HomeMy WebLinkAbout8.21.25 Neighborhood Advisory Board MinutesMAYOR’S NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY
MEETING MINUTES
Letts Community Center
Thursday, August 21, 2025 @ 5:30 P.M.
BOARD MEMBERS: Tirstan Walters (Vice-Chair Ward 1); Matthias Bell (Ward 4); Courtney Cole (Ward
3); Flo Baerren (Ward 2); Brian Baer (Ward 1); MaryBeth VanHorn (Ward 1); Christopher Greene-
Szmadzinski (Ward 2); Vacant (Ward 4); Vacant (Ward 3); Vacant (Ward 3); Vacant (Ward 2); Vacant
(Ward 4)
DNACE STAFF: Robin Anderson-King
Absences in bold
CALL TO ORDER: 5:35 P.M., Letts Community Center
1. ROLL CALL: See above - quorum present.
2. ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA: – Add Elections of Officers to New Business
3. AGENDA APPROVAL: Approved unanimously.
4. BOARD MEETING MINUTES – Christopher moved, Brian seconded – approved unanimously.
May 15, 2025
5. OLD BUSINESS:
A. None
6. NEW BUSINESS:
A. Year Meeting Schedule – Meetings will be held on the third Thursday of the month.
B. Grant Cycle to begin on October 20, 2025.
• Grants will close on March 6, 2026.
• Robin is working on having labels added to the mini-grants through the platform.
• Asking for a shorter grant cycle next time, possibly three months, with them being due at the end of
January.
• Grant workshops are coming and can be scheduled starting in September. Dates for the workshops
will be sent out as early as Monday, August 25.
C. Election of Officers
• Co-Chair – Christopher Greene-Szmadzinski
• Co-Chair – Tirstan Walters
• Secretary – Matthias Bell
• Courtney moved, MayBeth seconded - the entire slate was elected unanimously.
- It was asked if there were applications to fill the current vacant seats on this board. They need to
check for applications, and there is at least one candidate being vetted.
7. UPDATES
A. Mayor Updates
• The city is in the process of updating its non-motorized transportation plan to improve biking and
walking networks! Public workshops are on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at Schmidt Community Center and on
Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at Foster Community Center. This involves several groups, including the city's
public service, parks dept., police dept., and an outside company. (lansinginmotion.com)
• A community survey on non-motorized transportation is at:
https://mckenna.mysocialpinpoint.com/lansing-non-motorized-transportation-plan/lansing-non-
motorized-transportation-community-survey
• Next week there will be a bike/walking/bus tour of the city to evaluate the bikeability.
• Invest in Southwest Lansing: There is a community meeting at 6 p.m. today for the new
development, Holmes and Pleasant Grove Neighborhood Center. It’s being held at the Tabernacle of
David church. www.lansinggrowthfund.com
• Senior Apartment development for Ward 2: There is a company wanting to build a senior housing
complex in the Dunckel and Jolly Road area. They are looking to have a meeting for community
input in mid-September.
B. DNACE Updates
• There is a recruitment plan being implemented to get more people on the grants board.
• Neighborhood Resource Summit is October 15, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Alfreda Schmidt Community
Center. All board members are invited to attend. They are working on swag as a giveaway.
• Courtney asked about ordering yard signs to put around at various grant-funded projects to help
promote the next grant cycle.
• Eastside Summer Fest is Saturday, August 23, from 12 – 6 p.m. in the old Sears parking lot on
Michigan Ave.
• Baker/Donora neighborhood will have someone to lead the neighborhood.
• The board had a brief discussion on what determines a “neighborhood of focus” – Census track data
is used, and demographic and economic factors are considered. This includes population, income
levels, closed businesses, or a lack of certain types of businesses, etc.
C. Next meeting - Thursday, September 18, 2025
8. STATEMENTS OF CITIZENS
- None
9. ADJOURN – 5:58 p.m. – Courtney moved, Christopher seconded – approved unanimously.