CITY COMMISSION TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2025 7:00 PM Union High School, 1800 Tremont Blvd. NW, Grand Rapids, 49504 | ||||
Welcome to the Grand Rapids City Commission Meeting. This session is the final process in the consideration of the items listed on the following agenda. All of these agenda items have been thoroughly reviewed and discussed in the various Standing Committees of the City Commission which meet on Tuesday morning. To view supporting documents for agenda items, please visit: www.grandrapidsmi.gov/commission.
Persons who need reasonable accommodation to participate, are asked to contact the City Clerk’s Office at 616-456-3010 or [email protected]. | ||||
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| Expected Meeting Procedures |
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| 1. | Depending on the meeting there can be multiple opportunities for public comment. |
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| - | The First is for any issue you would like to bring to the attention of the Commission |
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| - | The Second is for specially scheduled required public hearings |
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| 2. | You may only speak once on each issue. |
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| 3. | All comments are to be limited to 3 minutes. |
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| 4. | City Commission meetings are to be a safe place for everyone involved, as such: |
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| - | No clapping, cheering, or holding up of signs |
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| - | Please refrain from swearing, name-calling and/or making derogatory comments. The City’s Human Rights Ordinance prohibits discrimination against any individual in the exercise of civil rights because of actual or perceived color, race, religion or creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, nation of origin, genotype, age, marital status, familial status, medical condition, disability, height, weight, or source of lawful income. |
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| 5. | Do not request or expect comment from the Commission. |
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| 6. | Please silence mobile phones and devices. |
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I. | CALL TO ORDER |
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II. | MOMENT OF SILENCE |
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III. | PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE |
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IV. | ROLL CALL |
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V. | PUBLIC COMMENTS – 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.) |
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VI. | COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS |
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VII. | APPROVAL OF MINUTES |
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1. | Minutes of 03/11/2025 2:00 PM |
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VIII. | 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. |
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1. | Communication received from Ken Vaughn appealing the response to FOIA request 2025-536 |
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2. | Communication received from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression urging the City Commission to review and revise public comment policies |
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3. | Communication received from Tom O'Brien opposing the Single Trash Hauler proposal |
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4. | Communication received from Scott Atchison regarding the budget for the Downtown Ambassador Program |
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IX. | 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. |
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1. | Comptroller's Warrant Report for the period of February 25, 2025 through March 10, 2025 in the amount of $33,682,297.98 |
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2. | Treasurer’s Report for Period of February 26, 2025, through March 7, 2025 |
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X. | CONSENT AGENDA AND REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES |
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A. CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL |
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B. COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS The Committee considers and makes recommendations on appointments to the City's various boards and commissions. |
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1. | Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of James Ouzts to the Grand Valley Regional Biosolids Authority |
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2. | Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of John Gorney to the Waste to Energy Advisory Committee |
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3. | Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of Jenna Lyons to the Historic Preservation Commission |
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4. | Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Brooke Aernouts to the Community Relations Commission |
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5. | Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Andres Hernandez to the South Division-Grandville Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority. |
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C. FISCAL COMMITTEE The Committee considers and makes recommendations on matters referring to bids, claims, and other financial matters of the City. |
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1. | Resolution Recognizing Sacred Beginnings as a Local Civic Organization |
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2. | Resolution authorizing Grand Rapids Police Department Recruit Class 25-02 to attend Grand Valley State University Police Academy for a cost up to $96,200 |
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3. | Resolution authorizing a three-year sub-award agreement with Grand Rapids Community College and the City for the expansion and regionalization of the West Michigan Water Career Program; the City shall be reimbursed in an amount not to exceed $298,671 for costs incurred during the grant period |
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4. | Resolution authorizing a contract with Cure Violence Global in the amount of $125,000 to provide training and technical assistance to support the continued effectuation of the Cure Violence Model in Grand Rapids. |
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5. | Resolution authorizing an agreement with Baxter Community Center to provide summer day camp services at Joe Taylor Park in an amount of $60,000 |
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6. | Resolution Approving PEG Grant Reimbursements for Grand Rapids Public Schools in the amount of $17,471.63. |
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7. | Resolution authorizing payment to the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in the amount of $166,311.66 for the City of Grand Rapids Affordable Housing Fund |
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8. | Bid List Resolution for March 25, 2025 |
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D. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE The Committee considers and makes recommendations on matters concerning public service, public improvements, streets, traffic and public buildings. |
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1. | Resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding with Congregation Emanuel d/b/a Temple Emanuel GR for installation and operation of an irrigation system at a portion of Oakhill Cemetery |
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2. | Resolution scheduling a public hearing for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, to consider naming new park space at 680 Cesar E Chavez Avenue SW “Navarro Plaza” |
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3. | Resolution awarding a contract with Kamminga & Roodvoets Inc. for Water Main Replacement, Reconstruction and Resurfacing in Burton Street from 120’ East of Division Avenue to Giddings Avenue in the amount of $9,213,896.50 with total amount not-to-exceed $11,164,691 |
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4. | Resolution awarding a contract with SPS Pro Plumbing, LLC for Replacement of Lead Service Lines at Various Locations Contract 2025-1 in the amount of $2,925,737 with a total project cost not-to-exceed $3,510,860 |
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5. | Resolution awarding a contract with Ponstein Enterprises LLC dba Georgetown Construction for Reconstruction of Kendall Street and Fruitwood Drive in the amount of $1,938,359 with total amount not-to-exceed $2,613,528 |
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6. | Resolution approving a Construction Agreement and accepting Public Utilities Easement for North Beltline Development |
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7. | Resolution approving an Agreement for Construction Management Services with Clark Construction Company for Construction of Fire Department Training Facility at 850 Pannell Street NW in the amount of $20,678,692 with total amount not-to-exceed $26,856,892 |
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8. | Resolution approving an Encroachment Agreement with Mary Free Bed Medical Group Related to a Proposed Pedestrian Bridge for Encroachments in Wealthy Street SE |
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9. | Resolution approving a Facility Encroachment Agreement with CSX Transportation, Inc. in connection with Water Main Relocation in Public Easement (SW) along Martin Luther King, Jr. Street |
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10. | Resolution Approving Certifications to and Decertifications from the City's Local Street System (2024 Act 51 Street System Report) |
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11. | Resolution rejecting Bids for Improvements at Collindale Avenue Sanitary Lift Station |
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12. | Resolution approving an increase of $133,686 for Installation of Low Voltage (Construction of City Facilities at 1500 Scribner) for a total not-to-exceed $790,246 |
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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. |
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XI. | ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT |
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1. | Resolution declaring the necessity of the Uptown Business Improvement District Special Assessment Roll No. 8796 |
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XII. | ORDINANCES TO BE ADOPTED |
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1. | Consideration of an ordinance amending Zoning Map A, Downtown Height Overlay District, to add properties bounded by Leonard Street to the north, 6th Street to the south, US-131 to the west, and the Grand River to the east, to the DH-2(a) subarea |
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2. | Ordinance amending Sections 5.8.03. ”Grand River Overlay District“ and 5.11.15. ”Alternative Energy“ of the Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 61 of the City Code) |
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XIII. | 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. |
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XIV. | 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. |
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DOCUMENTS FILED |
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XV. | ADJOURNMENT |
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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. |
Closed 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. |
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. |
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 | Acknowledgment 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 parliamentary 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: 10-17-2024 | Source(s): Robert’s Rules of Order City Commission Standing Rules |
CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS COMMISSIONERS
First Ward | Drew Robbins AliciaMarie Belchak | 616-456-3035 616-456-3035 | |
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Second Ward | Milinda Ysasi Lisa Knight | 616-456-3035 616-456-3035 | |
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Third Ward | Kelsey Perdue Marshall Kilgore | 616-456-3035 616-456-3035 | |