N. Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority Regular Meeting

North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority 1419 Coit Ave NE Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49505 September 15, 2022 @ 4:00 PM Culver CPA Group PRESENT: Brianna Forbes, Kim Bode, Alan Hartline, Duane Culver, Milinda Ysasi, Karen Kloostra (4:09 pm). OTHERS: Verah Narh Kamara, Jeremiah Gracia, Chad Buczkowski, Kristin Turkelson, Margaret Williams. I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 4:03 PM by Vice-chair Kim Bode. II. Public Comment on Agenda Items None. III. Minutes Approval Approval of Minutes from August 18, 2022. No comments or questions were noted. Motion to approve the minutes from August 18, 2022. RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Brianna Forbes, Milinda Ysasi YEAS: Forbes, Bode, Hartline, Culver, Ysasi ABSENT: Karen Kloostra IV. Action Items 1. Creston Neighborhood Association Corridor Management Memorandum of Understanding Brianna Forbes presented this item and noted that the city made a small change to the memorandum of understanding. Verah Narh Kamara added that the only change was to add some clarity to the language around the termination of the agreement. Commissioner Milinda Ysasi is excited to see how this partnership impacts business owners and neighbors. Motion to approve the memorandum of understanding between North Quarter CIA and Creston Neighborhood Association for Corridor Management for a not to exceed amount of $28,000. Generated 9/22/2022 10:47 AM North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 2 September 15, 2022 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Brianna Forbes, Chair SECONDER: Alan Hartline, Secretary YEAS: Forbes, Bode, Hartline, Culver, Ysasi, Kloostra V. Discussion Items 1. Economic Development Overview of the North Quarter Jeremiah Gracia, Director of Economic Development introduced himself and provided an overview of the role of the department to help facilitate business retention, expansion, and attraction. He noted that the CIAs are important in bringing investments to the communities. He advised the board to focus on spending their Tax Increment Revenue on approved projects to increase their revenue while creating a community that will attract investments. He reminded the board that the department’s goal is to empower the boards to make their own decisions regarding investments and facilitate their funds when they make those decisions. The board was concerned about drawing investments to their neighborhood to fill the empty buildings. Mr. Gracia noted that investors like to know that there is a plan for the community. Kristin Turkelson with the Planning Department introduced herself and added that having a good plan and increasing population density is a way to invite new investments to the area. She further informed the board that the city is now ready to roll out the city master plan for the entire city which will include 3 sub-area plans. One of the sub-area plans will be for the Creston neighborhood. She believes this plan will be a valuable tool for the Creston neighborhood to be “development ready" and attract more investments because this will bring certainty to developers. She, however, noted that this plan will be land use focused but the CIA, neighborhood, and business associations can put funds together to extend the land use-focused plan to include other elements. She added that the consultants will be in town sometime in October to start the process and there will be a joint leadership meeting amongst the community associations. The public phase portion of the process will begin sometime in January, and the Planning Dept. will be working with the community the whole way. Ms. Turkelson encourages the board members to be the department’s eyes by calling 311 to make complaints about buildings that may be violating certain codes. She is also open to coming to future meetings to answer more questions about the development process of the Planning Department. Generated 9/22/2022 10:47 AM North Quarter Corridor Improvement Authority Meeting Full Page 3 September 15, 2022 Mr. Gracia concluded by encouraging the board members to use the incentives that are available through the Economic Development department such as the Environmental Site Assessment program, the Brownfield Redevelopment Program, etc. all the information is available on the department website at www.growgr.org <http://www.growgr.org>. Ms. Kamara also encouraged the board to keep engaging their communities in small ways to help boost their visibility in the community. VI. Reports 1. Design Committee 2. Marketing Committee Marge Williams presented the reports. RESULT: DISCUSSED VII. Other Business None. VIII. Public Comment Ms. Kamara informed the board that Chad Buczkowski will be attending all CIA board meetings. IX. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 5:22 PM by Vice-Chair, Kim Bode. Generated 9/22/2022 10:47 AM