2026-10-27 - Committee on Appointments

00:00[music]

00:06[music]

00:12[music]

00:15Heat. Heat.

00:18[music]

00:37>> [music]

00:43[music]

00:48[music]

00:51>> Heat.

01:06[music]

01:08Heat.

01:18>> [music]

01:28>> Hey,

01:38hey, hey.

01:41[music] Heat.

01:54Heat.

01:56[music]

02:02Heat. Heat.

02:18[music]

02:28>> [music]

02:35[music]

02:38>> Heat. Heat. [music]

02:52Heat.

02:57[music]

03:04Heat.

03:09[music]

03:13Heat.

03:15[music]

03:20[music]

03:31Heat. [music]

03:37Heat. Heat.

03:47[music]

04:09>> [music]

04:10>> Heat. Heat.

04:15[music]

04:19Heat. Heat.

04:42Heat. Heat.

04:49[music]

04:56[music]

05:01[music]

05:16Heat.

05:18Heat.

05:40Heat.

05:43Heat.

05:49Heat. Heat.

05:57[music]

06:10[music]

06:10Heat. Heat.

06:14[music]

06:25[music]

06:31Heat. [music]

06:43Heat.

06:55>> [music]

07:04>> Heat.

07:13Heat.

07:22>> [music]

07:29[music]

07:30>> Happy October, almost Halloween. We will

07:32call the committee on appointments to

07:34order at 8 a.m.

07:36Okie dokie. May I have one of those?

07:41>> Thank you.

07:43>> Okie dokie. First, we have a resolution

07:45confirming Miller Lrand's appointment of

07:47Hannah Greening to the Grand Rapids Land

07:49Bank Authority.

07:51>> Support.

07:52>> Moved and supported. Comments on this

07:54resolution, colleagues.

07:57>> Oh,

07:57>> Commissioner.

07:58>> Um, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um,

08:01and I don't know if Miss was Miss Basker

08:03coming or she's probably

08:04>> She is not. She's doing a county board.

08:06>> Okay. Um, so important work. I think I

08:09just wanted to point out this is a still

08:11a fairly new body. This is like the

08:13inaugural body. Um I think this

08:16appointment is filling somebody who we

08:17had appointed in the inaugural body who

08:19then resigned shortly after. So I just

08:22wanted to see again knowing that it was

08:25new who was maybe coming up. Is there

08:27any you know sometimes people might not

08:29put a resignation in but maybe there can

08:31be conflicts of interest sometimes on

08:32this board. So just thinking through

08:34that. Um so I'm I'm supportive of this.

08:38I think I want to continue to say and

08:40and u Mr. Mr. Chair, you brought this

08:42up. Continuing to look at not only the

08:44ward, but the racial and ethnic

08:46diversity of those who are on this body.

08:49I think Hannah would bring a good

08:50perspective. I also think, you know, um

08:52Hannah is in the space and so we need

08:54and and other people are in the space.

08:56You know, I think past commissioner

08:57repar and just looking for where there

08:59potentially could be conflicts of

09:00interest um and being proactive. But I

09:03know that the manager's office has has

09:05thought about that. It's something that

09:06I know Mr. Doug Booth in the office um

09:09in economic development is thinking

09:11about but just because this is so new I

09:13want to continue to highlight that. So

09:14thank you.

09:15>> Thank you commissioner. I concur. Uh I

09:18know that Miss Greening is a realtor uh

09:21in the community. I'm also supportive of

09:23this appointment since uh my colleague

09:25Commissioner Purdue um a screening was

09:28one of her recommendations for the body

09:30and of course we want that diversity of

09:32thought and experience as well and so

09:34I'm excited to see what she will bring

09:37to the body but yes we must stay aware

09:39and ensure that this body is doing its

09:41intended purpose uh and that no one is

09:44benefiting from uh their service and and

09:48again as I concur with your statement of

09:50I believe that we have staff and folks

09:52like Miss Greening who that is not their

09:54goal. So, um I'm excited to see how this

09:57uh group continues to serve our

09:59community as I know they we have some

10:01exciting possibilities coming up uh with

10:04this body. All right, further comments?

10:06Thank you, Commissioner. All right,

10:08seeing none, all those in favor?

10:10>> I.

10:10>> Those opposed? Motion carries. That

10:13brings us to our second resolution

10:14approving appointments to the 2026 2027

10:17Mayor's Youth Council.

10:19>> So moved.

10:20>> Support. moved and supported. Good

10:22morning.

10:25>> Good morning. Shannon Harris, executive

10:26director of our community's children.

10:28So, OC has managed this program since

10:30the very first mayor's youth council

10:33back in 1999

10:35and uh under the helm of uh Mayor Loi uh

10:38and one of your own colleagues,

10:40Commissioner Purdue, uh and I forgot to

10:42mention her last year, so hopefully

10:44she's listening. uh was part of the

10:46marriage youth council when she was in

10:47high school, both 9th or actually 10th

10:50and 12th grade. And so this is uh one of

10:52many ways this program impacts young

10:54people. Uh and I believe it's the only

10:57youth program of its kind in Grand

10:59Rapids uh with a standing meeting with

11:01the mayor every month. Uh so that is

11:03significant as well. I want to bring up

11:05um OC program coordinator uh Zachary

11:07Lairway uh up to the mic here to briefly

11:10tell you about this year's uh program on

11:12all of the great things he has planned

11:14for our young people.

11:15>> Thank you, Miss

11:20>> Yes. Thank you, Miss Shannon. Uh and

11:21thank you to the committee and

11:22appointments for allowing us to

11:24introduce to you all uh our mayor's

11:26youth council student cohort for the

11:282627 academic year. [snorts] Uh, this

11:31group of 23 young student leaders

11:33representing over 10 local area high

11:36schools and all three wards are about to

11:39embark on a year-long opportunity to not

11:41only learn more about their local city

11:43government and the pressing and local

11:45issues uh and initiatives that we have,

11:48but also how can our group better

11:51increase youth representation and voice

11:54um all the way through May of next year.

11:57So, of course, we have our youthled and

11:59facilitated signature events such as our

12:01youth to youth symposium and our kids

12:04speak uh event. And this really

12:06showcases their leadership abilities and

12:08their commitment to serving all of the

12:11youth communities here in Grand Rapids.

12:13Uh but our goal is always to ensure that

12:15our students lead our council with great

12:17pride and focus. Uh so that all youth in

12:20our city feel that they have a platform

12:22and a purpose to speak for themselves

12:24and a strong collective voice. And we

12:27look forward to uh meeting with our ward

12:29commissioners throughout the year. Um

12:32and please uh we invite you to any of

12:35our events that we have uh because your

12:37presence is is much appreciated. Thank

12:39you.

12:39>> Wonderful. Thank you all so much uh for

12:42the presentation. Colleagues, questions,

12:44comments, concerns, commissioner.

12:47>> Well, good morning and thank you for

12:48that. Um I just want to say it's always

12:51exciting when we have youth involved and

12:52it's been great to interact with the

12:54students over the last couple of years

12:56for me personally. I've seen some of

12:57them out in the community doing great

12:59things in addition. And um what I wanted

13:02to bring to everyone's attention was

13:03that when uh I was up in Traverse City

13:06recently for the Michigan Municipal

13:07League conference, I was at various

13:10tables with other leaders around the

13:12state in city governments and someone

13:14asked what what does Grand Rapids do uh

13:17to engage youth and I was uh had to

13:21think for a minute, right? But then I

13:22remembered everything that our

13:23community's children's does and I

13:25particularly highlighted the mayor's

13:26council and by the time I was done you

13:28know sharing the person was just floored

13:31and said I did not realize that Grand

13:33Rapids did so much and you're quite an

13:36we're quite an inspiration for um their

13:39community and the idea that they had we

13:42had youth meeting with the mayor and

13:44city people every month and doing things

13:47and having community action uh really

13:50really impressed them. So, thank you for

13:52your service. Thank you for the to all

13:54the students who will be engaged. This

13:55is we're setting not only for our

13:57community but others the way we can do

14:00things.

14:00>> Yeah.

14:01>> Thank you so much.

14:02>> Yes, I concur, Commissioner. Thank you

14:04for those comments. It's very nice to

14:06see all of the students biographies.

14:07Hopefully, uh they will be included for

14:09the public. They are quite um inspiring

14:13for their young age and uh yeah, I'm

14:16excited to see what they do this

14:17upcoming year. All right, seeing no

14:19further comments, all those in favor? I

14:22>> I.

14:22>> Those opposed? Motion carries. And

14:25lastly, Mr. Clerk, if you could guide us

14:27through a discussion on the current

14:28board and commission vacancy list as of

14:30October 27th, 2026.

14:38>> I don't think we have any. I forgot to

14:40check to see if we had any resignations

14:42for tonight, but um we have one.

14:44>> Okay. Um

14:46>> Community Relations Commission. Okay.

14:48So, there's really not a lot of changes.

14:50Obviously, um we're in election mode

14:52right now for So, we will be ready in

14:56ready to go for the November 10th

14:57meeting. Um but we have we're going

14:59through all the end of year stuff and

15:00just remember that all the neighborhood

15:04corridor authorities, we move those to a

15:06different time of the year so we don't

15:07have them all at one time. So, we're wa

15:09we're watching those. Um, and I know

15:13there's been some talk about lia about

15:18we we've been doing onboarding, but we

15:20haven't been doing offboarding. So, so

15:22working on holistic of what do we do

15:24when people are done with their stuff in

15:26and in in a clear way of saying that

15:29they're done. So, we're going to

15:31>> we need to look at that holistic thing.

15:33Is that on us? Is that on the liaison?

15:35Is it on? So we

15:36>> Yeah,

15:37>> we'll figure that out as we uh keep move

15:39moving forward and as we keep tweaking

15:42the process.

15:42>> Wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Clerk.

15:44>> Yes, Commissioner Sassy.

15:46>> Thank you. Um yes, election mode. We got

15:49a little bit of time to go, but um I

15:52wanted to share with the vital streets.

15:54Can you go down to that one, Mr. Clerk?

15:57Um I know that this one, you know, this

16:00one is always interesting because

16:00there's, you know, mayoral appointments,

16:02then there's individual commissioner

16:04appointments, but this one is a city

16:05commission appointment. So essentially

16:07like what would be the the belief out of

16:10um the affirmation out of this body. Um

16:13I have shared one name uh that had been

16:17being vetted over the summer and is

16:19fully is not or is fully vetted. Um, and

16:22then just wanted to remind people to the

16:25the process as you were talking, Mr.

16:27Clerk, I have somebody who is for one of

16:30our corridor improvement authorities and

16:32it's just uh taken some time and it's

16:35not it's not something on the city. The

16:38city processes are following through,

16:39but sometimes different, you know,

16:41properties and details, you know, uh it

16:43it can take quite a bit of time. So,

16:45just a reminder to people to get those

16:47uh turn those PIFFs back in quickly

16:49because it's not necessarily, oh, we get

16:52it and then we can approve it. It does

16:53have to go through that process. So, I

16:55wanted to highlight that to somebody who

16:57was just a little a little frustrated a

16:59couple weeks ago. So, I think the vital

17:02streets will be one, but a a reminder we

17:04changed that board up um maybe a couple

17:07years ago and commissioner or Mr. Chair,

17:09you know that quite well. So, just

17:11wanted to highlight that one as um one

17:14that I know Miss Boser had sent an email

17:16to us about. So, thanks.

17:18>> Wonderful. Thank you, Commissioner. I

17:19think the other thing to remember,

17:22oh, you lost your microphone. I'm like,

17:25I thought we had a mouse or something.

17:26Um,

17:28um, the other thing is the process takes

17:31a while because people may owe the city

17:33money and it t it t it takes a little

17:34bit to go through that. So, um, and so

17:37in order to get appointments, you you

17:39can't owe the city money. And and some

17:41people, some of the people that were

17:42putting up for appointments, like you

17:43said, are involved in several businesses

17:45or LLC's and various things. And so

17:48getting through some of those layers

17:50sometimes takes a little bit. So, um, so

17:52we but we need to do our due diligence

17:54and sometimes that unfortunately takes a

17:56little bit of time. I know I know people

17:58don't want to hear that sometimes, but

17:59we also want to make sure that we're

18:02following our charter and brace and

18:04other laws as well. I appreciate that.

18:06Yes, government does not move swiftly as

18:09we'd like sometimes, but for good

18:10reason. Yep.

18:11>> Uh so we don't do things in haste, so we

18:13can do them well and right the first

18:15time. And so I appreciate your work on

18:17that. And for elections, we've got uh

18:20eight days,

18:21>> seven six

18:23>> six. [laughter] It's very close.

18:25>> Well, it's been happening for like it's

18:27been happening for a week already.

18:28>> It's been going. And how are the um

18:30extra election days? We added some extra

18:33early voting days. How have those been

18:34going so far?

18:35>> Quiet.

18:36>> Quiet. Go to New Hope.

18:38>> All right. Great. Well, you heard it

18:40here. Get out there and vote. Yes,

18:41Commissioner.

18:42>> Um, thank you. I I know this is kind of

18:46tangently related, but related to

18:47elections or related to appointments um

18:50and this body, will we be um having the

18:54opportunity or thinking any more about

18:56the first word vacancy appointment um

18:58after the election? And so this this

19:00might be a question that we we could

19:02generate or start think as from this

19:05committee. So I just wanted to throw

19:06that out there.

19:07>> Good question, Commissioner. I think I

19:09recall uh the city commission uh not

19:12agreeing upon appointing anyone after

19:14the election. Uh and we'll just uh have

19:18a new commissioner once in January once.

19:20>> I just didn't know if that was a

19:21question we would uh could bring up

19:23again. Yeah, I'm um as a chair here, I'm

19:27not uh I'm not supportive of of starting

19:30that conversation again. Um but

19:33Commissioner Isi, if you have any

19:35thoughts on it, I I'm comfortable with

19:36where we left off, which is allowing the

19:39election to take place and then the new

19:40commissioner uh will start when their

19:42tenure starts in January.

19:44>> Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you,

19:45Commissioner, for the question. Um, I

19:48think that given everything that

19:50occurred during that time, um, I'm not

19:52inclined to, uh, appoint somebody, even

19:55after they've been certified, uh, you

19:58know, there was an appointment process.

20:01It didn't go the way that I personally

20:03wanted it to. So, at this point, the

20:05person, whoever it might be, certainly

20:08can come to the session, certainly will,

20:10you know, as you know, we we had our

20:12trainings and our briefings. Um, but I

20:15think if we could have gone that whole

20:17time, then this next month or so is is I

20:20I concur with you, Commissioner or Mr.

20:22Chair, that we should just move forward

20:25with what we have in place and we will

20:27have a new colleague uh come January.

20:30>> Thanks.

20:30>> Thank you. Good question, Commissioner.

20:32Uh, and yeah, I'm looking forward to a

20:34new colleague. Uh, well, uh, all things

20:37said and done here on the committee on

20:38appointments. I hope everyone has a

20:40great morning uh today and we will

20:42adjourn the committee on appointments at

20:448:14 a.m. Take care.

20:51[music]

21:04Heat. Heat.

21:11[music]

21:51>> [music]

22:03[music]

22:19[music]

22:28[music]

22:36[music]

22:55[music]

23:00[music]

23:07[music]

23:17[music]

23:39[music]

23:49>> Heat. Heat.

24:21>> [music]

24:28>> Heat. Heat.

24:31[music]

24:35Heat. Heat. [music]

24:40[music]

24:48[music]

24:57[music]

25:43Heat

26:04[music]

26:09[music]

26:10up there. Heat. Heat. N.

26:15[music]

26:24[music]

26:29[music]

26:56Heat. Heat.

27:00Heat. Heat.

27:19[music]

27:30>> [music]

27:42>> Heat. Heat. [music]

27:47Heat. Heat.

27:54[music]

28:08Heat. Heat.

28:38Heat.

28:41Heat.

28:49[music]

28:57>> [music]

29:10>> Heat. Heat.

29:18>> [music]

29:52[music]

30:00>> Heat. Hey, Heat.

30:05[music]

30:28Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat.

31:38>> [music]

32:09[music]

32:18[music]

32:28[music]

33:23[music]

33:37>> Heat up here.

33:40Heat.

33:48[music]

33:52Heat.

34:01Heat. Heat.

34:12[music]

34:19[music]

34:38>> [music]

35:30[music]

35:50>> Heat.

36:14Heat.

36:32>> [music]

36:32>> Heat. Heat.

36:37[music]

36:43>> [music]

37:01[music]

37:06>> Good morning. The time is now 8:30 and

37:08we're going to go ahead and call this

37:10fiscal committee committee meeting to

37:11order. Good morning everyone.

37:13>> Good morning.

37:14>> So the first item today is a resolution

37:16accepting the continuation of a grant

37:18award from the office of highway safety

37:20planning in the amount of $25,26959.

37:24Do you have a motion?

37:25>> So moved.

37:26>> Support.

37:26>> Thank you. Moved and supported. Mr.

37:27Wyel.

37:28>> Good morning commissioners. This is a

37:29grant we receive from the state each

37:31year for traffic enforcement. It helps

37:34cover wages and equipment. You'll see

37:36there's a lidar or we have two LAR units

37:38which is more accurate than radar for

37:40measuring speed. Um I want to note with

37:43this year's grant uh Chief Trigg

37:45recently added two officers to our

37:48traffic unit for evening and nighttime

37:50enforcement. So this will help

37:51supplement that. Um and again they're

37:53focused on speeding DUI um traffic

37:56incidents as well. And when the traffic

37:58unit responds it frees up your regular

38:00patrol to other calls of service.

38:04questions

38:06hearing and seeing none. All those in

38:07favor?

38:08>> I.

38:08>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks. Item

38:11number two is a resolution accepting a

38:13$12,000 grant from Voters Not

38:15Politicians Education Fund for election

38:17communications.

38:18>> So moved.

38:19>> Support.

38:19>> Moved and supported. Mr. Clerk.

38:21>> Yeah. um voters not politicians offered

38:23a a grant for communications about

38:25elections and um we're using we're going

38:28to use this grant for um radio ads um

38:31talking about early voting same day um

38:33registration and importance of getting

38:36out to vote.

38:37>> Great. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Questions,

38:39colleagues?

38:41>> Yes, Commissioner.

38:41>> Just a comment. I'm very excited to hear

38:43about this, Mr. Clerk. I know voter

38:45voters not politicians probably 18 was

38:48involved in creating the sort of

38:50nonpartisan

38:51uh commission to uh make um our lines

38:55more fair. Uh I can't think I'm

38:57>> redistricting.

