DDA Meeting January 17, 2023

Detailed briefing

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MEETING — January 17, 2023 ATTENDEES: Jody Eubank, Matt Bughera, Amy Gillard, Nikki Law, Cora Smith, Sarah Eschelbrenner, Gail Brown and Ella Ruddy were recorded present; the transcript stated a quorum was present. • The DDA approved the Dec. 14, 2022 meeting minutes. Following former chair Tim’s resignation from the DDA, the board elected Jody Eubank as chair and Nikki Law as vice chair. Gail Brown, a new member with retail and independent-retailer experience, was introduced and added to the Downtown Enhancement Committee. • ICE Fest preparations were reported as progressing. Organizers said Rock on Ice and the Best Western were confirmed, Birchwood was confirmed as the major sleigh-ride sponsor, and a Petoskey Area Visitors Bureau grant had been approved. About 40 ice sculptures were anticipated. The DDA may sponsor dueling chainsaws if another sponsor is not secured. • The board voted to postpone the ICE Fest chili cook-off until next year. Members said only about six or seven participants were available because restaurants cited staffing shortages, travel and other constraints. The board wants to notify restaurants earlier for future events. • For the Merchants Walkway, the DDA said it will continue providing survey and committee input to OHM for plan development. The stated project budget is $50,000: $20,000 from the annual budget and $30,000 from reserves or fundraising. Demolition was donated, while survey and legal work has already cost several thousand dollars. • Planning Commission Chair Bill Mulder explained the city’s ongoing short-term-rental discussion. A moratorium on new neighborhood licenses remains in place through July, with 61 existing residential-area licenses retained. The proposal described would limit rentals in residential areas but not business areas. The Planning Commission will continue its work before City Council makes the final decision. • Members discussed a company proposal for a year-round EarthCam livestream. Several members supported sending the matter to City Council, while others raised concerns about camera placement, visibility of people or license plates, privacy, and an emergency ability to turn off the camera. No formal DDA decision was recorded. Worth watching: • Whether a sponsor is found for ICE Fest’s dueling chainsaws, or the DDA funds them. • Planning Commission and City Council follow-through on short-term-rental rules before the July residential-license cap expires. • City consideration of the EarthCam proposal, including privacy and emergency-shutoff questions. Upcoming: The DDA will meet at 8:30 a.m. on the second Wednesday of each month; the director said a meeting with the county administrator was planned that week on TIF-capture issues. Why it matters: The board’s actions affect downtown event programming, public-space investment, business promotion and future lodging policy.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.