2026-09-08 - City Commission

00:00Heat. Heat.

00:19[music]

00:20Heat.

00:39Heat.

01:24>> [music]

01:40[music]

01:58>> Heat.

02:12Heat.

02:20Heat.

02:34Heat.

02:42Heat. Heat.

03:33Heat.

03:38>> [music]

03:44>> Heat [music]

03:53up here.

04:05>> [music]

04:12[music]

04:24>> Heat. Heat.

04:31[music]

04:45Heat. Heat.

04:58[music]

05:21>> [music]

05:28>> call this meeting of city commission to

05:29order. Thank you all for being here and

05:31we will begin our meeting as is our

05:33habit with a moment of silence.

05:43Please join us in the pledge of

05:45allegiance.

05:47I pledge algiance to the flag of the

05:50United States of America and to the

05:52republic for which it stands. One nation

05:56under God, indivisible, with liberty and

05:58justice for all.

06:03>> Thank you, Mr. uh clerk, if you could

06:05call the role.

06:06>> Commissioner Belchek,

06:08>> present.

06:08>> Commissioner Purdue,

06:09>> good afternoon.

06:10>> Commissioner Yasassi,

06:11>> present.

06:12>> Commissioner Kilgore,

06:12>> present.

06:13>> Commissioner Knight,

06:14>> here.

06:14>> Mayor Lrand,

06:15>> yes. Uh, and if our interpreter could

06:17come up and explain her job.

06:34>> My name is Sandra Nickel and I'm here to

06:36help you. Um, anyone who needs

06:39interpretation from English to Spanish

06:41or vice versa, I'm here to serve you.

06:44Gladly we'll do that to come up here or

06:46from the back. Thank you.

06:49>> Thank you. Um and next item on our

06:51agenda is approval of minutes. Can I

06:52have a motion?

06:53>> So moved.

06:54>> Support for

06:56>> Oh, I'm sorry. I missed I'm I'm sorry.

06:58So this is our now we have our first

07:00opportunity for public comment. This is

07:02specifically on agenda items. The

07:03agendas are available out in the hall.

07:05So if you want to address something is

07:07specifically an agenda item, please come

07:09up and address us. Tell us who you are,

07:11where you're uh where you live. That

07:13would be nice. Uh, and the two things I

07:15will say, and I'll say this again later.

07:17Um, please be aware there's a clock.

07:19It's very visible, and you have a

07:20three-minute time limit. Um, I will give

07:22people a little grace to finish their

07:24thought if they're in the middle of a

07:25thought when the second ends, but please

07:27try to respect uh the common use of

07:30time. Uh, and also be aware, please

07:32remember, you're addressing the

07:33commission, so it's not a it's not a

07:35public speech. It's a it's addressing us

07:38on concerns.

07:41Uh, okay. Seeing no one for our first

07:43public comment. Thank you. Uh now I will

07:45move on to approval of minutes which I

07:46think I have a motion already on the

07:48table for. Uh so that's specifically

07:51minutes of our last meeting on August

07:5325th. Um any all those in favor of uh

07:56approving minutes.

07:58>> Oh, we already had that but okay.

08:00>> Yeah, that's okay. First time for

08:02everything, Commissioner. Uh all in

08:04favor say I.

08:05>> I.

08:05>> I. All opposed. Motion carries. That

08:08brings us to petitions and

08:09communications. Mr. Clerk.

08:12Communication received from the mobile

08:14GR commission expressing support for

08:15increased funding to fully implement

08:17Kamazoo corridor road safety audit

08:19recommendations and filed.

08:21>> Communication received from Holland

08:23quote unquote Dean Norma Central

08:26Ventures LLC including a foyer appeal

08:28for foyer request PR-2026-755

08:32>> received and filed.

08:33>> 13 communications received with noise

08:35complaints against amphitheater

08:36>> received and filed. Communications. Four

08:38of them received regarding automatic

08:40license plate reader technology.

08:42>> Received and filed.

08:43>> Communication received from Michelle

08:45Jokish Polo, including a foyer appeal

08:47for foyer request PD-2026-3090.

08:51>> Received and filed.

08:52>> And five communications received

08:54expressing support for for the Acer

08:57Amphitheater.

08:58>> Received and filed. That brings us to

09:00reports of city officers.

09:01>> Report of bond sale 39,540,000.

09:05Limited dollars limited tax general

09:08obligation bonds series 2026A.

09:10Uh received and filed

09:12>> controllers warrant report for the

09:13period of August 11, 2026 through August

09:1624, 2026 in the amount of 69,426,965.73

09:22in the monthly travel report.

09:24>> Receive and filed

09:25>> the treasures report for the period of

09:27August 12, 2026 through August 25, 2026.

09:31>> Receive and filed. And finally, the city

09:32manager's report on administrative order

09:35bringing automated license plate readers

09:37under the city city's surveillance pol

09:39uh city's surveillance policy. Um so uh

09:43here I want to pause momentarily and

09:45urge anyone listening or uh online or in

09:48the audience to go uh read the city's uh

09:51surveillance policy. It's a very uh I

09:53think wellcrafted and uh thoroughly

09:56worked out document. Um but city

09:57manager, you wanted to uh highlight the

10:00the action.

10:01>> Yeah, thank you. Mayor, uh, members of

10:03the city commission, at the end of

10:05August, after our last public safety

10:08committee meeting, I informed the city

10:10commission that I would be revisiting

10:13our surveillance policy and based on the

10:16advancement of technology would create

10:18an order that would place uh, license

10:22plate readers under the current city

10:24surveillance policy. That order is in

10:26your packet. It became effective on

10:29Monday, September 7th. And you can read

10:32in detail the prohibited uses and what

10:35would require further approval from the

10:37public safety committee and the city

10:39commission. But essentially any

10:42expansion of any license plate reader

10:45technology, any change in uses uh would

10:49require uh approval through both of

10:51those bodies as well as at the

10:54conclusion of the contract uh of June

10:572027.

10:58Uh the department would conduct another

11:02excuse me um OPA would conduct a

11:06surveillance report and in that report

11:08prior uh require a review of how the

11:12technology has been used and report to

11:14the public safety committee to the

11:15commission and then we would make a

11:17decision if the technology would be

11:20renewed or awarded to another

11:21contractor.

11:23Essentially there will not be any

11:25expansion of the technology without uh

11:28public approval.

11:30>> And uh to highlight one other thing

11:32there's a me there's a clear mechanism

11:33in our surveillance policy for um

11:35citizens to report suspected uh misuse

11:37of that technology. So and those reports

11:40would go to the office of public

11:41accountability the LPA. So um uh thank

11:45you city manager. So uh next up is our

11:48uh consent agenda and reports for

11:49standing committees. Um this is uh a way

11:53we conglomerate items so that are have

11:55already been passed unanimously out of

11:57committee earlier and have not been

11:59pulled from the consent agenda for

12:01further discussion. Um so can I have a

12:04motion to adopt the consent agenda?

12:06>> So moved

12:06>> support. Uh all in favor of passing the

12:09consent agenda say I.

12:10>> I.

12:11>> Thank you. Uh all opposed. Motion

12:13carries. That brings us uh to there

12:17being no items removed from the consent

12:18calendar to a number of ordinances. Uh

12:21the first is a salary ordinance. Um and

12:24uh can I have a motion?

12:26>> So moved.

12:27>> Support. Commissioner Saui.

12:30>> Thank you, mayor. Um this is um a salary

12:34ordinance that was reviewed in our uh

12:36civil service board, but our city

12:37clerk's office is requesting a few

12:40updates to the job description for this

12:41one. uh the election aid. It's a

12:43supplemental group and um these are

12:46part-time adjunct supplemental positions

12:48that we use. Um they're specialized but

12:51utilizing election equipment and

12:54logistics typically their current city

12:56staffers or retirees. Um and we had inre

13:00in recently increased our election

13:03inspector pay and wanted to also review

13:05this at this time. And so the rates are

13:07listed in the memo. Um there's not um I

13:12just for an example I won't go through

13:13there's five of them but for the first

13:15level the current rate was 20 the

13:17proposed rate is 25. Should this be

13:18adopted? Thank you.

13:20>> Thank you. Um and uh any discussions

13:23colleagues? Otherwise this is a roll

13:25call vote. Mr. Clerk

13:27>> Commissioner Purdue.

13:28>> Yes.

13:28>> Commissioner Knight?

13:29>> Yes.

13:29>> Commissioner Belchek?

13:31>> Yes.

13:31>> Commissioner Kilgore?

13:32>> Yes.

13:32>> Commissioner Nasi?

13:33>> Yes.

13:34>> Mayor Lrand?

13:34>> Yes. Uh can I have a motion for

13:36immediate effect?

13:37>> So moved. All in favor say I.

13:39>> I.

13:40>> All opposed. Motion carries. Uh, next we

13:43have another seller ordinance for, and I

13:45read that as a unity valve, which didn't

13:47make any sense. It's a utility valve

13:49specialist. Um, can I have a motion?

13:52>> So moved.

13:53>> Uh, Commissioner Kilmer.

13:54>> Thank you, Mayor. The water department

13:56is requesting a new classification

13:58utility valve specialist. This role will

14:00ensure the water department can build a

14:02team for exercising and repairing large

14:05critical valves in the water system. Uh

14:07HR salaries placement is included in the

14:10packet.

14:11>> Thank you. Um seeing no further

14:14discussion. Um again, Mr. Clerk, this is

14:16a roll call vote.

14:17>> Commissioner Knight,

14:18>> yes.

14:18>> Commissioner Belchek,

14:19>> yes.

14:19>> Commissioner Kildor,

14:20>> yes.

14:21>> Commissioner Asi,

14:22>> yes.

14:22>> Commissioner Purdue,

14:23>> yes.

14:23>> Mayor Lrand,

14:24>> yes. A motion carries. Can I have a

14:26motion for immediate effect?

14:27>> So moved.

14:28>> Support.

14:29>> Uh all in favor say I. I.

14:31>> I. Uh all opposed. Motion carries. And

14:34there being no resolutions on today's

14:36agenda or public hearings, uh this

14:38brings us to our second opportunity for

14:40public comment again to remind folks uh

14:42it's for the purpose of addressing the

14:44commission. Please come up and state

14:45your name and uh uh keep an eye on the

14:48clock if you can and I'll try to give

14:50people grace, but please try to keep

14:51yourself under the threeminut time

14:53limit.

15:02>> Good afternoon. Oh, can you please hit

15:03there's a little button on that

15:04microphone.

15:05>> Sorry. Perfect.

15:05>> Yeah. Good afternoon, commissioners. My

15:08name is Shiona Nadvski. I am honored to

15:10serve on the community relations

15:12commission and I am also a veteran and

15:14proud Grand Rapids community member. Um,

15:17I just wanted to invite all of you uh to

15:20our Grand Grand Grand Rapids Community

15:21Relations Commission, which meets on the

15:23second Thursday of every month from 3:30

15:26to 5:00 p.m. at 1120 Monroe Avenue

15:30Northwest, room 2011. Our meetings are

15:33open to the public and we welcome

15:35community voices. Um,

15:40I also want to thank the Grand Rapids

15:42Fire Department and um our unhoused uh

15:47our hot team and all of our public

15:50safety professionals for their

15:51leadership and commitment. As our city

15:54grows with the Acure Amphitheater and Am

15:56Amway Soccer Stadium, we appreciate the

15:59planning and partnership that help

16:01residents and visitors enjoy these

16:03spaces safely.

16:07As we celebrate growth in Grand Rapids,

16:09I also want to raise a few questions.

16:12Upcoming Medicaid changes will affect

16:14some residents, including eligibility

16:16changes for certain lawfully present

16:18non-citizens in October 2026 and new

16:22work requirements for some beneficiaries

16:25in January 2027.

16:27What are we doing as a city and a

16:29community to help fill those gaps? How

16:32are we supporting clinics, health

16:33centers, nonprofits, and service

16:36providers that may see greater demand?

16:38How are we making sure residents

16:40understand these changes before they

16:42happen and helping families, veterans,

16:44immigrants, seniors, and working people

16:46navigate an already difficult system. I

16:49do not expect answers today, but I hope

16:51we keep asking these questions together.

16:54A strong Grand Rapids is defined not

16:56only by development, but by how well we

16:58care for our neighbors and help every

17:00resident find support, opportunity, and

17:02belonging. Thank you again for your time

17:05and continued service to our community.

17:16Hello, commissioners. My name is

17:18Matthew. I live in the third ward and I

17:20stand in solidarity with casa and their

17:22six sanctuary policy demands. I'm here

17:25again to demand the remal removal and

17:27cancellation of flock cameras and the

17:29flock contract.

17:31And I had planned to give some modicum

17:33of applause to you all for bringing the

17:36flock contract under the city's

17:38surveillance policy. But based on the

17:40statements just made by Mayor Lrand and

17:42you, Mr. Washington. It doesn't sound

17:44like there will be any thorough review

17:46of this until sometime next year. Um,

17:50and I find that unacceptable.

17:52Flock has um repeatedly been found to be

17:56lying about the capabilities of their

17:58technology and I don't believe they are

18:00to be trusted. Their only responsibility

18:03is to their shareholders, not to our

18:05city and not to this commission.

18:08Since I spoke with you last,

18:11you don't have to take my word for it.

18:12Since I spoke with you last, the sheriff

18:14in Racine County, Wisconsin has gone on

18:16the record to recommend the cancellation

18:18of their contract, stating, quote,

18:20"They, Flock, are taking this data

18:23without our knowledge, utilizing it,

18:25monetizing it, and selling it to other

18:26organizations, and that is not what we

18:28agreed to," unquote. But unfortunately,

18:31that is what they agreed to and what we

18:33agreed to when we entered into a

18:35contract with Flock. It doesn't stop

18:37there. The city of Shbboan, Wisconsin,

18:39recently announced plans to end their

18:40contract due to misuse of their data as

18:43well. Quote, "The Shboan Police

18:44Department was made aware of an email

18:46from a flock safety account executive

18:48offering to sell the Shabboan Department

18:50of Public Works Works anonymized data

18:53for traffic volume, vehicle types, and

18:55speed data, offering up to 5 years of

18:58data utilizing the existing 15 cameras."

19:01The Shbboan Police Department adds that

19:03it was not aware and did not consent to

19:05the sale of anonymized or other data.

19:08They may have not been aware, but they

19:10did consent just as GRPD has done for

19:13us.

19:15So, as I said, Flock has been repeatedly

19:18caught lying about the capabilities of

19:20their technology, not just in Wisconsin

19:22and not just in the last two weeks. They

19:25can't be trusted, but I will admit they

19:28have told us one truth, not about

19:30themselves, about their competitors.

19:32Flock is the only ALPR provider that

19:34doesn't contract with ICE. So, to your

19:37point a moment ago, Mr. Washington, I

19:39would not like the contract to be

19:40awarded to another vendor sometime next

19:42year. I would like all ALPR contracts to

19:45be cancelled and the remove and their

19:48hardware removed from our city. Thank

19:50you for your time.

19:58Hello all. Hi everybody. Uh Eric from

20:01the second ward. Good to see you all

20:02again. Um I have three things to quickly

20:05touch on. So I just want to try to get

20:06through them in quick amount of time. So

20:07first and foremost, obviously the the

20:09main thing is with flock. So thank you

20:10all so much for the open kind of forum I

20:14guess per se of the last time. It was

20:15really long. Even when I left, I saw you

20:17guys were still going. So thanks for

20:18hanging strong and doing that. I do want

20:19to say thank you for the quick action of

20:21at least bringing these AOPRs like under

20:23the surveillance policy. City government

20:25is not sexy in any way. So therefore,

20:27having to put it under specific policies

20:29is there. Obviously, there are some

20:30concerns, but I'm glad we we hit them

20:32that that it needed to be there in the

20:34first place, you know, rather that it

20:35didn't get there. But I heard a lot of,

20:36you know, reflection um on through that.

20:38So, thank you. Um I I just added this,

20:40but I do agree as well like with the

20:42contract stuff like we do need to be

20:44cautious that like we aren't just going

20:45to another vendor. I know Axon is

20:47obviously another vendor here. Um, and

20:48Axon is obviously popular, but they they

20:51are even cutting corners on how quick

20:52they're trying to get they're trying to

20:53prove their cameras can get up quicker

20:54and easier than even Flock. So, you

20:57know, there's just a lot to have with

20:58through there. So, um, the second thing

21:00I wanted to touch on was like the

21:01millillage meeting this morning with the

21:02Kent County Sheriff's Office and stuff.

21:03Thank you all for your questions. Um,

21:05trying to get through as much of it as

21:06as I can during a workday. Um, but I

21:09work with audio and so therefore it's

21:10very difficult to to get through out

21:11there. But just thank you for some of

21:12the questions. Um especially to um you

21:15know, Commissioner Purdue, thank you for

21:17you know, a lot of a lot of that. You

21:18know, Mayor, thank you for kind of

21:19bringing in your personal experience. Um

21:22uh Alicia Marie, thank you for you know,

21:24your uh you know, referendum on kind of

21:26the county level that, you know, there

21:27needs to be a lot more conversation. I

21:28just there needs to be a lot more

21:30conversations in terms of making sure

21:32that, you know, the the funding that we

21:33are providing isn't just rising or that

21:35we're meeting these with kind of these

21:37abstract demands. It's coming on pretty

21:39fast and anytime we're going to ask for

21:40property tax, you know, increases and

21:41stuff, we we need to be really cautious.

21:43Um, and then last but not least, I also

21:45um on the uh VO stuff, I was here last

21:47time to talk about VO, just rode one for

21:48the first time here, hoopla. Um, but the

21:50second time was the uh the

21:52communication. So, mobile GR I had seen

21:54at least on Reddit had come out and kind

21:55of talked about like communication

21:56issues that have maybe come kind of with

21:58the the term affordability when it comes

22:00to that. Um, that kind of, you know, on

22:02on certain levels or at least

22:03geographically it is more affordable.

22:05So, I just want to say like I I'm

22:06thankful to them clarifying, but I would

22:08hope that maybe we can get some more

22:09kind of clarification kind of in

22:10citywide communications to ensure that,

22:12you know, these are the parameters that

22:14we're defining affordability by. Um, and

22:16then also expressing because it sounds

22:18like there might be room to even making

22:19it more affordable in some places, you

22:21know, with either targeted discounts or

22:23just like targeted rate changes. So if

22:25we can just get citywide communications

22:26to explain what that looks like and what

22:28that framework is so we can come with

22:29kind of better ideas to ensure that um

22:32we are actually meeting that

22:33affordability requirement because even

22:35just on the first ride which is not at

22:36all a reliable data set but it was a

22:38little more expensive and you don't have

22:40the kind of membership and stuff like

22:41that too. So um overall just kind of

22:44comments on communications and

22:45everything from the city but you know

22:46thanks all for for what you're doing. Um

22:48we really appreciate it. So thank you

22:49guys.

22:56Hi, my name is Kyle. I'm a member of

22:58Ward 2. Thank you very much for talking

23:00a little bit about Flock today. I want

23:02to echo our sentiments about you taking

23:04a step in the right direction for

23:06bringing Flock under the surveillance

23:08policy of the city. I really do

23:11appreciate that and I hope that we can

23:12continue making steps forward like that

23:14in the future. Um I do know that uh with

23:18all of you here, uh Mayor Lrand

23:20especially, you've expressed interest in

23:23um seeing solutions presented. Um and I

23:28think to that I'd like to take my time

23:29to talk about some arguments against

23:32flock and why you shouldn't consider it

23:34overall taking a further harsher stance

23:37than just including in the surveillance

23:39policy.

23:40There's arguments that flock does good

23:42in the city. um that it's worth the

23:46crime um that it helps prevent. I find

23:48that to not be a compelling argument

23:51because there are lots of things that a

23:52government can do to protect people if

23:54they really want to. If we're talking

23:56about not caring about the Fourth

23:58Amendment, why don't we just make a DNA

24:00database of every single person in the

24:02city? That would solve so many crimes

24:04around. And yet, we choose not to do

24:06that. Why don't we do that when or why

24:10do why do we not do that when we choose

24:12to embrace flock? Um I feel like police

24:16could knock down doors based on hunches.

24:19That could be another way that they

24:20could just skip the whole fourth

24:22amendment process. Those pesky warrants,

24:24those don't matter and we could make a

24:27better city for that if we skipped

24:29fourth amendment. But all of this, just

24:32like flock, has a really chilling effect

24:34on citizens. And

24:37so saying flock is inconsistent with our

24:39understanding of police surveillance or

24:42fourth amendment and saying it does good

24:46is just an obvious attempt, at least to

24:48me, to pull at our heartstrings

24:51with inflated statistics. And I feel

24:55like it's a craven effort to defend a

24:56system of mass surveillance. And I think

24:58we can do better.

25:00There's also the argument about license

25:02plates and tracking, right? license

25:04plates can be viewed by anyone in

25:05public, right? So, what's the big deal

25:07if they're tracked? I also disagree with

25:10this. Nobody is saying that a license

25:12plate should be hidden. At least nobody

25:14that I've ever talked to about it. Uh,

25:16but it's not a tracking device. It's

25:18used by government discreetly and with a

25:21specific purpose to identify your

25:23vehicle only in specific times and

25:25specific situations. Not for all times

25:29under no reasons. Again, I talked last

25:32week about pre-rime about that. Uh last

25:34I know I'm short on time, but uh phone

25:36is more than uh uh is more than a

25:40tracking device um for uh when compared

25:44to flock. Um smartphones are used by

25:47private companies to track your

25:48movements from place to place. And the

25:50fourth amendment doesn't restrict what

25:52companies require uh uh in uh if you and

25:56compensation for their services um agree

26:00to that service. Um there's a United

26:04States Supreme Court that held that

26:06information cannot be obtained by third

26:08parties like police without a warrant. A

26:11phone requires a warrant. Flock cameras

26:13do not. Why shouldn't why can't flock

26:15cameras be made to uh require warrants?

26:18Thank you for your time. Thank you for

26:19letting me go over. Have a good one.

26:26>> Hi there, commissioners. Uh my name is

26:28Chris Cranson. I live on the second

26:30ward, but I work with the Westside

26:32Corridor Improvement Authority. So, I'm

26:33sort of speaking on behalf of the first

26:34ward today. Uh I meant to actually come

26:36up in the initial comment and I missed

26:38it. So, my request is more of a thank

26:40you now because the agenda item as such

26:42passed, but I'm here so I figured I

26:43would still share what I have to say.

26:45Um, so I'm uh talking about the Westside

26:48uh corridor improvement authority

26:49gateway signage project um that was just

26:51approved. So thank you. Uh it's the

26:53first project of its city, the first

26:54project of its type in the city. Hasn't

26:56been done before. The goal is to have a

26:58clear visual signal that tells people

27:00that they are on the west side and that

27:02it's worth being here. Um the west side

27:04has so much to offer for all of our

27:06residents and visitors. It will do. It

27:08will offer all of these things and the

27:10signs will create a stronger sense of

27:12pride for the businesses and residents

27:13that call the Westside home. The signs

27:15literally welcome you to the west side,

27:18but they also tell you that this is a

27:19place that's worth shopping at, eating

27:21at, working at, drinking at, and

27:24investing in. Needless to say, we're

27:26super excited about the project. Uh,

27:28it's been years coming, so thanks again

27:30for passing the uh the agenda item, and

27:32we're really excited to see the signs be

27:33built hopefully this spring. So, thanks

27:35again. Appreciate all you guys do. fix.

27:45Wow.

27:48Got it. Go ahead. Hello everybody,

27:51commissioners and mayor. Um, my name is

27:53Mary Malone and I own the business at

27:551956 Eastern Avenue and thank you for

27:58scheduling the hearing for my Oprah and

28:00working with me today. As a connector

28:02part as a connected part of this work, I

28:04am requesting an update on my

28:06application for the emerging developers

28:07grant. The city stated in public

28:10meetings that applications submitted

28:11before the program changes will be

28:13processed under the original program. I

28:16relied on that commitment when I applied

28:18and made related decisions. I have heard

28:21no updates about my application when it

28:24will be processed which creates new harm

28:26for people. This program was created to

28:28support the emerging developers program

28:31direct resources to people and

28:33neighborhoods historically excluded from

28:36investments through redlinining,

28:38discriminatory housing and lending

28:40policies, unequal access to capital, and

28:43other systematic barriers, including

28:45barriers partly created or made possible

28:47by the city in the past. Addressing

28:50those inequities should not create a new

28:52harm for applicants who relied on the

28:53city's commitments. The city must honor

28:56its commitment, process my application

28:58under the original program, and tell me

29:00when I can expect my application to be

29:02approved. Thank you.

29:06Hello,

29:08my name is Si Gant Jordan. I am a

29:10business owner um on Granville Avenue.

29:13It's Mary J. Salon of 28 years. I'm also

29:16an emerging developer who is also

29:18waiting on information to move forward

29:21with uh the opportunity to be an

29:23emerging developer. We have followed

29:26process and we are still on hold. My

29:30question to the city is what is your

29:33definition of an emerging developer?

29:36Because funding went to developers that

29:38should not have gotten these funds.

29:42Myself and my husband have been working

29:45for a long time before when Jonno was

29:48here to put together an emerging

29:50developers program. I know others are

29:52taking credit for the work that we did,

29:54but we did this work. We are community

29:56members and we have a strong desire to

29:59move forward with the work that we have

30:02done along with the other emerging

30:04developers and we feel that we are being

30:08ghosted. could you please help us

30:10understand what is happening here and

30:12then for the effort for the west side.

30:14Kudos to the west side for their new

30:16signage that's coming

30:19and I don't I know I mentioned it when

30:20Jonno Jan O Conor was here but when it

30:24comes to descriptive measures I'm on the

30:27west side so I'm southwest. How come you

30:29all did not lift that up to say

30:31northwest? We've talked about this a

30:33long time. So now people are really

30:36confused about okay am I on the

30:38northwest side or southwest side? I'm

30:40southwest but and when they go to

30:42northwest side they don't know it says

30:44north it says west side. Please we need

30:47more intentionality about defining what

30:49these things are. Don't be afraid to

30:52speak up. You speak up any other time

30:54something something is harming you. We

30:57feel the same way. We want these things

31:00broken down for us. We are being we are

31:03in a place where we're we're losing out.

31:07We are we feel like we're not being

31:09valued when it comes to things that

31:10we're that we we've invested in. But we

31:13appreciate a lot of the work that you

31:15have you have done, but there's always

31:17more. Always. Thank you so much.

31:34Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners.

31:36My name is John Mallaloy.

31:39Across this city, a parent drives a

31:41child to school. A worker leaves home

31:44before sunrise. Someone visits a doctor.

31:47An abuse survivor changes their route

31:49home hoping to feel safe. A neighbor

31:53comes downtown

31:55to stand at this microphone.

31:57At intersections along the way, cameras

32:01photograph their vehicles, record where

32:04and when they passed, and place those

32:06movements in a searchable database.

32:10None of these people have been suspected

32:12of a crime.

32:14They are simply living their lives.

32:18I want missing people found. I want

32:21stolen cars recovered. I want people who

32:24commit violence held accountable.

32:27I understand why officers [snorts] value

32:30a tool that can help.

32:33I am asking you [clears throat]

32:35to recognize that safety also means

32:37feeling safe in one's own community.

32:43The concern is not only what a

32:44responsible officer does today. It is

32:48what can happen tomorrow.

32:50with a careless search, a mistaken

32:52alert, a changed policy

32:56or access placed in the wrong hands.

33:00Trust is not built by asking us to

33:02believe power will never be misused.

33:05Trust is built by limiting the power

33:07before misuse occurs.

33:11Residents receive a few minutes at this

33:13microphone. Flock receives continuing

33:15access across governments to governments

33:18across the country.

33:21The company receives reoccurring

33:23revenue. The public carries the risk.

33:27The people being watched deserve as much

33:29influence as the people selling the

33:32cameras.

33:34I appreciate

33:36the public pressure moved Grand Rapids

33:38to place this technology under its

33:41surveillance policy.

33:43That was an important beginning, but it

33:46cannot be the end.

33:49Please freeze expansion and outside

33:52sharing.

33:53Publicly examine the human consequences

33:57and choose not to renew the flock

34:00contract.

34:01Please choose trust over surveillance.

34:05Choose human dignity over corporate

34:07momentum.

34:09And choose not.

34:12and choose community over fear.

34:16Before you renew the cameras, please

34:20renew the public's consent. Thank you.

34:30>> Good afternoon, commissioners, staff,

34:32Mr. Mayor. I'm Steve Bennett. I'm a

34:34resident of the third ward. Uh echoing

34:37uh the words of my comrades. Uh yes. Uh

34:41and thank you for for making the big

34:43move of putting the surveillance cameras

34:45under the uh surveillance policy, but as

34:48everyone keeps pointing out, it's not

34:50enough. And I can go into beating those

34:52facts up some more about government

34:55overreach about collecting data for a

34:58crime that may be committed. But I think

35:00the overarching issue here, which the

35:03previous speaker just spoke to, is

35:06trust. when I first came out from a

35:08proverbial uh rock uh six months or so

35:11ago and started coming to you here and

35:13talking individually with many of you uh

35:16we're talking about trust

35:19trust uh you know many of you are

35:21trumpeting uh successes real successes

35:24we've had with affordable housing in

35:27Grand Rapids is it enough each of you

35:29will tell me no it is not and that's

35:32something that to build the trust that

35:34this city wants and needs needs from us,

35:38the people. We need to have some real

35:40examples and some real affordable

35:42housing programs coming. Same thing with

35:46police and uh apprehension. Uh that's

35:49what started me uh coming here was what

35:53I call a murder and some others might

35:55call an administrative action. Uh

35:58there's a big trust issue and I'm old

36:01and white. I know how safe I am. But

36:04most people who aren't in my particular

36:07genetic genetic condition don't feel

36:10safe when they see a cub. That's what

36:12you keep being told. That's what I keep

36:13being told. I think that's real. That's

36:16a real distrust that the people have for

36:19law enforcement. And that ain't right.

36:21And you know it and I know it. Also, uh,

36:24might as well get to it. the uh

36:27sanctuary policies, the six sanctuary

36:29policies demanded by Coseta, supported

36:32by uh Grand Rapids Rapids response to

36:34ICE and it has been talked to and about

36:38and I believe that the city has taken

36:40the actions but there's just not a

36:43communication going on. U I think more

36:47communication on that issue so that the

36:49people who are vilifying this commission

36:51and Mr. Mayor, you in particular will

36:54have a better understanding. And

36:56finally, license plate readers. They it

37:02you can talk. You are they

37:04crimereventive? I don't know. I'm sure

37:06it helps, but I keep hearing the deputy

37:09chief here at the public safety

37:10committee and several of you heard him

37:12say those pesky warrants. Oops.

37:16Yeah, it was it was a Freudian slip and

37:19I'm sure that the police would never

37:22consider license plate readers to be

37:25something they can use to sidestep

37:28warrants. But that's what he said and

37:31that breeds distrust too. I think uh I'

37:34I've talked to the word legacy to you as

37:37a group and to many of you individually.

37:39Your legacy it's time and it's time.

37:42Thank you.

37:53Hello, my name is Charlie Snedeker. I'm

37:55a lifelong resident of West Michigan.

37:57First, I got to say I stand here in

37:59support of M movement Kosicha and urge

38:02the city council to review and adopt the

38:05six sanctuary policies.

38:08And I also stand here today because I

38:10believe that privacy is a fundamental

38:12human value and that the rights

38:14guaranteed by the United States

38:16Constitution must remain protected as

38:19technology continues to advance.

38:22Technology should serve the people, not

38:25the other way around. While data

38:27systems, artificial intelligence, and

38:29security technologies can provide

38:32important public benefits, their use

38:34must be balanced with transparency,

38:36accountability, and respect for

38:38individual liberty.

38:40I speak on behalf of strong legal

38:43protections for personal privacy and

38:45digital data. I speak of the

38:48preservation of constitutional rights,

38:50including freedom of speech, due

38:52process, and protection against

38:54unreasonable searches and seizures.

38:57Clear limits on the collection,

38:59retention, sharing, and use of personal

39:01information by both government agencies

39:04and private organizations.

39:07Transparency so people know what data is

39:10collected, why it is collected, and how

39:13it is protected. independent oversight

39:16and accountability

39:18for technologies that affect the public.

39:21The ethical development and use of

39:24technology to improve lives, strengthen

39:27communities, and protect future

39:29generations.

39:30I believe that

39:35I believe that innovation and public

39:37safety should never require the

39:39unnecessary sacrifice of fundamental

39:42freedoms. Security and liberty are

39:45strongest when they work together. My

39:48vision is a future where technology is

39:50used to heal, educate, protect, and

39:53empower people while respecting the

39:55god-given dignity of every human being

39:58and the constitutional principles upon

40:01which our nation was founded.

40:04Together, we can build a future where

40:06technology serves humanity with

40:08integrity and where personal liberty is

40:12respected. Therefore, I call upon the

40:14representatives of Grand Rapids to

40:17immediately cease and desist from the

40:19use of any flock surveillance. No flock,

40:23no Axon, no Palentar, no unwarranted

40:26surveillance on our city. Wrong is

40:29wrong.

40:36>> Good afternoon, mayor and commissioners.

40:38My name is Carol Wood. I'm an 18-year

40:40resident of Plaza Towers and the first

40:42ward in downtown Grand Rapids. I'm also

40:45part of the development team that helped

40:46um bring the Acro Amphitheater to our

40:48downtown. I appreciate appreciate the

40:51opportunity to speak today because this

40:53project represents years of

40:54collaboration between public and private

40:56partners, community leaders, local

40:58businesses, and residents who shared a

41:00vision for a stronger Grand Rapids and a

41:03stronger riverfront. From the beginning,

41:05the goal was never simply to build a

41:07concert venue. The goal was to create a

41:09long-term economic and community asset

41:11that would attract visitors, support

41:13businesses, activate the riverfront, and

41:15contribute to the continued growth of

41:16downtown Grand Rapids. The project's

41:19impact began well before the first show.

41:21Construction generated meaningful

41:23opportunities for microlocal business

41:25contractors, subcontractors, suppliers,

41:27and skilled trades throughout West

41:28Michigan. By engaging local and

41:30underrepresented businesses wherever

41:32possible, the project created more than

41:33$10 million in economic activity to

41:35ensure that the benefits of this

41:37investment were experienced across the

41:39community from the very beginning. In

41:42its first season, we're already seeing

41:44encouraging results. The amphitheater

41:46has hosted dozens of public events and

41:47attracted approximately 387,000

41:50attendees. More than 800 direct jobs

41:53have been created. Local businesses are

41:55reporting increased activities and hotel

41:58occupancy has grown during slower months

42:01of the season. These are key for our

42:03downtown. These are meaningful

42:04indicators that the project is producing

42:07the outcomes envisioned during the

42:08planning and development of this

42:09project. And equally important is the

42:12role the amphitheater plays in the

42:13larger riverfront transformation. This

42:15investment is helping unlock new public

42:17spaces, recreational opportunities,

42:19trail connections, and riverfront

42:20activation that will serve residents

42:22year round. The amphitheater is one

42:24piece of a broader vision for

42:27reconnecting Grand Rapids with its

42:28river. Rather than seeing the sound as

42:31noise, I see it as evidence that the

42:33vision for downtown

42:36is working. The music, the crowds, the

42:39excitement, it all represents people

42:42choosing to spend time in Grand Rapids.

42:44For me, that energy has been positive

42:47and a great addition to downtown life,

42:49not a disruption. This project

42:52demonstrates what's possible when public

42:54and private sectors work together toward

42:55a shared goal. The success we're seeing

42:57today is the result of years of

42:59planning, investment, and partnership.

43:01And we remain committed to being

43:02responsible stewards of this asset and

43:04responsible partners to this community.

43:07I'm grateful for the commission's

43:08leadership and the support of staff,

43:10many of whom are in the room today,

43:12residents, business, and community

43:14stakeholders who helped make this vision

43:16a reality. I believe the amphitheater is

43:18already contributing to a stronger

43:19downtown. and its greatest impact is

43:22still yet ahead of us. So, thank you for

43:24your partnership, your leadership, and

43:26your continued commitment to downtown. I

43:29appreciate your support and look forward

43:30to the lasting economic, community, and

43:32riverfront benefits this investment will

43:34continue to deliver for years to come.

43:36Thanks.

43:44>> Hi, uh Sam Cummings. I am a uh uh

43:49I live in Grand Rapids in the second

43:51ward. I am I work downtown. I also uh

43:54unplug a lot of toilets around here. Uh

43:56but that's not why I'm here today. I'm

43:58here as a uh uh you know uh the

44:02amphitheater is three and a half months

44:05into being open. And it reminds me of uh

44:1030 years ago plus when the Vanandal

44:13Arena uh opened in October of 1996

44:18and how that event changed the way West

44:22Michigan felt about the city that is the

44:26heart of all of West Michigan and how

44:28our city is important not just to the

44:32residents but to the broader region

44:35because the city still is home to these

44:38massive anchors, these cultural and uh

44:42entertainment anchors that draw people

44:45from across the Midwest to come and see

44:49our city and give all of us in who live

44:53in West Michigan pride in who we are and

44:56who we're becoming. But things are

44:58different today than they were in 1996.

