Central Neighborhood Association
Quarterly Meeting
September 18, 2024
Call to Order at 6:00 pm
Approximately CNA 65 residents in attendance
Minutes have been distributed through our group email and are posted on our website.
Motion to accept minutes as distributed made by Mike Jackson, second Jim Carruthers
Motion approved
Finance Report: Marilyn Vlach: $409 revenue in dues and donations collected at the May meeting. Expenses of $455.45 from signs and flyer printing, Porchfest, LARA State of MI Filing Fee, web domain renewal and a donation to CTAC. Balance is currently $1,089.97
The September financial statement has been posted on our website.
Motion to approve the financial statement made by Darlene Germaine, seconded by Adrienne Rossi.
Motion approved.
OPTIONS for paying DUES ($5/person for the year)
→ Use Zelle by sending money to Centralneighborhood.tc@gmail.com
→ Payment by cash or check made out to Central Neighborhood Association and delivered to Marilyn Vlach @ 416 6th Street
→ Pay cash or check at next scheduled meeting December 4th, 6pm CTAC
This year’s Porchfest went well. We had 47 bands and 36 porch venues. Thank you to all participants. Expenses incurred were for additional venue signs that are reusable, a gift certificate for web assistance, and thank you notes. Artwork for posters was donated by Tim Nielsen of Nielsen Design Group. Porchfest provides an opportunity for local talent to gain exposure.
Lume offered the use of their parking lot for an afterparty for the bands. The decision was made not to do this. They donated swag bags for musicians and offered their lot for a venue as well. Little Bo’s also provided discount coupons.
Contact Marilyn with feedback on Porchfest.
Motion to approve gift certificate purchase made by Kelly Roscher, seconded by Mary Bluteau.
Motion approved.
Fire Dept update: Chief Tuller
Fire Station #1 will hold an open house this Saturday, Sept 21, noon -3 pm.
Smoke alarms or CO alarms are available, call the station and crew will install them. If your alarms are discolored, they probably need replacement.
2 ambulances are on order and they are slowly adding personnel, three positions have been filled out of 10.
Lots of calls for slips and falls. Check your surroundings for trip hazards. Fire department is available to inspect your surroundings as needed.
Police Dept update: Chief Richmond
Community collective has been meeting monthly to address homelessness. There will be a year-round shelter and removal of the Pines encampment next year. Safe Harbor has been asked to propose a year-round shelter plan. Community Cares Coalition has proposed a year-round shelter out of the city. About 85 current residents. Safe Harbor can house 75. Year round at Safe Harbor is a transitional location until something better is in place. Community Cares Coalition is investigating alternative year-round locations.
TCLP update: (Brandie Ekren, Executive Director and Colin Hites, Sustainability & Climate Initiative Analyst)
My clean choice program houses all sustainability initiatives.
Traverse City Energy Saver Program is designed to help our residential and commercial customers save energy and money through electrification.
Rebate Program: cash payment for items that move to electrification. E-bike-instant cash through local bike stores only.
Purchase must be within program dates.
Traverse City Light and Power is proud to offer its residential customers a program designed to help improve your home’s efficiency while saving you money on your utility bills. Now you can finance these projects and make your payment to TCLP with your monthly electric payment!
$5,000-$30,000 for energy efficiency improvements in your home. Up to 10 years or useful life of the measure, whichever is less. 3% interest rate for loan terms up to 120 months.
Discussion ensued with respect to energy use in electric power generation and the chemicals involved in battery production
100% renewable goal by 2040.
42% of energy use comes from home decisions.
TIF Discussions: Presenters were here to provide information to assist decision making on Proposals 1 and 2. Proposal 2 applies to DDA TIF only.
Please visit the website links for each organization to see a complete presentation from each representative.
A yes vote on both proposals will make voter approval part of every TIF in Traverse City.
A no vote on both proposals will keep the process in the hands of our legislature and elected officials.
Representing Traverse Together.com: Ray Minervini addressing Brownfield TIFs.
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Economic development tool that addresses contamination clean up, blight, affordable housing, infrastructure, historical restoration, and storm water infrastructure
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Time involved in an electorate decision for these projects would prohibit private investors from participating in these kinds of projects.
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Tool to provide investment from regional partners that benefit from the TIF investment.
Representing Moving Downtown Forward TIF: Harry Burkholder, DDA CEO
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Only municipal revenue sharing tool available in the state of Michigan.
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Harvests appreciation of tax revenue within the DDA boundaries
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TIF 97 set baseline tax value and increases in the TIF district from development projects are harvested to fund projects.
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If TIF expires 47% of funds from regional partners would be lost for infrastructure projects.
Representing TC Taxpayers for Justice: Fred Bimber Sponsor of proposals 1 & 2
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Proposes that all TIF’s should expire in the original timeline as a matter of trust with taxing authorities.
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Prop 1 makes the City’s adoption, approval or extension of TIF plans subject to voter approval
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Prop 2 voids any extension of TIF plan done without voter approval.
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Diverts $2.6 million in city tax revenue.
Comments were made by Tim Werner (City Commissioner) and Jim Carruthers (former Mayor), on their availability to discuss the TIF proposals and their positions on them.
Next meeting Dec 4th
Meeting adjourn 8:00 pm