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Downtown Muskegon Business Improvement District
Meeting Agenda
May 22, 2018
380 Western Ave., Suite 202 Muskegon, MI at 4 PM
1) Call to Order
2) Consent Agenda
a) Approval of Agenda
b) Approval of Minutes from the meeting March 27, 2018
c) Acceptance of financial statements as of April 30, 2018
3) Public Comment (on an agenda item)
4) New Business
a) Update on Michigan Tax Tribunal appeal hearings
b) Ginman Tire and Reliable Towing services consideration
c) Summer planter update
d) Downtown Muskegon Now strategic plan
5) Other Business
a) 2018 summer events line up
b) Next meeting is Tuesday July 24, 2018 4 p.m. chamber training room, 380 W.
Western Ave. Suite 202, Muskegon, MI or at the call of the chair.
6) Adjournment
To: Business Improvement District Board
From: Dave Alexander, DMN executive director ‘ WW
Re: Agenda notes for May 22, 2018 meeting OY
Date: May 18, 2018
Our BID board meeting is Tuesday May 22, 2018 at 4 p.m. in the chamber training room, 380
W. Western, Suite 202. Here is some background and comments on the agenda items:
Financial report: (report to come)
MTT update (Ginman/Reliable considerations): The Michigan Tax Tribunal had hearings on
Thursday May 10 at Muskegon Township Hall on 12 properties representing four land owners.
Each was appealed. | was representing the BID along with the city assessor David Becker.
The four property owners are listed in the spreadsheet in the agenda packet. Each one had
multiple properties but each owner consolidated their cases before the administrative hearing
officer of the Michigan Tax Tribunal. All of the appeals were for the entire three-year
assessment, 2018-2020. The final decision can be from current assessment stands to no
assessment at all, or anything in between.
The major issue was direct benefits from the BID vs. the assessments. All four properties are on
the far east and west ends of the BID which makes direct benefits problematic. | was mainly left
with the current rising tide downtown is raising all properties so increasing land values was the
best argument. | don’t know if indirect benefit is even a legal argument under Michigan case
law.
The hearings for Maureen Boelkins (NW Mill/America) and EJE Properties LLC —- commercially
zoned A properties -- concluded with the process continuing through the MTT. The only change
was a reduction of EJE’s to $4,000 as final property consolidations under that owner created a
$4,000 cap under BID assessment rules. The hearing officer in the coming weeks will offer a
proposed opinion and judgment and when filed there is a 14-day response period. The
judgment will eventually be filed with the tribunal for a final decision. The process will take
months rather than weeks.
The hearings for Reliable Towing and WWG Holdings LLC (Ginman Tire) were settled during the
course ofthe hearing. | had some direct benefit to argue with Boelkins and EJE along Pine
Street in terms of sidewalk snow removal and planters.
However with Ginman and Reliable, | had nothing. They are all industrially zoned properties
with commercial businesses. | offered moving them to a B property because the BID bylaws say:
“Class B Properties are “currently used for or zoned for industrial or manufacturing.” Both
parties agreed to reclassifying B. | believe we would have lost all of the Reliable and Ginman
properties from the BID so we retained $1,670 a year for Reliable and capped at $2,000 a year
for Ginman. | didn’t have that option for the Boelkins and EJE properties because they are
commercial businesses on commercially zoned land.
The other request from Reliable and Ginman was to request specific BID services for those
properties. | told them | represented the BID board which has the ability to provide specific
services but | couldn’t make such promises. | only promised to raise the issue with the BID
board going forward, which satisfied both owners.
Summer planters: We need to make decisions in the coming days as to where we want planters
this summer. | have included a map of current locations. We can move some to Terrace and
Clay as discussed earlier. | had the dress shop in the Heritage Square Commons request a
planter on the east side of Second Street between Western and Clay. And, the city DPW would
like to slow traffic on Houston by placing three planters in the center of the Houston and Fifth
Street intersection. This is outside of the BID.
DMN strategic plan draft: Doug Pollock, Gary Post, John Riegler, Frank Peterson and myself
participated in the DMN strategic planning session for the agency and downtown in April. The
DMN board will consider a strategic plan approval at its June meeting. Some BID and DDA
members attended at the request of the city. | have included a draft summary of the major
conclusions for possible BID board discussion.
