DDA members discussed a potential pilot of Placer AI visitor‑data services and received updates on Michigan Main Street strategic planning and a downtown property under county review.

Placer AI: presenters said there is renewed interest among city commissioners in exploring Placer AI to obtain visitor and pedestrian data for downtown planning. The service cost was described as roughly $10,000 annually, typically split among multiple partners; the Lapeer Development Corporation (LDC) has two extra licenses through a recent purchase by a nearby municipality (referred to in the meeting as "Emily City") and has offered structured, limited access for Lapeer as a test. Staff recommended using the LDC’s interim access to evaluate the platform’s capabilities before committing to a full, multi‑party purchase and a minimum one‑year contract.

Michigan Main Street strategic planning: the board is running a strategic planning day with Michigan Main Street, including scheduled focus groups for business/property owners, elected and appointed officials, youth and a late afternoon workshop. Staff said the initiative aims to convert the DDA’s development plan (broad strokes) into a three‑to‑five‑year strategic plan with actionable steps; an annual accreditation board assessment arrived from Michigan Main Street and staff will circulate it to members.

Register of Deeds building: staff and county representatives met to assess the old Register of Deeds building for potential sale and redevelopment as a contributing downtown property. Officials said the structure is generally solid but needs updates; one potential buyer has inspected the property and county staff will continue due diligence through property and grounds processes.

Next steps: staff recommended working with the LDC to trial Placer AI access, review results and then decide whether to commit to a purchase split among the city, DDA and LDC. The strategic planning workshop will proceed as scheduled and staff will share the accreditation assessment and survey results with board members for the July planning session.