Oxford Downtown Development Authority Regular Meeting: December 15th, 2025

001Call the meeting to order the Oxford Downtown Development Authority, December 15, 2025. All rise and please pay respects to the flag. [clears throat] >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. We have a roll call, please. >> Sure. Um, >> Pete Schultz >> here. >> Rod Charles >> here. >> Marie Powers >> here. >> Ashley Ross, >> excused. >> Jake O'Brien >> here. >> Holly Piper here. Scott Taylor >> excused. >> Jake Boy >> here. >> Melissa Cornelis >> here. >> Any public comment on non-aggenda items? Seeing none consent agenda A, B, C, and D. >> I got question on this first. Uh, Chairman Schultz. >> Sure. >> At some point, I

002have like to mention this proposal from the county. Um, would that be an amendment to the agenda or should I put someplace? >> I put under member comment at the end. >> I'd like to do it before the end because I think it has a bearing on what we talk about tonight. So, I'd like to put it up there ahead of time if I could. New business. >> Yeah. Put it under um new business. >> Okay. >> New business. What? >> D >> 90. All right. Y >> it's 90 everyone. 89. >> And you're going to label that county? >> Sure. >> Okay. I'm easy. >> You want a motion? >> Sure. >> Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the uh proposed agenda as modified by Mr. Charles for a new item on 9D

003the U November meeting minutes the police report and the code enforcement report >> I'll second that move by power second by Charles any questions comments all in favor >> I post same thing >> financials A and Okay. I'll make a motion to approve the financials as published, including the bills for October 25, 2025 in the amount of 281,782.93. I'll second that. Been moved by Power, second by Charles. Any other questions or anything on that? >> Roll call, please. >> Melissa Canal, >> yes. >> Jay Choy, >> yes. >> Confer, yes. Jake O'Brien, >> yes. >> Ray Powers, >> yes. >> Rod Charles, >> yes. >> Pete Schultz, >> yes. And I will say that is one of the largest [laughter] >> we've had in many, many, many, many, many, many years. All right. Number seven,

004a uh or committee report. We have not met or we met the uh November 24th. So, Rob, could you report on that date, please? >> Uh yeah, let me pull up on the page here just so I make sure I had everything in here that I do. Sorry. By the way, I'm looking. By the way, I always appreciate it getting printed off by Kimberly. It's a lot easier than I know on the uh township board, we get it on the computer, so it's sometimes difficult or challenging to read as opposed to a paper uh paper copy. So, uh Peter, I'm looking at the um you're talking about the where it says meeting called to order 10:30 a.m. Just to make sure I'm not repeating myself. >> Yes. Okay. >> Um and here again, let's see

005who else was there. I guess just Kimberly, myself would be the only ones here. Uh basically we talked about as I mentioned here some of the bylaw amendments that Kimberly brought up some possibilities for this coming year. Um oh let me start with the way it starts here the employee review which would be Kimberly Smith. Um Jesse is Kimberly's employee so that she is not included in that review just so anyone wants to know. Um big thing there is always criteria for doing employee reviews which is always challenging. I'm also on a compensation committee for the township and that's always an issue and how you evaluate somebody leaving off and including certain things that are appropriate. Um, so we did send out a questionnaire. I don't know where that stands right now. Maybe Kimberly has

006some input on that, but that's the first step is sending out questions and getting some feedback. Kim, I see you getting ready to make a statement. So, go ahead. >> Yep. I spoke with Ashley this morning. She was going to dig into it [clears throat] tomorrow morning because she was traveling today, but it closed last Friday the 12th. It was to all of the board members, all of the org committee and then Joe at the village and then the village council. So that is who that survey went to. We also have a secondary community survey that's open until January 9th and that's more around the DDA as a whole and the direction that the community, business owners, etc. are hoping the DDA will consider. >> Yeah. And I won't go through everything on this because

007we can read as well as me repeating what's uh on here. But, you know, I always have to mention the trolley because that's been on the uh agenda meeting for what last couple years. So, why break the tradition, especially at Christmas, right? Uh I will say this, the consensus is that it's time to say Alvida into the trolley, albeit it's cute and everything like that, but it might also fit the category of white elephant at this point. Um, so I suppose as we talked about the meeting, it's a matter of when and how we do it. But that's uh that and then uh Brad Jacobson who's done a wonderful job as a chairperson has said his wife is re rer retiring this coming year. She's a teacher in the lower Oxford school system. So they're

008planning on doing some traveling sometime around March or so. So he'll be stepping down from that that capacity. Okay. So that's the or committee. Any quote, Kimberly? >> Can I make one other comment? Um, for the performance evaluation, we did discuss potentially changing the form that's been used from my predecessor. [clears throat] Um, the decision was made to you continue to use that form for this cycle and then to focus in 2026 to update that to reflect a little bit more objective criteria. So the org committee is meeting I believe this Wednesday again to compile all that information put their recommendations together to submit to the board I'm assuming at the January meeting. >> Yeah. >> That's the target you know and personally I think if if I my brothers I would have started this

009process a lot earlier. I hate to rush through these things as Kimberly is saying I'd like to have a written process that is is objective just like one of the compensation committees I'm on. You know what we did there? everything was data driven. You know, it wasn't feelings and things like that. So, the challenge is come up with a a logical criteria system. It's easier to say than it is to do. Uh but that's what I would say next year we need to jump on this probably early fall, not wait until December before we do it. We've had several meetings, so it's not like just yesterday, but it does take time to do it. Okay. >> Question. Uh you mentioned the trolley. um and the desire of the committee to retire it. Is there going

010to be a broader discussion with the full board? >> Yes. 8A >> 88. >> Okay, great. >> Business. >> All right. >> Okay. That's or >> uh we have 7B the EV committee report EV. You can break them up a little bit if you want. [laughter] >> We love to hear you. Just get it all out. I know. Just don't ask me to sing, please. Unless you want everyone to leave real quickly. Um, you know, I I I liked our meeting because it had some solid facts. You know, the first item on here was by Roman Gaski. Roman is on the committee. Uh, you know, Roman's ma, his major in undergraduate school was math. And for those of the meeting, we would all agree it was pretty interesting uh his his mastery of statistics. But,

011uh, he did talk about the DT issues. Um Jay, I'm going to pick on you just because they need a break from me. What was your assessment of our DTE presentation that uh that Roman presented to the EV committee? You know, honey, why don't you good information to the table? Uh how a lot of our issues here are not common um nationally. you know, Michigan rights to last and electrical service, I guess, you know, outages and we have the longest downtime amongst all the states. And so what we experience here on a yearly basis is not normal and it seems like there's something going on with DTE that we could look at look into. >> Yeah. And Roman said he's going to do that. Jake, do you want to add anything to that because you're

012at the meeting, too. >> I'm going to hear your voice. 51st out of 51 states in DC, right, on how how quickly they respond to uh down wires and things like that. So, we kind of just came up with a plan like what if that does happen. We kind of discussed that with generators or whatever. And if anybody would like a copy of uh Mr. G's report, you can let me know and I'll shoot it to you. But you know the takeaway you just heard from Jay is that then Ali made a comment earlier before the meeting. We're last. >> We're last, right? >> Yeah. >> I mean, so it's >> like good news and bad. I guess good news we know, but the bad news we experience it, you know. Uh the other part

013there, uh Marie, why don't you take over part two since that was something that Marie did a presentation on with the parking issues that go on >> Yeah. in the north northeast quadrant. Well, yeah, that's my experience, but I'd like to our committee to review the overall downtown parking situation. Um, you know, I know during events, of course, it's extremely busy, but in general, even during the summer on a Friday or Saturday night, it's it's difficult to find parking. I know specifically the [clears throat] northeast lot, but I imagine there are challenges across the whole downtown area. So, our committee is going to look into that a little further. Um, and we're going to start by looking at uh the amount of parking that's available and Joe will definitely pull you in on this because

014I know you've done a lot of homework on it. Um, but the committee felt that this was a good topic for us to investigate and work on. >> And then u economic snapshot, we can skip that. He just phone that in basically. Um, same thing he's done the last five years. Uh, the fourth one is retail [cough] development. Um, you know, we talked about, well, I mentioned the Aldi's that's going in up by the waterstone development, which I know is not part of the DDA district, but um, that was discussed too. And then we had discussions about the kind of places that would come into the village that fit. A lot of the things here that we've talked about, butcher shops, things like that. And then, um, Jake, I ask you again. You talked about