45:03in 96. Our goal back then was uh was to

45:08try to attract new corporate citizens

45:11and new businesses to come down come

45:14into our core city and enjoy uh the

45:18vitality

45:19that that was emerging then encouraging

45:21them to find value in that entertainment

45:24prospect and help us uh reach our goals

45:27of a 24-hour city. But then at that time

45:30the clock was was different in that 24

45:32hours. How do we build and I think we've

45:35succeeded in some measure. Um downtown

45:38remains the engine of our city. Downtown

45:42pays the bulk of the city income taxes

45:45that allow our city to function. Um but

45:49today it's a little different. Um today

45:52our goal is to round out that

45:55neighborhood from the other side of the

45:56clock. and how do we build a city that

46:00is is for residents and but still is uh

46:06equally balanced if that makes sense. So

46:10our uh uh I uh I'm ultimately in the

46:14customer service business. We manage

46:15buildings and and things like that, but

46:18those buildings are only as good as the

46:20people who find value in them and who

46:23pay the rent and make the choice to pay

46:26the rent to be there. If they if they do

46:28not if they don't pay rent, if they

46:30don't find value in that address, that

46:32building is bankrupt. Um, so it's very

46:35important to us that uh that the

46:38equation works. And I'm happy to say

46:41that three and a half months in that our

46:43customers are ecstatic with the new

46:48pride, vitality, and energy that uh the

46:52amphitheater has brought us. Not only

46:55because of the events, but also as Cara

46:58mentioned, because it anchors a new

47:01thought of how we how we interact with

47:04our river and how public spaces can look

47:07along it. And I'm out of time. Uh thank

47:09you all very much for all all you do. We

47:12appreciate you uh even though it's hard

47:14sometimes. So thank you and uh we're

47:16grateful. Congratulations to everyone

47:18for the amphitheater.

47:26>> Good afternoon commissioners. I'm Ron

47:28Vanderine. I'm an attorney with

47:29Cunningham Dolman PC and I represent

47:32several owners of condominiums in the

47:35upper levels of Plaza Tower. uh they

47:38have no quarrel with there being an

47:40amphitheater. They think in fact some of

47:42my clients actually attend concerts at

47:44the amphitheater and have done so and

47:46enjoyed them. The problem is they don't

47:49appreciate those concerts being forced

47:51upon them in their living room. You

47:53know, think of it as uh going home at

47:55night and you're going to um uh try to

47:58watch TV, but someone's running a

48:00Harley-Davidson in your living room.

48:02Think of it as having someone over to

48:05visit on a Friday night. Uh, and you

48:07want to talk with them and you can't

48:09because there's a Harley-Davidson

48:11running in your living room. These

48:13concerts are loud. Uh, before the

48:15construction, we we presented a

48:17professional report to the planning

48:20commission showing that the projections

48:22uh would be in the 90 decel range at

48:24Plaza Tower in the upper levels of Plaza

48:26Tower. uh that was disregarded by the

48:29planning commission, but uh now we see

48:32that the recordings are in the 90 decel,

48:35low 90 decel range for maximum sounds

48:38from the concerts. This isn't a one-time

48:40event. This is 50 times in the summer uh

48:43through the year. And that is the

48:45opposition that our clients have to the

48:48operation of the amphitheater as it is

48:50now. Uh

48:52all other properties in the city have to

48:55abide by section 9.65 65 of the

48:57ordinance code. Uh that would set a a

49:00limit on decibel levels in the 62 to 69

49:04decel range for the lower rhythmic bass

49:07sounds that we hear out of the

49:08amphitheater. Uh and that is the same

49:11range that the developer told the

49:14planning commission would result at the

49:16backside of the amphitheater property uh

49:19during the special land use approval

49:21meeting uh before that planning

49:23commission. Now we see the 90 90 I want

49:26to say 90 degree 90 decibel uh readings

49:30from concerts there totally different

49:32when you understand that decibb don't go

49:35up equally every 10 dB is a doubling of

49:38the perception of noise and so when you

49:40go from the 60 to the 90 you're going

49:43two four eight times the volume of this

49:47and so that needs to be taken care of

49:49but now the circuit court has ruled that

49:51um that section 9.65 65 applies. Uh the

49:56city and the amphitheater authority uh

49:58or convention and arena authority uh had

50:01argued that there are no limits on the

50:02amphitheater. Uh and the judge

50:04disagreed. Now that he has ruled that

50:07question is when will the city enforce

50:09its ordinance uh to restrict the loud

50:11sound coming from the amphitheater. Uh

50:14when will the amphitheater sound

50:15monitoring reports be released that

50:17we've asked for? Both the city and the

50:20convention arena uh authority have

50:22opposed uh release of that information.

50:25Uh that would show what the sound is at

50:27the back of the amphitheater. Uh and um

50:30on behalf of our clients, you know,

50:32please protect your constituents that

50:34live by the amphitheater. Uh protect

50:36them from the loud sound that disrupts

50:38their sleep. They want to go to bed at

50:4010 o'clock at night uh like I do.

50:42>> Sir, you're a professional. You've used

50:44up your three minutes uh 10 seconds ago.

50:46>> That went fast. Thank you. Anyway, we

50:48[snorts] request that you protect those

50:50constit constituents and enforce the

50:51ordinance. Thank you. Thanks.

50:54[snorts]

51:02>> Good afternoon. My name is Michael, last

51:04name spelled C A G-En Kagan. Uh, I live

51:08at Plaza Towers on the 15th floor

51:11condominium. I bought it in 1998, so

51:14like 28 years ago.

51:17My neighbors came out in force when the

51:20U JW and its hella stop were proposed.

51:24So I came and offered my contrary

51:27opinion. Greg Gilmore wanted a variance

51:30to do 20 Monroe Live which irked several

51:34of my neighbors. So I appeared and

51:36offered my enthusiasm about the

51:38development.

51:40Gilmore had a meet and greet. Uh one of

51:42his uh in in the basement of his of the

51:46Bob. Uh one of the plaintiffs on this

51:48matter asked Gilmore if he'd offer

51:51discounts on shows to ease his

51:53irritation.

51:55Uh Gilmore said no. Maybe give that

51:58plaintiff 50 bucks to go away. Um, oh,

52:02the Bob is now open on Tuesdays and

52:04Wednesdays to take advantage of the

52:07traffic from the Acure Amphitheater.

52:11Other businesses are likely benefiting

52:13as well. Last week, my music was on low.

52:16I cranked open a window and could barely

52:18hear the concert that was going on.

52:21However, to be clear, motorcycles,

52:24police, fire, and ambulances,

52:28no disrespect intended to the police,

52:31will interrupt a normal volume

52:34conversation in my condo.

52:38uh for sale listings in my building uh

52:42of condos for sale now show the

52:44proximity to Acriure

52:47cuz it's a selling feature

52:50of the five or eight or 10,000 visitors

52:53for each show which includes out

52:55oftowners.

52:58Some will decide to buy a condo in my

53:00downtown and that is good for my

53:02property values.

53:04There is a reason. There are multiple

53:07reasons. There's a reason Kent County is

53:09one of about three counties in the state

53:11of Michigan that has a positive

53:13population growth.

53:16Uh on the flip side,

53:19I did not anticipate

53:22or budget for buying tickets to the nine

53:26shows for the Acure opening season, but

53:29I did it anyway. That's Yeah. Oh, wait.

53:33That's my problem. Please give them spot

53:36approval to make the noise that they

53:38need to make to keep my downtown

53:40growing. Please and thank you.

53:53Hello friends, Mark from Grand Rapids.

54:00I was going to talk about the

54:04the orange felon and his continuing

54:05escapades of ruining this country, but

54:09I'm going to take a break from it.

54:14I have no dog in this fight in terms of

54:17the noise of the amphitheater.

54:20But I tell you, but I want but I want to

54:22tell you this.

54:24The one thing you cannot control

54:27is sound. Because sound travels

54:34and it's about and

54:37and quite frankly

54:40those who live in Plaza towers

54:45may have to adjust

54:47to the sound noise.

54:50You know, nothing against them, but

54:55nature

54:58trumps everything else.

55:03I get to the grow the growth of

55:06Grand Rapids is Kent County and the West

55:10Michigan area is booming,

55:15but it but it still

55:18is not caught up to the modern time,

55:20modern entertainment landscape.

55:23As I said before, Vano Arena needs to be

55:26renovated.

55:28The design of the arena is still 1996.

55:33It's way past its prime.

55:37Today's venues are about premium

55:39seating, club seating, club amenities,

55:44luxury suites,

55:46and the venue experience

55:50should have been did have been done

55:54six years ago dur during the co period

55:57where nothing was happening.

55:59It could have been advant you could have

56:01taken advantage of the state could taken

56:03advantage of it. You could have went

56:05through the safety protocols, the CO

56:07testing and everything,

56:10but you didn't do it.

56:13Now it's going to cost now it's going to

56:15be even more obsolete and will cost even

56:18more money to renovate.

56:22So if I was you,

56:25I would talk about it

56:28because major major events during the

56:31winter time are going to leave elsewhere

56:34and you don't want that happening

56:36because that's a lot of dollars that's

56:39going to flow out this area and going

56:40somewhere else.