38:58>> Redistricting. There we go. Technical

39:00today this morning. Um but I'm hoping

39:03the public can see that we're engaging

39:05in uh civic engagement and voter

39:08outreach that is nonpartisan and simply

39:10uplifting uh their right to vote. So,

39:12I'm very excited to hear this. And um

39:14it'll be radio waves.

39:15>> Yes.

39:16>> All right. Cool.

39:17>> And um they also did a couple mailers as

39:20well, but what's great what's good about

39:22them is they um they run it all through

39:24by me first

39:26>> to make sure that it's all correct. So,

39:28which is which is good because some

39:29people don't run it by the clerks and

39:31they send stuff out. So, um I was glad

39:33that that we had some input in to make

39:35sure that we had the correct factual

39:37information. So,

39:38>> awesome.

39:39>> Thank you, Mr. Clerk. I mean, I think

39:40you have a face for TV, but if they're

39:42going to put you on radio,

39:43>> I'm I'm [laughter] on both.

39:47>> Um, no, you are.

39:48>> I've heard there's been a lot of a few

39:50streaming things, too.

39:51>> Yes, you're you're all over the Facebook

39:53feeds. But it is it's, you know, there

39:56are some of us have people and they they

39:58had their ballot in as soon as they got

40:00it from you. And there's others that are

40:03waiting to see. We have a lot of um

40:05nonpartisan things on our ballot. we

40:07have um a number of local ballot

40:10considerations and so I think we're you

40:13know we saw the data from 24 and then we

40:16had some uh changes to our polling

40:18locations knowing that we had early

40:20voting and that was quite successful and

40:23we're also just in a different economic

40:25climate too. So, I think, you know, a

40:27lot of times we do that Monday morning

40:29quarterbacking of all the things that

40:30have going on, but the number one thing

40:32that I appreciate about you is that

40:33you're preparing for lots of different

40:35contingencies and that voters

40:36preferences will change. So, our job is

40:38to communicate as clearly as we can. So,

40:41thank you. Um, all those in favor?

40:45>> I. Any opposed? Item carries. Thank you.

40:47Item number three is a resolution

40:49approving agreement with GHD Services

40:52Incorporated or GHD digital for the

40:54Govstack website solutions platform for

40:57a three-year term in the amount not to

40:59exceed 140,000. Do you have a motion? So

41:01moved.

41:02>> Support.

41:02>> Moved and supported. Mr. Green.

41:04>> Good morning, commissioners. So this is

41:06actually a renewal. This was originally

41:08a renewal of our current website

41:09platform that we migrated over to uh

41:11last fiscal year. However, um due to

41:13upcoming federal requirements around

41:15accessibility on the web, uh that will

41:16go into effect April of 2027, we were

41:18able to also secure with them a suite of

41:21tools that will help our content editors

41:22ensure that they're meeting those uh the

41:24compliance standards for accessibility.

41:26>> Great. Thank you. Questions? Um I will

41:29just add I know Oh, I'm sorry,

41:31Commissioner. Did you have a question?

41:32>> Oh, no, that's okay. I just I appreciate

41:34your comment. I'm good. Um I appreciate

41:37the effort to modernize and have

41:40accessibility on our website. I happen

41:42to have a a chance to meet with the the

41:45Michigan um Coalition for the Blind and

41:48and they uh very much appreciate that

41:50kind of thing to be able to access

41:52things.

41:53>> Thank you. Um I also wanted to say, you

41:56know, um thank you for always taking the

41:59feedback that we get from constituents,

42:01you know, obviously having I remember I

42:04was looking at printouts of the website

42:06when I started on commission like

42:07somebody had printed out something from

42:09the website. It's like Map Quest back in

42:10the day and um and then to where it is

42:14today and a reminder that we have this

42:16platform and then we also sometimes have

42:18other solutions on the website like

42:21other forms and other tools because

42:24sometimes people say well why is this

42:25thing different than that thing be and

42:27it's be can you explain that just a

42:29little bit because I I do get that

42:30question quite a bit.

42:31>> Sure. So the the website actually serves

42:34I think you can think of as kind of a

42:36hub. And so as you've pointed out I

42:37think the city has 13 15 20 different um

42:42digital platforms that people use to

42:44interface with it whether that's permits

42:46or uh requests for services. Um so

42:49there's a variety of different tools

42:50that the city uses. The website serves

42:51as the front door the entryway into that

42:53and then we integrate all those other

42:54tools so that you can go from there to

42:57those tools. Um, some of those tools

42:59come with uh more robust editing

43:01capabilities that allow us to change the

43:03appearance um and stylize it. Some of

43:05them are just a little more

43:06straightforward and just the tool is

43:08what you get. Um, but at the end of the

43:09day, you should be able to navigate to

43:11anything from the website and and over

43:14time um that should become seamless and

43:16easier for the for the constituent to

43:17find what they're looking for.

43:18>> Great. Thank you for explaining that. I

43:20think that you know sometimes when

43:22people say, "Oh, something is new." They

43:23might think a process that they used

43:25before was going to be changed, but

43:26they're seeing it. So that's a really

43:27good way to think about it. And we kind

43:30of with elections, there's a lot of mis

43:32misinformation. So I tell people if you

43:34have a question about the city, please

43:36go to our website. Please go to our

43:38socials because that is going to be the

43:40verifiable information about the city.

43:42Don't go to GR informed. So you know,

43:45[laughter] and I try every night to not

43:48post on GR inform because I'm like I

43:50just want to send the link to the city

43:51of Grand Rapids website. But that's

43:53where that's where you go and get your

43:54information. Okay. All those in favor?

43:56>> I I.

43:57>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks so

43:59much. Item number four is a resolution

44:01authorizing the mayor to sign certain

44:03routine docu routine program documents

44:05for the activities of the community

44:06development and economic development

44:08departments for the 2027 calendar year.

44:10>> So moved.

44:11>> Supported and supported. Mr. Tucker.

44:13>> Good morning fiscal committee. This item

44:15deals uh with the mayor's ability to

44:17sign uh routine documents between

44:19community and economic development.

44:20often deals with the subordination of

44:22mortgages which is all just about the

44:24positioning of the mortgages. Our grant

44:26funds and sometimes programs inside of

44:28economic development uh deal quite

44:30frequently with uh curing issues with

44:32deeds uh as well as when uh when a

44:35project has uh a different sort of a

44:37different loan, they might ask us to

44:39move our their obligation to us lower in

44:42that stack. Uh so that in the event of

44:44sale or or default, uh it just

44:47determines when we get paid and what

44:48position we're in.

44:50What do they call that? Subordination.

44:52>> Subordination. Yeah.

44:53>> Thank you, Mr. Tucker.

44:54>> Yep. [laughter]

44:55>> So smart. [snorts] Uh questions,

44:57colleagues. All right. All those in

45:00favor?

45:00>> I.

45:01>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thank you so

45:03much.

45:05Item [clears throat] number five is a

45:06resolution authorizing Oh, I'm sorry. It

45:08was so good I wanted to repeat it. Um

45:10>> Oh, no. I'm sorry. It is the same one.

45:13resolution authorizing the mayor to

45:14execute a memorandum of understanding

45:16for the heart of West Michigan United

45:18Way for the Grand Rapids United Response

45:20Fund. Do I have a motion?

45:22>> So moved.

45:22>> Support.

45:23>> Moved and supported. Hello, Mr.

45:25>> Good morning, commissioners. How are

45:26you?

45:26>> Good.

45:27>> Uh, thanks for your time today. Uh, just

45:29wanted to present a little bit. I do

45:30have a slideshow. I know this isn't

45:32>> I think your mic.

45:33>> There we go. Good call. Step number one,

45:36make sure people can hear you. Um just

45:38wanted to present a little bit on the

45:40United Response Fund and um say thanks

45:42to everybody for the support that we've

45:43seen throughout this process. Provide a

45:44little bit of background on what it is

45:46and what it plans to do. Uh again, a

45:50partnership between the city and uh

45:51heart of West Michigan United Way. The

45:53idea is to provide rapid assistance to

45:55our residents um through different

45:57organizations within Grand Rapids. Um we

46:00provide that support and the initial

46:02funding to the United Way. They work

46:04with their trusted partners who they

46:06already work with on a daily and weekly

46:08basis. And then those are the recipients

46:10and then those recipients actually go

46:12out and provide support and assistance

46:14to impacted residents. Um you can see

46:16some of the information there. They have

46:18to be at least 18 years old and their

46:20primary residence would be within Grand

46:21Rapids. And the biggest part of this is

46:23the city is actually stepping forward

46:24and providing the initial seed money for

46:26this United Response Fund in the amount

46:28of $100,000 that's been allocated in the

46:30FY27 budget. I think this shows a true

46:33commitment and an understanding of what

46:35it takes to start people on the road to

46:37recovery. This is something that is

46:39going to identify a niche that is not

46:42always uh taken care of. Um you know

46:45these disasters and these incidents that

46:47don't rise to the level of a full

46:49emergency declaration. We might not get

46:51federal or state support. But we are

46:53making an effort at the local level to

46:55say we understand that our residents are

46:57impacted by these maybe smaller uh

47:00incidents but they still need our

47:02support. And so just to kind of go over

47:04some of the roles that we have like I

47:06mentioned the city's providing the

47:07initial seed money. We're also going to

47:09partner with them in terms of messaging

47:11and then be a part of a partnership

47:13committee um which basically will say

47:15okay this is the incident. How much

47:17money are we allocating to each of these

47:19different organizations? And so we

47:21actually have an active role in this

47:23process of determining who gets those

47:25funds and and where that support is

47:26definitely um issued. And then the heart

47:29of West Michigan United Way, obviously

47:30being the fiduciary, documenting

47:32everything, tracking all of the

47:34dispersements. Um and then working

47:36together, like I said, on a partnership

47:38committee. This is really a collabor

47:40collaborative effort. Um I want to thank

47:42the city manager, everybody up here, uh

47:45different city offices. is I know

47:46Connie's office and her staff have been

47:47heavily involved with this and the heart

47:49of West Michigan United Way staff as

47:51well. This really shows how the city can

47:53collaborate with our partners and our

47:56stakeholders to really not only identify

47:58and address a need that our residents

48:00have, but actually do something

48:01proactive to support them in an incident

48:03like this.

48:05>> Thank you so much. Thanks for that

48:07overview. I think for those that might

48:09be watching, can you share some

48:11examples? I know that obviously the

48:13committee, it sounds like the committee

48:15will meet. It's part of West Michigan

48:17United Way and at least one staff

48:19member. Is it rolling? Is it how how do

48:23people know that this is the right, you

48:25know, potentially a right option for

48:26them? And how would we define something

48:28that might not? [clears throat] Because

48:29I know sometimes we're sort of waiting

48:31for a declaration and some of that, you

48:34know, I think is different on the state

48:36level of declaration versus federal

48:38level. And you could probably explain

48:39that very differently, but could you

48:41give a little snippet for those that

48:42might be watching?

48:43>> Yeah, absolutely. What I love about this

48:45uh fund is that it really puts the power

48:47into the city and United Way's hands to

48:49determine what events are eligible for

48:52something that would activate the fund.

48:53So, for instance, if we have a severe

48:55weather event in the spring and we might

48:56have some urban flooding or maybe some

48:58damage to homes, if we identify that

49:01that impact has um truly impacted our

49:05residents and we say that rises to the

49:06level of activating the fund, it can be

49:09typically the United Way would recognize

49:11that they're receiving those calls. They

49:13have kind of those feedback mechanisms

49:15in place to see what that need is, but

49:17also the role that the city has is we

49:19can go in and activate the fund as well.

49:21So it's kind of like I said that

49:22collaborative effort where typically it

49:24will be the United Way based on their

49:26signals from the community but also the

49:29city can step in and say we are hearing

49:30from our constituents. We're realizing

49:32that there's a need and this incident

49:35does um serve as eligible where we could

49:38activate the fund. We really didn't want

49:39to say it has to be a natural disaster.

49:42It has to be a hazmat incident.

49:44>> So it'll be like our own local

49:45declaration and then that will be okay.

49:47That's really helpful. And then can I

49:49ask one other specific question about

49:52>> Absolutely.

49:53>> And this can be a followup too, but any

49:55you know I know during CO we had

49:57individuals particularly businesses who

49:58might have received like relief dollars

50:01and then at different times were

50:03concerned about the tax implications of

50:05those and obviously these might not be

50:06at the same levels but has there been a

50:08discussion about that about how that

50:10might have an implication to

50:12individuals?

50:13>> Yeah. So the idea is that the funding

50:15that we put into this the United

50:17Response Fund that goes uh the United

50:19Way takes that provides it to the

50:20recipients who are other organizations

50:21and NOS's right then they provide their

50:24services to our residents right the

50:26actual beneficiaries. So there isn't

50:27exactly necessarily money that's being

50:29deposited into their account. It's those

50:31services and that support that they need

50:33in that moment. So it it reduces that um

50:36I guess weariness a little bit.

50:38>> Thanks for clarifying that. I did not

50:39understand that. Um colleagues I asked a

50:41lot of questions. Questions? Yes,

50:43Commissioner.

50:44>> Um, so I understand this is an inaugural

50:46thing. We're getting started. This is

50:47something that we've talked about on

50:48commission and how to support residents

50:50and so this is an initiative that um is

50:53really important and I see it's great

50:55that we have a 100,000 in seed money

50:57that we've authorized. I'm wondering how

51:00the and maybe these are discussions yet

51:02to be had, but uh to grow the fund to um

51:06be in charge of fundraising, I'm

51:08guessing United Way would be in charge

51:09of that, but do you have any comments?

51:11Can you speak to that a little bit more?

51:13>> Yeah, and I think you bring up a good

51:14point. We want this fund to not only be

51:15a one-time thing, but we want the

51:17longevity to be something that's seen

51:18and implemented. And so, the United Way

51:20is taking the lead on having either

51:22annual fundraisers or for instance, if

51:24there is a disaster, they can use their

51:27communication tools to say, would you

51:28like to help donate and support to

51:30provide um you know, funds to the United

51:33Response Fund? So very much as a

51:35long-term solution to address a need

51:38that our residents have in these, you

51:40know, acute specific incidents that

51:42happen in the city, not just a one-time

51:44here's the money and when it's gone,

51:45it's gone. We want that to live on.

51:47>> Thank you. And I do see it as part of

51:48our climate resiliency in a way. Um it's

51:51the disaster relief kind of part of it

51:54when we can't prevent and then you know

51:56the other parts of our departments can

51:57work on hopefully preventing the

51:59disasters.

52:00>> Absolutely.

52:01>> Great. Thank you. All right. I will call

52:04the question. All those in favor? I.

52:06>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks so

52:08much.

52:08>> Thank you.

52:09>> Um, thanks for the presentation. Item

52:11number six is a resolution authorizing

52:13an amendment to the Healthy Homes

52:15Coalition Lead Awareness, Education, and

52:17Filter Distribution Campaign Contract

52:19for an amount not to exceed $225,000.

52:22Do I have a motion?

52:23>> So moved.

52:24>> Support.

52:24>> Moved and supported. Mr. Gerberg.

52:26>> Good morning, commissioners. Um the item

52:29that you have in front of you is um

52:31essentially I don't want to say it's an

52:33extension but uh back in the participary

52:35participatory budget process of a few

52:38years ago the third ward uh authorized

52:40$500,000 to go towards uh lead service

52:43line outreach initiatives um and

52:46programming. Uh we are now ending uh

52:49coming to the end of that cycle of

52:51funding which is scheduled to expire at

52:53the end of this calendar year. Um and we

52:56are now looking at uh uh trying to

52:58extend the contract and that's what you

53:00have in front of you today uh for the

53:02second half of the fiscal year. Uh the

53:04water system is looking at extending

53:06this funding in future fiscal years uh

53:08subject to future approval. The services

53:11uh are that we've been contracting with

53:13is healthy homes coalition which has

53:14been a great partner not only during

53:16this process but going back even into

53:18the early uh lead service line

53:20replacement days through cso projects

53:22and things like that. Paul Han and

53:24others. We do have Jamila Man here from

53:26Healthy Homes if there are any

53:28additional questions, but it's been a

53:30great process and service uh in terms of

53:32the outreach that they do in terms of

53:34also distributing lead filters or lead

53:37pitcher filters as well as inhome lead

53:39awareness kits to help educate. Um

53:42there's another item at cow later today

53:44that we'll talk about, but this is a

53:45great partnership that we've had and we

53:47really appreciate the things that uh

53:49Healthy Homes has done for us.

53:51>> Great. Thank you so much. Colleagues,

53:53questions.

53:55>> I'm going to add one more other thing to

53:56this. Um, we focused on the third ward

53:59with this initial funding. Uh, as we go

54:02forward, this is going to be all three

54:03wards.

54:05>> Thank you. Did you have a comment,

54:07Commissioner? No. Okay. I wasn't on I

54:10wasn't quite ready earlier. I I would

54:11totally agree. I think that's what the

54:13city, you know, we kind of look at what

54:15is our infrastructure and we also know

54:17that a door like healthy homes coalition

54:19is so trusted uh knowledgeable and so

54:22thanks so much for the work that you all

54:24do in our community. Used to work down

54:26the street from healthy homes at the

54:28source and um just people trust them and

54:32so that's we just want we want the

54:33information and these things to occur

54:35and sometimes we might not be the best

54:37conduit. So,

54:38>> well, I I will add to that,

54:40Commissioner, that you know, having been

54:41through this process now, what are we

54:43coming up on eight years that we've been

54:45out doing these lead service line

54:47replacements in the community, the the

54:49the the trust that the community has

54:52with healthy homes, the services that

54:54they provide, the tableabling events

54:55that they have, the outreach that they

54:57go and they are very proactive in doing.

54:59There's certain things that,

55:01>> you know, residents don't necessarily

55:03trust government, but when they see

55:04healthy homes come through, they there

55:06is a level of trust there.

55:07>> Yes. So, thanks for the partnership and

55:08thanks for your trust in us to work

55:10together. All right, all those in favor?

55:12>> I. Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks so

55:15much, Wayne. Um, item number seven is a

55:17resolution authorizing a budget

55:18substitution for the north primary

55:20control substation replacement at the

55:22water resource recovery facility in

55:24amount in the amount of $541,755.

55:28Mr. Roots.

55:29>> So, move support.

55:31>> Thank you.

55:32>> Good morning, commissioners.

55:33>> Good morning. So the uh initial capital

55:37budget was prepared using the engineers

55:39estimate and the low bid came back uh

55:42above that estimate. Uh this budget

55:45substitution would fulfill the uh

55:49overage amount of that and not have any

55:51impact to our our budget.

55:53>> Wonderful.

55:54>> Great. Thank you.

55:56Hearing and seeing no questions. All

55:57those in favor?

55:58>> I.