015building a theme. You want to just mention what your thoughts were on building a theme? Not to say we have to agree with it, but you had it, so I'll let you talk about it. I I own a business downtown, [clears throat] so I'm brainstorming on what works in other places. I've lived in Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and then last in McKenna, Texas, which is a very thriving downtown. People come there to shop first and then they go eat kind of like a mall. Um, I started brainstorming just some ideas on some things. And you know, Frankenmouth, I think, is a good example of how it's themed German, right? Or Bavarian. People come there and they pay $500 for two people to eat some chicken. So, it brings people in having a theme. We talked

016about maybe piggybacking off our name, Oxford, and turning it into, you know, kind of like a British theme or something like that. um just trying to get people to come. If we want people to shop, there's people that just not walking around downtown, frankly. So, >> y that's that's kind of a common theme, has it been for the last as long as I know that's been pretty common forever, right? You know, getting people to be downtown in the traffic and everything. >> The English thing has been tried probably numerous times over the last 50 years and >> was pretty much a nothing. Yeah, the um but the idea of a theme and bringing people in is what uh we spent some time discussing there. And the traffic issue um you Kimberly is going to check

017with the uh police chief uh the village police chief about coming in sometime and doing a presentation, not in a confrontational way, but more of anformational presentation about what's going on. And I think Jakey brought something about that at one time before and I know Roman Gasky brought something about that too. What if anything can be done about traffic through the village and that's an impediment? Yeah. I mean, out in front of our store, it's I mean, >> if I try to take a phone call out the front door, I don't do it. I go out back because it's just so loud. Right now, we're dealing with ice issues. So, people that I'm questioning come into the store. Like, we almost didn't come in cuz we're afraid to walk on the sidewalk. So, that's pretty

018common. So, I was curious just on the liability of that where that falls. So, if anybody can give me that information, I'd appreciate Is that a pun? >> What's up? [laughter] >> Uh, yeah, but I mean [clears throat] it's it's it's not it's it's not walkable. Uh, just because of the traffic maybe and the noise outside. Victoria has four or five tables up there. I haven't seen one person sitting at the table all summer. That's a problem. I don't know how to fix it. Um, but when you're trying to create a retail environment, um, I need some, we can kind of drive business in through marketing and advertising, but it would be nice to have people walk by our store and go, "Ooh, you know, let's go check it out." And so, like one day,

019I think on last Tuesday, I counted like eight people walking by. So, just to kind of give you an idea. So, I heard that there's kind of like an old guard of Oxford that just kind of wants to keep it quiet. Um, and then the new guard kind of wants to drive some people in. But my fear is is that the downtown is going to continue to struggle unless some plan is enacted. >> Carol, you were looked like you were. >> I was just going to comment on uh the chief is planning to come to our January board meeting. So, I just need I originally when I spoke to him a couple months ago, it was more informal. It was going to be more of a conversation. He would come, but if you do want

020something prepared or in a presentation form, just let me know what you would like to see. >> Would you like that from the EV committee or the or committee or just the board in general? >> I would say the board in general because you'll be the ones talking to him. >> Okay. >> And just one other note, um I did ask Mr. for uh Phillips to come to the meeting just to try and spark some excitement in the EV committee around what we can use our market data for. It is older data, but the good news is is we do have access to Placer AI again. Um so we can get that updated hopefully soon. Um, but really, you know, that kind of ties in, we talked a little bit while he was speaking around

021our strategic plan and then the action plan, which we'll get into more on the agenda later. Um, but just dovetailing nicely into trying to have more formalized goals for each of the committees in 2026. >> Okay, >> that's it for EV and or >> somebody else gets to talk now. >> Okay. um promo committee report. >> Yes. So, uh we met and um you know, we're winding down the end of the year. We uh talked about small business Saturday and we got feedback on that. Um the stores kind of commented back and said that they didn't seem to have more foot traffic, but their numbers were equal to last year. Um, but the people that participated with the little duck hunt seemed to enjoy it. Um, the soup and sweet stroll was a big hit.

022Um, we did get some feedback on that. Um, maybe suggesting that we change the time of year for it. [clears throat] Um, I don't know if you want to elaborate on that more. >> She will when she does the event report. >> Okay, great. So I will skip over that but overall it was a great success and um we are talk moving forward looking at um something new um the Oxford Olympics we're trying to pull together where um it would require the business owners interest in participating um so it would um get people downtown going from businesses to restaurants and all of that um you you know, and have a little fun game or something in each of the places um before it is over. Um we really liked the idea in the promo committee.

023Uh we all want to see it happen, but we're just we're not sure if it's logistically if we're going to be able to pull it together unless we have participation from the business owners. Um and then um the last we do a lot to bring in um business for like our bars and restaurants and shops and um we do have a large number of home services, health services and that. So, we're just looking for ways to promote those business as well to get people to come like to us so that way then we can support our restaurants and bars and that um because I know like if someone comes to me I'm like, "Hey, you want to grab a drink? You want to grab some coffee? You want to get some lunch?" You know, so

024we can easily walk to those places as well if we were to bring business in. So, um that was just a task that we're brainstorming on now. And that was kind of about it because it was a busy month and a half. >> Yes, it was. >> So, very good. >> Yeah. >> May I'm just going to add one thing if that's okay. Um, regarding the Olympics, we were given feedback by the business owners that they wanted to see a ticketed event in the February time frame. So, something as large and as grand as soup and sweet that we we could assure that that many people would attend. um because I think the activities that we've attempted to do in the February March time frame have been not attended quite as well. Um but I

025just don't know that that's going to happen for this year. But it's something that we're going to continue to talk about because to Holly's point, we have to have that buyin from the businesses. We just went through soup and sweet. We, you know, the businesses will have just gone through the holidays, the new year. You know, they may want a moment to take a breath. [laughter] Any other comments on it? Very good. Thank you. The design committee report. >> Yes. Uh we met on December 3rd and we spent a great deal of our time talking about uh grant language uh for the facade grants and the uh sign grants uh for front and rear. So there we're working on rewarding some of that and the plan is to um come to the comm to to

026the board and at the January um meeting I believe or February is it? Uh >> I think it's January. >> January. Yeah. Um we did some decorating um for the Polar Express and uh we'll need some help with taking down the the Christmas decorations at the at Washington Square. Uh so look for a sign up calendar for that. And um we already talked about events. So I think that was primarily the highlight. I will just add one thing. Um we also had some bad news that we got. We had planned to have all of our trash cans and benches picked up to be repowdercoated. Um they were supposed to be picked up in the early to mid December time frame. And when we called to schedule the exact date, we were told that the primary

027vendor has lost their secondary vendor and does not have a suitable replacement. So Jess is on the hunt to try and find a secondary vendor so um we can get that going before the weather breaks again. >> Thank you. >> Uh 7E, the home and history subcommittee. do that. She's not here. So, >> I did we attended the meeting. I know that there was some conversation. I'm not probably the best person to speak of it, but there was a lot of conversation around um scheduling events and activities throughout 2026 for the celebratory purposes um and talking about grant opportunities to help support that financially. >> I'll add one thing. I wasn't at the last minute. I was out of town. the um in that same committee we talked about um restoration of the old Tonstead

028Hardware sign to add that as Maria likes to say quaint look to the town. That's it correctly right? Um, so I put a lot of time into it meeting with different people and there's some serious roadblocks, but I finally got something back from the county. You know, they have a department that does that sort of stuff. >> You know, the proper way to do all work, brick work and things like that. And took them literally months to do it. >> Um, you know, the right kind of paint and all these kind of things that go into this stuff. But, uh, what Ron came up with is possibly if I say possibly because I have to get permission from the building owners and this building owner and that building owner, which all takes time, right, to

029put panels up there rather than repaint the building. That's one of the things he threw out there. So, that's uh to be discussed in the future. All right. So, that's about it. All right. The executive director's report. >> Yes. So, it's a lot shorter than usual because our time has been severely tied up in events. We had three events backtoback weekend after weekend after weekend. So, not only did we have the prep, but then we had the implementation. But I think overall, and I'll have Jess get up in just a moment um to talk about soup and sweep. Um but overall, I think the events went well. Um we want to give a big thank you to DPW. They really worked hard this year to help us prepare, move things, make things look nice. I

