A) CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Hugh Mason at 5:34 p.m.

Present Mayor Norm Carlson, Jr., Fred DiMartino, Hugh Mason, Jeff Porter, John Taylor, Jeannine Wallace and John Yaroch
Absent: Dan Barron and John Kurtz

B) APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Chairman Mason asked to add an item to the agenda under New Business - Presentation by Charlevoix Wireless. The Board generally agreed to approve the agenda as amended.

C) INQUIRY INTO POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

None

D) APPROVAL OF MINUTES

February 28, 2005 Regular Meeting Minutes
March 15, 2005 Special Meeting Minutes
March 21, 2005 Work Session Minutes

Motion made by Mayor Carlson and seconded by Fred DiMartino to approve the minutes of February 28, 2005, March 15, 2005 and March 21, 2005 as presented.
Motion approved unanimously by voice vote.

E) PUBLIC INPUT, NOT RELATED TO OTHER AGENDA ITEMS

Dale Boss asked the DDA to consider giving the Chamber of Commence funds. He takes the Charlevoix float all over the state helping to promote Charlevoix. The Chamber does not have the funds to reimburse him for gas or meals for the Queen and her Court. Mr. Boss suggested making a viewing platform west of the Weathervane Restaurant to draw visitors to Charlevoix.

F) NEW BUSINESS

Presentation by Charlevoix Wireless

Desmond Milligan briefed Board members on their business. A tower is being erected on M-66. The wireless grid will work with the proposed fiber network. The system can be used as a marketing tool to enhance business persons to visit Charlevoix. Some of the prospective users are the City Marina, on-line shopping for area stores, receiving information on local restaurants and hotel accommodations and information kiosks. Mr. Milligan offered to help the DDA in preparing kiosks and consider advertising possibilities.

Josh Barnes, consultant to Charlevoix Wireless, advised the Board that providing wireless internet service in the downtown area would be an asset to visitors. Soon most of the westend of Lake Charlevoix will have the capability to get online. At this time, they are not asking for funds, but will be seeking permission to tie into the future fiber network system. Wireless technology is not made to compete with the fiber network, but made to work together. A visual demonstration will be set up in the near future.

G) OLD BUSINESS

DDA Contribution to Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Coordinator Position

Chairman Mason reviewed the request with Board members. The Charlevoix Chamber of Commerce is seeking funding from the Board $13,000 for the Downtown Coordinator, $10,000 for concerts in the park and an additional funding totaling $50,000.

John Yaroch asked if alternate funding for the proposed handicap walkway near the Beaver Island Boat Company could be sought. City Manager Michael Wiesner stated that if the City sought federal funds for the project the project costs would be raised due the David-Bacon wages and area contractors would not qualify to bid on the project. A small project would be expensive to administer. Mr. Yaroch submitted a proposed job description for the Downtown Coordinator. (Attachment A)

John Taylor and Jeff Porter voiced support of providing $13,000 to the Chamber, but to give the funds in several payments and hold the Chamber accountable on what the money is being spent on.

Jeannine Wallace asked for information on what the Downtown Coordinator is doing.

Mayor Carlson stated that the DDA owes it to the DDA taxpayers to be accountable on how DDA funds are used. The funds are not designated for an Easter egg hunt. The funds should be used to promote the downtown and ensure there is a proper mix of stores. Mayor Carlson suggested breaking up the funding and paying it in thirds and evaluate where we are in three months. The DDA needs to know what is going on.

Cindy Martin, the Downtown Coordinator stated that she recently completed an MSU survey asking for input on what should be done to improve the downtown and the type of store that should be added in the area. The MSU survey is being evaluated. She handed out the MSU surveys to downtown businesses, but only 45% of businesses responsed to the survey.

John Campbell presented a letter dated March 17th to the Board (Attachment B). He asked the DDA, prior to hiring its own Downtown Coordinator, to look at what is going on. The Chamber/DDA/CVB need to work together and pool their resources. The Chamber's Strategic Plan is not being adhered to. The Chamber has added another event, an Art Fair, to the Summer schedule. The Strategic Plan specifically outlined that no additional events would be held in the Summer months. Mr. Campbell feels the downtown and local businesses need to work together. Individuals need to work out the problems and move on.

