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    8:00 AM Thursday, June 14th, 2012
    at Tommy Brann's, 4157 S. Division  [click for directions]

         

  October 14th, 2010
Meeting Minutes [click to download PDF]

1. Call To Order
Members Present: Tommy Brann, Brann’s Steakhouse and Grille; Steve Karrip, Metro Motors; Al Reurink, Modern RV Center; Lisa Golder, City of Kentwood; Jim Kubicek, Bubble Magic Laundry; Tim Pomorski, Affordable Auto; Harold Mast, Harold Mast Consulting, Inc.; Tammy Savage, Kelloggsville Public Schools; Pete Leach, Kentwood Police department; Jeff Augustyn, Kentwood Police department; Jim Leach, Jr. Hobart Sales and Service; Ken Malick, Wyoming/Kentwood Chamber of Commerce

2. Approval of Minutes
Minutes regarding Treasury report need to be corrected to reflect the expenditure of $191 for insurance.

A motion was made by Reurink with support from Pomorski approve the minutes of the September 21, 2010 meeting of the Division Avenue Business Association, with corrections.

--Motion carried—

3. Treasury Report

4. Roundtable
Jim Kubicek: Attended the Wyoming DDA meeting. He said that there is a lot of emphasis placed on 28th Street and he wondered whether there were going to be similar plans for Division. He wanted to know how the BRT system would affect the plans/money spent in the area. Lisa said that the work done in the charrette process has become the plan for Division. Once it is more certain that the BRT is going to happen more plans will be undertaken and the plans will be adopted into the city’s zoning regulations. The millage needs to be approved to ensure that the BRT will happen. The transit authority is proceeding as if it will be approved. Steve said that the transit authority is developing plans for the stations.

Steve: said clean up went well. The demolition across the street is taking place now.

Jim: he attends the DDA meetings now. He believes that the improvements to 28th Street will help the Division Avenue corridor as well, especially when the BRT is in place.
Jim reviewed the findings of the market study that was completed for the 28th Street Corridor. He said that the market study indicated a need for more mixed use office space, advanced education like junior colleges, health care facilities, niche grocery stores, computer services, and specialty retail. Entertainment is a use that is not needed in the area. The Studio 28 area might be a good place for a higher education institution like a junior college. There could be student housing in the area, bookstores, and medical uses.

There is going to be a storefront planning team inside the Rogers Plaza shopping Center to enable property owners, residents and business owners to walks in and discuss the future of 28th Street, east Monday and Wednesday beginning the last week of October.

Jeff: It has been quiet along the corridor, including the Casa Via hotel.

Ken: Is the new President of the Wyoming Kentwood Chamber of Commerce. He said the Chamber has recently sponsored a candidate forum that will show on WKTV. There will be a business expo on October 28th from 1-7 at the Celebration Cinema south.
Ken is interested in hearing any ideas that DABA has for how the Chamber can support the business community.
The Santa Parade is coming the first Saturday in December. Looking for sponsors for the event. Also looking for ways to promote the event.

Tom: said the Chamber was an important partner when there was concern about the “Crash Tax”.

Mike Endres: is the webmaster for the DBA website. He would like to know if there is new content to place on the website. He would also like to put an updated list of members. Gary Ball can provide. Mike said in recent months there has been between 176 to 800 unique hits.
It was also suggested that new pictures are added to the website, especially pictures of new projects or buildings.

Tammy: said that Kelloggsville had its count day. There were 100 new students enrolled. The school has filled all their schools of choice positions.
Rocket nights are coming up. There will be two in January, two in February, and 2 in March. Business groups can be part of it. There is also a Community Coalition meeting on November 8th.
Tammy said that when asked about why enrollment has increased, one student responded that they didn’t want to attend the charter high school.

Lisa: said that the city is embarking on a new planning effort for the Eastern and 52nd Street area.

Harold Mast: said that there is going to be a county commission forum on October 20th. It will be taped and shown at a later date on WKTV.
He commented on how there is a value in letting DDA’s expand, even if it means a reduction in tax revenue for the county in the short term.