Downtown Development Authority - Regular Meeting

Go ahead. All right. So, I guess we will call to order our DDA meeting for October 21st. Uh we'll start with our pledge of allegiance. [clears throat and cough] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. And Mr. Miller, will you be in charge of roll call then? Yes. Mayor Jacobs here. Chairperson Taylor here.

Vice Chair Beun here. Secretary Walonus is asked to be excused. Trustee Haidider here. Trusty Barry, he will be here. Trustee Nazerine and Trustee Perry here. Also, uh this is Dominic King. He is a council member for the city of Garden City. So, some of the people here might not know who that is. And that um right, hi there. And uh he's the liazison between the DDA to the council along with the mayor. So, he's just here to

Hello. Also, um there is a new uh member of the board. I think we all didn't meet before, but uh Jackie Peridor, and she's seated down there. Hi. Welcome. Thank you. Welcome. Thank you. Do have a quorum with seven members present. Okay. So, we'll start with the approval of the agenda. A motion. Motion to approve. All right. Motion by Right. So, was that support by the mayor? Okay. So, motion by trusty Bun and support by the mayor. I don't believe we have presentations today.

We need to vote on that though. So, oh sorry, sorry, sorry. Okay. So, um any discussion from the table? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. So that motion passes seven to zero. Now we can jump to presentations which I believe there are none. All right. Community events. I think we're we have none for that. Um and then we'll jump down to items for consideration. Our consent agenda. So we need a motion to approve to approve it. All right. So we have a motion from the mayor to approve that. Second

and a second by Dr. Haidider. All right. Any discussion from the table? Uh, all in favor? I. Anyone opposed? All right. Motion passes 70. All right. Jumping down then to our action items. Uh, first one we have is a business incentive grant for 5905 Middle Road. Mr. Miller. Hi. Hi.

Good evening again. So this is our first uh business incentive grant uh that we've issued for this fiscal year. You know, in July, we amended the program to create a little different program. Uh going forward um for what we're kind of calling business incentive grants. And so the grant um is for facade improvements, which do include window replacement um and then also a myriad of different When we had the discussion at the meeting, we had initially said that we were going to have different levels of of that and we actually increased the grant amount to 7,000 as a max um and then 2,000 for architecture fees and $1,000 for signage improvement um depending on how you wanted to use the money. Um so, uh Sharon Heating and Cooling actually purchased the back building behind 5905. So, do you know where that's at? It's right across from City Hall where Lucky Dog Daycare is located. And Sharon's Heating and Cooling actually purchased the the rear building. So, it's a about a 15,000 foot building at the back. And then the front building for now, they're leasing out kind of that this building specifically of 5905. Um, and they're relocating their business from Westland. Um, putting their workshop in the back. um it will bring with them over 60 employees that are coming with them um there and this office will this front part will be an office space for them. They're doing a full renovation of that that unit and it's kind of a three unit uh building. They're leasing the space right now. Their intentions though um are to buy the rest of the building buy the building um I think in due time. They bought the back building from their landlord in front. Um, so, uh, they have

a good working relationship, but they're doing these improvements for all of their employees, plus they have customers that come in also. Um, this is the south unit of that building, and it it hasn't been touched in probably 50 years. And, um, so we're we're glad that we can utilize the grant for the purpose um to help with the traction and improvement of the structure of the building and make it a better place for their employees. Um the employees will be checking in there mostly um plus um the staff they'll have estimating uh secretaries the manager of the company um plus the owner will have an office in that space too um and I don't know if you've noticed or not on Dawson which is the next side street you can see the back of the building I think the best there they've already invested a significant amount a new roof on the 15,000 square foot building fencing a drive parking lot's been redone also. Um and then they're making improvements inside also for they're having like a workshop too where they're going to assemble things um to go to the job sites too in the back. So um we're quite excited. It's a good reutilization of I mean a 15,000 foot former industrial building. It is a good reutilization of that. Um Lucky Dog will still be there. They will change. They will have a new landlord. Um it's going to be insurance heating and cooling. So

on the the south end of the building, I know it says, is that going to be the office with the intent to buy it? Miller and Charlotte. Yeah. Creative soul. Yes. So there that's that and then kind of the factory is the back end of the building. Yes. Yes.

