The Downtown Development Authority is talking downtown-wide Wi-Fi at today’s (Friday's) 8am Board meeting.

Deputy Director Rob Bacigalupi will recommend that the DDA Board “authorize staff to proceed with bidding out Wi-Fi in the DDA District, pursuant to the Michigan Metro Act and other applicable laws, and to bring bids to the DDA Board for further consideration.” The city attorney will be present to answer questions.

The Metro Act is part of a series of bills passed in 2002 to stimulate the availability of affordable high-speed Internet connections.
Meanwhile, some downtown parking patrons might soon be able to pay electronically. The DDA’s agreement with Parkmobile USA, Inc. to allow smartphone users to pay at meters is “in attorney hands and should be signed soon,” says DDA Executive Director Bryan Crough.

At its Jan. 18 meeting, the DDA Board recommended to the city commission (which it approved) that it contract with Parkmobile for a one-year pilot program to provide parking customers the ability to pay for metered parking using their smartphones.
The DDA meeting will be held on the second floor of the Governmental Center. To view the agenda, click here.