Grand Rapids City Commission Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 29, 2025
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Grand Rapids City Commission Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 29, 2025
The Grand Rapids City Commission Committee of the Whole met on July 29, 2025, to address a range of items including rescheduling a planned retreat, governance changes to the Land Bank Authority, a discussion of the city’s ethics policy, a comprehensive update from the Grand Rapids Police Department, and approval of a new collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union. The meeting also included a closed session for collective bargaining and legal consultation.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution rescheduling the November 11 planned meeting/retreat to November 13, 2025 – Approved unanimously by voice vote.
- Resolution approving the mayor and all commissioners to attend the 2025 Michigan Municipal League (MML) convention in Grand Rapids – Approved unanimously by voice vote.
Discussion Items
- Governance of the Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority Board – Staff provided an update on the governance change, noting that the intergovernmental agreement with the state had been modified to transfer property control to the local land bank. The item required the formal rescission of the Brownfield Authority Board as the governing board. Commissioner Belchek expressed opposition, stating that while she agreed with most of the appointees, she believed the board still needed another minority female and that she had requested to serve on the committee due to her lived experience and community work. The motion carried with a voice vote; the commissioner voted no.
- Ethics Policy (Commission Policy 100-06) – Conflicts of Interest and Ethical Standards of Conduct – Deputy City Attorney Strong led a discussion on the existing policy, noting that it has been in place since 2016 and aligns with state law. Mayor LeGrand advocated for enhanced financial disclosure, arguing that the public should know the sources of commissioners’ income to detect potential conflicts of interest. He cited his own business interests (e.g., Long Road Distillers) and criticized the state’s financial disclosure law for exempting spouses. Commissioners generally supported public disclosure of income sources but not necessarily dollar amounts. Commissioner Kilgar suggested including debt disclosure (excluding medical debt). Commissioner Purdue raised concerns about business partners benefiting from public service. Commissioners agreed to have staff benchmark other municipalities and bring back a menu of options for improving the policy, including the disclosure form.
- Grand Rapids Police Department Progress Update – Chief Eric Winstrom and a large team of command staff presented a timeline of progress since 2022, highlighting key reforms: civilianization of roles, co-response team expansion, drone program, new body-worn cameras and tasers, virtual reality training, CalEA accreditation, community engagement programs, and a focus on cultural competency. The chief noted that calls for service exceed 300 per day (80,000–100,000 annually) and that staffing had dropped to a low of 261 officers before his tenure but is projected to exceed 300 in the coming months. Commissioners praised the department’s efforts, with Commissioner Kilgar asking about the LGBTQ+ liaison and cultural competency training. Commissioner Purdue inquired about officers living in the city (estimated 25–30%) and the potential for non-police crisis response. Mayor LeGrand discussed incentives for officers to live in the city and the importance of community policing. The chief expressed interest in adding five to ten community officers as early as fall 2025, pending commission support.
Key Outcomes
- Approved the Land Bank governance change (motion carried, one commissioner opposed).
- Approved the collective bargaining agreement with the firefighters’ union (IAFF Local 366) for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028 – The agreement includes an 11% wage increase over three years, a reduction in the work week from 52.88 to 50.4 hours effective January 2028, and an increase in retiree health care savings account contributions to $2,750 annually (up $500). The union had already ratified the tentative agreement.
- Approved the ordinance adjusting salaries for certain classified titles in the GR union to adopt annual ranges, implementing the wage increases from the fire contract. Budget amendments will be brought forward in August or September.
- Directed staff to research and present options for improving the ethics policy and financial disclosure form, including public disclosure of income sources, debt, and gift thresholds, with a focus on both elected and appointed officials.
- The commission moved into closed session for collective bargaining and legal consultation, then reconvened to take public action on the firefighter contract and salary ordinance.
Meeting Transcript
We don't start this one with a moment of silence, but I appreciate that. Um so uh committee of the whole come to order. Uh first item uh of business is a resolution rescheduling our November 11th planned meetingslash retreat to November 13th. Uh we had a discussion about this earlier. Uh wanted a little additional time to make sure everyone and particularly my calendar was clear. Uh those have been resolved, so I'll take a motion. So moved. Support. Uh any discussion. All in favor, say aye. Aye. Aye. Uh oh, and I should have said, pardon me, I got a little ahead of myself. Just so the uh public knows and everyone in the room knows, our intent today is to do items number one for five and the briefings on the agenda, and then move into a brief closed session and then uh come back and take action on items two and three. So um, in order to respect the time of everyone who's here for public briefings and make sure that we can do all of that in a block. Now that doesn't mean we're not gonna come back. So if you are concerned about items number two and three and want to hear our our public action on those, stick around. We will make our closed session as quickly as as quick as possible. That then takes us to uh item number four. Uh resolution approving the mayor and all commissioners to attend the MML convention in 2025, conveniently located in Grand Rapids. Uh take a motion. So moved. Support. Uh any discussion. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. Uh motion passes. Uh number five, uh resolution modifying governance of the Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority Board, uh, rescinding appointment of the Brownfield Authority Board as the governing uh as the board of the Grand Bank uh Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority. Uh take a motion. So moved. Support. Uh any discussion. Oh, sorry. We have staff. I'm good if there's no questions. Uh I just wanted to provide a quick update. If you recall back in June, we received direction from the commission to make this governance change. Uh and at that point in time, you approved an modification of the intergovernmental agreement with the state that uh transferred the property control from the state to the local land bank. We had to change, get the state to agree to a change in the governance provisions of that document that's been signed now. Uh and so in front of you today is it seems like probably overly formal. Uh, but because of the way the great uh the Grand Rapids Brownfield Authority Board was originally instituted as the governing board for the land bank. You actually have to go through the formality of rescinding that appointment uh at this morning's uh or further on your agenda today is action on appointment of the new uh some of the new board members as well. Um so that so with that uh if there's no other questions, that's sort of the action in front of you. Uh if you recall from the budget conversation for the fiscal year 2026 budget, we are uh supporting the work of the local land bank through our economic development staff. So that's uh staff support. Uh and there are some contracts that had previously been approved by the commission that are covered in that budget as well for property administration and uh maintenance of those properties. Thank you. Any discussion?
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