Summer events: Elizabeth Tibbe will present the impressive list of main downtown events for
this summer and we are available for questions.
Downtown Muskegon Business Improvement District
Meeting Minutes
Jan. 23, 2018
380 Western Ave., Suite 202 Muskegon, MI at 4 PM
1) Call to Order: 4:02 PM
Attendance: Clyde Whitehouse, Bob Tarrant, Gary Post (Vice Chairman), Mike Hennessy,
Bruce Lindstrom and Frank Peterson
Excused Absent(s): Phyllis Watson-Laudermill, Doug Pollock (Chairman), John Riegler.
Guests: Dave Alexander, Downtown Muskegon Now director, Elizabeth Tibbe, DMN
marketing and events, LeighAnn Mikesell, city DPW, and Dennis Lohman, Northwestern
Industrial Sales.
2) Dave Alexander introduced Elizabeth Tibbe the new Downtown Muskegon part-time
employee managing marketing, promotion and events.
3) Consent Agenda
a) Approval of Agenda, minutes Jan. 23, 2018, and acceptance of the financial
statements as of Feb. 28, 2018.
Motion: Bruce Lindstrom
Support: Clyde Whitehouse
Vote: All voted in favor
4) Public Comment (on an agenda item) — The board chose to leave the floor open for the
whole meeting allowing attendees to participate as they like.
5) New Business
a) Dave Alexander presented a landscaping agreement with the city of Muskegon
Department of Public Works. That is very similar to 2017 agreement with the city. The
city fee on a time and material basis for the season is not to exceed $20,000, which
mirrors the eventual BID payment for those services in 2017. LeighAnn Mikesell
introduced herself as the new city community services director and head of the DPW.
She answered questions of the board.
Motion for approval: Frank Peterson
Support: Mike Hennessy
Vote: All voted in favor
b) Dave Alexander brought the proposed planter services agreement to the BID board,
again from Barry’s Flower Shop & Greenhouse, the same vendor as the BID had in
2017. Full service on the 61 planters from planting, watering, maintenance to removal
was Offered at $10,345, an increase of 5 percent from 2017. The city had asked for
expanded planters at the Western Market for an additional eight with the larger market
in 2018. It was agreed to provide planter services downtown for 2018 at a cost not to
exceed $11,600.
Motion: Mike Hennessy
Support: Bruce Lindstrom
Vote: All voted in favor
c) Dave Alexander explained DMN’s work on the Live Downtown Muskegon initiative
launched at the chamber’s Home and Garden Show in early March.
d) Dave Alexander explained the interest among some in downtown to create a district in
which alcoholic beverages could be consumed outside. Such a Social District operates
in some Ohio communities such as Canton where they are called Designated Outdoor
Refreshment Districts and is operated by the city’s BID. Such a district is not allowed
under Michigan law. However, new legislation allowing for Social (drinking) Districts is
expected to be introduced as a new law in the Michigan Legislature. DMN’s board
already has endorsed the concept and city officials are interested in investigating a
Social District for downtown if such a provision becomes law. Dave said he will keep
the board updated on any legislative progress.
6) Other Business
a) Dave Alexander explained the hiatus of First Fridays due to lack of interest in the
winter months, a lack of sponsorship support and the change of staff at DMN. The
concept will be explored and might be resurrected for the summer months. The
future of the First Friday concept needs to be addressed for 2019 and beyond.
7) Adjournment
4:50 PM
No Objection
Minutes produced and submitted by Dave Alexander, executive director of Downtown
Muskegon Now.
