THANK YOU PARK THEATRE FOR HOSTING US!

Holland/STH Updates

• Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

  • Encouraged members to fill out the form at http://cdbgform.cityofholland.com 

• Coffee with Council

  • The event is January 11 from 9:00am - 11:30am OR January 8 from 5:00pm - 6:00pm

  • We talked about “Coffee with Council” and encouraged members to participate. This is a great first opportunity for many of us to talk to our city councilperson!

  • We’re having buttons made for this event if members want to represent the group

•  MAX Transit

  • Local conversation leader Mitchell is meeting with MAX transit about their new routes

• January Strong Towns Meeting

  • The next meeting will be January 9 at 6:00pm at The 205 Coffee Bar

Michigan House Bills

• Talked about four state bills that if passed would have a positive impact on the mission of Strong Towns Holland

• HB6095, HB6096, HB6097, HB6098

Updates from the group

• Madison (new member!) invited members to a local event

• Karla (new member!) mentioned a Home Builders Association Event

  • https://members.lakeshorehba.com/calendar/Details/lakeshore-home-building-and-remodeling-show-2025-presented-by-klingmans-furniture-design-friday-jan-24th-1-to-8-pm-and-saturday-jan-25th-10-am-to-6-pm-1175850?sourceTypeId=Hub

• Cole mentioned that The MACC has pedestrian counters that we could inquire about to get pedestrian/cyclist counts

• Multiple members discussed sidewalk quality including lack of understanding on exactly when plowing happens and how often

• Multiple members discussed faded crosswalks needing repainting

  • They’ll send the crosswalks to LC Leader Mitchell and their councilperson

• Multiple members discussed the winter parking situation

  • Why not something like even-odd parking?

  • There are some benefits to having cars parked on the road like speed reduction and drivers being more careful

• Stephen mentioned Bike Insurance and a bike National Registry as good ideas if you’re concerned about theft

  • https://velosurance.com

  • https://project529.com/garage

  • https://www.bikeregister.com/

• Concerns about crossing into Kollen Park continue to come up at meetings

Ideas

The group spent a lot of time discussing smaller and long-term projects

Long Term Goals

• First separated bike lane

• Abolish parking minimums

• Loosen zoning to allow for more mixed-use development and housing types

  • More research needed to evaluate what the city currently allows today and where

• Encourage businesses to provide more bike parking

  • Churches that have parking lots that go mostly unused could be great spots for bike parking

• Daylight dangerous intersections & seek to make daylighting the default

  • https://www.cityoflancasterpa.gov/blog/vision-zero-what-is-intersection-daylighting/

Projects/Events/Quick-Win ideas

• Bike parking map (Mitchell)

  • Phil (new member!) mentioned that the downtown development authority has a map for this. We’ll follow up with them about that as it isn’t easily available online.

  • If there isn’t something already available, we can build it ourselves!

    • Include exact location of bike rack

    • Estimated bike capacity

    • Picture of bike rack

    • Additional notes

    • Include bike repair stands as well

• Volunteering at the Community Action House bike repair program at First Methodist (Karla)

  • https://volunteer.communityactionhouse.org/need/detail/?need_id=711984

  • Looks like this might be not happening? We’ll reach out about this

• Bike racks in parking garages (Connor)

  • Usually empty spots and if someone is willing to bike in they’ll probably be willing to walk

  • There’s no covered bike parking in Holland so this would be a cool improvement

• Bike bus! (Daniel)

  • If you don’t know what this is, please watch this! https://youtu.be/H5S8c_rgxIY?si=wvSBTwdhkC6D7Sf-

• Building bike trailers (Connor)

• Push for those in Holland to bike to Tulip Time (Stephen)

• Bike chariots at Tulip Time (Stephen)

  • Daniel mentioned that this might actually be limited by the city. We'll look into this

• Strong Towns Holland Bike/Blade to Saugatuck and back (Leah)

• Bike in move theatre (Connor & Stephen)

  • Do multiple throughout the summer in different neighborhoods

  • Kollen Park?

  • Park Theatre (could be a fun location for winter movie night)

• Volunteer with Parks Department (Connor) and/or volunteer with ODC (Cole)

  • Clear out invasive plants

• Neighborhood Cleanup (Mitchell)