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ST. CLAIR SHORES — The St. Clair Shores City Council recently created what one councilmember called one of its “historic moments.”
At the June 6 meeting, the council unanimously voted to approve the creation of a Downtown Development Authority. In addition, it approved the appointment of eight board members.
Councilman Dave Rubello said after the creation of the city’s downtown area and social district, the approval of the DDA was the next logical step.
The DDA is created to foster growth and prevent deterioration, Rubello said, and he considers it an essential arm of any city government. It will also create business and jobs.
“This is a game-changer and a great positive step,” he said at the June 6 meeting.
The DDA focuses mostly on the Nine Mile Road and Greater Mack Avenue business district, though it extends east and west along Nine Mile and north and south along Greater Mack. Any residential areas that fall within its boundaries are excluded.
The approval of the creation of the DDA does not provide any money for it to begin projects or improvements.
In addition to the approval of the creation of the DDA, the board voted to appoint its members. Its initial members will serve staggered terms of one, two, three and four years. Once their terms have ended, anyone who wants to be reappointed can be.
Mary Bricolas and Sean O’Brien were appointed to one-year terms. Amy Florek and Anna Casali were appointed to two-year terms. Ryan Balicki and Gloria Kinne were appointed to three-year terms, and Dave Harden and Kyle McKee were appointed to four-year terms.
The length of each member’s term was determined by random drawings by the St. Clair Shores city clerk.
Councilman Ronald Frederick said the board consisted of a mix of bar and shop owners and other community members who were excited to interview for their positions on the board. It is a representative group that will do the right thing for everybody, he said.
“This is going to be fun to watch,” Frederick said.
