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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 PSD Meeting MinutesBOARD MEETING MINUTES January 8, 2008 Conference Room 401 S. Washington Sq. Lansing, MI 48933 ca BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Doug Johns, Jr., Terry Carella, Stacy Wallace t ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: None. BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Bob Trezise, Jr., Kris Elliot OTHERS PRESENT: Tim Kaltenbach, Kevin Green, Barbara Hicks, Andrea Ragan, CALL TO ORDER: Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT: . None. APPROVAL OF AGENDA & MINUTES: Motion to approve minutes from December 11, 2007, moved by V. Villegas, seconded by Terry Carella. Motion passed unanimously. DISCUSSION/ACTION: Introductions: Each member of the board introduced themselves and/or reiterated their position and investment in the Principal Shopping District for the benefit of new board members. D. Johns gave a nomination report of newly elected board officers on behalf of the nomination committee, that included naming Vince Villegas as Board Chair, Richard Karp as Vice Chair, Terry Carella as Secretary, and Bob Trezise to continue as Treasurer. Motion was made to accept board elected officers by F. Bhatti; seconded by S. Wallace. Motion passed. PSD project updates included arranging a meeting to begin planning for the 2008 Blues on the Square concert series and continued planning for newly proposed PSD events such as Chalk Walk and Bikefest. D. Johns inquired about PSD involvement in the Capital City River Run. K. Green responded to inform the board that PSD stays updated and reported on planning for the event prior to, and volunteers the day of the event. K. Green then notified the board of an article produced in the Lansing City Pulse regarding PSD Merchants' dissatisfaction with the efforts of the PSD office and staff. He then explained that the PSD intended to host two separate meetings with PSD retailers and restaurateurs to address their needs and requests of the PSD office. Dates had already been chosen for the meetings and the merchants had been invited by direct mail. Items suggested to be addressed at these meetings included regularly pose& questions and complaints regarding maintenance and an outline of the Michigan Main Street Model. B. Trezise volunteered to administer the meetings due to his experience in the development of the Michigan Main Street Model. K. Green then explained to the board an overview of the proposed amendment to the City's liquor license ordinance. S. Wallace inquired to what the fee associated with the proposed amendment was regarding. K. Green explained briefly that it involved a fee for the bar owners to pay to the City Clerk's office, to which D. Johns added the fee could be nearly $200 for certain establishments. D. Johns volunteered to research the proposed amendment as thoroughly as possible and communicate such details to the Board before taking a position on the amendment. K. Green informed the board that T. Kaltenbach chairs the General Service Committee, and once the amendment passed there it would move back to City Council for a vote, leaving the PSD a couple weeks to decide a position. S. Wallace inquired about whether insurance is provided for PSD board members. B. Hicks volunteered to contact the PSD insurance company regarding coverage for board officers. T. Carella inquired about why the PSD is responsible for snow removal in the district. K. Green explained that is was a stipulation to the PSD being created in Lansing, but that other PSDs do not normally provide maintenance. D. Johns also explained that maintenance is sometimes the only PSD service that benefits property owners. T. Carella concluded that based on her experience in marketing and communications, in comparison to snow removal and snow contingency, the PSD has some specific budgetary needs for marketing, also. S. Wallace then inquired about the purpose and/or use of the budget line item for snow contingency. K. Green responded that it exists to cover any potential exceptional costs of snow removal. S. Wallace continued by questioning how time is allotted to remove snow in all necessary areas, and K. Green replied with an explanation of priority areas where snow is removed first within the 30 square blocks that make up the A district of the PSD. D. Johns noted that it would be beneficial to communicate to PSD merchants that the PSD office is only responsible for "basic" snow removal services, and to coordinate services with the merchants to help throw salt down and shovel at their storefronts. V. Villegas recommended that the board and staff create break-out committees to assist the PSD in different responsibility areas. The results of this discussion included a Marketing Committee consisting of T. Carella, K. Elliott, J. Schriner- Hooper, F. Bhatti; a Personnel Committee consisting of D. Johns, S. Wallace, V. Villegas; a Michigan Walk of Fame Committee consisting of T. Carella, B. Trezise; and an Organizational Committee consisting of R. Karp, D. Johns, B. Trezise, V. Villegas, and F. Bhatti. S. Wallace requested that a brief description of each committee's role be emailed out by PSD staff prior to the February board meeting. A discussion ensued regarding a review of the regular board meeting time. The board then concluded to change the official PSD board meeting time to noon on the second Tuesday of each month with the intent of keeping each meeting within an hour. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: The report was submitted to Board members in written form. K. Green noted that plaques will be installed for the 2007 Michigan Walk of Fame inductees and the judges for 2008 nominees are currently being recruited. MARKETING REPORT. The report was submitted in written form. D. Johns inquired about the progress of the new PSD website, and A. Ragan responded that it was still in development. V. Villegas asked if advertising rates for the new website homepage had been considered yet. A. Ragan replied that it would be most beneficial to launch the new site and gain some exposure and interest for potential PSD advertisers. OTCA REPORT: K. Green announced that Old Town would be hosting public and press tours to reveal the completion of all ten Ikea makeovers in Old Town businesses, including the OTCA office, on Saturday, January 19. ADJOURN: 6:15 p.m. S. Wallace moved to adjourn, seconded by T. Carella. Submitted: v Carella, PSD BOARD MEETING MINUTES February 12, 2008 PSD/EDC Conference Room 401 S. Washington St. Lansing, MI 48933 12:00 pin (Noon) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Terry Carella, Bob Trezise, Kris Elliott, Stacy Wallace, Doug Johns, Farhan Bhatti, ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilman Tim Kaltenbach, Phil Clacko, Fifth Third Bank OTHERS PRESENT: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Kevin Green; Barbara Hicks; Andrea Ragan r- CALL TO ORDER: Chairman, V. Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT: None. FINANCIAL REPORTS: B. Hicks reported that two previously approved finance reports had to be slightly adjusted to match the City Assessor's reports and that the most recent report matched the City's records to date. R Karp made a motion to approve all financial reports to date. B. Trezise seconded. Motion passed. DISCUS SIGN/ACTION: c_? Snow Removal/Weather — K. Green informed the board an agreement has been entered into with the City's Public Service Department regarding snow removal on the Kalamazoo Street and Shiawassee Street bridges. Total Lawn Care, the PSD maintenance provider, will be solely responsible for Shiawassee and Public Service will be solely responsible for Kalamazoo. Previously the PSD and Public Service were responsible for maintaining one side of each bridge. K. Green also addressed how snow accumulation this winter has caused a variety of issues, one of which is the use of snow plows (trucks) on the sidewalks in downtown. Although Total Lawn Care had been instructed to keep trucks off the sidewalks, they have been seen using them on occasion in an effort to move snow faster. Kevin Johnson, the director of Total Lawn Care, has been notified that under no circumstances are trucks allowed on the sidewalks. On a related matter, K. Green and K. Johnson met with the owner of 117 and 119 E. Kalamazoo Street to discuss the amount of de-icing material on the structures and windows. K. Johnson will have the windows professionally cleaned in the spring and -"ill, because of vaults located beneath the sidewalk, not to allow any snow removal machinery on the sidewalk at those addresses. c _. °w��i Committee Review: K. Green submitted a document to board members that outlined the proposed PSD committee structure, goals and objectives. B. Trezise moved to approve the proposed committee structure, noting that the structure should include work -plans for committee members, and incorporate a PSD volunteer base. R. Karp seconded the motion. Motion passed. A discussion ensued on the best way to engage and maintain a consistent pool of volunteers to work with the PSD, the result being that any board member with volunteer recommendations is to email them to A. Ragan, Additional Information: B. Hicks reported the cost estimates from two insurance companies regarding PSD board insurance, not yet having heard a third estimate from Mourer Foster. R. Karp made a motion to accept the Mourer Foster bid if it was within five percent of the other two bids, being that Mourer Foster is practically located in the PSD. S. Wallace seconded. Motion passed. K. Green announced the Cornerstone Coffee and Chroma have both closed for business, however neither are due to issues directly related to downtown. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: The director's report was submitted in writing with no comment from the board. MARKETING REPORT: The marketing report was submitted in writing with no comment from the board. OTCA REPORT J. Schriner-Hooper reported on the conclusion of the Ikea Re -design contest and the positive response from all the involved businesses, as well as the media and the public. J. Schriner-Hooper also made announcements including: a new monthly event "Schmooze on Tues." to take place evenings of the second Tuesday of each month to promote the night life in Old Town; the OTCA annual meeting on February 20, 2008 from 5:30-7:00p.m.; lastly, the launching of a market analysis for the district as part of their Michigan Main Street program. CITY COUNCIL REPORT: None. ADJOURN: Chairman, V. Villegas adjourned the meeting at 1:35 p.m. Resl Terr PSD BOARD MEETING MINUTES CE 11�/ED „,r) - - jf'' lj u u DEC � � 1 �'I BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: March 11, 2008 PSD/EDC Conference Room 401 S. Washington St. Lansing, MI 48933 12:00 pm (Noon) Terry Carella, Bob Trezise, Kris Elliott, Stacy Wallace, Doug Johns, Farhan Bhatti BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilman Tim Kaltenbach, Phil Clacko, Fifth Third Bank OTHERS PRESENT: Josh Hovey of Mayor Bernero's Office, Kevin Green, Andrea Ragan, Barbara Hicks CALL TO ORDER: Acting Chairman B. Trezise called the meeting to order at 12:05 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT: Josh Hovey informed the board he will be leaving Mayor Bernero's office. He will be joining The Rossman Group. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES: Motion made by D. Johns to approve the February 2008 Minutes and the March 2008 Agenda, Second by F. Bhatti. Motion approved, all voting aye. FINANCIAL REPORTS: No financial report was presented. DISCUSSION/ACTION: Snow Removal/Weather - K. Green pointed out the hard winter we experienced this year had caused problems with snow removal. The PSD and Total Lawn care worked with Public Service to effectively remove snow from the sidewalks and parking spaces which were particularly difficult due to overnight parking. Restaurant/Retail Meeting - Good plan -Retail merchant package, key stakeholders, Q & A sheets, providing to property owners for tenants, construction "Z" card with list of businesses, events, etc. this information was presented by M3 Marketing group to a focused group of businesses. T. Kaltenbach questioned focusing on Barb's Hallmark, Mike Bruce - Insty Prints, D. Johns and Mark of Brannigan Brothers. Kevin and Andrea explained that they were a select group that represented our entire retail/restaurant roster. Other business owners had been invited to attend, but could not make the meeting. D. Johns questioned how the CSO project was affecting businesses this year. K. Elliott stated, per Chad Gamble, one lane would be open on Grand Avenue to allow for traffic. K. Green added that two billboards on I496 advertise "Downtown Lansing is Open" and are part of the CSO promotions package. A. Ragan stated that merchant communication is good. B. Trezise stated that even though we now have a CSO marketing plan, it's going to be a tough construction season for downtown. K. Green distributed a handout comparing our PSD to the others in Michigan. It included: assessment rates, geographic area, annual review, etc. He noted the PSD is the only one in the state that has an annual review. All others have five year reviews. All have active retail and office environments, but Lansing has the largest share of office space (percentage of downtown space). Lansing also has a significant amount of state owned properties within the PSD that are not assessed. DJJ questioned collection of assessment procedure and amount of taxes not collected. K. Green and B. Hicks explained the procedure as part of the annual summer tax process and that almost 100% of the assessments are collected per the city's tax office. K. Elliott questioned raising assessments after CSO on Washington Sq. Per the Board's February meeting request, B. Hicks and K. Green investigated a PSD mission statement. It was discovered that while a mission statement had been written, it was never activated. B. Trezise — asked what are our priorities — reflecting what we are in relation to the mission statement. This was followed by a discussion of the mission statement. It should reflect what we actually do. T. Carella reiterated that the mission statement should reflect what we do. Adding the mission is clear, it does not include snow removal. P. Clacks stated that in addition to a mission statement we need a vision statement identifying where we want to go. S. Wallace — Structure doesn't really help without more dollars K. Elliott questioned is there any way to improve the budget? B. Trezise — no. D. Johns — What's rest of budget, can we allocate more to marketing? K. Green - In relation to the PSD budget there are more expenses not listed in the information that we are reviewing (salaries, etc.) K. Elliott — Other downtowns have national retailers — they pay more for space and generate more PSD dollars (Birmingham). This is not functional in Lansing. K. Elliott and B. Trezise — The drafted mission statement from several years ago is outdated and ambiguous — downtown has changed in 10 years. We need to draft a mission statement. P. Clacko his committee is to meet within two weeks, but the date and time have not been set. K. Elliot wants to be involved. Possible draft at the April Board meeting. K. Elliott questioned other committee membership. B. Hicks will e-mail list to each board member. The conversation then turned to Lansing's Main Street application. K. Green stated that we were applying. Bob T. questioned our involvement in the National Main Street conference in Philadelphia, which Andrea will be attending. Director's Report — K. Elliott asked about the clean sweep event. Kevin explained that we are switching to an adopt -a -block approach that will kick off in a few weeks. The Board discussed a new pedicab company that might open in downtown Lansing. The company would concentrate on special events, Lugnut game nights, etc. Councilmember Kaltenbach questioned whether an ordinance change would be necessary for them to operate? K. Green will follow up. K. Green outlined our march 15'h St. Patrick's Day event and marketing program. In relation to this, Councilmember Kaltenbach reported that the downtown parry store's liquor license transfer was denied. The parry store can still renew their license though. Councilmember Kaltenbach asked where the Famous Taco liquor license process stood? B. Trezise explained that it was a pilot program and that Brian Anderson of the EDC office was handling the process through city hall and is on top of it procedurally. A. Ragan outlined that we have just begun to discuss the 2008 Blues on the Square concert series with Citadel Communications. Dates have not been set, but we requested a later start time, end time and opening act. B. Trezise asked about the Michigan Walk of Fame. Kevin explaioned that the judging was in progress. 1:20 p.m. Motion to AdjouM: Moved -T. Carella, Second -K. Elliott Rely Submitted, T rry Carel , S cretary PSD BOARD MEETING MINUTES April 8, 2008 PSD/EDC Conference Room 401 S. Washington St. Lansing, MI 48933 12:00 pm (Noon) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Terry Carella, Bob Trezise, Stacy Wallace, Vince Villegas BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Farhan Bhatti, Richard Karp, Kris Elliott, Doug Johns ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilman Tim Kaltenbach; Phil Clacko, Fifth Third Bank OTHERS PRESENT: Kevin Green, Andrea Ragan, Barbara Hicks CALL TO ORDER: 12:10 p.m. A Quorum was not present. Board members discussed the following: Annabelle & Associates — Downtown Doggy Day Care: The owners, local women, are investing one million dollars coupled with city incentives to rehabilitate a drab piece of property located near the Michigan Manufacturers Association. Other major cities have very successful doggy day cares. Annabelle & Associates have been thorough in their planning and will provide another dimension to life in downtown. V. Villegas questioned if there have been any negative feelings expressed. Apparently the Michigan Manufacturers Association wanted the property, but Annabelle & Associates have worked at forming a relationship with them and addressing their concerns. The EDC is credited for its role in helping to make this project happen. The public hearing for the establishment is scheduled for April 215t. K. Green requested Board support for Downtown Doggy Day Care. All members present gave their vote of approval. Members absent will be contacted with the same request.. Board members are invited to attend city council and speak in favor of the project. Sign Ordinance: K. Green, Kris Elliott, Brian Liejewski, Camron Gnass and Sue S., of Planning and Development met - Councilwoman Wood question complaints. A hearing before the committee is set for April 16th, The Design Committee and the EDC (Lansing) are taking the lead. The Board discussed painted signs, neon signs, billboards, murals, etc. It was felt that signs and murals that are done with taste lend a welcoming atmosphere to an area. Some signs in question are those used for specific advertisement campaigns such as Pepsi or Coke. The question of whether permits are required for murals was asked. Green will research. There is a possibility the new sign ordinance might not affect hanging murals because they are considered temporary. The Lansing Art Gallery was considering placing a mural on the back of its building for the purpose of making the building identifiable and representing the fact that it is an art gallery. A concern was raised with regard to potential problems with prolonged covering of historic buildings and a perception is that a mural is covering up something negative. 