City Manager Mike Wiesner suggested approving a four-month payment, with understanding that before the end of four months, the Downtown Coordinator would have a list of items to work on and the Coordinator could advise the Board on what is being done and goals could be set.

John Taylor asked if there was information on how the concerts in the park affect the downtown businesses. He feels the DDA needs the information in order to make an informed decision.

Cindy Martin, the Downtown Coordinator, stated that she wants the community wants to work together. Presently, as she works at the Chamber of Commerce, when individuals come to Chamber inquiring on the vacant store fronts, she gives them the building's owner and telephone number.

Jeannine Wallace expressed concern that the Downtown Coordinator needs to plan for improving the businesses in the downtown, not handing out telephone numbers. The Downtown Coordinator should not be working on Chamber events. The DDA did not even know that a Coordinator had been hired until just a couple of months ago.

John Yaroch stated that he was supportive of funding some items through the Chamber on a short term
basis, but the Coordinator needs to have a definitive job description, prepare newsletters to keep people informed on what is being done, and to explore resources on what is available to help the DDA get the job done. Boyne City has developed a small business resource center, is this something Charlevoix should be considering?

City Manager Mike Wiesner voiced concerns about creating another layer. We have the Chamber of Commerce and the CVB, do we need third entity? The groups need to work together.

Dave Scott advised the Board that the DDA has the authority to establish an Executive Director position. The Chamber has not been reporting to the DDA. Yet the DDA has not been asking the Chamber for information. The DDA needs to know where the money is going and the DDA needs to determine if its objectives are being met.

Kirby Dipert, a downtown business owner, has had very little contact with the Downtown Coordinaor over the years. At first he received a newsletter, he has not seen any market research. The position has been part-time and things are not getting done. The Chamber feels the Coordinator should plan downtown events.

John Yaroch questioned that if the DDA hired another individual to do the work the DDA needs to be done, then the Chamber would have the staff to do the things it feels are needed. The new position could be funded by several different entities. Mr. Yaroch asked if the DDA gave the Chamber funding this year, then at the end of the Summer season, we would have a benchmark to see what has been done and determine what needs to be completed in the future.

Jeff Porter voiced support of going to mediation to find the problem and solve it

Motion made by Mayor Carlson and seconded by Fred DiMartino to contract with the Chamber for $13,000 for the 2005-06 budget period to help fund promotion in downtown with the understanding that they (the Chamber) are willing to participate in mediation and the understanding that they must prepare a written report every 2-3 months of the activities being done by the Downtown Coordinator.

Motion adopted by the following yea and nay vote.
Yeas: Mayor Norm Carlson, Jr., Fred DiMartino, Hugh Mason, Jeff Porter, John Taylor, Jeannine Wallace and John Yaroch
Nays: None
Absent: Dan Barron and John Kurtz

The Board reviewed the request for funding the Summer concert series. The Chamber has requested $10,000 to fund concerts in the band shell. Board members generally agreed that the concerts could be done for less than $10,000.

Motion made by Fred DiMartino and seconded by John Yaroch to help the Chamber of Commerce, this year only, by giving them $5,000 toward the concerts in the park.

Motion adopted by the following yea and nay vote.
Yeas: Mayor Norm Carlson, Jr., Fred DiMartino, Hugh Mason, John Taylor, Jeannine Wallace and John Yaroch
Nays: Jeff Porter
Absent: Dan Barron and John Kurtz

The Chamber has also requested additional funding in the amount of $27,000. The DDA had no comment on the request.

Miscellaneous

John Yaroch questioned if the City could establish an "Adopt-a-Tree" program, where individuals can fund the tree. There could be an annual contribution that would help pay for having the trees lit year round. The City Manager stated that Staff is seeking input from other communities on their tree lighting policies. Mr. Wiesner stated that the Electric Department has funded the tree lights in the past. But the City Council does not want to fund the project now. The Mayor feels the X-mas lights on the trees enhance the ambiance of the downtown area and is worth the cost. Jeff Porter asked if a timer could be installed on the tree lights and have them lit for a limited time period and the normal street lights lit the rest of the time. This would allow the X-mas light bulbs to be used longer.

H) FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

I) ADJOURNMENT

Motion made by Jeff Porter and seconded by John Taylor to adjourn. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 7:13 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted
Linda Jo Weller, Recording Secretary