56:43So, I would think about it and [sighs]

56:47let's make sure that

56:51it the entertainment value will continue

56:53to grow here in the city of Grand

56:54Rapids. Revenge 2026.

57:01Thank you. Seeing no other public

57:03comment, I will turn to my commissioners

57:05for closing comments. Um, Commissioner

57:07Sassi,

57:11>> thank you. So, uh, thanks everyone for

57:13coming out tonight. Um, I just wanted to

57:16just do a quick reminder. I don't have a

57:18ton of comments. I think, you know,

57:19coming off of the holiday week, there

57:21are a lot of things going on, but this

57:23week is Fiesta Mexic, one of the oldest

57:26cultural festivals in the city. Um, and

57:29that's going to be happening. I believe

57:30they start on Friday and Saturday. So,

57:32hope to see you all out there. There's a

57:34lot of business to support. I know, um,

57:37it can be a difficult time. And we

57:38talked a lot about affordability today,

57:40but hopefully you can go out and support

57:41a great organization and support the

57:43businesses that will be there. Thanks.

57:46>> Thank you, Commissioner Knight.

57:49>> Uh thank you, Mayor. I too do not have a

57:52whole lot um was grateful for some of

57:54the presentations that we've gotten

57:56today. um especially uh from the Kent

58:00County on the millillage and I'm hoping

58:02that people will uh pay attention uh to

58:05the information that's out there and

58:06really ask some u deep questions because

58:09this is on the ballot. Um and we want to

58:12make sure that the things that we are

58:14doing are not impacting uh our neighbors

58:17as much as we see this coming. Um, a lot

58:20of people are really dealing with uh

58:23financial issues right now, struggling

58:25to pay their rent and put gas in their

58:28car and take care of their families and

58:30there's extra added costs when we start

58:32doing things like this. So, uh, just

58:34hoping that everybody's paying attention

58:36to what's going on with that and, uh,

58:38weighing in as we go to the ballot boxes

58:40in November. Thank you.

58:42>> Thank you, uh, Commissioner Purdue.

58:44>> Yes. Good afternoon, everyone. and thank

58:46you all for joining us this afternoon

58:48and uh sharing your perspective. Uh so a

58:51quick few quick comments from uh me um

58:54related to public safety just echo um

58:58that we had a a really robust

58:59conversation today around the proposed

59:01jail millage that will be on the ballot

59:02in November. Uh so please watch that um

59:05presentation from the sheriff. Um it's

59:07very informative and I think so is our

59:09discussion after. Um and I think um you

59:13know again it would be on your ballot in

59:14November. you all would decide um if you

59:16want to recommit to 20 20 more years um

59:20a as currently proposed for to support

59:22corrections and detention. Um in today's

59:25conversation, I'll outline some of the

59:26benefits of what's proposed um including

59:29comprehensive medical care for inmates.

59:32uh but also a number of concerns related

59:34to the financial structure um purposes

59:36and other gaps that are in our system uh

59:39that this proposal as is wouldn't

59:41actually address uh that I think are

59:42really really critical uh to creating a

59:44safe community. Also related to public

59:47safety, I want to speak to Flock. Um I

59:49was out two weeks ago um from a pre for

59:52a pre-planned conference which I'll give

59:54a quick report out for um in a few

59:56minutes. Um, but I just want to thank

59:58the city manager for his swift action

1:00:00and response to um the public's concerns

1:00:03certainly, but also from concerns that

1:00:04he heard from commissioners here on the

1:00:06deis um around the use of that

1:00:08technology. Uh we have been talking for

1:00:10several months actually about um how the

1:00:13flock system was essentially

1:00:15grandfathered in to not be covered by

1:00:17our surveillance policy. And so I just

1:00:19want to thank you city manager

1:00:20Washington for that swift act action.

1:00:23And so what that does now is now that

1:00:25it's under our surveillance policy um it

1:00:28allows us to have a baseline level of

1:00:31transparency right and so as part of

1:00:34that um things like

1:00:38uh the technologies purpose authorized

1:00:40use how data collected how it's accessed

1:00:43civil rights impacts all those things

1:00:45are will now be required to be

1:00:46summarized and make available to you all

1:00:49as a public as well as ourselves. So I

1:00:51think that is a huge step forward. Now

1:00:54transparency is the first step. What

1:00:56happens after transparency is what is

1:00:57the governance that we actually want.

1:00:59What is the governance that will

1:01:00actually work for our community? Um and

1:01:03that's when we get into not just

1:01:05transparency of how it's currently being

1:01:07used, but how do we want it to be used?

1:01:09What should those authorized uses be?

1:01:11What should the data retention practices

1:01:13be? Uh what should the secondary um

1:01:16sharing practices be? And so I'm excited

1:01:18that that conversation will continue. Um

1:01:21not you know we're not waiting till next

1:01:23year. Um I think as someone mentioned um

1:01:25but those are will be ongoing active

1:01:27conversations many of which I believe

1:01:29will be led by our public safety

1:01:30committee which includes members of the

1:01:33city commission as well as members of

1:01:35the public. Um and I'll also note that

1:01:37the public safety committee also doubles

1:01:40as the surveillance oversight committee.

1:01:42So those members are really really

1:01:44important. I think of all the things

1:01:46that they've looked at over the last few

1:01:48years, um this one in particular, um

1:01:50they have a lot of influence in how we

1:01:53shape it, um how we oversee it, and

1:01:55ultimately what we decide in terms of uh

1:01:58recommending uh renewal next year. So, I

1:02:02again just want to uh thank you all for

1:02:03paying attention to I think uh

1:02:05surveillance um in our time of just um

1:02:09the way technology is moving, we're

1:02:10moving rapidly. Um I know that

1:02:14technological

1:02:15um knowhow is not the limit is not is

1:02:18not really a challenge anymore. We can

1:02:20essentially create u almost anything

1:02:22that we put our minds to when it comes

1:02:23to technology and software. But really

1:02:25the challenge has an and will continue

1:02:27to be that technology and human

1:02:30interaction and ensuring that humans

1:02:32remain in control and that we remain

1:02:35extremely ethical, moral and um um

1:02:39incremental in our approach to make sure

1:02:41that this is being implemented in the

1:02:43right way. So that's on public safety. I

1:02:45also just want to highlight um that we

1:02:47had our economic development project

1:02:49team meeting um earlier today as well

1:02:51and there's some really really uh thing

1:02:54great things to celebrate related to

1:02:56investments in neighborhoods in local

1:02:58businesses um in our neighborhood

1:03:00associations. Um one is that uh one one

1:03:04highlight from that is that art prize is

1:03:06happening we know very soon. Um and

1:03:08we've talked about how do we get that

1:03:09art prize traffic into our

1:03:11neighborhoods? Well, one way is we have

1:03:13heart side or heart heart prize

1:03:15happening as well as south prize

1:03:17happening. So, kind of southeast side as

1:03:19well as heart side um special events.

1:03:22So, I hope you all check that out. The

1:03:24last thing I just want to speak on is is

1:03:25the conference that I was at uh two

1:03:27weeks ago on behalf of uh my work here,

1:03:30my priorities here on commission. Um the

1:03:33theme of the conference was governing

1:03:35for all. It's a five it's a five-day

1:03:38conference on governing for all. And I

1:03:40want to share uh kind of one of the main

1:03:43takeaways of the conference. Now we know

1:03:45in this country we kind of talk about

1:03:47you know we know the importance of free

1:03:49speech, freedom of of religion, freedom

1:03:51of assembly. We know there's a lot of

1:03:53folks who really champion uh second

1:03:55right amendments in terms of being able

1:03:57to uh carry this conference challenged

1:04:00us to think about be about you know you

1:04:03have first amendment people second

1:04:04amendment people to create to be 14th

1:04:07amendment people and the 14th amendment

1:04:09is when it really is is where the our

1:04:11constitution talks about governing for

1:04:13all. So I want to share a little bit um

1:04:16from the organization from the host

1:04:18organization around what it means to be

1:04:20a 14th amendment person and challenge

1:04:23all of us to lean into into that

1:04:26advocacy.

1:04:27A 14th amendment person believes that

1:04:29every person belongs and deserves equal

1:04:32protection, due process and full

1:04:34recognition by the government. A 14th

1:04:37amendment person believes that freedom

1:04:38requires more than ending formal

1:04:40oppression and that public institutions

1:04:43must actively create the conditions in

1:04:45which everyone can thrive. That

1:04:47government has an affirmative

1:04:48responsibility to deliver basics such as

1:04:51clean water, quality schools, good jobs,

1:04:54safe communities, health care, and

1:04:56transportation. A 14th amendment person

1:04:59believes that public leaders should

1:05:01judge systems by whether they work for

1:05:03the people that were have been

1:05:04historically excluded or underserved,

1:05:06not simply whether everyone is treated

1:05:08identically. And then lastly, a 14th

1:05:11amendment person believes that governing

1:05:14should express care, dignity, and shared

1:05:16responsibility. And the CEO's

1:05:19formulation, they say that government

1:05:21should love you.

