2026-10-06 - Economic Development Project Team

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01:59>> Mhm.

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05:26>> Came to order with my microphone on.

05:29Uh, and the first thing is uh, we're

05:31going to get an update on our inclusion

05:32planning.

05:34Uh,

05:35from

05:37Ms. Barrons.

05:43>> Really, I will just uh, introduce

05:44Margaret and

05:47also pull up the briefing here so we can

05:49find the right PowerPoint presentation.

05:52I think it's this one.

05:55There we go.

05:56Um so, we have Margaret here to talk

05:58about the inclusion plan program and

06:01provide some metrics. This is uh

06:04partially responsive to the

06:07performance

06:09data that we shared at the annual

06:12performance report. Um but, I will

06:14acknowledge

06:15Okay, I'm not sure.

06:18Okay, I had it though. I had I had it. I

06:19was there.

06:20>> Oh, wait. Now you're Now you're doing

06:21it.

06:22>> Yep, okay.

06:24Um so, uh there is uh there was a

06:27request at the annual performance report

06:29for updated uh data about the actual

06:33the actuals related with inclusion plan.

06:35So, at that point we reported how much

06:37private investment there had been and

06:39how much commitment there had been made

06:40to MLBE inclusion. There was a request

06:43that we provide the actuals there. We

06:45have actuals uh through a prior calendar

06:48year, which we're going to share today.

06:50The more updated um

06:52figures will be in our mid-year

06:54performance report, which is anticipated

06:55in February.

07:00>> Okay, hello everyone.

07:02Um so, first just as uh

07:06overview or reminder for anyone that's

07:08not well versed in the inclusion plans,

07:10uh the program was implemented back in

07:12January of '21 and essentially had a

07:15goal that we wanted to

07:17expand our reach of subcontractors and

07:20have

07:22folks involved in the bidding process

07:24and doing the work that were

07:25representative of the community.

07:27So, the inclusion plan program applies

07:29to our

07:30city-supported projects. It establishes

07:32aspirational goals and then we follow up

07:35throughout the construction process, the

07:37bidding process,

07:38and get

07:40real numbers so we can see how those

07:42goals turned into action.

07:46There's four main parts or components of

07:49the inclusion plan program, um which

07:52goes from

07:54incentive [clears throat] application to

07:55the secured subcontractors, and then

07:57during construction, we stay in touch

08:00with these folks and the project leads

08:02to get

08:03updated submitted statuses and track any

08:06changes or update any contract values.

08:09And then upon project completion, we

08:12receive a final report that we will then

08:14be able to compare to what they

08:16initially submitted as their

08:18aspirational goals.

08:22This is another

08:24image essentially that shows you the

08:25actual inclusion plan process, um and

08:30what it looks for for the participating

08:32subcontractors or construction managers

08:34or on a project level. So, as they get

08:37their plan approved, they do their

08:39initial application, which establishes

08:41those aspirational goals.

08:43Then during the bid outreach phase, we

08:46are tracking the participation, and we

08:48receive an initial post-bid report.

08:51Um

08:53then it goes into the construction

08:54monitoring phase with semi-frequent

08:58check-ins to see if anything has changed

09:00or if there was anything that we wanted

09:01to uplift as a major flag in comparison

09:04to their aspirational goals. And then

09:07once construction is complete on a

09:08project, then we receive that final

09:10report.

09:13So, over time since 2021, you can see

09:17here how many plans have been submitted,

09:19and it's been

09:20we have in our office managed 57 of

09:23those plans and have had a

09:25reported total of about $830 million in

09:30private investment supported through

09:31these programs. And these are the

09:33aspirational targets that were reported

09:36for each specific category. So, MBE,

09:39WBE, and W and

09:42LBE, sorry.

09:45Looking deeper into the aspirational

09:47goals reported within the last year, um

09:50this is year-to-date for us so far. So,

09:54we've had less plans submitted, but

09:56we've had a significant increase in the

09:59actual investment numbers per plan. So,

10:02that's reaching we have a target of

10:04about 20% that we try to reach for the

10:07inclusion plans. So, that's showing that

10:11from previous years to now, um we're

10:13having an increased numbers. So, whether

10:15that's dollar amount or percentage

10:17amount, um and you can see those shifts

10:21on the side here.

10:26Year-to-date with the actual final

10:28reports that we have, um

10:31we've had over $20 million

10:33invested. Now, you'll see that that's

10:35obviously a big jump from what was

10:37reported um as aspirational, and a big

10:40reason for that will be on the next

10:42slide. Um

10:44but these are what we've gotten final

10:45final reports. So, the subcontractor

10:48reports give us during the post-bidding

10:50phase give us a good idea of what we're

10:52looking at, but we don't count those as

10:55final just because obviously things

10:58could change after the bidding process

11:00due to a number of variables.

11:04We still have uh

11:06about 26 projects that are currently

11:08awaiting their final reports. So, if we

11:10were to include subcontractor numbers,

11:12this 20 million goes up about a hundred

11:14million dollars. But again, we don't

11:16want to report on things until we get

11:17that final final number.

11:21Um

11:23some of the ones that we wanted to just

11:25point out that we have on the horizon as

11:27good community projects with

11:30good aspirational goals reported.

11:33One of which being 2130 Plainfield,

11:36which got approval through

11:38recently. Um, and that project proposed

11:40renovating an existing structure and a

11:42building for a new standalone

11:46business. Um, that would include

11:49commercial space, housing, parking, and

11:51a public city skywalk not skywalk,

11:53sidewalk. Um,

11:55the development requested $108,000 from

11:57our LBRF and was using an MLBE as their

12:01general contractor, which put their

12:06inclusion plan uh numbers up to 82%,

12:08which is obviously far beyond the 20%

12:11that we reach for.

12:141024 MLK is a redevelopment project that

12:18had also requested money from the LBRF.

12:21Um,

12:22this is a mixed-use building that will

12:23be offering childcare and afterschool

12:25programming, so a great community

12:27project. And we were happy to

12:29incentivize the project, and we also

12:30know that they are

12:32targeting in their aspirational goals at

12:3420% for the inclusion plan, and

12:38so far the last time I checked in, that

12:40actually has gone over. So, sometimes we

12:42see notable shifts not going down, which

12:45I feel like is the default assumption

12:47that these would do. Um, and instead

12:49actually aiming beyond what they put in

12:51their aspirational goals.

12:56Since implementing um the inclusion plan

12:58program, we've learned a few key things.