2009 PSD Budget and Hearing: K. Green presented Fiscal Year July 1, 2008 —June 30, 2009 budget information He outlined the Fund Balance Increase(Decrease) portion noting the PSD carried a 10,000 dollar fund balance from year to year. Portions above that amount are requested to be incorporated into the PSD budget. The Board must pass the PSD budgets prior to City Council's budget hearing in May. Assessment Structure: P. Clacko informed the Board his committee is at the same point it was last month due in part to K. Greens illness. Michigan Main Street Program: V. Villegas said he had been asked to explain the benefit of becoming a Main Street. K. Green explained there are incredible benefits. Being able to tie into the programs framework and taking advantage of it as a research tool are just some of the positives. A. Ragan outlined her attendance at the recent Main Street Conference and the available resources through Main Street programs including consultation in the four main areas that the Main Street program prioritizes, volunteer and community involvement, and strategic development plans for the designated Main Street District. She also pointed out that it seems like the right time for downtown Lansing to become a Main Street program based on growing numbers of downtown residents, active and vocal merchants, and the increased attention on downtown development and activities. K. Green outlined the area to be considered as Main Street, Ottawa St. to Lenawee St. and Grand Avenue to the middle of the alley just west of Washington Sq. This area would be a beginning and an area that is reasonable in size for the program. Blues on the Square: A. Ragan said the dates have been finalized for Blues. They will be held on Thursday evenings starting mid June and going until the beginning of August. The difference this year is they will begin at 7:00 pm and go until 10:00 p.m. with local bands opening on the street level while the stage is getting ready for the headline performers. The acts have not been finalized yet and the committee is working on identifying local street vendors and mapping the area, as well as various other operational items. Michigan Walk of Fame: K. Green explained the Walk of Fame is in progress. There are approximately 65 people in defined categories. Each year 12 people are selected by judges from throughout the state to be inducted into the WOF. V. Villegas asked if there would be a special event this year honoring the new inductees. K. Green stated it would take money in some cases to bring people in to accept the award. Fundraising for that purpose might be the answer_ Participation of an individual or family member is sometimes hard to secure. It was offered that having an agreement to participate prior to being inducted would make it easier to assure their buy -in. In turn, then those people could possibly be used for future fundraising. Board members discussed involving a professional fundraising company to help create a special event. The attendance of one big name at the event would be beneficial. K. Green informed members there are lots of issues associated, mainly most of the inductees are not household names. V. Villegas requested a plan of action for the next Board meeting. B. Trezise questioned if there was an event this year when the new plaques were installed. He was told there was no event. The plaques were to have originally been placed in September, however the sidewalks were being replaced and rather than put the plaques in and take them out and replace them again, they were put in place when the sidewalk was installed. That process took longer than planned. However, all of the plaques are in place. The Board discussed the possibility of placing a sign at the corner of Michigan Ave. and Washington Sq. that would highlight the Michigan Walk of Fame. No brochures are available; however, the maps in the kiosks provide directions to plaque locations. School tours have taken place and Green has provided personal tours himself. Permits: V. Villegas asked about Business Extension Permits. H wanted to know how many exist for tables and chairs. K. Green and B. Hicks said there are in excess of 18. Villegas had been asked about charging for the permit. B. Hicks informed the Board the Business Extension Permit is one of few that is free other than the amount the business is charged by its insurance company to provide the required additional insurance to include the city of Lansing and the PSD. The PSD will research the bylaws to see how fees are governed. A yearly $150.00 charge per permit maybe a possibility. Directors Report: Most items listed on the Director's Report had previously been discussed during the meeting. K. Green did state a Pedicab company wants to come to Lansing. It could be a vehicle to provide rides to people parking in lots and going to the ball field, at special events and in many other circumstances. Permitting is being researched. Marketing Report: A. Ragan offered to compile information she received at the Main Street Conference and present it to the Board. She outlined `Be A Tourist in Your Own Town" activities that will be taking place in downtown on May 31, including and extension of Be a Tourist that is called "Alive after Five" and will include many downtown businesses - "Construction University" which is a community education activity regarding the CSO project in conjunction with the Mayor's Go Green! Go Lansing! initiative, and a Michigan Walk of Fame self -guided walking tour activity and scavenger hunt. Financial Report: B. Hicks explained January's financial report was incomplete because the personnel charges have not been posted by the Finance Office. Other: P. Clacko shared the PSD is one of the recipients of a $500 grant from Fifth Third Bank. Presentation will be made on May 3rd, at a location yet to be determined. Annual Meeting: K. Green stated he has nothing to report on at this time. Respectfully S Terry PSD BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 16, 2008 PSD/EDC Conference Room 401 S. Washington St. Lansing, MI 48933 12:00 pm (Noon) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Bob Trezise, Terry Carella, Stacy Wallace, Doug Johns Jr., Farhan Bhatti BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Kris Elliott ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Phil Clacko OTHERS PRESENT: Fifth Third Bank, Marchelle Smith, EDC, Andrea Ragan, Barb Hicks CALL TO ORDER: Chairman V. Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:10 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES: Motion made by D. Johns to approve the April 8, 2008 Minutes and the May 16, 2008 Agenda, Second by F. Bhatti. Motion passed, all voting aye. FINANCIAL REPORTS: Budget: A copy of the PSD 2007/2008 Annual Budget Projections was provided to each board member as part of their board packet. Serious issues last year resulted in a $25,000.00 budget deficit on June 30th, the end of the fiscal year. The fund balance had to be transferred to cover that deficit. Although there was nothing wrong with transferring those funds, the present goal is to understand the budget and make sure that same situation does not occur in this fiscal year. We have the actual figures to date for this year's PSD budget. There $62,000 left to cover expenses, including the $21,000 that was transferred from the fund balance. $31,000 of that pays for staff salaries and benefits and $31,000 is designated to pay the maintenance contract. When those two items are added together it is evident we are on a spending freeze. B. Trezise then explained each line item in the 2007/2008 budget. Motion to adopt the 2008/2009 Assessment Resolution. Moved T. Carella, Second F. Bhatti. Motion passed, all present voting aye. Discussion followed regarding the 2008/2009 Assessment Resolution. Although the total assessment in the resolution is $444,022.57 it does not reflect the 40% reduction allowed to 501 (c) (3) organizations. For PSD budget purpose the assessment total presented in the budget projections reflects the reduction, making the expected assessment amount $408,206.00. S. Wallace questioned the maintenance portion of the budget. B. Trezise explained the total amount that can be afforded for maintenance for the 08/09 fiscal year is $169,329 and that maintenance has be divided into two categories. The general maintenance will be capped $109,329.00 and $60,000 will be set aside for snow removal. Keeping the sidewalks free from ice and snow is of utmost importance, so that money that is set aside is explicitly to achieve that purpose. The present maintenance contract will expire on May 31, 2008. The maintenance contractor will be contacted to determine what services will be provided at the reduced budget. D. Johns moved to extend the maintenance contract at the reduced rate for 6 months. R. Karp seconded. Motion passed all voting aye. D. Johns questioned if Blues On The Square warranted its own line item. B. Trezise responded in explanation that a conversation needs to take place with Citadel Broadcasting regarding the details of the partnership with the PSD. Blues is a WMMQ event, generating revenue for their stations and although it's a wonderful event for downtown, the PSD's expected financial exceeds $12,000 annually. Now that downtown has given the momentum to the event, it's time to evaluate both the PSD's and Citidel's role in organizing it. Board members went on to discuss possibly partnering with Citidel to generate revenue for the PSD and possibly opening additional blocks to allow for attendance and vendors. Silver Bells is another event that PSD supports in the amount of $5,000. B. Trezise instigated a discussion about the PDS's role in creating this event, PSD should not only write a check, but should be doing Silver Bells. The goal of the future director of the PSD will be to implement and handle major events, as well as possess vast experience working with downtowns. Next year Old Town will be moving to become a Business Improvement District. Their proposed geographical area will be larger than what currently makes up the "B" district of the PSD, extending their boundaries to Oakland Ave. There will be a financial impact on the PSD through the loss of assessments from the `B" and some of the "C" district. The PSD will be required to generate alternative income. It was noted that new events can become revenue sources, but do not necessarily become sustainable immediately, Also, in the future no substantial financial contracts will be entered into without board approval. Motion to adopt the PSD 2008/2009 budget was made by D. Johns. The motion was second by R. Karp. Motion passed, all board members present voting aye. Program Reports: PSD Restructuring: B. Trezise informed the board the PSD office is being transferred to the city web server, giving it the benefit of free IT service and maintenance. Other issues discussed were the need to change the name of the PSD. P. Clacko was asked about the mission statement. An adequate draft is not complete at this time. B. Trezise informed the board the downtown merchants association has agreed to stop further action on becoming a 501 (c)(3)(6) due to the Main Street direction the PSD is taking. Michigan Main Street Program: A. Ragan gave an overview of the initial steps that have been taken to implement the Main Street model into the PSD's proposed Main Street district. She also provided a timeline that the PSD can expect a response from the Michigan State Housing Development authority (MSHDA) on whether the PSD has been accepted as a Michigan Main Street Program -near the end of June or beginning of July. B. Trezise added that the PSD will be implementing the Main Street model immediately, prior to the MSHDA acceptance announcement. A. Ragan then stated that approximately 30 merchants had already signed up for Main Street committees and that the process was well under way. B. Trezise suggested every board member should be on a committee. He also noted that a major facet of the Main Street model is that the merchant involvement provides a sense of ownership over the commercial district, which would build a more positive relationship between downtown merchants and the PSD. P. Clacko questioned if any thought had been given to expanding the PSD Board. B. Trezise answered year and S. Wallace was asked to look over the state statute regarding PSD board requirements. Board members felt that adding three of four merchants to the board would be beneficial. P. Clacko then questioned weather the duties of officers would be modified at all as a direct link to their role in the downtown community. B. Trezise stated that the topic warranted more discussion once the clarification of the legal options was solidified. Michigan Walk Of Fame: Marchelle Smith and Andrea Ragan will be working on debriefing Kevin Green on the details and operations of this program. Once the situation is evaluated, the direction of the MWOF program will be decided by the PSD board and staff. Spring Planting: B. Hicks informed the committee that plans for spring planting is underway. A walk through the district had occurred to determine what is needed to embellish the plants that are already in place and to establish a plan to bring color to downtown. She also reported that Nuunion and other downtown businesses and offices are interested in helping to plant flowers again this year. A Beautification Committee is in the early stages of being formed. Closed Session: Richard Karp moved to open the meeting and Doug Johns moved to close the meeting. Adjourn: Chairman V Villegas adjourned the meeting at 1:20 pm. Respectfully Submitted, T.Case I Secretary BOARD MEETING MINUTES 1. i.. `:+ J �.,. `- .