BID financial
reports as of
April 30, 2018
to come
BID ASSESSMENT DISTRICT - MTT APPEAL VALUATIONS |
PARCEL NUMBER PROPERTY ADDRESS OWNERS NAME DOCKET# 2017 BID ASSESSMENT 2018 BID ASSESSMENT INCREASE _ STIPULATION SETTLEMENT
[24-205-177-0007-00 (820 PINE ST. NW MILL REAL ESTATE LLC 17-004901 s 522.72 | § 2.09088 § 1,568.16
:24-205-176-0012-00 (66 W. WEBSTER AVE. NW AMERICA REAL ESTATE LLC 47-004902 8 113.52 | $ 45408 | s 30058
124-205-176-0013-00 [821 PINE ST. [NW AMERICA REAL ESTATE LLC 17-004903 8 2772 |$ 110.88 | $ 83.16|
24-205-176-0015-00 813 PINE ST NW AMERICA REAL ESTATE LLC 17-004904 $ 91.08 | $ 364328 273.24)
124-205-177-0004-00 |43W.CLAY AVE NW MILL REAL ESTATE LLC 17-004905 s ks 696.96 $§ 696.96
124-205-321-0007-00 (1288 9TH ST. RELIABLE TOWING INC 17-004987 s 750.00 | § 3.34064 § 2.501, $1,670.32
124-205-321-0012-00 1237 8TH ST. WWG HOLDINGS LLC-GINMAN TIRE 17-004988 s 268.00 | § 1.07200 | $ 804 $422"
124-205-321-0004-00 699 W. CLAY AVE WWG HOLDINGS LLC-GINMAN TIRE 17-004988 s 195.60 | $ 1,782.40. § 1,587 | $702"
124-205-321-0001-00 (685 W. CLAY AVE, .WWG HOLDINGS LLC-GINMAN TIRE 17-004988 8 554.40 | $ 221760 /$ 1,663.20 $876"
124-205-186-0025-00 [805 SPRING ST. EJE PROPERTIES LLC 17-004989 is -|s 487.87 | 487.87 $964*
124-205-186-0009-00 860 PINE ST EJE PROPERTIES LLC 17-004990 is 320.90 | $ 1,28360|$ 962,70 $960
124-205-188-0001-00 (SE. WEBSTER AVE EJE PROPERTIES LLC 17-004891 s -|s 3,589.34 § 3,589.34 82.676"
TOTALS $ 2,843.04 § 47,490.57 | $ 14,646.63,
capped at $4,000
|“ capped at $2,000
Dave Alexander
From: dawn barry <barrysonline@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, March 9, 2018 10:10 AM
To: Dave Alexander
Subject: Re: Downtown planters for 2018
Hi Dave,
Sorry I've been swamped too! For this year, I would like to propose a total of
$10,354.00. to include the flowers, amending the soil, planting, maintenance and
watering all summer and fall. Let me know what you think.
thank you,
Dawn Barry
Barry's Flower Shop & Greenhouses
3000 Whitehall Rd. Muskegon, MI 49445
231-766-3031
fax: 231-766-3902
www.barrysgreenhouse.com
On Wednesday, February 28, 2018 04:13:11 PM EST, Dave Alexander <DAlexander@downtownmuskegon.org> wrote:
Dawn, good late winter to you:
The Downtown Business Improvement District Board was very pleased with your company’s downtown planter services
for 2017. We would like to contract with Barry’s Flowers again for 2018. | have attached last year’s agreement and planter
map. There have been and will be a few more location changes but the overall number of planters should be the same.
Can we talk some time the week of March 12 to come to an agreement on 2018? | am very busy until then. | would like to
have a deal settled by the next BID board meeting March 27. If you have any questions or concerns prior to that please
call me or email me.
In advance, thanks for considering downtown again in 2018. Have a great evening.
2018 Downtown Planter Map
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Downtown Muskegon Now
3-year Strategic Plan
April 2018
Here is a summary of the planning session’s conclusions and outcomes (yet to be finalized by
the DMN board):
Downtown geography/DMINN Scope:
e Downtown should be defined by the DDA map.
e Program funds and most all DMN staff resources should be limited to the DDA
boundaries.
e DMN should be the organization that brings together not only downtown interests but
provides the downtown’s connection to the urban neighborhoods, future waterfront
developments and the overall Muskegon Lakeshore community.
DMN’s top priorities:
e Connect Downtown Muskegon to the waterfront
e Produce a comprehensive marketing plan to determine DMN’s target market and
message
e Promote Downtown Muskegon as a place to live
DMN’s sustainability:
e DMN should put itself in the position to provide staff services to the DDA.
e Moving forward, one organization needs to manage and oversee downtown efforts;
DMN is in the best position to provide leadership and staff services in an independent
and cost-effective way.
e DMN’s strength is being an independent, non-profit agency that can best meet the
needs of both the city and private sector.
e DMN should continue its ongoing association with the chamber for office space rental
and to serve as the agency’s employer of record.
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