Uptown Business Improvement District Regular Meeting

Uptown Business Improvement District 1106 Wealthy Street SE Minutes Packet Grand Rapids, MI 49503 March 2, 2022 @ 8:15 AM Louise Earl Butcher PRESENT: Lynn Happel, Tamara Sytsma, Stephanie Johnson, Ted Lott (Arrived 8:36 am), Jaye Van Lenten, Commissioner Nathaniel Moody ABSENT: Mathew Smith OTHERS: Peter Vanderwier, Verah Narh-Kamara, Jessica Solis, Tricia Chapman, Ken Miguel-Cipriano, Dustin Sommer, Richard App I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 8:29 AM by Chair Lynn Happel II. Public Comment on Agenda Items None. III. Minutes Approval 1. Approval of Minutes from January 5, 2022 No corrections were noted. Motion to approve minutes from January 5, 2022. RESULT: ACCEPTED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Jaye Van Lenten, Member SECONDER: Stephanie Johnson, Secretary YEAS: Happel, Sytsma, Johnson, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Matthew E. Smith, George (Ted) Lott, Peter Vanderwier IV. Financial Statements 1. Interim Financial Statements as of January 31, 2022 Tricia Chapman presented the statement to the board. No corrections or questions were noted. Motion to approve statement C, schedule of expenditures from July 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022 Generated 3/9/2022 09:32 AM Uptown Business Improvement District Meeting Full Page 2 March 2, 2022 RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: Jaye Van Lenten, Member SECONDER: Stephanie Johnson, Secretary YEAS: Happel, Sytsma, Johnson, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Matthew E. Smith, George (Ted) Lott, Peter Vanderwier V. Action Items 1. Amended Uptown Business Improvement District By-Laws Jessica Solis presented the amended by-laws to the board and highlighted the new changes. She noted this is the last step in the by-law’s amendment process, the new by-law will be approved at the March 29th City Commission meeting. She added that the board member appointment process is changing due to the by-laws and the board will have to decide if they want to have a fresh start or, wait for everyone to finish their terms. She noted that any transition will need to happen with the calendar year. Lynn Happel noted that some business associations are inactive and will not be able to make board member recommendations. She is concerned about the business association recommendations requirement in the appointment process. The board members discussed their struggles with business association recruitment. Ms. Solis added that the board needs to have further conversations about how they intend to implement the new changes regarding membership and appointments. RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS] MOVER: George (Ted) Lott, Member SECONDER: Jaye Van Lenten, Member YEAS: Happel, Sytsma, Johnson, Lott, Van Lenten, Moody ABSENT: Matthew E. Smith, Peter Vanderwier VI. Presentations 1. Environmental Site Assessment Grant Verah Narh-Kamara presented the Environmental Site Assessment Grant opportunity to the board. She noted there is a one-pager document in the agenda packet with information on the grant. VII. Discussion Items 1. FY23 Budget Preparation Ms. Ingrid presented this item. She will be working with the committees on a draft of the priority plans to be submitted to Uptown Inc. Generated 3/9/2022 09:32 AM Uptown Business Improvement District Meeting Full Page 3 March 2, 2022 VIII. Reports The following reports were presented during the Uptown CIA meeting 1. Executive Director 2. Uptown Grand Rapids Inc 3. Operations Team 4. Business Development Committee 5. Marketing Committee 6. Design Committee IX. Other Business 1. Lynn Happel will not be attending the next meeting. 2. Jaye Van Lenten met with the new owner of Eastern Antiques, now South town Guitars. 3. Ms. Happel requested some updates on the Robinson Flats project, Ms. Solis said that is her project and the last update she received was that they are still working on the purchase agreement. 4. Ms. Lenten informed the board ECA has a new executive director called, Courtney. 5. Jess provided updates on the BID Assessment Process. X. Public Comment None. XI. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 am by Chair, Lynn Happel. Generated 3/9/2022 09:32 AM