Summary
This document combines the April 9, 2025 Suttons Bay Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting agenda, minutes from the prior November 13, 2024 DDA meeting, and a memo on tax increment financing (TIF) next steps. The November 2024 minutes show the DDA Board, chaired by Bahle, approved the 2025 budget and meeting schedule. The April 2025 agenda lists a Marina/Bathroom update and TIF next steps as key discussion items, supported by a memo from Rob Bacigalupi of Mission North.
Infrastructure Projects
The Village's 2025 budget includes construction of a marina/park bathroom facility and banner arm replacement, with Larrea noting oversight responsibilities for the project. The Village is mandated to replace waterlines throughout Suttons Bay, which will require incremental fee increases, and a water storage tank will need to be built in the near future. Larrea reported that grant applications at the state and federal level, as well as loan requests, have been turned down.
The DDA is pursuing TIF partnerships for three projects over the next five years: Marina/Park Year-Round Restrooms ($406,016), Marina Pedestrian Bridge ($345,600), and a Pavilion in Marina Park ($100,000), totaling $851,616. Leelanau County previously declined to opt into the DDA's TIF; per the memo, the Village and DDA planned to regroup in 2025 following County Board elections. The one-pager notes potential partners include Suttons Bay Township, BATA, and Leelanau County, citing that DDA land generates 14.2 times the tax revenue per acre of the Township and 18.2 times that of the County, with the fiscal impact estimated at 0.85% of the Township's budget and under 0.2% for the County and BATA.
Other Business
At the November 13, 2024 meeting, the Board (Bahle, Popke, Peterson, Wierzba, Sitkins, and Derigiotis present; Lutke, Millns, and Young absent) approved the agenda (Popke moved, Peterson seconded, 6-0) and the October 9, 2024 minutes (Peterson moved, Sitkins seconded, 6-0). The 2025 meeting schedule, setting meetings for the second Wednesday of each month at 9:00 a.m., was approved (Peterson moved, Derigiotis seconded, 6-0). Peterson asked about the status of the M-22/M-72 roundabout; no answer is recorded in the minutes.
Financial Summary
The DDA Board adopted and recommended the 2025 budget to the Village Council (Sitkins moved, Derigiotis seconded, 6-0), which covers the bathroom facility construction, banner arm replacement, and operating expenses. Jefferson Street improvements within the TIF District were funded by the Village. Proposed TIF partnership funding targets $851,616 across three marina-area projects as detailed above.
Action Items
The DDA Board is to discuss TIF next steps and the marina/bathroom update at the April 9, 2025 meeting, following the County's prior decline to opt into the DDA's TIF and the plan to regroup after County Board elections.