Walker Downtown Development Authority

City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Agenda Fire Station #2 - Upper Level 4243 Remembrance Road NW Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 7:30 AM 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 2. Approval of Minutes a) October 15, 2024 3. Streetlight Project Update 4. Business Relations Manager Updates a) Present Standale Logo Design b) Placer AI Presentation 5. Planning Updates 6. Other Business/Updates a) Randy Smith Update 7. Next Meeting Date and Time - Tuesday, December 17, 2024 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 5  City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Tuesday, October 15, 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, D. Prato, J. DeGroot, L. McNees, D. Schmalzel, R. Smith, and M. Grooters. Members absent: C. Ludwick, G. Carey, and S. Zokoe. T. Hiller. Also present: City Treasurer Dan DeVries, City Engineer Scott Conners, DPW Director Gary Postema, 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 L. McNees, to approve the minutes of the September 17, 2024, DDA Meeting. Motion carried. 3. Financial Report City Treasurer Dan DeVries provided the DDA with a quarterly budget update. D.DeVries reviewed the DDA's revenues and expenditures from both the Walker DDA Fund and the Walker DDA Streetscape Special Assessment Fund. There were questions regarding where the Tax Increment Financing (T.I.F.) funds could be spent. D. Schmalzel stated that the State requires the funds captured in the T.I.F. to be spent on the district for enhancements. He also stated that though the DDA needs to spend the T.I.F. funds, they need to wisely make sure to cover all expenditures and set up a plan for future T.I.F. projects. 4. Streetlight Project Update S. Conners gave an update on the Standale Streetlight project, stating they are behind schedule with about two weeks remaining due to several shipment delays. They are having to do bolt replacements throughout the area as some are rusted, bent and too shallow. The sod on Wilson Avenue will be regraded and replaced. Lighting is not overpowering, so the engineering department has asked about ways to power up the illumination. Engineering is waiting for Consumers Energy approval to power up the Wilson Avenue stretch. The supplier has done a modification with a 22-degree knuckle to allow the light head to be center to the sidewalk. There was discussion held. 5. Business Relations Manager Updates N. DiDonato gave a demonstration of the Placer AI system, explaining the many ways the DDA could utilize the data provided. After reviewing the data from the Brena concert, it showed over 1,000 visits from people staying more than 10 minutes. It also showed that the average stay was 51 minutes, and the average attendee traveled between 1-30 miles away to attend. She stated they could look at how best to market to the people the DDA is wanting to attract to the events. The data shows that "Families In Motion" are not being attracted to the concert. In preparation for next season's concerts the questions Page 2 of 5  the DDA needs to answer are: who do they want to attract most to these events and what is their focus? There was discussion held. Other Updates  Window decorating contest will take place this year instead of the street lighting as people are concerned being so close to the road and traffic when trying to decorate.  Visuals and updates from New Moon will be provided at the next DDA meeting. 6. Discuss RFP for "Standale Station" F. Wash reviewed the draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for Central Standale Subarea Plan with the members. The DDA decided on moving forward with a three step process. The first step will cover the strategic plan development and production that this RFP will cover. The other two steps will follow for engineering and construction. F. Wash reviewed the scope of work that the Phase 1 process would involve. They also reviewed the map of the proposed Central Standale Subarea, discussing the "City Owned" areas and the Rapid and GVSU owned properties. There was discussion held. D. Prato requested that the RFP include within the scope of work to collect public input and communications for the project. There was agreement with the members. A motion was made by R. Smith, with support by M. Grooter to approve moving forward with the RFP, with the specified changes for public input and communications to be added. Motion carried. 7. Planning Updates P. Priebe stated that Vista-45 will have a workshop with Planning Commission in mid- November to discuss future proposal on their concept plan in light of their master plan submitted earlier this year. 8. Other Business/Updates  R. Smith inquired if members would be in support of looking to applying for the Façade Grant. He stated it was mentioned during the MDA training session held in Ada in August. Discussion was held. It was decided that the Business Relations Manager would reach out to other jurisdictions that have implemented a façade program in the past. 9. Next Meeting Date and Time - The next Walker Downtown Development Authority meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 7:30 AM at Fire Station #2 Upper Level 10. Adjournment - Motion by D. Brinza, supported by L. McNees to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 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 5 Page 4 of 5 City of City of WALKER WALKER Come to connect A-1 Come to connect A-2 Standale CITY OF WALKER Standale CITY OF WALKER Come to connect B-2 Come to connect B-1 Standale Standale CITY OF WALKER CITY OF WALKER Come to connect B-3 Come to connect B-4 City of Walker tandale Come to connect Standale Come to connect CITY OF WALKER C-1 C-2 tandale Come to connect Standale City of Walker Come CITY OF to connect WALKER C-3 C-4 Page 5 of 5