CITY OF TECUMSEH
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, November 12, 2015
7:00 a.m. Tecumseh City Hall
A. Chairman B. Fox called the meeting to order at 7:00 a.m.
B. Members Present: DeWitt, B. Fox, J. Fox, Koch, Lash, Lincoln, Nowak, Salsberry
Also Present: Paula Holtz, Economic Development Director
Linda Hewlett, Marketing Coordinator
Shelby Simpson, Administrative Services Manager
Members Absent: Baker, Bird, Masters, Slovinski, Stimpson
Motion by J. Fox; Supported by Nowak.
To excuse Baker, Bird and Stimpson due to work/travelconflicts.
Motion Carried.
C. Approval of Agenda
Motion by Nowak; Supported by J. Fox.
To approve the November 12, 2015 agenda.
Motion carried.
D. Public Comment RE: Items on the Agenda
None.
E. Minutes of October 8, 2015 Meeting
Motion by Nowak; Supported byKoch.
To approve the minutes of the October 8, 2015 meeting.
Motion carried.
F. Treasurer’s Report
Motion by Nowak; Supported by Salsberry.
To allow and pay the bills as presented.
A roll call vote was taken.
Yes: DeWitt, B. Fox, J. Fox, Koch,Lash, Lincoln, Nowak, Salsberry
No: None
Motion carried.
Motion by J.Fox; Supported by Nowak.
To approve theOctoberfinancial statements.
Motion carried.
G. Committee Updates
1.Physical Improvement Committee:
Rochelle Bird, Paula Holtz and Jan Fox met on October 21st with Ken Thompson from Midwest Sculpture Initiative at his gallery in Blissfield. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss options regarding the next evolution of the art program in Downtown Tecumseh.
The options discussed included:
- Sending out a Request for Qualifications to artists for a permanent piece.
- Creating a student led mural project.
2.Organization Committee:
No Report.
3.Marketing Committee:
Hewlett announced they have been working on Holiday Open House items forthis weekend. The Recipe Walk and the “Find the Pickle Hunt” are a few of the activities. The streetscape lighting ceremony will be at 7:00 pm on Friday.
Production of the City Calendar is in process.
637 visitor packets have been sent out so far this year. There has been a notable increase in requests immediately following big events such as Diva Night and Appleumpkin, averaging two or three requests per day.
Planning has begun for the Ice Sculpture Festival which will be January 23rd & 24th.
4. Economic Development Committee:
No Report.
H. New Business
1. WTOL Advertising Campaign for Ice Sculpture Festival
The WTOL advertising campaign for the Ice Sculpture Festivalconsists of 32 commercials that will run on WTOL and 10 commercials that will run on the MeTV Retro channel for a total amount of $2,500.00. An amount of up to $833.00 is being requested from the DDA Marketing budget to put toward this campaign.
Motion by Nowak; Supported by Lash.
To approve designating $833.00 of the DDA Marketing budget to put toward the WTOL Advertising Campaign for the 2016 Ice Sculpture Festival.
Yes:DeWitt, B. Fox, J. Fox, Koch, Lash, Lincoln, Nowak, Salsberry
No: None
Motion Carried
2. Evans Street Corridor
Paula Holtz is recommending an ad hoc committee be created, consisting of board members, the chamber and others, focusing mainly on discussing steps to create a market in the former lumber barn.
The city removed the clay tennis courts, graded and seeded the lot, and will be removing the concrete foundation(s) on the western lot. The barbed wire fence has been removed and the storage building should be completely cleared out in the next few weeks.
Paula will reach out to landscapers for recommendations for obscuring the gravel parking lot next to the Hamblin building.
Karle Landscaping will mow and weed spray or property for $500.00/year.
3.December Meeting Cancellation
Due to the busy holiday season, it is being recommended the board consider cancelling the DDA meeting scheduled for December 10, 2015.
Motion by Nowak; Supported by J. Fox.
To cancel the DDA meeting scheduled for December 10, 2015.
Yes:DeWitt, B. Fox, J. Fox, Koch, Lash, Lincoln, Nowak, Salsberry
No:None
Motion Carried.
I. Strategic Plan
No Report.
J. Old Business
1. CBA Update
J. Fox reported on the success of the Appleumpkin Festival last month, stating that there will be a festival wrap-up meeting at City Hall on Thursday November 19, 2015 at 8:00 am.
Holiday Open House is downtown this weekend, November 13th and 14th.
Ice Sculpture Festival is scheduled for January 23rd and 24th of 2016.
2. Chamber Update
J. Fox announcedthe Chamber Breakfast will be November 18th at 7:30 am. The guest speaker will be the Tecumseh Orchestra and Community Chorus.
This year’s Christmas parade is scheduled for December 4th, with a theme of “Inside Santa’s Workshop.”
3. ED Department Update
Holtz reported on the following activities:
Salsaria’s has a new storefront and construction is moving along.
The open house for the newly renovated apartments above Carpet on Wheels will be October 15th from 2-4pm.
Two new trees are being planted downtown in front of Lev’s Bakery and Schmidt & Sons Pharmacy.
The 3-year maintenance contract with Karle Landscaping will have a start date of April 1st.
K. Public Comment RE: Items not on the Agenda.
Joseph Tuckey, Acting City Manager, announced that the new City Manager would start on December 7, 2015.
Motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:47a.m.
Motion carried.
Secretary: Kim Koch
Recorded by: Shelby Simpson