Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMichigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Minutes 1.17.251 Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority Board of Director’s Meeting Friday, January 17, 2025 – 8:30 AM Foster Community Center 200 N. Foster Ave., Room 211 Lansing, MI 48910 Members Present: Yvette Collins, Scott Gillespie, Laurie Baumer, Jon Lum, Tim Daman Mayoral Designee: Members Absent: Elaine Barr (excused) Facilitator Present: Kahleea Washington (LEDC) Public Present: Christina Campbell, Regional Manager Community Engagement for U of M Health (will be joining as a new board member) Recorded by: Yvette Collins Call to Order/Roll call Chair Lum welcomed everyone and called the MACIA Board of Directors meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. Public Comment None Approval of November 15, 2024, MACIA Meeting Minutes - Action MOTION: Baumer moved to approve the November Meeting Minutes. Motion seconded by Gillespie. YEAS: Unanimous. Motion carried. Approval of Michigan Ave. CIA 2025 Meeting Schedule - Action MOTION: Collins moved to approve the 2025 Meeting Schedule, alternating meetings every other month. Motion seconded by Collins. YEAS: Unanimous. Motion carried. 2 The 2025 Board Meeting Schedule approved is as follows: January 17, 2025 March 21, 2025 May 16, 2025 – Adding an Informational meeting July 25, 2025 September 19, 2025 – Adding an Informational meeting November 21, 2025 Vote on the 2025 Board Member Officer Positions - Action MOTION: Gillespie moved to approve the 2025 Board Member Office slate. Motion seconded by Collins. YEAS: Unanimous. Motion carried. The Board Members for 2025 are as follows: Chairperson Jon Lum Vice Chairperson Laurie Baumer Treasurer Tim Daman Recording Secretary Not filled (as not a requirement to fill) There was a discussion about the mayoral appointee position remaining as an open position on the board. There was discussion about Gillespie’s term being up in 2025 and his plan to step down in the future. There was a discussion about the length of terms being three years and on a rotating basis. Approval of the Development Services Expenditure - Action MOTION: Daman moved to approve the Development Services Expenditure of $14,000. Motion seconded by Baumer. YEAS: Unanimous. Motion carried. Discussion on the 2025 Annual Budget/Spending Plan There was discussion on the 2025 annual budget and Kahleea’s proposal of a spend that reflects at least 75% of the MACIA budget. It is anticipated that the budget should include a change to the projected budget line for Placemaking Initiatives to use the term Potential Projects. There was an additional recommendation to create totals for each of the categories. Other Business Daman made a proposal that MACIA invites Andy Kilpatrick to address businesses before the next phase of Michigan Avenue construction begins. Daman proposed that MACIA should encourage Andy to provide education to businesses on the next phase. Jon offered that it might make sense to include maps and the structure to make people/businesses more aware. Daman offered to reach out to the mayor and Andy Kilpatrick to do a virtual meeting. Lum suggested that was something that MACIA might be able to help facilitate. Lum reminded the group that there had been extensive discussions about the branding of MACIA as a d/b/a to make it easy. Baumer is in favor of doing something that has greater impact. Banners might work better than street stopper signs. Maybe table the discussion until we’re closer. Daman suggested connecting with Julie Pingston on some possible wayfinding efforts. Gillespie says we 3 don’t need to use wayfinding if it takes people away from Michigan Avenue. We need to be the destination. We need to be a magnet. Gillespie says we need to talk about the 2000 Block. The last time this was discussed, Scott was just going to do it. Scott is mindful of how this could look and doesn’t want it to seem self-serving. Gillespie offered that we have most of the work done as far as planning and conversation. Gillespie proposed coming up w/a final plan, working with the business owners and putting together a revised budget and getting the work done. Washington is supposed to ask for an RAP project through MEDC so that the city can get funding done through the RAP application. Washington produced the MOU to the businesses owners and wondered if we had signed documents. We need the MOUs signed. Alex believes the RAP dollars would cover the business owners. Baumer wants to make sure the project is cohesive. Gillespie mentioned that the last discussion was that the city’s money must be distributed, and the amount was $12,500. We talked about painting two areas and working on the canopy above the bookstore and some work over the Bill Leech property. We haven’t had discussions with China Flavor. Baumer says her board wants that money back unless the project is happening. Gillespie says he would like to have it go in the spring. It won’t be until April before it moves forward. Baumer has a meeting in February with her board. There was talk about the need to finalize the agreements with the individuals. The MOUs spelled out what work must be done. Baumer doesn’t recall seeing MOUs. She asked if we could see the MOUs. Gillespie will push to get the MOUs but cautions that we must collaborate with the individuals. Daman said he just had one question, and it relates back to an earlier point Gillespie made about needing a big win. Lum says the under-the-bridge project was the biggest one. Gillespie says a big win for us is to get the business owners to understand that we are there for them and we are promoting them. Gillespie offered we still need to figure out our branding. Public Comment What does success look like for this group? Is what I’ve centered on is that it’s servant leadership on this corridor and how to put that into a succinct statement. It is exciting to potentially be a part of it. Adjournment Chair Lum adjourned the Michigan Avenue Board of Directors at 9:50 a.m. Jonathan Lum, Chair Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority