ESCANABA DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ESCANABA, MICHIGAN
A special meeting of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority was held on March 20, 2008, at 7:30 a.m. in Room C101 of Escanaba City Hall, 410 Ludington Street, Escanaba, Michigan 49829.
Chairman Moravec called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. and asked to note who was present.
NAME
TITLE
STATUS
ARRIVED
BRIAN MORAVEC, D.C.
CHAIRMAN
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
CONNIE ETTENHOFER
VICE CHAIRMAN
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
AMY HUBERT
TREASURER
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
LEO EVANS
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
JAMES O’TOOLE
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
SCOTT KWARCIANY, D.C.
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
PAULA HUGHES-JONSSON
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
PEGGY SCHUMANN
TRUSTEE
ABSENT
ALSO PRESENT: Matt Sviland, Press, Bid, Engineer
Minutes Approval: NONE
APPROVAL/ADJUSTMENTS OF AGENDA
Chairman Moravec called for approval of the agenda.
A motion was made by Trustee O’ Toole to accept the agenda as presented, seconded by Trustee Evans.
Ayes were unanimous.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE
TREASURERS REPORT: NONE
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS/OLD BUSINESS:
A. Amended 2008/2009 DDA Budget
Director Good discussed the budget with the board. He informed them that important financial decisions were still being made since the budget was passed on March5, 2008. Because of these new expenses, Director Good felt it was necessary and important to approve the amendments to be included in the budget and passed along to City Council.
Director Good directed the board’s attention to a new revenue account. The incoming dollars from the Advertising Campaign needed a new category to show the dollars in matching funds from businesses coming into the DDA.
It was questioned who was tracking the financial status of the program.
Director Good responded by saying that all monies were turned over to Mike Dewar and bills were being paid out of the controller’s office now.
It was reiterated that new, large expenses had to be adjusted and added to the budget for further approval.
The purchase and improvement to the parking lot at 1321 1st Avenue North necessitated an amendment to the budget. A previous appraisal had been submitted in 2007 and Elmer Bessenen of Appraisal Services commented that
parking lots of that size have not been sold since the time of the first appraisal Because of the lack of new sales; the price of the parking lot has probably remained the same, give or take a $1,000.
It was clarified that the monies are not being applied towards any one event. The monies are there as a reserve and the monies can be released upon board approval for specific events/activities.
Director Good stated that a smaller fund balance would encourage the DDA to seek outside funding.
Chairman Moravec commented that the fund balance has been steadily decreasing. The DDA Board should not spend frivolously, but TIF dollars should be spent to better the downtown. He feels that the board is spending the dollars wisely.
Director Good told the board that he feels he is very confident in the new budget with the updated amendments.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to accept the 2008-2009 Budget with the proposed amendments. Trustee O’ Toole seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Evans Abstain
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
Discussion:
Trustee Kwarciany commented that he was on the board when it wasn’t spending any money. He feels spending the money is something that should have been done all along. The downtown deserves to be improved and the new spending might be making up for lost time.
B. 2008-2013 Capital Plan
Director Good informed the board that he took ideas that have been discussed and applied them to the Capital Plan to be included with the City of Escanaba’s plan. He stated that long-term goals should be discussed and placed on the Capital Plan for next year.
Trustee O’ Toole stated that the Capital Plan is a rough draft. It is a guide for taxpayers to know how their tax dollars will be spent.
Chairman Moravec questioned the status of the wireless Internet throughout downtown.
Trustee O’ Toole stated that the Council approved the partnering of the City of Escanaba and the Intermediate School District. It is a one-time cost and will provide Internet access to all of Ludington Street and outwards toward 1st Avenues North and South.
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson made a motion to approve the Capital Plan, seconded by Trustee Kwarciany.
Ayes were unanimous.
2. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Lofts on Ludington-2008 MSHDA Façade Initiative NOI
Director Good informed the board that the DDA has been working with Matt Sviland for a couple of months to rehabilitate the historic Delta Building located on Ludington Street. Both public and private dollars are being sought to help defer the costs of the project. An NOI is due April 30, 2008.
Matt Sviland came before the board and told them his vision of restoring the Delta Building. He is seeking funds from the DDA, MSHDA, and OPRA. Matt informed the board that he would be creating approximately 17 units with first floor retail space. Matt has fixed up buildings in the past and he is excited and ambitious to take on the project. He will also be seeking to make the building as “Green” as possible.
Trustee Kwarciany questioned what Matt had intended for the Revolving Loan Fund.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to submit a NOI to MSHDA, seconded by Treasurer Hubert.
