HomeMy WebLinkAbout5-12-2022 Downtown Lansing Inc.Downtown Lansing Inc. Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
May 12th, 2022
Members Present: S. Schriner, T. Benoit, A. Willis, C. Zarkovich, J.V. Anderton Members Absent: C. Zarkovich, K. Dorshimer, J. Tischler, J. Estill Board Advisors Present: P. Spitzley
Board Advisors Absent: Robert Doran-Brockway Staff Present: C. Edgerly, Julie Reinhardt, W. Roberts Guests Present:
I.Call to OrderThe meeting was called to order at 11:44 am
II.Citizen’s Comments: None
III.Guest: Steve, Chamber Of Commerce:-The office came in to speak to the Policy Committee with the Chamber on the vision fordowntown. A lot of the Policy Committee members want to be helpful in making the visionhappen. The vision for downtown is so many different moving pieces and the committee wants
to be helpful in keeping all of that together, and potentially help with funding or any other
capacity.
IV.Correspondence: None outside of Board packet materials
V.Consent Agenda Approvals
•Agenda for May 12th, 2022.
•Minutes from April 18th, 2022
•Committee Reports
•Monthly Financials - J. Tischler
C.Zarkovich moved to approve Consent Agenda items. J.V. Anderton supported. MOTIONPASSED.
VI.Old Town Updates (Robert Doran-Brockway): Robert wasn’t able to attend. But plantingweekend is coming up in Old Town this weekend.
VII. Reports Director Report – C. Edgerly
C. Edgerly provided a quick update from Lake State: For this season picnic tables, flower
baskets, downtown planting day, and all sorts of other clean-ups are happening over the next few weeks. Downtown and Old Town are both doing cleanups and plantings, and it's also Lansing 517 Day!
Other reminders include: Staff will be at the National Main Street Conference next week and will
therefor be out of the office. Mark you calendars and plan to attend Block Aid on Thursday, June 2nd. Capital City Sweets will be the newest business in Middle Village, opening later this month. Cathleen will also be representing Downtown at the Mackinac Policy Conference June 1-3.
Today the first in-person community response Cabinet meeting will take place in which DLI will
be represented. President’s Report- A. Willis A. Willis reported that all of the action items within the Board’s 90 days plan have been
accomplished.
The Chamber's plans for Focus On Downtown panel conversation are on pause at the moment. A reminder that volunteers are needed for this weekend's planting event. VIII. Action/Discussion Items
a. CMA Updated Scope Of Work And Budget (C. Edgerly): DLI has signed the CMA
contract and talked with the team about expanded scope of work which includes adding Old Town and REO Town into the study area. The Exec. Team is waiting on updated pricing proposals. We think we can bring the costs closer to what our budget is. Discussions are happening with potential funders to cover the additional costs for the
expanded scope of work.
b. DEI Contract And Work (A. Willis): We will hear by the beginning of June whether we will be able to continue with the planned DEI consultant. If not, we will be working on a plan B and request proposals from others. P. Spitzley recommended Judy Kehler
who used to work for the city and leads wonderful DEI work. c. Fundraising And Grant Updates (C. Edgerly)We are continuing to work on the MEDC’s Revitalization & Placemaking grant application that the city is submitting with Public Sector Consultants. Everything is due June 3rd, and grant awardees should
probably be notified yet this summer. We made it into the top 5 with Elissa Slotkin's grant, but we unfortunately did not move on to the next phase for federal funding. P. Spitzley shared that she will note this for Council. The new One Click Politics tool is on the home page of DLI. Please hop on to support
when you can to ask our State leaders to move swiftly with DLI’s $5 million funding
request.
DLI received a 20K vibrancy grant a few months ago to kick off the Reutter Park work and activation, but we need additional funds for this project as well as the previously
mentioned 750K in downtown infrastructure money.
d. Budget Update (C. Edgerly) C. Edgerly went before Council to present our budget numbers and talk about funding needs, as well as funding that has come in to provide small business support. Discussion also took place regarding how we need more residents
downtown, and how we can recruit more people here. The final Council vote on the
budget is Monday. IX. Other New Business: The Board entered into closed session to discuss a staff financial
review at 12:15 p.m. Closed session adjourned at 12:50 p.m. with the Board approving a
stipend for Director Edgerly to support the additional work load and leadership she is providing outside of the regular scope of work.
X. Adjourn: J. V. Anderton moved to adjourn the DLI Board meeting at 12:55 p.m. S. Schriner
supported. MOTION PASSED. Meeting adjourned at 12:55 p.m.