030I believe that they were out um scooping Shere's word um shoveling snow um for the soup and suite a couple days before to help prep because some of the business owners weren't able to get to that. Um and of course our police that helped to support several events this year um in a very wonderful way. The only other thing that I will mention before Jess gets up is we did receive a $1,000 award for the shop OC Main Street Challenge. So, that was very exciting. Caveman and Pip won that as the business um the downtown business and we won it as the downtown development association. So, they'll have four I believe four um different raffles or throughout the year. Um so, it's it's pretty exciting. We were the first ones to to get it. So,

031it's good. It's good exposure. >> Good job. >> On December 5th, this year we had 10 suit choices from NI restaurants that tapped into um there's 22 businesses that did sweets. We had six crafts around town and then two photo opportunities. One was in Curtis Insurance and then one was a new lighted photo wall that Excel did for us in the park. So that we had $6,500 in sponsorships this year, which was huge. Um and then despite having less soups, um we were able we're able to reimburse businesses more this year than we were last year. So we were just going over that today and businesses will get their reimbursement shortly. Um, Holly helped us a ton and organized an amazing team of volunteers. They helped us so much. They were great. Um, and then

032we got some feedback just um on parking and that we should maybe have designated parking spot like sections next year that might be easier for people to navigate. Um, and anything else? No, I would just say I think we had a challenge because we had seven fewer soups this year than we did last year and that's huge. That's a huge difference. And so we had to make the decision whether to keep kind of the general number of tickets for sale and reduce the number of samples or keep the number of samples and reduce the number of tickets. and we did end up having to reduce our number of tickets and our samples um because of the fewer soups, but I think in general we made more money somehow and we were able to, you know,

033give that back to the businesses. So, it went up quite a bit um from last year for each group that we had. So, we were really happy to see that. >> Rob, well, a couple questions. Uh first of all, why were there fewer soups available? I think so. The schools did two last year and they are no longer with us. We had a business we had two business owners that also had three additional soups that were not there and then a restaurant left. So that was the seven. >> Okay. The other thing I noticed in the uh report when I wrote it uh when you sent it out the it was successful. I get it and made more money which is pretty cool by the way. But there was a comment you put in there

034that said the um a lot of people downtown but there was not an increase in business. >> Yes, that's what >> So I'm I'm curious about what we can do about it because we do these events. The idea isn't just to have people walk around. It's to help the businesses do more business. So I don't mean as a criticism but I mean it more as okay if we're doing this why are we doing it other than just having people walk around? I mean if we're not getting business for our businesses maybe we shouldn't do it. And I think that's a great question, but I will challenge and say that not every event that we do is intended to have people walk into the doors of businesses. Some of our events are intended to just bring

035exposure to our downtown and to bring exposure to businesses. So, they may not um walk [clears throat] into the business and purchase something that day, but they will come back. >> Um we do and >> we know that. >> Well, I can tell you a personal example. I don't know if you want that one, but >> it wouldn't matter [laughter] if one example wouldn't make any difference. >> It's it's anecdotal. Um, we don't have any metrics at this point to be able to say that that's the case, but that is what we're hearing from business owners. Um, but we do that is something that we t we've talked about quite a bit in 2025 between Jess and I at the promo committee. And I know Holly wants to say something. >> No, it's okay. I

036chair next. >> Yeah. Um but and I think it is an area of focus for 2026 is to really look at how can we take that to the next level and how do we get people in the business and prepared to spend money. That is I think how we take that to the next level. >> Yeah. I personally think when we do events which I'm okay with but I think there's got to be a purpose to them other than just having people walk around. >> So I do have a couple that's okay. So Rod, for instance, uh we had about 85 guests in our office on that Friday. We did a like a customer appreciation event and all these people came from Mcome County, Clarkston, Rochester, like from all over and they're like, "Wow, this

037is really great." Lake Oran, even a lot of Lake Oran people didn't even know what businesses we had in the downtown area. So, so many of them were like, "Wow, I can't wait to come back and shop. I can't wait. I didn't know these places were here." So, like for us, it was great because we got to talk greatly about Oxford. Um, but it really did bring the attention and the notoriety to the stores that we do have here. >> No, I get that. I've done stuff myself, but like I said, I like to make sure that if we're doing this, there should be a business purpose to it than just just walking. >> Yeah. I mean, I mean, with this comes festivity as well in family and all ages. So, it's not just one,

038>> it's not just women or men or whatnot. It's >> the whole community. >> Yeah. I I'm kind of going to echo e echo your same thoughts. Um, I think it's a fun community event, you know, brings the people of Oxford even into Oxford. I mean, we've [clears throat] been there over eight years and we still hear comments, "Oh, I didn't know you were here." because people are literally just driving home through Oxford and they're not stopping. So, the exposure is great. Um, we do get people in our building if not if only for the purpose to walk through it to get to the parking lot, at least they know we're there. Um, even if there was a a bump that particular evening. So my point would be is and I hear what you're saying

039because I've done this myself on a number of occasions. You know, it's [clears throat] great to have people walking around, but maybe we need to do a way to measure how many people really go in for whatever reasons. Even if it's walking through and and measure this as opposed to just seeing people walking around, you know, is there is there an economic >> I'm sure the county could get us that information. >> We're still cleaning the dirt, the mud off like I hear you. My point is I'd like to see something that's solid other than it's warm and fuzzy. Uh, Rod, you could probably stare in Holly's store next or no, actually go up to Homegrown and you could sit there with a clicker and [laughter] >> where are you going? Why are you here?

040Where are you from? And did you buy anything? Otherwise, get out of town. >> And actually, and actually what you're saying is how things should be done. There should be some statistical way of doing that, measuring it other than just idle conversations. >> There's there's cell phone data now. >> Yeah, that's the amount of soup and soup and tickets sold that that can also give us some feedback. Um, but but since something that you can use besides warm and fuzzy, >> I I love the idea of optimizing and this might be a committee meeting topic, but maybe in the thoughts of yes, that's families go out for a cheapy night on that night that's exciting and it's traditional and it's something that's not going to cost them hundreds before, you know, they go into Christmas,

041but maybe a couple months beforehand, we have a talk about marketing strategies. Maybe we have a class that comes in and teaches, hey, for events where you get a lot of foot traffic. Here's a way to bring people back. There you go. >> So, if we look at something like that, it can set up the businesses because we all have to take ownership. Yeah. >> In a sense when um when I was right next to Victoria's, we we we could project how many people came in because we always did a giveaway basket >> and we'd end up like ladies night out, soup and sweet, those different ones. We'd know how many crafts we went through, how much chocolate, hot chocolate we went through, or how many snacks we gave away. And we had entries, and

042we could determine each event, how many entries were at each one. So, we had an idea of, hey, these are all new people that now know we're here. Yeah. >> And now we have their contact info. >> Yeah. >> And that's that's exactly what I'm saying should be done as opposed to just saying, well, I think people had a nice time. >> Yeah. >> So, I love what you I love the thought path there, and I I'd love to talk more about that at Promo and optimize on that going into next year. >> Absolutely. I will say, you know, we have gotten feedback, just as an example, from business owners that are on the north side of Berdick that for the concerts every summer, every weekend or every Thursday in the summer, that doesn't bring

043any business to them. So, when we're thinking about what types of events we want to continue, I mean, that's a flagship event that we have throughout the year. There are going to be events where it's not going to bring a ton of money into all of our downtown, but it will bring in awareness and it will support some businesses. So, I hear what you're saying and I do think there is absolute value in taking it to the next step. >> And it does allow the services to offer something fun. Yeah. >> So, I mean, you know, there's people that may not know, hey, Oakland Corners existed in town. Oh my gosh, I'm thinking about buying or selling a house in the next six months. And that interaction right there, it it's genuine and it's not,

044hey, come buy my stuff, >> right? >> So, the benefits, yes, I I love the idea of optimizing and then assisting the businesses with taking advantage of, you know, optimizing with the foot traffic that's connected to it. Yeah, good choice of the word optimizing. I said and measuring and >> yeah, >> that sort of thing, not just >> earlier tonight when we were talking about the ED committee report and Jake was mentioning trying to get ways to bring people to town to do something different. I think we're already doing it in that sense that we are bringing people to town. Um, in my experience over the years, um, as a fire chief and I, you know, had our meetings all over the entire county, we had people from all the way to South Lion, all