Okay. So, um again with each of these um we said that we would bring them back to you and we're we're going to of course work on marketing it better to utilize this. We had f we had budgeted a total of five of these for this fiscal year. So I I keep talking about it and working with other people to see if they can utilize some of this. Um the purpose of the DDA, of course, why we're here is to make sure we spend the money in the district and for improvements that people could see. I think it's a great improvement and I'd like to make a motion to approve the $7,000 for incentive grant number 2500.

All right. Supported by Trustee Nazertine. Any discussion from the table? Additional questions? All right. All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes 70. Moving on to the agreement with English Gardens for the Christmas tree setup.

Just real quick too, the um he's doing other uh items. This is just one of the facade one. He's spending more, you know, we um he has just the first quote was the $8,000. So he we're funding the 7,000. He's doing other improvements too. and I can talk to them about maybe changing the mansard style for all three um units there to maybe standing seam metal as opposed to that shape that's kind of falling apart. So, a little more modern and nicer, but that's just in the future. All right, great.

So, we're on item two. I guess I should have put these together. I apologize. So, we have two motions in front of us. This is to put the tree up for uh English gardens. But, you know, part of their um part of what they do is of course they um inspect it, make sure it's uh installed safely because it's 30 feet tall. Um and they make sure that it's all working properly so that when we do have the ceremony, we flip the lights on and it works. Hopefully, [laughter] the mayor would not be happy.

I just have one question, Matt. Um I wasn't able to look at last year's stuff, but is this um an average expenses that because $5,000 seemed I mean kind of a bit much to me, but I don't know if this is normal. It is. Okay. I don't know the exact amount we paid last year. Maybe John might be able to find it. So it's it's pretty close. I think it was right around 5,000 last year and give or take 5,000 year. There was an issue with storage. I remember we spoke about

well we we had thought about trying to save the money and having our DPW say uh store but we couldn't guarantee that I guess the safety of the lights and everything else where English gardens is completely responsible with storing it for I think they store for what $2,000. So our DPW, we'd have to purchase some kind of container to put it in and find space for it. We're responsible for the lights and everything else.

Yeah. For $2,000 we last year, I know we said that [clears throat] better off let them take the responsibility of putting it up, taking it down, and storing it. What if what if total of seven I think it's $7,000 give or take $7,000 for every What if lights were to burn out during the time post setup? Is this something that is covered as well? No, we we will um we have to get those changed and Gary Carter would be responsible for that. Got okay. They'll identify if there's a problem though before it goes up too and fix that before it's up though.

I see. Okay. So they're responsible for everything up to getting it set up after that is on Gary. Okay. All right. So I guess we need a motion to uh make this agreement with English Gardens. I I motion. All right. So we have a motion by Dr. Haidider. Second second by Trusty Peridor. Any discussion from the table? All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right, that carries 70. Um, then the second part of that would be the takedown and storage also with English gardens. So I suppose we can just move to a motion for that. I motion approve.

All right. So trusty Bun and support. Support by trustee. Any discussion? All right. All in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. Okay, we'll move on down to item four. Um, our proposed 2026 lucky squirrel dates.

Yes. So, we're uh we're trying to plan for next year and uh if you can believe uh people are already calling us regarding what dates are they can they rent a spot. Also trying to just start the marketing for that event. Um so we wanted to get those out in front of us now. And we're also contemplating a little different payment system so that there will be less paper. They can actually pay online. Um those kinds of things may will make it a little easier for us to monitor because you know there are 150 vendors. Not all of them come to every single one but they all end up coming to a lot of them come to city hall then to pay or get their stuff. So, um, it it's fine. They can continue to do that, but if they want to click and pay online, which a lot of people are doing nowadays, it'll be easier for us and for them. So,

and these are in line kind of with what we did this year. Yes. They're the same types of uh the same time of year. Mhm. Okay. All right. Anybody have any questions? Move to approve those dates. All right. [clears throat] So, we have a motion by the mayor to approve those dates. In support by Dr. Haidider. Any other discussion? All right. All those in favor?