1:05:23So, I really enjoyed uh being with a

1:05:26community of people, 4,000 people from

1:05:28around the nation to really talk about

1:05:31hear from thought leaders, hear from

1:05:33practitioners of what it means in um in

1:05:36real time to truly govern for all,

1:05:38especially in times like these. Um and

1:05:41um how do we turn um this promise, this

1:05:45constitutional promise of equal

1:05:46citizenship and protection into people's

1:05:49everyday lived reality? So, I'm excited

1:05:51to lean in to to claim boldly claim that

1:05:54I'm a 14th amendment person and and um

1:05:57invite and encourage you all to join me

1:05:58in that. So, thank you,

1:06:01>> Commissioner Kilgar.

1:06:03>> Thank you, Mayor. Um I want to thank

1:06:06staff and colleagues uh for their work

1:06:07today. It was a very productive day. A

1:06:10highlight of my day today was hearing

1:06:11about the third word equity uh funds and

1:06:14the upcoming budget amendments that can

1:06:16start um as soon as our next meeting uh

1:06:19to get these projects rolling. Uh

1:06:20Commissioner Purdue and I supported by

1:06:22uh unanimously by the commission uh put

1:06:25in some really transformative projects

1:06:27uh in the fiscal year 27. I'm looking

1:06:29forward to those um rolling out. Uh I'm

1:06:32very thankful for the folks that

1:06:34continue to voice uh their opposition to

1:06:36Flock. I have heard it loud and clear.

1:06:39I'm supportive of the moratorum uh that

1:06:41we have now. There will be no further

1:06:43expansion. I'm supportive of that and

1:06:45I'll look forward to echoing that no

1:06:47when the contract comes up. Um and in

1:06:50addition, public safety is an ongoing

1:06:53relationship. I I think a lot of people

1:06:55refer to it as an ongoing conversation,

1:06:57but everything is a relationship. and

1:06:59just how we have to work to make sure

1:07:01our husbands or wives or partners or

1:07:03your loved ones, you know, don't have it

1:07:06out for you and are at, you know, each

1:07:08other's throats. There's some work. And

1:07:10I think that our new uh chief of police,

1:07:13um, Trigg, Chief Trigg, really believes

1:07:15that as well, that this is a

1:07:17relationship with our community. And

1:07:18he's going to be joining me next week,

1:07:20Tuesday, um, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at

1:07:24Lifequest, uh, Grand Rapids. That's 1050

1:07:27Fisk Road, Southeast Grand Rapids,

1:07:29Michigan49507

1:07:31for a community conversation on public

1:07:33safety. And so you'll get a city

1:07:36commission update from me, uh, Grand

1:07:38Rapids Police Department update from

1:07:40Chief Trigg, and then there will also be

1:07:41time for uh, Q&A. And this will be nice

1:07:44to get us out of city hall into our

1:07:46neighborhoods. Happens to be my

1:07:48neighborhood, so I'll walk over. Um, and

1:07:50I'm just looking forward to it because

1:07:52it's a relationship that takes ongoing

1:07:54work and commitment from both sides. So,

1:07:56I'm thankful uh to GRPD and Chief Trigg

1:07:59for joining me with this and for all of

1:08:01our constituents uh to continue to take

1:08:03times out of their busy days to speak up

1:08:05and tell us firmly no or yes to what we

1:08:08are doing up here. So, thank you all and

1:08:10have a great afternoon.

1:08:12>> Commissioner Bel,

1:08:13>> thank you, Mayor, and thank you,

1:08:14colleagues. Um I I think that there's

1:08:18been a lot of great discussion today, so

1:08:20I'm not going to rehash all of that.

1:08:21Please go look. Um, and I think that

1:08:24there's been some uh great ideas brought

1:08:27forward both by our community and by our

1:08:29co my colleagues here and our city

1:08:31staff. So, I continue to ask for people

1:08:34to provide your feedback and let us know

1:08:38what's going on so we can either attend

1:08:40your events or, you know, find out

1:08:42what's happening in the neighborhood.

1:08:45So, this today um I don't want to steal

1:08:48your thunder, mayor, but we uh we did

1:08:51announce you did make a proclamation

1:08:52this morning about welcoming week. And

1:08:55um this is um another example of how we

1:08:59as a city can link arms with our

1:09:04neighbors no matter where they come

1:09:06from, no matter what their status is and

1:09:09no matter what their economic, social or

1:09:12religious connections might be. And so I

1:09:16am going to just share that a couple

1:09:19weeks ago I was invited to the Punjabi

1:09:22social uh or sports club and I got to

1:09:26see some very fun Indian dancing and

1:09:29music and uh Commissioner Kilgore was

1:09:32there and we really enjoyed seeing a

1:09:35totally different culture than you would

1:09:37normally see. um just but this is part

1:09:40of our community and it's one of many

1:09:42many many cultures that we have here. We

1:09:45just had the Polish festival a couple

1:09:47weekends ago. There's going to be um you

1:09:49know the Hispanic uh celebrations that

1:09:53Commissioner Isasi mentioned. So when we

1:09:55think about being welcoming, I want us

1:09:58to think about who we are in the moment

1:10:00and who we are showing up as. And I also

1:10:02want to think about our history. I had

1:10:04the opportunity to attend um the Grand

1:10:07Rapids African-American Museum and

1:10:09Archives

1:10:11re reveal big reveal of the historic

1:10:14photo from oh I'm going to get the year

1:10:18wrong 1950

1:10:21in the Urban League put on this event.

1:10:24Thank you for the little reminder. I was

1:10:27going to get to them, but at the the at

1:10:30grandma the Urban League put on this big

1:10:32reveal and the National Urban League

1:10:34gentleman was there as well. Um, and it

1:10:37was called a grand welcoming and it had

1:10:41to do with Grand Rapids making history

1:10:44as the first Urban League National

1:10:47Conference here at the hotel where that

1:10:50is now known as the Amway, but back then

1:10:53was the other my brain just got

1:10:56sidetracked

1:10:58Pantland. I knew it was P. [laughter]

1:11:01Um, and yeah, so it's a beautiful

1:11:05picture. It's going to be up. It's like

1:11:07I don't even know how many people like

1:11:09maybe a hundred people. It was the first

1:11:10time that African-American or black

1:11:14folks got to stay in a hotel with white

1:11:17people. And we in Grand Rapids were the

1:11:21first place that the National Urban

1:11:23League held that conference doing that.

1:11:26And I think that that is a great sign of

1:11:28how we can be a and continue to be a

1:11:30historic community leading the way when

1:11:33we continue to open our arms and be

1:11:35welcoming. So um uh I will just close

1:11:39that I'm going to be attending some more

1:11:41historic events coming up um and and

1:11:44would like to celebrate all all the

1:11:46anniversaries of the the people like we

1:11:48have historic 190th anniversary of Park

1:11:51Church coming up and things. And I'm

1:11:53going to call on our our historians in

1:11:55our community to help confirm for me why

1:11:57the west side is called the west side. I

1:11:59have a theory. It's because the west

1:12:01side's on the actually on the west side

1:12:03of the river whereas the southwest side

1:12:05is actually on the east side of the

1:12:08river. But that's my theory and I'll

1:12:11leave it to our conspiracy theorists

1:12:13from there.

1:12:15>> Mr. Clerk,

1:12:17>> the only thing I have is if you want to

1:12:19see a full report of what I did at my

1:12:21presentation at um committee of the

1:12:23whole, please watch that um video to get

1:12:25a full update on what's coming up for

1:12:28this upcoming election and what happened

1:12:30in August.

1:12:31>> Thanks. Uh city attorney,

1:12:34>> just a reminder, we're in recess from

1:12:36our close session. I'll ask that we

1:12:38return to that uh following this

1:12:40meeting. We won't adjourn this meeting.

1:12:41will go in recess from this meeting to

1:12:43go back into close session. Uh always

1:12:46interesting when plaintiffs council

1:12:48comes and professionally decides to take

1:12:50part in the political theater, but you

1:12:52know that you have the best uh

1:12:54government lawyers in the state of

1:12:55Michigan. So I'll uh I trust you all to

1:12:59make great decisions up here and I know

1:13:01that you trust me, too. Thank you.

1:13:04>> You didn't trust me to say that we were

1:13:06uh going to recess, not adjourn, but

1:13:08I'll I'll pass on that. City manager

1:13:12Thank you, mayor. And uh on the heels of

1:13:15Labor Day weekend, I want to reiterate

1:13:17my thanks to all the city employees who

1:13:20work so diligently to ensure city

1:13:23services are very thoughtfully and uh

1:13:26carefully delivered uh to include our

1:13:29city attorney. So, thank you um all of

1:13:31you who have prepared for today. I I

1:13:33wanted to um

1:13:37string a couple of comments together

1:13:39today and in the context of growing

1:13:43communities in local government. Um,

1:13:48when you look at the over 1,700

1:13:51communities across the state, whether

1:13:53they're cities, townships, shortage

1:13:54townships, villages, and you pull out

1:13:58just the communities that are cities,

1:14:0124%

1:14:03of those communities experienced growth

1:14:05between the 20 2010 2020 census. You

1:14:08pull in all the other communities is

1:14:10about half of those that are growing.

1:14:12So, in other words, if you're not

1:14:14growing, you are dying.

1:14:17And in order for us to continue to be a

1:14:22thriving community, we have to be a

1:14:24growing community. Part of that growth

1:14:28is being a welcoming community.

