All right, good morning everybody.

It is 8 30.

We'll go ahead and get our fiscal committee underway here.

We do have a condensed meeting schedule this morning, so we'll try to move through these as efficiently as we can.

Um, we're starting off with a resolution recognizing a manual hospice as a local civic organization.

Is there a motion?

Support.

All right, moved and support.

I'll turn to uh deputy city attorney, Mr.

Strom here.

All right, we would invite uh a representative if they're here to come up to the podium and uh tell us more about your organization if you'd like to do that.

We have done the due diligence from the city attorney's office to make sure that all compliance measures are met.

Uh they do qualify for this action item and we're bringing it forward with a recommendation that the committee approve it.

Great.

Good morning, welcome.

Thank you, Mr.

Straum.

My name is Marin Bethel.

I'm the director of marketing and communications at a manual hospice.

We were founded in 2012, and we're specifically community-based here in Grand Rapids.

So we serve a 50 mile radius from our offices at 131 in Hall.

Um and these funds, you know, that we're raising every year philanthropic dollars go to support all those in need of our care, regardless of ability to pay.

So that raffle license um has a direct impact on people living in our community, and I thank everyone for their time today.

Great, thanks so much.

I'll uh turn to my colleagues and see if they have any thoughts or questions.

Alrighty.

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

I'm number two, we've got a resolution accepting hazard mitigation grant program funds in the amount of 112,500.

So support.

All right, move to hand support.

Good morning.

Welcome, gentlemen.

Uh good morning, Assistant Chief Ed Brayman, the fire department.

Our new uh emergency manager, Benjamin Rantz here with us as well.

Uh this is more of a pass-through uh for uh grant for hazard mitigation uh planning.

This is uh 112,500.

It's in accordance with Kent County and Ottawa County in the City of Grand Rapids.

Our portion will be uh 7,875.

Okay.

Any discussion or comments?

All righty, hearing seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

Thanks so much.

Uh Department of Licensing Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, which is Laura, and authorizing execution of agreements for implementation of the fiscal year 26 compliance plan as required by the MIDC Act.

So move.

Support.

All right, move and support.

Morning, Miss Bohach.

Good morning.

Wasn't that a great subject line?

It will have a mouthful.

So sorry about that.

Um so this is um our indigent defense system that is um implemented through resources in the community development department in terms of staffing.

We support that work.

Um this is a mandated program in terms of the standards that each judiciary needs to have in place.

Um back starting in those um standards, nine of them were under state mandates, but they're funded mandates.

Um they started implementing those in 2017 through 2023, and community development has been responsible for that.

On an annual basis, we need to submit what's called a compliance plan that um indicates how we are meeting those standards and then the budget associated with those.

Um and I just want to point out that this year um we have um requested to have a staff position and administrative aid included because the work has grown immensely.

Um we have over uh uh 44.6 um sorry, 4,600 cases um that are being assigned um per year um and growing from around 3,000.

Um so it just keeps growing, and we have one person who's working over in the court system um with this work.

So an administrative aid was included in our compliance plan.

They approved that.

Um the amount is an approximate because um although our plan calls for um over uh 4.9 million, and that's been approved.

It really depends on at the end of our grant that ends in September.

Um if there's anything that's remaining on that, they'll carry that forward and and reduce that.

So it's kind of uh an estimate, even though it's also an award.

Um so we leave it a little bit loose for the approval and authorization.

Okay, great.

Thanks for that.

Um my question was just about the approximate amount, but that was answered.

So I'll turn to my colleagues see if there's any other questions.

All righty, hearing and seeing none, I'll call the question.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

That'll bring us to item number four.

We've got a resolution authorizing execution of a seven seventy-five thousand six hundred and fifty dollar donated funds agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, uh MDHHS for a dedicated eligibility specialist for the eviction prevention program.

So support.

All right, moved and supported.

We'll turn it back to you.

So this is also something that is included in the community development budget that um is work that's done in the 61st district court.

And this is a partnership with the Michigan State Um House sorry, Health and Human Services Department, where we have a dedicated um eligibility specialist that works for our community, um, specifically with eviction prevention programming.

So the department pays half of that, and the local jurisdiction pays the other half.

And we started this program foundations supported that half for us.