✓ � i I l June 11, 2008 PSD/EDC Conference Room 401 S. Washington St. Lansing, Mi 48933 12:00 pm (Noon) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Bob Trezise, Terry Carella, Kris Elliott, Doug Johns Jr., BOARD MEMBERS EXCUSED: Stacy Wllace, Farhan Bhatti ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Phil Clacko, Councilman Tim Kaltenbach, OTHERS PRESENT: Andrea Ragan, Barb Hicks CALL TO ORDER: Chairman V. Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:10 pm. PUBLIC COMMENT: None APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES: Motion made by D. Johns to approve the May 16, 2008 Minutes and the June 11, 2008 Agenda, Second by R. Karp. Motion passed, all voting aye. FINANCIAL REPORTS: B. Trezise and B Hicks presented the May financial report, a copy of which was included in board packets. Hicks outlined the May income noting that some businesses still owed their portion of the St. Patrick Day Light Show expenses. Overdue notices will be sent. PSD May persomiel, fringe expense reported by the city is not accurate. The amount reported is much lower than the average monthly charge. The finance office has been notified and is working to correct the error. REPORTS: PSD Restructuring: B. Trezise reported that resumes had been received regarding the Director's position with the PSD and he is pursuing five candidates with interviews scheduled for Jlme 24th. The finalists will be screened by Trezise and Villegas. Prior to making a final decision a panel interview will take place. A selection will be made by August 5th and the new Director should start by the second week of August. P. Clacko discussed the importance of identifying how the Economic Restructuring and Organizational Committees fit together and defining the expectation of each committee. He feels the priority of the Organization Conunittee is to create a new name and mission statement. B. Trezise reported that the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) and Brian Anderson of the EDC office have been in discussions regarding the geographic area the OTCA is considering for their Business Improvement Zone (BIZ). Because it will take months to complete the plan and review the financial implications there may be no changes to the PSD in 2008-2009 fiscal year. V. Villegas questioned the PSD operating as part of the EDC thereby combining responsibilities and allowing the PSD to become more active in marketing. B. Trezise expressed concern about the EDC taking on the financial management and oversight responsibilities of the PSD. B. Trezise stated the person chosen as director of the PSD must be dynamic. The new name and organizational structure should be ready when the new person is hired to allow a smooth transition. The board discussed the committee structure, the responsibilities for success and the fact that ultimately all committee answer to the board. Council member Kaltenbach questioned the status of the group of merchants forming their own 501 (c)(3). He was told the 10-15 merchants involved have put that action on hold. The merchants feel the new direction the PSD is taking is positive and are willing to work together. B. Trezise announced City Council will be taking up the PSD Assessment on Monday, June 16th at 7:00 p.m. in Chambers. Members are encouraged to lend support by attending the meeting. tD Blues on the Square: A. Ragan and Kelly Norton of Citadel, have been coordinating this year's performances and arrangements are going smoothly. The Capitol Area Blues Society will be the opening act for Blues on the Square performances. They have traded their musical performance with Citadel, for a vendor booth at each of the events. T. Carella noted that "Thursday" is not printed on the handouts. She stressed the importance of defining the day as well as the date and time. D. Johns questioned the PSD financial sponsorship for this year's Blues. Trezise responded this year commitment cannot change, however, next year we cannot incur the same costs. This year vendors contracting through the PSD are paying a discounted rate of $500.00 which is revenue for the PSD. Walk of Fame: A. Ragan and Marchelle Smith, EDC, and Kevin Green recently met with Carol Kahn a professional fundraiser to discuss a potential event for this fall. A proposal from Capitol Fundraising will be available in the next week or two. A. Ragan informed the board the number of inductees has been decreased from 12 to 6 people. The board briefly discussed the availability of inductees to attend. Villegas suggested an agreement of participation form should be signed by inductees prior to their induction to ensure involvement and participation. Beautification: B Hicks informed the board that she, Lansing Total Lawn Care, volunteers from NuUnion Credit Union and National City Bank had planted Petunias in beds on Washington Sq. The recruitment of Beautification Sub -committee is almost complete and will take its lead from the Design Committee. Website: Other: A. Ragan reported the website is not done at this time; but will be done by the next board meeting. Silver Bells and Walk of Fame are the next big events planned for downtown with possible Halloween events to be added. B. Trezise stated there should be several events this year. A. Ragan suggested there could be an Annual Meeting or a press conference this coming fiscal year, potentially hosted at Harem Night Club, as an "event" to introduce the new PSD Director and involve the downtown community. Adjourn 1:20 p.m. The next PSD Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 8, 2008 Respectfully Submitted, Terry Carella, Secretary Barbara Hicks - Minutes 7-8-08.doc Principal Shopping District . !- ' F ' J Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principle Shopping District Conference Room Tuesday July 8, 2008 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince Ville 'gas; Stacy Wallace; Terry Carella; Doug Johns, Jr.; Bob Trezise, Jr. Members Absent: Kris Elliott; Farhan Bhatti Staff Present: Andrea Ragan; Barbara Hicks Special Guests: Kevin Johnson, Owner of Lansing Total Lawn Care; Mike Husband, Maintenance Staff Public Present: None Call to Order Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Approval of Agenda & Minutes B. Trezise moved to approve the agenda and minutes; seconded by S. Wallace. Motion passed. Financial Report B. Trezise moved to accept the financial report presented by B. Hicks; S, Wallace seconded. Motion passed. Recommendation to hire Director Candidate B. Trezise moved to go into closed session; S. Wallace seconded. D. Johns moved to hire candidate Mindy Arnold as the PSD Executive Director; S. Wallace seconded. S. Wallace moved to release from closed session; T. Carella seconded. Reports o Michigan Walk of Fame: B. Trezise reported that to continue the program will cost nearly $100,000 annually and require approximately 30 hours of attention per week, which seems like too heavy of a burden for the PSD at this time. He also reported certain modifications will need to be made to the program as it develops. o Main Street co»zmittees: Board members from each committee reported on the development and participation by merchants and other community members. o ff,ebsite: A. Ragan reported the PSD's portion of the website development is complete at this time. o Blues on the Square: A. Ragan reported that the event is very successful and updated the Board on the PSD's list of responsibilities associated with the series. o Maintenance: Total Lawn Care conducted a brief presentation on projects they've completed for the PSD including plantings and beautification. B. Trezise then led a discussion on the PSD's commitment to maintenance, the large responsibility ....... .i Barbara-Hicks - Minutes 7-8-08.doc Principal Shopping District Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Room Tuesday August 12, 2008, 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince ViIlegas, Bob Trezise, Terry Carella, Dough Johns; Jr., Kris Elliott, Farh_an Bhatti (12:00 p.m.) Members Absent: Stacy R. Wallace, Richard Karp Board Advisors: Phil Clacko, Eric Rosekrans, Tim Kaltenbach Staff Present: Mindy Biladeau Barbara Hicks Public Present: Chad Gamble, Director Department of Public Service; I. CALL TO ORDER Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. - - II. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS -- None III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND NUNUTES D. Johns, Jr. moved to approve the agenda and minutes, seconded by T. Carella. Motion carried unanimously. IV. CORRESPONDENCE Janet Thompson M. Biladeau provided the board an e-mail received from Janet Thompson regarding a trash can on Allegan Street that needed to be emptied. The issue was resolved by the maintenance provider removing the trash can for a thorough cleaning and replacing it the next day. Silver Bells: A letter regarding Silver Bells and a tentative traffic advisory was hand delivered to business throughout downtown. The same information was mailed to property owners and residents in the PSD's "A" District. M. Biladeau was able to get a complete list of households within the PSD from the Lansing Board of Water and Light. A copy of the letter and advisory was provided to board members as part oftheir board packets. V. REPORTS Director's Report Introductions: M. Biladeau informed the board she has been introducing herself to the business owners on Washington Square and will soon meet and greet the businesses on Michigan Avenue. Her introductions have been well received. Market Place Project: M. Biladeau reported she addressed the August 18`h City Council meeting to lend the PSD's support for the proposed Market Place Project. City Council voted 8-0 in favor of the project. Marketing and Communication Manager: M_ Biladeau informed the board the deadline to make application for the Marketing and Communications Manager closed on September 2nd. Twenty- two applications were received. Interviewing of the selected candidates will take place during the week of September 8"' and the goal is to fill the position by the end of September. Main Street Update: The PSD has been selected as an Associate Level Community. Over the next two years the PSD will receive training in the basics of Main Street which includes training in organization and promotion, economic restructuring and design along with quarterly Michigan Main Street training. A Community Requirements and Expectations Agreement has been signed by the PSD Chairman, V_ Villegas. The agreement is for the PSD to participate in the Michigan Main Street Associate program starting July 2008 through June 2010. Mayor Bemero's signature is required and the completed agreement Will be forwarded to Laura Krizov at Michigan State Housing Development Authority. Staff and board members have completed required orientations necessary to move forward with Associate level training. Additional training to learn more about the functions of Main Street committees will take place on October 29`t' and November 19t". Both trainings will take place at the Michigan Municipal League Lansing Office. Tentative times for both sessions are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m_ Board members and committee members are encouraged to attend. Committee Updates: Organization — Will be working on making by-law amendments for presentation to the Board in October/November, Promotions — Will be planning a Halloween Event, a downtown ad in the GLCVB Guide, discussing Silver Bells in the City and ways to involve downtown businesses, possible holiday events and promotions. Economic Restructuring — The committee has met twice. M. Biladeau's first attendance will be at the next meeting that will take place on September 18th. Design — M. Biladeau's first attendance will be at the next meeting on September 25. Board Terms and Board Expansion — The mayor is aware three board members terms expired in June 2008. He will be re -appointing or appointing new members in the near future. The Board had discussed expanding its membership at a previous meeting. An ordinance amendment and amendment to the PSD by-laws will be necessary to increase Board membership. Presently the ordinance and by-laws require an eight member board. PSD Website Project — A meeting will take place with Vision Creative to discuss the history of the project, its status, what is needed to complete the project. M. Biladeau suggests incorporating the PSD's new name, logo, mission and vision statements to make a powerful statement to stakeholders and the community that is launched publicly at the same time. Cooley Community Fair — About 300 students visited the PSD booth at the August 27th event. Most students expressed an interest in living in downtown, but some noted most lofts, condos or apartments close to school were either rented or sold. The CSO Discount cards were a hit. Greater Lansing Visitors Guide Ad — The PSD usually takes a two page advertisement in the GLVG. The cost is off -set by participation from businesses in the PSD. The Promotions Corrinittee iM11 be discussing the advertisement at its SG1Jte111Uer J� uneetiul-. Business Over Beverages — The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for September 24". Location is yet to be determined. Silver Bells in the City — Silver Bells will take place on November 21" from 5-9:00 p.m. The Promotions Committee will discuss ways to get the businesses more involved; such as a window display contest the night of Silver Bells with the public voting for their favorite. Sesquicentennial Celebration - The Lansing Rotary in partnership with the City of Lansing has created a Sesquicentennial Committee to prepare for the City's 150th birthday in 2009. Events will be planned to take place throughout the year. The Board will be kept informed of ways the PSD can engage the downtown businesses and what affect they will have on the downtown area. Martha Kliebert is the Executive Director of Lansing 150. Save the Date — A Ribbon Cutting is planned for CHILL, 603 E. Michigan Avenue on Thursday, October 9th at 11:00 a.m. P. Clacko informed the Board that the Organization Committee has talked about forming a Welcoming Group to visit new businesses. Financial Report: B. Hicks explained PSD's fiscal year 2007/2008 final report has not been received from the City of Lansing Finance Office. The report should be ready to present to the board at its next meeting. Also, the expected Special Assessment amount reported by the city for fiscal year 20008/2009 is higher than calculated by the PSD. A meeting will be requested with the Finance Office to resolve the difference. No July or August financial reports were presented to the board for consideration VI. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS V. Villegas helped the board identify three major issues to be worked on this year: 1. Promotions/communications (events), 2. Maintenance 3. Budget and reallocation of dollars Mission Statement - The Board was provided, as part of its board packet, a copy of a draft Mission Statement developed by the Organization Committee. Following a brief discussion, K. Elliott requested a copy of the information be e-mailed to members to allow each member time to make changes and recommendations. Re -naming of Organization and Logo Development - The Organization Committee submitted a list of possible new names for the PSD. None of the names were adopted. K. Elliott suggested seeking professional assistance to determine a new name. Five names should be submitted to the Board at its next meeting for consideration. No further action was taken. Main Street Area Boundaries (MSA) - The Board was provided a map outlining the proposed Main Street area. A copy of the map is attached as part of the September 9, 2008 minutes. Defining the exact area is important because it is where the Main Street program will focus its efforts. This item was tabled and will be discussed at the October board meeting. Proposed Organi-7ational Structure — A proposed organizational chart was presented to the Board and is attached as part of the September 9, 2008 minutes. If approved the PSD by-laws will be amended to include the structure and descriptions presented by the Organization Committee. This item was tabled and will be discussed at the October board meeting. Roles and Responsibilities — A roles and responsibilities table for key players in the Main Street program was developed by the Organization Committee. A copy is made part of these minutes. If approved the present PSD by-laws will be amended to incorporate the recommendations. This item was tabled and will be discussed at the October board meeting. Combined. Sewer Overflow (CSO) Downtown Construction Presentation — Chad Gamble, Director, Public Service provided the Board an overview of CSU projects taking place in the downtown area now until 2010. C. Gamble state that the CSO projects are progressing well. With the progression of CSO projects, it is the perfect time for Washington Square to define itself. The Department of Public Service is going to apply for an enhancement grant through MDOT to assist in a new streetscape design. M. Biladeau and Marchelle Smith, Design Committee Chair and a LEDC staff member will be apart of Design meetings involving Washington Square. Great opportunities for retail and housing exist between Michigan Ave. and Shiawassee St. The public relations this year has greatly improved from last year. Businesses for Clean Water Promotional Campaign — The PSD is working with the CSO Public Relations Committee of the Public Service Department on a Businesses for Clean Water Campaign. The goal is to maximize visibility of business and minimize the impact of CSO construction on affected areas by generating positive media coverage and regional "buzz" about downtown businesses. At the present time 11 businesses are participating in a variety of ways to .put a positive spin on construction and show their appreciation for construction workers. The goal is to have at least 30 businesses onboard by September 22aa Blues on the Square re -cap of 08 and looking ahead to 09 Series — Blues was a great success this year and will be expanded is considering expanding to 10 performances in 2009. Halloween Event ladeau pitched the idea of having a simple Halloween event downtown on October 29 M. Biwith a rain date of October 30�'. Activities would include trick -or -treating, live from la au e place on ��Va entertainment, kid's games, and refreshments. The event will takshina rd Sthinks and Allegan Street. This idea has been discussed by the Promotions Committee also. The board this is a good idea and would like to more forward with planning the event. Merchant participation will be sought to help support the cost of the event. V11. OTHER The issue of roles and responsibilities, Main Street boundaries, Mission Statement and new PSD name will be discussed at the neat meeting. A longer meeting will be necessary. