South MLK Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority

Regular Meeting

Lansing, MI · May 16, 2024

Minutes

S. Marting Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Directors Monthly Meeting May 23th, 2024, 1 pm Plumber and Pipefitters Union Hall Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48910 Members Present: Price Dobernick, Amanda Defrees, Don Sober Members Absent: Theresa Stokes, Kristina Schmidgall Facilitator Present: Alex Watkins (LEDC), Kahleea Washington (LEDC) Guests Present: Tiana Gillis (MDOT), Andrea Strach (MDOT), Scott Cook (MDOT) Public: David Wiener, Paul Anderson, Pastor Coye Boyer, members of Kingdom Life Ministries Church Recorded by: Alex Watkins Call to Order/ Roll Call: Dobernick called meeting to order at 1:04 pm, enough members present for quorum. Approval of Meeting Minutes – Action: Motion to approve April meeting minutes. Defrees motioned, Sober Second. Unanimously approved. MDOT/ City of Lansing Pedestrian Crossing Presentation: Gillis and Strach reviewed the reasons for installing the pedestrian crossings on South MLK Blvd. They also discuss how MDOT decides where pedestrian locations are going to be placed. They reviewed the four locations in which the pedestrian crossings are going to be installed and also went over what maintenance will be needed to ensure the upkeep of the pedestrian islands. The main decision was whether or not to add flowers and landscaping to the pedestrian islands or leave the islands as cement blocks. The board decided that landscaping and flowers would be a great addition to the corridor and that they would like to see pedestrian islands with this feature. It was discussed that MDOT would provide the maintenance for the pedestrian islands in the first two years and that S MLK CIA would provide maintenance for the next three years. Annual estimates for upkeep of the islands was also discussed as well as the decision to higher and outside company to perform the maintenance tasks. Approval to add action item of Pedestrian Island Maintenance to the agenda – Action Motion to approve Pedestrian Island Maintenance to the agenda. Defrees motioned, Sober Second. Unanimously approved. Approval to be responsible for maintenance of Pedestrian Island in years 3 -5 – Action Motion to approve to be responsible for maintenance of Pedestrian Island in years 3 -5 Defrees motioned, Sober Second. Unanimously approved. Approval to use tax capture for Pedestrian Island maintenance in years 3 -5 – Action Motion to use tax capture for Pedestrian Island Maintenance. Defrees motioned, Sober Second. Unanimously approved. Project Management Proposal: The South MLK corridor improvement authority reviewed the project management proposal provided by southwest Action Group. Anderson spoke about his commitment to southwest Lansing and assisting the South MLK CIA as well as his experience in working with community and project development/ management. It was decided that there are a few items that need to be added to the proposal before the board votes upon acceptance. This item was tabled until the June meeting. Other Business: Pastor Bouyer went into further detail about the environmental studies being done on Maple Grove elementary. He also talked about working with the city to make sure that was being done with the current state of the building will be safe for the neighborhood. Pastor Bouyer also talked about other community entities that could be a part of the neighbor Grove redevelopment. Dobernick spoke about his opportunity to be promoted within the plumbers and pipe-fitters’ union and in the upcoming months would be resigning from the board due to additional job responsibilities. Members of the board thank Dobernick for his leadership and support over the years. Washington discussed her proposal for street sign toppers. She passed out literature about what street sign toppers are and how they promote the corridor. Discussion was had by the board on name branding the corridor. Further discussion about this proposal in June. Public Comment: Adjournment: Dobernick adjourned meeting at 2:10 pm X_________________________ Price Dobernick, Chairman S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority

Agenda

S. Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, May 16th, 2024 – 1:00 PM UA Local 333 Plumbers and Pipefitters 5405 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Lansing, MI 48911 AGENDA 1. Call to Order/ Roll Call 2. Approval of S. MLK CIA Meeting Minutes (April 18, 2024) – Action 3. Thriving Communities Visit Recap and Update 4. Corridor Signage 5. Project Management Proposal- Action 6. Other Business 7. Public Comment 8. Adjournment

