September 14 DDA Meeting

Detailed briefing

September 14, 2022 — Harbor Springs Downtown Development Authority Meeting ATTENDEES: Tim Knapp, Matt Bagheera, Jodi Eubank, Nikki Law, Rocky Badoun, and Rachel Morford were marked present during roll call. • The DDA approved the previous meeting minutes. No vote count was stated in the transcript. The board also noted that its student representative position needs a new representative; staff said there may be another student application. • Promotions planning is turning toward the 2023 Ice Fest. Staff said the committee needs to confirm the ice sculptor and date, with February 10-12 identified as the typical second-weekend-in-February timeframe, and decide whether sponsorship letters should go out in October or early November. Members supported discussing a return of the chili cook-off, which they said had drawn attendance and raised money. The amateur category had previously been dropped because of limited participation and health-department compliance demands. • Members sent several possible 2023 events back to the promotions committee for consideration: a beer festival, a smaller wine or summer-solstice event, and a paid concert. They stressed that volunteer recruitment and early planning would be necessary, particularly after prior festival setup and cleanup demands fell heavily on a small number of people. • Main Street tree-bed gardens have been maintained by the Harbor Springs High School National Honor Society. The students plan to continue through September and assist with removing plantings in October. The Garden Club said its flower removal and mum placement is scheduled for September 28, and the groups may coordinate disposal pickup. Members reported deer and rabbit damage to begonias and other downtown plantings. • The Merchants Walkway Committee has begun work. Before deciding on design or use, it will gather deeds and surveys and clarify property rights and obligations. The city attorney is collecting documents, while staff compiles adjacent owner information. The next committee meeting is September 22 at 10 a.m. at City Hall, with Zoom access planned. • Staff announced an October 3, 7 p.m. public hearing on amended TIF and development plans. The proposed TIF extension would run through 2038. Plans are available through the city website and at City Hall. Staff also reported approximately $61,993 in tax revenue and $20,754 in special-assessment revenue received so far this year. Worth watching: • Whether Ice Fest plans, sponsorship outreach, and the chili cook-off are confirmed in time for 2023. • What property records show about ownership, easements, and allowable work in the Merchants Walkway. • City Council action following the October 3 TIF/development-plan public hearing. Upcoming: Merchants Walkway Committee meeting, September 22 at 10 a.m.; TIF and development-plan public hearing, October 3 at 7 p.m. Why it matters: The DDA is setting its next-year event strategy while weighing long-term downtown improvement projects and funding plans.

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