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m. 1 Lansing Principal Shopping District Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Xoom Tuesday August 12, 2008, 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Bob Trezise, Terry Carella, Dough Johns, Jr., Kris Elliott, Stacy R. Wallace, Farhan Bhatti Members Absent: None Board Advisors: Phil Clacko, Eric Rosekrans Staff Present: Andrea Ragan, Barbara Hicks, Mindy Biladeau Public Present: None Call to Order: Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Introduction of new PSD Director, Mindy Biladeau Board members, Advisors and Staff introduced themselves and welcomed Mindy Biladeau to the position as Executive Director of the PSD. Approval of Agenda & Minutes: F_ Bhatti moved to approve the agenda and minutes, seconded by D. Johns, Jr. Financial Report: V. Villegas offered the Financial Reports as reported by B. Hicks be accepted and placed on file. No objections, the reports will be placed on file. REPORTS Main Street Update Design Committee: Members of the Design Committee and others took a walking tour of downtown. The purpose of the tour was to observe building facades, identify maintenance issues, focus on the overall appearance of downtown and how to enhance the core district. Observations and suggestions will become part of the Design Cominittee's agenda. Organization Committee: Phil Clacko informed the Board the committee is meeting weekly. Ongoing topics of discussions are skill sets and ex -officio positions on the board. Future issues to be discussed will the Advisory Board structure and PSD staff job descriptions, by-laws, increasing the number of Board members by 2-4 people and the inclusion of merchants on the Board, new organization name, vision statement, mission statement and branding. t: CH1GP Virg Bemero, Mayor Lansing Principal Shopping District Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Xoom Tuesday August 12, 2008, 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince Villegas, Richard Karp, Bob Trezise, Terry Carella, Dough Johns, Jr., Kris Elliott, Stacy R. Wallace, Farhan Bhatti Members Absent: None Board Advisors: Phil Clacko, Eric Rosekrans Staff Present: Andrea Ragan, Barbara Hicks, Mindy Biladeau Public Present: None Call to Order: Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. Introduction of new PSD Director, Mindy Biladeau Board members, Advisors and Staff introduced themselves and welcomed Mindy Biladeau to the position as Executive Director of the PSD. Approval of Agenda & Minutes: F_ Bhatti moved to approve the agenda and minutes, seconded by D. Johns, Jr. Financial Report: V. Villegas offered the Financial Reports as reported by B. Hicks be accepted and placed on file. No objections, the reports will be placed on file. REPORTS Main Street Update Design Committee: Members of the Design Committee and others took a walking tour of downtown. The purpose of the tour was to observe building facades, identify maintenance issues, focus on the overall appearance of downtown and how to enhance the core district. Observations and suggestions will become part of the Design Cominittee's agenda. Organization Committee: Phil Clacko informed the Board the committee is meeting weekly. Ongoing topics of discussions are skill sets and ex -officio positions on the board. Future issues to be discussed will the Advisory Board structure and PSD staff job descriptions, by-laws, increasing the number of Board members by 2-4 people and the inclusion of merchants on the Board, new organization name, vision statement, mission statement and branding. Promotions Committee and the Economic Restructuring Committees: Neither committee has met since the last Board meeting, but will be meeting in the near firture. Blues on the Square: Andrea Ragan stated the Blues events went well and a wrap up meeting is planned. The Board discussed the PSD's financial obligation to the event, the possibility of extending the number of performances and fornung a Blues Sub -Committee. One person should be designated for a 12 month period. K. Elliott and S. Wallace will serve on the sub -committee with P. Clacko. Action Items: The Board discussed the postponement of the City Council vote on the Market Place, the opposition of The Friends of the Market, and addressing City Council questions. Motion to support the proposed Market Place project made by S. Wallace, seconded by F. Habatti. Motion passed, unanimously. M. Arnold will speak on behalf of the Board at the August 18, 2008 City Council meeting. Other Items: A. Ragan informed the Board she will be leaving the PSD effective August 29, 2008 and will be joining the Lansing Economic Development Corporation staff. The Board offered their thanks for her service to the PSD and well wishes. A posting will be made to hire a new marketing and communications manager. Adjournment: V. Villegas moved to adjourn the meeting; B. Trezise s onded. The meeting was adjourned at 1:25 p.m. %c Minutes by B. Hicks: Secretary Page 3 Principal Shopping District Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Room Tuesday October 14, 2008, 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince VilIegas, Bob Trezise, Stacy Wallace, Richard Karp, Kris Elliot, Doug Johns, Jr., Terry Carella Members Absent: Farban Bhatti Board Advisors: Phil Clacko, Jamie Schriner-Hooper Staff Present: Mindy Biladeau, Executive Director Public Present: None I. CALL TO ORDER Vince Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. H. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS None III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND AIINVUTES B. Trezise moved to approve the agenda and minutes with date correction to September 9, 2008, seconded b}° T. Carella. Motion carried unanimously. IV. CORRESPONDENCE Letter Trick -or -Treat on the Square Sponsorships- M. Biladeau provided the board with a copy of the information that 'was delivered to business owners regarding sponsorship opportunities for Trick -or -Treat on the Square. Flyer to Allegan Street Business & Property Owners: A flyer regarding 2009 CSO construction on Allegan Street between Capitol Ave. and Washington Square was mailed to properh, owners on that block and delivered to business owners on Allegan Street to inform them of a public meeting to gain input on design from stakeholders. Ton), Beavers: M. Biladeau provided the board with a copy of an email from Tony Be}vers regarding a new downtown website he and his partners developed, iz�v t.l�isinsdo��-ntow-n.coin. Mr. Beyers was looking for the PSD to advertise and/or endorse the site. M. Biladeau -s reply was also provided to the board with the decisionnot to endorse or advertise on the site. Letter 2009 GLCVB Guide Co/Op Ad: A copy ofthe letter that was delivered to businesses by M. Biladeau and Joy Wiseman of the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau to reemit participation in the Downtown Cc/Op ad in the 2009 Visitors Guide was provided to the board. Barbara HIcKs - rINAL NUv. FACKet.pdt V. REPORTS Director's Report Markctine and Communications Manage NI. Biladcau informed the board that Sara Pa4vIoski accepted the position of Communications and Marketing Manager. Ms. Pawloski's first day is October 20, 2008_ Bnsinesscs for Clean Watwr• M. Biladev-, Lpdzted the board on the Businesses -r Clear. '?rater Campaign Constriction Worker Perks program The Radisson held the first Construction Worker Perks event on September 22nd, with a tailgate style lunch for constriction crews finishing up work on Cnand Ave. The launch of the campaign started with a press conference. Downtown received positive media coverage that night on the local news. Merchant Discount Token Parking Proo-ram Discontinued: M. Biladeau informed the board that merchants will no longer be able to purchase tokens at a discounted price in order to comp customers parking and the program has been discontinued due to the bank's reluctance to process them anymore. M. Biladeau and the Office of Parking and Transportation are in the processing of drafting a letter to send to downtown merchants so they are aware of the change. Michigan Main Street Update: CommunityReguirements andEavectationsAgreenent M. Biladeau updated the board on the status of the agreement. The agreement has been signed by the PSD Board President and Mayor Bernero. B. Hicks delivered the agreement to Laura Krizov at the Michigan State Housing Authority. Upcoming Associate LeveZ Training Board members and committee members were encouraged by M. Biladeau to attend the following training sessions to learn more about the functions of the Main Street committees. • October 29t": Organization/Promotion 101 at the Michigan Mmucipal League Lansing Office, 208 N. Capitol Ave. 1' Floor. Tentative Time: 8:45-4:45 p -m. This agenda in included in your board packet. • November 19th: Economic Restructuring/Design 101 at the Michigan Municipal League Lansing Office, 208 N. Capitol Ave. 1" Floor. Tentative Time: 9:00-4:30 p.m. Committee Updates: Organization — The Organization Committee is working on a draft vision statement, by-law update, and developing a work plan. The committee has also 'set regular monthly meetings. This committee will meet on the fust Thursday of the month at 8:00 a -m. starting in November. Promotions — The Committee is planning Trick -or -Treat on the Square, and is working on a downtown Co/Op ad in the 09 GLCVB Guide, Silver Bells in the City and ways to involve downtown businesses, possible holiday special events and promotions. Economic Resbrccturtng — M. Biladeau's first meeting with this committee took place on September 18`h at 8 a.m. The conunittee went over roles and responsibilities of the committee itself, members, and the Chair. The committee also would like to change its name to Business Development. This change was endorsed by the board. Work Plan development has started a -id the committee is working on putting a monthiy social networking event together starting January 2009. This committee will meet on the 4`h Wednesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. Page 4 i -age b Design —M. Biladeau's first Design Committee meeting was on September 25"'. The commidee wenL over the committee's function in a Main Street organization and roles and responsibilities of the committee- The committee also reviewed a field survey they did for possible downtown improvement projects. The committee narrowed down their top priorities of FY 08-09. Marchelle Smith, Committee Chair and M. Biladeau are working on a draft Work Plan, Beautifrcadon Sub -Committee: M. Biladeau met with the beautification sub -committee for the first time on September 26"'. The comm=tree ;s urLri no nn n enn;{ r r0„fit plan a, l enrnc�ll_g have been installed on the lampposts along Washington Square from Kalamazoo to Shiawassee. PSD Website Project —M. Biladeau met with Vision Creative to get caught up to speed on the status of a PSD website project in the works since 2006. M. Biladeau updated the board on the history ofthe project- Lonsingpsd. com — A virus was discovered on our current web-6te site and brought to our attention on October 7, 2008. Someone from China did a Sequential Injection Attack on our site and installed Malware. M. Biladeau resolved this issue by contacting the PSD's site server, Arialink-, and they were able to sanitize the site by October 8, 2008 at no cost. Businesses Over Beverages- The Business Development Committee discussed the current program at their September meeting and feels that the program needs