13:02So, some of the categories include time

13:04and sites, early engagement, the

13:06resource constraints, and the

13:07participation shifts.

13:10So, most important [clears throat] of

13:11these would be that early engagement

13:14we've realized is the top priority for

13:17getting these inclusion plans. So,

13:19obviously you saw some numbers when it

13:20was first implemented,

13:22the actual number or the investment

13:25amounts are going to be a little bit

13:26lower. Now, the community seems to be

13:28very involved and knowledgeable that

13:30this is a city priority and something

13:33that

13:34we try to make actionable within our

13:37incentive programs and within our

13:39projects. Um

13:40So, that early engagement and explaining

13:42a the point in the alignment of city

13:44priorities and why the inclusion plans

13:46are important, but also giving them all

13:48the resources and partnering with

13:51other city departments like the office

13:53of equity and inclusion and externally

13:55managing with out

13:58with uh different stakeholders like

14:00Construction Allies in Action.

14:02Um

14:04That's seemed to be something that a

14:07we've noted as good to getting up to

14:10those aspirational goals of 20%, but

14:12also manages, you know, provides folks

14:14and

14:16development teams with resources that

14:17they didn't know existed.

14:20Some of the participation shifts noted

14:22is that

14:24certain target dollars in certain

14:25categories have decreased. Um

14:28So, not only does that again emphasize

14:30the need for early engagement, but it

14:31also shows, you know, how the landscape

14:34in the local economy has shifted and

14:36what the different needs from different

14:38contractors or subcontractors are for

14:40the projects that we're attracting and

14:41incentivizing.

14:43Um Similarly, time insights again on the

14:47same note, but the data that we've

14:48collected we are we've been able to use

14:51to actually implement how we're driving

14:53these conversations, how we're doing the

14:55early engagement, and what resources we

14:57need to have at the ready so that

14:59they're able to be implemented without

15:02additional administrative hassle whether

15:04in our office or some of the external

15:06partners we work with just to kind of

15:08streamline streamline everything.

15:13For folks that were looking to get

15:15involved in the inclusion plan process

15:17or

15:19become more knowledgeable about it, they

15:21can always connect with our office and

15:22again we work closely with the office of

15:24equity and engagement for the inclusion

15:27plans, different outreach

15:30resources and different referrals.

15:33Um

15:34and one of the most important things I

15:35think that again just really engage the

15:38community and make sure that you know

15:39we're representing at

15:42people in the community so things are

15:43built by the community

15:45are the networking meetings that we like

15:48we host.

15:49Um and also attending pre-bid meetings

15:52and contractor outreach sessions,

15:54different networking events. Um all of

15:56these things have been consistently

15:58identified as something that helps

16:00overcome the barriers to become matched

16:02with projects that have appropriate

16:04scopes of work.

16:05Um

16:07and we did just want to note that you do

16:09not at this time to participate in the

16:11inclusion plans need to be located

16:13within Kent County or certified by a

16:15third party organization. So we try to

16:18make it as accessible and inclusive as

16:20possible.

16:22I think that's it.

16:25>> Great. Thanks.

16:26Um yes, Commissioner Soss.

16:29>> Thank you.

16:30Uh thanks for this overview. I think you

16:32know sometimes we've heard people say,

16:34you know, you guys approve these plans

16:35and you don't you never you never go

16:37back and you never measure it but this

16:39is that that is not true and so we do go

16:41back and measure it. Sometimes you know

16:43depending as you mentioned some of the

16:44time frame and those pieces. Um I know a

16:47few years back one of the concerns that

16:49people had you know when they were sort

16:50of developing their plans was the

16:52percentage. You know I think there was

16:55and not maybe not everybody but some

16:57sentiment about you know I want to

16:58really make this a stretch goal you know

17:00where I want to be at. And but also when

17:04you're doing a project here and there

17:05we've had a lot of development and John

17:07will do his report later

17:09is that there can sometimes be a lack of

17:11eligible like eligible contractors to do

17:13certain things or to come in and be

17:15those MLB E's on the project. And so,

17:17have you continued to hear that from

17:20applicants of the different programs? I

17:22you know, cuz you want them to shoot

17:24high, hopefully, or go you know, have a

17:26have a solid goal, but you also don't

17:28want to set them up if maybe the pool is

17:31not where it needs to be. And then

17:32there's always been the discussion about

17:34how do we continue to invest in that

17:35pool? So,

17:36um so yeah, any thoughts on that would

17:38be great.

17:39>> I would say the general perception that

17:40I'm aware of or what I've heard through

17:42conversation with the inclusion plans is

17:44that it's becoming less and less of an

17:46issue as this program has grown and

17:49we've passed more projects and been

17:51beyond busy in our office

17:53um with all our different activities

17:54that we're doing and pushing the

17:56inclusion plans on each and every one of

17:57those incentives or on those projects.

18:00I think it's less of an issue than it

18:01might have been obviously at the

18:02beginning or starting, but I do think

18:06that it's not completely eradicated, of

18:08course. So, that just again underscores

18:10the need to directly engage with our

18:12community and make sure that like the

18:13communications about A this program and

18:16the resources for the existing

18:17businesses to get on a priority list and

18:20they can become a registered vendor.

18:22It's not required for our inclusion

18:24plans at the moment to be a a registered

18:26vendor, but that's all handled in the

18:29office of equity and engagement, of

18:31course, but having

18:33letting the community know that that

18:34exists as a resource, I don't think it's

18:36necessarily a lack of businesses

18:38in the state that are qualified. It's

18:40just how do you get them the correct

18:42resources to be knowledgeable about it.

18:45And I think that again, it kind of is

18:47early engagement, but

18:49with an emphasis on community engagement

18:51and messaging.

18:54>> Thank you.

18:56>> Okay, thanks for the presentation.

18:59>> Of course.

19:03>> Next up, we have

19:08>> I'm like the MC today. So, introducing

19:11our next set of presentations

19:14So, we had um

19:16the Affordable Housing Fund Board

19:18recently had a workshop and we asked for

19:21um and received

19:24um updates

19:25from the Grand Rapids Land Bank

19:26Authority and from the Brownfield

19:28Redevelopment Authority on the Emerging

19:30Developers Grants program. So, I asked

19:33Sarah Renniero to come and share the

19:34same information with this body

19:37because there's always a lot of public

19:38interest in sort of the status of these

19:40programs. Uh and so, um Ms. Renniero is

19:43going to be here to talk about both the

19:45Emerging Developers and the Land Bank

19:47Authority.

19:48>> Great. And she is in fact here.

