DDA Business and Marketing

Agenda Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority Marketing and Business Relations Subcommittee Meeting Tuesday, June 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. City Hall, Room 122 203 S. Troy Street Royal Oak, Michigan 48067 Anyone planning to attend the meeting who has need of special assistance under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is asked to contact the city clerk’s office at 248-246-3050 at least two (2) business days prior to the meeting. Pages 1. Winter Restaurant Week 2026 - 45 Day Report 2 2. Dinner Stroll 2026 Update 11 3. Social Media Analytics - May 2026 13 4. DDA Website Redevelopment 21 5. Oakland County Times Advertising 25 6. Michigan Parents with Kids advertising 36 7. Recruitment and Retention Fund Update 45 8. Executive Director Report 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORSHIP AGENDA ITEM TITLE Winter Restaurant Week 2026 45 Day Report PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority has partnered with the Royal Oak Restaurant Association on promoting a Restaurant Week for many years. At the 2026 event, 21 businesses sold 946 lunches and 2,495 dinners for a total of 3,441 meals. Additionally, the gift card promotion sold 1,000 gift cards valued at $50 each for a total of $50,000. For the bonus, 81% was spent before the deadline amounting to over $40,000 spent in restaurants. Additional earned media was directed to the event through DDA contracts. Restaurants by participation over the last four years follow. Of the 33 who participated, six are now closed. 2026 2025 2024 2023 1. Alchemi 2026 2025 2024 2023 2. Ale Mary's Beer Hall 2026 2025 2024 2023 3. Bar Louie 2026 2023 4. Bigalora 2026 5. Blind Owl 2026 6. D'Amato's/Goodnite Gracie 2026 2025 2024 2023 7. Fifth Avenue 2026 2025 2024 2023 8. Fourth Street Brunch and 2026 Bistro 9. Great Dane 2026 10. HopCat 2026 11. Iron Horse 2026 2025 2024 2023 12. Le Crepe 2026 2023 13. Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery 2026 2025 2024 2023 14. Mesa Tacos and Tequila 2026 2025 2024 2023 15. North End Taproom 2026 16. Oak City Grille 2026 2024 2023 17. Rock on Third 2026 2025 2024 18. Royal Oak Brewery 2026 2025 2024 2023 19. Tom's Oyster Bar 2026 2025 2024 2023 20. Trattoria da Luigi 2026 2025 2024 21. Ye Olde Saloon 2026 22. 526 Main 2025 2023 23. Sidebar 2025 2024 2023 Page 2 of 49  24. Bandit Tavern 2024 25. Elephant and Co. 2024 26. Lockhart’s BBQ 2024 2023 27. Atomic Coffee 2023 28. Freshii 2023 29. Give Thanks Bakery 2023 30. Jolly Pumpkin 2023 31. O’Toole’s 2023 32. Oak House Deli 2023 33. Pronto Diner 2023 A post-event survey was conducted of all participants. Seventy percent of the reporting businesses said Restaurant Week was a 4 or 5 for Highest/Best. That shows a high degree of satisfaction with the event. When asked what marketing materials businesses used, 13 of 21 participants relied on social media, 11 of 21 relied on signage on site, and 5 relied upon or recognized print advertising for the event. Over 80% of businesses spent no money on marketing. In the future it might be helpful to coach businesses on how a small marketing spend can lead to bigger results. Collectively businesses reported spending $710 of their own money on marketing. A small spend here might be particularly helpful when considering the $10,000 that the DDA puts into sponsorship, the $50,000 put into the gift card BOGO, and other monies raised. Page 3 of 49 Half of respondents, or 10 out of 20 reported 500 customers or more during Restaurant Week. Just over a third of respondents had 199 or fewer customers. What that speaks to is some businesses are high volume likely with lower margin, and others are low volume with higher margin. Both are totally fine and acceptable. The takeaway is that different businesses participate in and benefit from Restaurant Week in different ways. Twenty percent of businesses reported 10% to 49% increase in sales. These are the businesses that did best and made the most of this promotion: Hopcat, Le Crepe, Lily's Seafood and Trattoria Da Luigi. As a follow up it would be good to talk with each of these businesses and what made them successful. Then lessons can be shared with the broader group. Page 4 of 49 Earned media included WXYZ, Planet Detroit, Royal Oak Today, and City Lifestyle Magazine. Of these, the greatest recognition and awareness among participants was through Royal Oak Today. This is likely due to its citywide distribution. WXYZ raised awareness through website and digital advertising: • Homepage Takeover and News Section Takeover led to 903,054 impressions and 875 clicks. • Facebook post on 2/13 had 46,219 views, 329 link clicks, 19 comments, and 61 shares. • Google Display Network ad had 1,057,170 impressions and 8,610 clicks for a clickthrough rate (CTR) of .81%. • Scripps Targeted emails on Feb 17 and Feb 23 reached 75,000 accounts with 13,754 opens and an 18.34% open rate. There were 1,695 clicks for a CTR of 2.26%. Planet Detroit had a feature-length article – “Eat well, live well in Downtown Royal Oak: A practical guide to dining sustainably.” Among currently open businesses, the frequency of participation since 2014 follows. Most First Total Years Recent Year Year 1. D'Amato's/Goodnite Gracie 2026 2014 14 2. Lily's Seafood Grill & Brewery 2026 2014 14 3. Tom's Oyster Bar 2026 2014 14 4. Ale Mary's Beer Hall 2026 2015 13 5. Oak City Grille 2026 2014 13 6. Rock on Third 2026 2014 13 7. Mesa Tacos and Tequila 2026 2016S 12 8. Royal Oak Brewery 2026 2014 12 9. Bigalora 2026 2014 11 10. Fifth Avenue 2026 2014 10 11. Le Crepe 2026 2015 10 12. Trattoria da Luigi 2026 2015 10 13. Café Muse 2019F 2014 9 14. Pronto Diner 2023 2014 7 Page 5 of 49  15. 526 Main 2025 2018 6 16. Jim Brady’s Detroit 2020 2016F 6 17. Bar Louie 2026 2019S 5 18. Alchemi 2026 2023 4 19. Iron Horse 2026 2023 4 20. Royal Oak Taphouse 2020 2018 4 21. O’Toole’s 2023 2014 3 22. Atomic Coffee 2023 2023 1 23. Blind Owl 2026 2026 1 24. City Ramen 2020 2020 1 25. Condado Tacos 2020 2020 1 26. Fourth Street Brunch and Bistro 2026 2026 1 27. Give Thanks Bakery 2023 2023 1 28. Great Dane 2026 2026 1 29. HopCat 2026 2026 1 30. North End Taproom 2026 2026 1 31. Oak House Deli 2023 2023 1 32. Smokys 2019F 2019F 1 33. Star Lanes at Emagine Royal Oak 2014 2014 1 34. Ye Olde Saloon 2026 2026 1 The Downtown Dollars gift card promotion was a BOGO up to $50.When an individual purchase a gift card up to $50, they received a bonus gift card for $50 that could only be spent at food and dining businesses participating in the gift card program. Since this was the first time using a Restaurant Week exclusive bonus card – this created some confusion, especially among retailers. What we found, however, is that businesses participating in Restaurant Week and that accepted Downtown Dollars did very well. The 21 businesses participating in the 2026 restaurant week are highlighted in green. Restaurant Week Redemptions by Business Business Name and Ranking Gift Bonus Total Card Redeem Redeem Redeem # # # 1. Lily's Seafood Grill 44 168 212 and Brewery 2. Royal Oak Brewery 27 118 145 3. Ale Mary's 20 63 83 4. Boukie's Grill 15 81 96 5. The Blue Goat 11 37 48 6. HopCat 7 49 56 7. Trattoria Da Luigis 12 29 41 8. Cantaritos Mexican 16 29 45 Bar & Grill Page 6 of 49 9. D'Amatos/Goodnite 9 33 