045the way to Holly to, you know, Addison to whatever corner of the county. Always reported that Oxford had so many neat things going on in town and they, you know, they come from all those places, you know, for the events to to be here. Um, a lot of them are designed around the scarecrow festival, the polar expressive we just did are involved with full family children and stuff coming to town. But with those little tiny three and four and fiveyear-old kids comes grandpa and grandma and aunt and uncle, sisters and brothers of the parents and everything are coming to town are walking through the stores are seeing things that are coming here. Are they shopping that day? No, they're not here to shop that day. They're here to enjoy the event. >> Pardon [laughter] every

046speech. Yeah, but but again, I mean, the majority of the crowd [laughter] is not walking through the stores, you know, buying all kinds of things and carrying out armos of things that they purchased in the store. That's not >> not what they're, you know, the people are going to do that night, but they'll be here another day like Marie said, whatever they're coming through to on later days to to see here to experience and everything. Um, you know, you can keep increasing the events to make them, you know, more inclusive of different things and everything, but as far as trying to get them into the actual stores to do something, it's got to be a a complete community event. And I mean community event, I mean, every store owner has to step up to the

047plate >> and be responsible for it. Yes. The Polar Express on Yep. on Sunday. There was a little bit of snowfall that day, but there's still sidewalks in front of businesses that have not been shoveled in 10 days or more. From the door of that building out to the curb is the store owner's responsibility. Period. And including the backs of the buildings. So when if a store owner is not taking pride in ownership in their building and trying to promote people to get into their buildings by not cleaning it and making it presentable to get into the front of them, how can we drive somebody else from Rochester to come up here and go you got to go in that building right there because oh by the way it's slippery. Don't you know careful walking

048and Jakey just mentioned the ice and salt and everything up there too. the store owners have to buy into this and be responsible enough to help to help generate traffic because again if you're driving down and see the sidewalks are covered I'm not going to stop the heck with it >> you know I'll go to another community I mean you can go up to to Dryen and the sidewalks are completely clean and they got not even they only have as much as equals one quadrant in our community but those sidewalks are clear because they you know that's what the community pride is and come on downtown we're welcoming you we want you to come in right >> so it's it's a matter of everybody's got to be involved with it. It can't be just the

049DDA trying to come up with ways to force people into the building. So, >> downgrading >> all three of them, right? >> Yeah. >> So, anyhow, anything else on that? I think we've beat it up enough for tonight. [laughter] >> I'm just trying to figure out [clears throat] in other communities, right? Like there's some snow on the side like on the front like right next to Vinnie's, right? >> I have no control over Vinnie's and I want to I have to go shovel that. So I have to shovel a path that's one shovel all the way through the sidewalk. I don't have time to do that. I want an insurance company too. Outside the back door in the saddler I have to shovel that too from the sadery all the way to our back door.

050So in other communities even le where we popped up at last year. They have a plow service that just comes in and plows it. Bam. Bam. It's done. I would be willing to pay for part of that to just have it done. Did >> you get that on the tape? >> Yeah, [laughter] I would be. I would be. So, we do have our shoveled by a lady that comes around. There's like a team of them that go and shovel all of the at least in our area, >> our quadrant, right? They I mean, it's >> But it's a private >> It's private. >> Yeah. I mean, in other communities like >> I drove through Rochester this morning >> and I noticed I mean, it was one thing I was looking at because I'm watching people

051try to get out of their cars and there's that rim of snow from the plow. Rochester didn't have it. And I'm thinking, well, why not? And Leir didn't have it. And and it's because they they have a fella on a four-wheeler with a plow plowing everything out. So, I would it needs to be walkable for restaurants and retail >> no control over uh minis essentially. I appreciate that, but I think it takes a little bit of peer pressure from everybody else too to kind of, you know, you talk to the different business owners and say, "Hey, you know, step up to the plate, help it." You know, everybody has to help each other, but at the same time, I think peer pressure might go, [clears throat] you know, a little bit towards it, too. But

052the snow has been on the agenda for ever since I've been on the DDA going over 20 years or more that I've been on the DDA. And it's, you know, it's an agenda every single winter. We talk about snow. And you know, we've talked about private contractors, we've talked about DPW, we've talked about home, you know, the business owners, but it's, you know, until somebody walks forward with some money to help do it, you know, we're fighting an issue. So, >> or we just start finding them. If they don't clean it off, >> there's ordinance in place for that to happen. >> I think they find like $50. We have an ordinance in place. >> That helps with the shoveling payment though. So, >> yep. Kim, maybe that go on the debomb. Maybe the next

053one that we do is just bring it up there. >> I think it's vital, >> but not all the businesses call >> because >> well, the village has an ordinance to have it taken care of. So, it's not something that needs to be done by the everybody around here because they're supposed to take care of. >> Is it from the door? >> It's just not being enforced >> building to the curb. >> Yep. >> Okay. As Peter said, it's been on the agenda discussion forever, >> as long as I can remember. Yep. >> You know, it's sort of still breathing. [laughter] >> So, just to clarify, investigate help as well. Um, we do have an ordinance and we the ordinance called for one morning a year now, too. Um, we did up the, uh, fine

054a few years ago. It was like $15. Now it's 50, but we have to send out a warning ticket. Then if they don't do it, we write another violation and then eventually if it doesn't happen, RTP will go out and do it and we'll charge them. We have to make sure and charge them enough to where it's not convenient for them. We've had to do that at Vinnies in the past. Uh working with Vinnies and the owners for the last probably 3 four months about trying to get that demo. They were hoping to have that thing demoed by now. A lot of hiccups in their plan. They're architecting stuff at the plants that were turned in. They wanted to tear down that building and start putting up the new one the next day type of

055scenario versus tearing it down and leveling it out and coming back, you know, 6 months later and digging, which I think would be fine. Let's just get it down. But they really were married to the idea of tear it down today, dig the foundation hole tomorrow. Other plan wasn't adequate foundations and our building officials. So, it's back ball is back in their court. So, that's what's delaying that happen. But in the meantime, there there sits and I know a court officer that many morning tickets and violations and snow already. Um we do have [snorts] repeat offenders that the DPW a couple days before stupid just took it upon themselves to go down a certain quadrant of town that hard hardly touched and they just took upon themselves to clear that all out because less than

05648 hours a couple hundred or people walking there. >> That's not our domain. our domain from the from the building front to M24. It's either private property or they're MD right away. It we have no jurisdiction along M24 at all. Um only in buildings parking lots where we own do we like museum for instance. So [snorts] it is up to the buildings and and we have one of them. It's funny our village council president was in my office today. I said you know how you got those plaques walls in time for a ground break and there's a shovel on it. So, we need to create a golden shovel award here for those who really do a good job because there are one or two in town that do privately and do it as good or

057better than anyone including us. >> There are those who take the efforts to do it. >> I'm sitting in here thinking in my mind about shoveling all the way to the curb. Oh, I'm sorry. >> In some cases, let me back up one more. >> I want to ask you a question. So, Pete, you were saying uh recognizing how many have you actually issued? >> I don't issue them. Dan does. You have >> How many's been issued then? Whoever's done it. >> I don't know. Their list is in our retina report in ours last last month as well. >> Party store owners owe me any money because I shoveled in front of theirs the entire time and a streak on the back too. >> That mean you you private owner them private owner. >> We

058[laughter] will do it if when it comes if they don't respond to the motives. We have done in the past and especially when they have >> I mean there's no good having an ordinance if it's not enforced. >> I know we we sent >> it looks like there's quite a few >> in three years I never saw them out there to shovel. not not once do it way down >> you know and um one of the things the streetscape added a lot of more amenities along 24 to planters and stuff like so it's a little more difficult for the owners in some places to push that snow straight out into the parking bays so they have to deal with that's the pros and cons of adding all those >> where can you push it out

059in the street and then they plow it right >> where there is a parking bay in front of you you can push it right into that and people will push that parking bay down to the pile and then once that pile gets big they have to move it that's the only jurisdiction we have along M24 is those parking bays. Gotcha. >> And in the rear, is it the same? It's to >> in the rear. You can push right out in with the uh parking as well. Again, we have to get in there very early in the morning to push it out of there so cars come apart. So, it's a it's a cat and mouse game. Some people parking lot. You got to get there early enough and then come through and then it's still

