And I'll turn on my mic.

Call us uh meeting of committee of the whole to order, and our first item is welcoming week proclamation.

And uh Mr.

Davis, you're gonna join us in the dais and um do we have uh uh someone from the chamber here as well?

I don't know.

I will repeat it.

Well I think so uh this is uh exciting and important, I think, for Grand Rapids.

Um we are, as I say a lot, a city that people want to move to and want to be in.

And uh it's really really a value of ours, and we I don't think we could be clearer that we want to be welcoming and inclusive and empowering of everyone who lives in our city now, but we also are a city that is glad to have people join us.

Uh and that's been true historically.

Uh I hear people all the time uh tell me that they moved somewhere else and then they came back to Grand Rapids because Grand Rapids was a place that wanted them to be there.

Um and our ability to be a welcoming community uh is absolutely key to our success.

And whether that's welcoming people from other countries or other states uh or other cities, uh we want to be a city that that says there's room for everyone, and we want new talent, new ideas, uh new energy, and can't have enough of it.

So uh our proclamation, I'm not gonna read the whole thing, but I'll read the high points.

Uh, whereas the success of Grand Rapids depends on ensuring that all Grand Rapidians are welcome, then new Grand Rapidians remain a vital part of our community, and alongside our longtime residents, they bring ideas, start businesses, serve in civic roles, and contribute to the vibrant diversity we value.

And there's a lot of other whereas, but uh whereas in the theme of the National Welcoming Week of 2025 is stories we share, and it's focused on celebrating differences, spotting commonalities, and building understanding through the stories we share.

Now, therefore, I David LeGrand, mayor of the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, do hereby proclaim September 12 to 21, 2025 as welcoming week in Grand Rapids and call on residents and stakeholders in Grand Rapids to join together in building a stronger community in Grand Rapids and relationships with all our neighbors and to renew our commitment to our common values and to take actions in the spirit of welcoming.

So thank you all.

Yeah.

Thank you, Mayor, City Commission, City Manager, and appointed officials.

Uh we just want to welcome some of our guests who have come in today.

First of all, uh, we're grateful for our partnership uh with the uh West Michigan Welcome Plan and all the people that serve on that steering committee.

Uh see representatives joining us now, uh, including representatives from the chamber, Samaritas, uh, and also from our employee resource groups.

And I just want to take a minute again to celebrate the amazing work that's done by our our employees here at the City of Grand Rapids.

They uh really live this value and push to make sure that we are a welcoming community.

We're proud to be a welcoming community and proud of the work that's happening here.

We'd also like to take this point to just welcome you all or invite you all to the West Michigan 2025 global gathering, which will be held on September 13th at Garfield Park from 12 to 6 p.m.

There are flyers in the lobby.

Again, that's uh a global gathering, which will be September 13th at Garfield Park from 12 to 6 p.m.

There will be cultural presentation, the global market, fashion show, resource vendors, uh dance and family activities is gonna be a good time.

Uh so again, thank you all, and thank you all for your amazing work.

Yep, we'll hit up.

What's up date?

I don't think we met the topic.

I know.

I think it's my hearing.

All right, moving along.

Uh that brings us to uh the next, which is uh potential resolution to set a public hearing date for an application for issuance of economic development bonds submitted by the Michigan Christian home uh doing business as Beacon Hill at Eastgate.

Um and Ms.

Rennero, um take it away.

Yes, good morning, thank you.

Uh yes, this is to help schedule a public hearing for the 23rd.

The 23rd, yes, 23rd.

Uh for uh the EDC and its evaluation of issuance of bonds and the not to exceed amount of 190 million to help exp uh with the expansion and renovation of Beacon Hill retirement community.

Uh this project will include the expansion and revitalization of the western portion of the campus and the re uh the removal of a functionally obsolete building being the assistant living and memory care buildings.

Um the existing skilled nerve nursing building will be renovated to accommodate up to 29 new units, and the newly constructed uh building will house 101 new independent living apartments along with 48 new traditional assisted living unit residences.

So it's a little bit on the um the project itself.

This the public hearing is really to evaluate the project plan, uh which gets into more detail than I just described, and also will serve as the uh TEFRA hearing, which refers to federal tax equity and fiscal responsibility act of 1982, uh which is one of the many steps that we're uh clearing to uh help issuance of bonds through the economic development corporation.

Great.

Can I have a motion?

So moved.

Support.

Uh any discussion, Commissioners.

Um the one thing that I guess it's worth maybe pointing out for the public, this is issuance of bonds by that entity, and they need our approval, but it doesn't impede it doesn't impair our uh credit rating or our put any obligations on the city per se.

And so it doesn't have any financial implications for the city.

Yes, correct.

Thank you.

Great.

Uh okay.

See no other discussion.