And since that time from that first um three-year pilot, the city has picked up that share of that to ensure that we continue to have this program available.

Awesome.

Thanks.

Oops, thank you.

Colleagues, any questions or comments?

Um, just wondering uh Connie, this person doesn't replace who was at the 61st district court kind of doing this work, does it?

Or so that's they have run that independently of this program.

Okay.

So they their eviction diversion program that they had started was completely different from this and separate.

We worked to try to get the synergy and work where was the program.

There, I think their grant ran out.

It did so they no longer have the that person.

Okay.

Yeah, it's a good question.

Anything else?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

So move support.

All right, moved and supported.

Miss Claren, is this uh item one you could tell us about?

I believe.

Yeah, um sure.

I we I'm sorry, I thought Mr.

Kane was gonna be here to talk about half of this.

But uh yeah, we have a a contract, annual contract with experienced Grand Rapids.

If you're not familiar with Experienced Grand Rapids, they do advertising for the city of Grand Rapids and um, you know, they go nationally to the conferences and things, just getting the word out about this is a great place to come and do your conference, things like that.

We also have plugged in to our contract with them that you know we we want them to do inclusion work, you know, um ignite MLBEs, things like that in our community to you know increase involvement in all of them.

So that's in a nutshell what what we do.

This is an annual contract.

It's been at 150,000 for the past gosh, I think it's been about four years now.

It used to be just a hundred, and we kicked it up of you know, then so awesome, thanks.

And I'll add too, I actually their uh annual board meeting was this past week down in Indianapolis, and I got to go um attend on behalf of the city with city manager and um and some of their their board members.

So really awesome group of people, and just um for the amount of you know partnership funds that we allot to them, just the work that they do is incredible and they have a huge impact um that is exponentially beyond that.

So and for sure, I'll just highlight for the public too that attached to this item is their brochure of what they do and uh one of the big things they're gonna be marketing is the new ample theater soccer stadium, you know.

So again, placemaking kind of things are helpful.

Yep, thanks for that.

Yeah, and uh good note too in the the full agenda packet, they've got their full uh like business program um strategy document and whatnot.

So highly recommend checking that out too if you're curious.

Um I'll turn to my colleagues see if there's any other questions or comments.

All right, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

So support.

All right, moved and support.

I know these next two are kind of related, so if you want to knock them both out, you're welcome to.

Sure.

With this first one here, um Jay Lanstein of Kintela Group is the managing partner and CEO, and he reached out to us back in 2023, I believe.

Um that group is also a associate member of the Michigan Municipal Treasurer's Association, so they attend all of our conferences and they reached out and wanted to be become an approved broker dealer with us and fulfill it really fits the profile and the need for what we're looking to do.

And so as we added a few more the last commission meeting, we're gonna add this one to our our broker dealer group too because they wish to participate in our competitive process.

Awesome, thanks.

Um questions or comments, colleagues.

I know this is kind of similar routine to our last meeting, but I'll open it up if there's any.

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

Which will bring us to number seven, um, a resolution to repeal authorization to buy or sell securities with certain broker dealer firms.

Some support.

All right, moved and supported.

So this is probably one of the first times that we've actually removed broker dealers.

And the reason we do that is we've reviewed these types of broker dealers, and there really is an activity where they're compete, they're actually in the competitive bid process.

They're not coming forward with the bids.

And so we went back and we did some research on a few of them.

We haven't received a bid from uh a few of them since 2021, and then that was only one bid, and before that it was 2019.

So we really want to keep uh broker dealers that are want to participate in this group.

And so when we did that, we looked through and said these four would be should be actively removed.

And we need to do that based on our investment policy because we would be basically putting in front of them to have them fill out all the documentation, still get all the emails, but it I'd rather have people that are are per wanting to participate.

Thank you.

Yep, great uh great context.

I'm curious up front when we um agree to do business with additional um you know brokers dealers, do we give them like a we expect that you participate in the process this number of times over the coming years, or is it I guess what sort of expectations do we set up front?

We don't set that expectation as to whether they have to bid on a certain number of them.

Again, it's it's based on their business profile.

Sure.

And so they review our investment guidelines and say, yes, we'd like to actively be there.

But again, any time we put out a bid, it depends on where they are.

Um the challenge is fixed income securities are the least profitable, least profit margin of the work.

