Grosse Ile DDA approves TIF-plan RFP, denies charging‑station grant and clears Island Fest payment; discusses social‑district signs

GROSSE ILE, Mich. — The Grosse Ile Township Downtown Development Authority on May 22 approved issuing a request for proposals to update its downtown tax increment financing and development plan, denied a $5,000 business improvement grant application for Meridian Center LLC at 9105 Macomb Street, and authorized a payment toward the Island Fest parade.

The plan update RFP approved by the DDA will seek consultants to revise the authority's TIF/development plan and to pursue a 20‑year extension of the DDA's life so the authority can, if it chooses, borrow to finance larger streetscape projects along Macomb Street. The board also spent much of the meeting detailing options for social district boundary signs and pavement markings and agreed to prioritize getting signs in place before permitting and cup distribution begins.

Why it matters: The updated plan would extend the DDA's legal timeframe for collecting tax increment financing, a prerequisite for bonding or borrowing to pay for substantial public improvements. The social district signage must be in place before the township can deploy the cups and enforcement that accompany the state's social district program.

TIF/development plan update RFP

Ross, DDA staff, told board members the RFP would be posted immediately and that the work would produce a revised development plan that would let the DDA bond or borrow for larger streetscape work along Macomb Street if the board later decides to do so. Ross said the consultant contract to prepare the plan is likely to be in the $30,000 range (he estimated it could be as high as $50,000) and that the existing plan currently expires in 2032.

"This plan would allow us to bond out, basically get a loan to do large projects along Macomb Street like improvements to sidewalks, crosswalks, [and] streetscape enhancements," Ross said in explaining the RFP's purpose. Board members discussed typical extension lengths; a 20‑year extension was described as the common approach.

After discussion the board approved the motion to issue the RFP. Board members indicated the consultant phase will include public hearings and that the DDA expects roughly six months of consultant work to draft the plan.

Social district signage and pavement‑marking plan

The DDA also reviewed proposed signage, storefront decals and pavement markings for the township's newly approved social district. Ross said the township is listed on the state's social‑district site and the DDA must post boundary signage and supply labeled cups before the program becomes operational.

Staff presented options that include: signs on light poles at entry/exit points, ground pavement markings at select crosswalks and a small informational map at each major entrance showing participating businesses. Board members expressed concern about visual clutter in Lions Park and about wording that includes the word "alcohol"; members favored a simpler message such as "social district boundary" rather than language calling out alcohol.

The board asked staff to get price estimates (including a likely $5,000–$8,000 range cited for full sign/marking installation for the set of locations) and to check whether the township procurement policy requires a formal RFP for the work. Ross said he will contact a sign installer familiar with social‑district work and circulate cost information before the next meeting.

Business improvement grant: Meridian Center LLC, 9105 Macomb Street (denied)

A Meridian Center LLC application requesting $5,000 for charging stations at 9105 Macomb Street was presented to the DDA. Board members said the DDA's business improvement grant is intended for facade, landscaping or signage improvements, not for charging stations, and noted the property recently received a major improvement and a prior DDA grant.

Mr. Anderson moved to deny the request; Ms. Pusack seconded. The motion to deny carried on a voice vote.

Island Fest payment approved

The DDA approved a payment toward the Island Fest parade. At the meeting the requested payment amount was discussed as $2,885.50 and later recorded in the motion as $2,888.50; the board approved the payment. Board members clarified the payment is being processed from a DDA fund rather than the event sponsorship account because the DDA historically provides support for the parade beyond the standard $1,000 sponsorship cap.

Parking lot landscaping and paving

The board reviewed a landscape proposal for the DDA parking lot (a quote the DDA's lawn‑care contractor provided ran roughly $23,000, with details including 21 yellow cypress, three weeping cherries, boxwoods, topsoil and mulch). Board members said that because an asphalt contractor can complete the parking‑lot paving this summer under an extension the DDA will prioritize paving now and defer larger landscaping expenditures until next year. The board instructed staff to proceed with the pavement work this year and to return with a landscape plan and cost details for future installation.

Lions Park and public‑art update

Staff reported that a public‑art wall at Lions Park remains scheduled for installation in late September and that a $12,000 state grant will offset a portion of the total cost (transcript discussion put the total at roughly $92,000, with the board noting a state grant of $12,000 and an approximate $80,000 local share). Staff also said park lighting and basic irrigation remain outstanding items to be addressed this season.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to approve the agenda (05/22/2025): approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve minutes of April 24, 2025: approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve April financial update: approved (voice vote). - Motion to approve issuance of DDA/TIF plan update RFP: approved (voice vote). - Motion to deny business improvement grant for Meridian Center LLC (9105 Macomb St., $5,000 request): approved (denial) (motion by Mr. Anderson; second by Ms. Pusack; voice vote). - Motion to approve payment toward Island Fest parade (amount discussed as $2,885.50 and later $2,888.50): approved (voice vote).

The meeting included routine roll call and minutes approvals and closed with adjournment.