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CITY OF MUSKEGON
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AUTHORITY/BROWNFIELD
REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
MEETING
April 14, 2026 @ 10:30 AM
CONFERENCE ROOM 204
933 TERRACE STREET, MUSKEGON, MI 49440
MINUTES
AGENDA
CALL TO ORDER
M. Bottomley called the meeting to order at 10:33 and roll was taken.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Martha Bottomley, Kiel Reid, Sherri Black, Michael
Kleaveland, James Curtis, Andrew Boyd, Brad Hastings, Jeanette moore,
Jonathan Seyferth, JoAnn Dornbos, Chad Doane
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Bob Tarrant, Kathryne Lynnes
STAFF PRESENT: J. Hines, W. Webster, J. Eckholm, I. Gonzalez, L. Mikesell, S. Wilson
OTHERS PRESENT: R. Gorman, J. Bordon for 1937 Lakeshore Dr, R. Wilson from
Fishbeck for 1937 Lakeshore Dr, D. Ja
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
I. Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes Economic Development
A motion to Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes was made by B. Hastings,
supported by A. Boyd, all in favor.
ROLL CALL
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PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
NEW BUSINESS
I. BRA: Brownfield Plan Amendment, 1937 Lakeshore Dr. — Randers
Engineers and Constructors, INC Economic Development
The Brownfield Plan Amendment will help facilitate the redevelopment of the
former Harbor Theatre site located at 1937 Lakeshore Dr. This amendment will
enable the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to reimburse Randers Engineers
and Constructors, INC for eligible environmental and site redevelopment
activities supporting the creation of new housing units and a commercial
space.
The former Harbor Theater, now known as the Encore, has remained vacant
and blighted for quite some time and will be programmed into a three-story, 11-
unit mixed-use building, with the lower level acting as commercial space with
parking. These market rate units will be three 1-bed units, seven 2-bed units, and
one 3-bed unit. The total project investment is $3,750,000.
Eligible activities: The plan covers a wide range of eligible activities necessary
for site redevelopment, including:
• Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Necessary to Support Housing —
$525,000
• Demoliton--$165,000
• Brownfield Plan Amendment Preparation — $20,000
• Brownfield Plan Amendment Implementation — $10,000
• Contingency - $103,500
• Authority Administration Cost — $62,314
• Local Brownfield Revolving Fund (LBRF) — $360,460
The reimbursement period is anticipated to last until 2052, with collection of TIF
revenues beginning in 2027. The LBRF could potentially start collecting revenue
in 2049. The timeline of the reimbursement period may be adjusted pending
approval of a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) certificate or an Obsolete
Property Rehabilitation (OPRA) certificate.
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Motion by J. Seyferth, second by M. Kleaveland, to approve the resolution for
the Brownfield Plan Amendment located at 1937 Lakeshore Dr. and further
request staff to set a public hearing before the Muskegon City Commission to
consider adoption of the plan.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: J. Curtis, M. Kleaveland, A. Boyd, B. Hastings, M. Bottomley, S.
Black, J. Moore, C. Doane, J. Dornbos, J. Seyferth
Nays: K. Reid
MOTION PASSES
II. DDA: Acceptance of Financial Report for March 31, 2026 Economic
Development
City staff is requesting approval of the financial report for the period ending
March 31, 2026. The current projected fund balance is $454,964.56. Significant
March revenues were Property Tax Revenue in the amount of $513,921 and
reimbursement of TIF loss from the State of Michigan in the amount of $2,057.91
Significant March expenses were staffing.
Motion by B. Hastings, second by J. Moore, to approve the March 31, 2026
financial report as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: J. Curtis, M. Kleaveland, A. Boyd, B. Hastings, M. Bottomley, S.
Black, J. Moore, C. Doane, J. Dornbos, J. Seyferth, K. Reid
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
III. DDA: Facade Grant for 380 W. Western Ave Suite 140 Economic
Development
ZINI LLC submitted a façade improvement grant request in the amount of
$12,551 to assist with the purchase and installation of an exterior sign, with a
total project cost of $25,103.
ZINI will be operating out of the former Subway location at 380 W. Western Ave.,
Suite 140. The business plans to offer premium craft cocktails, mocktails, and
Asian-inspired small bites.