42 Gracie 10. Blind Owl 10 26 36 11. Atomic Coffee 16 60 76 12. Motor City Gas 11 23 34 13. Mesa 6 26 32 14. Ewe-nique Knits 25 25 15. Rock on Third 8 22 30 16. Oak City Grille 7 17 24 17. Iron Horse 5 23 28 18. Nutri-Foods INC 4 31 35 19. Oak House Deli 10 35 45 20. North End Taproom 2 25 27 21. Alchemi 4 12 16 22. Seven Sundays Coffee 16 41 57 23. Little Bros Burgers 7 15 22 24. Comet Burger 6 14 20 25. Pronto 1 17 18 26. UHF 13 13 27. Tom's Oyster Bar 2 8 10 28. Bar Louie 3 8 11 29. Give Thanks Bakery 2 21 23 30. Breakout Escape 9 9 Room 31. Fourth Street Brunch 2 7 9 & Bistro Restaurant 32. Write Impressions 9 4 13 33. Dessert Oasis 4 26 30 34. Blu Jean Blues 9 9 35. Cafe Muse 1 6 7 36. Rail and Anchor 12 12 37. Kal's Lunch Bowl 1 11 12 38. Milan Pizza 1 9 10 39. Sidetrack Bookshop 9 9 40. Alex Emilio Salon 3 3 41. Saffron 3 3 42. Rehla Coffee 1 6 7 43. Office Coffee Shop 1 8 9 44. La Roche Gifts 3 3 45. About Face Beauty 2 2 Spa 46. Creative Arts Studio 2 2 47. Pitaya 3 3 Page 7 of 49  48. Tricho Salon 2 2 49. Hihi 3 3 50. Chrome Clothing 1 1 51. The Accessories Shop 1 1 52. Five 15 1 1 53. Marilyn's 1 2 3 54. Paper Trail Books 1 1 55. Smokerz Depot Royal 1 1 Oak 56. Tokyo Sushi 1 1 57. Golden Cone 1 1 Total Redemptions 404 1113 1517 Total Sales $50,000 $50,000 $100,000 Redemptions % of Total Sales 30% 81% 56% Staff suggests the following, in light of the extensive data gathered and debrief performed with RORA 1. Continue to fund the event and leave it substantially intact. 2. Expand the number of first-time businesses participating. Seven of twenty-one, or one- third of total participants were for the first time in the prior four years the event was offered. 3. Calculate the average ticket per customer for each individual restaurant. With this data adjust the BOGO to be at that level or below that level. 4. Evaluate BOGO both for face value of gift card ($50 this year when customer bought a $50 card). Go possibly in favor of a smaller amount like $25 so more people can benefit. 5. Evaluate BOGO for amount give back to customers when purchase a card. This year was 1:1, buy $50 and get $50. Future years could be 1:2, buy $50 get $25. This will also stretch the DDA dollars further and give a lower denomination card that customers will likely spend more than the face value of the card. 6. For gift card redemptions, pair up businesses with lowest redemptions with those with the highest redemptions, to help pull up people on the lower end. 7. For gift card redemptions, 5 of 21 participating restaurants had $0 gift card redemptions. Work to get these on the leader board. 8. Prioritize local and county news and information sources over regional and national. While WXYZ drove impressions this did not necessarily translate to sales. City Lifestyle and Royal Oak Today are existing platforms that DDA should continue with. New platforms like Oakland County Times and Moms in Michigan have the potential to attract new audience by targeting around geography and behavior, and not just for impressions. 9. Produce a postcard for Restaurant Week and distribute several weeks in advance. Direct to website for event with a trackable QR code. 10. Promote RORA events and social posts through new DDA social media contractor. Additionally, RORA has requested the following of the DDA: 1. Consider additional marketing around parking. 2. Provide access to CRM with a commitment to help the DDA keep info around restaurant up-to-date. Page 8 of 49 Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $0 AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $0 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-82500 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) Minimal staff time is needed. Less than five hours total went towards Restaurant Week. Staff attended two RORA board meetings, and a few pre-meetings to help prepare for this and other restaurant-focused promotions. ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. This programming helps to achieve two goals from the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan: 6.3.1 – Quality of Life: Support local small businesses and business retention. Incorporating existing local businesses will help to increase their revenue and odds of retention. 6.6.1. -- Quality of Life: Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. Downtown Dollars will go towards supporting buy-local, including the Downtown Dollars gift card. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. No community engagement occurred. Page 9 of 49 ATTACHMENTS: Page 10 of 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORSHIP AGENDA ITEM TITLE Dinner Stroll 2026 Update PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The sponsorship request for $22,500 was made and approved at the DDA Board meeting on April 29, 2026. One of the two resolutions that the DDA Board approved was to get more information about marketing tactics for the promotion: BE IT RESOLVED, the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority hereby approves the DDA Executive Director to support the marketing for the Dinner Stroll in 2026 for an amount up to $7,500, after more details about the marketing tactics are provided to justify this spend. This memo is to update the Board on what the Executive Director found. Of the two dinner strolls that we plan to attend, costs for each stroll would be $3,750 for a total of $7,500. • $200 posters and cards to put in restaurants and throughout downtown • $3,250 paid ads on Facebook, Instagram and Eventbrite, including consultant • $300 event supplies for the day of the event including menus, program/maps, hole punchers Event organizer Stephanie McIntyre, added “For the social paid ads, we were flexible on the ad buys based on ticket sales, so we spent more than the above number for the 2nd event and less than that number for the 1st event. We will run the same plan again as we monitor ticket sales.” Staff appreciates the clarification provided by the promoters and wanted to make sure that the Board has the ability to see the same information and clarification. No action is requested and this memo is for informational purposes only. We will notify the social media contractor for the DDA. In the event that the paid ads are not needed because the event is fully sold out, it would be helpful for those funds to revert to the DDA or go into activities that promote the downtown as a whole. We will convey this to the event promoter and proceed accordingly. Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $0 AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $0 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-85712 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS Page 11 of 49 REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) This is a budgeted amount for this fiscal year and, as such, will have no adverse impact on revenue. If anything funds might revert to the DDA if they are not needed for the designated activity. WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) DDA Executive Director and Deputy Director time will be limited, with no more than two hours supporting the event. ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. This promotion connects with items in the Sustainability & Climate Action Plan: 6.3.1 – Quality of Life: Support local small businesses and business retention. Businesses will be highlighted in promotions, attracting new customers to Royal Oak. 6.6.1. -- Quality of Life: Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. People will be encouraged to shop and buy-local. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. • 2024, August – First Dinner Stroll • 2025, June 12 – Second Dinner Stroll • 2025, August 14 – Third Dinner Stroll • 2026, April 7 – DDA Marketing and Business Relations Subcommittee reviewed the Restaurant Stroll. ATTACHMENTS: Page 12 of 49 ROYAL OAK DDA SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS MAY 2026 Page 13 of 49 Executive Summary May 2026 continued the strong momentum established during the inaugural month of Atomic Honey’s social media management partnership with the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority. Building upon April’s benchmark performance, the April 27th–May 27th reporting period demonstrated meaningful growth across visibility, engagement, and audience development on both Instagram and Facebook. The continued increase in reach and follower growth reinforces that Downtown Royal Oak’s combination of business storytelling, event promotion, dining and entertainment content, and community-focused messaging is resonating with audiences. Equally important, this reporting period provided additional insight into the types of content and timing that drive the strongest engagement, allowing for further refinement of strategy moving into the high-traffic summer season. Highlights Instagram 111,600 total views 16,700 accounts reached (+43.7%) 2,400 content interactions 264 new followers (+10.5%) Messaging contacts increased 81.8% Facebook 175,600 total views (+201.5%) 1,100 content interactions (+182.9%) 151 new followers (+125.4%) Net follows increased 222.2% Combined Impact Approximately 287,000 total content views across both platforms More than 400 combined follower additions Significant audience growth and engagement acceleration compared to the inaugural reporting period Continued strengthening of Downtown Royal Oak’s digital visibility and community engagement Page 14 of 49 Monthly analytics | May 2026 Executive Summary - continued Key Insights Facebook Experienced Significant Growth While Instagram continues to serve as the primary visual storytelling platform, Facebook saw the largest month-over-month growth in overall visibility and engagement. Content views increased more than 200%, driven largely by event-driven content, business announcements, and timely community-oriented posts. Event and Lifestyle Content Continue to Perform Best Posts tied to recognizable downtown experiences and seasonal activity generated the highest engagement, reinforcing the importance of timely, locally relevant storytelling. Top-performing content during the reporting period consistently centered around: Downtown events and seasonal programming New business openings and announcements Dining and patio season content Community lifestyle imagery Timely “things to do” and weekend-focused posts Audience Growth Remains Healthy & Targeted Audience demographics remained highly aligned with Downtown Royal Oak’s core consumer base, with the strongest engagement continuing to come from women between the ages of 25– 54. This audience closely mirrors the district’s primary dining, shopping, entertainment, and event demographic. Momentum Is Becoming More Sustainable Compared to the inaugural reporting month, the current reporting period suggests that audience growth and engagement are becoming more sustainable and less dependent on isolated high- performing posts. Continued consistency in posting cadence, visual quality, and community- centered storytelling is helping establish stronger long-term platform momentum. Page 15 of 49 Monthly analytics | May 2026 Executive Summary - continued Looking Ahead As Downtown Royal Oak moves deeper into the end of spring and summer event season, the opportunity for continued growth remains significant. Upcoming efforts will focus on increasing real-time and short-form video content, expanding merchant participation, highlighting seasonal events and activations, and continuing to refine content strategy based on performance trends and audience behavior. Additional emphasis will also be placed on showcasing the downtown experience beyond individual events — including dining, shopping, nightlife, walkability, and community culture — to further position Downtown Royal Oak as a year-round regional destination. We appreciate the continued partnership, collaboration, and feedback from DDA leadership, staff, businesses, and stakeholders. The results from the first two reporting periods reinforce that Downtown Royal Oak possesses a highly engaged digital audience and strong organic storytelling potential, providing a strong foundation for continued growth throughout 2026. Data Disclaimer Data for this reporting period was pulled from April 27th–May 27th, 2026 in order to accommodate reporting timelines and Board review needs. For standard monthly reporting, analytics are typically pulled within the first 5–10 days of the following month to allow all platform data associated with the prior calendar month sufficient time to fully populate and normalize across META reporting systems. As a result, minor variances may occasionally appear in subsequent reports as platform data finalizes. Should any notable discrepancies or adjustments arise related to previously reported metrics, they will be identified and contextualized within the following month’s report. Going forward, this will be standard practice included as part of monthly reporting. Page 16 of 49 Monthly analytics | May 2026 ORGANIC SOCIAL Reporting dates: April 27th - May 27th, 2026 Instagram Facebook Monthly analytics | May 2026 Page 17 of 49 5 META CONTENT Top performing posts Reporting dates: April 27th - May 27th, 2026 Instagram Facebook Monthly analytics | May 2026 Page 18 of 49 6 AUDIENCE Reporting dates: April 27th - May 27th, 2026 Instagram Facebook Monthly analytics | May 2026 Page 19 of 49 7 LOCATION DEMOGRAPHICS Reporting dates: April 27th - May 27th, 2026 Instagram Facebook Monthly analytics | May 2026 Page 20 of 49 8  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA ITEM TITLE Downtown Royal Oak Website Redevelopment PRESENTER Julia Kalugar, DDA Deputy Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority (DDA) website serves as a primary public- facing tool for residents, visitors, businesses, and potential investors seeking information about Downtown Royal Oak. The current website no longer fully aligns with the DDA’s goals of supporting economic development, enhancing user experience, and promoting Downtown Royal Oak as a destination. At present, the site has limitations in design, usability, and functionality. Navigation is not fully intuitive, and the platform does not reflect current best practices for downtown and Main Street organization websites. As a result, there are limitations in the DDA’s ability to engage visitors, support local businesses, and effectively communicate events, initiatives, and economic development efforts. A new website would allow the DDA to modernize its digital presence, improve accessibility and mobile performance, and strengthen support for tourism, business attraction, and community engagement