Anyone opposed? All right. That motion passes. On to item five, the 2026 chili cookoff event date. kind of in line with getting ready for next year is we wanted to put out there the September 26th date. Um we do have a full report about this year's event, but I just wanted to um later in the agenda, but I wanted to get these in our action items so that we can start planning making reservations uh um all these things um people start working on really um in January we start to kind of hone down dates and reservations. So, just wanted to get ahead of the game. All right.

Yes. Yes. All right. So, we're looking for a motion for that. Uh, I'll motion that. Right. So, we have a motion to keep the date, the proposed date, Saturday, September 26th for the Chile Kov. Right.

With support by trusting Aardine. Any additional discussion? I I will say this. Um I I heard this year we had great weather, which as we know in Michigan, you never know. Uh we've done it the first week in October, the second week in October. We did it early September. Uh this year I had one one person complain it was too hot. But it was a sunny day. It was a beautiful day. And I think it was the busiest I've ever seen our our cookoff. So, um you know, I think it worked out well. There's no guarantee that next year is going to be this that nice of weather, but going further back or further, moving it earlier, I don't think is there. It's a crapshoot either way. So, I think the last weekend in September, we'll try it and, you know, keep going with that and see hopefully uh, you know, our chairperson can make sure the weather's nice.

I'll work on that. All right. So, um, uh, I I guess we were looking for a motion. Second. All right. So, um, we have We got All right. So, we're good with that. So, um, all in favor? Anyone opposed? All right. That motion carries 70. You sidetracked me. I lose where I'm at. All right. Um, moving on to item six, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Well, this year it's coming up, of course, December 1st, correct? Um, but we are since we're setting a calendar for all next year, I figured we would just throw this on now, too. So, why not?

Why not? So, um, well, but again, soon as the soon as the event happens this year, then we start marketing and putting it out in the calendar for next year. So, and typically it's always the Monday after the parade. Yes. Which is always the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Saturday, the parade's the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Okay. Right. The Monday after is typically always the the Yes. Let's not mess with tradition then. All right. We need a motion for that. I motion that. All right. Motion by Dr. Haidider. Support

by Trusty Bun. Any further discussion? All those in favor? I. Anyone opposed? All right. That motion carries. And the last action item we have is the 2026 Hometown Hero Banners.

Yes, I I would like to try it again this year uh for the third year in a row for our hometown hero banners. Uh they are wellreceived and uh we do get a fair amount of traffic regarding that and also on the website. Um, so each year we've kind of allotted $5,000 for this cost and we come in under each year. It will be the same parameters though, 40 banners and then uh Sorama would do the printing. Um, then in the end the person who makes the nomination gets the banner back at the end. Actually, we don't keep them. And so, um, I'd like to do that again. Also, we've kind of started a waiting list already because we didn't have enough spots for last year. So, we um whenever I take them in for the waiting, I'm always like, well, it's got to be approved. But I um I would hope that we could get it approved for this year and continue again. Uh we'll see if we get another 40. Um that'll be 120 then total. Um and I think we could do that. Um I know that we market to the American Legion and then I've reached out to the Wayne County Veteran Affairs also that comes to Radcliffe um each year too to get nominations for people for that. So um I would like to have support to do that again. It takes a fair amount of coordination. I um but uh I think it's good for the community and good for the veterans. So

and there is no cost to the people who nominate for the ban. Correct. Right. So this is and it's a first come first serve. Yes. [clears throat] Okay. Motion to approve the 5,000 to sign. All right. So we have a motion by trusty Bun. I support and support from Dr. Haidider. Any further discussion? Can I go ahead? Can I ask is Hometown Hero it's vets and first responders? Is that correct? It was just it's just veterans. Vets. Okay. Just veterans. Okay. at some point expand it because at some point we may run out of bed.

Oh, Garden City is only so big. So, you know, unless we recycle, but I will say this. Um, I go to the Legion and every year I I get hit with the same thing. When when are we coming out with the, you know, I didn't get in on it. My dad didn't I didn't get my dad's name on there. Uh, so they're still asking about it, you know, all the time. So, and they love it. I I've not heard one complaint. Uh they think it's a great program. They they love honoring either their parent, the grandparent, their kid. Um they all love it and they think it's great. They all take pictures. I think it's a great thing for this for downtown. So

I agree. And people that drive through also comment on it as well. So Well, and I can say from other communities that do it, our banners really are outstanding comparatively speaking. Yeah, they look nice. Okay, so uh any other discussion? All those in favor? Any opposed? All right, that motion will carry. Moving on then to our other business. Our we're starting with the lucky score report. John has those and it's just going to be verbal. I I meant to put something in and I did not. But we have the chili is in there. So, but [clears throat] it's it's simple for the most part.

