Birmingham to Rejoin Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc.

After striking out on its own three years ago, Birmingham will soon be rejoining Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. as a member municipality.

Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. was launched as a nonprofit organization by the cities of Berkley, Birmingham, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Oakland County, Infinity Broadcasting and the Observer and Eccentric Newspapers in 1996 — one year after the Woodward Dream Cruise began in Ferndale as a fundraiser for a soccer field.

"(The group's purpose was to) cooperatively work to promote Woodward Avenue, its businesses and the history that surrounds it," City Manager Bob Bruner wrote in a memo submitted to the Birmingham City Commission Monday evening.

However, while Birmingham resigned its membership to Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. in 2009, Bruner said now is the time to rejoin.

According to Bruner, many of the issues Birmingham had in 2009 — and thus its reasons for leaving the organization — have been resolved. At the time, Bruner said the city was knee-deep in several construction projects along Woodward, restricting the footprint of the Dream Cruise and cutting down on foot traffic through the city.

In addition, Bruner said at the time, Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. wasn't sending any money back to the member municipalities, making membership more expensive than it was worth.

However, with construction completed and last year's successful sponsorship with Chevrolet bringing in $5,000 per member municipality, Bruner said the benefits of rejoining outweigh many of the old concerns.

"Rejoining (Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc.) would allow the city to receive future disbursements without constraining the Birmingham Cruise Event," Bruner's memo reads, referring to the

City Commissioner Rackeline Hoff pointed out Monday night that the Woodward Dream Cruise would roll through Birmingham regardless of whether the city rejoins the nonprofit. However Bruner noted that membership to Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. is free with the exception of staff time.

Bruner said the (PSD) recommended rejoining the nonprofit at its last regular meeting at the beginning of June, and PSD Executive Director John Heiney will serve as the city's representative to the nonprofit's board of directors.

City Commissioner Gordon Rinschler said he has supported rejoining Woodward Dream Cruise, Inc. for a year now, and noted there are other benefits to being a member municipality. The city's charities — such as the Birmingham Rotary Club, for example — will now be able to sell official Dream Cruise merchandise, he said, while Birmingham will also be promoted in the organization's advertising campaigns.

"It appears the group is on solid footing," Mayor Mark Nickita said. "I'm in support of regional cooperation, especially if it looks like it's well done."

"This is great news on so many levels," said Tony Michaels, executive director of the Dream Cruise, in a press release. "Having Birmingham rejoin the Woodward Dream Cruise further extends our reach and interaction with passionate fans of this event."

Greg Rassel, president of the Woodward Dream Cruise, agreed.

"Active participation by Birmingham enables nine communities up and down Woodward to truly work collaboratively and that's good for the event and great for the region," he said.