HomeMy WebLinkAboutS. MLK CIA Meeting Minutes 08.15.24
South Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
August 15, 2024 @ 1pm
UA Local 333 Plumbers and Pipefitters
5405 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Lansing, MI 48911
Members Present: Amanda Defrees, Kristina Schmidgall, Don
“Moose” Sober
Members Absent: Teresa Stokes, Dustin Howard
Facilitator Present: Alex Watkins (Lansing EDC)
Guests Present:
Public: Ken Hall, Ali Bennett, Leo Brown, Paul Anderson
Recorded by: Alex Watkins (Lansing EDC)
Call to Order/ Roll Call Vice-President Defrees welcomed everyone and called the S. Martin Luther King
Jr. CIA meeting to order 1:05 pm.
Approval of Meeting Minutes - Action
MOTION: Schmidgall moved to approve the July S. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. CIA
minutes, motion seconded by Amanda
YEAS: unanimous
Update on CATA Bus Shelter Mural RFP
The South MLK board decided that it would like to speak to the Lansing School
District and the Southside Boys and Girls Club about having a competition for art
students to decorate and design the bus shelters on MLK. The plan is to be able
to offer compensation to the students who win the art competition. The board
plans to bring this project to the thriving communities grantor to see if the funding
can go towards students being awarded for their artwork.
Update on Street Sign Toppers
Washington reviewed the proposal for the street sign toppers and the final draft
of what Martin Luther King's image will look like on the signs. Washington shared
with the board that the City’s Public Service Department plans to contract out
the MLK Jr image for the signs. That will add an additional of $275 for the project.
This cost has already within the budget amount and so the board agreed.
Update on Corridor Projects
Discussions were held and recommendations were made to have quarterly
community events that promote the corridor and also give information and
surveys to better understand the needs of the corridor. The board also discussed
making flyers for different promotional events to highlight what the CIA is doing.
The board also discusses doing social media blasts and posts to highlight the
corridors projects. The board reviewed the allocated amounts set aside for
projects using ARPA funding.
Update on Thriving Communities Grant
Watkins updated the board that IOB will no longer be working with The US
Department of Transportation on the grant matching program. The grant
matching program will be administered by ACEEE and RMI. This was something
that was new and unexpected so the guidelines for projects have not been
publicized nor has the changes to the program until ACEEE creates the
infrastructure for accepting grant applications and dispersing of funds. Both
Watkins and AC people have reached out to southwest Action Group and
community development group to inform them of the changes on their projects.
Projects Discussion
N/A
Moose Sober spoke about issue at the UPS and parking. UPS is looking to m
Other Business
Sober talked about an issue with parking and crime at the local UPS store on
South MLK. Sober spoke about the traffic issue with parking and the
inconvenient set up of the building. He also spoke about the robberies that have
taken place in that area and looking at creating some type of barrier so that
way thieves could not run off into the neighborhood. Looking to get more
information about this and how we can assist at next month's meeting.
Public Comment
Sober introduced his guest who said hello and thanked us for letting him be
attendance.
Adjournment
Schmidgall motion to adjourn, seconded by Amanda at 2:27pm
X_________________________
Amanda Defrees
Chairperson, South Marting Luther King Jr. Blvd. Corridor Improvement Authority