Rosemary Loria was unanimously reelected chairwoman of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority at the DDA’s organizational meeting Jan. 16.
She accepted the position, saying, “I’ll do it as long as I can.” Loria has been fighting cancer since last summer and this was her first meeting back at the board table since last summer.
Also reelected were Alicia McGovern as vice chairwoman, Sabrina Richardson Williams as treasurer, and Denise Baker as secretary.
The DDA also set the third Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. as the regular meeting time, which is set in the DDA bylaws.
In other business at the Jan. 16 meeting, the DDA:
• Approved paying $5,000 for a half-page advertisement to promote the city in the Detroit Tigers Yearbook, with DDA Coordinator Carol Thompson saying she sent the advertising proposal from the Tigers on to the Van Buren Township DDA, the Van Buren Public Schools, and Sumpter Township, to see if they would like to participate, too. The Detroit Tigers will be contacting businesses in the area to advertise “how wonderful this community is” in the yearbook, which is sold at Tiger games and throughout the area. “There’s no way to track how many businesses come and people move here because of the advertising,” Thompson said. DDA member Jason Mida said the yearbook is a very nice document and will give the city’s story to a different group of people. He said it is sold throughout the season. Thompson said she wants to make the decision on an advertising format in early February, “so we can make it nice.” Chairwoman Loria said it would be nice if they could include a picture of the ballfields in the township;
• Heard Thompson explain Public Act 57 of 2018 that has recodified Tax Increment Financing requirements. She said the Belleville DDA has 180 days from the end of its fiscal year in June to be in compliance. She said public information sessions for taxing jurisdictions are required and DDA members suggested those meetings be in March or April and then in October. “We definitely want to be in compliance,” Thompson said, pointing out there are penalties for non-compliance;
• Heard Mida report on the Brewville event at Victory Park on Halloween. He said they didn’t have the teacher turnout they had hoped for. He said both coffee trucks came and one was back for the winter parade; and
• Heard Mida say the Battle of Belleville will be the first week in August. He wanted people to be better informed on what was happening. When the first firing started on Main Street last year, Mida said his renters flipped out and started stacking stuff against the door. “It’s a sad part of these times,” he said of the reaction. “We have to let people know.”
The DDA also discussed the following possible projects:
• Repair or replacement of the light pole at Hayward’s since it keeps being hit in accidents. “As soon as we replace that light, it gets hit,” Thompson said. There are no police reports on those responsible;
• Streetscape fencing repair at Sam’s Place. There is a police report on the incident;
• Tree replacement at Liberty Street parking lot. Police have a contact for the driver who hit two trees;
• DTE energy audit of street lighting. Thompson said the LED lights had a payback of eight years and it’s been six years and the DDA is still paying more;
• Replace broken kayak launch parts at Horizon Park this spring and determine security for the site;
• Look into having a policy or ordinance for food trucks and pop-up businesses;
• Iron Belle Trail through the city. It had been expected to come into the city on the east, at Edgemont Street, on E. Huron River Drive, and go through the city on the existing sidewalks and roadway of Huron River Drive, where it would exit on the west, heading to Washtenaw County. Thompson said they have been talking with an engineer and maybe the route could go up North Liberty Street or Charles Street, so bikers could see the lake. Belleville is partnering with Van Buren Township on the trail route. They are three or four months away from a public presentation;
• Plan another coffee event or other retail target;
• Expand the streetscape to side streets with banners, decorations, planters and other amenities for businesses on side streets;
• Recruit a canoe/kayak rental business;
• Get Wi-Fi for downtown;
• Get legal input on the facade program and assist downtown businesses with the promotional activities;
• Decide how they want Fourth Street to look after the library is completed and coordinate with the museum;
• Look into research grants for a community events pavilion on Fourth Street with input from groups who put on events; and
• Consider waterfront dock improvements, so boaters can tie up safely and visit downtown businesses.