garfield Park Kelsey Liebenow presented this item to the board. Darel Ross asked if there was a presentation attached to this request. Ms. Liebenow answered that everything that was presented with the request is included in the agenda packet. Ms. Harp asked about the marketing incentive and wondered how the Southtown CIA can be included in their marketing effort due to the very short timeline. Ms. Liebenow added that Southtown will be presented as a table/ vendor at the event. Ms. Harp also noted that the event is not happening within the Southtown CIA boundary. She was wondering if there was a representative ready to answer some questions about the request. This item was tabled till the end of the meeting to see if the representative will be at the meeting by then. The representative did not make it to the meeting in time to present the request, but the board went ahead and voted on the item. Generated 8/30/2022 04:43 PM Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 3 August 17, 2022 Motion to approve the sponsorship request of the One Peace Festival for an amount not to exceed $3,000. RESULT: APPROVED [5 TO 1] MOVER: Darel Ross, Secretary SECONDER: Jonathan Farman, Member YEAS: Grant, Ross, Moody, Farman, Lenear NAYS: Helen Harp ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos 4. Alger Heights Business Association - Green Space Funding Request Ms. Liebenow and Karen Bryan, with the Alger Heights Business Association, presented this item to the board. Ms. Bryan noted that this proposal will cover grant writing, and grant research as well as fulfill all city requirements. She also noted there have been meetings with the key audiences such as business owners and community advocates and they also held interactive workshops. Mr. Ross asked if there was any part of the project that can be contracted to minority groups. Ms. Bryan noted they intended to include minority groups at the implementation stage. Mr. Ross added that it is important to include minority groups in the ideation stage as well and suggested looking at the individual items for minority contractors. Ms. Harp added that it is important to have Fishbeck present at all the meetings in the design process hence it will be difficult to involve other contractors at this stage. Commissioner Nathaniel Moody asked if this proposal will be within the requested not to exceed amount. The group confirmed they rounded up the actual quote of $16,400 to $20,000 to accommodate any unexpected expenses. Ms. Kamara reminded Jonathan Farman he will have to abstain from the discussion and the vote due to a conflict of interest. Motion to approve the Alger Heights Business Association green space funding request for not to exceed the amount of $20,000. RESULT: APPROVED [5 TO 0] MOVER: Nathaniel Moody, Commissioner SECONDER: Darel Ross, Secretary YEAS: Harp, Grant, Ross, Moody, Lenear ABSTAIN: Jonathan Farman ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos V. Reports Generated 8/30/2022 04:43 PM Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 4 August 17, 2022 1. Corridor Manager and Committees 2. Corridor Manager and Committee Updates Ms. Liebenow presented the reports. 1. The board discussed the neighborhood activation project. Ms. Harp was at the activation meeting and shared the discussions with the board. Mr. Farman believes this consulting piece will be helpful to property owners that are working on taking their businesses to the next level. Commissioner Senita Lenear suggests building relationships with business owners by doing an inventory of business owners. The board agreed a good place to start is with the business associations by building relationships with them and helping them to get well established. Mr. Ross added the is a lack of information regarding the resources available and the city, economic development department should invest in marketing efforts to make these resources available. 2. Ms. Liebenow noted there was a meeting with Breese Stram with the Engineering Department regarding the Eastern Road project. The goal was to see what line items could be eliminated to cut down on Southtown’s contribution to the project. Unfortunately, there was not much flexibility in the items. Commissioner Lenear requested Ms. Liebenow send the list to her and Commissioner Moody. They will discuss this with the Engineering Department and bring some clarity to the board. 3. Ms. Liebenow updated the board on the business association MOUs, the committee is working on having all associations sign a new MOU that will state funds cannot be used to pay stipends. RESULT: DISCUSSED VI. Other Business A representative from the One Peace festival introduced himself as Monk Matthaeus, he spoke to their request and noted that Southtown CIA is already being featured on all the social media marketing efforts. Ms. Kamara informed the board she sent out a survey regarding the CI/BID round table discussion and encouraged the board members to respond to engage with the survey. VII. Public Comment 1. Add a new action item to the agenda - Franklin and Eastern Bussiness Association ARPA Grant Application Support Letter Generated 8/30/2022 04:43 PM Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 5 August 17, 2022 Carlos Calderon mentioned that the Franklin and Eastern business Association got a quick turnaround from Kent County regarding their ARPA grant applications. F&E has been asked to present a support letter from the Southtown CIA by the following week. Ms. Kamara informed the board they can add a new action item to the agenda by making a motion. The board approved the motion and voted to offer the support letter. RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Darel Ross, Secretary SECONDER: Kristian Grant, Vice-Chair YEAS: Harp, Grant, Ross, Moody, Farman, Lenear ABSENT: Eric Williams, Ruben Ramos VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 PM by Chair Helen Harp. Generated 8/30/2022 04:43 PM