The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission took several formal actions during its Feb. 6 meeting; commissioners voted to approve minutes, claims, the financial report, four appraisals and the seasonal use of a downtown plaza for a youth pop-up program.

Minutes and procedure: The commission approved two sets of minutes — the Jan. 13 executive session and the Jan. 13 regular hybrid meeting — by voice vote; no nays were recorded and the motion carried.

Claims docket: The commission approved a claims docket described in the meeting as totaling $1,409,787.21. Staff summarized large items included in the docket: payroll, CDBG reimbursables, legal retainers, consultant work, facade grant final payments and disbursements tied to the 2023 mixed‑use transit bond construction account. A public commenter asked how the claims would be paid given an operating account balance of about $166,357.55; staff explained the payments are drawn from and tracked across multiple TIF accounts and that some disbursements (for example, the Flaherty & Collins draw) are bond‑funded and pass through the commission’s accounts.

Financial report: The commission approved the financial report dated Dec. 30, 2024 (presented as a 12/31/2024 report in meeting discussion). Staff reported cash balances across multiple accounts, including an operating account balance of $166,357.55 and various TIF capital and reserve accounts; total assets were cited at about $15,207,498.56.

Appraisals: The commission voted to authorize legal counsel to commission appraisals for four parcels owned by the city within the North TIF area, citing the statutory requirement for appraisal when property is conveyed or accepted between government entities.

Seasonal pop-up permit: Commissioners approved a motion allowing Butterpreneurs (referred to in the meeting as “Kidpreneurs” or “KitPreneurs”) to use the plaza at Seventh and Franklin for first‑Friday pop-up shops from May through October 2025.

Votes and tallies: All listed motions were approved by voice vote; no nays were recorded in the meeting audio. The meeting record shows some commissioners absent for roll call; the outcomes were announced as carried when the commission heard unanimous “aye” responses.

Follow-up: The approved appraisal work and the mowing/land-care memorandum of understanding (MOU) discussed later in the meeting will return to the commission for subsequent action and contract approval where required.