Yeah, Lucky Squirrel is pretty simple event. Um, we have 150 spaces as of this year. Next year we're adding like 16 spaces uh due to our re redesigning of the space. Uh, but the this year each each event was completely filled or spaces were paid for. Uh, we did have some people that didn't show and that happens on occasion, but they don't get a refund. We don't we don't do all that. So you say they do not get a refund. Correct. Okay.

Yeah. You know, as a it overall for a vendor show, it's very cheap, conservative. Our goal is to get people to come to the area, right? So overall income before expenses last year was $10,960 and our expenditures were 2475. So it was a positive balance of 84.85 85 for just the Lucky Squirrel events last year. So, pretty good. That money [snorts] goes right back into the promotions and the community event uh line item uh to help for further events. So, plus it brings a lot of people in for our downtown.

Yes. Local businesses right there also. I would agree. All right. And then I guess we can jump down to the chili cookoff report. And that is in your packet 8B. So, and that's

John's got that too. Lots of numbers, lots of money going in and out. Um, but if you pay attention the first sheet, it's basically a financial master of uh profit and loss, income, income and outgoing or income and expenses. Uh some of the things in there are dark out for uh administrative purposes because we're still uh tying up like sending money out so on and so forth. But you can kind of read through and see uh who's who are sponsors, who are vendors, uh the income from the chili sales and autonomous of that is the beer sales. And then you'll see on there um different vendors that we had this year. That was kind of a new addition is actually having food truck vendors. And if you were attended, you saw that we rearranged the entire event. Uh, which [snorts] I received a lot of compliments on how that was laid out. The space was really well used. We moved the open houses for police, fire, and DPW onto Central Street instead of running them down to city hall and back, uh, which was a little less disruption of, uh, neighborhood traffic as well. That was very wellreceived. Uh, so we kind of basically had like a children's zone. We had the music in the beer tent zone. We had a cornhole tournament we added this year uh which was pretty successful for the first year and everybody seemed to enjoy it. Um that and then um the car show uh was a huge success and the motorcycle show was also very wellreceived this year. Uh probably because of the good weather too, right? And um we moved the position of the motorcycles to make it a little bit more ease of entry and exit for those riders. So overall, a lot of positive feedback. We we did get a couple things that we need to uh note note for next year like water sales and things like that, but uh

overall this is probably one of our our best events yet. Uh both uh attendance, financially, um positive feedback, so on and so forth. You can see as you look through the next few pages like the volunteers we had we had a great number of volunteers this year on the right side of that volunteer page you can see the total amount that we voted uh per hour rate for those uh those nonprofits and those all those um all of those nonprofits are either tied to in in one way shape or form to the city and the residents and businesses is um or they're very close to uh Garden City. So, we're very happy about that. Uh we're able to uh fund a lot of things for a lot of nonprofits

and it's important that the volunteers and we need volunteers. I mean, we need lots of volunteers to pull this off. Correct. That broom and dust pan, right?

I did a lot of sweeping. [laughter] If you move through the next few pages, we just wanted to show the uh importance of proper uh financial tracking. So, basically, you're looking at a lot of numbers and a lot of uh spreadsheets that have to do with all the the treasury work. And if you don't know, the DDA contracts the city uh to handle and do our financial portion of our budget and money handling and incoming and outgoing. So that's all tracked uh very close and we just wanted to show everybody like um money drops the income how it was tracked and uh the end result of that. So, it is important to be transparent about that and also have a very robust and detailed layout for you guys to see. And the and the importance for that is, you know, there there are city employees that are there. Some of them are getting comp time, but the city it's part of the fees that we're paying the city and these the people that are handling the cash um and doing the accounting are, you know, certified cash handlers. They know what they're doing. Um, I mean, if you think about it, just that day, it was $20,000 coming through the till, you know, that we needed, you know, needed to be properly accounted for. Um, we had to have cash drops throughout the day. Um, the right amount of change, the right amount of accounting for how much was sold. Um, and uh, it's it's a it's a a big undertaking. And actually, one employee does this um, spreadsheet in the daytime and handles the counting and um, just just that one person. It's it's a lot to do. Um and then um there are a couple others that are handling the cash drawers and balancing the cash drawers. So, uh it's it's a a big undertaking and we want to we don't want to negate that and that it is a service that we're we're getting we're using of course, but

