Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Board (NAB)

MAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY BOARD Meeting Minutes Letts Community Center Thursday, March 20, 2025 @ 5:30 P.M. BOARD MEMBERS: Kristi James (Chair Ward 4); Tirstan Walters (Vice-Chair Ward 1); Matthias Bell (Ward 4); Courtney Cole (Ward 3); Flo Baerren (Ward 2); Brian Baer (Ward 1); MaryBeth VanHorn (Ward 1); Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski (Ward 2); Vacant (Ward 4); Vacant (Ward 3); Vacant (Ward 3); Vacant (Ward 2); DNACE Staff: Robin Anderson-King Absences in bold CALL TO ORDER: 5:34 p.m. at Letts Community Center 1 ROLL CALL - Quorum was met 2. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA - None 3. AGENDA APPROVAL – Tirstan moved, Flo seconded – approved unanimously. 4. BOARD MEETING MINUTES – February 16, 2025 – update the ‘Meeting Agenda to Meeting Minutes’ – Brian moved, MaryBeth seconded – approved unanimously. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Grant 2024-2025 portal is still open: https://webportalapp.com/sp/login/lansingneighborhoods2025 • Tomorrow, March 21 is the deadline at 5 p.m. to submit • 45 applications submitted so far. • The next board grant review is virtual on March 30. 6. NEW BUSINESS A. Arts & Culture Commission Grant is available: www.lansingmi.gov/387/Building-Neighborhoods • Grant amount is up to $20,000. B. Grant Discussions • Churchill Downs Community Association Board went into closed session – Brian moved, Matthias seconded – approved unanimously. Board came out of closed session – Flo moved, Christopher seconded – approved unanimously. 7. UPDATES A. Mayor Updates B. DNACE Updates 1. Grow Lansing Grant is available at https://www.lansingmi.gov/1110/Grow-Lansing o Applications are still being accepted - will be available until all funds gone. 2. Parks & Recreation Grant Match Program is available at https://www.lansingmi.gov/892/Grants o Applications are still being accepted - available until the grant runs out. 3. HRCS – Housing Rights and Resource Fair, 3/27 at 5:30-8pm, Letts Community Center 4. Neighborhood Resource Summit, 4/23 at 6 – 8pm, Union Missionary Baptist Church o Flo can attend/MaryBeth will also attend on behalf of the board. 5. Lansing Economic Development Corporation grant programs o South West THRIVE Program: A four-week cohort-based program designed for small businesses to equip them get tools and knowledge to streamline operations and strengthen your enterprise. https://lansingedc.com/thrive-program  o Façade Improvement Grant Program: For Lansing businesses to assist with aesthetic beauty, safety improvements as well as enhance the street appearance. Full application deadline is March 31. https://lansingedc.com/facade-improvement-prog o Design Award: Up to $2,000 for development of renderings/façade designs and material specifications to assist with potential upfront design costs to prepare for future façade improvements. C. Next meeting: April 17, 2025 8. STATEMENTS OF CITIZENS 1. Nicklas Zande from Old Everett Neighborhood Organization • Spoke to us about the mini-grant the org has put in for a picnic at Debbie Stabenow park. 2. Frederic McLaughlin – local architect and property owner • Spoke to us that he was here to learn what the board does and mentioned UCLA urban planning professor, Donald Shoup, who wrote the book "The High Cost of Free Parking” on parking reform. 9. ADJOURN 6:20 p.m. – Brian moved, Christopher seconded – approved unanimously.