060snowing. But we have to wait for the cars. But yeah, it's it's a it's a challenge. And then then M24, you know, the road cushion comes through and throws it all back on everybody's sidewalks again. >> Not happy about it. Just like when our guys do it on our streets, but that's not using that. >> No, I'm trying to think of a solution so young ladies don't break their head. I'm an insurance guy, so I'm thinking this is dangerous. Mhm. Okay, moving on to 8A unfinished business. The status of the problem. >> Yes. So the way it was left is the org committee has recommended that as of the end of our contract with not in April of 26 that we retire the current vehicle and pursue an alternative vehicle to increase our program. Um,

061in the meantime, Ashley and myself has have met with um Lynn from NOA around a potential proposal to Oakland County for funding for a trolley that would be owned by NOA and we would be having a service contract with them. Uh we were just set to meet with them again last week and we were asked to pause because of some things that are happening within NOTA's administration. So, they are not in a position at this time to move forward with that. Um, so that has been put on pause. Um, we've done some research around other communities that have trolleys, who owns those trolleys, how they're being utilized. That was all going to be part of that conversation as well. That has been paused. But what I one one data point that I can share is

062in Port Heron, the museum owns a trolley. It's a 2019 trolley and they paid almost 500,000 for it. Um, and it's on a one-hour loop. It goes through their historical attractions within the community. It hooks into their transportation network and they do charge for their riders. >> Rod, tie in with [clears throat] that a little bit. uh as Kimberly just indicated cuz I did do uh some research myself and I spoke with note as well uh trolleys are about half a million dollars. [clears throat] So that's an impediment. Secondly, there's discussion in Oakland County that not might not be in existence in a few years if you follow what happens politically in Oakland County government. [cough] Uh so keep that in mind before we go too far down that path. And thirdly uh my impression

063from discussions is NOTA isn't necessarily interested in doing a a trolley regardless. >> Agreed. >> Uh it's not part of their thought process. So yeah, we could come up with this and come up with that, but they might not want to participate. It's there. It would be a a large investment on their end because there's no way that the county will give money for a vehicle that's only being used, you know, 10 to 15 hours a week. So, they would be expected, they would anticipate that they would be expected to utilize this trolley in another capacity on the off hours of what we're using. And they're just not feeling that that's something that they would want to get into. Um, so we were going to move forward and just see where the proposal went and

064then they could make a decision if we were to receive that funding. But again, there's some internal things happening and they're just not in a position to be able to even do that at this time. >> Kimberly, as of right now, the trolley is done for the rest of the I mean, it's there is no use for it until maybe St. Patrick's Day. >> So, no, we are not able to use it for St. Patrick's Day, but if we were to have a larger scale um event in February, I would like to try and utilize it for that. >> Pete, what did the replacement uh cost us for the uh recent event? >> I'm sorry. >> Polar Express. What did that cost? >> How much did that cost? It was $2,000 for five hours. >>

065And that included the driver, too, if I recall. >> It did. And the travel time from their facility. >> Where was that, by the way? >> Frasier. >> Brazier. That's a long drive. It is >> 2,000 bucks for how many hours again? >> Five. Five hours within Oxford and then half hour there, half hour back. >> Okay. It must drive fast. >> Well, maybe it was longer. I don't know. I'm just I'm guesstimating. Yeah. >> Okay. 5 hours. It was a beautiful vehicle. [laughter] It is shiny and new and it has heat and it has a sound system. So, it was really nice and interesting to be able to sit in that. Um, it doesn't have the quaint charm of our current trolley. Um, our driver thought it was really cool that we had a

066trolley and she thought it was really neat to be able to drive by it. But, um, yeah, it's very, very expensive. So, if it were something that we were trying to contract out for special events, we would it would be a very big >> cost, >> right? Yeah. So, you know, we paid 6,100 bucks for the existing trolley. Uh, and we've gotten some pretty good deals on having it repaired over the years. you know, we haven't paid for a lot of stuff, right? So that but if we had to pay for things, there's no way in heck that thing should be around. I mean, ultimately what's going to happen, whether they like it or love it, it has to be sold. And I think if we do special events, we want something, we go the

067route that we had to do for the Polar Express. >> Yeah. >> Um I I love the trolley. It was my idea to start with. I think it's great and it looks cute, all that kind of stuff, but you know, it's it's a white elephant. I will say we did get an inquiry about selling the trolley. >> How much? >> Well, there were no numbers given. We have not gotten. >> We could sell that a profit. We got a good price in it. >> Yeah. So, that's interesting. And then um the other piece is um in speaking with the mechanic who made the most recent um repairs, he had said in his professional opinion, it would not be wise to continue to put any more money into that vehicle. Y >> in light of all

068that with discussion that we've all had back and forth again we have a new event potentially in February >> if it's cold weather crappy like it was this weekend it's not wrong it's not going to happen so >> as far as everything else is concerned I know we've had conversations with Orient we've had conversations with not doesn't want to provide drivers for St. papri or anything like that. My personal opinion at this point is that we should say as of tonight make a decision that it's done. Go ahead and list it, market it, get rid of it, do whatever. And again, for the the thing in February, if we have to do something, then we can, you know, rent another one for that day. But in the meantime, I think it's, you know, we're we're

069holding on to it basically till till March, April because, you know, LOD is not going to hold us to to a contract of any kind. And Orian agrees with us, too. They're not willing to put anything into it. So, I think it's just >> as it's just sitting there for the rest of winter. We might as well get rid of it now and be done with it. >> I don't I don't see any reason to keep it any longer than past today. And >> I I'll reiterate what Pete's saying. It's it's it's been fun. It's been good. We got a lot of PR out of it, but you know, it's time to move on. You It's a matter of when we sell it. I don't know what the best time to sell it probably is.

070Probably not March or February. I don't know, but whatever else. I know the bidding process, uh, I can't remember what month we did that, but I think we could sell. It's in operating shape in the summertime anyhow. So maybe we sell it in the spring. But um >> yeah, I would be worried that if we had a potential buyer wanting to come and check it out and then it wouldn't be able to start, that would >> Yeah, that deal would not go through. So maybe having it a little bit warmer where we're not worried about the potential of it not starting might make more sense. >> But I think we plan on sometime late spring putting it up for sale. And then >> I think the alternative you came up is a great idea. >>

071You know, besides, what choice do we have? >> I think another choice. >> In the meantime, I think we need to find a home for it for the winter. >> Oh, we did. >> Cool. >> We did. It'll be parked at parks and wreck at Seymour Lake Park. >> Perfect. >> Oh, good idea. >> Perfect. Good job. >> That was Rudy's Rudy or Joe's idea. Yeah. >> All right, Rudy. after he was so gracious about saying they had no room at their yard. [laughter] [snorts] >> It's pretty limited space over there. >> So, it's a matter of getting it started. >> Getting it started and getting it over there. So, >> they have to move, didn't they? To move their operation. >> They moved out. >> They're up on North Oxford Road now, right? >>

072Part of it next door, >> right? So >> okay the government >> do we need to take action then to make a motion tonight it's done or what do we want to do? >> I mean personally I think you know do we do we want to prepare a motion to authorize to be put up for sale in May or June or do you want to wait a month? I mean I don't have to do it tonight but I mean if you I think we've come to a consensus based on logic that it needs to go >> right. I mean I don't want to see it sitting here till June till we start doing something about it. We just want to make sure it runs. So, >> as soon as we can. Yeah. If we can

073get it running and then >> and I'm fairly confident not will be most helpful in making sure that that happens to get rid of it. >> Well, no. I I know from conversations they don't want anything to do. >> They do not want anything to do with it. >> Right. The last time when we purchased it, that was done on through the state bid. >> Yeah. The auction >> which was auction which was >> published whatever through the entire state of Michigan has that on there. And at that time, we were the highest bidder. So, I'm concerned that we're even going to get the same amount. I can't see us getting any more. Nobody else bid on it before us. >> Yeah. >> You know, Pete, that was uh through the government bidding process. We're

074not restricted to do that at this point. We can put on the market. This is a private buyer. That was it. >> It was. And they weren't planning to utilize it as a riding vehicle. It was just going to be more of an attraction. So, we can get with this person and see if they have a number that they would feel comfortable with and if it's anywhere near what we paid for it, that's >> So, does this make sense in terms of timing and resolutions? Uh, if Kimberly checked on that and said, "Hey, I mean, do we have an idea price-wise?" I mean, we we paid 6100 bucks for it, and I think it's worth more because I when I was doing homework on purchasing trolleys, they were typically 15, 20, 50,000, 80,000 bucks. So,

0756100 was a hell of a deal. But um I think we can get a few bucks more than we paid for it. >> I don't know. I think the concern would be that to repair this particular trolley because the systems are all aftermarket kind of cobbled together essentially. That's the biggest challenge we found is finding parts that actually fit on this trolley. >> We know that. So to sell that to someone knowing that they're going to have to either >> I think what you should do is ask them what they want to pay for it rather than tell why they should. >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not throwing a number out. >> Yeah. >> You know I think that's you know if you want to find out what they think it's worth. Let's talk about

076the next meeting and see if that's what we want to accept. >> I don't know. We'll put that on January's agenda then to >> and we can always advertise it too, right? I mean we're not restricted to go through the government bidding process. No, we can do any bidding process we want to, but I mean it's, you know, whatever is going to get the most exposure, I think, is what you're looking for. >> So maybe it's available if someone's requesting the information, then we actively try to sell it in the spring when we know it starts. >> So if they came with a can't really hit a good price, then guess we could just be done with it, not even advertise, right? >> That would be amazing. >> That would be cool. >> Fingers crossed.