In addition, the owner intends to utilize the space as a hospitality training hub
and incubator for aspiring hospitality entrepreneurs.
Motion by J. Seyferth, second by J. Curtis, to approve a facade improvement
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grant up to $12,551 for ZINI LLC.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: J. Curtis, M. Kleaveland, A. Boyd, B. Hastings, M. Bottomley, S.
Black, J. Moore, C. Doane, J. Dornbos, J. Seyferth
Nays: K. Reid
MOTION PASSES
IV. DDA: Heritage Village Street Lamps Manager's Office
The City Commission approved a contract for street lighting with the Muskegon
Heritage Association, Inc. in late 2016. At that time, the Heritage Association
owned the lamps and desired to retrofit them to LED fixtures such that the city
would take ownership of them. Several of the lamps and wiring need to be
repaired, and the estimated cost of repair is $6,000. The city's entire budget for
street lighting repairs this year is $10,000 leaving little for the rest of the city after
the Heritage Village lamp expense.
Motion by K. Reid, second by S. Black, to approve the $3,000 expense toward
repairing the street lamps in Heritage Village..
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: J. Curtis, M. Kleaveland, A. Boyd, B. Hastings, M. Bottomley, S.
Black, J. Moore, C. Doane, J. Dornbos, J. Seyferth, K. Reid
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
V. DDA: Economic Development Director Position Economic Development
The Development Services Division has not had the Economic Development
Director department head role filled since 2021. We decided to grow the
operations of ED from the bottom up and created the Development Analyst
position to serve as board liaison to various entities and conduct outreach to
the city's various commercial corridors. That initiative has proven very fruitful,
and the workload has grown beyond the capacity of 2 FTEs. The intention since
2021 has always been to build capacity in conducting community-wide
economic development services and programming in order to justify the
Economic Development Director role, and this has been successful.
A pivot that we are faced with is that we wish to be responsive to the DDA's
expressed desire to have a full-time Development Analyst focused solely on the
DDA area and BRA work. We are proposing that the City of Muskegon fund 75%
of the Economic Development Director role, with the DDA funding the other
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25%. As a result, this individual will take the additional outreach and liaison
responsibilities for smaller corridors from one Analyst role and allow a full-time
DDA/BRA focused FTE. Additionally, this person will be the direct supervisor for
the DDA/BRA Analyst, so they will be working on its behalf as well. They will also
have primary responsibility for business retention, expansion, and attraction
projects in the DDA. Budgeting conservatively at the top of the wage schedule,
the pay and benefits for this department head role will cost $192,000. We
propose the DDA/BRA cover $48,000 of this budgeted expense and the city
fund the remainder. This would be incorporated into the upcoming fiscal year
beginning July 1, 2026.
Motion by K. Reid, second by B. Hastings, to agree to incorporate 25% of the
Economic Development Director role salaries and wages into the Muskegon
DDA budget as presented.
ROLL VOTE: Ayes: J. Curtis, M. Kleaveland, A. Boyd, B. Hastings, M. Bottomley, S.
Black, J. Moore, C. Doane, J. Dornbos, J. Seyferth, K. Reid
Nays: None
MOTION PASSES
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
I. DDA: Western Market Pitch Competition Update Economic Development
At the March 17, 2026 meeting, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
approved covering the cost of two chalet vendor spaces, consistent with prior
years.
City staff are tentatively planning for the DDA to host the Western Market Pitch
Competition on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at Aldea Roastery. Following
the DDA meeting, all accepted chalet vendors will be notified of this
opportunity.
An outline of the proposed pitch competition format was presented. Kiel will
present a judging rubric for the DDA’s review and consideration. All currently
accepted vendors will be eligible to participate.
Pitch Criteria:
Participants must address the following in their pitch:
• Business Plan – Overview of the business concept and goals for operating in
the Western Market.
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• Product & Services – Clear explanation of offerings and unique features that
contribute to Downtown Muskegon.
• Target Audience – Identification of key customers in Muskegon.
• Why Muskegon? – Reasons for launching or expanding their business in
Muskegon
II. M. Bottomley welcomed C. Doane as a new member.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:41.
Respectfully Submitted,
Ann Marie Meisch, MMC City Clerk
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