19:51>> She is and I'm just asking her which one

19:53first. Okay, so we're going to start

19:54with the Land Bank Authority

19:56uh presentation and then we'll

19:58close that one out and open the one

20:00around Emerging Developers. And again,

20:03these um each generated specific asks

20:06for partnership between the Land Bank

20:08Authority and the Brownfield Authority

20:10with the Affordable Housing Fund Board.

20:13The board is still considering those

20:14asks. So, we we're not asking you to

20:16weigh in on that part, but we did think

20:18the information was um generally of

20:20interest to a lot of our stakeholders.

20:34>> [clears throat]

20:37>> Good morning again.

20:41All right, on the the Land Bank uh

20:45this should be familiar, Mayor.

20:46Um I'm going to highlight three

20:47different things for this presentation.

20:50Um and this um

20:52and this covers

20:54uh

20:54the benefits of having a Land Bank,

20:57um what we've been working on the last

20:58year, our current portfolio, as well as

21:01uh closing with the acquisition strategy

21:02that the board recently adopted.

21:05Uh so, these are all the good reasons

21:07that we have a land bank. Uh, our uh uh

21:10purpose here is to really create uh and

21:13maximize a tool for uh land transfer.

21:16Uh, be a patient partner. Um, we've been

21:19in in um educating the public the last

21:22year and really moving the portfolio

21:24from the state that we received. Uh,

21:27those mostly have been in the third

21:28ward. They've mostly been single-family

21:29lots.

21:31Um, this very much aligns with our other

21:33programming, whether it is the

21:35site-ready plans that we worked on with

21:36the state and the planning department.

21:38Uh, the emerging developer programming,

21:41and I would call more attention to our

21:42environmental site assessment grants

21:44that are still very much available for

21:45emerging developers. Um

21:48and then I would say that um the last

21:50point on there, harm reduction through

21:52addressing gentrification. We really set

21:54up the

21:55policies here um to think about um the

21:59applicants that are coming through the

22:00door and and what they're planning to do

22:02and ensuring that aligns with our

22:05priorities. And

22:06up um majority, if not all, have been

22:09put forward for housing.

22:13This gives you insight into the

22:15portfolio. So, we have 20 parcels

22:18available with one acting listing

22:19period. This is data about 30 days old,

22:22so Doug may have more uh recent

22:24information, but at the time we

22:25presented in September, uh we had one

22:27active listing period. Uh, what happens

22:30is when we get an application, uh we put

22:32that property out and make it available

22:34for everyone for 30 days and acknowledge

22:36that we have an application, so it just

22:38uh affords uh greater access to these

22:40properties once we know we have an

22:42interested uh person.

22:45Uh, we've optioned 18 parcels. So, this

22:47is where we have entered into a

22:49year-long agreement with these

22:51applicants, um expecting them to perform

22:53due diligence activities and and really

22:55ensuring that they've got a project. Um

22:58and then we've actually disposed of 14

23:00or sold 14 properties of the

23:0350-ish that were buildable in the

23:05100-ish that

23:07from the state land bank.

23:13Uh disposition highlights, this gives

23:15you a little bit more

23:17insights into what has been moving.

23:20And I was really framing this more for

23:23the affordable housing fund board given

23:25their interest in affordable housing. We

23:27do not

23:29describe any specific requirements when

23:32it comes to land bank transactions. What

23:34we're responding to here is applicants

23:36seeking a desire to maintain

23:38affordability. And if they choose to do

23:40that, then they're identifying their the

23:42goals here and we're putting that into

23:45ultimately a deed restriction at the end

23:46of the day.

23:47Um

23:48So you can see about seven of those had

23:51affordability. About seven of those were

23:53market rate. Um

24:01Recently, uh the the board adopted an

24:05acquisition policy.

24:07The goals here are pretty

24:08straightforward. Promoting redevelopment

24:10and reuse of vacant, abandoned,

24:12foreclosed, and other properties.

24:13Supporting targeted efforts to stabilize

24:15neighborhoods. Stimulating residential,

24:18commercial, and industrial development.

24:20Um and undertaking actions in a way that

24:23are consistent with goals and priorities

24:24established by partners and other

24:26community stakeholders.

24:28Just calling some attention to the goal

24:30here and not being acting as a developer

24:32but acting instead as a partner to

24:34support transactions that are meant to

24:36reactivate

24:38underutilized property.

24:41A few of the low-hanging fruit items

24:43that the

24:45um that the land bank was

24:47uh tossing around are one, looking at

24:50city-owned properties that may be suit-

24:52suitable for disposition and how in in

24:55consideration of a potential

24:57partnership between the city and the

24:58land bank.

25:00Additionally, partnership with the

25:02corridor improvement authorities, we've

25:04had flywheel

25:06over the last year

25:09provide their corridor strategy

25:12presentation to each of the corridor

25:14improvement authorities and really talk

25:15about the infill opportunities across

25:17the different authorities.

25:19So I feel like we're just getting

25:20started with that conversation to be

25:21more specific. Right, it was more broad

25:24like this is these are all the things we

25:25could do.

25:26The land bank could be a very willing

25:28partner in helping hold property while

25:30other properties are acquired maybe.

25:33But ultimately just the intention of

25:35partnering with the CIAs is a priority.

25:37>> [snorts]

25:37>> And then finally we've talked a little

25:40bit about how

25:42the Southside Creekways Trail is being

25:44contemplated and what potential

25:46properties along that trail could be

25:48again acquired potentially in

25:50partnership with the land bank to help

25:52again

25:53um

25:55potentially activate

25:57greater parcels, right? We could be a

25:59long-term holding partner is the point.

26:04So the land bank authority

26:06took action to send a letter to the

26:10affordable housing fund board for a very

26:12specific dollar amount of $5 million

26:14to help fund acquisition. There's no

26:16specific property that we are looking to

26:19acquire at this point, but we wanted to

26:21have a sizable enough

26:23dollar amount here to really make it

26:29worthwhile candidly, right? Real

26:30estate's important.

26:32And so again, we want to help advance

26:35the housing goals specifically

26:37affordable housing goals

26:39that the affordable housing fund board

26:41has.

26:42We want also be a partner on

26:44um

26:46on properties again allowing sufficient

26:49time to ensure priorities can be

26:50integrated into future activation. Um

26:53and then finally, we want to

26:55uh continue to focus on generational

26:57wealth and activating these properties.

27:02I'm happy to answer any questions.