Packet

S. Martin Luther King Jr. Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Directors Meeting Thursday, May 23, 2024 – 1:00 PM UA Local 333 Plumbers and Pipefitters 5405 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Lansing, MI 48911 AGENDA 1. Call to Order/ Roll Call 2. Approval of S. MLK CIA Meeting Minutes (April 18, 2024) – Action 3. MDOT/ City of Lasning Pedestrian Crossing Presentation 4. Project Management Proposal 5. Thriving Communities Recap 6. Corridor Signage- Action 7. Other Business 8. Public Comment 9. Adjournment S. Marting Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Directors Monthly Meeting April 18th, 2024, 1 pm Plumber and Pipefitters Union Hall Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing, MI 48910 Members Present: Price Dobernick, Amanda Defrees, Kristina Schmidgall Members Absent: Theresa Stokes, Don Sober Facilitator Present: Alex Watkins Guests Present: Public: Erin Buitendorp, Ali Bennett, Paul Anderson, Pastor Coye Boyer, Dustin Howard, Churchill Down Neighborhood President, Rudy Faust, Rachel Aland, Naomi Doerner, Jackie Lombardi Recorded by: Alex Watkins Call to Order/ Roll Call: Dobernick called meeting to order at 1:05 pm, and there are enough members present for quorum. Approval of Meeting Minutes – Action: Motion to approve April meeting minutes. Holding off on approving prior meeting minutes until later meeting. Defrees motioned, Sober Second. Unanimously approved. Thriving Communities Presentation: Nakajima reviewed the purpose of Thriving Communities Grant and presented on the community impact the community funds can have. Listed below are the key takeaways from the presentation and discussion. • Information about upcoming roadway projects is not always reaching the people who would like to be informed. • A proactive approach to informing and engaging with the community may support long-term trust-building. • Lansing has a robust social infrastructure of community organizations that can support information sharing about upcoming transportation projects and solicit feedback from community members during the planning process. • More coordination with the City’s Neighborhoods, Arts, and Citizen Engagement Department to conduct public engagement is desired. Other Business: Pastor Boye spoke about the current status of Maple Grove school. He also spoke about future plans that are being considered for the location. Pastor Boyer is open to any type of city assistance as well as working with corridor. Pastor Boyer plans to be involved in future MLK CIA meetings. The South MLK CIA took a bus tour put together by Dobernick of the corridor as well as the area that is represented in the Thriving Communities grant. Public Comment: Adjournment: Dobernick adjourned meeting at 1:45 pm X_________________________ Price Dobernick, Chairman S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority Proposal for Consulting Community Development Services To: MLK Community Improvement Authority (MLK CIA) From: Paul Anderson, Community Development Specialist, Southwest Action Group (SWAG) Date: 5/23/2024 Proposal Overview I am pleased to submit this proposal for providing Community Development services to the MLK CIA. This proposal outlines the scope of work, estimated hours, reporting schedule, and compensation details for the services to be rendered. Annual Compensation ● Annual Amount: $10,000 Reporting Schedule ● Quarterly Updates: I will provide quarterly updates to the MLK CIA board to ensure transparency and keep all stakeholders informed about the progress of our projects and initiatives. Estimated Hours ● Hours per Week: The number of hours per week will vary depending on the specific projects and their requirements. ● Monthly Estimate: I estimate spending approximately 15-20 hours per month on these projects. Professional Experience: 1. Southwest Action Group (SWAG) ● Role: Community Development Specialist ● Duration: June 19 2023 - Present Current Community Development Responsibilities: ● Thriving Communities Program, focusing on community engagement, development and improving pedestrian safety along the MLK Corridor. ● Managing Policy Systems and Environmental Change (PSE Lead) initiatives to drive systemic improvements. ● Overseeing the Lansing Empowerment Network, aimed at empowering local communities through advocacy, education and resources. ● Facilitating the Redevelopment of the Pleasant Grove School project to transform it into a community hub. ● Administering various SWAG grant projects to secure funding for community initiatives. ● Supervising the Town Square Parking Lot Renovation to enhance local infrastructure. ● Collaborating on the SWAG - MLK CIA Collaboration to align community development efforts with the MLK CIA's goals. ● Placemaking ● Facilitate current meetings, communications, and programs of SWAG Skills: ● Community engagement and outreach ● Project management ● Grant writing and administration ● Grant program management ● Stakeholder collaboration ● Program development and implementation ● Empowerment, Connections, Engagement, and Goal Sections ● Placemaking Scope of Services under agreement with MLK CIA Empowerment: Our projects and initiatives aim to empower businesses in Southwest Lansing and along the MLK Corridor by providing them with the tools and resources necessary to thrive. This includes business development programs, access to funding opportunities, and professional growth workshops tailored to the unique needs of our local businesses. Connections: Building strong connections