55:59>> Any oppose? Item carries. Um next is uh

56:02number eight. Thanks so much. is a

56:04resolution authorizing a budget

56:05substitution in the amount of $587,200

56:09for Eastern Railroad to and Grand River

56:11Trails East. Do I have a motion?

56:12>> So moved.

56:13>> Support.

56:13>> Moved and supported. Miss Irving.

56:16>> Good morning everyone.

56:17>> Morning. [snorts]

56:18>> Um so this project was awarded to

56:20Wheeland and it has several grants on it

56:23including um Greenway and DNR Trust Fund

56:27and [clears throat] West Michigan

56:28Trails. Um, this substitution is to move

56:30appropriate local match dollars so that

56:33we can uh move forward and appropriate

56:37appropriate the DNR grant and those

56:39dollars were identified through budget

56:41savings on other projects.

56:43>> Thanks so much for the explanation. Um,

56:46all those in favor?

56:47>> I.

56:48>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks so

56:51much.

56:51>> Got to make up some time here. So, thank

56:53you for You're right [laughter] on it.

56:55Item number nine is a resolution

56:57authorizing a budget substitution the

56:59amount of 3.4 million for the Godfrey to

57:02market to Oxford project. Do you have a

57:04motion?

57:04>> So moved.

57:05>> Support.

57:06>> Mr. Gerberg.

57:08>> I don't know why. I think it just

57:09depends right when it gets put in. And

57:10so they're just making you dance a

57:12little bit today.

57:14>> Um I I

57:17>> did we support

57:20it.

57:20>> There we go.

57:21>> Sorry. [laughter]

57:23>> Double covered. Wayne, go ahead.

57:25>> Yeah, so the city uh the water and

57:27environmental services have been

57:29planning to do um significant utility

57:31work and reconstruction work with the

57:33city engineering department uh for some

57:35time on the Godfrey Avenue corridor. Um

57:38this particular item that you have in

57:40front of you is taking some uh

57:41previously unspent um and budgeted

57:44money. Basically just reorganizing it uh

57:46is really what this is to plan for a

57:48project that I believe is 2028

57:50construction.

57:51>> Okay. Thanks so much. All right. All

57:54those in favor?

57:55>> I.

57:55>> Any opposed? Item carries. Um item

57:58number 10 is a salary ordinance amending

58:00the appendix A wage scale for emergency

58:03communication operators. Um and this is

58:05regarding uh grievance settlement number

58:0726-42. Do you have a motion?

58:09>> So moved.

58:10>> Support.

58:10>> Moved and supported. Miss Cloud.

58:12>> Good morning, commissioners. Morning.

58:14>> Uh so I'm here to ask for your

58:15recommendation on a salary ordinance. Um

58:17it settles the grievance between our

58:19emergency communications operators and

58:22realines just one step of their pay

58:24scale. Um this is historical all the way

58:26back to 2012 and as we've come over the

58:29years we're at a point where we now need

58:30to correct this. Um it's just for the

58:33ECO 3's top step um and it only impacts

58:37two employees at this point. Um it's

58:39moving from 40 52 an hour to 4133 which

58:42is about 4,000 a year uh per employee.

58:44So, a very minimal amount, but something

58:46that just needs to be corrected over

58:48time.

58:49Thank you. Questions, colleagues, on

58:51this one.

58:52All right. All those in favor?

58:54>> I.

58:54>> Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks so

58:56much. And uh item number 11 is an

58:59ordinance amending section 1 of the

59:01budget ordinance 2026-11

59:04for fiscal year 2027, amendment number

59:06four. Do you have a motion?

59:07>> So moved.

59:08>> Support.

59:08>> Moved and supported. Miss Claren.

59:10>> Okay. Good morning, commissioners. Our

59:12first item is from our community's

59:14children. It's the challenge scholars to

59:17college through college. Um 300,000 of

59:20appropriations and other grants funds.

59:22Number two, we have the Sullivan Field

59:24improvements. This is actually um uh

59:28recognizing a contribution from fans of

59:31Valley Field for improvements at

59:33Sullivan Field. So, um, next one,

59:36college is possible campaign from our

59:39community's children, 70,000. Uh, number

59:42four, again, parks and wreck, Michigan

59:44National Natural Resources Trust Fund

59:46grant. Uh, this is for River Edge.

59:49Sorry, talking's hard. River edges trail

59:52Leonard Anne segment three, another

59:55300,000. Uh, just four items this

59:57morning. Our contingency remains

59:59untouched at 1.5 million. Okay. Thank

1:00:02you so much, Miss Claren.

1:00:05>> Hearing and seeing no questions. All

1:00:06those in favor?

1:00:07>> I.

1:00:08>> Any opposed? Item carries. Item number

1:00:1112 is the bid list resolution for

1:00:12October uh October 27th, 2026. Do you

1:00:15have a motion?

1:00:16>> So moved.

1:00:17>> Support.

1:00:17>> Moved and supported. Miss Claren, any

1:00:19items that you'd like to highlight or

1:00:20colleagues questions?

1:00:21>> Uh for the public, uh the bid list

1:00:23starts on page 45. I will note some of

1:00:26the larger items. Water meters are

1:00:28always more expensive. So that's a big

1:00:30ticket item. The other one I will call

1:00:32out is our contracts for temporary

1:00:35services. You'll see that at number

1:00:37five. That is uh we we award across um

1:00:41you know four firms in this case. Uh

1:00:43just it depends on the type of temp

1:00:46service we're looking for. That's why we

1:00:47don't award to just one. Um so in total

1:00:51um that across those four firms it's

1:00:53about 4.5 million. So

1:00:56>> thank you.

1:00:59I'll go ahead and call the question. All

1:01:00those in favor?

1:01:01>> I I.

1:01:02>> Any opposed? Item carries. So that is

1:01:05all of our business today. Colleagues,

1:01:07let's go to item number 13, which is our

1:01:09comprollers warrant report for the

1:01:10period of September 22nd, 2026 through

1:01:14October 12th, 2026 in the amount of

1:01:1671,680,

1:01:1927161

1:01:21and there and the small claims report.

1:01:24>> Mr. Controller,

1:01:25>> good morning, commissioners. Good

1:01:26morning.

1:01:27>> Uh for the period reference, cash

1:01:29payments were released totaling

1:01:30approximately $71.7 million, which

1:01:33includes just under $12.6 million for

1:01:36employee payroll uh related payments and

1:01:38just under $1.3 million for income tax

1:01:42uh warrants. In terms of quantity, 461

1:01:45income tax refunds were issued and22

1:01:49checks uh and electronic payments uh

1:01:51were issued. Uh these funds were issued

1:01:53for payment by individuals uh not in the

1:01:55city controllers's office and not in

1:01:57accordance uh with the terms of the city

1:02:00charter. Uh the fiscal services

1:02:02department does not have authority to

1:02:04issue payments or permission to sign and

1:02:07place uh my signature on checks and

1:02:09payments.

1:02:11That concludes uh the warrant report.

1:02:12The second report that we have here uh

1:02:14for you this morning uh is the quarterly

1:02:17small claims uh report for the period of

1:02:19July through September of this year. And

1:02:22that report details a total of 21 small

1:02:25claims uh paid out totaling uh just over

1:02:28$53 uh,000. And the details uh of those

1:02:32individual

1:02:34um claims are also included uh in the

1:02:36report here. And that concludes uh the

1:02:39two reports that I have for you this

1:02:41morning.

1:02:42>> Thank you. That report is received and

1:02:44filed. Um, item number 14 is the

1:02:46treasur's report for the period of

1:02:48September 23rd, 2026 through October

1:02:5112th, 2026. Mr. Treasur,

1:02:53>> good morning, commissioners. With the

1:02:55report today, it's just showing that

1:02:56we've had some more economic data come

1:02:58through. And one is the fact that we

1:02:59have the the producer prices actually

1:03:01was very high. It came in at 6.3%.

1:03:04Um, actually that's uh as high as it's

1:03:06been in the past four and a half years.

1:03:08So this will then equate to producers

1:03:11then passing on those costs to customers

1:03:13which means that's customer being the

1:03:15city and our projects and our growth and

1:03:17development uh in terms of large

1:03:19projects in terms of our own

1:03:21construction costs in terms of our own

1:03:22fuel prices is going to remain elevated

1:03:25and continue to be passed through. Um

1:03:28inflation still isn't coming down to the

1:03:302% level that the Fed has always

1:03:32expected it to be. So we're still

1:03:34tracking uh 3.4%. we're we're we're it's

1:03:38not coming down as fast. Um I I don't

1:03:41expect the Fed to make a move this week.

1:03:43In fact, 91% of people say they don't

1:03:46expect the Fed to move this week. And

1:03:48frankly, this week is the worst week to

1:03:50make any changes to the Fed because of

1:03:52what's happening next Tuesday.

1:03:54>> Um positive or negative with a change in

1:03:56the Fed, it it it will obviously be

1:03:59politicized,

1:04:01which is what it shouldn't be. uh

1:04:04because the Fed is an independent

1:04:05organization and they're they're looking

1:04:07at our economy and how we can grow and

1:04:09control costs and have full employment.

1:04:12That's their their their mo their

1:04:14primary directive.

1:04:16It's not to be a political entity. So I

1:04:19um I'm happy to see that the Fed's

1:04:21holding. Now granted, we're going to

1:04:22have more economic data come through

1:04:23before we make the next Fed meeting

1:04:25where they might announce change. It's

1:04:27expected that that could happen in

1:04:29December if we don't see inflation

1:04:30coming starting to trend downward. So

1:04:33that would be another quarter point

1:04:34increase more than likely. Um the fuel

1:04:38is our biggest is the biggest issue. Um

1:04:40we see it at the pumps every time we we

1:04:42drive in. Right. Um it was 444 one day

1:04:46when I go up and the next day it's 479.

1:04:48Uh it's it's really bouncing around

1:04:51enough that people are making really

1:04:52tough decisions about not only their

1:04:54fuel but about groceries, about

1:04:56utilities, about cutting back things. Um

1:05:00the phone the text message I got was did

1:05:03you stop our Netflix account?

1:05:05Yes, because I found out there were two

1:05:07or I you know it it's it people are

1:05:10going to start looking at what's hitting

1:05:12their bank accounts and asking

1:05:13questions. Do I really need this service

1:05:15or don't need this service? Even the

1:05:17treasurer does that. So even I haggle on

1:05:20prices and look to see if I can save

1:05:22money. Um, but that's what we're

1:05:24challenged to do is we're challenged to

1:05:26make are we going to are we going to

1:05:27shop at Meyer or are we going to shop at

1:05:29Aldi? Are we going to get just the

1:05:31regular goods that I need today and make

1:05:34sure I'm eating everything I have in my

1:05:36pantry or my freezer before I'm spending

1:05:38more? And we're going to shop sales. I

1:05:40mean, that's just the nature of the

1:05:41beast right now. Um, with inflation at

1:05:433.4%.

1:05:46that's that's exceeding so our our a lot

1:05:50of our residents annual increases in

1:05:53their own wages. And so when that

1:05:56happens, they're actually losing money.

1:05:58They're seeing that paycheck shrink. And

1:06:01when 65% of the of the population, and

1:06:04that's a historical number, 65% of the

1:06:07population lives check by check, that

1:06:09makes a significant a a significant

1:06:13difference in the way our residents

1:06:15spend their money and whether they're

1:06:17going to come downtown for an event

1:06:19>> or to pay for parking or to go out to

1:06:22eat. Um, but with the report I have

1:06:24today, we are we're our investments are

1:06:28very safe and secure. We have $683

1:06:31million in our reserve fund and we're

1:06:34earning 3.46%.

1:06:37>> And that's my report for today and I I'm

1:06:40ready to tee up our next one.

1:06:41>> Thank you. Yes, why don't you we'll go

1:06:43ahead and tee up that supple number 15

1:06:45and I'll save my comments for after

1:06:46that. But number 15, which is the

1:06:48supplemental treasures report. Um, so

1:06:50the first one was received and filed,

1:06:52but for fiscal year 26, this is the

1:06:54year-end investment portfolio uh

1:06:56summary. So, as the end of June 30th, at

1:06:59the end of our fiscal year 2026, I see

1:07:01Mr. Bolt is also joining us.

1:07:02>> Yes. And and with this, I've asked um

1:07:05Mr. Levi Bolt, our investment officer,

1:07:06to prepare a little bit more of an

1:07:08in-depth uh review or look at what our

1:07:10city investments are. And so, this is as

1:07:12of June 30 of 2026. And it and it will

1:07:16dovetail actually with what our city

1:07:18controller provides with the citizens

1:07:20guide to to public finance because he

1:07:22also has a line in there on interest

1:07:24earnings. But I wanted Mr. bolt to give

1:07:26you a little bit um more of a better

1:07:28perspective of of what we do and where

1:07:32we're invested and what is um the the

1:07:35basis of our whole investment work.

1:07:37>> Okay. Thank you.

1:07:39>> Thank you, John. Uh good morning uh uh

1:07:41madame uh chair and commissioners. Um

1:07:45the uh the city's investment program is

1:07:48governed basically by three words uh

1:07:50safety, liquidity, and yield. And they

1:07:52go in that order. Safety of principle is

1:07:55our overriding

1:07:57uh number one goal uh above all else.

1:08:00Quite frankly, um we're not trying to

1:08:02run a hedge fund. Uh we're trying to run

1:08:04a city. Um and so the uh the revenues

1:08:08that arrive uh the money that is brought

1:08:10in via taxes and fees needs to stay

1:08:12there. Um and uh you know, we have no

1:08:16interest in in losing money after uh uh

1:08:19you know, investments that go south. Um

1:08:23we do that uh primarily uh by only

1:08:26buying the the highest quality um

1:08:29investments uh both uh under public act

1:08:3220 as well as the city's investment

1:08:33policy. Um I've described it uh to to

1:08:38colleagues sometimes is if I'm following

1:08:42policy I'd have to really try to lose

1:08:44money if I wanted to. Um not not that

1:08:48that's not possible of course but uh uh

1:08:52generally speaking if if you look at how

1:08:55the portfolio is constructed um the

1:08:58single largest issuer is the United

1:08:59States Treasury with roughly a quarter

1:09:01of uh the the money that's available um

1:09:05and even then um a variety of other

1:09:08investments uh money market funds uh

1:09:11local government investment pools etc

1:09:13also in turn look through have

1:09:16underlying treasury holdings as well. Um

1:09:20and uh the non-treasury holdings we have

1:09:22uh we have a significant uh portion uh

1:09:24in uh Michigan municipal bonds uh that

1:09:28are taxable um uh getting non-t taxable

1:09:32bonds is of no benefit to uh but

1:09:34taxexempt organizations such as the

1:09:36city. So we go after the taxables um and

1:09:39the largest issuer is the uh uh of that

1:09:42is the Michigan State Housing

1:09:43Development Authority. Um we do that

1:09:46primarily uh for invest pure pure

1:09:49investment reasons. We regard them as uh

1:09:52uh good investments. However, they do

1:09:54have the beneficial knock-on effect of

1:09:56promoting affordable housing in the

1:09:58state which obviously is a goal that uh

1:10:00we all share as well. Um

1:10:05when we look at credit ratings um 3/4 of

1:10:09the uh securities within the portfolio

1:10:12are rated A minus and above. The

1:10:14remainder are not rated. Um those are

1:10:17primarily mortgage back holdings um

1:10:19issued through Fanny May and Freddy

1:10:21Mack. Jenny May um rating agencies

1:10:25simply don't rate them. Um however uh

1:10:28Jinny Mays carry

1:10:30a an explicit uh federal government

1:10:32guarantee and Fanny and Freddy are both

1:10:35uh for lack of a better term joined at

1:10:37the hip with the federal government.

1:10:38Anyway, um and uh we saw uh back in uh

1:10:432009 uh the federal government come in

1:10:45and backs stop some of those. Anyway, uh

1:10:48however uh overall mortgage back uh

1:10:51securities marketplace has been cleaned

1:10:53up significantly in the last you know

1:10:5510-15 years since then. Um

1:11:00we manage liquidity uh so that deals

1:11:03with safety liquidity we manage

1:11:05primarily by matching the portfolio to

1:11:07when we think that we're going to need

1:11:08the money. So um we look at uh budgets

1:11:13you know plans um of uh you know when we

1:11:17we believe that uh the net expenditures

1:11:20are going to outweigh the the net

1:11:22receipts and that's when we plan for our

1:11:23maturities to be. Uh so we'll have that

1:11:26extra cash available when needed. If

1:11:29they're the same, no actions required.

1:11:32So that's why you see maturities

1:11:34trickled all the way out uh to 10 years

1:11:37uh based on fiscal projections. Um we

1:11:41also keep a fair fair amount uh in

1:11:43liquid uh cash at all times uh to make

1:11:47sure that uh we're able to cover

1:11:48emergencies, that sort of thing. Um so

1:11:51safety, liquidity, finally is yield. And

1:11:54I I will be honest, yield is important.

1:11:57Um but it is the third priority, okay?

1:12:01It matters to our bottom line. It is the

1:12:02only city revenue that does not come

1:12:04from a fee or a tax. However, it takes

1:12:08the back seat to safety and liquidity at

1:12:11all times. Okay. Having said that, if

1:12:14I've got a choice between two

1:12:15investments, one is going to pay more

1:12:17than the other, obviously, I'm going to

1:12:18go with one that's uh going to be higher

1:12:20yielding, all else being equal. Um our

1:12:24interest earnings last year were in

1:12:26excess of 20 million. Uh we do uh I we

1:12:29do have um some uh unrealized uh capital

1:12:33losses in the portfolio of around 12.8

1:12:36million. Uh my comment on on those uh

1:12:40quite frankly they're not real.

1:12:43Literally in in the word it's

1:12:44unrealized.

1:12:47A loss is only realized in investments

1:12:49when uh a security is sold prior to

1:12:52maturity with very few exceptions. Uh we

1:12:55hold our our uh portfolio holdings uh

1:12:58until they fully mature. So the $12.8

1:13:02million um unrealized loss most likely

1:13:06uh very little of that will actually be

1:13:07realized uh for that reason. Um

1:13:12when uh

1:13:14uh one other factor we look at is uh

1:13:17minimizing our own expenses. Quite

1:13:19frankly I'm pretty cheap.

1:13:22Um [clears throat]

1:13:24and uh you know our emphasis is on

1:13:26running a a lean efficient shop. So uh

1:13:30our expenses are uh just under uh four

1:13:33basis 4 hundreds of a percent of

1:13:36invested assets in order to run the

1:13:38investment program which is incredibly

1:13:40efficient for the uh for the results

1:13:43we're able to obtain. Um we uh

1:13:49we heavily emphasize diversification

1:13:52whether it's diversification through uh

1:13:55security structure, through account

1:13:57structure, through yield structure.