27:04>> Great. Um so, thank thank you uh Sarah

27:06and thanks Doug for your enthusiasm and

27:08work on this. Um since I'm in the thick

27:11of this and and share that, I'm going to

27:13uh City Manager, you want to say

27:14something first?

27:15>> wondering given the time, would it be

27:16better for us to go through both

27:17presentations, both the uh Land Bank and

27:20Brownfield Authority,

27:22since they're both asking requests from

27:25the Affordable Housing Fund and then

27:27have discussion collectively.

27:30>> So, go ahead take it away.

27:33>> Yep.

27:35>> And given our limited amount of time we

27:37have.

27:37>> I'll try to be quick. Uh this next one

27:40uh for the Emerging Developer Grants, uh

27:43again, giving an overview of

27:45um

27:46the programming, [clears throat]

27:47I just as set the baseline here. Uh I

27:50talk a little bit about what we were

27:51able to accomplish with the investments

27:53that we've made to date, um and then

27:55also uh a pitch, if you will, to uh the

27:58Affordable Housing Fund board on ways we

28:00could ultimately partner.

28:03So, just a level set, uh this

28:05programming was established in 2023. Um

28:09it's meant to activate uh and grow our

28:12emerging developer ecosystem and help

28:15fund pre-development expenses necessary

28:17simply to obtain a site plan uh approval

28:21uh for a future project. And I I'm

28:24simply is probably not the right word

28:25there. There's a lot of work uh for

28:27pre-development costs and activities

28:29that it takes to actually get a deal,

28:32uh to understand whether a deal is

28:33workable and um can pencil.

28:39Here's some of the data on what we've

28:42what we know. Uh we've supported 22

28:45different grant awards across 30

28:47different parcels.

28:49Uh one of those for certain with the

28:51land bank.

28:52Um

28:5320 projects of the 22 anticipate

28:55residential units.

28:58Uh we are not necessarily in a position

28:59at this point in the development process

29:01to be requiring affordability by any

29:03means, right? We're just to try and

29:04understand if we have a deal.

29:06Um so there's we while we know some

29:08detail on the residential units,

29:09affordability's not necessarily one of

29:11those data points.

29:12Uh over 211,000 square feet of potential

29:16redevelopment, 335

29:18units.

29:20Um

29:20And the BRA has supported

29:23uh almost 3.2 million um

29:26in this uh space.

29:2886% of those projects are in a

29:30neighborhood of focus and you can see

29:31the ward breakdown there.

29:35Since investing in these projects, we

29:39are aware that 12 of the 22 projects are

29:43seeking additional uh incentives or

29:46under active uh construction. Seven of

29:49those are still working through uh

29:52pre-development activities and still um

29:54going to be requesting reimbursement on

29:56those funds. And three projects, again

29:58of the 22, are seeking ownership

30:01uh change.

30:03The breakdown of the other incentive

30:05tools there are in the box.

30:06Um we've got a variety of tools that we

30:09are working to help advance these

30:11projects. Uh the the rendering is uh

30:14Ricky uh Alabra uh with Slick

30:16Investments and he was one of the

30:19uh emerging developer applicants that uh

30:21really went from smaller single-family

30:24um

30:25redevelopment flips to more multi-family

30:29um investment across three different

30:31parcels um through a a brownfield

30:34housing uh plan.

30:41So the subcommittee for the Brownfield

30:43Redevelopment Authority has talked about

30:46um

30:48the emerging developer programming.

30:50Purposeful in not allocating specific

30:53dollars this last fiscal year to this

30:57uh space.

30:59Just due to demand and trying to find a

31:01resource that could help keep um

31:04help keep up with the pace and um

31:06provide a more sustainable funding

31:07source as well as uh

31:10trying to get other partners to the

31:11table through for technical assistance.

31:12So uh when thinking about how this

31:14programming might change, these are some

31:16of the things that we've discussed.

31:18There's been no decisions by any means,

31:20but I want to just call some attention

31:22to we've talked about the definition of

31:24an emerging developer.

31:25Uh right now it's a pretty broad

31:26definition where we're looking for early

31:29entrepreneurs in the real estate space.

31:31Um we've also talked about how we're

31:33funding these. We've been funding these

31:35in

31:36um

31:37in all the activities that you see there

31:39whether it's pre-development consulting,

31:41uh site planning, environmental site

31:43assessment grants, engineering, or A&E

31:45um

31:46in one

31:47disbursement, right? In one um

31:50a grant approval. Uh the suggestion on a

31:53going forward basis is to maybe break

31:55this up and be more incremental. Um so

31:57at so for example, uh we

32:00carve out specific dollars through our

32:02environmental site assessment grants

32:05uh

32:07for funding from our revolving loan fund

32:09and we could just start there with an

32:12investment with an with an emerging

32:13developer versus um considering all the

32:16funding and we can make more incremental

32:17progress.

32:18Um

32:20similar to our environmental site

32:21assessment grant carve out, uh we could

32:23consider carving out dollars specific to

32:25emerging developer programming.

32:28Uh and then just to give you a sense of

32:30uh the scope of the projects because

32:31we've also talked about whether we can

32:33cap uh size of projects. Uh so that

32:36could be size uh from a total project

32:38cost,

32:39uh which we're averaging about 4.7

32:42million at this point. Um and we've seen

32:44range of residential units coming online

32:46from two to 52 units. And so, you know,

32:49would we cap it at 10 or what, you know?

32:51So, it's all under um

32:54dialogue at the moment, and uh we

32:56anticipate changes on a going forward

32:58basis.

32:59Um

33:01In relation to the Affordable Housing

33:03Fund Board specifically,

33:06I was drawing um

33:08some conclusions about their focus of

33:12expanding the ecosystem for both uh

33:14small-scale affordable housing

33:16development and also increasing access

33:18to capital for training of emerging

33:20developers. And what I'm trying to

33:22articulate here is just a few things

33:23that I see in both of these spaces where

33:25the BRA could be a partner.

33:28Um so, obviously the site assessment

33:30grants are pre-development um

33:32activities that's associated. Uh we're

33:34also seeing a lot of the projects that

33:35are being put forward by the nature of

33:37what is being put forward, um affordable

33:39by design. Uh so, having smaller units,

33:43um

33:44more efficiencies built in with um

33:46um

33:48some of the appliances.

33:49Uh and then we also have an opportunity

33:51maybe leverage housing TIFF a little bit

33:53different um because of the project that

33:56we saw Ricky

33:57pursue uh with his

33:59um

34:00scattered site brownfield plan.

34:02Um as far as the increasing access to

34:04capital and training for emerging

34:05developers, and we've um

34:07briefly talked with the lending

34:09community about uh partnering here.

