OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids City Commission Meeting Summary - August 26, 2025

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 26, 2025
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 26, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:03:50

Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Call a meeting to order.

0:03

Thank you all for being here.

0:05

Our first item of business is a resolution to adopt the 2026 City Commission meeting schedule.

0:11

So moved.

0:12

Support.

0:13

That of obviously most directly uh affects the people up on the dice here.

0:17

My understanding is uh our clerk is run that by everybody and uh the proposed uh uh meetings time uh makes sense for everyone.

0:26

Um the public will know when they are when we get when we get it published.

0:30

But uh as long as there's if is there any further discussion about that?

0:34

Great.

0:35

Then I would ask for uh a vote.

0:38

Um all in favor of the proposed uh calendar, say aye.

0:41

Aye.

0:42

All opposed, passes.

0:44

Uh that brings us to our second resolution.

0:46

Uh this is the next step on our Bretton Meadows project, and Ms.

0:50

Ronero is here.

0:51

Can I have a motion?

0:52

So move.

0:53

Support.

0:55

Good morning.

0:55

Yes, this is the final step here uh for the Breton Meadows uh project.

0:59

This is uh to just jog the memory.

1:02

This is a demolition of a former grocery store.

1:04

Uh converting converting that uh parcel to seven new uh residential, multi-family residential uh buildings for 168 new apartments uh with uh 28 million in total construction costs and about half of those units being dedicated for tenants under a hundred percent AMI.

1:28

Great.

1:28

And we were all here for previous discussion.

1:31

I don't know if there's any need for further discussion.

1:33

Obviously, we were all very excited, I think, and positive about it the last meeting.

1:37

Um any discussion at this point?

1:40

All right.

1:40

Then um seeing none, uh I'll ask for a vote.

1:44

All in favor of moving this forward.

1:46

Aye.

1:47

Aye.

1:47

All opposed.

1:48

All right, motion passes.

1:50

Thank you.

1:50

And Ms.

1:50

Rennero, why don't you bring us to the same step on the next project?

1:54

Yes, this is the last step here for the 280 and project.

1:57

Next step going to uh the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, similar to the last project.

2:02

Uh this is a project that was approved back in 22 at commission for the same exact scope.

2:07

It's a new four-story building being added onto an existing office building to add 44 residential units.

2:14

Um now we are adding uh housing eligible activities with the change in Act 381.

2:21

And so this is a project um that's going to cover 4.2 million dollars roughly in eligible activities for the new housing uh TIFF across 11 point seven million in total capital costs.

2:34

Great.

2:34

Can I have a motion?

2:35

So moved.

2:36

Support.

2:37

Uh any discussion?

2:38

Again, uh looks like a great project and a lot of positive comments about it earlier on.

2:43

Um so any seeing no discussion right now, uh all in favor, say aye.

2:47

Aye.

2:48

Aye.

2:48

All opposed.

2:49

That brings us to our next item.

2:51

Uh thank you, Ms.

2:52

Renero.

2:52

Um this is a uh resolution approving the appointment of an interim city manager, which is a attorney.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Technology and Innovation████████████████16%
Personnel Matters███████████████15%
Procedural███████7%
Community Engagement████4%
Affordable Housing███3%
Active Transportation███3%
Public Safety██2%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids City Commission Meeting Summary - August 26, 2025

The Grand Rapids City Commission met on August 26, 2025, to address several agenda items, including routine approvals, a presentation on Art Prize 2025, an update on Tech Week Grand Rapids, and the appointment of an interim city attorney. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

  • Adoption of 2026 City Commission Meeting Schedule: Approved unanimously.
  • Breton Meadows Project: Final step approved for demolition of a former grocery store to construct seven multi-family buildings (168 apartments, $28 million total cost, half under 100% AMI).
  • 280 and Project: Final step approved for a four-story addition to an existing office building (44 residential units, $4.2 million eligible activities under Act 381, $11.7 million total capital costs).
  • Resolution Authorizing Art Prize 2025: Approved unanimously, including provisions for street closures, pyrotechnics, and park activations.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were recorded.