1:14:00Um,

1:14:02basically I'm I'm constantly um talking

1:14:05to our broker partners and our banking

1:14:08partners trying to find new ways to

1:14:11diversify away our risks that and uh you

1:14:16know one thing I do want to emphasize is

1:14:19there is no such thing as a risk-free

1:14:22investment. It does not exist.

1:14:26The only thing that you can get are

1:14:30risks that you're willing to live with.

1:14:32So the risks that we're willing to live

1:14:34with

1:14:36are here. Okay. Um

1:14:39we heavily emphasize safety of

1:14:42principle. We heavily emphasize

1:14:43liquidity. We somewhat deemphasize

1:14:45yield. That does make the portfolio

1:14:47somewhat vulnerable to inflation. That's

1:14:49one of the reasons why John was

1:14:51mentioning that. The other thing is

1:14:52fixed income markets generally speaking

1:14:54are heavily uh influenced by inflation.

1:14:57Um one way that we're able to hedge

1:15:00against that to a certain degree is by

1:15:03uh purchasing uh treasury inflation

1:15:05protected securities to offset some of

1:15:07that risk. So again we diversify as much

1:15:10as possible. So that is my report. I'm

1:15:13happy to answer any questions you have.

1:15:15>> Thank you Mr. Bolt. Um

1:15:19you're good. Okay. Um and you know thank

1:15:22you for the presentation. I think you

1:15:24know this is at the end of this year and

1:15:27even from two years ago kind of just the

1:15:29differences that you said you know

1:15:31obviously doing the report hearing the

1:15:33treasurer's feedback. Um I think that is

1:15:36certainly appreciated. I think those are

1:15:37the things people want us to think about

1:15:39the macro and the micro right. We need

1:15:41to to look at both of those things

1:15:43together. And so really appreciate you

1:15:46uh Mr. treasurer talking about what

1:15:48people are truly feeling and not

1:15:50politicizing that. Um because it's it's

1:15:53too important to do that. It's it's just

1:15:55too important. We hear that whether it's

1:15:57through our 311 calls, the calls that we

1:15:59get to our offices, the things that

1:16:01we're experiencing. You know, I I packed

1:16:03my lunch today cuz I know what I've been

1:16:06spending on food and it's more. And so

1:16:09we see all different people making those

1:16:11choices and hearing this report for

1:16:15people to know how we are um how we're

1:16:18operating in the city. It's highly

1:16:20organized, highly well thought out,

1:16:22strategic, and also make sure that we

1:16:26are connecting to what is happening in

1:16:27the real world. You know, we don't we

1:16:29don't live in a bubble here at 300

1:16:31Monroe. So, um thank you for the report.

1:16:34Thank you. Yes, Mr. Treasure. Well, um,

1:16:36Commissioner, just um, this this program

1:16:39has evolved over years and working with

1:16:41Mr. Bolt and myself and having these

1:16:43conversations

1:16:44>> and listening to the commission and

1:16:46listening to the public and really

1:16:49looking at the strategic plan

1:16:51>> and how we're looking for how can we

1:16:52impact affordable housing as Mr. Bolt

1:16:55mentioned the Mista investments that we

1:16:56made that helps, you know, all the state

1:16:58of Michigan. It might not it somes in

1:17:00Grand Rapids, but it it covers our

1:17:01entire state, which is is fantastic. The

1:17:04other one is um uh Commissioner Jones

1:17:08and I and others had worked on

1:17:11diversifying our broker dealers to MBE

1:17:13broker dealers. And on our list on on

1:17:17page 138, it represents four of our MBE

1:17:20broker dealers that are winning these

1:17:22bids.

1:17:23>> And so we're also able to impact the

1:17:26greater economy and the greater good by

1:17:28doing that work and calling that out

1:17:30that we have. It might not appear in a

1:17:32slide on your next pro on a presentation

1:17:34from from on our finances, but

1:17:37>> it's something that we do and we always

1:17:39pay attention to. We just we just don't

1:17:41have an opportunity like this to throw a

1:17:43flag up to say, "Hey, this is what we're

1:17:44doing." But I wanted to assure you that

1:17:46we really do pay attention to the

1:17:48strategic plan, to the city's budget, to

1:17:50the city's finances, and to the overall

1:17:52community.

1:17:54>> Thanks so much. I appreciate that. So,

1:17:56thank you for those two reports. they

1:17:58are received and filed and um we will

1:18:01see everybody in a few minutes for

1:18:03community development committee. So this

1:18:05meeting is now adjourned. Thank you.

1:18:13[music]

1:18:20[music]

1:18:22Heat.

1:18:30[music]

1:18:34Heat.

1:18:39[music]

1:18:43Heat. Heat.

1:18:46[music]

1:19:25Heat. Heat.

1:19:34>> [music]

1:19:42[music]

1:19:53>> Heat. Heat. [music]

1:20:09>> [music]

1:20:16[music]

1:20:24[music]

1:20:30[music]

1:20:37[music]

1:20:50[music]

1:21:01[music]

1:21:11>> Heat. Heat.

1:21:16Heat.

1:21:21[music]

1:21:27[music]

1:21:30Heat.

1:21:38Heat. Heat.

1:22:16>> [music]

1:22:28>> Heat.

1:22:33[music]

1:22:41[music]

1:22:45Heat.

1:22:48[music]

1:22:52Uh-huh.

1:22:56[music]

1:23:03[music]

1:23:12[music]

1:23:17Heat. Heat.

1:23:20[music]

1:23:34[music]

1:23:41>> [music]

1:23:47[music]

1:23:53>> Heat. Heat.

1:24:01[music] Heat. Heat.

1:24:06[music]

1:24:15[music]

1:24:22[music]

1:24:23Heat. Heat. N.

1:24:31[music]

1:24:40>> [music]

1:24:46[music]

1:24:53[music]

1:24:58[music]

1:25:02>> Good morning everyone. The time is now

1:25:049:18. We are going to get the community

1:25:06development committee started. Item

1:25:08number one this morning is a resolution

1:25:10approving a fireworks discharge permit

1:25:12for field for failed entertainment for

1:25:15special effects at Van Andal Arena in

1:25:18connection with the Ringling Brothers in

1:25:20Barnum and Bailey Circus on October 29,

1:25:222026.

1:25:24>> Support.

1:25:25>> Thank you. Good morning.

1:25:26>> Morning. It's the typical um a lot of

1:25:30handheld devices. I will be there for a

1:25:32demo and make sure everything works

1:25:34well.

1:25:36>> Okay, great. We have a few of these um

1:25:39for this item. See, no questions. I'll

1:25:41call the question. All in favor?

1:25:43>> Uh yes.

1:25:45[laughter]

1:25:45>> Any opposed? All right. Motion carries.

1:25:47Item two is a resolution approving a

1:25:49fireworks discharge permit for Pyro Tech

1:25:52Special Effects, Inc. for special

1:25:54effects at Van Andal Arena in connection

1:25:56with the Triumph Con concert on November

1:25:5816th and 17th, 2026. So moved

1:26:01>> support.

1:26:02>> All right. Any additional questions,

1:26:03comments?

1:26:05>> All in favor?

1:26:06>> I.

1:26:07>> Any opposed? Motion carries.

1:26:09>> Item three is a resolution approving a

1:26:11fireworks discharge permit for pyroch

1:26:13special effects services for special

1:26:15effects at Van Andal Arena in connection

1:26:17with the Jonas Brothers concert on

1:26:19December 15, 2026.

1:26:21>> So move.

1:26:22>> Moved and supported. Any additional

1:26:24questions or information?

1:26:26>> All right. All in favor? I

1:26:28>> I

1:26:28>> All right. Have a good week.

1:26:30>> You as well have fun. Motion carries.

1:26:33Item four is an is a resolution setting

1:26:36November 10th, 2026 as a date to

1:26:39consider a ra a major amendment to the

1:26:42village at Knaps Crossing Plan

1:26:44Redevelopment District at 2036 Aka 2110

1:26:49East Belt Line Avenue Northeast.

1:26:51>> So move

1:26:51>> support.

1:26:52>> Thank you.

1:26:54>> Yes. Good morning commission. Morning.

1:26:55>> Um, as you uh have seen with other

1:26:57planned redevelopment districts, some of

1:26:59the older ones historically have been

1:27:01very specific uh in terms of uh not

1:27:03providing a great deal of flexibility

1:27:05for the types of uses that uh the

1:27:07buildings could be repurposed with. So,

1:27:10this is an example of adding a uh new

1:27:12drive-thru uh to the uh planned

1:27:15redevelopment district at the village of

1:27:17Knaps Crossing. Uh it was committed uh

1:27:20committed goodness it was considered by

1:27:21the planning commission uh and

1:27:23recommended for approval to the city

1:27:25commission.

1:27:27>> All right. Thank you. Any questions?

1:27:31Seeing none. All in favor?

1:27:32>> I.

1:27:33>> Any oppose? Motion carries. Item number

1:27:36five is a resolution approving design

1:27:39phase services with Tetrate Tech of

1:27:41Michigan PC in connection with the

1:27:43expansion of the renewable natural gas

1:27:46conditioning system at the water

1:27:48resource recovery facility in the amount

1:27:50of $210,000

1:27:52with total amount not to exceed

1:27:53$230,000.

1:27:55>> So move

1:27:56>> support.

1:27:57This project is an expansion of the

1:27:59renewable natural gas system. And so we

1:28:02want to go back to the original design

1:28:04engineer who has the intimate details

1:28:07with the with the current design to add

1:28:10this extension.

1:28:14>> See no questions. All in favor?

1:28:15>> I.

1:28:16>> Motion carries. Item six is a resolution

1:28:19approving an increase of $75,000 for

1:28:22installation of rectangular rapid

1:28:24flashing beacons at various locations

1:28:26for a total not to exceed of 1,550,000

1:28:31$845.

1:28:33>> So move

1:28:34>> support

1:28:35Irving.

1:28:36>> Sure. this project. Um, the rectac

1:28:39rectangular rapid flashing beacons is

1:28:41airing adding uh improvement safety

1:28:44improvements for pedestrians across the

1:28:46city. And the Michigan Street Corridor

1:28:47improvement authority in meeting with

1:28:49the project team requested that ballouts

1:28:52were added to shorten crosswalks in two

1:28:55critical locations. And so that's what

1:28:58this reflects is that um $75,000 that

1:29:01the Michigan Street Corridor Improvement

1:29:02Authority was bringing forward um to

1:29:05meet their goals for pedestrian safety.

1:29:08Thank you. As followup on that, um so

1:29:12are the bowouts specific to um what

1:29:15Michigan Street wanted for the the 75K

1:29:17in those two locations or is there

1:29:20various designs for

1:29:21>> That is That is correct. This is

1:29:23strictly for the two um pedestrian

1:29:25enhancements that were requested by the

1:29:27CIA.

1:29:28>> Okay, great. Any additional questions,

1:29:30colleagues?

1:29:31>> No. Well, I just wanted to add to that

1:29:33because I was at that meeting.

1:29:36>> I was at that meeting just uh recently

1:29:39this week. I didn't [clears throat]

1:29:41remember I remember the flashy beacons

1:29:42being part of the conversation, but I

1:29:44did not remember ballouts being a part

1:29:46of that conversation.

1:29:51You got something different?

1:29:54We just all looking.

1:29:56>> Yes,

1:29:57>> I am going from the commission item. So,

1:30:00if you would like me to get more

1:30:01information, I can

1:30:05>> I just think it might be I mean, I can

1:30:07go back and look at my notes, but I'm I

1:30:09don't remember seeing that in there. I

1:30:11remember the flashing beacons, but I did

1:30:13not remember the ball bouts being a part

1:30:14of the conversation that we had at our

1:30:16last meeting.

1:30:17>> Okay. Well, the commission specifically,

1:30:19they were talking about additional curb

1:30:21extensions um along this corridor. So,

1:30:24I'm I'm sure they were bringing forward

1:30:26the pedestrian hybrid beacons and

1:30:28sharing that information. So, that

1:30:30probably was a big part of the focus,

1:30:31but then the corridor improvement

1:30:32authority came back and asked for

1:30:34additional changes. Um but happy to find

1:30:37more information if you'd like.

1:30:39>> If you could thank you.

1:30:41>> Thank you. All right, I will call the

1:30:43question. All in favor?

1:30:44>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item

1:30:48seven is a resolution approving an

1:30:49increase of $236,885

1:30:53for Grand River East Riverfront US131 to

1:30:56CX CSX Railroad for a total not to

1:31:00exceed 20,293,530.

1:31:04>> So move

1:31:04>> support. Um this increase is tied to um

1:31:08a change of scope related to the catary

1:31:11lightings and the bases. Um there was a

1:31:13coordination issue between our um

1:31:16contractor design and our um consultant

1:31:20design. And so one of our consultants,

1:31:22Fishbach, who's been a long um supporter

1:31:25and participant with the city, stepped

1:31:27up and brought forward dollars to

1:31:29support that change um knowing the

1:31:31critical nature and the schedule of this

1:31:33project.

1:31:35>> Awesome.

1:31:37See no additional questions? All in

1:31:39favor? I.

1:31:41>> Any oppose?

1:31:42Motion carries. Item nine is a

1:31:45resolution accepting an easement at 701

1:31:47An Street Northwest for the nominal

1:31:49consideration of $1.

1:31:51>> So move

1:31:51>> support. Apologies, but I believe we

1:31:54skipped item eight.

1:31:55>> I'm so sorry we did. Um we have this

1:31:59motion on the floor. Might we finish

1:32:00this one and come back?

1:32:03>> Absolutely.

1:32:03>> Okay.

1:32:06Um, so 701 is a private development with

1:32:11Profile Films Properties, um, which is a

1:32:14food packaging company. Uh, they are

1:32:16adding a sidewalk along their frontage

1:32:18when they're, um, redeveloping the site.

1:32:20It used to be a zero lot line building,

1:32:22so making it more pedestrian friendly

1:32:23along their facility.

1:32:25>> Great.

1:32:27All in favor?

1:32:28>> I

1:32:29>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. All

1:32:32right. We will go back to item eight

1:32:34that I skipped. um for a resolution

1:32:36approving an increase of $548,997

1:32:41for Eastern Railroad to An Street Grand

1:32:43River Trails East for a total not to

1:32:45exceed $6,97,234.

1:32:51>> So move

1:32:52>> support. Um as a reminder, this project

1:32:55had several grant opportunities

1:32:57including Greenway, um MDNR, West

1:32:59Michigan Trails. Um this um change to is

1:33:03to bring forward funding to support the

1:33:05match for the DNR grant so it can be um

1:33:08fully realized.

1:33:10>> Thank you.

1:33:12>> All in favor?

1:33:13>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. We are

1:33:17now on item 10. A resolution accepting

1:33:19an easement at 100 Alger Street

1:33:21Southeast in connection with the

1:33:23reconstruction of Alger Street from

1:33:25Division Avenue to Madison Avenue for

1:33:28$655.

1:33:30So move

1:33:30>> support

1:33:32>> serving

1:33:33>> again an easement to complete the road

1:33:35project and support our um parkway and

1:33:38sidewalk.

1:33:39>> What location is this 100 Alger between

1:33:43um

1:33:44it's between division and Madison but

1:33:46I'm curious for that stretch because

1:33:48that kind of goes through by Alra Middle

1:33:50School Alra Heights business district

1:33:53a bit further. [snorts]

1:33:55>> I know. Okay. So, the one thing I like

1:33:57about the city of Grand Rapids is

1:33:59Division Avenue is zero. So, it's the

1:34:02100 block. So, it would probably be the

1:34:04first block um east of Division.

1:34:07>> Is that true for all streets?

1:34:08>> Yes. Division and Fulton are your zeros.

1:34:11So, that's why they don't say southeast

1:34:13or southwest. They say north, south,

1:34:16east, and west.

1:34:17>> Yep. Yeah. Um chair, I do see in the

1:34:20picture on the packet that it is at

1:34:22Horton and Elder.

1:34:24>> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

1:34:27All right.

1:34:30All in favor?

1:34:31>> I

1:34:31>> I.

1:34:31>> Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 11 is

1:34:35a resolution accepting an easement at

1:34:362010 Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast in

1:34:39connection with the roto mill and

1:34:40resurfacing of Burton Street from

1:34:42Giddings Avenue to Plymouth Avenue for

1:34:44$900.

1:34:45>> So move support.

1:34:47>> Again, another easement supporting a

1:34:49road project. Y

1:34:50>> all in favor?

1:34:51>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 12

1:34:54is a resolution rejecting bids for water

1:34:57resource recovery facility boiler line

1:34:59replacement.

1:35:00>> So move

1:35:01>> support.

1:35:03The bids came in significantly higher

1:35:04than the engineer's estimate. The

1:35:06engineer is looking at the estimate, but

1:35:07it was also a timing matter where we

1:35:10wanted things done quickly. So um the

1:35:12water resource recovery facility is

1:35:14adjusting figuring out other ways to

1:35:15heat and we'll rebid in the spring.

1:35:18>> Good. Uh Commissioner Bellshack. Um, so

1:35:22I've seen a few of like we've had a CIA

1:35:24thing where recently we had a lot come

1:35:26in over the engineers and I've heard it

1:35:28a couple of times even today. Can you

1:35:30give us just like an idea of how much

1:35:31over I mean I'm sure it's in my note

1:35:34somewhere too, but yes, this one the

1:35:36engineers estimate was 140,000 and the

1:35:39bid came in at roughly a half million.

1:35:40So this was a significant gap. I will

1:35:43say this project and the CIA one you're

1:35:46referring to both had um pretty tight

1:35:49schedules. there were desires there for

1:35:51schedule and one of the challenges we're

1:35:53having is our contractors are very busy.

1:35:56Um so the more we can be um reasonable

1:35:59with our schedules uh I think we get

1:36:02better pricing.

1:36:03>> So they're just they're they're they're

1:36:05not able to get the labor and what they

1:36:06need the resources to be able to do it

1:36:08in the timeline that's being given and

1:36:10that increases cost then.

1:36:11>> Correct.

1:36:12>> Okay. Thank you.

1:36:15>> Okay. Thank you. um to reject those

1:36:18bids. Um all in favor?

1:36:20>> I. Any opposed? Motion carries. And the

1:36:23last item this morning is item 13, a

1:36:25resolution approving extensions to

1:36:27agreements for bridge inspection and

1:36:28related professional services and an

1:36:31increase of $25,000 to Scott Civil

1:36:33Engineering for bridge inspection

1:36:35program for a total not to exceed of

1:36:37$90,900

1:36:39with no increase to the total authorized

1:36:41amount for other asneeded bridge related

1:36:43consulting services.

1:36:44>> So move support

1:36:46So, bridge structural design is uh a

1:36:49specific skill. We have five firms um

1:36:52who are qualified to do that work for

1:36:55the city. We're extending their

1:36:56contracts for two years. And then the

1:36:5825,000 is for Scott Civil, who

1:37:00specifically does our bridge

1:37:01inspections. There's an additional cost

1:37:03to continue doing those regular

1:37:04inspections.

1:37:06>> Thank you.

1:37:08>> See no questions. All in favor? I.

1:37:10>> Any opposed? Motion carries. We are

1:37:13journ Thank you. Thank you.

1:37:18>> [music]

1:37:24[music]

1:37:25>> Heat. Heat.

1:37:32[music]

1:37:46Heat. Heat.

1:38:00>> [music]

1:38:08[music]

1:38:15>> Heat. Heat. [music]

1:38:21Heat. Heat.

1:38:28[music]

1:38:36Heat. Heat. [music]

1:38:52[music]

1:39:00>> [music]

1:39:06[music]

1:39:08>> Heat. Heat.

1:39:12[music]

1:39:19>> [music]

1:39:31>> Heat. Heat.

1:39:39Heat.

1:40:09Heat. Heat. N. [music]

1:40:33>> [music]

1:40:39[music]

1:40:45[music]

1:40:48>> Heat. Heat.

1:40:52[music]

1:40:54Heat. Heat.

1:41:11[music]

1:41:17Heat. Heat. [music]

1:41:35[music]

1:41:39Heat. Heat.

1:41:47[music]

1:41:57[music]

1:42:04Heat. [music]

1:42:17[music]

1:42:21Heat.

1:42:25[music]

1:42:38Heat. Heat.

1:42:47Heat. Heat.

1:42:58[music]

1:43:07[music]

1:43:09Heat.

1:43:14[music]

1:43:20[music]

1:43:22Heat.

1:43:29[music]

1:43:30Heat. Heat.

1:43:35[music]

1:43:40[music]

1:43:51Heat [music]

1:44:00[music]

1:44:08up here.

1:44:13[music]

1:44:26>> [music]

1:44:44>> Heat.

1:44:48[music]

1:44:58[bell]

1:45:03Heat.

1:45:08Heat.

1:45:20[music]

1:45:21Heat.

1:45:36>> [music]

1:45:45>> Heat. Heat.

1:45:52Heat. Heat. [music]

1:45:58[music]

1:46:11[music]

1:46:24Heat.

1:46:32Heat.

1:46:38Heat.

1:46:44[music]

1:47:00Heat.

1:47:02[music]

1:47:18>> [music]

1:47:27[music]

1:47:32>> Heat. Heat.

1:47:37[music]

1:47:44[music]

1:47:53[music]

1:48:06>> [music]

1:48:11[music]

1:48:18[music]

1:48:28[music]

1:48:29>> Heat. Heat. N.

1:48:36[music]

1:48:51[music]

1:49:03>> [music]

1:49:10[music]

1:49:16[music]

1:49:23[music]

1:49:28>> Heat. Heat.

1:49:33[music]

1:50:08>> [music]

1:50:08>> Happy

1:50:14[music] birthday.

1:50:19>> [music]

1:50:29[music]

1:50:39[music]

1:50:45>> Heat. Heat. [music]

1:50:52[music]

1:51:09[music]

1:51:22Hey,

1:51:24[music]

1:51:26thank you.

1:51:32[music]

1:51:40>> [music]

1:51:45[music]

1:51:52[music]

1:51:59[music]

1:52:04[music]

1:52:29[music]

1:52:42[music]

1:53:01[music]

1:53:11[music]

1:53:19[music]

1:53:37[music]

1:53:58[music]

1:54:12[music]

1:54:21[music]

1:54:31[music]

1:54:40[music]

1:54:46[music]

1:54:53[music]

1:55:28[music]

1:55:37[music]

1:55:43[music]

1:56:17[music]

1:56:29>> Heat. Heat.

1:56:47>> [music]

1:56:49>> Heat. Heat.

1:56:57Heat. Heat.

1:57:09[music]

1:57:18[music]

1:57:18Heat.

1:57:23[music]

1:57:29Heat.

1:57:37[music]

1:57:39Heat.

1:57:44[music]

1:57:51Heat. [music]

1:57:59>> [music]

1:58:07[music]

1:58:14>> Heat. Heat.

1:58:21Heat.

1:58:24[music]

1:58:41[music]

1:58:49[music]

1:58:49Heat.

1:59:01Heat.

1:59:03Heat. [music]

1:59:11Heat. Heat. [music]

1:59:17[music]

1:59:29[music]

1:59:41Heat. Heat.

2:00:22>> [music]

2:00:28>> Heat. Heat.

2:00:42[music]

2:00:47[music]

2:00:50Heat. Heat.

2:00:57[music]

2:01:06[music]

2:01:21>> [music]

2:01:30>> Heat. [music] Heat.

2:01:47>> [music]

2:01:50>> Heat. Heat.

2:01:55[music]

2:02:24>> [music]

2:02:35[music]

2:02:35>> Heat.

2:02:38Heat.

2:02:45[music]

2:02:46Heat.

2:02:54[music]

2:03:04Heat.

2:03:10Heat. Heat.

2:03:17[music]

2:03:39>> [music]

2:03:43>> Heat. Heat.

2:04:24>> [music]

2:04:45[music]

2:04:49>> Heat

2:05:04Heat. Heat.

2:05:31Hey.

2:05:36[music]

2:05:47>> [music]

2:05:52>> Heat. Heat.

2:06:01Heat.

2:06:15Heat.

2:06:21[music]

2:06:23Heat. Heat.

2:06:34[music]

2:06:45>> [music]

2:06:59[music]

2:07:07>> Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey.

2:07:11Heat. [music]

2:07:19[music]

2:07:25[music]

2:07:33[music]

2:07:34Heat.

2:07:53Good morning everyone. Going to call

2:07:55this meeting of committee to hold to

2:07:56order. And our first item of business is

2:07:59a proclamation recognizing National Lead

2:08:01Poisoning Prevention Week. And I will go

2:08:03up to the microphone. And our um county

2:08:06boh is coming up as well.

2:08:09>> Wayne Gerber.

2:08:13>> First,

2:08:14>> well, I'm turning the mic on for him.

2:08:16So,

2:08:17>> mic's on for you.

2:08:18>> Right on.

2:08:21>> So, uh I'll read the proclamation.

2:08:24Whereas lead exposure is a significant

2:08:26public health concern, particularly for

2:08:29children and vulnerable populations and

2:08:31preventing exposure through education,

2:08:33collaboration, and improvements to drink

2:08:34and water infrastructure and housing

2:08:36conditions are essential to protecting

2:08:38the health and well-being of our

2:08:39community. And whereas National Lead

2:08:41Poisoning Prevention Week, October 25 to

2:08:4431, 2026, raises awareness about the

2:08:46importance of reducing lead exposure,

2:08:48promoting testing, and prevention

2:08:50strategies. Whereas the city has a

2:08:52long-term commitment to reducing lead

2:08:53exposure and has replaced over 9,000

2:08:56lead service lines to date. And whereas

2:08:58our program has helped thousands of

2:09:00children um from uh protect thousands of

2:09:04children from uh uh leadbased exposure

2:09:07by making more than 2,000 homes lead

2:09:09safe. Whereas the city has prov

2:09:11prioritized transparency and community

2:09:13engagement.

2:09:14Whereas these accomplishments have been

2:09:16possible through strong partnerships

2:09:18with organizations including the Kent

2:09:20County Health Department, Healthy Homes,

2:09:22Rental Property Owners Association,

2:09:24LinkUp, and Grand Rapids public schools,

2:09:27residents, contractors, and many staff

2:09:29members whose dedication has advanced

2:09:31lead reduction efforts throughout the

2:09:32city. And whereas our program is

2:09:34recognized as a model for other

2:09:36communities in the United States by the

2:09:38US Department of Housing and Urban

2:09:40Development. And the city was rec

2:09:42recently recognized by lead service line

2:09:44replacement collaborative with the

2:09:45excellence in community engagement award

2:09:47in recogn recognition of its work. Now

2:09:50therefore I David Lrren mayor of the

2:09:52city of Grand Rapids Michigan on this

2:09:53day call on all residents and community

2:09:56partners to join me in recognizing and

2:09:57supporting efforts to raise awareness

2:09:59promote prevention and continue

2:10:01advancing initiatives that reduce lead

2:10:03exposure and protect the health and

2:10:05well-being of our community. and Miss

2:10:07Boast or Miss Jerberg want to come up

2:10:09and talk.

2:10:11>> Thank you, mayor. Thank you,

2:10:12commissioners. Uh we're very pleased to

2:10:14be in front of you today. This

2:10:15collaborative effort between community

2:10:17development and water uh to help raise

2:10:19awareness and educate our community

2:10:21about the impacts of lead. Um as the

2:10:24mayor acknowledged, the water system

2:10:25relief received a national award this

2:10:27summer in terms of our collaboration uh

2:10:30and outreach programs that we have for

2:10:32lead service line replacements. and we

2:10:34could not obviously the city is it's not

2:10:36just the city but it's also our partners

2:10:38which we're very very fortunate to to to

2:10:40be able to work with uh we have

2:10:42representatives from healthy homes

2:10:43coalition here today that we've been

2:10:45working with now for about 15 years in

2:10:47some way shape or form uh and our lead

2:10:49service line initiative we also through

2:10:51our water advisory council uh that we've

2:10:54had now for seven eight years now uh the

2:10:57relationships that we've built with the

2:10:58neighborhood associations the GRPS

2:11:01really a great partner with the Kent

2:11:03County Health Department as well very

2:11:05supportive. We're very very pleased uh

2:11:07to say that we're still making progress.

2:11:09We have a ways to go with lead service

2:11:11line replacement, but the fact that we

2:11:13have such great community partners that

2:11:14help us get the information out um in

2:11:17terms of making sure that they're aware

2:11:19of the risks, the impacts, and then

2:11:20being proactive in terms of replacement,

2:11:22we're very, very pleased. So, Connie,

2:11:26>> yes, thank you. We are excited to

2:11:28actually celebrate this week and I want

2:11:31to thank um Wayne and his team for the

2:11:34work that they've been doing most

2:11:35recently. Uh the community development

2:11:36department has actually been doing um

2:11:38work with leadbased paint hazard

2:11:40remediation in homes for 23 years. We

2:11:43received our first grant from the US

2:11:44Department of Housing and urban

2:11:46development in 2003. And from that since

2:11:50that time, we've actually received nine

2:11:52competitive grant awards through that

2:11:54HUD program as well as nine grants

2:11:57through the Michigan um Department of

2:11:58Health and Human Services. Um and we've

2:12:01brought in $38 million in total over the

2:12:04years for um ensuring making our homes

2:12:07more safe. But in addition to that, as

2:12:09the mayor read, not only we uh addressed

2:12:122,000 homes, but we've also with those

2:12:14resources and our partners um that have

2:12:17been mentioned, including the rental

2:12:20property owners um association who are

2:12:22not here today. Um, we have been able to

2:12:25support training more than 3,500

2:12:27individuals and lead safe cleaning and

2:12:29work practices, assisting nearly 160

2:12:33section 3 eligible um, individuals and

2:12:36and companies in maintaining

2:12:38professional certification to perform

2:12:39lead remediation and conducting more

2:12:42than 1,000 community outreach events to

2:12:44educate residents about lead hazards and

2:12:46available remediation resources. So, not

2:12:49only addressing the homes specifically,

2:12:52but making sure that we have um

2:12:54education and resources for economic

2:12:57opportunity uh as well through these

2:12:59programs. So, again, we appreciate our

2:13:01partnerships and of course the dedicated

2:13:03staff. Wayne has a crew um from water

2:13:06here and we have um also have uh our

2:13:09community development staff from this

2:13:11program.

2:13:13>> Sorry. The one the one one other thing

2:13:15I'll add for the benefit of the public

2:13:16is um this is one of the we've talked

2:13:19about the the work we do but this is in

2:13:22terms of the actual outcomes this has

2:13:23been one of the huge success stories in

2:13:25our community. So uh if you look

2:13:28neighborhood by neighborhood and zip

2:13:29code by zip code um the zip codes that

2:13:32have the highest lead exposure now are

2:13:36are vastly lower than the lowest

2:13:39neighborhoods were in 2003. and overall

2:13:43uh lead exposure in children is about a

2:13:45third of what it was in 2003 in the

2:13:48city. So our numbers have just massively

2:13:51massively reduced. So that's that's

2:13:53remarkable to go from say 10 units to

2:13:56three units in something to cut that

2:13:58exposure level with these kind of

2:14:00programs in in that time is really

2:14:02remarkable. And it means that um over o

2:14:05over o over o over o over o over o over

2:14:05o over o over o over o over o over

2:14:06overall in the city every neighborhood's

2:14:08getting cleaner. All every place we

2:14:10count uh lead exposure numbers are going

2:14:12down and that's really great and and

2:14:14it's a testimony to a lot of people's

2:14:16work. So just wanted to point that out.

2:14:18The numbers are real. The progress is

2:14:20real. So we're not just doing work. We

2:14:22are really really seeing results.

2:14:24So want to do a

2:14:28[applause]

2:14:32>> I think we just stand behind

2:14:44>> a

2:15:05You sure you don't want to go?

2:15:09>> This is the real work. I'm just here to

2:15:13>> Yes.

2:15:25>> I know. This my favorite. One of my

2:15:27favorites.

2:15:43Thank you.

2:15:46[applause]

2:15:47[cheering]

2:15:57>> Thank you everybody.

2:16:08Okay, that brings us to um a few items

2:16:11of uh fairly pedestrian business. The

2:16:13next is a resolution approving a request

2:16:16for for micro pardon me, Miro

2:16:19Mediterranean LLC for a development

2:16:21liquor license uh for location at 10

2:16:23Ioni Avenue Northwest. Mr. So moved

2:16:26>> fork.

2:16:27>> Yeah, this is located in the um

2:16:29residence in or not the res Yeah, the

2:16:31residence in um hotel there at the

2:16:33corner of Fulton Ionia, a new um venue

2:16:36going into that location.

2:16:38>> Great. Any discussion, colleagues?

2:16:41>> All right. All in favor say I. I.

2:16:43>> I. All opposed? Motion carries. Brings

2:16:45us to our next resolution. This is for a

2:16:48social district permit uh for location

2:16:50at 125 Ottawa Northwest. Can I have a

2:16:53motion? So

2:16:54>> support,

2:16:55>> Mr. Clerk.

2:16:57>> Um, so both we have two social district

2:16:59permits. Um, they're in the downtown

2:17:02social district. So anytime they want a

2:17:03social district permit to to so you can

2:17:07carry your stuff in a marked cup, you

2:17:08can.

2:17:09>> Okay. Any discussion, colleagues?

2:17:12>> All in favor say I.

2:17:13>> I. I.

2:17:14>> All opposed. Motion carries. Next

2:17:16resolution very similar is for a sojos

2:17:19district uh application for 53 Monroe

2:17:22Center Northwest.

2:17:23>> So move

2:17:24>> support.

2:17:26>> Mr. Clerk, any

2:17:27>> nothing else?

2:17:28>> Same thing. Okay. Any oppos any any

2:17:30discussion? Seeing none. All opposed.

2:17:33Pardon me. All in favor say I.

2:17:35>> I.

2:17:36>> All opposed. Motion carries. Uh and that

2:17:39brings us to our presentation on our

2:17:41parks.

2:17:44>> Good morning, Commission. Uh Laura

2:17:46Clayool, director of parks and

2:17:47recreation. Very excited to be here

2:17:49today. Um what you have before you is a

2:17:52resolution approving a request to set a

2:17:55public hearing date. Oh, I'm sorry.

2:17:58>> So moved.

2:18:01>> As you can tell, we're very excited to

2:18:03share our parks master plan. Um so this

2:18:06is to set the public hearing which will

2:18:07be December 1st here in commission

2:18:09chambers at 7 p.m. Um this parks master

2:18:12plan is establishes a guiding framework

2:18:15for the next 5 years of investments um

2:18:18both in how we build in our park spaces

2:18:20but also how we activate how we program

2:18:22and how we engage with the community. Um

2:18:25it also ensures alignment with community

2:18:27priorities and sets our vision uh for

2:18:29alignment with the DNR grant

2:18:31requirements.

2:18:37Uh so as I said it really sets our

2:18:40roadmap. This plan was first revitalized

2:18:43in 2017. The 2017 master plan set the

2:18:46vision in the future for the parks uh

2:18:49department as we were coming out of some

2:18:52um rather critical years of deferred

2:18:53maintenance and uh issues with um

2:18:56operations and being able to maintain.

2:18:582022 was an update and really guided a

2:19:01major period of investment for our park

2:19:03system and the 2027 plan focuses on

2:19:07stewardship operations and equitable

2:19:10access across the system. So just a real

2:19:13quick snapshot of where we are today. I

2:19:15just want to ground us by the scale and

2:19:17magnitude of what the system is today.

2:19:19We have 95 98 city parks, 702 acres of

2:19:24park uh parkowned land and then miles of

2:19:29trails and other uh network of river

2:19:33access, natural areas and recreation

2:19:36facilities. The system really has grown

2:19:38quite significantly since 2017 in in it

2:19:42in its quality but also in its

2:19:44complexity. Um so just a quick timeline.

2:19:47We started this process earlier this

2:19:49spring. Phase one was project

2:19:51initiation, system inventory and

2:19:53analysis. We then moved on to community

2:19:56engagement. That took took us through um

2:19:59May through August and then we really

2:20:01set time to develop our plan to develop

2:20:04our goals, our objectives, and our

2:20:05strategies. And now we're to the

2:20:07finalization of the plan. So we're here

2:20:09today to set the public hearing. We will

2:20:11be back on December 1st uh to listen to

2:20:14the community voice on the plan and then

2:20:17we will have approvals by the park

2:20:19advisory board and then finally back

2:20:21here for adoption on December 15th.

2:20:24So just giving a quick um overview of

2:20:26what our very robust engagement was. We

2:20:29had events at eight city parks. We

2:20:32engaged one-on-one with 655 residents

2:20:35and we had 1738

2:20:38online survey survey responses all

2:20:41leading us to one community divi um

2:20:44vision. So what we heard repeatedly

2:20:48throughout the process were kind of 10

2:20:50key takeaways from the community and you

2:20:52see those up on your screen. But

2:20:55essentially in maintaining and improving

2:20:57the existing parks, protecting our

2:20:59natural resources, ensuring that folks

2:21:02from every single corner of our city,

2:21:04every walk of life, every age, families

2:21:08had an opportunity to engage in

2:21:09programming and with nature.

2:21:12And through those key initiatives, it

2:21:15reaffirmed the master plan goals that

2:21:17were first set in 2017, which are

2:21:19connected network, neighborhood

2:21:21investments, healthy community, and

2:21:22sustainable system. And I will get into

2:21:26uh kind of some definitions of what that

2:21:28is. So, this plan is structured very

2:21:30similar to the city's strategic plan. We

2:21:32have all four of the overarching goals

2:21:34that I just mentioned. Each goal

2:21:37cascades down into objectives, which

2:21:39further cascade down into strategies.

2:21:41And so I'm not going to go through each

2:21:42objective, but I do want to highlight uh

2:21:45what really the um the underarching uh

2:21:49mission and initiative is for each of

2:21:52the plan goals. So our connected network

2:21:53goal emphasizes building a seamless

2:21:56system of parks, trails, and greenways,

2:21:58and waterways that make it easy for

2:22:00residents to move through the city,

2:22:02reach destinations, and experience

2:22:04nature. It reflects the idea that the

2:22:06value of the park system grows when

2:22:08parks are linked physically, visually,

2:22:10and experientially. This goal

2:22:12strengthens non-motorized transportation

2:22:14op options, expands access to the Grand

2:22:17River and tributaries, and improves

2:22:19experience along these routes.

2:22:21Ultimately, it creates a create a a very

2:22:24cohesive park network that enhances

2:22:26mobility, recreation, environmental

2:22:28connection, and community identity.

2:22:32Next, I'll focus on the um the

2:22:35neighborhood investments or the healthy

2:22:37community. So, our healthy community

2:22:39goal recognizes that parks are essential

2:22:41to the physical, mental, and social

2:22:43well-being of Grand Rapids residents.

2:22:46This goal is about ensuring that people

2:22:47of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds

2:22:49can move, play, and gather, and restore,

2:22:52and connect with nature in meaningful

2:22:54ways across our park system. It

2:22:56acknowledges that health looks different

2:22:58for everyone and it positions our parks,

2:23:00natural areas, and recreation programs

2:23:02as everyday resources for wellness.

2:23:06Uh, next, our neighborhood investments

2:23:08goal. This focuses on sustaining,

2:23:11optimizing, and enhancing the parks that

2:23:13residents use every day. This goal

2:23:15reflects what we heard clearly through

2:23:17engagement. People want clean, safe,

2:23:19welcoming parks with thoughtful

2:23:21improvements that make daily experiences

2:23:23better. It emphasizes caring for

2:23:26existing assets, improving comfort and

2:23:28uni usability, addressing deferred

2:23:31maintenance, strengthening partnerships

2:23:33with neighborhood organizations, and

2:23:35assure ensuring that every park

2:23:36continues to serve its community well.

2:23:41And the fourth goal is our sustainable

2:23:44system. And this goal is about ensuring

2:23:46that we can responsibly operate and

2:23:48maintain and steward the park system

2:23:50long term. Our system has grown

2:23:52significantly in size, complexity, and

2:23:55community expectations, and it's

2:23:57essential that our maintenance

2:23:58practices, staffing, budgets,

2:24:00technology, and partnerships evolve with

2:24:02it. This goal strengthens the

2:24:04operational backbone of the department

2:24:06by emphasizing consistent maintenance

2:24:08standards, prioritizing reinvestment in

2:24:10aging assets, aligning capacity with

2:24:13service levels, and planning for the

2:24:15full life cycle cost of new amenities.

2:24:17This goal helps ensure that every

2:24:19decision we make today supports supports

2:24:22a park system that remains safe and

2:24:24resilient and high quality for

2:24:26generations. Um so I just real quick

2:24:28want to provide an opportunity for where

2:24:30you will be able to access this plan. Um

2:24:34on Thursday morning, which is October

2:24:3629th, the plan will be available on the

2:24:38parks and recreation page on the city's

2:24:41website. It will also be um available in

2:24:44hard copy at four of our public

2:24:46libraries including the main library,

2:24:48the Westside branch, the Van Balkam

2:24:51branch, Seymour branch and Cook Library.

2:24:53You can also um show up on December 1st

2:24:57and um share some of your feedback or

2:25:00you can also submit that in writing. Um

2:25:02there will be an email box. Um it's up

2:25:04on the screen, but it will also be

2:25:06online. Um or you can mail that directly

2:25:08to the parks department. So, lots of

2:25:10ways to engage. Um, I do want to just

2:25:12also take a moment to acknowledge um

2:25:15this fantastic parks and recreation team

2:25:17that you see behind me sitting in the

2:25:19second row. Uh, we have folks

2:25:21representative of our marketing team,

2:25:23our administrative team, planning and

2:25:25engagement and also our operations team.

2:25:28Um, we are a very new and fresh and uh

2:25:31very exciting team and each one of these

2:25:33park professionals share the same

2:25:35passion that I do for serving the

2:25:37community through our open spaces. Um,

2:25:39so I just want to take an a moment to

2:25:42acknowledge them. Um, and now I will

2:25:44take any questions that you have.

2:25:47>> Thank you. Uh, colleagues.

2:25:54>> Well, um, Commissioner Belch,

2:25:56>> I I don't have any questions. Clearly,

2:25:57we all are very like you guys got this.

2:26:00[laughter]

2:26:00Um, thank you to to everyone being here.

2:26:02Thank you for putting this together. Um,

2:26:04I am looking forward to seeing good

2:26:06robust community feedback on this. I

2:26:08know the plan is very thorough. Um, and

2:26:11you know, just to highlight like some of

2:26:12the things that I know that on the first

2:26:14word, people are very interested in

2:26:16what's going to be happening at the

2:26:17Roosevelt Park Lodge. I'm sure that's

2:26:19part of this asset management that's in

2:26:20this plan. um we've we've you know it's

2:26:23plans like this that things like the MLK

2:26:26lodge comes out of and things like that.

2:26:28So, um, I do think we are starting to

2:26:30listen and show that, have the results

2:26:33that show that. And I I think this is

2:26:34another place where we need to highlight

2:26:36that when we're thinking about the

2:26:38Southside Creekways, when we're thinking

2:26:39about Oxford Trail, and we're thinking

2:26:41about these other things that say, "Oh,

2:26:43that's a park, but that's also a bike

2:26:44trail, that's also a commuter, that's

2:26:46also a place to engage with maybe some

2:26:48economic activity, but it's also a place

2:26:50where we get our health, well-being, and

2:26:52social um nature met. So um they are

2:26:56they are not extra they are part of the

2:26:59fabric of who we are. Thank you for

2:27:00doing this work.

2:27:01>> Thank you.

2:27:02>> So um I will I will weigh in here as a

2:27:06um you know as a random member of the

2:27:10community perhaps but um looking at this

2:27:12plan three things that I think are worth

2:27:14emphasizing. Um I tend to think that

2:27:17parks in cities are their primary use is

2:27:21for people. So they're not um nature

2:27:23preserves. they're not um you know there

2:27:26are other places perhaps to preserve

2:27:28nature. We got lots of land outside of

2:27:30cities to do that in. Um but that means

2:27:32when I look at parks I really am looking

2:27:35to see where do I see community

2:27:37happening and I tend to see that

2:27:38happening in places um in street design

2:27:42people talk about desire lines. Um you

2:27:44can see in parks

2:27:47that people are doing where what people

2:27:49are doing and what's popular that people

2:27:51are trying to do. Um, and I think that,

2:27:54um, I honestly wonder whether there's

2:27:58there's maybe more emphasis on trails

2:28:01and connectivity, which is actually

2:28:03turns out to be a very expensive thing

2:28:04to do, than on um more neighborhood

2:28:07focused um, and less uh, less high

2:28:11dollar operations. So, for example, I

2:28:15relate to parks that I can walk to, that

2:28:17are within a couple blocks of my house.

2:28:20um I don't want to get in a car and go

2:28:21to a park and I certainly don't want to

2:28:23bike across town to use a park. I want

2:28:25to use a park in my neighborhood. And so

2:28:27one of our foundational, you know,

2:28:29principles was have a park within a

2:28:3010-minute walk of everyone. Um and

2:28:33that's important, but I also think that

2:28:35um I hope that there's discussion around

2:28:38um how to get more intensive use. So, my

2:28:41my favorite parks are the park at the

2:28:43corner of Eastern and Diamond, which is

2:28:45always filled with people, or Pleasant

2:28:47Park, which is in my neighborhood, which

2:28:48is always filled with people because

2:28:50there are things for people to do. It's

2:28:52a very they're very small parks, but

2:28:53they're very intensively used. They have

2:28:55playgrounds and they have ping ponging

2:28:56tables and um

2:28:59uh in little loops that people can run

2:29:02on. You don't need a 20-m loop to run

2:29:04on. Millions of people run on tracks. Um

2:29:06so, it's possible to get those in much

2:29:08smaller spaces. Um, but then of course

2:29:11it's also true that something like, and

2:29:13I've said this before, but something

2:29:14like 42% of our residents own a dog. And

2:29:19um, I think that we really, really need

2:29:22to up our game on letting people have

2:29:24places they can take their dogs. And I

2:29:26think that that's actually a huge part

2:29:28of community safety. Uh, it's a huge

2:29:30part of community building. Um, and I

2:29:33think that, um, I'd really like to see

2:29:36an emphasis on on creating more, uh,

2:29:39spaces where people can gather and build

2:29:43community together. So, health is good,

2:29:45but I can also do health on an exercise

2:29:48machine. I think that for me I hope that

2:29:50there's an emphasis on the real

2:29:52community building aspect of parks

2:29:54because I think that's probably from my

2:29:56perspective that's the most important

2:29:58function that parks provide is the

2:30:00opportunity to build community. So I

2:30:02hope our discussion can focus on that.

2:30:04Commissioner Knight.

2:30:05>> Um yeah this is great. [clears throat]

2:30:07Thank you for the presentation. [snorts]

2:30:09wondering because we've had um multiple

2:30:12CA conversations, myself and

2:30:13Commissioner Sassi, um with other

2:30:16neighborhood associations about um how

2:30:19things are done, what the timeline is

2:30:21for things that they've been asking for,

2:30:24signage, park bench, benches, um

2:30:27cleanouts going into certain areas that

2:30:30people try to use but they can't because

2:30:31of all of that and how how this will

2:30:34impact some of those things.

2:30:35specifically uh when we think about the

2:30:37NA neighborhood association, they're

2:30:39very vocal about not feeling like

2:30:41they're a part of the community as a

2:30:44whole, right? Feeling a little

2:30:45stepchildish there. And so really trying

2:30:48to look at the broader community and

2:30:50bringing everybody into that space and

2:30:52how we're building up assets in there,

2:30:55how we're supporting the things that

2:30:56they're looking for. Like they have a

2:30:58school over there that's closed down,

2:30:59that's getting ready to be torn down. So

2:31:01there's like 11 acres uh that have some

2:31:03potential and possibility over there. So

2:31:06really thinking about how that plays

2:31:07into the strategic plan. Unfortunately,

2:31:10I couldn't open it at all the documents.

2:31:11So I haven't even been able to read

2:31:13through um the whole thing, but uh would

2:31:16just be very interested in how we make

2:31:19sure that we're pulling in all parts um

2:31:22of our community into this space and

2:31:24then just just what it looks like as far

2:31:26as addressing the needs in every part of

2:31:28the community.

2:31:31Commissioner Sassy,

2:31:33>> thank you. Thanks for the overview and

2:31:35thanks for um highlighting the team

2:31:37because I think that is like true

2:31:39leadership. So um not able to know

2:31:42everybody individually but certainly at

2:31:45you know groundbreings and ribbon

2:31:47cutings those are the most exciting

2:31:49things but I want the team to know that

2:31:52in between that we know there's a lot of

2:31:54frustration and there's a lot of emails

2:31:57uh and um uncertainty right funding

2:32:00different things you all apply for I

2:32:01think it can't be understated the amount

2:32:03of um braiding and maximizing with

2:32:06different organizations I think about

2:32:08just this past year there was some

2:32:10invasive species and actually was

2:32:13somebody that was right on the township

2:32:15but Laura you and the team were able to

2:32:17find a solution because I think that is

2:32:19what stewardship and being the second

2:32:20largest city in the state is we do need

2:32:23to think about how are we that strategic

2:32:26partner across different communities

2:32:28right so we have to take care of our

2:32:30house but we need to think about that

2:32:31and people rely on us so I really

2:32:33appreciate that I think you know for me

2:32:35if I think about the top things that

2:32:38come to me is um you know certainly I

2:32:41remember going to Garfield Park and the

2:32:43swimming pool when I was a little kid

2:32:44and and you know putting my little

2:32:46quarter in the lockers and you know

2:32:49things have changed over the years. Now

2:32:50I take my niece and nephew to the splash

2:32:52pad and they love it cuz they can walk

2:32:54there from their neighborhood. So I'm

2:32:55hearing my colleagues and I think it is

2:32:57you know people do want to walk to those

2:32:59you know amenities and also where are

2:33:02the where's the flexibility as

2:33:04commissioner Knight said when we have

2:33:06different things that come online I know

2:33:07you have been very responsive Laura and

2:33:09the team to um these changes at GRPS

2:33:13right we need to think about it from an

2:33:14economic development perspective but I

2:33:16know that you have been thinking about

2:33:18it have been a partner there to talk

2:33:19about individuals

2:33:21about what may be and so What I can tell

2:33:25from the presentation is that we've

2:33:27thought about short-term and long-term.

2:33:29We've thought about things that we

2:33:30absolutely must plan for. And I think

2:33:32this is putting us in a really good

2:33:33position, city manager. We know there's

2:33:35going to be, you know, potential, you

2:33:37know, there's going to be a new senator

2:33:38in our state no matter what. There's

2:33:40going to be a new governor no matter

2:33:41what. And so, and new, you know,

2:33:43potentially new legislatores across the

2:33:45legislature across the state. And so I

2:33:48think having a plan like this helps us

2:33:50to be best prepared to seek out

2:33:52opportunities when they're going to

2:33:53present themselves, which I think always

2:33:55happens at the front end of an

2:33:57administration. So what I'm what I'm

2:33:59hearing from this plan is what's the

2:34:02long-term plan. Uh some of this is also

2:34:05realizing investments from ARPA and

2:34:07things that we've had in place. And so

2:34:09we've got to kind of continue to steward

2:34:10that. And then how do we respond to

2:34:13things like, hey, GRPS is maybe going to

2:34:16be getting rid of this and then we don't

2:34:17know and then it's going to be a

2:34:18demolition. But you know, mayor, you and

2:34:20I have talked some of that stuff is

2:34:22going to be maybe unknown for the short

2:34:24time, but how do we do things that are

2:34:26flexible and I know that's some of your

2:34:27desire. I don't have a dog. My husband

2:34:29said I can get one if I stay home three

2:34:31nights out of five days. [laughter]

2:34:34So maybe I can come visit Phil's dog. I

2:34:36don't know.

2:34:38>> [laughter]

2:34:39>> And so I think that's what I want to,

2:34:41you know, lift out here. And then it

2:34:43cannot be understated when we think

2:34:44about other investments that are tied in

2:34:46the city. And I know I'm going a little

2:34:48long, but this is a really big deal. Um,

2:34:50when we think about public safety and

2:34:53how people feel about what does a park

2:34:55tell somebody about their community and

2:34:59great stories like you know I'm going to

2:35:01steal this from my third ward

2:35:02commissioners but Baxter community and

2:35:04thinking about the work that you know

2:35:06the Baxter um neighborhood and the

2:35:08center have done to really say this is

2:35:11our park we are going to reclaim this

2:35:14for education for community building

2:35:17that don't let us be the single story or

2:35:20these multiple stories, we're going to

2:35:21share with you this this other story.

2:35:23And that was something that again the

2:35:24department did during CO and during that

2:35:28year of 2022 when there was a lot of

2:35:30uncertainty around public safety and

2:35:32people maybe were feeling a certain way

2:35:34about about certain parks, you know, and

2:35:36and then we have that in the second word

2:35:37too. And so I just want to say it's

2:35:41we're managing federal investment, state

2:35:43investment, what it might happen at the

2:35:45local level. you're working with public

2:35:47safety to make this to understand that

2:35:49you've also got the infrastructure in

2:35:52the parks. You've got the tree canopy in

2:35:54the parks. So there's a lot of things to

2:35:56consider. So I know that there will be

2:35:59this public hearing. I too, you know,

2:36:01haven't dug into this further and so I

2:36:03think that will be, you know, the

2:36:05opportunity that I want to make sure

2:36:07that I have so that we can think about

2:36:09what are our individual, you know,

2:36:11pieces and how do we make that come to

2:36:13fruition. So long, but uh because

2:36:16there's a lot of appreciation and you

2:36:18might be in my top three of people that

2:36:19I'm writing to on a weekly basis. Thank

2:36:22you,

2:36:25>> Commissioner Purdue.

2:36:26>> Thank you. Thank you for the

2:36:27presentation. Thank you team for all

2:36:28your work. I do feel like this is

2:36:30probably one of the teams I see the most

2:36:31because of all the exciting uh new work

2:36:34happening in the park system. So, thank

2:36:36you. Um I know that the plan will be

2:36:39released Thursday. You said made public.

2:36:41Um, but looking at this overview, I

2:36:43mean, this feels very comprehensive,

2:36:45short-term, long-term. Um, and I like

2:36:48how you've kind of organized these these

2:36:50four key areas as well. Um, my feedback

2:36:54would be, um, like when I think about

2:36:56our our system, um, I think it's a

2:36:58priority to make sure that it's designed

2:37:00with all users in mind and all types of

2:37:03users. I think a lot of times we talk

2:37:04about um how how upkeep and nice and

2:37:09pleasurable a space is. Uh but it also

2:37:11needs to be feasible for people to

2:37:13access. Everything from physical ability

2:37:15to interest um and different users of

2:37:18our system. someone with a dog, someone

2:37:20with young children, someone who um is

2:37:24single and um a young professional,

2:37:27someone who likes to hammock, someone

2:37:29who likes to play golf, frisbee, play

2:37:30sports in the parks are all going to

2:37:33have different needs and access points.