it's all being the cash to me. you know, when I started a couple years ago, it's important that we're transparent with how we handle the cash, how the accounting is done, and um we want to show the the board that we're doing that and that we're using all the proper accounting standards to handle the money and that we u make sure that, you know, every person that touches any cash here knows how to do it and how to do it properly. So,

so those banks and so on and so forth that you're seeing. So, there's a a sales station for a beer, there's a sales station for chili, there's another sales station for chili, and those all come back to one central location in a locked um secure uh mobile unit, and it's uh counted and added to the spreadsheet according to which quote bank or selling station they had. And then it's all pulled together. Uh we use police escorts to bring it back here, so on and so forth. and then it's recounted again with uh three employees on site here to make sure it matches the numbers we had. So, pretty big deal. Uh but overall, like like I said, huge success. Uh the mayor was able to get the uh deputy secretary of state here uh which was great. And they did their mobile unit again and I think I think it was pretty well received and used by residents and people that were at the event. We got great feedback about having uh food trucks from not only the customers but also the food truck owners. They said it was a great event for them and they're they're waiting for us to set up so they can sign up for next year. So yeah, pretty awesome. Any questions we can answer?

Want to thank uh Trusty Bedune. He was a judge for the cars. We thought perfect person to know what I don't know anything about a car so it was a perfect person to have there for it. Thank you. Amen. [laughter]

I'll I'll just say this and I said it at uh the council meeting. Um I want to thank Matt and John um Zack King um all all the people that volunteered that were couple of them were up 24 hours. Uh they stayed overnight security uh slept in a trailer. Well, they didn't sleep but they were there in the trailer all night. Um, Matt handled that the broom and dustpan all day long. Uh, a lot better,

a lot better than I could. He was clean. He did way more than what I would call a uh, you know, a director or supervisor would normally do usually. You know, you pass it off. Um, but it it was wellreceived. We had the most cars I think I've ever seen there. Uh, they were lining up, I was told at 700 a.m. to get in for the car show. Again, the weather helped. Uh it was the most motorcycles I've ever seen. Uh and it was packed. And we again, like John said, we had the mobile secretary of state. Uh hopefully we can keep them coming back. They seem to be really happy with uh the amount of customers that they had, uh how many residents they could help, and the residents seemed really happy that we had them. So, I think that worked out really good. Uh, as John said, we've been discussing already about some improvements for next year. Um, but overall, uh, as long as I've been involved with it, um, I think this might be the first year that the, uh, DDA actually didn't spend any of our own money on the event. Uh, you know, our goal isn't to make money. We give it away to charities, but we did actually have to go into our account to pay anybody. It was all through sponsorship, volunteers, everything else that it got paid. Um, so again, you guys did a a phenomenal job. It was a long day. Um, you know, those of those of you that were there, uh, know how long a day it was. So, uh, thank you guys.

Yes, thank you. That was a lot of hard work. I just wondered about the pancake breakfast. What were what was the feedback on that? I was there at the very end of it, so I hurried up and got a a a meal before they were finished, but I I wasn't there early enough to see how well it was attending. 12 something 137, I think. 137 theund and some people came and had breakfast. Okay. So, and part of part of actually next year is uh September 26 is International Pancake Day. Well, [laughter] well,

so how can we miss this opportunity? But uh the pancake breakfast was sponsored by the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the uh Kowanas Club. And uh I think that's a good addition. And uh it also kind of helps in the morning that those chili teams are kind of hungry. And so it kind of is a built-in customer base there. And uh I think it was a good addition. Yeah. Uh for the first year, uh coalition was involved in that as well, Coalition. Yeah. Um, it was, you know, if you brought your car at 7:00 a.m., you can come over, have some pancakes because you're hanging out till like 4:00 or 5 in the afternoon. And, uh, for first year, I thought it was great.