34:11We've also talked to uh the Urban League

34:14about partnering on the in

34:18the applicants or the

34:20the

34:23people that went through their cohorts

34:25um in partnering them up with invest the

34:27investor community in a with a little

34:29bit more intention. And then also

34:31talking about more hands-on capacity

34:33building because these are hard

34:36these are hard projects.

34:39The partner opportunity opportunity the

34:41partnership opportunity here is my last

34:43slide. This is really where we were or I

34:47I was throwing at the wall three

34:50different things here to fund and I I'm

34:53spitballing about a two million dollar

34:56ask to fund the outstanding grant

34:58applications from fiscal year 26 which

35:00I'm giving you a smattering of the

35:02scopes there on

35:04um

35:04that first bullet.

35:06Uh

35:07In addition funding five future projects

35:10that are not identified but this will

35:12signal to the community that we we do

35:14want to continue to invest in the space

35:16with more partners at the table. And

35:18then finally

35:19a technical assistance

35:21focus

35:23which

35:24could be envisioned through a request

35:26for proposals to focus on really more

35:28mentorship and

35:30some consulting activities that could

35:32help advance these projects from idea to

35:34actually ribbon cuttings.

35:38And I'm happy to take any questions.

35:40>> Great. So I'm going to lead off and just

35:43point out partly for the record and

35:47I know my colleagues know all this but

35:49um

35:49So as far as the land bank goes

35:52which it's no secret I'm very excited

35:53about.

35:55What where we are right now is something

35:57that's got about a hundred thousand

35:59dollars in the bank. So

36:01in the to construction world a hundred

36:03thousand dollars doesn't buy you much.

36:05It hardly buys you bathroom at this

36:07point.

36:08So

36:09you know if there are land banks are

36:12structured so that they can do some it's

36:13called 550 capture so they there's a

36:16complicated mechanism that like in

36:18places with that have a lot of

36:19foreclosed properties like you know

36:21other cities I won't mention by name

36:23that have a lot of foreclosed properties

36:25that

36:27the the future tax pro- property tax

36:30gets captured and those can grow over

36:31time.

36:33But,

36:34we're a new

36:36we're a new

36:37land bank and so I think it's I think

36:39it's very very important that we prime

36:41the pump because we could wait 20 years

36:43until this thing incrementally grew to

36:47the size that it could be an effective

36:49force for development in the community

36:50or we could prime the pump and and have

36:52it have some capital so it can actually

36:54start doing some things. Um, I mean

36:56there are independent of that I think

36:57there's some things that are exciting.

36:59For example, we kind of went by it

37:01quickly but there are some non-buildable

37:03lots. Well, one of the things about a

37:05non-buildable lot is like who wants to

37:06buy buy a lot that's non-buildable

37:08unless you wanted to put a dog park on

37:10it or something. But, um, there are

37:12there is of course a process to go to

37:14planning and say, "Hey, you know, I know

37:16this has got a slope that's 2% above

37:18what you're supposed to have but, um,

37:20can we get a variance?" And and and that

37:22that is a potential barrier to

37:24development land bank could address

37:27prior to getting properties out in

37:28disposition. So, I think the the land

37:30bank can be a real tool for, um, turning

37:33some of those non-developable properties

37:34into potentially things that can

37:36actually be built on.

37:37Um, it's also true that I think the land

37:39bank's really got an opportunity if it

37:41has some money to go out and do

37:44um, recruiting for lack of a better way

37:46to way to put it. Um, the uh, there are

37:48there's property out there that's not

37:50really in good use right now.

37:52Um, and

37:53for a variety of reasons and to have an

37:55entity that's got the ability to go out

37:57and initiate conversations city wide

37:59about like, "Hey, why are you sitting on

38:01this empty lot?

38:02Um, it's not doing you any good. Uh, how

38:04about we put it to community use?" Um,

38:07and have that be a nonprofit not just a

38:09developer cuz not everyone wants to sell

38:11to a developer. Um, and lots of people

38:13want to see that there's a community

38:15benefit to to to their land being used.

38:18Um,

38:19I also think that, um,

38:21we have the ability to do as you pointed

38:24not just the Silver Creek project, but

38:26it's no secret our school system is

38:28disposing of a lot of properties and the

38:31um our city actually has the has the

38:34right of first offer on all those

38:36properties and so

38:38um having money in a fund that would

38:40allow us to act quickly. I mean some of

38:42these things some of the

38:44uh I think we all anticipate some of

38:45these school properties are going to go

38:46to they're going to have a clear vision

38:48they're going to go to a developer and

38:50you know the but the question of like

38:52how the green space gets carved up

38:53whether we're keeping green space

38:55whether we're doing the right community

38:56engagement those are things that the

38:58city does really well. We do really you

39:00know we do community engagement in

39:02neighborhoods all the time on

39:03disposition of properties. So I think

39:05that having us as sort of an

39:07intermediary or uh

39:09being able to hold properties that we

39:11then are able to dispose of quite

39:13quickly

39:14is something we couldn't do without this

39:15tool and without enough money for this

39:18tool to make it make sense. So um I just

39:20want to lay all that out there. It's

39:21going to be it's a top topic for

39:23ultimately commission-wide discussion um

39:26later, but I think that I think there's

39:28huge opportunities for us to

39:30really

39:32put some of our particularly affordable

39:34housing uh work on steroids.

39:38Commissioner.

39:39>> Thank you Mayor. I concur and then I

39:41have a few questions Mr. Mayor. So do

39:44you know the balance of the affordable

39:47housing fund?

39:5110 I'm I'm getting 10 but just for the

39:54public I think it's sweet.

39:55>> Right.

39:56Uh the available balance is around 11.5

39:58million.

39:59>> Okay great. Okay and then so the current

40:01request that we have on the table is

40:03from the land bank 5 million from land

40:07bank right? Or do I have that swapped? 5

40:09million from land bank and then around

40:11two for the emerging developers.

40:13So that'll be seven of that 11.5

40:16and then

40:18for the public, where did that 11.5 come

40:20from? I know it's from different

40:21projects. What's the funding source for

40:23that fund?

40:24>> So, the 11.5 million is a accumulation

40:27of pilot that is directed into the

40:31affordable housing fund and the sale

40:34biggest chunk by far was the sale of the

40:37201 Market property. That was about 9.7

40:39million that was deposited in May.