within the business community is a cornerstone of our approach. By fostering relationships with local entrepreneurs, business associations, and community organizations, we create a network of support that enhances the effectiveness of our initiatives and helps businesses grow and prosper. Engagement: Active engagement with the business community is critical to the success of any development project. We prioritize listening to business owners, understanding their needs and concerns, and involving them in the decision-making process. This ensures that our projects reflect their aspirations and contribute to the economic vitality of Southwest Lansing and the MLK Corridor. Placemaking strategies will be used to transform underutilized spaces into lively areas that encourage community interaction and economic activity. Goals: The primary goals of our work include: ● Enhancing the economic vitality of Southwest Lansing and the MLK Corridor. ● Promoting sustainable business practices and environmental stewardship. ● Increasing access to resources and opportunities for local businesses. ● Building a resilient and connected business community. Sincerely, Paul Anderson Community Development Specialist Southwest Action Group (SWAG) Paul@joinswag.org 517-858-2919 SOUTH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD. CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF LANSING Certiﬁcate of Resolution by Board of Directors At a scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors of the South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority (S. MLK CIA) of the City of Lansing held on Thursday, May 23rd, 2024, at 1p.m., pursuant to notice duly given: PRESENT: Members: ABSENT: Members: The following preamble and resolution was offered by; Member: ,and seconded by: Member: WHEREAS, in 2019 the Lansing City Council approved the establishment of South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority (S. MLK CIA) with the goals to correct and prevent deterioration in the business districts, redevelop the city’s commercial corridors and promote economic growth; and WHEREAS, the South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority Development and Financing Plan was created and approved by the Lansing City Council in 2023; and WHEREAS, the Development and Financing Plan outlines the need to make placemaking efforts along the corridor to improve the aesthetic and design of the S. MLK Corridor; and WHEREAS, Mayor Andy Schor provided the S. MLK CIA with $100,000 of American Rescue Planning Act (ARPA) funding to start making strides to improve the corridor, until sufficient revenue under their Development and Financing Plan became available; and WHEREAS, the S. MLK CIA board expressed their intent to install street sign topper signage along the corridor with a design that represents the corridor’s identity; and WHEREAS, the City of Lansing Public Service Department informed the S. MLK CIA that there are forty-three (43) street sign topper opportunities along the CIA district and each street sign topper will cost $120 to make and install; and WHEREAS, the City of Lansing Public Service Department quoted the S. MLK CIA a total $5,160 for the project. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SOUTH MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. BLVD. CORRIDOR IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITYOF THE CITY OF LANSING AS FOLLOWS: 1. South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority (S. MLK CIA) accepts the proposal to send $5,160 of their ARPA funding toward the street sign topper project. 2 The Board further directs its Chair to work with the Lansing EDC on the management and facilitation of the project, and for the chair to approve the release of the LGCIA ARPA funds to carry out the purchase on the Authority’s behalf. 3.Additionally, the S. MLK CIA agrees that if any section, clause or phrase of this Resolution is declared as invalid by a court of law, that ruling shall not affect the intent and purpose of this Resolution and validity of the remaining provisions of the Resolution. 4.Finally, the S. MLK CIA declares that all resolutions or parts of resolutions in conﬂict with any of the provisions of this Resolution are repealed. The foregoing preamble and resolutions are hereby approved by the Board of Directors for the South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority of the City of Lansing. YEAS: () NAYS: () ABSTENTIONS: () ABSENT: () PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS DECLARED ADOPTED. STATE OF MICHIGAN ) ) ss. COUNTY OF INGHAM ) I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and a complete copy of a preamble and resolutions adopted at a regularly scheduled meeting of the South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority held on the 23rd day of May 2024, and said preamble and resolutions are on ﬁle in the office of the Economic Development Corporation of the City of Lansing and are available to the public. Public notice of the meeting was given pursuant to and in compliance with Act No. 267, Public Acts of Michigan 1976, including in the case of a special or re-scheduled meeting, notice by publication or posting of at least eighteen (18) hours prior to the time set for the meeting. In addition, the meeting was held in full compliance with the Board’s By-Laws. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my official signature. Price Dobernick, Chair South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. CIA Board of Directors