Walker Downtown Development Authority

City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Agenda Fire Station #2 4101 Lake Michigan Drive NW Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 7:30 AM The Walker DDA meeting will begin at Fire Station #2 where the members will take a walking tour throughout the Standale Downtown Development Area. 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 2. Approval of Minutes a) April 16, 2024 3. Walking Tour of the Standale DDA 4. Next Meeting Date and Time - July 16, 2024 at 7:30 AM. 5. Adjournment If you have any questions or are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Jessica Marion at 616.791.6878 Page 1 of 3  City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, April 16, 2024 7:30 AM - Fire Station #2 - Upper Level 4243 Remembrance Road NW 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance The meeting was called to order by Chair D. Brinza at 7:30 am. Members present: D. Brinza, L. McNees, D. Schmalzel, G. Carey, S. Zokoe, C. Ludwick, R. Smith M. Grooters, J. DeGroot, and D. Prato. Members absent: T. Hiller. Also present: City Engineer Scott Conners, Communications Manager/DDA Business Relations Manager Nicole DiDonato, DPW Director Gary Postema, and Assistant City Manager Frank Wash. 2. Approval of Minutes Following review by members, the DDA meeting minutes from March 19, 2024, were approved on a motion by R. Smith, with support by L. McNees. Motion carried. 3. New Business Introduction Nicole DiDinato introduced Bryan Cody, owner of Cody & Co, a real estate company located in Walker within the Standale DDA District. He describes the area as a location that provides everything you need, and is clean, comfortable, friendly, and still growing. When asked how the Walker DDA could help his new new business, B. Cody stated that the biggest help would be providing an opportunity for the business to be involved with the community in order to build connections and relationships with the people within and coming into the community. His only recommendation regarding the DDA district was to see more greenspace, as well as extend the walking trail to have more green with trees and plants. 4. Business Relations Manager Updates N. DiDonato updated the DDA on the Placer.AI software, stating she recently received access to the system and will start reviewing the data. She expects to have more details and information to provide to the DDA during their next meeting. D. Brinza stated that he was able to access the system and found it interesting that the following businesses had the most visitors per square foot of the business: 1) Starbucks, 2) Taco Bell , 3) McDonalds, 4) Chick-Fil-A, 5) Arby's. There was discussion on the use of the system and how to best utilize the information to help the district. N. DiDonato also gave a brief update on the survey created to help with the Standale Branding project. She stated the survey has 20 questions and they are currently working to come up with ideas to entice individuals to participate (i.e. gift cards). The survey is expected to go live at the end of April. 5. Development Plan Update - Project Discussion Page 2 of 3  D. Schmalzel gave a brief update of the Development Plan, there was discussion regarding hiring a firm to define the project ideas behind the Fire Station. It was decided that the temporary name for the project would be the Standale Station. There was discussion held. The members of the DDA created a list of possible activities and features they would like to see provided:  A pull-off area for mobile food trucks  Provide usability during all fours seasons or the year  An Ice-skating or sledding area  Rentable Venue (i.e. building structure)  Farmer's Market (utilities needed, i.e. water, electricity, bathrooms, wi-fi) It was decided that instead of holding a DDA meeting in the month of May, a visit would be arranged with Hudsonville to visit Terra Square. 6. Planning Updates Assistant City Manager Frank Wash stated that the big update it that the PC meeting scheduled April 17th will review the last draft version of the master plan amendments for the West Standale Redevelopment plan. 7. Other Business/Updates  DPW Director, G. Postema stated that the department is busy. Flowers will be planted before Memorial Day.  City Engineer, S. Conners stated that the Street lighting project will start in June between Kinney and Cummings 8. Next Meeting Date and Time - The next Walker Downtown Development Authority meeting is scheduled for June 18, 2024 at 7:30 AM at the Fire Station #2 upstairs. 9. Adjournment - A motion was made by D. Schmalzel, with support by S. Zokoe to adjourn the meeting at 8:41 AM. Motion carried. If you have any questions or are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Jessica Marion at 616.791.6878 Page 3 of 3