Walker Downtown Development Authority

City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Agenda City Commission Chambers 4243 Remembrance Road NW Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at 7:30 AM 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 2. Approval of Minutes a) July 16, 2024 3. Business Relations Manager Updates a) Placer.AI Presentation b) Branding Strategy Going Forward 4. Discuss RFP Process For "Standale Station" 5. Planning Updates 6. Other Business/Updates 7. Next Meeting Date and Time - Tuesday, September 17th at 7:30 AM 8. Adjournment If you have any questions or are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Jessica Marion at 616.791.6878 Page 1 of 4  City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, July 16, 2024 7:30 AM - City Commission Chambers 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, R. Smith, D. Prato, J. DeGroot, G. Carey, L. McNees, C. Ludwick and M. Grooters. Members absent: D. Schmalzel, S. Zokoe, and T. Hiller. Also present: City Engineer Scott Conners, Communications Manager/DDA Business Relations Manager Nicole DiDonato, Planning Director Paula Priebe and Assistant City Manager Frank Wash. 2. Approval of Minutes Motion by R. Smith, supported by J. DeGroot, to approve the minutes of the June 18, 2024, DDA Meeting. Motion carried. 3. Public Comment Tara Takken Westveer, Board Secretary for the Grandville Walker Foundation and a local realtor introduced herself to the DDA members. She stated she was in attendance to get the word out about foundation, as well as, looking for donations, board members and grant requests. Their board currently has five members. 4. Development Plan Schedule Dave Brinza stated that in order to move forward on the Development Plan, the members need to go through their list of proposed projects to decide whether to keep, change or remove an project from the list. The members reviewed each project listed. There was discussion held on altering changing the electric car / bike charging stations project to just ebike charging stations going down bike paths. All items were approved by members to move forward, with no additional items to be added. It was stated that the list would be passed to City Manager Darrel Schmalzel to complete. Community Park connection Frank discussed the process for the Community Park Connection project: 1. F. Wash requested members to email him their notes, thoughts, ideas, weaknesses and concerns from the Walker Tour of the Standale DDA last month in order to compile them. 2. Create a committee for the project in order to create an RFP to send out to the Consulting community to get a group on board to walk through the visioning process. 3. Review Paula's Planning Report which focused on the property at 510 Cummings. She reviewed the planning and zoning of the area. She also reviewed the past projects that have been proposed for the area and the outcome of each one. Page 2 of 4  It was decided that the committee will consist of Grooters, Prato, and D. Brinza. The members also stated that they will check with the members absent to allow them the option of being added to the committee. 5. Business Relations Manager Updates N. DiDonato reviewed the Placer.AI platform with the members stating that she currently learning the platform and how to interpret the data for the DDA. She reviewed that visitation data with demographic and psychographic insights, demonstrating that the data will help to understand visitor behavior, preferences and buying patterns. The visitation data will also help reveal attendance of city events. N. DiDonato emphasized that Placer.AI is a large, in-depth system that needs to be utilized to best extract what is important to the DDA. Nicole reviewed the results of the New Moon branding study for Standale:  Strengths and assets: it's close proximity to Grand Rapids and that it's a great place to raise a family.  Largest challenge: Traffic congestion  Most Famous for: Being the location of the Meijer Headquarters  Visitor attractions: It's close proximity to colleges and Lake Michigan Drive.  Future opportunities: Artisan farmers market, or a unique coffee /bakery shop. Blue Moon suggested five possible tagline concepts:  Let's Connect  It's all within reach  We stand together  The city within  Make Standale yours. There was discussion on the suggested taglines. M. Grooters stated she preferred the DDA's original tagline proposal of "Standale Connections" in order to get the Standale name out. L. McNees suggested "Standale the City Within". However, there was discussion regarding if "city within" would be appropriate since Standale is not a city. It was decided to hold off until the next month's meeting to discuss further with members currently absent. N. Didonato stated that some of Blue Moon's suggested ideas to promote connectivity was to have a giant connect-4 yard game during the summer concert series or to provide painting by numbers for a mural of the tunnel. N. DiDonato stated that the Michigan Downtown association is offering an in-person DDA management board training which would be 1.5 hrs. in length to our DDA staff and board members. The training would go over powers of the DDA, basic laws, goals, the board roles and responsibilities and general information with a Q & A. This would be a $900 cost that would be split with other jurisdictions like Ada, and possibly Cascade Township. She stated the current proposed dates be considered are August 28, 27, and 29th. The members stated they were in favor of attending and splitting the cost with Ada. There was an inquiry if virtual training would be an option. 6. Planning Updates Page 3 of 4   El Tapatio Mexican Grill & Bar at 363 Cummings Ave - Received a special permit from the PC due to the type of Liquor License they were requesting from the City Commission. The City Commission approved their request to move forward through the State Level.  Vista 45 - No movement at this time.  The West Standale site is part of the City's Master Plan Amendments and those go through the formal public hearing after the 63 day distribution period. That goes to the Planning Commission tomorrow and then to the City Commission next week for final adoption. Then there will be solid city vision for that site.  Siciliano's is moving into the strip mall on Lake Michigan Drive where B2 Outlet used to reside. Siciliano's will be transferring their existing liquor license into Walker. 7. Other Business/Updates D. Brinza stated he met with Dan DeVries, City Treasurer for a quarterly meeting to discuss the DDA's financials which are in good shape, even after the lighting project. S. Conners stated that the lighting project is going to be a slow process as they are currently doing the underground work. Gary P. stated that he is working with Everett's on the east side to clean out around a sign. 8. Next Meeting Date and Time - The next Walker Downtown Development Authority meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, August 20th at 7:30 AM. 9. Adjournment A motion was made by G. Carey, supported by J. DeGroot to adjourn the meeting at 8:33 am. Motion carried. If you have any questions or are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Jessica Marion at 616.791.6878 Page 4 of 4