efforts. It would also support more streamlined internal content management and improved analytics tracking to measure engagement and usage. Currently, the Royal Oak DDA website is housed within the City of Royal Oak’s website, which limits customization and content organization. The City is transitioning to a new web provider. There are opportunities to have microsites with the new provider, but that falls short of the customization and content organization that the DDA aspires for. The DDA can maintain a basic informational presence on the City’s website for items such as board meetings, agendas, and minutes, while directing downtown-focused content to a dedicated Downtown Royal Oak website. This structure is consistent with approaches used in other communities, where downtown organizations maintain separate websites to support tourism and business district promotion. • Downtown Ferndale – Downtown Ferndale. You Belong Here. • Welcome to Downtown Farmington MI • Downtown Rochester, MI • Birmingham Shopping District | Birmingham, MI • Downtown Berkley Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY Page 21 of 49  EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $15,000-25,000 + possible annual renewal and maintenance fee AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $0 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-85711 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) The discontinuation of prior high-cost advertising contracts and agreements has resulted in available capacity within the DDA marketing budget. A modernized website would support more effective use of these funds by serving as a central landing page for digital advertising, promotional campaigns, and tourism initiatives. An improved website would also strengthen the effectiveness of paid marketing efforts by providing a more consistent and functional user experience for individuals directed to the site through advertising and outreach campaigns. This may improve engagement with downtown businesses, events, and initiatives promoted by the DDA. No direct revenue is generated or reduced as a result of this item; however, the website functions as a supporting infrastructure for marketing and promotional activities funded through existing DDA marketing allocations. The fiscal impact of a new website would depend on the scope of services outlined in the RFP. Based on comparable municipal and DDA website projects, a full redesign and development effort could range from approximately $15,000 to $25,000+, depending on functionality such as event integration, mapping tools, content management system complexity, and accessibility compliance requirements. Ongoing costs may include hosting, maintenance, security updates, and potential content management support, estimated at $1,000 to $5,000 annually depending on vendor structure and service level agreements. While there is an upfront investment, a modernized website can directly support economic development efforts by increasing tourism visibility, improving business attraction efforts, and enhancing communication with stakeholders—ultimately strengthening the DDA’s return on investment through improved engagement and promotion of downtown activity. WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) This item will require ongoing staff time for website maintenance and content management. Responsibilities would include regular updates to the events page, business directory, and other public-facing content to ensure information remains current and accurate. These tasks would be incorporated into existing staff responsibilities and are not expected to require additional staffing. However, the level of effort will vary depending on the frequency of event updates, promotional campaigns, and business-related changes. We may enlist support of part-time/intern staff for updating as needed. Page 22 of 49 ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. From the City’s Strategic Plan, this project supports goals related to community connectivity and access to Downtown Royal Oak resources and amenities: 1.4a. Individuals have access to social infrastructure through community connectivity and amenities. The redesigned website supports community connectivity by creating a more accessible and engaging digital hub for residents, visitors, and businesses to connect with Downtown Royal Oak amenities and activities. The Sustainability Climate Action Plan (S-CAP) identified a number of areas that intersect with this project: 6.3. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Strengthen and increase communications networks. The updated website will improve public access to Downtown information, programs, events, and resources while creating a more visible and accessible communications network for residents, businesses, and visitors. 2.2.6. Actively inform Royal Oak residents and city staff about available SMART service in Royal Oak. The website can serve as a resource hub for transportation information, including SMART transit options, parking resources, mobility initiatives, and alternative transportation opportunities available downtown. 6.6. ECONOMY AND EDUCATION: Establish public policies, programs, and resources to support local small businesses and business retention. The website redevelopment will support local businesses through enhanced business directory features, promotional opportunities, event visibility, tourism marketing, and buy-local campaigns. 6.6.1. Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. The website will help promote initiatives such as Small Business Saturday, downtown events, seasonal campaigns, and other economic development efforts designed to increase visibility and support for local businesses. The Aging in Place Plan also identifies areas that align with this project under Information and Communication: Goal 3.1: Foster digital literacy through a variety of platforms. Create, foster, and anticipate digital connections. The updated website will provide a more accessible, mobile-friendly, and easy-to-navigate platform that improves access to information for users of all ages and abilities while supporting digital engagement throughout the community. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. Page 23 of 49 Informal research of comparable communities was conducted to understand common practices among downtown development organizations. This included reviewing websites and digital structures used by similar organizations in other cities. Findings indicate that many comparable downtown organizations maintain standalone websites to support downtown promotion, business visibility, and event marketing. PROPOSED DDA BOARD RESOLUTION: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority hereby authorizes the Executive Director to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for website design and development services for the DDA website. ATTACHMENTS: Page 24 of 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORSHIP AGENDA ITEM TITLE Oakland County Times Advertising PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the ever-changing media landscape it is important for the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority to target messaging to audiences that we hope to attract. The Oakland County Times started seventeen years