40:42>> Yeah, and so do we see is there any a

40:45way to forecast that if we if the board

40:47and then also the dynamic of the

40:49affordable housing fund board, they

40:52would make the decision before that

40:54comes. So, they would get the thumbs up

40:55and then we would recommendation and

40:57then we would approve it as a

40:58commission.

40:59>> Exactly.

40:59>> Correct. So, yes, this was just an

41:01informational update about the Land Bank

41:03Authority. But yes, the board started

41:06their deliberations of their priorities

41:08and where they would want to see these

41:10funds invested in September and we have

41:14plans for them to meet October and

41:15November driving towards a December

41:18decision on sort of the investment

41:20portfolio.

41:21>> Wonderful. That's good to hear. That

41:22helps really set the

41:24the scene here. And then also do we

41:26foresee

41:28future sale to sort of re

41:31give some more dollars to this if if we

41:35were to allocate the 7 million out of

41:36the 11.5, is there a mechanism to

41:40replenish that money that was taken

41:41away? Do we foresee that happening?

41:44>> So, the steady stream of deposits comes

41:47from pilot that has average between 100

41:49and 200,000 a year. The board also is

41:54considering mechanisms to grow the fund.

41:56So, there was the conversation we had

41:58with the commission in the fall about um

42:02doing more due diligence on whether that

42:05amount that's in that predictable amount

42:08that's in the fund could be used to back

42:12debt issued by a different public entity

42:15and then whether that would demonstrate

42:17the ability to really amp up or or bring

42:20units to market more quickly than any of

42:22the other levers so that there could be

42:23a broader policy conversation about if

42:25there was more income to back that kind

42:27of debt. This is the kind of unit

42:29production.

42:30Where that more income would come from

42:32is a different question. Could be it

42:35could be a different tax decision made

42:37at the at the local level, etc.

42:39Um there is a commission policy that

42:42says when we dispose of city properties

42:46that there's a consideration that some

42:47of those proceeds go into the affordable

42:49housing fund, but that would be a

42:50property by property decision on behalf

42:52of the commission and oftentimes those

42:55funds are restricted. So for example, if

42:57we're selling a property that was owned

42:58by or acquired by a utility, the funds

43:01need to go back to the utility. So so

43:03that would be a a property sale by

43:05property sale conversation with the

43:07commission if we have other ones coming

43:09forward.

43:09>> Yeah, thank you Ms. Berens. I think

43:10that's very helpful for the public and

43:12myself to understand just where the

43:14money is coming from. Will it be

43:15replenished? And then also so that

43:17instantly makes me think of I think

43:19these are really good opportunities. I

43:21look forward to seeing what the

43:22affordable housing uh fund folks say to

43:26both of these opportunities. I'm

43:29supportive of concur with the mayor. And

43:31then also before my tenure I'm please

43:34correct me if I'm wrong, but I think we

43:35have the three towers project and was

43:37there money coming from that project?

43:39>> Yes, I thank you for reminding me

43:41commissioner. There are also anticipated

43:44annual contributions to the affordable

43:46housing fund that would come from

43:48transformational brownfield projects.

43:50The the three towers is one and the the

43:52grand action is another that could

43:54potentially again become an an annual

43:57income stream for the 20 or 25 years.

44:00I'm looking at the

44:02eventually of those agreements, but the

44:03the developments would need to come

44:05online first before that.

44:06>> Yeah, and so I'm really looking, I think

44:08looking towards the future, I'm

44:09certainly interested in um I've I've

44:12studied this around nationally

44:13nationally, excuse me, about community

44:15benefit agreements. I think this would

44:17be maybe an interesting place to um

44:19assess those. Uh it seems like we have

44:21some sort of local mechanisms that sort

44:24of mirror uh what some of our neighbors

44:26have been doing, but I think um I really

44:28like these two opportunities, but I also

44:30really want to make sure we still have

44:32uh revenue coming into this fund. But

44:34thank you all for laying that out and

44:36answering my questions. I appreciate it.

44:38>> Mayor.

44:41And Ms. Bearns can clarify. I thought

44:43there were also future

44:45revenue uh streams that will come from

44:47future payments on 201 Market.

44:51>> No, sir. The the remaining

44:54sale price for 201 Market is uh going to

44:57support the

44:59the construction at Scribner.

45:00>> All right. All right. All right.

45:02>> And Commissioner Sossi.

45:03>> Thank you.

45:05Thanks for this overview. I got to hear,

45:06you know, some of it um at our

45:08brownfield meeting. I think we probably

45:10didn't get into the some of the the

45:11super deeper detail.

45:13Um

45:14yeah, I I agree. Um I know this is

45:16something you've been talking about,

45:17Mayor, with the land bank in terms of

45:19the

45:20you know, what is that acquisition look

45:22like? I'd really like us to continue to

45:24have this broader conversation about all

45:26the moneys that exist. Um which in the

45:29end doesn't seem like too much, but

45:30we've got

45:31the money in the affordable housing

45:33fund. We've got um the money with the

45:35revolving fund that we have yet to put a

45:37RFP out. We've got money that

45:39Representative Grant has identified that

45:41we wanted to go through housing, right?

45:43And then

45:44um you know, some of the conversation,

45:46you know, Mr. Nero and I have had is

45:48just even looking at other funders or

45:49other entities around especially things

45:51like environmental site assessments. Is

45:53there other ways to pull other money

45:55from other sources that may have um

45:57gotten these dollars to fund things like

46:00this.

46:01Um

46:02we know and I see Marvin from the Urban

46:03League. Hey Marvin.

46:05Um you know, you mentioned the Urban

46:06League. So, the Urban League I know and

46:08the Hispanic Center both received like a

46:10$2 million and a $4 million allocation

46:12from the county and you know, would love

46:15to get an update about sort of where

46:16those dollars are in terms of

46:18deployment. I think a lot of those were

46:20were business, but I I believe both of

46:22them also had some housing components.

46:23So, I'd love to to still continue this

46:26what is the strategy conversation about

46:29where is sort of all these monies? I

46:31think um

46:32you know, I'm not on the land bank

46:33board, but I I would support what is

46:36being said here. I think there are

46:37opportunities and properties out there

46:39that um

46:42it's going to take more than $100,000.

46:44And so, either you accelerate it by

46:46doing you know, sort of like quite a bit

46:48at the front end and then on the

46:50brownfield, you know, these are the

46:51conversations I'd love for us to be able

46:53to fulfill these applications. We I

46:55think

46:56we knew there was interest, but there

46:57was a lot of interest, right? And so,

46:59you you you and the team had to have

47:00those conversations about at some point

47:03we have to draw these lines in the sand

47:04with dollars. And so, I would love to be

47:07able to do I would I would probably

47:09prioritize that part. Um and then the

47:11technical assistance, I would like to

47:13have a broader conversation about you

47:16mentioned that emerging developer

47:17cohort. I think that was something that

47:20Cenaire brought in, but then Urban

47:22League executed it.