077>> Christmas miracle. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> All right. 9A new business, the strategic plan and [clears throat] annual plan. >> Yes. So, this is something we talked about last month and I think maybe the month before, but really what I would like to accomplish, I don't think we're going to end up doing it today, but Ashley had suggested that we schedule some time after our next board meeting to do kind of a working session. But the goal is really to take a look at our strategic plan that we created in July of 2024 and then the action plan that came out of that to really look at the top one to two things that we're going to put our time and money into in 2026. And so this this action plan is it's divided out

078by year and there's like step like you have to do step one in this year, step two. It kind of all builds on each other. We did have some changes to those timing pieces because of staffing changes of course. Um this document that's in your packet is just a onepage overview of the key points of our strategic plan and down here in the key strategies is what this action plan is. So in preparation for our work working session um I would ask that you review this review these and the conversations that we'll be having at this workshop will be do these all still make sense? Do we still want to focus on these things moving forward? And for those with timing that would align with 25 26 is that what are those that we really

079want to focus on our time and our money. So it's just more of a heads up. Please do some homework in preparation for next month. >> Any questions? >> Okay. just a comment about this then the uh survey for the committee on the DDA I suppose that will fit in with this as well right >> yeah so that will be interesting to see if that aligns with any of this [clears throat] because I think our strategic plan I don't believe we had community feedback on that I think Grace did at the time Grace did some preparatory community um survey sessions and I think that was rolled into that information but I think the workshop we did did not include. >> We didn't have anybody show up. >> Yeah. So, it'll be interesting to see if

080it's consistent with what came out of that or if there's something new that pops up. And again, that's where we can as or you as a board can say that makes a lot of sense. Let's focus on that right now or no, let's hold that until 27. >> Kimberly, what's the deadline on on the feedback from the community on the >> January 9th. So, is everyone familiar with that? I know I sent something to you, Jake, about it, but you know, feedback from the community about the DDA. So, if you get a chance to tell friends or people in town about or fill it out yourself, I think that'd be helpful to your point. >> Yeah, it's really looking to see what the community and business owners, property owners would like to see the DDA

081do. What do they think we're doing well? What do they would think we should do better? And what are some suggestions? >> Very good. >> Where is that posted? Is it on like Facebook or >> It's on our Facebook um page, but if you need it, let me know. We can email it. >> No, I just figured we can encourage people to >> I've been doing reminders once a week, so I'll I'll continue to do that once a week. We'll >> And then I'll share. >> All right. The uh 9B lighting inventory. >> That's Mr. Mador. >> So, in your packet, I noticed is uh the information Rudy got with us. uh just about two weeks ago or less. Um you're you're aware that some of the old lights on the back sides of the

082businesses are old styles and stuff. Uh I can picture the one like behind the bike shop behind the the old school building a large teardrop that had a large clear globe and glow there. That's that's one of them. Uh let me see >> teardrop style globe might be that one. And then the other one is the Sternberg replacement globe. The Sternberg are the ones behind um behind >> Hudson Street. >> Pardon? >> Hudson Street as as well as the ones I think perhaps behind 24th Street Tavern and stuff. Some of those or the tear drop ones too. Can't remember. Hudson Street has them for sure. And then some along like the one that got bumped. >> They created embroidery >> embroidery during the >> uh Bur Street. >> Yes. On Birdie Street. Um that's one

083of these old ones as well. They're old. They're not manufactured anymore. They're they're hard to find. They actually like custom make them. They have That's why they have to order in minimums made. And we need one of each right now. We have We had a gentleman, you know, um, amazingly sent me an email one morning. I was in behind 24th Street Tavern, his trailer, whatever. He bumped it. It fell off and he let us know, "Hey, I did this. Let us know." Of course, we don't have replacement for them because they're so hard to come by. And so you see we had to order 10 of the teardrop styles at 37750 each and five of the stern ones at around 400 each. And I just said to myself, you know, that's something probably that as

084you talk about doing work on the back lots and the backwards and things like that that probably should get some of these ordered up and have them in stock. PW took the one I think over by the converter shop with the soldering done and stuff like that crack got them from me together just have to put back up there temporarily but we get inventories built up on those. Luckily they're they're nothing like the cost of that new light post 24 which are $10,000 each and it seems like we two or three of those hit by car a year. [cough] Every now and then we get lucky and have someone do some charges through through the court. [cough and laughter] So yeah, you might want to look at getting these up. Um the one now at

085the one that fell behind everything that >> does have any idea what lead time is on them? Um, I don't know that it it we we've struggled with them in the past [cough and clears throat] and it could take a month or two. I mean, I believe so. >> Is freight pretty expensive as well? >> I don't think so. >> Okay. >> Cuz the the ones are they're plastic. >> Oh, >> right. The big two. I don't know. And the other one I believe is two. I don't think it just they're so old. Kind of obs. >> Let's back to the light post on the road. You said two or three get hit a year by cars. >> That's the newer ones that were put in uh by the 2020 uh street project, street skate

086project. Um some of the older ones were extended further down [cough] all the way to the end and the north end of the older ones as well, but the new ones. >> Okay. Well, I'm curious what the result of that was like. Was it charged back to the auto insurance for property damage? big deal. I >> was like, if not, I know we've got them out >> cameras out front are allowed, so maybe we should allow. >> What's that? >> Um, are c cameras allowed outside of the front of businesses? >> Well, we had a Ring doorbell camera or something like that. Sure. Okay, cool. >> Um, I think it was only one instance that we didn't have. We had pieces parts, but someone ran one over a, you know, middle of the night, no

087one saw it, and they they kept on going. >> Typically, they end up not going to try when they hit one of those. Well, recently there was a a bad accident up here at the corner. A gentleman fell asleep, I think it was a couple months ago, right by Kennedy Surveying. And now that one was replaced now. One just south of that. There was one the kid rolled his Jeep. >> Um >> right fire hall. >> Yeah, right across from the fire hall. The one just south of the one Kennedy's. Um so that's two of them. The one by Kennedy's was like a year or so ago. Year and a half ago. Don was still here. Gentleman fell asleep. He went right through the corner. Good thing he hit I think probably would end up

088in Kennedy's front wall had he not but luckily neither of them were seriously hurt. The other one was not that long ago with a young man in his jeep roll right there and hit the one just south of Kennedy. Those those are the older style ones but then we have to replace them with the new ones and they're 10 grand. >> Thank you. Mhm. >> So each time that happens, you know, we have direct that cost us and we get all the work done on our guys. It's good to have charge back most cases. >> Are you looking for a motion tonight? >> I would ask you guys to make a motion to get those ordered. >> Is this all in a DDA district? >> Yes. >> Yep. There should be a $1,000 deductible connected

089to that if it's a property damage claim against the vehicle, >> right? For those ones, we don't get >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. [clears throat] >> Okay. All right. >> Wages payment trucks eventually. >> Yeah. sometimes. >> So, I'll make a motion that we uh purchase the uh what do you call these again, please? >> The light globes. >> Light globes. Uh to replace and build an inventory as indicated on the board packet. I don't know if that's good language, but >> I'll second that. >> Been moved by Charles, please. >> Roll call, please. >> Yay. >> Yes. >> Jake O'Brien. Yep. >> Holly Piper. Yes. Jay Choy. >> Yes. >> Melissa Konales. >> Yes. >> Pete Schultz. >> Yes. >> Rod Ch. >> Yes. >> Do you have a quick question? >> Ro,

