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Comstock Charter Township - January 8, 2025 Comstock Charter Township Downtown Development Authority

Updated about 7 hours ago

LIVE gavel to gavel coverage of the January 8, 2025 Comstock Charter Township Downtown Development Authority meeting from Comstock Township Hall.

Chapters

Approval of the Agenda (00:01:38)
Discussion on approving the meeting agenda with a change to move the facade improvement program item.

The first item on the agenda is the approval of the agenda itself. A request is made to move the facade improvement program for the hair plus salon application to the first item under old business. The motion to approve the agenda with this change is made, seconded, and passes unanimously.
Approval of Minutes (00:02:33)
Minutes from the previous meeting are reviewed and approved without any changes or corrections.

Following the approval of the agenda, the minutes from the previous meeting are discussed. There are no changes or corrections suggested, and a motion is made to approve the minutes as they are. The motion is seconded, all those in favor say 'aye', and the motion passes.
Public Comment (00:02:55)
Opportunity for public comments; none are made. A new board member, Keith, is welcomed.

The floor is opened for public comments. There are no public comments made. The chair takes the opportunity to welcome a new member, Keith, to the DDA board, appreciating his residence in the DDA district and his willingness to serve.
Revenue and Expenditure Report Review (00:03:57)
Discussion on the revenue and expenditure report for December, focusing on specific expenses.

The board reviews the revenue and expenditure report, specifically looking at December's expenses. Items discussed include the director's salary, contract payments for garland installation and flower removal, and printing costs for maps. Questions about vandalism and security are addressed.
Facade Improvement Program: Hair Plus Salon (00:09:12)
Consideration of a grant application for facade improvements for Hair Plus Salon, including signage and awning.

The board discusses the facade improvement program grant application for Hair Plus Salon. The project includes new signage and a new awning. The board plans to cover the entire cost with grant funds, waiving the usual requirement for businesses to repay if they close or sell within five years. The motion to approve the grant is made, seconded, and passes.
Adoption of 2023 Budget (00:24:19)
Review and adoption of the 2023 budget, including potential fund balance adjustments.

The board reviews the proposed 2023 budget, which has been previously reviewed by the Township board with no comments. The recommendation is to adopt the budget as presented, with some adjustments to balance it. A motion to adopt the budget is made, seconded, and passes after discussion.
DDA Informational Report (00:28:59)
Presentation of the DDA informational report to improve transparency and comply with state requirements.

The DDA director presents an informational report as required by state legislation to ensure transparency. This includes maintaining a website, holding public information meetings, and submitting an annual report to the state treasurer. The report covers the DDA's mission, tax increment finance plan, and recent accomplishments.
Discussion on Riverfront Redevelopment Project (00:36:31)
Discussion on the significant redevelopment project, plans for phased implementation, and resolution of support from township and DDA boards.

The meeting covered the riverfront redevelopment project, its phased implementation, and the resolution of support from both the township and DDA boards. It emphasized collaboration without financial commitment at this stage.
Streetscape and Housing Program Developments (00:37:21)
Discussion on streetscape improvements on River Street and King Highway, and a new housing program developed with the Upjohn Institute.

The discussion included plans for streetscape improvements on River Street and King Highway, focusing on pedestrian and biking enhancements. The housing program is being developed with the Upjohn Institute to create a comprehensive plan for the township, potentially including a rehab grant program.
Budget and Financial Adjustments (00:38:32)
Highlights of last year's budget, including industrial growth, budget modifications, and revenue adjustments.

The budget discussion highlighted industrial growth, specifically mentioning Vitech, and detailed mid-year budget modifications due to uncommitted dollars. The adjustments involved reducing revenue line items and modifying appropriations.
Technical Support and Collaborations (00:40:04)
Updates on technical support from Kazu County, MEDC, and partnerships with local businesses and organizations.

The meeting provided updates on technical support from Kazu County and the MEDC, collaborations with parks and recreation, and support from local businesses such as Winky Greenhouses and Comstock Dentistry in efforts to beautify the district.
Event and Festival Partnerships (00:42:01)
Discussion on partnerships for events and festivals, including National Night Out and Paddle and Pour.

The discussion covered partnerships with parks and recreation for events such as National Night Out and the introduction of a new summer event, Paddle and Pour, in the park. There was also mention of the holiday tree lighting event.
Marketing and Outreach Efforts (00:47:00)
Efforts to enhance marketing and outreach through newsletters, conferences, and realtor collaborations.