It was a pretty good meal cuz I did have one. So, it was good. Good. Okay. Um, we will, uh, jump down to food truck Friday.

Yes. So, we had our first uh, ever food truck Friday in downtown on September 19th. It was just kind of a a limpness test to see how we could do if we would get customers, what kind of traction we would get. And um we gave away a gift card and I think it was $50, right? And uh just as a promotion to see how it would go and it was extremely busy the entire time and was really wellreceived. So, we're going to do a couple more of those uh next year and uh see how it goes. So, I did buy it was hot, you know, at the parking lot. You you're kind of out there cooking and so we don't have any real shade or shelter. So, I did buy one um kind of canopy that hooks to a picnic table and we may get a couple more just to use, of course, at the chili cookoff, the lucky squirrel and for food truck days, but it'll kind of create a place also um for it. You know, a table in a lot doesn't look that appealing, but you know, with some umbrellas and things like that make it a little more appealing. So, uh, so be looking forward to that and we'll send out and we we'll do a better job of marketing it, um, as we go forward. So, but, uh, it went well and, uh, I'm glad that happened. The next day was a a Lucky Squirrel day, too. And so, a lot of activity and, uh, a lot of people, um, residents that I've never met and I thought was great for the day. So,

look very busy. I didn't get to go visit it, but it did look very busy. Okay. All right. Um, public comments. Mr. King's our public commenter today. Anything? No. Okay. Thanks for joining us, though. Um, all right. Direct report. We're talking for Matt. You got a bunch of items here for alley repaving.

Yes. So, actually 10 A and B kind of the last item in your packet is just a a few pictures. So, this year, uh, if you can remember in our budget, we put a little bit of money aside to do some municipal improvements. Finally, we we're getting a little money in our coffers to work on municipal uh improvements and we've got the alley repaved by Elite Eye Care and also the municipal lot at the uh Lucky Squirrel area and behind all the businesses, Jod's Bar, the Barber Shop, Fatma's Bakery, uh and Cafe Europe. Uh that parking lot got uh all sealcoated and restriped. Um and if you go out there today, it it looks beautiful really. It came out quite nice. I wish we could have gotten it done for the chili cookoff, but we we couldn't. Um, but we're ready for next year. Um, one thing it does, of course, is helps preserve the lot and uh also makes it look better. So, the lot was completely uh swept and all of that. Al's asphalt did a great job for us and um that was uh we went to bid and it was approved a couple months ago. So, so that's uh for that. And if you look at those pictures, uh, it, you know, it's not great stuff, but it, you know, if you saw what it looked like before and what it looks like now, it it looks a lot better. So,

they did the cement. Pardon? They did the cement. Um, OCG did the cement. Is that the one behind Fatma's Bakery?

Um, it is the alleyway. No, by the store and Elite Eye Care, but next year we're going to do the alley behind Fatma's Bakery also. So, is the plan at least. So, um I actually requested um that alleyway because there is a public alley right behind Fatma's Bakery in that building there with Gassan Kaf redid all that. And uh we're having a Hennessy look at drainage there too to see to make sure that if we take it out and we put it back, we don't, you know, have water feeding into those businesses. So, we're we're look looking forward to next year for that work. So,

yeah. I just had one question. Um, for the second photo that looks like it's facing Middle Belts, it would be So the left is that lot that's part of the Elite Eye Care. Mhm. Um, is that our responsibility that particular lot or is it theirs? That's their that's their private lot. Okay. Cuz that that is like crater filled. Yes. So, I just didn't know what our what we could do about that. If we could suggest that it needs work or how that works. Um, we we can always do that, but I've talked to her a couple times and she knows and so she's trying to figure out how to do it. So,

okay. Only because I walk through there and I was walking through there for a couple of the events and that it goes now it's all nice, you know, what we did and then you go into that portion. So, improvements make other things look worse. Yeah. Just so, but she does know about it and uh we've talked about it a couple times. So, I was just curious if it was ours or theirs. It's It is theirs. So, Okay. All right. Um, you want to continue then with the trunk or treat? Just in case uh anybody's interested, tomorrow is trunk or treat at the Radcliffe Center. And um I Thursday.

