Meeting
City of Grand Rapids
City Commission Meeting
March 05, 2024 3:30 PM

For the official agenda, please see the PDF agenda found under the “Archived Meetings” section from the previous tab.
I.
CALL TO ORDER
II.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
III.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
IV.
ROLL CALL
V.
PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS – Prior to consideration of the official business, citizens may speak to subjects on today's agenda which are slated to be voted on. The items to be addressed during this time are located in the highlighted section headings. (Please limit comments to 3 minutes.)
VI.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.
Minutes of 02/20/2024 7:00 PM
VII.
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS – Communications addressed to the City Commission are distributed to all members and are acknowledged for information, or are referred to a committee or staff for follow up.
1.
Communication received from Ed Kettle regarding the Master Plan
2.
Communication received from Nancy J. Court regarding the City Commission's decision not to pursue a historic designation for John Ball Zoo
3.
Communication received from Scott Atchison regarding re-naming and re-branding Kent County to "Grand Kent County"
4.
Communication received from Don Bultman, President of Southbridge Condo Association, regarding cell reception
5.
Communications received expressing support for Bing Goei for the Third Ward Commissioner appointment
6.
Communications received expressing support for Marshall Kilgore for the Third Ward Commissioner appointment
VIII.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS – The City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk, City Treasurer, and City Comptroller may submit reports or information directly to the City Commission for consideration.
1.
Comptroller's Warrant Report for the period of February 07, 2024 through February 20, 2024 in the amount of $18,824,686.66 and Monthly Travel and Funds Reports
2.
Treasurer’s Report for Period of February 8, 2024 through February 20, 2024
IX.
CONSENT AGENDA AND REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES
A.     CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL 
B.     COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS The Committee considers and makes recommendations on appointments to the City's various boards and commissions.
 
1.
Resolution confirming Mayor Bliss' appointment of Geoffrey Kempter to the Urban Forestry Committee
C.     FISCAL COMMITTEE The Committee considers and makes recommendations on matters referring to bids, claims, and other financial matters of the City.
 
1.
Resolution Approving PEG Grant Reimbursements for Grand Rapids Public Schools in the amount of $22,843.22
2.
Resolution accepting a $50,000 Community Forestry Grant Program award and executing an agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources/Forest Resources Division
3.
Resolution authorizing an agreement with Corewell Health for on-site health care for a total amount not to exceed $30,000
4.
Resolution authorizing a Lease Agreement with Crown Castle Telecommunications to utilize the Grand Rapids Reservoir Covell Site for Communication Purposes
5.
Resolution authorizing a Budget Substitution of $92,405 for Leonard, Crahen, and Bradford Water Main Installation
6.
Bid List Resolution for March 5, 2024
D.     COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE The Committee considers and makes recommendations on matters concerning public service, public improvements, streets, traffic and public buildings.
 
1.
Resolution approving a Fireworks Discharge Permit to FFP Effects Touring for indoor special effects at the GLC Live at 20 Monroe in connection with the Bailey Zimmerman concerts on March 7th and 8th, 2024
2.
Resolution approving a Fireworks Discharge Permit to JDL FX, LLC for indoor special effects at the Van Andel Arena in connection with the Sullivan King concert on March 11, 2024
3.
Resolution approving a Fireworks Discharge Permit to Pyrotek Special Effects, Inc. for indoor special effects at the Van Andel Arena in connection with the Fall Out Boys concert on March 26, 2024
4.
Resolution approving the submission of a Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant application in the amount of $300,000 for improvements at Bike Park
5.
Resolution scheduling a public hearing on April 9, 2024, for Programmatic Agreements with the Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO)
6.
Resolution scheduling a public hearing on April 9, 2024, for the draft FY 2025 Consolidated Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan (Neighborhood Investment Plan funding recommendations)
7.
Resolution authorizing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Michigan State Historic Preservation Officer, the Grand Rapids Housing Commission, and the Wyoming Housing Commission for the Leonard Apartments project
8.
Resolution approving an increase in the scope of work and authorizing an additional $50,000 in expenditures to the contract with Universal Sign, Inc. for Wayfinding and Signage System Replacement for a total not-to-exceed $551,010
9.
​Resolution approving an amendment to the Professional Services Agreement for Construction Management services with Owen-Ames-Kimball Company for Expansion of Grand Rapids Public Museum – Phase 1B and authorizing additional expenditures in the amount of $2,007,460 with total amount not-to-exceed $10,179,243​
10.
Resolution approving a Cost Sharing Agreement with Kent County Road Commission for Rotomill and Resurfacing of Leffingwell Avenue from Leonard Street to Knapp Street in an amount not to exceed $421,000
11.
Resolution approving an increase to the Professional Services Agreement with Clark Construction Company for Construction of City Facilities at 1500 Scribner in the amount of $3,618,075 with total amount not-to-exceed $31,853,687
E.     COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE The Committee considers all matters that are desired to be deliberated in committee by the full City Commission. Most ordinances and licensing matters are brought before this committee.
 