Discussion Items

Appointment of Interim City Attorney

  • The Commission recognized outgoing City Attorney Anita Hitchcock for her 26 years of service. Mayor, commissioners, and City Manager expressed gratitude for her leadership and dedication.
  • Deputy City Attorney Phil Strom was appointed as interim city attorney, effective upon Hitchcock's retirement. Strom expressed gratitude and commitment to a smooth transition and an inclusive search for a permanent replacement.
  • A reception in honor of Hitchcock was announced for later that day, with a larger community gathering on September 10, 2025.

Art Prize 2025 Update and Resolution

  • Executive Director Catelyn Whittington presented the 2025 Art Prize, scheduled for September 18 – October 4, 2025. Highlights included:
    • 795,000 visitors and $70 million economic impact in 2024.
    • 1,100 artists, 931 entries, 155 venues (down from 160), 27 countries represented.
    • $100,000 grand prizes for public vote and juried categories, $50,000 in visibility awards (BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, artists with disabilities), and venue awards.
    • New programs: pitch nights in five cities, hero grants, Borealis immersive experience, and Biophilia exhibit.
    • Educational field trips targeting 3,000 students, curriculum guides, and 12 workshops.
  • Commissioners expressed enthusiasm and noted the importance of expanding reach into underserved areas like the Third Ward. Discussion included challenges with venue density and transportation.
  • The resolution authorizing the event was approved unanimously.

Tech Week Grand Rapids Update

  • Andrea Ramkumar, Director of Tech Week GR, presented the fourth annual Tech Week, beginning September 15, 2025. Highlights included:
    • Growth from 3,000 attendees in first year to 16,000 in 2024, with over 115 events and 250 companies involved.
    • Featured speaker: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (kickoff event sold out).
    • Core goals: elevating the region as a tech hub, strengthening talent pipeline (including a tech showcase for 2,000 students from under-resourced communities), deepening engagement, and enhancing attendee experience.
    • LinkedIn ranked Grand Rapids #1 city on the rise, citing tech and Tech Week.
  • Commissioners praised the initiative and its synergy with Art Prize.

Key Outcomes

  • All resolutions passed unanimously by voice vote.
  • Authorization for Art Prize 2025 (September 18 – October 4) and related city services (set-up from September 1, removal by October 10).
  • Appointment of Phil Strom as interim city attorney.
  • The meeting moved into closed session at 11:25 AM to discuss ongoing litigation.

Meeting Transcript

Call a meeting to order. Thank you all for being here. Our first item of business is a resolution to adopt the 2026 City Commission meeting schedule. So moved. Support. That of obviously most directly uh affects the people up on the dice here. My understanding is uh our clerk is run that by everybody and uh the proposed uh uh meetings time uh makes sense for everyone. Um the public will know when they are when we get when we get it published. But uh as long as there's if is there any further discussion about that? Great. Then I would ask for uh a vote. Um all in favor of the proposed uh calendar, say aye. Aye. All opposed, passes. Uh that brings us to our second resolution. Uh this is the next step on our Bretton Meadows project, and Ms. Ronero is here. Can I have a motion? So move. Support. Good morning. Yes, this is the final step here uh for the Breton Meadows uh project. This is uh to just jog the memory. This is a demolition of a former grocery store. Uh converting converting that uh parcel to seven new uh residential, multi-family residential uh buildings for 168 new apartments uh with uh 28 million in total construction costs and about half of those units being dedicated for tenants under a hundred percent AMI. Great. And we were all here for previous discussion. I don't know if there's any need for further discussion. Obviously, we were all very excited, I think, and positive about it the last meeting. Um any discussion at this point? All right. Then um seeing none, uh I'll ask for a vote. All in favor of moving this forward. Aye. Aye. All opposed. All right, motion passes. Thank you. And Ms. Rennero, why don't you bring us to the same step on the next project? Yes, this is the last step here for the 280 and project. Next step going to uh the Michigan State Housing Development Authority, similar to the last project. Uh this is a project that was approved back in 22 at commission for the same exact scope. It's a new four-story building being added onto an existing office building to add 44 residential units. Um now we are adding uh housing eligible activities with the change in Act 381. And so this is a project um that's going to cover 4.2 million dollars roughly in eligible activities for the new housing uh TIFF across 11 point seven million in total capital costs. Great. Can I have a motion? So moved. Support.

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