Oh, I'm sorry. Thursday. I'm sorry. Sorry. Uh yes, Thursday is trunk or treat. And if anybody's interested and wants to do a DDA table there, you can because I'm going to a conference in Kalamazoo and I won't be able to do so. So, I don't get to dress up. I don't get to pass out candy or eat candy. So, I'm kind of bummed. But, if if anybody has time in the I bought a lot of candy I [laughter] got to give out.

I want to eat it, too. Anyways, if anyone has any interest, just email me and I can show you or tell you how to do it. Okay. Thank you. And then yes, I wanted to pass this out. I'll pass them out at the same time, too. So, I gave out a notice. I'm not a microphone. Just talk loud. I did see it. You did. Thank you. I just thought you got to let them know

basically. So, I just put together I put together this notice and it was sent to all the businesses in the downtown to not touch the trees and to make sure that um they know that if they have a problem or there's something they don't like about it to contact us and we can work on something. But um you know the trees were dam they're not they're cut back a lot and uh we're hoping that they survive. if they don't survive, we do have a mechanism to where it is a, you know, we will be able to go back on the property owner who did the damage. And so, um, hopefully they're out there giving it some extra vitamins. [laughter] So, because they'll be a lot cheaper than the cost to replace the trees. Also, what we lose is, you know, 24 foot tall trees. We you can't get those trees. So, we'd get smaller trees also. So, um, but I I wanted to communicate that to everybody just in case because sometimes, you know, you see somebody do it and like, well, I guess we can do that and please don't do that. So, I just wanted to let you know that I did do that. I did the notice and it was nice, but don't don't do that. So, and then also I guess I should have done this at the same time, the schedule. And I this is just a draft and uh I I'm just trying to figure out what will be the best. You know, should we switch to quarterly meetings? Monthly meetings maybe aren't necessary, but I just put together this so we have something to work from. So,

this might be something, Matt, that um we can discuss if we

want to do it three or four meetings a year instead of 12 or 11. And maybe next next meeting come up with dates if we decide to cut down on meetings cuz you guys the business owners especially you guys always have things going and you can't always make them all and it's a volunteer position so we understand all that. Um, you know, so we had just discussed that possibly cutting down on the amount of meetings. Uh, obviously before the Chile cook off, uh, before certain events, we probably needed meetings, but we don't probably need 11 or 12 meetings a year.

So, so what are your thoughts? and I can put together something for next time or our goal, my goal at least is to make it easier for you. Um, we still have, you know, we still have to have a board. We have to have responsibility for the funding. Um, all of that. Um, but, um, I'll work with whatever you want and to make it a little easier for you. We could reduce the number um, and we could we could go from there, you know, every other month or something like that. I whatever you feel and uh, I'm looking for feedback. So, are there parameters like in our bylaws or anything like that that say what we have to do, what we're required to do? We have to have meetings. I know that. I don't know if there's not a specific number, but I'll

I don't know that there's a specific number, but say say we didn't have a meeting scheduled for July, but we had expenses coming up for chili cookoff that we needed to meet. we could always call a a special meeting and do it that way to make sure that we're getting board approval for whatever the expenses are or whatever. Um but I mean again uh I don't know that anybody's made every meeting yet. Um and it is a big commitment. I know people go, "It's only once a month." But as anybody knows, when you do that once a month, it always seems like it's on that day that something else comes up. Uh so Matt said, we're just looking for feedback feasible to your schedules.

How many article article five says as determined by the board for frequency of meetings monthly or determined by the board. So that's why I bring my little you know everyone's got their binder. So that's why I have mine but I didn't know where to look real quick. Yes. Thank you. Okay. So I and are there other thoughts along the board? No, is probably a nice Okay.

So I can I can look at the schedule and and also see how our events fall and what needs to be approved all of that. Yeah. And if we're here for like four hours, then maybe I'll talk faster. We had that last night. Yes. But even if we had if we said quarterly, it' be four four meetings a month or a year. Um say we needed one in June and July, that would still count as one of our or two of our four meetings of the quarters.

