Walker Downtown Development Authority

City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Agenda City Commission Chambers 4243 Remembrance Road NW Tuesday, June 17, 2025 at 7:30 AM 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 2. Approval of Minutes a) April 15, 2025 3. General Public Comment 4. Vista 45 Presentation & Discussion 5. Central Standale Subarea Update 6. Business Relations Manager Updates 7. Engineering Update 8. Planning Updates 9. Other Business/Updates 10. Next Meeting Date and Time - Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 7:30 AM 11. 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 15, 2025 7:30 AM - Fire Station #2 - Upper Level 4101 Lake Michigan Drive NW 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance The meeting was called to order by Chair Brinza at 7:30 am. Members present: D. Schmalzel, R. Smith, C. Ludwick, J. DeGroot, D. Prato, D. Brinza, M. Grooters, T. Hiller, and J. Banfil. Member absent: S. Boersma. Staff present: City Engineer Scott Conners, Communications Manager/DDA Business Relations Manager Nicole DiDonato, Assistant City Manager Frank Wash, Paula Priebe, Planning Director, Gary Postema, DPW Director, and Dan Devries, Finance Director. Guests present: Amy Bontempo and Brandon Jonas, Rowe, Avery Van Ess, resident, John McCrackin, resident. 2. Approval of Minutes Motion by T. Hiller, supported by J. DeGroot, to approve the minutes of the January 21, 2025, DDA Meeting. Motion carried unanimously. Notes from the unofficial DDA meeting held on March 18, 2025, were accepted. 3. Central Standale Subarea Plan Discussion A. Bontempo and B. Jonas from Rowe provided an overview of their company and project team. They then worked through a presentation that highlighted the timeline and future steps of the planning project. It was decided by the DDA that they would work through a subcommittee to accomplish specific tasks and bring recommendations back to the entire DDA at their monthly meetings. Members of the subcommittee that were selected included: Grooters, Brinza, Prato, VanEss, and city staff. Regular meeting times/days will be established for the subcommittee. General discussion about the project occurred. Public communication strategies were discussed including the use of a survey, its distribution methods, public meetings and events and neighborhood discussions. Various forms of market analysis will be utilized as the project proceeds through implementation. 4. Streetlight Project Update S. Conners mentioned the project is wrapping up and one item that was discussed was the opportunity to provide some brighter lighting along the road. One option is to consider an additional light on the top of the post (picture provided). A test light will be installed to gauge interest. 5. Business Relations Manager Updates N. DiDonato mentioned that in the past we discussed the introduction of art into the district. Murals on the sides of the buildings were one of the ideas. Resident John McCrackin, who used to be a City Council member for the City of Manistee, provided a detailed overview of how Manistee implemented a very successful mural program for Page 2 of 3  their downtown. Many details to consider before such a program could be launched. The DDA members had some discussion and thanked John for the overview. N. DiDonato mentioned that she is working on new banners to be installed on the light poles. 6. Finance Report Update D. DeVries provided an overview of the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 DDA general and streetscape budgets showing the projected revenues and how expenditures are planned to be spent. D. DeVries responded to questions and provided a timeline for adoption. The DDA agreed to recommend that this draft be forwarded to the City Commission for adoption. 7. Planning Updates Priebe mentioned that new planning applications have slowed the past few weeks. The Vista 45 site was recently approved by the City Commission, and they are expected to return with detailed development plans soon. 8. Next Meeting Date and Time - The next Walker Downtown Development Authority meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2025, at 7:30 AM Fire Station #2- Upper Level. 9. Adjournment - Motion by Ludwick, supported by Prato, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 am. Motion carried unanimously. If you have any questions or are unable to attend a meeting, please contact Jessica Marion at 616.791.6878 Minutes provided by Darrel Schmalzel Page 3 of 3