And so we're finding that there's companies that can churn these through really quickly and come back with great bids.

And that's those are the folks that we want to be actively engaged in.

We understand that each business has a choice to make whether they're going to participate a lot in fixed income, a little or not at all.

And so we have to go back and say it it's not worth our time and energy, and we'd rather be in front of the people that want to be a competitive bidders.

Yep.

Okay.

Thanks for that.

That's good to know.

Um colleagues, any questions or comments on that one?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

I'm number eight, we've got a resolution uh approving payments to the Kent County Drain Commissioner for maintenance work to the Paris drain uh not to exceed $25,000.

Solo.

Support.

All right, moved and supported.

Good morning.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Dan Taber, Stormwater Manager.

Uh this is for uh I would consider general maintenance work on the Paris drain.

Uh the Paris drain itself is actually located entirely in uh the city of Kentwood, but the the drainage area, so the applicable area that would get assessed includes uh uh 32 percent of the city of Grand Rapids.

Uh I'd say the southwest corner of the the southeast side of the city.

Uh this is really just for uh general drain maintenance work, some debris removal, cleanup, uh uh soil erosion prevention.

So uh I would say uh typical drainage work here.

Okay, thanks.

Colleagues, any discussion?

All right.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Item number nine, we've got uh salary ordinance amending sections 3.1 and 3.2 of ordinance 2022-40.

Uh new classification for paralegal and arranged change for utilities director.

Some support.

All right, moved and supported.

Welcome.

Good morning.

Uh my name is Ovell Barby serving as the interim HR director here in support of Michelle Eddy.

Right.

So the utilities director, at the request of the executive office, the HR department reviewed the salary range for the utilities director classification.

The managing director position is currently classified in the 25U range, while the utilities director is set at a range of 26U.

In the interest of maintaining parity across executive leadership roles, we have requested the reclassification of the utilities director to be reclassified from a 26U to 25U.

For the paralegal role, at the request of the attorney's office, it was requested to add a new classification titled paralegal.

Over time, legal assistant positions have evolved.

These assistant positions have transitioned into more paralegal roles and responsibilities.

At this time, we are requesting your approval.

Awesome.

Thanks for the info.

Colleagues, any questions or thoughts on this one?

Alrighty.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

It carries.

Similarly, number 10, we've got a salary ordinance amending section 4.3 of ordinance 2022-32.

Uh, and this is range changes for our electrical inspector one and electrical inspector two rules.

Solo.

Support.

All right, moved and supported.

Okay.

All set.

Yeah, any anything to add on.

Oh, well, yeah, for the electrical inspector one and electrical inspector two.

At the request of the building inspections department, the HR department reviewed and updated the job requirements and the salary ranges for the electrical inspector one and two positions.

These changes are necessary to address the rapid evolution of electrical systems and the growing complexity of inspection work.

Advancements in electrical systems, home energy storage, and electrical vehicle charging stations have significantly increased the technical expertise required for these roles.

At the same time, the competitive job market has created challenges in attracting and retaining qualified inspectors.

Electrical Inspector One position was at the 21 AH salary range, and the electrical inspector two position was at the 24 AH salary range.

The classifications and salary ranges were reviewed and approved by the Civil Service Board on July 29th.

And at this time we are requesting your approval.

Awesome.

Thanks so much.

Alrighty.

Well, hearing or seeing no questions.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

The motion carries.

Thanks so much for being here.

Thank you.

Number 11, we've got our bid list resolution for August 12th, 2025.

So support.

All right.

Moved in support.

Ms.

Claren, you want to tell us about this one?

Uh just ten items this morning, all fairly routine.

I didn't note that there is.

I will note that there's bulk road salt, which means doesn't feel like it with winter is coming.

So if you have any questions, myself or the departments are here to answer.

Great.

I will pretend I didn't hear that.

Thanks.

And that begins on page 44 in the packet.

If anyone wants to go read through those items.

That said, I'll call the question.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed, it carries.

I'll turn to our city controller.

Good morning, Commissioners.

For the period reference there, uh cash payments were released totaling approximately $55.7 million, which includes uh just over six million dollars for employee payroll related payments and approximately $206,000 for income tax warrants in terms of quantity.

750 income tax refunds were issued and 651 uh checks and electronic uh payments uh were issued.