Trustee Evans abstained from voting. Ayes were unanimous.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion that should all necessary paperwork be completed and filed with the DDA, the board will approve a signature façade grant/loan. Trustee Hughes-Jonsson seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Evans Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
9. Project Updates:
NONE
10. Various Other Issues:
NONE
11. Board of Trustee's Comments
Chairman Moravec began by stating that he is very pleased that the City Council passed angle parking. Chairman Moravec said he was disappointed that Director Good was portrayed as not doing any legwork until a week before the City Council meeting. Chairman Moravec felt board support would have been more helpful to back up Director Good. Chairman Moravec stated that there was some discussion that the DDA was not in full support of the transition to angle parking, which isn’t true. He stated that the City Council stuck their necks out and the amount of money it would take to transition back to parallel parking is minute.
Trustee Kwarciany stated that he had two concerns about the topic. First of all, the DDA Board has yet to approve the monies to transition to angle parking, and he was unhappy with the stipulation that the City Council was determining how future DDA monies are to be spent.
Vice-Chair Ettenhoffer felt it would have been more effective to have the City Council come to the DDA Board to request that they pay for the transition should angle parking not work.
Trustee Kwarciany questioned what the standards would be for surveying the progress of angle parking.
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson questioned whether or not the time period was set in stone.
12. Public Comment
NONE
13. Announcements
NONE
14. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Kwarciany at 8:42 a.m. Treasurer Hubert seconded the motion.
Ayes were unanimous.
_________________________________ DATE:
BRIAN MORVEC, D.C.
CHAIRPERSON
Downtown Development Authority
__________________________________ DATE:
ROGER GOOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to accept the 2008-2009 Budget with the proposed amendments. Trustee O’ Toole seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Evans Abstain
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson made a motion to approve the Capital Plan, seconded by Trustee Kwarciany.
Ayes were unanimous.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to submit a NOI to MSHDA, seconded by Treasurer Hubert.
Trustee Evans abstained from voting. Ayes were unanimous.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion that should all necessary paperwork be completed and filed with the DDA, the board will approve a signature façade grant/loan. Trustee Hughes-Jonsson seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Evans Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ESCANABA, MICHIGAN
A special meeting of the Escanaba Downtown Development Authority was held on March 20, 2008, at 7:30 a.m. in Room C101 of Escanaba City Hall, 410 Ludington Street, Escanaba, Michigan 49829.
Chairman Moravec called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m. and asked to note who was present.
NAME
TITLE
STATUS
ARRIVED
BRIAN MORAVEC, D.C.
CHAIRMAN
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
CONNIE ETTENHOFER
VICE CHAIRMAN
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
AMY HUBERT
TREASURER
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
LEO EVANS
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
JAMES O’TOOLE
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
SCOTT KWARCIANY, D.C.
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
PAULA HUGHES-JONSSON
TRUSTEE
PRESENT
8:00 A.M
PEGGY SCHUMANN
TRUSTEE
ABSENT
ALSO PRESENT: Matt Sviland, Press, Bid, Engineer
Minutes Approval: NONE
APPROVAL/ADJUSTMENTS OF AGENDA
Chairman Moravec called for approval of the agenda.
A motion was made by Trustee O’ Toole to accept the agenda as presented, seconded by Trustee Evans.
Ayes were unanimous.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: NONE
TREASURERS REPORT: NONE
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS/OLD BUSINESS:
A. Amended 2008/2009 DDA Budget
Director Good discussed the budget with the board. He informed them that important financial decisions were still being made since the budget was passed on March5, 2008. Because of these new expenses, Director Good felt it was necessary and important to approve the amendments to be included in the budget and passed along to City Council.
Director Good directed the board’s attention to a new revenue account. The incoming dollars from the Advertising Campaign needed a new category to show the dollars in matching funds from businesses coming into the DDA.
It was questioned who was tracking the financial status of the program.
Director Good responded by saying that all monies were turned over to Mike Dewar and bills were being paid out of the controller’s office now.
It was reiterated that new, large expenses had to be adjusted and added to the budget for further approval.
The purchase and improvement to the parking lot at 1321 1st Avenue North necessitated an amendment to the budget. A previous appraisal had been submitted in 2007 and Elmer Bessenen of Appraisal Services commented that
parking lots of that size have not been sold since the time of the first appraisal Because of the lack of new sales; the price of the parking lot has probably remained the same, give or take a $1,000.
It was clarified that the monies are not being applied towards any one event. The monies are there as a reserve and the monies can be released upon board approval for specific events/activities.
Director Good stated that a smaller fund balance would encourage the DDA to seek outside funding.
Chairman Moravec commented that the fund balance has been steadily decreasing. The DDA Board should not spend frivolously, but TIF dollars should be spent to better the downtown. He feels that the board is spending the dollars wisely.
