CiTy OF WARREN DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY MINUTES OF THE BOARD Meeting held on September 15, 2021 ‘A regular meetng of the City of Warren Downtown Development Authority was called for 3:00 pm on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 in the First Floor Conference Room, Warren City Hall, 1 City Square, Warren, 48093 Present: Mayor James R. Fouts, Chairman Oscar Zamora Hank Riberas Michael Wiegand Joseph Vicari, Vice Chair Absent: Gregory Jackson Tom Petzold Nicholas Lavdas Also Present: Tom Bommarito, DDA/TIFA Director Tiffany Nawrocki, DDA/TIFA Assistant ‘Amanda Mika, Executive Assistant to the Mayor Amy Moore, Accounting Supervisor ‘Tina Gapshes, City Engineer Ethan Vinson, City Attomey Wilburt "Skip" McAdams, Fire Commissioner George Dimas, H.R. Director Richard Fox, City Controller Mark Knapp, Assistant Controller Michelle Katopodes, A.LC-., Planner IL DA Mestng Mirae‘The motion carried unanimously by voice vote. 6. Old Business Mayor Fouts stated that he met with Council Secretary Mindy Moore to inform her that he would like to negotiate with her and whoever else to approve our budget. He emphasized that compromise is the best way to achieve a fair budget. However, Ms. Moore indicated that she was not interested in any compromise. Mr. Fox then stated that last year there was a conflict over the budget. He stated that Judge Caretti put the opposing parties in separate rooms; they sat there all day with no water or food and forced a resolution so that the ‘budget could be adopted. “Mayor Fouts stated that Judge Caretti stated that Ethan Vinson is the City Attomey and that Amanda Mika would not be “deleted” from her position, Mr. Fox then stated how council eliminated funding for the recently proposed budget immensely and how once again there is a conflict. The Mayor proposed a budget of $615,000.00 in contractual services for DDA and council cut it to zero. He also proposed $75,000.00 for community promotion and council cut it to $10,000.00. ‘budget until a compromise is agreed upon. Mayor Fouts stated that he ‘met with Ms. Moore to try and avoid costly litigation. This is the first time in history that City Council has sued the mayor & clerk. This is also the frst time in history that council has fired the city attomey on their own accord and hired an outside law firm to act as the city attomey, both of which are a violation of the city charter. Mr. Vicari asked if any of the line items on the proposed budget were the same as past tudgets. Mr. Fox stated that most of them are the same or similar. An example would be contractual services, last year the budget ‘was $500,000.00 and this year we are requesting $615,000.00. OA Meatng MatesMOTION: ‘A motion was made by Mr. Zamora, supported by Mr. Riberas, to approve the funding for the Urban Planning Proposal through Gibbs Planning Group (GPG) with the amount not to exceed $3,750.00, ROLL CALL: ‘The motion carried unanimously as follows: Mr. Zamora Yes Mr. Riberas Yes Mr. Vicari Yes Mr. Wiegand Yes Mayor Fouts Yes No opposition, the motion passed, BB, Request for Funding: MI Warren, Buy Warren (Tom Bommarito) Mr. Bommarito stated that this initiative would help to stimulate small businesses|with Covid reliefimoney. The plan is to buy online/e-gift cards to give out in order to create incentive for the consumer to shop local Warrer retailers. ‘The goal is to improve traffic and sales to our local retailers. All sales, transactions and servicing will he done by YIFTEE. Any business that accepts MasterCard will be able to participate, Mr. Bommarito stated how he would like to kick off the promotion daring the fall restaurant week and continue it into the holiday season. MoTior ‘A motion was made by Mr. Riberas, supported by Mr. Zamora, to ‘approve the funding for the MI Warren, Buy Warren Small Business Initiative in the amount of $60,000.00. ROLL CALL: ‘The motion carried unanimously as follows: Mr. Riberas ‘Yes Mr. Zamora ‘Yes Mr. Vicari Yes ‘Mr. Wiegand ‘Yes ‘Mayor Fouts Yes DOA Meting MinutesLL CAL The motion carried unanimously as follows: ‘Mr. Wiegand ‘Yes Yes Yes Yes ‘Mayor Fouts Yes No opposition, the motion passed. p ‘Request for Funding: EMS Transport Squad (Commissioner McAdams) ‘Commissioner McAdams stated that he is requesting funding for the EMS Transport Squad which will be stationed at either Fite Station 1 or 4, Both of these stations have first due response areas that include large sections of the DDA. In addition, Fire Station 4 is within the DDA, boundaries. MOTION: ‘A motion was made by Mr. Zamora, supported by Mr. Riberas, to ‘approve the funding for the EMS Transport Squad from Emergency Vehicles Plus in the amount of $256,311.00 with the condition that the 10% deposit (part of the total amount) of $25,632.00 be paid upon this, approval ROLL CALL: ‘The motion carried unanimously as follows: Mr. Zamora Yes Mr. Riberas Yes Mr. Vicari Yes Mr. Wiegend Yes Mayor Fouts Yes ‘No opposition, the motion passed. F. Request for Funding: Architect for Feasibility of Rehabil Stadium at Community Center (Tom Bommarito) [DOA Meeting Mires9. Next DDA Regular Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 6, 2021, at 3:00 PM, in the Ist Floor Conference Room. 10.ADJOURMENT MOTION: A motion was made by Mr. Riberas, supported by Mr. Vicari, to adjourn. No objections, the meeting adjourned at 3:45 py xX X DA Meeting Minto