to be revamped to draw more attendance and be effective. The Committee is looking into holding a monthly social networking "Happy Namur” event for downtown residents, students, employees, business owners, and property owners that would rotate to a different bar/restaurant within the PSD from January 2009 -December 2009. The idea is to encourage stakeholders to get out downtown and meet their neighbors. Doug Johns, Jr. set up a meeting with bar owners on October 6th to gather input and thoughts on an event like this. The bar owners in attendance were excited about the idea and have decided on a day of the week- time, and starring month. Planning will continue for this program. In addition, the committee would like to hold quarterly forums specifically for business owners and property owners within the PSD with a more structured format. Dog Trick-or=Treating- Spotted Dog Cafe is hosting a pet Trick -or -Treat on the Washington Square on Friday, October 246 from 5:00-7:30 p.m- Trick -or -Treat on the Square- Trick -or -Treat on the Square will be held on Wednesday. October 29th from 5-8 p.m. Activities include a Magic Show, Trick -or -Treating kids games, live entertainment, and refreshments. M. Biladeau encouraged the board to volunteer for the event and passed around the Volunteer Sign -Up Sheet. Financial Report: B. Hicks prepared the final year end, 2007/2008 Fiscal Year, report to be presented to the board. The report showed an originallremaining fiord balance of $11,625.03. The PSD overspent in $4;996.19 in Operational Services which reduced the fund balance to $6,628.84. Income for the year's projection was higher than anticipated by $497.32. Thai amount increased the final fund balance to $7,126.16. That amount will be carried over ton' 2008/2009. Barbara HICKS - f JNAL NUv. YAcKet.pdt 1'1_ DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS Main Street Boundaries —A map of the proposed Main Street Area boundaries was included in the board packet. M. Biladeau briefly stated what the proposed boundaries were. Motion by K. Elliott to approve the proposed Main Street Area boundaries as presented, supported by D, Johns Jr. Motion passed, unanimously. Finalise Alliuion iS?ate.,na,.t R C-oOls J.J .4:08 09 — V. V llegas reviewed �,he draft mission statement and goals the board developed at their September meeting. Discussion took place between J. Schriner-Hooper and the board regarding the inclusion of surrounding neighborhoods in the new mission statement. Motion by K. Elliott to approve the mission statement and FY 08-09 goals as presented, supported by T. Carella, Motion passed, unanimously. Organizational Structure Review — Phil Clacko, Organization Committee Chair, reviewed the proposed Organizational Chart developed by the committee with the board. Further discussion took place. Motion by K. Elliott to approve the proposed original chart with the addition of PSD stakeholders in a box above the PSD Board of Directors, supported by D. Johns Jr. Motion passed, unanimously. Creating a DBA for the Organization -The board recommended the following choices for a DBA for the PSD: Downtown Lansing Main Street Downtown Lansing, Inc. Capitol Core Lansing Downtown, Inc. The board agreed to hire a professional or professional group to develop a brand logo, which includes a name recommendation based on the Board's four recommendations for renaming the organization. Motion by T. Carella to have M. Biladeau write an REP and will gather proposals to assist the PSD -with development of a new logo and DBA, that include cost and time -frame for completion supported by R. Karp. Motion passed, unanimously, Board.members would like to see three logo designs by the December 9, 2008 Board meeting. Roles d_ Responsibilities -Phil Clacko, Organization Committee Chair provided the board with a summary table of the recommended roles and responsibilities for board members, committee cbairs, and committee members that was put together by the committee. Motion by B. Trezise to approve the Roles and Responsibilities table as presented, supported by S. Wallace. Motion passed, unanimously. A,faintenance Contract- M. Biladeau informed the board that the PSD's current Maintenance Contract expires with Total Lawn Care at the end of November. Page 6 Motion to supper[ extending Total La.N*,,n Care's maintenance contract through the winter by B. Trezise, seconded by S.'Wallace. Motion passed, unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m. Muiutes by T. Carella and M.Biladeau: NIiO"e'a:z Carella, Secretary DidlUdld flI4K3 - rtrvnL IVVV, r/AUKei.P01 PRINCIPAL SHOPPINtG DISTRICT October 30, 2006 401 South Naslhuhgton Suites 101, Lansing h1i 46933 To W hom It May Concern: I am writing to tell you what a wonderful time me and my two boys had at the Lansing Trict-or Treat on the Square. I have two boys ages four and twelve. The had a ball. The greeters were very nice and pleasant they were all into Nvith the kids. The show that was nut on for the kids was awesome. But the best part to me as a parent was the raceness of the other parents and how smooth everything flowed_ There was no pushing shoving and every child got a turn. I thought that it was a great idea to start at S. The sun was still out and you got to see all of the cute costume It was a great idea to have two employees at all of the tables, so the crowd did not get jammed up, and the kids could come from either side. You would have thought I was a lid my self and this was my first time out. It was a joyful and blessed evening. I would like to thank each and everyone that help in any way to make this a fim event for the kids. It is so nice to see that people still care. I hope you have a blessed day O [STREET ADDRESS] • [CITY/STATE] • ['LIP/POSTAL CODE] PHONE: [PHONE- NUMBER] , PAX: [PAR NUMBER) OA -k " Page 8 Feb 05 09 11:06a Executive Assistpn+ 5"7-487-5889 p.4 Principal ShoppingDislrict Board of Directors Meeting minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Room Tuesday November 13, 2008,12:00 p.m. Prlenrlxrs Present: Vince Villegas, Bob Trezise, Dough Johns, Jr., Stacy R. Wallace, Members Absent; Richard Karp, Fehran Bhatti, Kris Eliott, T. Carella, Board Advisors: Eric Rosekrans, Tim JOnitenbach, Jamie Schriner-Hooper StaffPresent: Mindy Biladeau, Barbara I -licks, Sara Pawloski Public Present: Pierre Napoleon LaVoie and Bany Robinson, Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAIVJ) I. CALL TO ORDER - QUORUM NOT PRESENT V. Villegas opened the meeting for discussion purpose only at 12:10 a.m, because we did not have a quorum. II. CITIZEN'S C01MVJENTS None III APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MMUTES None IV. CORRESPONDENCE Letter from Angel Giast-Hogan, 4424 SeawayDr., Lansing, MI: V. Villegas informed the board of a letter sent to the PSD from a Lansing resident regarding stow much fun she and her family had at Trick -or -Treat on the Square and thanked the Promotions Committee and staff for putting the event together. V. REPORTS Director's Report Trick or Treat on the Square: M. Biladeau presented a cost breakdown for Trick or Treat on the Square. The cost of putting the event on was $9,348.82. Sponsorships totaled $2,000.00 and in-kind donations totaled 55,107.96. The final total cost to the PSD was $2,240.86. Photos from the event and attendance figures were included in the board packet, Blues on the Square - A meetiug with Citadel is being planned to discuss the PSD's financial obligation to the event for the 2009 series. Beautification Sub -Committee: The Department of Public Service, Office of Transportation and Parking and the PSD are drafting a snow removal plan :fur this coming winter. The pian calls for specific parking spots to be designated snow sto.ragelmelting areas. Merchants and property owners will also be notified for the snow removal plan and storage areas on their respective blocks. Feb 05 09 11:06a Executive Assistant 517-487-5889 p.5 A letter will be sent ttotityi.ng residents and property owners of stricter regulation of the city ordinance flint prevents overnight parking on city streets. The ordinance speci6cal.ly prohibits parking on streets between the hours of 2:00-5:00 a.m. Snow removal and street cleaning will be more easily accomplished if the parking spots are vacant M. Biladeaa has talked with Total Lawn Care to monitor cigarette butts that accumulate in Durnpster Alley after receiving a complaint about the condition of the alley, Matrlieting ' Man nger's Report Sara Paw.loski bas Leen intioducing herself to the merchants throughout the PSD, especially Washington Square. Also, site has spent considerable tune working on Trick or -Treat on the Square since being employed at the PSD. The news release for the event was picked tip by area radio, television and newspapers. A drawing for a $25.00 PSD Gift Certificate took place. Information provided on entry forms indicated most of the attendees were from the Lansing area. Letters of appreciation will be sent to all volunteers. Sara is promoting the PSD Gift Certificate program. Information was recently forwarded to over three thousand people via the E -Source, Breakfast with Santa is planned in partnership with LEPFA for the day after Silver Bells in the City, November 22"d. Tickets are $10.00 each or $8.00 with the donation of a new unwrapped toy. About 150 tickets will have to be sold to break even. B. Trezise suggested flyers regarding the event be passed oirt at Silver Bells. Plans to do that were already in place. The PSD is offering a Co -0p Holiday advertising opportunity to businesses with Fox 47. The cost to participating merchants is $350.00 with a PSD match. This opportunity is limited to ten businesses on a first come first served basis. Financial Report B. Hicks presented a financial report showing activity from July 1, 2008 through September 31, 2008. The PSD and City of Lansing accounts match. She informed the board that Kevin Green had submitted an operating budget based on projected assessment dollars, to Angela Bennett prior to his leaving the PSD. When B. Trezise, Marchelle Smith and B. Hicks worked on the budget they were unaware of Kevin's actions acid lowered the projected assessment amount by taking the 501(c)(3) dollars out again. Lithe Iong nun it was a benefit to work ander the assumption of the Lesser amount because the MEDC was made part of the total assessment arnotwt when in fact the IVMDassess is not assessed for PSD purpose. The PSD bad a loss of $6,812.69 in its projected assessment amount Small Business Association of Michigan (SRAM) Pierre Napoleon LaVoie and Barry Robinson addressed board members regarding a bundled inembership proposal