The marketing and outreach efforts included using newsletters, attending conferences, collaborating with realtors, and targeting sites for new businesses to enhance downtown offerings.
Committee Updates and Action Items (00:51:02)
Updates from various committees, including economic development, beautification, and events.

The committee updates covered economic development strategies, beautification and maintenance efforts, and upcoming events. The economic development committee emphasized land control for the riverfront project, while beautification efforts focused on infrastructure improvements.
Executive and Administrative Committee Report (01:07:57)
Report on executive committee activities, including budget adoption and nominating committee meeting outcomes.

The executive committee report included updates on budget adoption, presentation preparations for informational meetings, and outcomes of the nominating committee meeting, highlighting attendance from last year and officer nominations.
Discussion on Nomination of Officers (01:08:49)
The committee discussed the nomination of officers. John expressed willingness to step down, and it was recommended to have Sandra as chair, Jeffrey as vice chair, and Evan as secretary.

Every year, per the bylaws, there is a discussion about the nomination of officers. Currently, Sandra is the chair, John is the vice chair, and Jeffrey is the secretary treasurer. John mentioned he might step down due to absences, which puts pressure on Sandra. The suggestion was to have Sandra remain as chair, move Jeffrey to vice chair, and consider Evan as the new secretary. This recommendation is from the committee, though a decision is not imperative at this moment.
Reappointment of Andrew Skippers (01:10:19)
Andrew Skippers was appointed to fill a term and is now eligible for a new four-year term. The committee recommends reappointing him as he is willing to continue serving.

Andrew Skippers filled the remaining three months of Matt's term and is now eligible for a new four-year term. He expressed willingness to continue, and the committee would like to reappoint him. The appointment will need to be addressed, and a recommendation will be made to the board to appoint him to a new term.
Reassignment of Committee Members (01:11:04)
The committee discussed reassigning members to various subcommittees, including the executive committee and beautify maintenance. Keith was suggested to join the beautify maintenance committee.

There was a discussion about reassigning members to the various subcommittees and the executive committee, which currently includes Sandra, John, and Jeffrey. It was proposed to change this to Sandra, Jeff, and Evan. For the beautify maintenance committee, John and Andy are members, and Keith was suggested to join due to Ben's current unavailability. Moreover, the economic development committee, responsible for riverfront redevelopment and the facade improvement program, would include Jeffrey, Anne, and Sandra.
Motion to Approve Officer Nominations (01:13:51)
A motion was made to appoint Sandra as chair, Jeffrey as vice chair, and Evan as secretary. The motion was supported and passed unanimously.

The recommendation for officer nominations was to have Sandra as chair, Jeffrey as vice chair, and Evan as secretary treasurer. A motion was made to appoint these officers, and it was supported. All members voted in favor, and the motion passed.
Recommendation for Andy Skippers' New Term (01:14:31)
A recommendation was made to appoint Andy Skippers to a new four-year term. The motion was supported and passed unanimously.

Andy Skippers' eligibility for a new four-year term was discussed. A recommendation was made to the board to appoint him to this new term. A motion was made to support this recommendation, and all members voted in favor, passing the motion.
Subcommittee Appointments and Changes (01:15:05)
A motion was made to appoint members to subcommittees, including removing John from the executive committee and adding Evan and Keith to beautify maintenance.

The committee discussed subcommittee appointments, recommending changes to the executive committee by removing John and adding Evan, as well as adding Keith to the beautify maintenance committee. A motion was made to approve these appointments, and it was passed unanimously.
New Business and Webinars (01:17:39)
The committee discussed new business items, including sharing a list of upcoming webinars from the Michigan Downtown Association with members.

During the new business discussion, a list of webinars from the Michigan Downtown Association was shared. These webinars cover various topics and are available to all members. Members are encouraged to watch these webinars, and links will be provided upon request.
Board Member Comments and Adjournment (01:24:04)
Board members shared comments on recent presentations and discussed the importance of following procedural rules. The meeting was adjourned with a motion.

Board member comments included feedback on a recent presentation and discussions on the importance of procedural rules in meetings, especially when dealing with larger groups. It was noted that more people attended the meeting than usual, which was appreciated. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was supported and passed.