ago with an initial focus in Ferndale. In 2014, they expanded their coverage to Royal Oak and Berkley after these communities were hit by a flood. They filled a needed gap getting necessary information to residents at the time. For the last few years, they have further expanded to have a more county-wide focus. They regularly have over 500,000 visitors to their website monthly, with around one-third of these coming from the Southeast Oakland County area. While more than 60 communities have a presence on the website, a few have made a bigger commitment through paid advertising placement. These include Ferndale (the first in 2009), Holly (2015) and Highland in 2023. Orion Township and Auburn Hills have also been frequent advertisers. Advertising brings with it the opportunity to have greater capacity and focus on what is happening in Royal Oak. Some specific areas we hope to focus on are: 1. Highlighting events that Royal Oak DDA sponsors throughout the year 2. Profiles of restaurants in Royal Oak including possible sponsoring of the Restaurant Quest section where there are now 44 Royal Oak restaurants of which only 16 are located in downtown Royal Oak. 3. Publishing photo reels after events, when time and space needs allow for that coverage. 4. Special series focusing on major projects or things happening in community. 5. Lead up of articles and features to major events like Arts, Beats & Eats. The Oakland County Times rate sheet has three plans: Ad Plan Per month For six months For one year Benefits Basic $250 $875 $1,500 Double $3,000 Triple $4,500 Page 25 of 49 Additionally, there is a featured stories and special section option. Within the Oakland County Restaurant Quest section, there is an option to have up to four restaurant reviews per month for a cost of $475 per month. These could have DDA ads cross- posted on these pages and would use the Royal Oak name to give them even greater visibility. Finally, there is a special section sponsorship, with each section $475/mo for six months minimum ($2,850 total). • Event Page • Explore • Newbie Foodie • Jobs Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $5,000 AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $0 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-85711 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) This is a new expenditure and we don’t have an existing line item to reallocate. We have cancelled corporate media spending so as to put resources into local and County platforms. WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. The Commission has stated on multiple occasions that completing the Fifth Street Pedestrian Plaza is a top priority. The Strategic Plan has several areas that intersect with this project. 1.4a. Individuals have access to social infrastructure through community connectivity and amenities. Promotion through a new platform will enhance community connectivity. The Sustainability Climate Action Plan (S-CAP) identified a number of areas that intersect with this project: Page 26 of 49  6.3.1 – Quality of Life: Support local small businesses and business retention. Businesses will be highlighted in promotions, attracting new customers to Royal Oak. 6.6.1. -- Quality of Life: Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. People will be encouraged to shop and buy-local. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. No community engagement has occurred. ATTACHMENTS: Page 27 of 49 Addendum Downtown and DDA Articles in Royal Oak Section Of the 652 articles since September 15, 2009, direct references to the downtown or DDA related programs or events follow: 1. Royal Oak Welcomes New Downtown Development Authority Director Isaac Kremer 2. Reporter Food: Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina in Downtown Royal Oak 3. Sentry Parking Meters & Back in Parking, New in Downtown Royal Oak 4. Downtown Royal Oak Adds Social District for Outside Drinking 5. Bonus Downtown Dollars Incentivize Shopping Local in Royal Oak 6. Reporter Food: Boukie’s Grill in Downtown Royal Oak 7. Railroad Crossing Repair Causes Fourth Street/Lincoln Detour in Downtown Royal Oak 8. “Strength in Life” and Other Art Installed in Downtown Royal Oak 9. DDA Chairperson Dunstan Discusses Parking Issues in Royal Oak 10. How to Park Cheap or Free in Downtown Royal Oak 11. Public Art in Downtown Royal Oak Features Michigan Artists 12. Embrace the Barrels Giveaways and Deals in Downtown Royal Oak 13. Royal Oak to Replace about 60 Downtown Trees 14. Pedestrian Struck by Minivan in Downtown Royal Oak 15. A Parade of Green and Irish Pride Graces Downtown Royal Oak 16. A Parade of Green and Irish Pride Graces Downtown Royal Oak 17. Art Explored Unveiled in Downtown Royal Oak 18. Downtown Royal Oak Spooktacular Oct. 26 19. Downtown Royal Oak Spooktacular Oct. 26 20. Holiday Magic Parade in Downtown Royal Oak Nov 24 Royal Oak businesses in Restaurant Quest section Of the 44 features done, only 13 were for businesses in the DDA District. Business In DDA Closed? District 1. 2941 Mediterranean Street Food 2. Astoria Pastry Shop Yes 3. Avenue 4. Bigalora 5. Bread Basket Deli 6. Brown Iron Brewhouse 7. Boukie’s Grill Yes 8. Bucharest Grill 9. Buddy’s Pizza 10. Cafe Muse Yes 11. Camelia’s Mexican 12. Chicken Shack 13. Condado Tacos Yes 14. Crispelli’s Bakery and Pizzeria 15. Dessert Oasis Yes 16. Detroit Taco Company 17. Duggan’s Irish Pub Page 28 of 49 18. Edo Ramen House 19. First Watch 20. Green Lantern 21. Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken 22. Hippie’s Pizza 23. Kacha Thai Market Yes 24. Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse 25. LeCrepe Yes 26. Leo’s Coney Island Yes 27. Lefty’s Cheesesteak 28. Lily’s Seafood Yes 29. Lockhart’s BBQ 30. Marco’s Pizza Yes 31. National Coney Island 32. Oak Diner 33. OWL 34. Palazzo Di Pizza 35. Pronto! Yes 36. Que Pasa 37. Ray’s Ice Cream 38. Redcoat Tavern 39. Royal Oak Brewery Yes 40. Sign of the Beefcarver 41. The Modern Vegan 42. Tokyo Sushi Yes 43. Two Guys from Italy 44. Ye Olde Saloon Examples of Paid Advertising From Other Communities Page 29 of 49 Page 30 of 49 Page 31 of 49 Page 32 of 49 Page 33 of 49 Page 34 of 49 Page 35 of 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORSHIP AGENDA ITEM TITLE Michigan With Kids Parents Advertising PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In the ever-changing media landscape it is important for the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority to target messaging to audiences that we hope to attract. Michigan With Kids Parents and Detroit Moms emphasize spending quality time together that is easy, memorable and fun. They have recognized Royal Oak for our walkable downtown, family-friendly events, local dining, outdoor recreation, shopping, and unique experiences that appeal to both parents and kids. Should we choose to go ahead, we would get help to tell the story of Royal Oak focusing on the feeling families get when they come here. They would help position Royal Oak not only as a place to visit, but as somewhere they build memories, traditions, and every day moments together. A campaign has been proposed to run from June 2026 to June 2027, and do the following: • Social Media Content o Instagram Stories on Michigan With Kids saved to a highlight reel at the top of the MWK IG Page (12x Instagram Story