090I apologize. You know, when I was going through the board packet the other day, um I forgot to ask you on your executive director report. You mentioned that you met with Sarah Dan and I've been thinking about it because I drive by. It's still an eyesore. When do we have something being done over there to clean that place up? I we went we met with them today and it sounds like within the next 10 to 15 days they will have the go-ahad to be able to do that. So once they get coordinated they'll let us know so that we can help promote it. >> Well, I'm sorry. What what kind of go-ahad do they need? >> We've issued a demo permit. >> Okay. >> Their their disconnects have been done. The sewer and water that's

091why we issued the permits. When they get down to actually do the sewer disconnect, we have to be on site to for the capping. The water had been removed. DTE and consumers have been removed. That's why we issued the demo permit months ago. They were hoping to get to it before they got real busy in the season and they didn't. So I knew once they're busy until they got to the point where they slowed down and they're out underground excavating work until then they wouldn't be able to put any time any. [clears throat] And it sounds like they got to that point. Yeah, it sounded like, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought they had said something that they were waiting for a permit or a certification or something to be able to

092do that. Now, I don't know that it was from you. It didn't sound like it was from you, but >> like the guys need training. >> Oh, that's right. Because of there's some potential um >> hazardous pain or something else. >> So, you expect maybe what April or March or sometime >> to knock it down. Yeah. No, I think within the next month or two. >> Oh, perfect. >> Is kind of the message that >> and what she wanted us from a communication standpoint is they don't have a plan as of right now. So, their plan is to knock it down. And then after that, they'll reevaluate and figure out what they're going to do with that space. >> Well, whatever they do is going to be better than what's there >> now. Clean up

093a lot. >> Yeah. The whole lot's been cleaned up. The building is what's left. So, the back part of it was just as bad as the front part. So, big >> difference. Just right. >> Channy Kathy here. I apologize. Uh, Mr. Mador, what's going on with that telephone pole in the middle of the road on Berdick there >> on the U. >> You know which one I'm talking about. That's been there for a couple years now. >> Beric Street Equipment. >> Yep. Yeah. Across the street there. Right in the middle of the road there in a parking spot. There's a telephone pole. Looks like a joke meme. >> Could be. >> It is. >> Toss move that thing two years ago. Last I >> heard. And I think we're 50% on the list. [laughter] >>

094I think I think we're 52, but it might take >> Oh my god. >> But maybe somebody needs to remind them. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> it only goes and feeds one house or one, >> but you guys know what I'm talking about. It's kind of crazy because here's a telephone right in the middle of the road. It's like, come on, people. >> It's on the road. It's [laughter] >> Yeah. Okay. >> We drive in there. Mhm. >> All right. Sorry. I just >> It's not our project. So >> I drive by and I look I go, "How did someone plan that?" You know, so whatever. That kind of goes back to what Roman Gowaskki did in the report. Like you said, 51 52. It's It's almost funny, but it's not funny. >> Maybe

095Roman can reach out to them. >> All right. 9C January meeting. >> Yes. So then our next meeting, [clears throat] excuse me, falls on Martin Luther King Day in which the village offices are closed. >> Pardon me. >> I'll be out of town. You guys >> Okay. So, we just wanted to propose um a conversation to see if you wanted to remain on that night or if you want to change it. >> What was that date? >> The 19th. I think it's >> January 19th. >> I just don't meet if it's in my calendar. I don't see any reason. Yes, >> I I personally don't have a problem with that and I I know the other groups I may go ahead. So, [clears throat] but I'm flexible. >> I'm okay to meet. >> Is it

096possible to move it to the 20th the next day? It's a Tuesday, but you don't have you guys don't have a meeting that day. >> Planning commission be a third Tuesday that night. >> Yeah. >> Planning the first and third, but we don't always have >> but we don't know. Well, [laughter] >> we're gonna have one on the stick. So, probably not on that. >> I would say probably not. >> But that's why we just leave it as it is. I think there's too many complications switching around, you know. So, >> I mean, I make a motion that we just keep it at January. >> Technically, it is they are both off that day, too. >> It doesn't >> overtime. [laughter] No. So I Yeah. I would just assume >> So you can't be here

097on the night or won't be here on the 19th is what you're saying. >> I did not say that. >> All right. So you could have >> during I'm sorry. Yes. I will not be in the office during office hours on the 19th. >> Okay. So you could be here in the meeting for the meeting. Okay. >> We met on Veterans Day here too, but same thing. We talked last December, January about moving it, moving it, moving it. Everything we talked about too big work for summer. >> Exactly. >> So we left it on it and we met we weren't open and I didn't work that in the office but we were both here that night onvember board plug. >> I'm flexible with either one. >> Yeah, I'm okay with either. Well, I'd like to

098personally, as I said, I moving things around, as Joe said, there's complications and since we have Mondays booked off, I just soon keep it that day myself. We all have, you know, the rule, you want something done, ask a busy person. So, we're all involved with different activities. Thoughts on that? Anything else? >> Are you okay? >> You guys got any comments on that? One way or the other, I'm okay with either one. I 19th. >> I'm good with the 19th. If we're moving it to the 20th, I'd want to do it sooner than later so I can block it off. >> We'll stay in the 19th. >> Very good. And next is 9D. Yeah, this is kind of an FYI thing and uh you know Pete and Kimley can kick in on it too,

099but just to make the board aware of what's going on uh with some TIFF money and how about if we start Kim as I mentioned earlier just could you take a moment to start by defining what TIFF money is so we could start with that that logic. So, the way that we are funded is that we get a portion of taxes essentially from different entities um throughout the state of Michigan, Metro Detroit area, I would say. Is it >> not quite >> on our community? >> Just Well, don't we have like the parks, >> right? Whatever's whatever taxed on our >> campus. Okay, got it. Um, so we like to joke that we're the DDA mob and we just skim off the top of everybody else's taxes, but that is how we are funded. So

100while we are not technically a municipality, we have oversight from our m municipality from a financial perspective to make sure that we are not doing anything inappropriate with said funding. Um, so we just went through a re-evaluation of our tiff plan in early 2024. it was adopted and it runs for 30 years I believe. >> 20 Okay. Well, wishful thinking. >> Um and so at that point that's an opportunity for all of those entities to say either yay or nay that they were going to continue to participate in that program. Um it's also something that I think most of you were here for the brownfield tiff that we were talking about. So that particular parcel, we will not be getting that money while they're working through that process. And when that is over, then we'll

101get a very a much larger amount than we have seen in the past for that parcel. >> So So the point being, you know, I like your terminology, the the tiff mod, because what it means is anytime there's a millage, a DDA gets a small portion of it. So if the fire department, as Pete knows, has a millage, the DDA gets a little piece of it. Parks, recreation in Oct has a millillage. The township, everybody kicks in other than the school systems and also within Oakland County too. So Oakland County parks and recreation has a millillage. We get some money from that. Uh the transportation when there's a millage for that, we get a little tiny piece of that as well. So I'll come in here. It goes back to I think 1972 state legislation

102and our previous county executive Brooks Patterson was a big fan of of of Main Street and DDAs and things like that. So we get this money uh and some background. I know entities have the option of withdrawing if they want every 20 years. Uh our Oxford library has decided not to participate in the future. So that money which I think correct me Joe I think it's around 40,000 bucks a year. >> Yeah. Around 40 grand give or take that money is not going to be paid into the D-Day going forward. Uh you mentioned the Brownsfield Randy Levas here did an analysis that's a 22-year abatement that's going to cost the DDA about $144,000 on that abatement over the lifespan. Uh recently Oakland County Board of Commissioners who's entertaining a proposal to change the TIFF funding

103in Oakland County and that's going to reduce money coming into not just Oxford DDA uh but DDA's area. In fact, one township supervisor, not here in Oxford, said to some extent that's going to destroy a lot of the tiff plans in Oakland County. So, Oakland County government is looking to reduce money that goes to DDAS. It's something that we need to keep in mind as a board when we vote on spending money and things like that. Okay. Um, and you can say, "Yeah, I know Kimberly can kick a little bit what what you heard over there, but uh, knowing Oakland County government, even though we have a 20-year TIFF plan, there's ways of wiggling around wiggling around that. So, don't count on it not being changed." And one of the things they're talking about, too,

