Grand Rapids City Committee of the Whole Meeting - October 7, 2025
Grand Rapids City Committee of the Whole Meeting - October 7, 2025
The Grand Rapids City Committee of the Whole convened on October 7, 2025, to consider several resolutions and discuss the annual performance report covering health and environment, mobility, and safety. All six resolutions were adopted, and commissioners provided feedback to inform the upcoming retreat and budget decisions.
Resolutions Adopted
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Special Events Authorization (Chapter 53): Approved a slate of special events from October 2025 through April 2026. The Diwali Festival of Lights, scheduled for October 21, 2025, at 2525 Lennett Avenue, received permission to discharge consumer-grade fireworks. Each event must provide certificates of insurance and event action plans. (Motion carried unanimously.)
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Election Day Polling Locations: Authorized all precincts except one for the upcoming election; Keno Shea School was consolidated with Brookside due to construction, with notice mailed to affected households. Commissioner Knight voted against the resolution, arguing that closing polling locations — including half in the Third Ward — undermines access to the ballot in Black and brown communities. The mayor expressed appreciation for the clerk's coordination. (Motion carried with one dissenting vote.)
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Liquor License for Elite District LLC: Granted a development district liquor license for the former Elite restaurant at 100 Division Avenue. The project involves substantial renovation of two storefronts. The city clerk noted that development district licenses are not subject to population-based quotas. (Motion carried unanimously.)
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Brownfield Plan Amendment – 443 Sheldon: Approved for a new all-electric, solar-powered building at Wealthy and Division, creating 26 apartments and 13 parking spaces. Six units will be set at or below 60% area median income (AMI). (Motion carried unanimously.)
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Brownfield Plan Amendment – Powers Place: Approved for eight new townhomes at 764 and 800 Powers Avenue, with one unit restricted at or below 100% AMI. Total project cost is $2.7 million, with $1.1 million in eligible housing tax increment financing (TIF) activities. (Motion carried unanimously.)
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Beacon Hill Project Plan and Bond Issuance: Approved a $190 million investment to expand and renovate the retirement community at Boston and Plymouth, adding 149 units (rehab and new construction). The city commission's approval is a procedural step for the developer to issue bonds through the Economic Development Corporation. (Motion carried unanimously.)
Annual Performance Report Discussion
The committee continued its review of the FY2025 annual performance report, covering three sections: health and environment, mobility, and safety. Staff gave abbreviated presentations, reserving time for commissioner questions and input ahead of the November 13 retreat.
Health and Environment: Highlights included the first climate risk and vulnerability assessment, launch of the Solarize program, replacement of over 1,700 lead service lines, lining or replacement of nearly 4 miles of sanitary sewer and 2.5 miles of water mains, a pilot organics collection program (diverting about 1.5 tons at city facilities), and progress on renewable energy contracts. Commissioner Sasi expressed support for additional tree canopy investments and faster stump removal (currently a one-year wait). Commissioner Culver asked about dog parks; staff reported a study identified a need for four larger dog parks, with the first planned in the Third Ward at McKay C Park, and pop-up dog parks being explored.
Mobility: Staff reviewed Vital Streets program progress (committed to 70% good/fair condition overall), including miles reconstructed/resurfaced, sidewalk improvements, bike facilities (including separated bike lanes), parking portfolio analysis, and the DASH and DART transit services. DASH ridership has recovered after returning to full service. Safety metrics showed an increase in crashes with serious injuries and fatalities; staff noted ongoing analysis and engineering improvements. Commissioner Purdue expressed frustration about lack of progress on scooter and bicycle safety, especially helmet use and behavior; City Manager acknowledged complexity and suggested deeper discussion at the retreat. Commissioner Kilgore advocated for more protected bike lanes and data-driven usage metrics (e.g., bike counters). Commissioner Belcher emphasized the equity framework visible in transportation investments.
Safety: Staff reported the police department now exceeds 300 officers (first time in seven years), with 10 new hires in the past year and a third co-response social worker funded for night shifts. Key achievements included a $500,000 federal grant for domestic violence, new fire stations funded through federal/state grants, a new emergency manager, and continued Cure Violence partnerships (over 4,000 interactions, 127 high-risk individuals served, 288 mediations). The Office of Oversight and Public Accountability processed over 610 expungement applications and conducted 31 know-your-rights workshops. Homicides year-to-date were 10, below the prior year. Commissioner Knight raised concerns about displacement of homeless individuals due to development in the Third Ward; staff committed to improving resource communication with businesses. Commissioner Sasi asked about tracking illegal firearms; Police Chief Venhuysen explained federal limitations (Tiahrt Amendment) but noted improved enforcement.
Key Outcomes
- All six resolutions were adopted; the election polling locations resolution passed with one dissenting vote by Commissioner Knight.
- The annual performance report discussion concluded; staff will provide a written response to outstanding questions (e.g., economic development KPIs).
- Commissioners identified topics for the November 13 retreat, including micromobility regulations, safety, protected bike lanes, parking governance, equity, and other items raised during the meeting.
- The meeting adjourned to a closed session to discuss a legal opinion.
Meeting Transcript
The microphone. I'm gonna call committee of the whole to order. First item of business is a resolution authorizing uh special events uh chapter 53 of the city code. So moved. Uh and who do we have to talk about this for us? Ms. Pittman. Good morning. All right. Uh so this um uh resolution uh request um there should have been an attachment listing all of the events that are occurring uh between October of this year and April of 2026. All of those events will be required, of course, to have their certificate of insurance as well as their event action plan. Um and we work, of course, very close with other city departments to make sure that all of the requirements are met. I especially want to call out the Diwali Festival of Lights on Tuesday, October 21st from 8 to 9. They are requesting to discharge consumer grade fireworks. They are located at 2525 Lennart. Great. Um any discussion, colleagues. Seeing none, all in favor of authorizing this group, uh say aye. Aye aye, all opposed. Motion carries. Yes. May I just for upon the personal privilege? I want to thank Ms. Pittman for all of her event planning and coordination over a very busy and active summer, and uh has done a very uh good job, particularly in coordinating with the most recent RPRIS event. So thank you for your work. Thank you. Thanks. Um so uh next item on the agenda is a resolution on election day polling locations. Um and I suppose our city clerk's gonna discuss that. Yes? So moved. Support. Yes. Um so we have upcoming election. Um the only thing on the agenda for most of the city is the Kent Your Immediate School District, and then we have a couple of voters in the Godwin Heights school district that has a um milletry quest. So we are opening um all of our precincts except for one Keno Shea school is under um construction so the election commission consolidated um Kenoche with um Brookside a notice was mailed to every um household um in that in that voting precinct. Um and then we are not I'm not requesting any uh change in pay for the uh election day or for the inspectors. Um those were the pay rates that from the previous election. Yeah. Um interesting to me that I've already voted, even though we haven't established polling locations. Um but uh uh any discussion. I yeah, we I got my absentee ballot, you probably got it too, uh Commissioner Kogar. You can mail it right in. Uh yeah, Commissioner. Thank you. Uh so this is an extension of the conversation we had earlier this year um considering changes to polling sites. Uh these changes include the ML elimination of several polling locations throughout the city, including half of them in the third war. So as a continuation of um my stance on that earlier this year, I still say consistent, and this is the wrong decision for us right now. I think since we had this conversation this spring, there's been even more apparent attacks on uh voice, free speech, democracy, and access to the ballot box. And so um I continue to say that this is the wrong choice for Grand Rapids.
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