1:14:31Communities across the country are

1:14:33growing because they are inviting other

1:14:35people into the community. Part of that

1:14:38is migration across the country. Other

1:14:40part is that other part of that is

1:14:42immigration. This is the we just

1:14:45celebrated our 250th founding of our

1:14:48country. So I appreciate the uh

1:14:50proclamation mayor today about being

1:14:52welcoming because it is as we said this

1:14:55morning it is good not only for humanity

1:14:59but it's also good for our community to

1:15:01continue to grow and prosper. The other

1:15:04way that communities are growing is

1:15:06through placemaking

1:15:08and inviting people who are both

1:15:10residents and visitors to have great

1:15:13experiences.

1:15:15And we have activated a lot of places

1:15:18this summer all throughout our

1:15:19community, all throughout our city. We

1:15:20heard some of the stuff that happened

1:15:21this past weekend celebrating the

1:15:23culmination of u historical moment at

1:15:26Urban League, but also the amphitheater

1:15:30uh has proven to be a great activation

1:15:33in this community and it happened

1:15:35through a lot of collaborative efforts

1:15:37and it is going to be something that we

1:15:39will look down the road as we do with

1:15:42the Vanandal and the convention center

1:15:44and all the other assets at Martin

1:15:46Luther King now um lodge or community

1:15:48center. And I just want to continue to

1:15:51challenge us to think about the future

1:15:54of our city. And it's up to all of us to

1:15:57create it. It's not going to be easy.

1:16:00We're going to go through growing pains.

1:16:01We're going to go through the challenges

1:16:02of a growing community, whether it's

1:16:04public safety, economic development,

1:16:05inclusion for everyone, but we have to

1:16:08be able to continue to rise to this

1:16:10challenge. And we're not going to get

1:16:11through it just blaming each other all

1:16:13the time and politically scapegoating.

1:16:16So, I am committed to continue to build

1:16:20this community for everyone. Our

1:16:22workforce is committed to do it. We're

1:16:24not perfect. No, there's no perfect

1:16:27department in the city, but we are

1:16:29committed to getting better. I look

1:16:30forward to continuing to do that. I'm

1:16:32excited about uh this next uh season uh

1:16:37upcoming as summer concludes and we go

1:16:39into fall. I also want to thank the city

1:16:42clerk for uh his presentation today

1:16:44about um upcoming elections and making

1:16:48sure that uh we continue to have a good

1:16:51and fair process. So, thank you, city

1:16:53clerk, for your update and uh look

1:16:55forward to seeing everyone over the

1:16:57coming weeks.

1:17:00>> Thank you, city manager. Um so, I

1:17:02thought I had three things to say. I

1:17:04turned out I have four, so I'm going to

1:17:05be faster on the first three. Uh the

1:17:07first is I do urge those watching and

1:17:09here to go uh look at our conversation

1:17:12about the uh upcoming jail millage

1:17:14proposal. And I want to uh reemphasize

1:17:17some things that I laid out and that is

1:17:19um I am urgent that we have a community

1:17:22conversation valuing the uh importance

1:17:24of face-toface visits for people who are

1:17:26in the jail. Uh that stopped some time

1:17:28ago. And so if we're going to uh be

1:17:31reinvesting in their our jail

1:17:32foundationally, I want to be reinvesting

1:17:34in uh the services that we give the

1:17:36people who are there and on um ways that

1:17:39we can help those folks actually

1:17:41reintegrate into the community when they

1:17:42leave the jail because most of them are

1:17:44from this community, most of them go

1:17:46back to this community. And so I also

1:17:48pointed out that I really want us to

1:17:50stress test people's um plans as they

1:17:53leave because um it's really important

1:17:55that we help people reintegrate. Um,

1:17:57second thing I want to uh say and you

1:17:59know I'm I'm always I always want to

1:18:02point out that if I forgot somebody's

1:18:03name I don't it's not it's not an

1:18:05attempted slight but thank you Eric,

1:18:06Kyle, Charlie and John particularly

1:18:08today for your comments on flock. I

1:18:10thought they were good and and

1:18:12thoughtful. Uh I want to point out that

1:18:14our vendor conversation is of course

1:18:15ongoing and the question of whether we

1:18:17have another vendor uh for license plate

1:18:19reading uh work in the future is

1:18:21something we'll have an ongoing

1:18:22conversation about. And the the the

1:18:24other thing I want to acknowledge

1:18:25publicly a moment and this is something

1:18:27that I think needs articulating and that

1:18:29is um I don't think the courts have yet

1:18:32said that say flock technology is a

1:18:35violation of the fourth amendment but

1:18:37that doesn't mean that the city can't

1:18:39decide that there are reasonable limits

1:18:41on the things the fourth amendment was

1:18:43designed to protect. uh and so the city

1:18:46can set reasonable limits on government

1:18:48intrusion into individuals act into

1:18:50individual behaviors and individuals

1:18:52lives. Um it's also true that um

1:18:55technologies which might not have

1:18:58earlier um be risen to the level of a

1:19:01fourth amendment violation logically can

1:19:03over time. And so in the area and it's

1:19:06not something we're necessarily used to

1:19:08thinking about that technology might

1:19:10make something that's non-intrusive

1:19:11intrusive. Um, but I think that's the

1:19:13conversation we're really having about

1:19:15um about surveillance in general when

1:19:18we're having these conversations. And

1:19:20so, thank you for continuing to have

1:19:21those conversations. Um, third, I want

1:19:24to point out that our new uh ride share

1:19:26uh bikes around town, uh, a they are

1:19:28designed to be much more affordable,

1:19:30particularly for people living 200% or

1:19:32less of the poverty level. Um, it's

1:19:34going to be a big improvement for them.

1:19:36The second thing that I love about them

1:19:37that I pointed out to my wife yesterday

1:19:39is almost all of them have baskets. So,

1:19:41they're not just a thing to get from,

1:19:43you know, the amphitheater home. They're

1:19:45a thing you can go shopping with. Um,

1:19:47and so I'm really hopeful that they're

1:19:49going to be better alternative

1:19:50transportation for folks uh than our pri

1:19:53prior vendor. Also, uh we are going to

1:19:56be growing into having um crash

1:19:58avoidance technologies on these things,

1:20:00which is really exciting for me uh given

1:20:02that my I I almost got railed by a

1:20:05scooter the other day down a downtown

1:20:06street and my mother almost got railed

1:20:08by one uh in front of our house. So, I'm

1:20:10I'm glad that the scooters are starting

1:20:12to incorporate technology, which I hope

1:20:14will make them safer. Um, so I wanted to

1:20:17flag those things. Um, lastly, on a

1:20:20personal note, um, a number of years

1:20:22ago, I made a list of four people I

1:20:24wanted to meet before they died. Um, and

1:20:27I had made two out of the four, and I'm

1:20:30only going to make two out of the four.

1:20:31The four I wanted to meet were Jimmy

1:20:34Carter, who I managed to meet. uh Bishop

1:20:36Tutu who I managed to meet, Nelson

1:20:38Mandala, who I did not manage to meet,

1:20:40and Wendelberry who died this week. And

1:20:43so I want to close out the meeting by

1:20:45reading you a Wendelberry political

1:20:47poem.

1:20:49Love the quick profit, the annual raise,

1:20:52vacation with pay. Want more of

1:20:55everything readymade. Be afraid to know

1:20:57your neighbors and to die. And you will

1:21:00have a window in your head. Not even

1:21:02your future will be a mystery anymore.

1:21:04Your mind will be punched in a card and

1:21:06shut away in a little drawer. When they

1:21:09want you to buy something, they'll call

1:21:10you. When they want you to die for

1:21:12profit, they'll let you know. So

1:21:14friends, every day, do something that

1:21:17won't compute. Love the Lord. Love the

1:21:21world. Work for nothing. Take all that

1:21:24you have and be poor. Love someone who

1:21:27does not deserve it. Denounce the

1:21:30government and embrace the flag. Hope to

1:21:32live in that free republic for which it

1:21:34stands. Give your approval to all you

1:21:37cannot understand. Praise ignorance for

1:21:40what man has not encountered, he has not

1:21:42destroyed.

1:21:44Ask the questions that have no answers.

1:21:46Invest in the millennium. Plant sequoas.

1:21:49Say that your main crop is the forest

1:21:51you did not plant that you will not live

1:21:53to harvest. Say that the leaves are

1:21:55harvested when they've rotted into the

1:21:57mold. Call that prophet. Prophesy such

1:22:00returns. Put your faith in the two

1:22:02inches of hummus that will build under

1:22:04the trees every thousand years. Listen

1:22:07to Kerrion. Put your ear close and hear

1:22:09the faint chattering of the songs that

1:22:11are to come. Expect the end of the

1:22:13world. Laugh. Laughter is immeasurable.

1:22:17Be joyful, though you have considered

1:22:18all the facts. So long as women do not

1:22:21go cheap for power, please women more

1:22:23than men. Ask yourself, will this

1:22:26satisfy a woman satisfied to bear a

1:22:27child? Will this disturb the sleep of a

1:22:30woman near to giving birth? Go with your

1:22:33love to the fields. Lie down in the

1:22:35shade. Rest your head in her lap. Swear

1:22:38allegiance to what is nest your

1:22:40thoughts. As soon as the generals and

1:22:42the politicals could predict the motions

1:22:44of your mind, lose it. Leave it as a

1:22:47sign to mark the false trail, the way

1:22:49you didn't go. Be like the fox who makes

1:22:52more tracks than necessary, some in the

1:22:55wrong direction. Practice resurrection.

1:22:58Thank you all. And that's adjourning us,

1:23:00not uh recessing is not adjourning us.

1:23:03The other way around, we're recessing.

```*