Uptown Business Improvement District Regular Meeting

Uptown Business Improvement District 1106 Wealthy Street SE Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49503 September 7, 2022 @ 8:15 AM Louise Earl Butcher PRESENT: Tamara Sytsma, Ted Lott, Peter Vanderwier, Jaye Van Lenten, Commissioner Nathaniel Moody. ABSENT: Lynn Happel, Stephanie Johnson, Matthew Smith. OTHERS: Verah Narh Kamara, Ingrid Miller, Julia Saldivia, Ken Miguel Cipriano. I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:22 AM by Vice-Chair Tamara Sytsma. II. Public Comment on Agenda Items None. III. Minutes Approval Approval of Minutes from June 1, 2022. There were no questions or comments noted. Motion to approve minutes from June 1, 2022. RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: George (Ted) Lott, Member SECONDER: Peter Vanderwier, Member YEAS: Sytsma, Lott, Vanderwier, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Lynn Happel, Stephanie Johnson, Matthew E. Smith IV. Action Items 1. Block by Block Uptown Ambassador Contract Renewal Ingrid Miller presented this item and noted that this new agreement is not different from what was signed by the board in June. Jaye Van Lenten asked Ms. Miller if she had any concerns about the new agreement. Ms. Miller answered that it is different from last year's contract, but she worked with the city to clarify some aspects of the agreement. She noted that Uptown is still the manager of the contracts. Generated 10/3/2022 10:44 AM Uptown Business Improvement District Meeting Full Page 2 September 7, 2022 Ted Lott believes the changes in the agreement are due to inconsistencies in the City’s operations. There seem to be different interpretations each time a new person takes over a position with the city. He added that the best the city can do in a situation like this is to reimburse Uptown Inc. for the staff hours dedicated to the initial agreement. Verah Narh Kamara explained the reasons for the changes in the agreement and noted that the city is revising the Uptown Inc and City of Grand Rapids service agreement to reflect these changes. Commissioner Nathaniel Moody will follow up on the situation to find a resolution. Ms. Miller also added this new agreement puts Uptown on the same schedule as Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. so Uptown would not need to bid on this contract for another 2 years. Motion to approve the revised Block by Block Uptown ambassador contract for the fiscal year 2023 for a not to exceed amount of $65,000. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: George (Ted) Lott, Member SECONDER: Jaye Van Lenten, Member YEAS: Sytsma, Lott, Vanderwier, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Lynn Happel, Stephanie Johnson, Matthew E. Smith 2. City Dumpster Fee Request - $4,000 Annually Ms. Miller presented this item to the board and noted that this will be an addition to the Block-by-Block agreement and that, the city has been taking care of this expense till now. This expense will be renewed every year and she expects the price to remain the same. Motion to approve the city dumpster fee request for an amount not to exceed $4,000. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: George (Ted) Lott, Member SECONDER: Jaye Van Lenten, Member YEAS: Sytsma, Lott, Vanderwier, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Lynn Happel, Stephanie Johnson, Matthew E. Smith V. Reports 1. Committee Meeting Notes Generated 10/3/2022 10:44 AM Uptown Business Improvement District Meeting Full Page 3 September 7, 2022 1. Committee Meeting Notes The reports were not discussed at this meeting. RESULT: RECEIVED AND FILED VI. Other Business None. VII. Public Comment Ken Miguel-Cipriano, the Mobile GR liaison introduced himself and informed the board that LIME has been selected as the main vendor for the micro-mobility project. He advised the board to reach out to him directly or to Ms. Kamara if they see Spin vehicles in the district so he can arrange for a pickup. VIII. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 AM by Vice Chair, Tamara Sytsma. Generated 10/3/2022 10:44 AM