Takeovers) o Instagram Reel on Michigan With Kids (6x Instagram Reels) • Professional design work based on campaign • Inclusion in email newsletter for Detroit Mom o 2x total (You can choose the months in which you wish to be included) • Added Value: Digital Display ad at DetroitMom.com (no additional cost) When asked to weigh in on the proposal, Atomic Honey who manages social media had the following feedback which is presented in its entirety: Overall, we view the proposed investment as fair and aligned with the scope of work being offered. Our recommendation would be to use the proposal as a starting point for negotiation rather than seeking a wholesale restructuring. Securing broader content rights, incorporating TikTok deliverables, and exploring community-based activations would materially increase the return on investment while maintaining the strengths of the current program. A balanced compromise between the original proposal and these enhancements is likely the most effective path to maximizing both audience reach and long-term value for Royal Oak. AH POV & Recommendations 1) Expand Content Usage Rights One of the most valuable components of this program is the content creation itself. We strongly recommend negotiating perpetual, royalty-free usage rights for all photos, video Page 36 of 49 footage, reels, and creative assets produced during the campaign. This would allow Royal Oak and its agency partners to: • Repurpose content across social media channels indefinitely • Use content in paid advertising campaigns • Incorporate content into future tourism and economic development initiatives • Build a long-term content library without recreating assets annually o Without these rights, Royal Oak is essentially renting content rather than investing in a reusable marketing asset. 2) Include TikTok Deliverables The proposal focuses heavily on Instagram, which makes sense given the audience. However, family-focused discovery behavior increasingly occurs on TikTok. We recommend: • Cross-posting all Reel content to TikTok • At minimum, securing six TikTok videos as part of the annual deliverables • Allowing Royal Oak to repurpose that content across its owned channels o Many parents now search TikTok similarly to Google when looking for things to do with children, weekend itineraries, restaurants, and local experiences. 3) Create "In Real Life" Activation Opportunities The strongest opportunity we see is connecting social content directly to physical visitation and community participation. Rather than simply promoting activities already happening in Royal Oak, we would encourage creating exclusive experiences that motivate families to visit. Examples: • "Michigan With Kids Family Day in Royal Oak" • Royal Oak Family Passport Challenge (visit participating businesses and collect stamps) • Seasonal scavenger hunts • Zoo + Downtown Royal Oak experience days • Ice cream, bookstore, or playground crawls • "Spend a Day in Royal Oak" influencer-led itineraries families can follow in real time • Family photo challenges with prizes from local businesses • Back-to-school, holiday, or summer kickoff events These activations would create: • User-generated content • Additional earned media opportunities • Measurable foot traffic • Stronger relationships with local businesses • Repeat visits 4) Strengthen Measurement The proposal speaks broadly about driving foot traffic but provides limited mechanisms to measure it. We recommend incorporating: • Dedicated landing pages • QR codes Page 37 of 49  • Promotional offers from participating businesses • Event registrations • Contest entries • Unique tracking links o This would provide stronger evidence of campaign impact beyond impressions and engagement. To conclude, the total cost to the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority would be $10,550. Staff recommends to go ahead with this proposal. Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $10,550 AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $0 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-85712 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) This is a new expenditure and we don’t have an existing line item to reallocate. We have cancelled corporate media spending so as to put resources into local and County platforms. WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. The Commission has stated on multiple occasions that completing the Fifth Street Pedestrian Plaza is a top priority. The Strategic Plan has several areas that intersect with this project. 1.4a. Individuals have access to social infrastructure through community connectivity and amenities. Promotion through a new platform will enhance community connectivity. The Sustainability Climate Action Plan (S-CAP) identified a number of areas that intersect with this project: 6.3.1 – Quality of Life: Support local small businesses and business retention. Businesses will be highlighted in promotions, attracting new customers to Royal Oak. Page 38 of 49  6.6.1. -- Quality of Life: Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. People will be encouraged to shop and buy-local. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. No community engagement has occurred. ATTACHMENTS: Page 39 of 49 Target Audience: Michigan With Kids Parents and Detroit Moms whose families enjoy communities that allow them to spend quality time together and who would enjoy all of the experiences happening in the city of Royal Oak from food and drinks, to outdoor activities, downtown areas, and more. Michigan With Kids Parents and Detroit Moms who are actively seeking out communities that make quality time together easy, memorable, and fun. We’ll share Royal Oak as a walkable downtown, with family-friendly events, local dining, outdoor recreation, shopping, and unique experiences that appeal to both parents and children. Families can dine, explore, play, and create lasting memories together year-round. Featured Services / Messages: ●​ Help tell the story of Royal Oak focusing on the feeling families get when they come to the city: parents can bring kids, families can spend an entire day together, there’s a balance between being family friendly, exciting for adults, trendy, and also accessible. ●​ Royal Oak is the easiest yes for family fun ●​ Our goal would be to create content that helps families see Royal Oak not just as somewhere to visit, but as somewhere they build memories, traditions, and everyday moments together. ●​ Things to Do in the city of Royal Oak ●​ Seasonal fun, from event promotion to seasonal experiences ●​ Food & drink spots that are great for the whole family in the City of Royal Oak ●​ Royal Oak is a premier spot for families to experience fun in every season Campaign Flight: June 2026-June 2027 Areas of Focus: Page 40 of 49  ●​ The Everyday Escape: Close, walkable, energetic, easy, spontaneous, you don’t have to go far to feel like you got away ●​ Walkable Family Friendly Downtown: Park once, walk everywhere, coffee, shop, kids play areas, events ●​ A city full of moments: Brunch before the zoo, coffee while kids split pastries, holiday lights, sweet treat walks, first concert experiences, etc. ●​ Food & drink spots that are family friendly (Our Top Five Favorite Spots) ●​ Things to do in fall, winter, spring, and summer in the city of Royal Oak ●​ Spend a day in Royal Oak with kids (itinerary crafted by our Michigan With Kids Team) ●​ Event promotion ●​ Outdoor activities that will keep you coming back for more ●​ Indoor activities that will keep you coming back for more Campaign Objectives: Educate the Michigan With Kids and Detroit Mom community about the city of Royal Oak through sponsored content, social media campaigns, and video. Drive foot traffic to the city of Royal Oak by creating fun and unique opportunities that appeal to our core audience. Support existing events and seasonally relevant activities in the city of Royal Oak with coverage and promotion on Michigan With Kids and Detroit Mom’s social media platforms (as often as you need during our campaign at no additional charge), website, and in our email newsletter. Strategy: Position the city of Royal Oak as an ultimate destination of choice within the Detroit Mom and Michigan With Kids community through consistent and relevant messaging. Provide helpful and engaging content across all of our platforms so that the city of Royal Oak is top of mind whenever a Michigan With Kids parent or Detroit Mom is planning an outing for their family or looking for a spot where they can enjoy time as a family. Engage our audience through video messages, polls, sponsored content, display, email inclusions, and more so we connect with MWK parents no matter how they consume content. Assets: ●​ Social Media Content ○​ Instagram Stories on Michigan With Kids saved to a highlight reel at the top of the MWK IG Page (12x Instagram Story Takeovers) Page 41 of 49 ●​ Michigan With Kids Team will provide content for Instagram story takeover (8-10 slides per takeover) based upon content and programming we agree upon. ●​ Ideas for Instagram Stories: ○​ Events to Attend in Fall in the city of Royal Oak ○​ Events to Attend in Winter in the city of Royal Oak ○​ Events to Attend in Spring in the city of Royal Oak ○​ Events to Attend in Summer in the city of Royal Oak ○​ FIVE Kid Friendly Dining Destinations in the city of Royal Oak that will make your next dinner out actually enjoyable (Comet Burger, Rock & Brews Royal Oak, Ale Mary’s Royal Oak, Brown Iron Brew House, Le Crepe,, HopCat Royal Oak, Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina, Kruse and Muer On Woodward, Condado Tacos, Little Brothers Burgers, etc.) ○​ Outdoor Activities that your family will remember forever in the city of Royal Oak (Detroit Zoo, Red Run Park, Starr Jaycee Park, Lawson Park, Meininger Park, VFW Park, Normandy Oaks Park, Memorial Park, Hudson Park, Centennial Commons, Grant Park, Whittier Park, Wagner Park) ○​ Indoor Activities for when the weather keeps you in but the kids need to get out! (Royal Oak Farmers Market, Creative Arts Studio, Royal Oak Public Library, Emagine Royal Oak, The Great Escape Room Detroit, Sandbox VR, Stagecrafters, Bowlero Lanes & Lounge) ○​ Itinerary For a Day in Royal Oak with Kids ○​ Shops You Have to Check Out in the city of Royal Oak (Rail & Anchor, Paper Trail Books, Sidetrack Bookshop, The Caboose Bookshop, LIFT Royal Oak, etc.) ○​ Spots for Dessert Your Kids Will Love (Melt n Dip, Astoria Pastry Shop, Give Thanks Bakery, Dessert Oasis, Ray’s Ice Page 42 of 49  Cream, Yogurt City, Pagos Ice Cream Rolls and Bubble Tea, etc.) ○​ Event promotion in cities ○​ Places to stay with kids ■​ Instagram Reel on Michigan With Kids (6x Instagram Reels) ●​ Michigan With Kids team members will use the footage from their visit to the city of Royal Oak to create an Instagram Reel to be posted to the Michigan With Kids Instagram page and shared to Instagram stories. Our focus will be to create relatable, easy moments, that foster emotional connection for a day parents would actually want in the city of Royal Oak. ●​ Ideas for Instagram Reels (could include but not limited to): ○​ Hidden Gems of Royal Oak You Need to Visit Immediately ○​ Our Top Five Restaurants to Visit with Kids in the city of Royal Oak ○​ One parking spot. An Entire Day of Fun in Royal Oak ○​ Royal Oak Through the Eyes of a parent: clean sidewalks, walkable city, places to relax, easy snack stops and coffee shops, stroller accessible, kid-friendly patios. ○​ The most unexpected family friendly city you need to know about: (most people still associate Royal Oak with nightlife, bars etc. but we’d love to reshape this perception) ○​ Seasonal Reels as footage is available ○​ 5 Things in Royal Oak you’ll love within 5 minutes of each other ○​ Five Traditions your family will start after coming to Royal Oak: Leprechauns game, Zoo trips, summer patio nights, Arts Beats + Eats, Holiday Festival attendance Page 43 of 49  ●​ Professional design work based on campaign ●​ Inclusion in email newsletter for Detroit Mom ■​ 2x total (You can choose the months in which you wish to be included) ●​ Added Value: Digital Display ad at DetroitMom.com (no additional cost) ■​ Digital Banner Ad (size 300x250) will run for six months Deliverables: ●​ IG Stories/Takeovers ○​ 12 IG Stories/Takeovers throughout campaign ●​ IG Reels ○​ 6 IG Reels throughout campaign ●​ Email Inclusion Feature ○​ 2 throughout the course of the campaign ●​ Professional graphics based on specific campaign within Detroit Mom ●​ Sidebar Ad on Detroit Mom Website (value add) ○​ 6 months Net Investment (12 months): $10,550 Monthly Investment: $905 Page 44 of 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SPONSORSHIP AGENDA ITEM TITLE Business Retention and Recruitment Fund PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director MEETING DATE June 2, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Business Recruitment & Retention Program is designed to strengthen, attract, and sustain businesses within the Downtown Development Authority district. This pilot program provides targeted financial support and technical assistance to help businesses grow, adapt, and remain competitive while contributing to a vibrant and resilient downtown ecosystem. Having evaluated the current vacancies and spoken with dozens of businesses, this program seeks to answer major needs that have been expressed. There is also flexibility for businesses to apply with needs they have that are not listed. We are proposing to give a grant and to require a dollar-for-dollar match. Up to half of the match can be from in-kind contributions to the project for businesses with demonstrated financial need. Since launching the program and online application a few weeks ago, there have already been nine requests (in the order received). Those we recommend for funding are in bold. Business, use of grant DDA Match, Match, Total grant cash inkind Project Cost 1. Paladin Baking Company DBA Give Thanks 9,000 9,000 0 18,000 Bakery, outdoor dining café 2. Le crepe, marketing of business through TV 7,000 3,500 3,500 14,000 commercial and radio spot 3. Creative Arts Studio, Inc., for a business 10,000 165,000 0 175,000 expansion into a neighboring storefront 4. Rocket Printing, update the façade with paint, 10,000 20,000 0 30,000 refacing front signage, and applying a stone finish 5. Oak House Deli, a new menu and equipment 10,000 35,000 0 45,000 and beautification of the exterior 6. North End Taproom, launch of a Nashville hot 9,250 9,250 0 18,500 chicken virtual kitchen with independent platform 7. Detroit Eatery, redesign interior dining space with 10,000 