Uh all the funds uh cited above were issued by payment or issued for payment by individuals not uh in the city controller's office, uh not in accordance with the terms uh of the city charter.

And the purple note um below from the law department uh was added in, and I would just like to ask the uh deputy city attorney to please speak to the applicable regulations and laws that are being referred to uh in this note.

Could you please cite those regulations and laws?

Uh we've had that internal conversation with the client uh time and time again, so I'm satisfied that we've had that conversation.

Thank you.

So those can't be shared in a public uh meeting.

I I'll just gonna reiterate this is not the appropriate form to be discussing uh this matter, and we've been given instruction on on how to go about that.

So um well, that I'll turn to my colleagues and see if there's anything they want to add or ask.

Otherwise, we will go ahead and receive and file that.

Thank you.

Um lastly, we've got our treasures report for period July 16, 2025 uh through July 30th, 2025.

And with that, I will turn to our city treasurer.

Good morning, commissioners.

Morning.

Well, with our report today, there's a couple other things that have uh transpired, and we just had uh inflation numbers issued today, and the key point to that is they did come a little bit below expectation, but when you really peel it back, it's the c core CPI that we have to focus on.

That's for the Fed pays attached to because that excludes the high volatility items like energy and food.

That's trending upward.

That that was above expectations.

They're expecting 3.0 percent year over year, but it's 3.1.

So this is a much more clear indication of of where we're headed.

And so that's gonna put cause some challenges whether the Fed is gonna still maintain its way that it's gonna hold rates steady.

So it'll be interesting to see what the they build in the percentage of probability.

But with our report today, um, you know, the federal open market committee, they're looking at a two percent rate of inflation year over year.

We're not there yet.

Um when they actually look at the personal consumption expenditures, people are still spending money.

And so because they're spending money and we have tariffs that are in place and prices are still trending up, it hasn't infected uh affected their buying decisions yet.

And so we're watching savings stick decline, and and that's worrisome because you know we're spending now, and what's gonna happen later, we we don't know yet.

And that picture hasn't been drawn very clear for us yet.

But what investment officer Levi Bolt included in this is a diagram that comes from Bloomberg that shows what they're expecting to be the number of cuts or hikes going forward in the next uh basically uh almost year and a half, eighteen months.

And so even if this is a best-laid plan or scope of it, we're looking at still having an interest rate uh of three point two percent in January of 2027.

That's not declining very quickly.

So, you know, it's still gonna be uh a sticky environment as people are trying to issue bonds for projects.

Rates are still gonna be up there as people are trying to borrow money for homes and cars and everything else.

It's still gonna be up there, it's still gonna be high.

And so there's gonna be challenges too is as we see that uh if inflation is still there.

Um again, with this last uh committee meeting, it we wanted to note in our first paragraph that the vote was nine to two.

It wasn't a unanimous vote to keep rates the same.

Um you have that dissension, you kind of wonder what that dissension is.

Uh it just so has to be the two people that voted no are in line to potentially be the next chairman or chairperson of the Fed.

So, you know, you know, they're very solid individuals, but you know, you you wonder uh is the next vote gonna be eight to three, seven to four.

That's something we're gonna continue to watch on because it's more important to see what the statements are coming from these individuals as well as uh Chair Powell.

Uh each of these uh individuals on this panel on this committee are able to do public comment and different things and do give presentations nationally.

So it'll be interesting to see if they're uh gonna be speaking somewhere else and to see what type of message they project.

Um but I do want to reiterate that our the funds that we have uh we have eight hundred and fifty-nine million dollars.

Some of that is uh still school or the property tax money that we still have yet to distribute, um, but we're earning 3.56 percent.

And so we put those property tax dollars we collect into U.S.

treasuries until we actually spend that money out.

In fact, more than likely, the next report that we have at our next city commission meeting, city control is going to show you that we just released over a hundred million dollars of property tax money that we sent to the local taxing authorities.

Awesome.

Well, thanks for the information.

I know all eyes are on the Fed, so we'll continue to watch.

Um colleagues, any questions or or comments for our city treasurer?

No.

All right, hearing none, we'll go ahead and receive and file that then.

Um that concludes our meeting.

We'll go ahead and adjourn at 8 52 here, and then just as a reminder, community development is at 9 10 this morning.