It'd work it like Matt said to what we have going, what events we have going and what we have to approve and look at. What worked well for this year's chili cookoff though, if you remember, uh, in maybe April or so, we had a whole list of things like we're going to be buying all this and you kind of gave us a budget to work with and we stay within those parameters as opposed to coming, you know, all the time to do so. and and and as we you know we get more organized and we can project out how we're doing spending and what we're we're buying it we should be able to minimize the amount of oh we we can't do this because we need to wait you know so if we're prepared and we have a plan going forward so

yeah I think when you go quarterly too like anything that's going to need approval you'll have more information about it too like a lot of times we'll have some approval but we won't notice something till next meeting or this way it's like that And then like Mayor was saying, if it's something comes up where, hey, we need to approve on this this month, we'll just send out an email that we're trying to have an emergency meeting this month and whoever can make it.

Okay. I'll work on that. Okay. Thank you. And then the last item is the Michigan Downtown Association annual conference, which is November 6th and 7th. And I registered John and I are going to attend that. It's in Rochester and uh it's always good to see what's going on in other downtowns. And uh actually last year at the downtown meeting um I heard the second presentation on that amended Brownfield uh law that was amended in 2023 regarding um how to use brownfield money and how we had the at the last meeting we had Trudy Gala from Fishbach uh talk to us about brownfields uh specifically about the Orin building or the folk building and uh so I think it was uh certainly Well, um certainly good to go and get information and um purpose going to those is to get information and bring it back and implement it in our community and we're doing it. How about that? Nice job. So, so we're glad I'm uh glad that we bud, you know, you approved a budget for us to go to a conferences and uh we're doing so this time. So, I just wanted to tell the board what we're doing and where we'll be on those days. So, thank you.

All right. So, we're going to see if we have any trustee board comments. I guess we'll start with Trusty Periodor. Uh, well, the only thing I had was I just drove by the Folker building and whoever's responsible for having them paint the plywood. Awesome. It looks great. You're the first person to notice that. It looks wonderful. It blends in. You don't see that it's boarded up. It looks fabulous. Well, I noticed. I didn't say anything. Well, whoever's responsible, thank you Sunday. The may look to your left by yourself. All right. I did that on Sunday. And that's all I have. Hey, you did a very good job. Thank you.

Uh trusty reason why I'm not a painter. [laughter] Thank you, Trusty Vu. Nope. Um nothing. Thank you. I'm good. Thank you. All right. Guys already said your stuff, right? Okay. And thank you for coming, you know, and uh I don't have anything.

I do want to just the next meeting is uh Tuesday, November 18th. Um I would like you to uh all come. I'm going to give our annualformational meeting. So it's going to be a a wrap-up of everything. Even though we talked about a lot of that uh public act 57 of 2018 requires us to have that publicformational meeting. We have to have two. I will do one at the council meeting the day before. So don't watch that. I don't want anybody to get any ideas. So, um the day before and then we'll do uh do the DDAs on that day. Uh also, we're required to post a public notice and we also have to send it to all our taxing authorities and um I sent those letters out today. So,

are you trying to tell us it's going to be a long meeting? No, I'll I'll do it'll be it'll be a good see it twice. Oh, boy. Yeah, you'll get to see it twice. I do, but we're we're hoping I have the technical skills to make a little video even portion. [clears throat] So, oh, that's uh I I don't have the technical skills, but I hope the person listening in the control room, Zack King, knows that he can at least take that clip and put it in my PowerPoint. So, there we go. Well, we look forward to that.

I do I do have one thing. Um, first off, I do want to thank everybody taking the time out to come to the meetings. Uh uh I appoint everybody with council's approval, but I appreciate you guys taking time out to to make it here. Um hopefully with us cutting down the schedule, everybody will be able to make them all. But when when Matt or John sends out an email that you know we have a meeting next week, please respond whether you're going to make it or you're not going to make it. um just for the people that are going to be here to make sure we have a quorum. Otherwise, we get people here that are are expecting a meeting or we took time out of our day to to make sure we're here, but now we don't have a quorum because people didn't respond. So whether you can make it or can't make it, please respond to their email. Uh just yes or no. I'll be there. And uh again, we appreciate you guys being able to make it. And uh thank you. That's all I have.

All right. Thank you. I guess with that we can adjourn at 6:49. All right. See you next time. Thank you. Not bad.