50,000 0 50,000 updated seating, layout, lighting, and visuals 8. Seven Sundays Coffee, equipment upgrade to 10,000 10,000 0 20,000 expand production capacity, speed of service, and growing food program 9. Blue Goat, outdoor dining café. 10,000 10,000 0 20,000 Total 82,750 311,750 3,500 390,500 Page 45 of 49 Le Crepe Business will contract with a marketing expert for $1,500 a month. This will begin with an initial trial run of three months, followed by another 7 months of additional support. Visibility will be increased on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. • Start Date: 6/17/2026 • End Date: 10/1/2026 • Total Project Cost: $20,000 • Funding Request: $10,000 Staff Comment: The project supports marketing of this business to help grow their customer base and increase their visibility. Staff recommends approval, due to its clear local economic impact and alignment with downtown vitality objectives. Fiscal Impact BUDGET SUMMARY EXPENDITURE REQUIRED $10,000 AMOUNT CURRENTLY BUDGETED $100,000 FUNDING SOURCE/ GL NUMBER 247-729-85711 OTHER FISCAL IMPACTS REVENUE IMPACT: Provide a description of how this item will impact revenue. (Is this item expected to create additional/new revenue? Will this item have a negative impact on revenue? Which funds would be impacted? Provide additional details, as necessary.) This is a new expenditure and we don’t have an existing line item to reallocate. We have cancelled corporate media spending so as to put resources into local businesses. WORKLOAD IMPACT: If this item will require staff and/or volunteer time to implement, operate or maintain, provide a description of the workload impact. (Will more staff be needed? Is this workload able to be absorbed by existing staff or volunteers? Provide additional details, as necessary.) There will be workload related to intake, evaluation, and administration of applications. This will primarily be assumed by the Deputy Director with support from the Executive Director. The time commitment is estimated to not exceed 5 hours per week total. ALIGNMENT WITH COMMISSION APPROVED PLANS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS Provide a description of how this item aligns with the strategic plan, aging in place plan, and sustainability and climate action plans. Include any specific goals or action steps it supports. The Commission has stated on multiple occasions that completing the Fifth Street Pedestrian Plaza is a top priority. The Strategic Plan has several areas that intersect with this project. Page 46 of 49  1.4a. Individuals have access to social infrastructure through community connectivity and amenities. Outdoor spaces created through this project will encourage people to gather. The Sustainability Climate Action Plan (S-CAP) identified a number of areas that intersect with this project: 5.3.4 – Provide a system of accessible and quality parks, recreation opportunities, and open spaces that is welcoming, beautiful, and meets the needs of everyone in the community. The community will be enhanced through investment in public spaces, making Royal Oak more beautiful and functional. 6.3.1 – Quality of Life: Support local small businesses and business retention. Businesses will be highlighted in promotions, attracting new customers to Royal Oak. 6.6.1. -- Quality of Life: Support and encourage participation in buy-local campaigns. People will be encouraged to shop and buy-local. The Aging in Place Plan identified a number of areas that intersect with this project: 1.2d. Work to enhance the pedestrian experience throughout the community. Some of the proposed projects will improve mobility. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Provide a description of any community engagement efforts made for this item. Include information on tools used, participation information, and general sentiments. • 2008, May 21. Business recruitment package on the agenda for DDA Board. • 2025, December 12. Introduction of Deputy Director Julia Kalugar to lead recruitment and retention efforts. • 2025, December 17. PA Act 57 Informational meeting identified business recruitment and expansion fund as a “future project.” • 2026, January 21. At DDA Board meeting approved S-CAP as policy to guide future projects DDA undertakes. Emphasized recruitment of businesses that enhance our identity and reputation as a place that values sustainability. • 2026, February 25. Available spaces inventory presented at DDA Board meeting. PROPOSED DDA BOARD RESOLUTION: BE IT RESOLVED, the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority hereby approves funding one request that staff and committee recommend, not to exceed $10,000. BE IT RESOLVED, the Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority hereby approves a final payment to Blue Goat for $10,000 upon project completion and final paperwork being received. ATTACHMENTS: Page 47 of 49  PAID INVOICE Invoice Number: 862368 Invoice Date: 5/4/2026 Customer: Blue Goat / George Teftsis Billing Address: 321 S Main St, Royal Oak, MI 48067 Vendor: KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc. Payment Terms: CREDIT CARD — PAID Item No. Description Qty Unit Price Total 348-PCE11SSDV2401 PLAT CNV OVEN SGL STD STD-CTRL VENTLESS1DD $9,044.00 $9,044.00 598-TPPAT67D4HC PIZZA PREP (9)PAN (4)DRWR HC SS 115/1 1 $9,351.28 $9,351.28 598-TPPAT44HC PIZZA PREP (6)PAN (1)DR HC SS 115/1 1 $4,720.36 $4,720.36 Subtotal $23,115.64 Shipping / Handling $55.00 Sales Tax $2,259.14 TOTAL PAID $25,429.78 Status: PAID IN FULL Prepared For: Blue Goat Original Quote Expiration: 5/9/2026 Page 48 of 49  DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AGENDA ITEM TITLE Executive Director Report PRESENTER Isaac Kremer, Executive Director MEETING DATE June 1, 2026 Isaac Kremer, DDA Executive Director, provided the following report: • What We Have Worked on in the Last Month 1. Finalized and executed contracts for Holidays and Ice Rink. 2. Finalized and executed contract for City Institute tours of Royal Oak. 3. Placed order for Addapave with delivery in late June. 4. Awarded Retention and Recruitment funds to the first five businesses. 5. Pulled together backup materials on DDA investment into retail space and construction of Center Street Parking Structure. 6. Placed final order for Walk Your Wheels signs. 7. Volunteered at the Memorial Day Breakfast with the Royal Oak Historical Society at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market. 8. Participated in meetings with Social Media Team. Reviewed posts for upcoming month. Making some adjustments to analytics to report out. 9. Met with Parks Department to discuss Centennial Commons usage. More policy to be brought forward for consideration. 10. Prepared budget memo for review. 11. Gathered feedback from residents on West Street landscaping. 12. Met with RORA reps to do debrief on Wine Stroll. 13. Met with Chamber reps to do debrief on RO in Bloom. 14. Prepared logistics for DDA Board Retreat on June 17, 4-7pm in Chambers. Will include half hour or so for a light dinner on site. • Logged 710.75 volunteer hours from 21 volunteers through end of April valued at $34.79 per hour for a total of $24,726 of in-kind contribution to the work of the program. Put another way, each volunteer gave back on average $1,177 worth of their time. Thank you! ATTACHMENTS: Page 49 of 49