47:24What you know, admittedly I haven't

47:26heard very much about it. And so, is it

47:28the missing piece? Is it the capital

47:30stack that's missing? Is it the

47:32mentorship that is missing? So, I'd love

47:34to see a broader, you know, technical

47:37assistance support there. And we also

47:39know

47:40you know, there's going to be a new

47:41governor no matter what. And so, what

47:44will be those economic development

47:46opportunities? How do we continue to

47:48advocate for the things that we'd like

47:50to see?

47:51Um

47:51you know, I've been advocating for you

47:53know, and you come from MEDC, but you

47:55know, when we talk about small business,

47:57sometimes we're not talking about some

47:59of the the developers that we're seeing

48:01in here. So, I would also like to see

48:03this broader strategy. I I would support

48:05both of these things. I'd love us to

48:06have some deeper conversations about the

48:08technical assistance because I'd like to

48:10see who else has funding out there and

48:12how do we leverage our collective

48:14funding? So, those are my thoughts.

48:16Thanks.

48:17>> And I I'm I know I want I want to get us

48:19wrapped up, but I will say quickly,

48:21um I'm going to give you a story that

48:23shows that I've I know enough to be

48:25dangerous. Um so, Commissioner you saw

48:27your point about um

48:29for example, environmental things. Um

48:32land banks back when we had a county

48:34land bank and one of the reasons we've

48:35got a city land bank is cuz the county

48:37land bank got killed. Um but back when

48:39we had a county land bank,

48:42um I everyone everyone in the community

48:44knows I own Long Road Distillers over

48:46I'm an investor in Long Road Distillers

48:48over on Leonard. Um and uh

48:52that property had an abandoned gas

48:54station next to it. And that prop that

48:56abandoned gas station had been abandoned

48:57for a long time. And anybody who hasn't

49:00been living under a rock knows you don't

49:02just take you don't just buy a gas

49:04station for fun. And so, uh we

49:07identified uh Long Road identified who

49:10the owner was, but then they didn't have

49:13any the the expertise at all.

49:16Uh my the the people who were running

49:17the running the process uh uh former

49:20Commissioner O'Connor and

49:22uh Calvin Strein really didn't have the

49:24sophistic cation to understand like how

49:26do you do cleanup? How do you get MGC

49:28MEC involved in here? I don't know. Like

49:30how how what what does clean look like?

49:32How clean is clean? Well, the Kent

49:34County Land Bank actually took that

49:36property knowing that that uh the

49:39distillery was interested in developing

49:41that little chunk of the world. They

49:43took the property. They got MEC

49:45involved. They got a whole cleanup. They

49:47took out a a gas tank the size of a

49:49small of a World War I sub out of there.

49:52They dug down to the waterline

49:54essentially, took out all the all the

49:56dirt, replaced it all with clean fill,

49:59and at the end then you had a new

50:01property on Leonard Street that was

50:02worth something. Well, that's not

50:04something an average emerging developer,

50:07for example, is going to want to take

50:09on, which essentially was what Long Road

50:10was. I mean, John and Kyle were emerging

50:12developers and they were not going to

50:14touch that with a pole. So,

50:16a land bank being able to walk alongside

50:18some of those other governmental

50:20governmental agencies is critical cuz as

50:23I'm having this conversation, I don't

50:24know what MEDC's budget is for

50:25environmental cleanup. I don't know what

50:27the landscape looks like for that right

50:28now.

50:30I walked by property on Wealthy Street

50:33the other day. It's been an abandoned

50:34gas station forever and I said to my

50:36wife, "Boy, it'd be great if we could

50:37get this

50:38abandoned gas station." It's basically

50:40Wealthy and Eureka and it's been it's

50:42been an abandoned gas station forever.

50:44Would I want to buy that? No. I do not

50:46want to buy an abandoned gas station.

50:48So, that's something where I the land

50:51bank I think is hands down best

50:53positioned to

50:55do some kind of acquisition and and

50:57remediation. So, it's a it's a really

50:59critical function partly cuz it's a

51:01government entity and it can play with

51:03other government entities much much more

51:05effectively and with more sophistication

51:06cuz it's got you all. So, anyway,

51:08thanks.

51:10City Manager.

51:10>> Two two things for clarity. So, I I did

51:12hear a request [clears throat] to have

51:14the Urban League

51:15come and share and the Hispanic Center

51:17about their housing strategy.

51:20So, we can make that request and see if

51:22there's interest at a future meeting

51:24with no objection.

51:25>> Plus one.

51:26>> I think that'd be great to hear from our

51:27community partners.

51:28>> Okay.

51:29Um and then secondly, I I did want to um

51:34remind this committee of some of the

51:36work that we've been doing with the

51:37joint liaison committee with school

51:39board

51:41and their discussions are intended

51:44discussion around on next round of

51:46property disposal.

51:48And

51:49I'm sure this has been thought about

51:52at the land bank, but the challenge that

51:54they're having with some of those

51:56properties is not just the ownership,

51:58but it's the maintenance of it. So, if

52:00there's not a

52:02plan in place

52:04to quickly develop those properties,

52:07acquiring if the city were to show

52:09interest, acquiring it would require

52:11that we would also incur those costs

52:14associated with maintenance and

52:16utilities and all the things that are

52:18are challenged in terms. I say that

52:20because that makes $5 million

52:22dollars

52:22not $5 million dollars for real

52:24development if you're sitting on

52:25property. So, I think at our next joint

52:29liaison committee meeting we should

52:32probably

52:33have a discussion with the school

52:35district about their intended plans for

52:37development on the next round of

52:38properties.

52:39>> Yep. Bless you, lady.

52:41>> Okay.

52:42Was that Was this where we lump those

52:43two together?

52:44>> Yep.

52:44>> Last

52:45>> Uh

52:45Ms. Ornaro kind of a segue from

52:47Commissioner Usasi's questions. Also

52:49just has a a quick update on the

52:50revolving loan fund.

52:52Um city's third ward equity idea and the

52:55recent state um

52:57earmark. So, I'm going to turn it over

52:59to her for that.