that was presented to the Business Development Committee at their Octobor meeting. The PSD would bo eligible to purchase a minimlim of 100, $10 annual SBAM memberships. S.BA.M would purchase marketing and advertising in a number ofvenues, marketing dollars would be invested by SBAM into the PSD based on final number of b e d]ed memberships purchased and would be interested in working with the PSD to establish an incentive program to cam additional revenue, Feb 05 09 11:06a Executive Assistant 517-487-5889 p.6 B. Trezise expressed concern regarding conflict with the local Chamber of Commerce. A good relationship exists with the Chamber and the opportunity for networking is there. SBAM offers no networking opparturuty. J. Sohriner-Hooper said Old Town has a three year contact with SRAM. Old Town business could not afford Chamber dues. Old Town BIZ ,ramie Schriner-Hooper — Updated the board on where the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA) was at in the process for creation of a Business Improvement Zone (BIZ). The OTCA has sent out letters to property owners regarding the BIZ and to Deneratc interest in creating a BiZ. The letter was .included in the board packet. Thirty percent of the property owners in the proposed BIZ need to be supportive in order for the OTCA to move forward in the process to establish a BIZ, At the time of the meeting Jamie wasn't sure on the percentage ofpostcards that have been mailed back. M. Biladeau, B. Trezise and 1. Sclzriner-Hooper are going to meet to -further discuss'the BIZ. Discussion took place regarding the Mission Statement for the PSD. 1. Schriner-Hooper expressed concern about the PSD Mission Statement and the exclusion of Old Town. Old Town needs to be included because they are a pact of the PSD and pay the assessments. She was told it was an oversight. B. Trezise said he needs to have a complete understanding of what is going on with Old Town. A joint board meeting will be considered. The Board Meeting ended at 1.45 p.m Resp ctfuily Submitted, Barbara A. Hicks, Executive Assistant Principal Shopping District Board of Directors Meeting Minutes Principal Shopping District Conference Room Tuesday, December 9, 2008, 12:00 p.m. Members Present: Vince Villegas, Bob Trezise, Doug John, Jr., Kris Elliott, Farhan Bhatti, Terry Carella Members Absent: Stacy R. Wallace Board Advisors Present: Eric Rosekrans, Phil Clacko Board Advisors Absent: Jamie Schriner-Hooper, Tim Kaltenbach Staff Present: Mindy Biladeau, Sara Pawoski I. CALL TO ORDER V. Villegas called the meeting to order at 12:05 p.m. II. CITIZEN'S COMMENTS None r.� Uri III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA AND MINUTES V. Villegas made a motion to approve the agenda and minutes of regular meetings of October 14, 2008 and November 13, 2008. F. Bhatti seconded. Motion passed unanimously. IV. CORRESPONDENCE M. Biladeau presented the Board resignation letter from Richard Karp. D. Johns motioned to accept R. Karp's resignation. K. Elliott seconded. Motion passed unanimously. M. Biladeau presented the Board with the letter to business owners of the A District in regards to the discontinuation of the Token Program. M. Biladeau presented the Board with the letter to PSD households in regards to overnight parking. The letter included a map and alternative options for alternative parking. M. Biladeau presented the Board with the formal thank you letters that were sent to Wal- Mart and Sam's Club for donating to Trick -or -Treat on the Square and Vision Creative for donating their services for our 2009 downtown Lansing Co/Op ad for the Greater Lansing and Convention Visitor's Bureau Visitor's Guide. V. REPORTS Director's Report Maintenance/Snow Removal M. Biladeau informed the Board of the current snow removal complaints especially in regards to the confusion over the type of ice melt used on the sidewalks downtown. She has been informing business owners that the ice melt is safe on buildings and concrete as well as environmentally friendly. D. Johns suggested requesting the business owners to help in front of their doorways. M. Biladeau said it was mentioned in the snow removal letter we sent out to them. K. Elliott mentioned that Birmingham, MI provides ice melt buckets outside to be used by the public that may be an idea for us. He also suggested buying the business owners shovels. Michigan Main Street Training The Main Street trainings have had great attendance from PSD committee and Board members. T. Carella informed the Board that the training was a great experience and provided a lot of new ideas that downtown Lansing could utilize. Organization Committee Update P. Clacko informed the Board that the Organization Committee has been reviewing the PSD by-laws and will have them to review at the January Board meeting. Communications and Marketing Manager's Report Breakfast with Santa S. Pawloski informed the Board about the new PSD event we held on Saturday, November 22, 2008 called Breakfast with Santa that was made possible by a partnership with LEPFA. She mentioned new ideas for next year including ideas for a new venue and event name. K. Elliott suggested partnering with Troppo and having the event in the new ballroom they will have next year. He mentioned that he has all the means necessary to host a Breakfast with Santa that has a warmer, more whimsical setting. Fox 47 Holiday Co-op Ad Ten businesses participated in the ad this year. A new PSD donut was also produced. S. Pawloski showed the Board a couple examples of the commercials for Stadium District and Arendsen Jewelers. 170 commercials will run Dec 5 through Dec. 24. K. Elliott expressed concern that he was not notified about this year's holiday co-op ad. He suggested that the PSD organize a marketing calendar for 2009 so the businesses know what opportunities are available to them throughout the year. Finance Report B. Hicks was not present so a verbal financial report was not given. A copy of the report is included in the Board packet. VI. DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS A. SBAM Proposal V. Villegas presented information on the current SBAM proposal to the PSD. He mentioned that it didn't sound like there was a strong level of support from the Board for the program at this time. M. Biladeau agreed and doesn't think we have the administrative resources available right now. B. Trezise suggests V. Villegas send the letter informing SBAM of this and that we ask them to come back to us in June or July to reevaluate. K. Elliott also suggested asking SBAM to articulate some of the things we aren't sure about so they can give us answers before we make any more decisions. B. Mission Statement Discussion took place in regards to the "surrounding neighborhoods" section of the new mission statement. K. Elliott motioned to add "surrounding neighborhoods" to the PSD mission statement. B. Trezise seconded. Motion passed unanimously. C. Vision Statement M. Biladeau expressed concerns about mentioning a "historic town square" because there isn't a traditional square in downtown Lansing. E. Rosekrans stated that "square" came from Washington Square being a pedestrian walkway in the 1970's, but doesn't know if there was ever a traditional town square. K. Elliott questioned if the new traffic circle could become the simulated town square for downtown. V. Villegas expressed concern with Old Town BIZ district being mentioned in the vision statement because we haven't taken action on it and we don't know the financial repercussions for the PSD yet. M. Biladeau feels as though by 2020 Old Town will be their own entity. K. Elliott also questioned that if we are including Old Town shouldn't we be including other surrounding neighborhoods. B. Trezise suggested taking out the first paragraph of the "Old Town Lansing" section. M. Biladeau and D. Johns, Jr. agreed. The vision statement will be updated and approved at the next Board meeting. D. Entertainment Express Sponsorship After discussion of the Entertainment Express being important to the downtown area K. Elliott motioned to approve a $2,000 Entertainment Express sponsorship from the PSD. B. Trezise seconded. Motion passed unanimously. E. Michigan Youth In Government Sponsorship M. Biladeau informed the committee that most of WIG's sponsors are legislators and state governmental entities. D. Johns, Jr. motioned to turn down the sponsorship opportunity. V. Villegas seconded. Motion passed unanimously. PSD staff will send a letter to WIG. F. Old Town BIZ There was brief discussion on the status of the Old Town BIZ. B. Trezise informed the Board that it is not certain why the PSD keeps half of Old Town's assessment money. G. Downtown Advertising Program The Board liked the idea of an advertisement program for the downtown kiosks. K. Elliott suggested the idea of partnering with an advertising firm. S. Pawloski will have a formal draft program available at the next Board meeting. VII. OTHER A. Board Member Recommendation K. Elliott formally reconunended P. Clacko to replace R. Karp who recently resigned from the Board. P. Clacko infonned the Board that there is some discrepancy about where his office is located. However, he oversees all downtown Lansing Fifth Third Offices. B. Trezise commented that merchants should be predominant on this Board because they are the ones downtown. B. Off -Site Signage/Updated Sign Ordinance K. Elliott mentioned he has been actively developing an off-site signage plan for downtown Lansing and the Design Committee has an updated sign ordinance for downtown that has been tied up in committee for about a year. B.Trezise motioned that the PSD make a request of the City Council President for review and adoption of the downtown sign ordinance to be immediately added to the City Council agenda as a needed element to the economic vitality of downtown. K. Elliott seconded. Motion passed unanimously. C. PSD Annual Board Meeting There was not an annual meeting in 2007. Typically 100-200 PSD members show up. It was agreed that it should be more of a social event with good news spoken from Mayor Bernero, M. Biladeau, V. Villegas, etc. B. Trezise motioned to reflect by-laws to move annual meeting from January to June. D. Johns, Jr. seconded. Motion passed unanimously. D. Troppo's Use of PSD Logo and Mission Statement K. Elliott requested the use of the PSD's new logo, DBA and mission statement on his promotional signage for the new Troppo construction. It was agreed that this would be a great idea for both parties to benefit from. VIII. ADJOURN T. Carella motioned to adjourn. K. Elliott seconded. The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 p.m. Minutes by S. Pawloski: