Grand Rapids City Commission Night Out - July 29, 2025

The Grand Rapids City Commission held a Night Out meeting on July 29, 2025, hosted at a Grand Rapids Public Schools facility. The meeting featured extensive public testimony on sanctuary city policies, housing reforms, and police accountability, followed by official business including zoning amendments, a land bank board restructuring, and approval of a firefighter contract.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from prior meeting.
• Received and filed communications: opposition to climate action plan from Marcel Bergler/Prime Development; urging commission to review climate plan for alignment with housing and population growth from Sam Cummings and Mike Van Gessel; support for climate plan from Hannah Greening; concerns from Charlie Holtz.
• Received and filed comptroller's warrant report (July 1–14, 2025) and treasurer's report (July 1–15, 2025).
• Consent agenda (items passed unanimously out of committee) approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

Housing and Zoning

• Nathan Biller (small infill developer) requested the commission lower the minimum lot area per unit from 2,000 to 1,000 square feet in TN/TDR districts. He stated the housing deficit has grown by 1,397 homes in the past 127 days (needing 12 homes/day, building ~1/day). He argued the change would allow naturally affordable housing without subsidy. He asked the city manager to add the topic to an upcoming agenda.

Pet Store Ordinance

• Mitchell Nelson (Michigan State Director, Humane World for Animals) asked the commission to adopt a humane pet shop ordinance banning the sale of cats and dogs in Grand Rapids, citing puppy mill cruelty and consumer protection. He noted over 500 municipalities and 8 states have passed such laws, including Detroit and Ann Arbor.

Police Accountability and Activist Charges

• Josh Ferguson (Second Ward resident) thanked the commission for community engagements but criticized GRPD for pursuing nuisance violations against peaceful activists protesting police brutality and sanctuary status. He urged the commission to convince GRPD to drop charges against activists.

Sanctuary City and Immigration (multiple speakers)

• Sharon Hickox, Susan Haynes, and others read six sanctuary policy demands from Cosecha: (1) restrict local police from making arrests for federal immigration violations; (2) restrict asking about immigration status; (3) prohibit 287(g) agreements; (4) prevent contracts to hold immigrants in detention; (5) prevent ICE detention centers in Grand Rapids; (6) prohibit sharing Flock camera images with ICE.
• Kathy Siegenthaler (resident) supported sanctuary policies, sharing that 90% of families she works with live in fear. She described recent positive but now deteriorating trust between immigrant families and GRPD.
• Kyle Thornton (educator) noted increased absenteeism among immigrant students due to ICE fear. He cited the Tenth Amendment and argued ICE operations lack due process, with a 10× increase in ICE funding. He stated 11% of Grand Rapids' population are immigrants.
• Sharon Smith (Roosevelt Park) described ICE snatching people off the street, targeting black and brown residents regardless of citizenship. She said she was arrested for civil disobedience trying to protect neighbors.
• Brian (Party for Socialism and Liberation) and Amelia criticized the commission's inaction and framed the struggle as part of a larger fight against capitalism. Brian referenced historic wins in Waukegan, Illinois, and Grand Rapids in 2019.
• Pablo Bello asked what the commission will do, noting community terror and the new Baldwin detention center.
• Bethany (Midtown) requested the six sanctuary policies be placed on the agenda for a vote.
• Jeff (volunteer with Rapid Response to ICE) described accompanying immigrants to ISAP appointments and witnessed arrests. He stated GRPD threatened volunteers with arrest for accompanying scared individuals.
• Lauren (near MLK Park) witnessed GRPD harass volunteers on a public sidewalk and demanded policies restricting local cooperation with ICE.
• Austin (Second Ward) demanded sanctuary status and community control over GRPD, stating the commission is not acting on the people's will.
• Liz (Heritage Hill) accused the commission of prioritizing funding over humanity and called for resignations if they cannot vote for sanctuary.
• Kaylee (resident) supported the six policies, noting ICE funding increased by $170 billion federally.
• Grace Saunders (Crossroads Church) requested quarterly SSI-style checks for Ukrainian nationals on parole from Russia to stabilize their mail.
• Lucas (First Ward) supported single-hauler trash initiative, criticized GRPD's credibility, and asked for independent investigation of the arrest of Ned Andre and Victor Williams.
• Emma (resident) expressed frustration that the commission has not enacted sanctuary policies, saying they are “cold” and prioritize money over humanity.
• John apologized to Mayor LeGrand for previous verbal abuse, demanded sanctuary policies, and mentioned the arrests of community leaders Ned Andre and Victor Williams for filming police.
• Ren Burns (resident, teacher) criticized Mayor LeGrand's actions at a memorial for police violence victims and demanded action.
• Emma (30-year resident) challenged excuses about funding, urging the commission to find grants and act now, referencing Union City, New Jersey’s anonymous resolution.
• Shona (from Kalamazoo) drew parallels to historical oppression, calling ICE and police akin to the KKK.
• Charlie Snedaker (lifelong resident) demanded sanctuary status, calling ICE an extrajudicial force and urging moral courage.
• El Dean Chosevic (GRCC student, family refugees) supported sanctuary city, saying it sends a message of compassion.
• Bob Wood (teacher at Ukrainian Catholic University) compared ICE tactics to Russian brutality in Ukraine, urging the city to follow the Constitution's due process for all persons.
• Mark (resident) criticized those who didn't vote in November and predicted ICE targeting would expand beyond immigrants.
• Multiple other speakers echoed demands, called for immediate action, and criticized commission inaction. During one speaker's remarks, commission recessed after an outburst led to security escorting individuals out.

Climate Action Plan

• Gloria (Grand Rapids Climate Coalition) handed out postcards in support of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAP), acknowledging costs but urging collaboration.

Discussion Items

Commissioner Comments on Sanctuary City

• Commissioner Sassi summarized the six sanctuary demands and noted the city's 2017–2018 response to the Gilmore Ramos Gomez case. He expressed sadness that dialogue was limited and gave his personal phone number.
• Commissioner Robbins thanked staff for setting up the event and highlighted the value of staff resources.
• Commissioner Knight said commissioners must listen and not respond directly, but they are available for private conversations. He emphasized needing all facts before acting, acknowledged historical pain of black and brown communities, and noted he was in the streets during protests for Patrick Lyoya. He stated he is willing to go to the ICE office to see firsthand.
• Commissioner Kilgore thanked attendees for expressing anger constructively rather than violence. He highlighted his work on immigration: a statement in January supporting foreign nationals policy, working with Senator Slotkin on legislation about ICE face coverings, and supporting Michigan House Bill 4760. He expressed support for the Climate Action Plan, stating it will not penalize businesses but is necessary for community resilience.
• Commissioner Purdue (Third Ward) related to the rage for justice and said her four years will chip away at 400 years of systemic issues. She stated she wants to reopen the conversation on sanctuary city status based on due process concerns and the commission's earlier vote to oppose unconstitutional acts. She also promoted a legacy tour being developed by the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives and highlighted the land bank board appointment as a step on housing.
• Commissioner Belchak expressed heartbreak over walls being erected between community elements. She invited people to schedule office visits for dialogue, noting the city already meets 95% of the six sanctuary demands but acknowledged work to do on culture. She said the First Amendment gives a platform for any speech, but real change requires engagement beyond public comment.

City Manager and Clerk Remarks

• City Clerk thanked GRPS for hosting and announced a November 4 special election for Kent ISD millage and Godwin Heights school vote.
• City Manager echoed thanks and noted that sanctuary policies were not discussed at the earlier Public Safety Committee briefing, so any policy discussion should go through committee.

Key Outcomes

• Approved MDOT sidewalk project on Fulton Street (Plymouth to Worcester Drive) for $640,000 (spring 2026 construction).
• Approved resolution restructuring Grand Rapids Land Bank Authority Board to a seven-member independent board (mayor as chair), with six appointments made earlier in the day. (Commissioner Knight dissented in committee but did not speak against on the floor.)
• Adopted zoning ordinance amendment (Section 5.2.05) after Commissioner Belchak’s motion to strike subsection 1 (requiring demonstration of “no other feasible location” for window wells). The amended ordinance passed unanimously.
• Approved rezoning of northern 25.74 feet of 411 Fuller Avenue SE to TN-TBA district to combine with adjacent parcel.
• Approved major amendment to Planned Redevelopment District at 221 Trowbridge NE (66 dwelling units, four buildings).
• Adopted firefighter contract (IAFF Local 366) with 5% raises effective July 1, 2025; 5% on July 1, 2026; and 1% on July 1, 2027, plus increased rest time.
• Approved resolution scheduling a public hearing for August 12, 2025, on the parking count data collection administrative policy (using drones), under surveillance equipment policy 15-03.
• Held public hearing for Pleasant Hills Phase 3 (demolition of storage building, construction of 27 for-sale units, 16 affordable at or below 80% AMI, $10.5 million total costs, using $1M traditional TIF, $1.6M housing TIF, $546K Affordable Housing Fund, $250K Local Brownfield Revolving Fund). No public comment; hearing closed and referred to Committee of the Whole.