53:02>> Great. Thank you. So, the rep grant

53:03money that you referenced, Commissioner,

53:05is a business corridor revitalization

53:08RLF. Uh that million dollars has been

53:11suggested to be combined with the third

53:13ward equity fund

53:14fiscal year 25 $425,000

53:18line item for small businesses, uh which

53:20we were working towards providing micro

53:22loans to small businesses for improving

53:24space to the business,

53:26um as well as expansion. So, think um

53:29working capital, leasehold improvements,

53:30etc. Um

53:32you know, going from $425,000 to a 1.4

53:36is awesome and a great addition to the

53:38toolkit uh for our corridors. Uh so,

53:41excited to see where this goes. Um

53:44combining the dollars changes the

53:46money's focus away uh from small

53:48business, right? Uh to now assist

53:49commercial property owners with

53:51improvements uh and redevelopment of

53:54buildings, potentially, um to revitalize

53:57business corridors. Uh this change in

53:59focus

54:00changes the approach on how we'd seek

54:02ultimately a partner uh through an RFP

54:06uh to help us administer those services

54:09um or administer that RLF. Um and it

54:11will take time to evaluate how it best

54:13to put those um services out there for

54:15an RFP

54:17for that underwriting approach.

54:18Um as a underwriting approach for a

54:20small business evaluation is quite

54:22different than redevelopment. Um

54:24the memorandum of understanding between

54:26the city and the Economic Development

54:27Corporation specific to the $425,000,

54:31um

54:32would uh we're we're working to slightly

54:34tweak uh just given the change. Um and

54:37then

54:38uh at the same time we're looking for

54:41uh updates to the RFP from a skill set

54:44perspective, from a scope perspective,

54:46um in order to uh refine that from an

54:49underwriting perspective. So, I just

54:50wanted to make sure you knew that.

54:53Does that make sense? Any questions?

54:54>> I'll just add the same thing that city

54:56manager said. Since it's 1.4, I'm going

54:59to guess we we probably would want to

55:00put something aside for like a loan loss

55:02reserve for those loans. So, maybe 10 to

55:0515%

55:0615% is like

55:08to

55:09probably maybe too high, so maybe

55:11somewhere in between. So.

55:13>> Okay. Commissioner uh

55:14>> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. And thank you,

55:15Commissioner. It's always nice to have

55:17Commissioner Esau's expertise. Uh it's

55:19nice when our backgrounds can shine.

55:20It's very helpful. Uh plus one, and I

55:23will continue to lean on her technical

55:26uh background with this stuff. Uh I do

55:28I'm very excited to hear about uh

55:31us having a use for this. As Ms. Barron

55:34uh Barron said multiple times, you know,

55:35the color of money changed, and this has

55:37just sort of been, for lack of a better

55:38word, sitting there. Uh so, it's really

55:40nice to see this innovative approach. My

55:42question is, since it is now it's state

55:44dollars in concert with Third Ward

55:46Equity Fund dollars, so is this still

55:49region specific for the Third Ward uh

55:52with this new um this this new project

55:56that we're doing now?

55:57>> Yeah, the memorandum of understanding

55:59speaks to the spirit of the um focus of

56:02the Third Ward, um but it does not

56:04specifically drive that district uh

56:07delineation.

56:08>> Gotcha. And so, that's still lawful with

56:11how we have the

56:13uh

56:14that's okay with how we have the Third

56:15Ward now. I was just going to say cuz

56:17I'm like that's that's a challenge. So,

56:19uh if you could uh keep uh Commissioner

56:21Perdue and I in the loop for that, and I

56:22think it'll be good for community cuz

56:24it's it's new. That sounds great. Um but

56:27I will certainly be interested in

56:29hearing how that shakes out uh

56:31law-wise. Thank you for that update.

56:34>> Yeah.

56:36>> Okay, Development Center.

56:43All right.

56:45Thank you, Mayor, Commissioners, and

56:46City Manager. Uh present the monthly

56:49Economic Development Project Team

56:51Development Center report for you today.

56:53Uh couple projects I wanted to

56:55highlight. Uh we just released permits.

56:57I don't see the full document package

57:00here.

57:01Um it's okay. I can do it verbally. Um

57:05uh the pedestrian bridge that's going to

57:08connect the YMCA and the GVSU parking

57:11lot was approved last month and is

57:13slated to begin construction. Uh we've

57:15also approved 52 new units in the Union

57:18Suites project on Quay Avenue, and of

57:20course the Ledyard Building renovations

57:22that also will be add another 40 new

57:24units to uh the community.

57:27Uh just wanted to highlight that our

57:29review timelines for when we get

57:31applications in and uh the applications

57:33are in our hands for review. We're

57:34staying pretty close to 5 days for LODs

57:37and residential building building

57:38permits, which is our target goal for

57:40those.

57:41Uh, commercial is a little closer to 8

57:42days right now for turnaround on review

57:44notes, uh, largely due to delays in our

57:47mechanical uh, plan review program. We

57:50are making improvements on that front.

57:52Uh, we've hired a former mechanical

57:54inspector

57:55uh, in the $700 club program, uh, who's

57:58making

57:59greatly we are getting that down, so.

58:02Uh, in addition to that, uh, we continue

58:04to monitor our inspection services, uh,

58:06building, plumbing, electrical, and fire

58:08all within a day or two of requests, uh,

58:11so that's exactly where we would want

58:12that to be. Mechanical is still about 4

58:14weeks out, uh, but we work on

58:17accommodating people as best we can with

58:19uh, squeezing people in if our

58:21inspectors are in the area.

58:22And also, uh, leveraging partnerships

58:25with Kent Kentwood and uh, SafeBuilt,

58:27uh, subcontractor that we're partnering

58:29with, so.

58:30With that, I'll open up to any

58:31questions.

58:32>> Well, thanks for the warning on

58:33mechanical and uh, yeah, I will say in

58:35first hand experience, I think I I said

58:37before the meeting, I shared with you

58:38that

58:39uh, I had a rough in plumbing inspection

58:41and didn't even know he was there and

58:43happened very quickly, so

58:44um, everything everything uh, except for

58:47that one glitch seems to be working

58:48well, so that's great to hear. Um, okay,

58:51well, uh, thanks for the update and

58:52thanks for keeping on it. Obviously, we

58:54got to do what we can on the mechanical

58:56front um, and you know, we have

58:59continuing state level advocacy we got

59:01to do there to make sure that the state

59:03actually takes action on making it

59:05easier for us to hire those folks. It'd

59:06be wonderful, yes. Okay, thanks so much

59:08and I'll adjourn the meeting.

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