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Downtown Muskegon Business Improvement District
Meeting Minutes
June 29, 2020
Muskegon City Hall
933 Terrace Muskegon, MI 49440
Virtually on City of Muskegon Facebook Live
1) Call to Order: 8:02 AM
Attendance: Bob Tarrant, Kathy Denison John Riegler and Mike Hennessy.
Excused Absent(s): Phyllis Watson-Laudermill, Frank Peterson and Bruce Lindstrom.
Guests: Dave Alexander, city Business Development Manager.
2) Consent agenda
a) Approval of the agenda
b) Approval of the Minutes from Feb. 24, 2020 meeting
Motion to approve the consent agenda with corrections to minutes: John Riegler
Support: Kathy Denison
All voted in favor
3) 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.
4) New Business
a) Accept the financial statement dated May. 31, 2020 and
review of financial position. The BID account had $158,194
and the BID budget is on track.
Motion to accept: John Riegler
Support: Kathy Denison
All voted in favor
b) Dave Alexander presented newly signed legislation that allows
a BID to assess residential property. The BID board needs to
consider that option before recommending a renewal proposal
to the Muskegon City Commission. In discussion on the
residential property assessments within BIDs, John Riegler and
Kathy Denison said this is no time to add new taxes. Bob
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Tarrant said the board must at least consider such as even
home owners receive services and benefits from downtown.
But many felt that assessing single-family properties doesn’t
seem right. The board took no vote but asked Dave Alexander
to provide an analysis of residential properties in the newly
suggested BID.
c) Dave Alexander gave a report and update on the state’s new
Social District law. The city of Muskegon is expected to
aggressively pursue a district for downtown Muskegon. No vote
was taken.
d) The board again looked at the parameters of a three-year BID
renewal that had the general consensus of the board in
February. The district would be reduced, rates remaining the
same and BID work would be limited to summer landscaping
and winter sidewalk snow removal to reflect the reduced
revenues, estimated at $115,000 annually. The board
discussed the recommendation to the Muskegon City
Commission in light of COVID-19. Bob Tarrant said the
downtown needs the BID now more than ever. The reduced
district focused benefits where they are most felt. He wants to
move forward with the plan. John Riegler said his mind has not
changed, begrudging support. Kathy Denison said downtown
cannot afford not to move forward. A consensus formed that
this might be the last BID assessment suggested by the board
and it three years downtown services need to be moved to the
Downtown Development Authority. An initial plan for three
years, with and smaller district and work plan was suggested.
BID-City DPW 2020 landscaping agreement. Dave Alexander
was directed to put together the documentation for the plan’s
formal recommendation to the city commission at the next
meeting.
Motion to support a three-year BID renewal: Kathy Denison
Support Mike Hennessy
Vote: All voted in favor
e) The BID board did not think a meeting of property owners in the
newly proposed BID was needed beyond the two public
hearings that will be needed before the Muskegon City
Commission. No vote was taken.
f) Dave Alexander updated the board on the summer work plan.
Flowers by Barry’s were put into 72 planters and are being
maintained. The city struggled with downtown landscaping work
due to COVID-19 because of staff furlough’s and elimination of
summer seasonal workers. The city has hired two season
workers to complete the downtown landscaping work.
g) Dave Alexander gave an update on downtown projects, which
continue despite COVID-19.
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5) Other Business
a) Next meeting is a special meeting Monday July 27, 8 a.m. at Muskegon City Hall and
virtual on the city of Muskegon’s Facebook Live page.
6) Adjournment
9:08 AM
No Objection
Minutes produced and submitted by Dave Alexander, city of Muskegon business development
manager
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