2:37:35And so for me, I think we have this

2:37:38beautiful space almost 100 acres. I'm

2:37:40like, how do we get two more acres to

2:37:42move from 92 to 100 to make that easy to

2:37:44say? But no, it was over 1,700 acres. 92

2:37:4898 parks I think was Yeah. Uh yeah, two

2:37:51more parks. Um but yeah, I mean we have

2:37:54such amazing assets and um I appreciate

2:37:57you kind of grounding us in the context

2:37:58of where this started in 2017. We're

2:38:00continuing to build and part of that is

2:38:04I think reintroducing people to their

2:38:05parks and the possibility of what can

2:38:07happen there because for so long most

2:38:10folks didn't have access. They weren't

2:38:11upkept in the way that they are now. Um,

2:38:14and certainly I think we achieved 83%

2:38:16walkability, 10-minute walkability. Um,

2:38:18but that wasn't the case uh 10 years

2:38:20ago, 15, 20 years ago. So, we need to

2:38:22reorient folks to how we use these

2:38:24parks. So, I think for me, um, ensuring

2:38:26that that is explicit of all types of

2:38:29users and all the different ways you can

2:38:31activate a space and ensuring that that

2:38:33access and activation is easy and that

2:38:36includes special events within the city

2:38:39um, as well as just informal uh, kind of

2:38:41meetups and hanging out. Uh my final

2:38:44thing is you know I I disagree with the

2:38:46mayor on the purpose of parks um and

2:38:48their role in supporting health. I think

2:38:50they are essential for supporting

2:38:51health. I think they're an opportunity

2:38:54to also um engage in environmentalism as

2:38:57well as connect with community. I think

2:39:00I think that's the beauty of parks. They

2:39:01do all three things probably plus more.

2:39:04Um which is all the more reason why we

2:39:06can why we should be thinking

2:39:07strategically about how to best leverage

2:39:09them. So uh thank you. I want to keep

2:39:11that health piece in there. Um, I know

2:39:13it's a huge it's a huge pillar, but I do

2:39:15think it's important that it's it's

2:39:16explicitly there and connects with the

2:39:19idea of all users and access. Um, so

2:39:22thank you.

2:39:26>> Thanks. Um,

2:39:29>> sure. And and uh, you know, thank you

2:39:32for the push back, Commissioner. I

2:39:33didn't mean to suggest that, you know,

2:39:35uh environmental I mean, you know, work

2:39:38on invasive species and all that kind of

2:39:39stuff and, you know, uh having having

2:39:41different species of parks. I took my

2:39:44kids out and we did the the leaf

2:39:45collection stuff when they were zoo

2:39:47school and that's, you know, it's

2:39:48important. It's parks can do all of that

2:39:50and of course they can do fitness like a

2:39:52lot of us work out in parks but um I

2:39:56think that we are a city and what I

2:39:58wanted to say was I think the the

2:40:00primary use of parks is are they good

2:40:03for our people because we after all are

2:40:05representing people first and foremost.

2:40:07I mean we can do other things too but I

2:40:08want to keep I want to keep the primacy

2:40:10of human use uh at the forefront of our

2:40:14of our consciousness. That's all I

2:40:16really meant to say. But, uh,

2:40:17Commissioner Dasi.

2:40:19>> Yeah. And this is probably not just for

2:40:21Laura, but you know, we we you talked

2:40:23about the time frame. We have this plan,

2:40:25but then we just got done. Was it two

2:40:27meetings ago or the last meeting we

2:40:28reviewed our national community survey?

2:40:30And so, this was I can't remember the

2:40:33and Mr. Matthews walked out right when I

2:40:36was going to call upon him, but

2:40:37[laughter] no. Um I think it would be

2:40:38good to just cross reference those sorts

2:40:40of pieces like so maybe when this does

2:40:42go out there could we highlight that

2:40:44national community survey um city

2:40:46manager because that is a you know

2:40:47statistical group of people. So right

2:40:49we're all individual people with the

2:40:51things that we want and we hear from

2:40:53people um but if we could cross

2:40:55reference that um and then we do that so

2:40:58then as you know we make this plan but

2:41:00then we have that continuously so then

2:41:02that helps us and I know you all look at

2:41:04that. So, I just didn't I don't think

2:41:05that's just a Laura thing. That

2:41:07certainly could be a lot of different

2:41:08departments that engage in these

2:41:10long-term plans. Thank you.

2:41:11>> Thanks. Okay. Thanks for the

2:41:14presentation and thanks for all the good

2:41:15work everyone and thanks to all your

2:41:17staff and onward to community

2:41:20discussion. Thanks.

2:41:23>> Uh now we have to vote. Uh all in favor

2:41:25of uh moving us on to a public hearing

2:41:28on December one say I.

2:41:31>> I. All opposed. Motion carries. Brings

2:41:35us to our final resolution action and

2:41:37that is establishing November 10 as a

2:41:40day for city commission to consider a

2:41:41zoning ordinance text amendment

2:41:42modifying the allowable uses for the

2:41:44Grand River Overlay district. I have a

2:41:46motion.

2:41:46>> So moved for

2:41:48>> and uh

2:41:50our uh development office is oh pardon

2:41:53me not not planning

2:41:55>> planning director.

2:41:56>> What?

2:41:56>> I'm planning director for the city of

2:41:58>> planning. I was confused planning and

2:41:59econ development because it's kind of

2:42:00the same thing, right? So my my brain

2:42:02just didn't go there. So yes, Mr.

2:42:04Urkelson.

2:42:05>> Thank you. Um good morning uh

2:42:07commission. Uh I'm here today to pre uh

2:42:10present a recommendation that has been

2:42:11brought to you uh by the city planning

2:42:13commission. Uh this is specific to

2:42:16eliminating self- storage uses from

2:42:18being uh permissible within our Grand

2:42:20River overlay. Uh this was actually part

2:42:22of a uh broader consideration by the

2:42:25planning department and the uh planning

2:42:27commission. Uh but ultimately we we

2:42:29teased this apart a little bit as uh

2:42:31noted in the staff report um because we

2:42:34wanted to make sure that any additional

2:42:36changes uh that might impact existing

2:42:39businesses along the Grand River uh had

2:42:41a a specific conversation or engagement

2:42:44with those particular businesses and uh

2:42:46and property owners. In other words, uh

2:42:48we were careful or mindful not to create

2:42:51non-conforming uses uh that would affect

2:42:54a uh an existing business's ability to

2:42:57invest and expand at that location uh

2:42:59without having direct conversation about

2:43:01what that change might mean for their

2:43:02business and without understanding what

2:43:04plans uh exist uh today for them. There

2:43:07are no [snorts]

2:43:08uh legal known uh self- storage

2:43:10facilities along the uh Grand River. Uh

2:43:13there are a variety of zoning districts

2:43:15that encompass or that are within our

2:43:17Grand River overlay. Um and as we see

2:43:20riverfront properties being uh

2:43:21redeveloped or becoming available, I

2:43:24think many of us had the the concern

2:43:26that self- storage uh certainly does not

2:43:28seem to comport with the plans and the

2:43:30conversations that the city has had as

2:43:32being an active vibrant use that serve

2:43:35to support the vision that we have uh

2:43:38for the Grand River uh properties. And

2:43:40so with that, uh, we teased this apart a

2:43:42little bit, uh, and created a a pretty,

2:43:45uh, simple, I think, uh, zoning

2:43:47recommendation to simply eliminate self

2:43:50storage from being a permissible use,

2:43:52uh, that could be asked either by the,

2:43:54uh, planning commission or being, uh,

2:43:56considered by city staff to move

2:43:58forward.

2:44:00>> And that's all I have.

2:44:01>> Great. Thank you. That's um, and I

2:44:03appreciate the forwardthinking uh,

2:44:06analysis here. This is um so I think

2:44:08it's a it's a very well-made point. Um I

2:44:10have a technical question to ask if I

2:44:12might. Um the first reaction I had when

2:44:15I heard self- storage was

2:44:17>> I am I am dreaming of a day when I will

2:44:20be able to selftore my kayak on the

2:44:22river. Um uh boat lockers. I I assume

2:44:25that wouldn't constitute self self

2:44:28storage is defined by the code means

2:44:30putting my old old you know furniture in

2:44:33a locker and I mean it's it's

2:44:35>> yeah exactly the way the city's zoning

2:44:38ordinance define self storage is is what

2:44:40matters um and it is exactly what you

2:44:43would expect to see and we do have

2:44:44several facilities um along 28th Street

2:44:47for example I think Alpine Avenue has

2:44:49has several uh depending on the

2:44:50geographies might be in the city or

2:44:52might not be um so it is narrowly

2:44:54defined. It would not speak to the the

2:44:57boat locker.

2:44:58>> Okay, good. [laughter]

2:44:59That that was my only question.

2:45:01>> Yeah, them [snorts] already.

2:45:02>> Uh any other questions, colleagues?

2:45:04Great. Uh thanks for the briefing and uh

2:45:07>> thank you.

2:45:08>> I have no no further seeing no further

2:45:10discussion. All in favor of the

2:45:11resolution say I.

2:45:12>> I. I.

2:45:13>> All opposed. Motion carries. That brings

2:45:16us to our uh budget follow Oh, I'm

2:45:18sorry. Uh before we go there, I have a

2:45:21request from our city attorney that we

2:45:22move to close session to discuss pending

2:45:24litigation uh following our budget uh

2:45:26discussion. Can I have a motion?

2:45:28>> Some will

2:45:29>> support. And that's a roll call vote.

2:45:31>> Commissioner Kilgore.

2:45:32>> Yes.

2:45:32>> Mr. Knight, yes.

2:45:33>> Mr. Sassy, yes.

2:45:34>> Commissioner Purdue,

2:45:35>> yes.

2:45:35>> Commissioner Belch,

2:45:36>> yes.

2:45:36>> Mayor Lrand,

2:45:37>> yes.

2:45:39>> That brings us to our budget follow-up

2:45:41discussion. And uh city manager, you

2:45:43probably want to kick this off, but uh

2:45:45to refresh everyone's memory, there were

2:45:46some items that uh were going to have to

2:45:49come up for our consideration

2:45:51uh midyear. Uh a couple staffing

2:45:54positions that we didn't have fullyear

2:45:55funding for, and that's what we're here

2:45:58to talk about.

2:45:59>> Thank you, mayor. Uh before I begin, let

2:46:01me uh more on a lighter note, uh thank

2:46:04this uh body, the appointments committee

2:46:06for uh advancing forward, for your

2:46:09consideration this evening. the

2:46:11appointment to your mayor youth youth

2:46:12council who is uh here in full force

2:46:15this morning. Want to welcome them and

2:46:17thank Miss Harris for continue to

2:46:19organize that.

2:46:22Congratulations. And they are uh

2:46:25represented throughout the community

2:46:27from uh 9th to 12th grade about 23 of

2:46:30them. And the reason why I wanted to

2:46:32start with that uh well played Miss

2:46:34Harris is because they have a vested

2:46:37interest in one of the outcomes of your

2:46:39deliberations here. So they're going to

2:46:41be monitoring our discussions very

2:46:43closely. No pressure. Uh [laughter]

2:46:47as they should. So today we want to uh

2:46:50continue our discussion that we uh begin

2:46:53as the mayor indicated uh during our

2:46:55year-end briefing around items that were

2:46:58partially funded during the budget and

2:47:01uh it essentially involves four areas uh

2:47:04three positions and um of the four areas

2:47:07there are three positions in one uh

2:47:10program. So, there are two grant-f funed

2:47:12positions that are being um uh scheduled

2:47:16to be deleted at December 31st if

2:47:19there's no continued funding. And per

2:47:21our policy, we don't assume continued

2:47:24funding without positive action from the

2:47:26commission. Uh we recently discovered

2:47:29after the budget, we anticipated the

2:47:31partnership, the long-standing

2:47:32partnership between the city and GRPS to

2:47:36continue uh with our community's

2:47:38children and uh the city funded one half

2:47:42of a position and the school district

2:47:45funded the other half. uh since their

2:47:47budget adoption and uh budget reductions

2:47:50and some of the scholars that are here

2:47:52today will now go back to the school

2:47:54board and talk about this. Uh GRPS has

2:47:57not funded um half of the position in uh

2:48:02their proposed budget which leaves uh us

2:48:05likewise to make a decision on uh

2:48:08continuation of the program. And uh the

2:48:11last item is on the communication

2:48:13support uh contract that expires uh

2:48:15December 31st in which Seaffort is

2:48:18currently uh providing that allows

2:48:20additional community engagement uh on

2:48:22behalf of um the ward commissioners.

2:48:25So the first position is in the office

2:48:29of equity and engagement and it supports

2:48:31uh capacity building for minority and

2:48:34womenowned businesses and you've seen

2:48:36their work on projects related to uh

2:48:39Whitewater and other uh make sure

2:48:43there's inclusion and participatory pro

2:48:46uh um engagement and uh new developments

2:48:50some of our even our park projects. Uh

2:48:53also this position helps us with the

2:48:55administration of the third ward uh

2:48:57equity fund programs that evolve around

2:49:00uh economic development strategies and

2:49:04half of your funding for that position

2:49:06is about 78,000 a full year cost as you

2:49:08can see is over 150,000. The other

2:49:11position is in the office of um

2:49:13sustainability and it is the

2:49:15administrative analyst for energy and

2:49:17carbon and uh it helps us with

2:49:20addressing uh some of our energy savings

2:49:23and greenhouse gas reduction goals and

2:49:26initiatives across the city both

2:49:28internally as well as throughout the

2:49:30community and also helps us with our cap

2:49:34uh monitoring and inventory and

2:49:36reporting. And you can see a half year's

2:49:38cost for that position 63,000 and a full

2:49:41year at 126,000.

2:49:44Uh the enhanced [clears throat]

2:49:45communication support program with uh

2:49:48Seaffort uh PR is uh $100,000 annually.

2:49:54We have $50,000 in the budget and we

2:49:56agreed to revisit uh that item um prior

2:50:01to the expiration. And then the last is

2:50:03our community's children. And you're

2:50:05well aware the program support and

2:50:08helping with uh many initiatives like

2:50:10the mayor's youth council, the Grow 1000

2:50:13program, uh to college, through college,

2:50:15and many other programs to help with uh

2:50:18after school enrichment services and

2:50:21support for our youth. Uh the funding

2:50:24for that position uh annually is 184,000

2:50:27with a half year's cost at uh 92,000.

2:50:30And you can see um in aggregate all four

2:50:35of those programs and positions for six

2:50:36months cost about 283,000 double that

2:50:39for a full year's cost that would have

2:50:41to be assumed uh that we assumed that

2:50:44would be continued in uh fiscal year 27.

2:50:47Uh the challenge and the reason why we

2:50:49had to pause during the budget adoption,

2:50:51we had about 144,000

2:50:54uh to balance in the budget when we

2:50:56adopted the budget. As you can see, uh,

2:50:59we were able to fund six months, but to

2:51:03fund the entire year would require us to

2:51:06use, uh, some fund balance reserve if we

2:51:09were to fund all programs.

2:51:11Uh, we we will actually um

2:51:14[clears throat] at your work session,

2:51:15we'll also do a financial update. Uh

2:51:17there were additional amendments that

2:51:19were made intentionally um to the budget

2:51:24um after it was adopted, but we're still

2:51:27in a good uh financial cash position. Uh

2:51:30but we'll certainly need to be very

2:51:32mindful of future amendments moving

2:51:34forward, particularly uh with the ever

2:51:37growing un economic uncertainty.

2:51:40So again, your options today, we'd like

2:51:42to consider whether or not you want to

2:51:44go ahead and uh support the uh balance

2:51:47of the six-month funding for all

2:51:49programs or uh fund uh partially uh some

2:51:54of the programs up to the 144,000

2:51:56uh without using uh fund balance reserve

2:52:00or um choose to make another decision

2:52:03and and uh allow the programs to expire.

2:52:06So uh that is our options today. We are

2:52:09certainly uh recommending the

2:52:11continuation of those programs uh with

2:52:14no reduction in services.

2:52:16>> Colleagues, Commissioner Belchure,

2:52:19>> thank you for bringing this to our

2:52:21attention, especially about the our

2:52:22community's children. I think at um well

2:52:25I did at an earlier committee meeting

2:52:27just highlight that um when I was at um

2:52:30Michigan Municipal League, there were

2:52:32other cities uh and ex and off exlect

2:52:35officials asking what does Grand Rapids

2:52:38do to support children and get youth

2:52:40involved in civics and youth involved in

2:52:44uh having a voice in how city government

2:52:46and what their community looks like. and

2:52:47I was able to share all the things

2:52:49including our mayor's youth council

2:52:51which was a big highlight um how we have

2:52:55so many such a robust availability and

2:52:58programming for our youth and centering

2:53:01them as the future leaders. So, it is

2:53:03very concerning to me to hear that the

2:53:05the school district and I know that they

2:53:07have their financial concerns and

2:53:08budgeting uh to consider, but I I would

2:53:11like to take some time to very much push

2:53:14back on them to have them contribute to

2:53:18the ongoing benefit of this the the

2:53:20leaders that are right here, 23 of them.

2:53:22Thank as you said, well played.

2:53:24[laughter] Uh but it's also timely

2:53:26because um many of them I have

2:53:29interacted with in the past and I think

2:53:31we have a gentleman who spoke at our

2:53:33archive for the museum launched when we

2:53:36had our new educational facilities and

2:53:38public exhibit um viewing area launched.

2:53:42So he was here here nice to see you. um

2:53:45these are very bright people who are

2:53:47going to be um deserving the investment

2:53:50and so the school district should

2:53:52contribute to that if they can and if

2:53:54not how can we help them and maybe this

2:53:56is something the liaison team with the

2:53:58school district can take on I don't know

2:54:00but I do feel like we need to at least

2:54:02push back a little bit there um I concur

2:54:05with you that in general all of these

2:54:06programs are important and we should

2:54:08find ways to fund them

2:54:12>> commissioner night Yes, thank

2:54:14[clears throat] you, mayor, and thank

2:54:15you for that presentation. Um, just

2:54:18reflecting back um before I became a

2:54:20part of this commission, I remember

2:54:21during the pandemic uh that I got a

2:54:24phone call um to gather a bunch of

2:54:26people together to figure out how we

2:54:28were going to support our youth

2:54:30>> uh in this community. They also act for

2:54:31a fried pork chalk, but I didn't have

2:54:33one of those available. [laughter]

2:54:36However, um I was a part of um happily a

2:54:41part and gratefully a part of helping to

2:54:43create that program and put in place

2:54:45mentors to help support our youth uh in

2:54:48our community and I think that was very

2:54:49vital at that time. I don't think that

2:54:52changes at all and because uh we don't

2:54:54control anyone else's budget. So I I

2:54:57remember being a part of that meeting

2:54:58when we heard this information and we

2:55:00know that uh you know organizations and

2:55:03people are struggling across our our our

2:55:05city and across the county and across

2:55:06the nation. However, um our youth are

2:55:09the ones that are going to start taking

2:55:11up the spaces that we are currently

2:55:13occupying. And I think if we divert from

2:55:18keeping the focus on who's coming up

2:55:20next and educating them and providing

2:55:22that that access for them, uh the out of

2:55:24school time programs, the TC uh TC

2:55:28studio that helps them figure out how to

2:55:31access the services they need so that

2:55:33they can further their education.

2:55:34Providing open doors and platforms for

2:55:36them to utilize their voice to create a

2:55:39community and a world that they want to

2:55:40see in the future. that we will be

2:55:42creating a huge deficit

2:55:45>> for us

2:55:47as we move forward. And I think it's

2:55:49it's it's vitally important that we

2:55:50continue to support this work. I know

2:55:53it's it's it's a struggle and sometimes

2:55:54we have to figure out where we need to

2:55:56tighten our belts, but I think our youth

2:55:57and the future of our communities is

2:55:59worth that that shift and worth that

2:56:01change and and I'm happy to support that

2:56:04work uh as we continue to move forward.

2:56:08>> Yeah. Um, Commissioner Isasi,

2:56:11>> thank you, Mayor. My apologies. I had to

2:56:13step out for a second, but um, thank

2:56:15you, city manager, for this overview.

2:56:17One of the questions that I had, and

2:56:19maybe this will be more when we meet in

2:56:20November, but um, did we receive the

2:56:24money from the public safety trust fund

2:56:25and the road funding? So, both of those

2:56:28are we've received those full funding

2:56:30that we anticipated.

2:56:31>> Public safety trust fund. I'm not

2:56:33certain on the road funding yet.

2:56:36>> I'll say we received some. Not the full

2:56:38amount, but so so it's

2:56:41>> will we

2:56:42>> will [laughter] we the um we've received

2:56:45two payments on the neighborhood roads

2:56:48fund. Okay.

2:56:49>> And then public safety trust trust fund.

2:56:51I believe we've only received one

2:56:53payment so far. We're hoping they're

2:56:55falling into the schedule of the rest of

2:56:57the revenue sharing where we receive it

2:56:59every other month. So I will let you

2:57:01know at the end of this month if we have

2:57:03another payment from them.

2:57:04>> Yeah.

2:57:05>> Yeah. Thanks. I think that's for me

2:57:07those are the pictures because to me

2:57:08those are things that essentially we're

2:57:10building this bud some of the budget

2:57:12around. So for me I would say you know

2:57:15number one for me I I I I don't think um

2:57:19commissioner you had talked about going

2:57:20back to um GRPS I think they've made

2:57:23their decision um about their budget. We

2:57:26were at the we were at the liaison

2:57:28colleagues the other day and

2:57:31uh Miss Harris gave an excellent

2:57:33presentation and and you all have seen

2:57:35in the last meeting other dollars that

2:57:36they have pulled in um to support this

2:57:39work and I just don't I can't speak to

2:57:42their budget but I feel like that is not

2:57:45an avenue. Um, I'm just going to say so

2:57:48for me, I think that I would want to I

2:57:51want to support this position. um

2:57:53because I think this if we we got to

2:57:56make sure I think it's supported for all

2:57:58the things that my colleague shared um

2:58:00but more so we need that role because if

2:58:04you see it's not just the department

2:58:06it's the role and so that role is

2:58:09responsible for that fund development

2:58:10for those relationship buildings and I

2:58:12think we just got to give some certainty

2:58:14there and I think we can make that up um

2:58:17and if not then I wonder how that might

2:58:19fall into the public safety trust fund

2:58:22and I also know we we had some plans for

2:58:24that as well. uh but I would say that's

2:58:26my number one priority and then I would

2:58:28like to understand for administrative

2:58:30officer one for office of equity

2:58:32engagement again is there an opportunity

2:58:34I think that's important work is that

2:58:37for um the public safety trust fund I

2:58:40think office of sustainability and the

2:58:43communications piece to me these are all

2:58:45important um and I have shared some of

2:58:48my thoughts here you know I think on

2:58:49communications

2:58:51you know we talked about the website

2:58:52today we talked about just a lot of

2:58:55misinformation that's happening right

2:58:56now quite honestly um I don't know about

2:58:58all of you but I am so tired of getting

2:59:00so many texts

2:59:02>> you know about um elections about issues

2:59:07about doing a survey and when you have

2:59:09that individuals can represent one point

2:59:12of view and sometimes you don't even

2:59:14know who's behind that point of view in

2:59:17politics it's clearly stated sometimes

2:59:20maybe for a candidate or an issue but

2:59:23for some other things there's not. And

2:59:25so for me, if I am one commissioner

2:59:28trying to communicate with my 76,000

2:59:31um constituents and neighbors who got

2:59:34other things to do than just, you know,

2:59:36come to the meetings. Having that

2:59:38ability, you know, I didn't know what

2:59:41the feedback was about the videos, but

2:59:43you know, had certainly gotten that. I

2:59:45think it helps to drive what is the

2:59:47commission doing because right now we're

2:59:49living in a world uh a 8 days or how

2:59:52many days before the election? Seven.

2:59:54Sorry, I'm not on the ballot. And um

2:59:58and uh

3:00:01really

3:00:03struggling with how information is

3:00:05shared. And I see you young people here

3:00:08and I hope you're getting, you know, we

3:00:10there was an event the other day at the

3:00:11library about how to find out true

3:00:14sources of information on the internet.

3:00:16There has to be that's kind of like, you

3:00:19know, Chad GPT for Gen Xers, you know,

3:00:21like a book like we got to figure it

3:00:23out. I go to commissioner uh to to

3:00:25figure it out. But I think that that is

3:00:28a sign that we are concerned about him

3:00:30how information is being shared out in

3:00:32this community. And so we look at the

3:00:34six-month cost for enhanced

3:00:35communication support or 12 months. I

3:00:38think it's important for us to have

3:00:40narrative shaping.

3:00:42>> It's, you know, I think we had some

3:00:44maybe fights before about how we do it

3:00:47and I think we've worked through that

3:00:48about process and procedure, but we

3:00:51can't deny that communications right now

3:00:55is overwhelming. And I want to be the

3:00:57one controlling it. I don't want

3:00:59necessarily one person

3:01:02who might have access to resources that

3:01:04I don't have have the ability to shape

3:01:06one particular issue in our community

3:01:09or any other comm uh issue. So I guess

3:01:12my long little speech is that I think

3:01:15all of these are important and then also

3:01:16how can we pull from other pots of money

3:01:18that we may have somewhat realized but

3:01:20not realized. Um, but I think we're

3:01:23probably at our point where it's going

3:01:26to be us versus other entities or

3:01:27obviously other people who might want to

3:01:29come along and support. And then also

3:01:30know that we're going to have a new

3:01:32governor. Um, so I'm sure you know,

3:01:34mayor, you've been through this on the

3:01:35legislative side. There's going to be

3:01:36different investments or things that we

3:01:38can probably access as well. So, thank

3:01:39you.

3:01:40>> Thanks. So, um, thanks for all those

3:01:42good points. I'm Commissioner Kilgore,

3:01:45if you want to jump in. Go ahead. I've

3:01:47got a couple points, too.

3:01:48>> Sure. Thank you, Mayor. I concur with a

3:01:50lot of what uh my uh colleagues have

3:01:52said. I am uh fully in support of option

3:01:56one. I think uh the um our community's

3:01:59children. I think that is imperative. I

3:02:01know Commissioner Purdue was on. Uh you

3:02:04did get a shout out from Miss Harris

3:02:05this morning um which was awesome at

3:02:08fiscal. And as our youngest

3:02:09commissioner, I am very often thinking

3:02:12about my generation and the generation

3:02:14behind me um and our future. So very

3:02:17happy to see you all today. Um, and so

3:02:19that I just think that's imperative and

3:02:21I think that's something that would make

3:02:22sense for the city to to own to manage

3:02:26uh and to continue to support

3:02:29uh the uh executive of the ad admin

3:02:33analyst one for the office of

3:02:35sustainability. Uh we have had community

3:02:38investment um from the building

3:02:41coalition most recently at our last

3:02:43meeting where it was no tax dollars to

3:02:46support some of the cap work. But I

3:02:48think like so many of these initiatives

3:02:50that we're talking about, it's a team

3:02:52goal. It's team work. So I do really

3:02:54appreciate seeing uh the possibility of

3:02:57us investing in the office of

3:03:00sustainability because as I've said

3:03:02since I've gotten here, I think we have

3:03:03to that just needs more investment.

3:03:05However, we can. I'm thankful uh for the

3:03:08community investment, but this is a

3:03:09chance where I do believe especially

3:03:11when we have passed things like the cap

3:03:14where we could have that investment. So

3:03:16very excited to see that. The enhanced

3:03:18comm support, I think of um Urban League

3:03:21and Cure Violence and I highlighted how

3:03:23they did really well on social media uh

3:03:26and how that supported their work and I

3:03:28think that our enhanced communications

3:03:30do the same thing with ours. Of course,

3:03:32the work is the work. Not everyone sees

3:03:34these almost 12-h hour plus meetings uh

3:03:37that we have monthly. Uh but these this

3:03:40enhanced communication support hopefully

3:03:42will continue to push that out and show

3:03:44people what we're doing. Uh so all of

3:03:46these to me uh need to be supported and

3:03:49I think reflect the needs of community.

3:03:51So I will be in support of option one.

3:03:55>> Thanks Commissioner. Um Commissioner

3:03:57Purdue.

3:03:58>> Sure. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you

3:03:59for teaming this back up. Uh city

3:04:01manager. Yeah, I think all of these

3:04:03roles are really important um for making

3:04:06progress on our strategic goals. um and

3:04:09on the commitments that we've already

3:04:11made. Um I echo some of the sentiments

3:04:14made around um um wanting to move

3:04:18forward with all of these roles while

3:04:20also keeping our um eyes open and being

3:04:23proactive about finding grants to always

3:04:25kind of counterback counterbalance um

3:04:27the cost. So yeah, I'm supportive. I

3:04:30think I also must say, you know, as

3:04:32we're talking about um these items, the

3:04:35the communications item in particular, I

3:04:37think is really important. Um and we've

3:04:40talked, I think, uh the last time we had

3:04:41this conversation about using it,

3:04:43leveraging it more strategically. I

3:04:45think that that opportunity is still

3:04:47there to be realized. Um, I think it's

3:04:50going to take some digging in um and a

3:04:52different kind of coordination because

3:04:53it's something we haven't done before.

3:04:55But I think it's really needed and I

3:04:56think um

3:04:59that um it is important that we share

3:05:02more about what we do um all the way

3:05:05from kind of high level true tops all

3:05:06the way down to um kind of in the

3:05:09neighborhoods and on the street level.

3:05:10Um so I'm excited to support these. also

3:05:13um look forward I know our staff has

3:05:14been so great at proactively seeking

3:05:16grants and funding um and we get a lot

3:05:18of nice surprises too with that. Um so

3:05:21um yeah looking forward to keeping these

3:05:23folks on to continue the work.

3:05:25>> Great. Um did I miss you commission or

3:05:28did you lead off? Sorry

3:05:29>> I I let off and if I wasn't clear

3:05:31>> no I just I'm in favor of all of them.

3:05:33>> That's great. Um so uh just just to wrap

3:05:36it up uh I think you got consensus here

3:05:38city manager because I I also am in

3:05:40favor of of uh option one. Um but to to

3:05:43maybe underscore a little bit of what um

3:05:46commissioner uh commissioners Yasi and

3:05:48Pursu Purdue pointed out um I think when

3:05:51we have at the national level um a real

3:05:55um instinct towards I don't know what

3:05:57else to call it except cynicism uh

3:05:59towards the truth. Um speaking things

3:06:02that that aren't true at all and then

3:06:05just repeating them until uh until you

3:06:07know the lie takes traction. We're in a

3:06:10different space than we were a decade

3:06:11ago as government. Um, and so our, you

3:06:15know, we are elected to do our best to

3:06:19try to tell people the truth. And nobody

3:06:22else is elected to do that. We are. Um,

3:06:25and and I think that's exponentially

3:06:27more important than it was a decade ago.

3:06:30And unfortunately, I think that um that

3:06:33cynicism and indifference for telling

3:06:35the truth has infected, frankly, all

3:06:39parts of the political spectrum. So, I

3:06:40don't think any one side has a monopoly

3:06:42on it right now, unfortunately. And so,

3:06:44our ability to to to

3:06:48part of how government is not government

3:06:50can't be trustworthy if it can't

3:06:52communicate. And and I think that you

3:06:54know nothing is more important right

3:06:56maybe right now in our in our community

3:06:59in our nation than having people be able

3:07:02to trust their government and and

3:07:03communication is is where that all

3:07:05starts. So um you know I worry about the

3:07:08collapse of the republic. I worry about

3:07:10you know hyperartisan ranker. I worry

3:07:12about indifference to the truth. I worry

3:07:14about lack of participation and people

3:07:16dropping out. Well if people lie to you

3:07:18often enough you stop paying attention.

3:07:20You stop participating. And so I I

3:07:23really

3:07:24to put it positively, I think Grand

3:07:26Rapids does a great job in

3:07:27communications. City manager, I think

3:07:28you do a great job. I think that our

3:07:30staff does a great job. I think our

3:07:32communications team is better than we

3:07:34deserve. They're amazing. Um, but I

3:07:36think that we it's it's something that,

3:07:39you know, maybe 20 years ago we didn't

3:07:40have to worry about so much. Um, but

3:07:43we're in a new world and I think that

3:07:44making sure that we are that we are we

3:07:48are the repository of as truthful a

3:07:51narrative as we can and and that we are

3:07:54able to communicate that out to the

3:07:55public as effectively as we can. I mean,

3:07:58and again, we're in a new world. 20

3:07:59years ago, maybe maybe city commission

3:08:02meetings and physically people showing

3:08:04up was how we expected people to know

3:08:06about things, but uh we're not in that

3:08:09world anymore. I mean, Commissioner

3:08:10Kiler's on his phone right now,

3:08:12probably. Uh, so I mean, we're

3:08:15[laughter]

3:08:16>> and I am

3:08:18>> and I am

3:08:19>> probably probably putting something out

3:08:21about what we're doing right now. Like,

3:08:22we are just in a different world. That's

3:08:23okay. Uh, it's, you know, but but the

3:08:26point is like yes, we all I think

3:08:28everybody in this DAS gets the

3:08:30importance and we're really really

3:08:32trying to communicate all kinds of

3:08:33different ways with our constituents,

3:08:35but we also have to have the resources

3:08:37to help us do it. and we and we have to

3:08:39be patterning truthful behavior and and

3:08:42um maybe maybe we'll be an example and

3:08:45maybe we'll be able to make some

3:08:46difference in the national landscape by

3:08:48doing things well here. So, sorry for

3:08:49the long sermon, but there it is. Uh so,

3:08:51city manager, I think you've got your

3:08:53consensus.

3:08:53>> Yeah, thank thank you uh mayor and

3:08:55commissioners for your feedback. Can you

3:08:58keep it up, Joel, please?

3:08:59>> Yeah. Uh put on the last slide.

3:09:04>> Yeah.

3:09:08Yep. So, just to uh shape u

3:09:10expectations, a lot of discussions about

3:09:12weaving funding, or braiding funding

3:09:14from other sources. We'll we'll continue

3:09:16to have that conversation on the 12th at

3:09:18the workshop. uh an update on the uh

3:09:21public safety trust fund and uh the

3:09:25things that we're doing both with

3:09:26community. You know, we did um invite

3:09:28community members to participate in um

3:09:31potential programming of some of the

3:09:33funding, but also internally give an

3:09:35update about some of our strategies as

3:09:38well as um have a better financial

3:09:42picture uh how we uh will perform year

3:09:45end even uh preliminary prior to our

3:09:47annual audit. And I anticipate bringing

3:09:51back uh amendments at the last meeting

3:09:54this year. So December 15th is when we

3:09:56will formally vote to amend the budget

3:09:59to uh continue those programs.

3:10:02>> Okay. I think that moves us. Oh, I'm

3:10:04sorry. Commissioner,

3:10:05>> what I was trying to do is uh unlike the

3:10:07mayor, I don't do back the napkin math.

3:10:09I try to do it correctly. Now for the

3:10:11Masi [laughter]

3:10:16Commission,

3:10:17>> back of the napkin is correctly. Go ask

3:10:19any third grader. The first thing you do

3:10:20is estimate.

3:10:23Yeah, we'll see. We're going to play the

3:10:25tapes back. Okay. Commissioner Isasi

3:10:27noted the uh the public safety trust

3:10:31fund. Am I correct with that's 1.7

3:10:33million for us?

3:10:35>> Yeah, I I can't remember off the top of

3:10:37my head, but I think uh 1.3 of that is

3:10:41for police or is it 1.7 for police?

3:10:44>> And then

3:10:46yeah, we already claimed a fair portion

3:10:48of that. I know we have 200,000 that is

3:10:51being administered through uh Brandon

3:10:53Davis's office as well for

3:10:56>> for violence prevention programs. So, um

3:10:59and then we had another the remainder

3:11:01amount was going to be used for

3:11:02something else. But again, we'll have

3:11:03that internal

3:11:04>> that conversation on the 12th, right? We

3:11:06can Oh, I just would love to see how

3:11:09much we have left over to think of

3:11:11others. So, 1.7

3:11:13>> Sure. So, $400,000 of that pot was set

3:11:16aside uh is set aside and it can be used

3:11:18for community type programs. The

3:11:20remainder of that money had to be used

3:11:21for specific uh police or traditional

3:11:25public safety related money. Of that

3:11:26$400,000, $200,000 has been set aside

3:11:29for the grant public safety trust fund

3:11:31grant process that we're currently in.

3:11:34We're accepting those applications

3:11:35actually through November 1st. So,

3:11:37please get the word out um that that's

3:11:39available on our website right now. Um

3:11:41the other $200,000 has been set aside

3:11:44for uh programming that was approved in

3:11:47during the budget process which included

3:11:49that um trauma informed position uh that

3:11:53we've been speaking of for some time.

3:11:55>> So we're left with and how much was

3:11:57that? Do we do one?

3:11:59>> So so it was the money was designated

3:12:01for that process alto together. So as of

3:12:03right now the way we have had the money

3:12:05calculated that $400,000 has already

3:12:06been spoken for.

3:12:07>> Okay. Gotcha. Thank you. That that works

3:12:09cuz that's what I was thinking.

3:12:10Commissioner Sashia, that sounds like a

3:12:12good idea to continue support. Um, but I

3:12:15didn't know how it was allocated so far.

3:12:17Thank you so much. That's perfect.

3:12:18Thanks.

3:12:22>> Okay, I think that moves us to close

3:12:23session.

3:12:26>> 601.

3:12:28>> Yep. 601.

```*