Downtown Development Authority Minutes
September 7, 2005 - 7:45am
Shiawassee Regional Chamber of Commerce
Chairman Wright called the meeting to order at 7:45 a.m.
Roll Call.
Members Present:
Mayor Davis, Wright, Hankerd, Gilbert, Oliver, Irish
Members Absent: two vacant
positions and Howe
Others
Present:
Ex. Dir. Hathaway, Ramos, J. Horvath, Constine, D. Cornell
Approval of
Minutes.
The minutes of the meetings of July 6, 2005 were approved.
Davis/Oliver m/s/p
Agenda Amendment.
The
Agenda was amended to add an Executive Session at the conclusion of
regular business.
Oliver/Gilbert m/s/p
Communications:
Hathaway read
the comments from the State of Michigan review team about the Cool
Cities application. The key issue was the lingering status of the
investor team for the new hotel.
Citizen Comments:
There are two
vacancies on the Board.
Financial
Status.
A. Operational Budget.
Checking.........................................................
$ 1,300.30
Savings............................................................
$ 14,186.49
Total
........................................................... $
15,486.88
B. Development Plan Budget.
No Change
Items of Business.
A. Payment of Bills.
The following expenses were authorized for payment:
A. Organizational Expenses:
Focus
Owosso......................................
$ 8,000.00
City Of
Owosso—Postage.....................
$ 58.83
City of Owosso—Advertisement.............
$ 111.93
Saginaw Valley Rehab Center................
$ 535.00
Total.................................................... $
8,705.76
B. Tax Increment Development Plan Expenses:
None
Davis/Gilbert m/s/p
B. Focus Owosso
Report. No
report except that the new coordinator, Tammy Smith is on the job and
based with a phone number and e-mail address.
C. Former Hotel Site.
The project is in design phase with the new aspect of tenant
recruitment. Despite all the tax incentives, parking facility and city
loan, the project must have tenant interest prior to project financing
and the developers understand that.
D. Holiday Lights.
The following expenditures were approved for this year’s
holiday decoration upgrades: $2,633 for wreaths and lights; $1,000 for
wiring light posts in the 200 block of
N. Washington, and; up
to $1,200 for overtime costs for city employees to install lights and
wreaths.
Oliver/Gilbert m/s/p
Hathaway reported that only two buildings have enrolled for this year’s
rooftop program. We have averaged four to five buildings per year in
the first four years of activity. The last date for commitment is
September 9th. Supplies must be ordered while good weather
permits installation. Members discussed the advantages of recruiting
the Lebowsky Center into the program. Hathaway has a prospect for a
significant corner building.
E. Tree Replacement.
Tree replacement for 9 to 10 trees in the 200 block of
W. Main Street
was authorized at a spending limit of $7,200. The preferred tree is the
Ginkgo with Hawthornes
at mid-block knuckle and corner curb knuckle locations.
Davis/Oliver m/s/p
F. Sandwich Board
Signs. A
sandwich board policy was reviewed and refined. The unfinished policy
issue is the aesthetic standard. George Ramos encouraged active
enforcement to maintain the program’s credibility. DDA members
requested a newsletter to inform the building owners and businesses of
the proposed program and to seek feedback before adopting the program.
G. Farmer’s Market
Upgrades.
A Japanese Lilac tree will be planted in the north planter
garden next to the
Chamber
Building. The two tower lights have been ordered and will include
banner mounts and electrical outlets. Members reaffirmed their
preference for the Dumor Company bench, with shipping, at a cost of
$1,094.
G.
Retail Recruitment and Retention.
George Ramos is dedicating his time to finding a long-term tenant for
Burlington. The present tenant (Halloween USA) is signed up for a
short-term lease. The international market on W. Main Street is
reported to open next month.
H. Web Page.
Doug Cornell presented a slate of web domain names and
downtownowosso.com was selected with a back up domain of
downtownowosso.org. He and Tammy Smith will proceed to visit downtown
businesses for photography and discernment of level of presence each
business wishes to have on the web page.
I. Executive Session.
Board members elected to move to Executive Session to discuss property
acquisition.
Davis/Oliver m/s/p
J. Approval of Minutes.
The minutes of the June
1, 2005 Executive Session were approved.
Oliver/Hankerd m/s/p
Following the executive session there was no further action
and the meeting was adjourned at
9:22 a.m.
Philip B. Hathaway,
Secretary-Treasurer