Director Good told the board that he feels he is very confident in the new budget with the updated amendments.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to accept the 2008-2009 Budget with the proposed amendments. Trustee O’ Toole seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Evans Abstain
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
Discussion:
Trustee Kwarciany commented that he was on the board when it wasn’t spending any money. He feels spending the money is something that should have been done all along. The downtown deserves to be improved and the new spending might be making up for lost time.
B. 2008-2013 Capital Plan
Director Good informed the board that he took ideas that have been discussed and applied them to the Capital Plan to be included with the City of Escanaba’s plan. He stated that long-term goals should be discussed and placed on the Capital Plan for next year.
Trustee O’ Toole stated that the Capital Plan is a rough draft. It is a guide for taxpayers to know how their tax dollars will be spent.
Chairman Moravec questioned the status of the wireless Internet throughout downtown.
Trustee O’ Toole stated that the Council approved the partnering of the City of Escanaba and the Intermediate School District. It is a one-time cost and will provide Internet access to all of Ludington Street and outwards toward 1st Avenues North and South.
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson made a motion to approve the Capital Plan, seconded by Trustee Kwarciany.
Ayes were unanimous.
2. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Lofts on Ludington-2008 MSHDA Façade Initiative NOI
Director Good informed the board that the DDA has been working with Matt Sviland for a couple of months to rehabilitate the historic Delta Building located on Ludington Street. Both public and private dollars are being sought to help defer the costs of the project. An NOI is due April 30, 2008.
Matt Sviland came before the board and told them his vision of restoring the Delta Building. He is seeking funds from the DDA, MSHDA, and OPRA. Matt informed the board that he would be creating approximately 17 units with first floor retail space. Matt has fixed up buildings in the past and he is excited and ambitious to take on the project. He will also be seeking to make the building as “Green” as possible.
Trustee Kwarciany questioned what Matt had intended for the Revolving Loan Fund.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to submit a NOI to MSHDA, seconded by Treasurer Hubert.
Trustee Evans abstained from voting. Ayes were unanimous.
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion that should all necessary paperwork be completed and filed with the DDA, the board will approve a signature façade grant/loan. Trustee Hughes-Jonsson seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Evans Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
9. Project Updates:
NONE
10. Various Other Issues:
NONE
11. Board of Trustee's Comments
Chairman Moravec began by stating that he is very pleased that the City Council passed angle parking. Chairman Moravec said he was disappointed that Director Good was portrayed as not doing any legwork until a week before the City Council meeting. Chairman Moravec felt board support would have been more helpful to back up Director Good. Chairman Moravec stated that there was some discussion that the DDA was not in full support of the transition to angle parking, which isn’t true. He stated that the City Council stuck their necks out and the amount of money it would take to transition back to parallel parking is minute.
Trustee Kwarciany stated that he had two concerns about the topic. First of all, the DDA Board has yet to approve the monies to transition to angle parking, and he was unhappy with the stipulation that the City Council was determining how future DDA monies are to be spent.
Vice-Chair Ettenhoffer felt it would have been more effective to have the City Council come to the DDA Board to request that they pay for the transition should angle parking not work.
Trustee Kwarciany questioned what the standards would be for surveying the progress of angle parking.
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson questioned whether or not the time period was set in stone.
12. Public Comment
NONE
13. Announcements
NONE
14. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Kwarciany at 8:42 a.m. Treasurer Hubert seconded the motion.
Ayes were unanimous.
_________________________________ DATE:
BRIAN MORVEC, D.C.
CHAIRPERSON
Downtown Development Authority
__________________________________ DATE:
ROGER GOOD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to accept the 2008-2009 Budget with the proposed amendments. Trustee O’ Toole seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Evans Abstain
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson made a motion to approve the Capital Plan, seconded by Trustee Kwarciany.
Ayes were unanimous.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion to submit a NOI to MSHDA, seconded by Treasurer Hubert.
Trustee Evans abstained from voting. Ayes were unanimous.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
ACTION SUMMARY-DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
TO: DDA Board of Trustee Members March 20, 2008
At the March 20, 2008 meeting of the Downtown Development Authority, the Board of Trustees took the following action:
Trustee Kwarciany made a motion that should all necessary paperwork be completed and filed with the DDA, the board will approve a signature façade grant/loan. Trustee Hughes-Jonsson seconded the motion.
Roll Call Vote:
Trustee Kwarciany Yes
Trustee Hughes-Jonsson Yes
Trustee Evans Yes
Trustee O’Toole Yes
Trustee Hubert Yes
Vice-Chair Ettenhofer Yes
Chairman Moravec Yes
Trustee Schumann Absent
Motion carried.
______________________
Roger Good, Executive Director
Director, Downtown Development Authority
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