1.
Resolution Establishing April 9, 2024, as the date for a public hearing to consider approval of an expansion of the City of Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority Development Area No. 1 and an amended Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan for Downtown Development Area No. 1.
X.
ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT
1.
Resolution setting a public hearing on March 19, 2024 and consideration of an ordinance on April 23, 2024 for Zoning Ordinance housing policy text amendments
XI.
ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED
XII.
CITY COMMISSION RESOLUTIONS – Resolutions to be deliberated by the City Commission but which come directly to the City Commission rather than from one of the Standing Committees.
XIII.
PUBLIC HEARINGS – Public hearings are scheduled to allow citizens to speak on subjects which will be before the City Commission for action at a future date. Speakers may address the Commission once on each hearing.
XIV.
PUBLIC COMMENTS –  At the conclusion of the official business and public hearings, the agenda provides for public comment on any other matters citizens may wish to bring to the attention of the City Commission. (Please limit comments to 3 minutes.)
XV.
COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS
DOCUMENTS FILED
XVI.
ADJOURNMENT
 
CITY COMMISSION
GLOSSARY OF TERMS 
 
TERM
DEFINITION
Adjournment  
To close the meeting.
Adopt  
To accept or approve; i.e., an ordinance, a resolution, a motion, etc.
Amend  
To modify; i.e., an ordinance, a resolution, a motion, etc.
Call to Order  
Formal opening of a meeting.
City Charter  
Legal document establishing a municipality (city).
City Commission  
Local form of government consisting of the Mayor and six Commissioners.
City Officers  
Includes: Mayor, President of the City Commission, City Manager, City Attorney, City Treasurer, and City Clerk.
Consent Agenda  
Matters listed as Consent Agenda items are considered to be routine or matters of unanimous consent by the City Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these matters, and they will be enacted by one motion.
Executive Session  
A meeting in which the proceedings are of a confidential nature.Only members and invited guests may attend, and all are honor-bound to maintain confidentiality.
Motion  
A proposal that the Commissioners take a specific action or stand on an item being presented to the City Commission.
Ordinance  
A piece of legislation enacted by a municipal authority.
Postpone  
A motion to postpone is made if the City Commission needs more time to make a decision. A postponement cannot go beyond the next session.
Quorum  
Number of voting members who must be present in order that business can be legally transacted.
Recess  
Short intermission within a meeting.
Recognize / Obtain the Floor  
Acknowledgement by the presiding officer of the City Commission that a member has the right to address the assembly.
Rescind (Repeal)  
Allows the City Commission to repeal an action previously taken; i.e., ordinances, etc.
Resolution  
A decision by the City Commission to do or not to do something.
Robert’s Rules of Order  
A guide to fair and orderly meeting procedures.
Suspend the Rules  
This motion is used when the City Commission wants to do something that violates its own rules. The motion does not apply to an organization’s bylaws, local, state, or national law; or fundamental principles of parlia-mentary law. An appropriate suspension of the rules, used on occasion by the City Commission, would be a motion to change the agenda.
Table, Lay on the  
This motion puts aside an item, and everything adhering to it, currently being presented to the City Commission.The item remains “on the table” until taken off.
Table, Take (Remove) from the  
The motion to Take from the Table is used when the City Commission wants to continue considering a motion that was Laid on the Table earlier in the present session or in the previous session of the City Commission. When a motion is Taken from the Table, it has everything adhering to it exactly as it was when it was Laid on the Table.
 Revised: 06-30-2014
Source(s):    Robert’s Rules of Order
City Commission Standing Rules

CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMISSIONERS
First Ward Jon O’Connor
Drew Robbins		 [email protected]
[email protected]		 616-456-3035
616-456-3035
 
Second Ward Milinda Ysasi
Lisa Knight		 [email protected]
[email protected]		 616-456-3035
616-456-3035
 
Third Ward Kelsey Perdue
Vacant		 [email protected]
Vacant		 616-456-3035
616-456-3035