104is the county board, by the way, county board of commissioners has a system that if you meet their criteria, you get a certain amount of that TIFF money. You do this, you get 25%. You do this, you get 50%. So, that's a proposal. It's not been passed yet, but in all likelihood, it's going to pass to some extent. I have the original form here. Uh, this is the original proposal, but it's still being discussed at the county level. So, it's just just want to as an FYI to everybody, you know, because that's that's where the money comes from for these projects we're talking about, for paying Jesse, for paying Kimberly. It comes from this tax capture money. You know, it's not falling out of the ceiling. So be careful that we keep an eye on

105what happens at the county level. That's it. And Kimberly, you want a time that you said that you talked about the county a little bit. >> Yeah. So we had um we had some conversations with the county and with my counterparts in different communities. Um we were in indicate it was indicated to me that because we recently went through the TIF program, we kind of locked it in for 20 years, there's going to be a minimal impact. But I think Rod's point is we don't really know what that's going to look like when it's all said and done. >> Joe. >> Yes. So in the 10th plan that was uh renewed 20 years last year, um there's a breakdown of the entities that provided. The bulk of your funding comes from the village of Oxford

106and Oxford Township, I think we're around 25,000 or 240,000. The township with with the parks and the other entities involved are around maybe 180,000 somewhere. So of the $550,000 roughly coming to the to the uh EDA 400 plus of that comes from those two entities that is pretty much locked in supportive of it. The Hon Metropolitan Authority is a small portion of it. The library is a small portion of it and the library wanted to opt out but they couldn't because when there was a bond put in place for some water and stuff infrastructure a few years back until that bond is paid off they can't get out. that bond is like July of 2028 I believe is the last payment of that bond. At that time they can pull theirs out. So they're locked

107in for a few more years. Yes, they indicated they want to get out, but they couldn't because of that bond encumbrance of them. But again, [clears throat] the county and and the county parks to some degree do offer a portion of it, but I would say uh somewhere around only 20 20% of what you your revenue is from the tax increment financing. And again how it's designed is the tax finance when they draw a line when you decide to put a chip plan together they draw a line. What's the taxable value on a property today? You draw a line and as that property incrementally increases over the years if that incremental increases that they get shoved aside and skimmed off to dev. So if that incremental so for instance the the south Washington triangle that

108147 south project down there when that was drawn the village box we collect $100 a year about that 3.87 28, 700, whatever it is. The DBA, if I I looked at the thing, they they collect about $638 a year of it right now. Um, so that that's where it's at today because when that line was drawn, we'll we will never get more than that $100 because our line was drawn. plan that went in effect now with the new brownfield tiff is the incremental the tax revenue that the DDA is capturing now a lot of land was drawn as and the the property value increases due to the development you won't get any of that till those 22 days expire as well so that's the part that won't happen until then but you'll continue to get

109what you get today but nothing more even the small incremental increases that happen across the board one two 3% effective batteries go nor get a little more each year. You won't you're going to be like we are drew a line on that property. The line was drawn and that's where you'll be for the next 22 years. But it's a incremental improvements. Uh I've been I met with the developer recently on another east project just the side of uh the post office there in the back there standing about a development. Been meeting with them in July. Met with our planner again this last week about it about a potential development there. We were talking about those lots the DA three vacant lots the DA had. One of them Mr. Luckle built on two of them are

110still part of the vacant lots with the telephone pole in the middle of parking space. We're hopeful that this gentleman on the back side and again we could work something out with the property owner get that developed because again the biggest bang for that is you got this real home down there that you're cutting sometimes that goes down and you and you get a new development there. Now there's a whole new amount of taxable value on that property that would pretty much all go to the BBA. We're working diligently with that developer to hopefully get that project sold and and developed. But that's how it works and that's by having those things in the DDA district. >> My point my if I can go ahead with what I was talking about. The point I'm trying

111to make though is that just to keep an eye on our budget >> because we're going to lose in fairly short order. The library is coming off 40 45 grand. Okay. >> That's gone forever once the bond is paid off which is what may have >> two and a half years. July of 2018 I think last >> right and then we lost you know the money from this the Brownsfield thing and then it looks like the county is going to take away some more money from what they kick in on the parks. That's that's that those three bullet points right there. So, just kind of keep that in mind when we do our budget that we just, you know, we're losing library, this 22 year, $144,000 tax abatement, and then the county with what they're

112doing with uh their money. >> But, but that's property that right now you're only collecting $638 a year on it. >> If that's that big for 22 years, you you aren't losing what you don't have. So, it isn't coming out of your missing out getting it. To your point, >> such a great deal, the village didn't give us anything, right? We gave it our blessing and we're still going to get our $100 a year out of it. >> All right. [laughter] >> Yep. >> Good enough for us, but not good enough for you. >> We couldn't give any more than that. >> Yeah. All right. Moving on to number 10. Any items removed from the consent agenda? There will be none. Board member comments. I will start all the way down. Jake, >> welcome Jake.

113[laughter] >> Who? >> Great first meeting and >> [clears throat] >> This is a short one. >> Yeah, [laughter] I learned all kinds of stuff here today. >> Holiday year flew by. Had some really good times this year. Look forward to next year. All the stuff that we can do next year a little bit better, right? >> Okay. >> I just want to say thank you to everybody for that grant, that facade grant on our building. It really helps us stand out and the support is awesome. So, and uh thank you for having me. I think it's going to be fun and I'm excited actually to to uh make some progress. So, >> yeah, welcome Jake. >> Thank you. >> Nice to have you on the board. Um and merry Christmas. [laughter] >> Welcome Jake

114and um great job with Soup and Sweet Stroll. It's always a wonderful event. I do I think a lot of folks liked having those sections of the road closed off to make that more walkable, a little bit less scary with kids running around and things like that. So, always a beautiful event and merry Christmas to everyone. Go Lions. [laughter] >> Oh man, you have to hurt us. >> I know. Listen, >> Merry Christmas. That's it. >> Welcome, Jay. I also would like to say you guys have done a great job. We've had a lot backtoback events and a lot going on and your communication's been great and everything. I've only heard positive feedback other than the parking. [laughter] >> So yeah, and then um I do have one other I mean there are several buildings

115in for sale. So in order to get more shoppers, we really need more retail. So um send them my way. I'm happy to help. [laughter] So, shameless plug, but yeah. Merry Christmas. >> I move to adjourn. [laughter] >> When I'm ready. >> Oh, we're ready. >> Yes. Okay. >> We're ready. >> Jake, welcome. >> Thank you. >> Excited to have somebody else on the board. New new fresh blood, everything. We'll definitely bleed you dry, but uh look forward to working with you. I want to take a moment for on behalf of the entire DDA to thank thank Jacob Masia for his time spent on the DDA. It was a pleasure working with him. I think he helped us a lot. It was a nice, you know, person that put a lot of input into it

116and everything and I would really appreciate what he has done for us and definitely we're going to miss him here on the board. So, >> yeah, >> a good thank you for him. >> Um, to Kimberly and to Jessica, [clears throat] um, thank you for your first year. I think between the two of you guys have done a phenomenal job this year. You definitely have moved us ahead of where we were before. um look forward to well working in future keeping that and that going and everything. The events turned out really well. My fingers finally on thaw this past weekend from student three hours out there dipping was a little cold on it but uh it was a fun event. Um again you've got people to events like that that come from from everywhere. So

117I mean we're talk you know a lot of I say probably a large percentage of the people were for automters that are all coming in you know family members and everything and they look forward to everything. So, I think it's, you know, definitely for the community and I think it's a great exposure that we can all be very proud of, you know, going forward. Um, it was a great year to be finished up with the pretty much most of the project. We've got the, you know, Berdick Street sidewalk taken care of. Um, the gazebo has all been completely renovated and, you know, fixed up nice. Uh, in the spring we'll look again hopefully at if we can afford to do the handicap ramp on and everything, but otherwise I think it's, you know, definitely help

118the community out. um sidewalk repairs we did on South Washington Street. Everything got those taken care of that ordinarily we wouldn't have been able to to afford it and to the Joe's project there on Bill Street. We got you taken care of on that. So definitely we did some good things this year and I think every one of us can be proud of what's taken place and I hope the community you know realizes how much we've done and that wouldn't take place without you know the efforts of the DDA moving forward on that. So happy holidays to everybody and look forward to working it for everybody in the new year. Now we can do a rock. I make a motion to adjourn. [laughter] >> I'll support it. >> All in favor? >> Meeting adjourned.