Walker Downtown Development Authority

City of Walker Walker Downtown Development Authority Agenda Fire Station #2 - Upper Level 4101 Lake Michigan Drive NW Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:30 AM 1. Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 2. Approval of Minutes a) August 19, 2025 3. Business Relations Manager Updates 4. Streetlight Decoration Discussion 5. Vista 45 Streetlights 6. Planning Updates 7. Other Business/Updates 8. Next Meeting Date and Time - Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at 7:30 AM 9. 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, August 19, 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 7:33 am. Members present: D. Brinza, D. Schmalzel, R. Smith, M. Grooters, J. DeGroot, and J. Banfil. Member absent: D. Prato, T. Hiller, C. Ludwick, A. Van Ess and S. Boersma. Staff present: Communications Manager/DDA Business Relations Manager Nicole DiDonato, Assistant City Manager Frank Wash, City Engineer Scott Conners, and DPW Director Gary Postema. Guests present: Brandon Jonas from Rowe and Scott Zokoe from Zokoe Five Star Real Estate. 2. Approval of Minutes Motion by D. Schmalzel, supported by M. Grooters, to approve the minutes of the July 15, 2025, DDA Meeting. Motion carried. 3. General Public Comment - None 4. Standale Survey Presentation from Rowe Brandon Jonas from ROWE Professional Services Company presented findings from the Central Standale Subarea Market Analysis, highlighting redevelopment strategies grounded in current market trends and economic indicators. Key insights included strong regional accessibility, a growing residential population, and increased demand for dining, retail, and recreation services, with opportunities identified in areas such as everyday essentials and fitness. Members discussed potential customer bases, the influence of Grand Valley State University, and the need to align business recruitment with community needs. The group also reviewed plans for continued public engagement, with upcoming meetings in the fall to gather feedback and refine the draft plan. 5. Finance Report / Budget Report D. Devries reviewed the DDA’s current finance and budget report with the members. A budget to actual report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 was provided and discussed, highlighting a property tax capture component and total expenditures of approximately $1.3 million for ongoing projects. The budget for 2025-2026 was discussed, showing an alignment between actual dollar amounts and projections, indicating a strong financial position with a fund balance available for future projects. Additionally, a budget to actual report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 for the DDA Streetscape Special Assessment Fund was provided and discussed. This fund has an actual cash balance of $136,525 and an anticipated fund balance of approximately $96,900 as of June 30, 2025. The fund balance is expected to decrease during fiscal year 2025-2026. 6. Business Relations Manager Updates Page 2 of 3  N. DiDonato noted that last year's GVSU move-in week significantly boosted visitation to Standale, prompting discussions on potential partnerships with the university. Plans are underway for a merchant meet-up on September 3rd, aimed at connecting local businesses and discussing ongoing developments in the area. Additionally, a flyer was provided that offers an overview of Standale, highlighting it's convenient location and accessibility. It outlined key statistics and features of the area, emphasizing its appeal for visitors and businesses alike. Furthermore, it included information on future developments and events, encouraging engagement with the community. There was also discussion about updating promotional materials to reflect current information regarding Standale's accessibility and appeal. 7. Planning Updates P. Priebe stated that two different developers have been inquiring about quick service restaurants:  438 Wilson - one of the developers is interested in a restaurant with Drive-Thru at this site. Discussion is scheduled for next week to address any questions related to the site.  3791 Lake Michigan Dr - a developer has inquired about this site for a future Popeye's Chicken. The property south of Aldi's received a soil erosion permit and are currently moving soil around. 8. Other Business/Updates - None 9. Next Meeting Date and Time - The next Walker Development Authority meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 7:30 AM Fire Station #2- Upper Level. 10. Adjournment Motion by R. Smith, supported by J. DeGroot, to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 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