Morning, everyone.

The time is now 9 16.

Apologies for my delay.

We can go ahead and call our community development committee meeting to order.

First is a resolution approving a watershed plan agreement and a project agreement with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and authorizing the city manager to approve documentation needed for natural resource conservation service funding for the Grand River revitalization.

Do you have a motion?

So moved.

Support.

Moved and supported.

Is this one of you, Mr.

McCall?

Yes, it is.

Good morning, Commissioners.

Back in 2023, the city in partnership with Grand Rapids Whitewater.

Um started or started pursuing funding administered by the National Resource Conservation Service, otherwise known as NRCS for the lower reach of their river project.

Um this work followed expiration of the um regional conservation partnership program provided through NRCS, which expired back in 2023.

Um in order to obligate NRCS funding, they require us to execute this watershed plan agreement and a project agreement.

These agreements outline that the city will install, operate, and maintain this uh in accordance with WPP-EA and applicable regulations.

Um it also provides the um for the funding that could be awarded under this um plan.

Um we don't know what that amount will be at this time.

Um but uh we hope to be able to execute the documents as um soon as possible once we have approval for this.

Um the project was also advertised for bid last week with a bid opening on January 13th.

So great.

Thank you for those updates, Mr.

McCall.

Colleagues, questions on this item.

Hearing none, all those in favor?

Hi.

Any opposed?

Motion carries.

Next is a resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Fashion Has Heart for use of the Veterans Memorial Park Building.

So moved.

Support moved and supported.

Ms.

Claypool?

Uh good morning.

Uh Laura Claypool with the Parks Department.

Um we're seeking approval of a resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Fashion Has Heart, their Grand Rapids Base nonprofit that has become a valued partner in activating the veterans park.

Has Heart has transformed the park building into a welcoming and inclusive space that honors both veterans and the community.

Under this three-year agreement, the organization will contribute 15% of net operating income, and the city will be responsible for some general utilities.

Thank you for this uh description.

Questions regarding this item.

Ms.

Claypool, could you share how how many is this the second term that this is so our first lease agreement was two years ago?

Okay, so this is second.

Okay.

We just clarified some things and cleaned up some language.

So great.

Thank you.

I think this is a part of that neighborhood looking for a little bit more activation.

I know certainly during art prize, a little bit more, but um, you know, hopefully uh can be continue to be a good use.

So questions on this one, colleagues.

Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries, thank you.

Um, and you'll stay for up for this one too.

Item number three is a resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Northeastern Little League of Grand Rapids for the use of Huff Park.

So moved.

Support.

So it's supported.

So items two and three are very similar.

So uh we're requesting approval of a resolution authorizing a three-year agreement uh with Northeastern Little League for use of fields at Huff Park.

Uh this agreement extends a decades-long partnership that has provided thousands thousands of youth with opportunity and access to inclusive baseball programming.

Uh Northern Little League will maintain the fields, cover the utility costs, and contribute to the vibrancy of the park uh through ongoing investment and volunteer support.

Great.

Thank you.

Um questions on this one, colleagues.

I'll just add, I know this past year um I remember having a CFR.

Thank you.

I remember having a CFR that was about Huff Park, and it was a lot of different things.

It was about parking, it was about some of the pavement, it was about um just different facilities, and there were you and a number of people were involved on that CFR.

I think I think there was like five people on that CFR.

And I just want to say thank you to you and those that were involved with that.

There's this is you know, a lot of people swarm here for these days and a lot of traffic and a lot of options.

So just wanted to highlight that.

All those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries.

And the item number four is a resolution authorizing a lease agreement with Southern Little League for the use of the McKay JC's park.

Do you have a motion?

So moved.

Support.

Uh so very similar to the last one.

Uh, we're this resolution would authorize a three-year lease agreement with Southern Little League for continued use and stewardship at McKay JC Park.

Um, similar to the other agreement.

Similar to the other agreement, this agreement extends a very long-standing partnership that has introduced generations of youth to the game of baseball in a safe, inclusive and programmed environment.

Southern Little League will maintain the fields and facilities, cover utility costs, and operate concessions during league events, helping to activate and care for this very well loved park.

Thank you.

Questions, colleagues?

I have a question.

Yes, Commissioner.

Good morning.

Good morning.

I'm just it's more universal question.

Um for these last two items.

Um it was mentioned that the little leagues would cover the maintenance, the utility costs.

So I'm just curious about um kind of the thinking of uh passing on the cost in in light of having a millage and where we we upkeep all these spaces.

So I'm just curious, just kind of the approach of the department, maybe historically or now, of how you all kind of determine that.

And I'm also thinking about MLK Lodge and add activating that and the cost of rent of our of that space.

Um kind of more broadly a little bit, but connected here of our philosophy and our approach to kind of charging the public for for use in in light of all the public resources we have going to our our public park spaces.

Sure.

So both of these organizations have made significant investments in those park spaces to be able to create the programming that they have.

Um and when I say decades long relationship, um I the one at McKay C I think is 50 plus years old, so it is a a decade-long relationship where we have worked side by side with them and during certain periods in the city's growth.

Um, you know, we've had park spaces that have really struggled, and we've leaned heavily on our partners to continue to activate those spaces, especially when resources for especially type for the parks department.

Okay, thank you for that.

I'd be interested more broadly in kind of exploring that.

I think uh we've been talking a little bit about in light of the MLK Lodge, especially as I mentioned, and um all these spaces, but obviously very in support of this, but um just trying to get to our our philosophy on how we make these decisions.

Yeah, I think we could definitely as we go through the budgetary process, we could share um some of the different kind of levels of arrangements, um, what that looks like as you said.

I know there were 2008, 2009 were really lean years for the city, so I know just from my my predecessor, some of those investments that happened, but I'm sure um we could take a look at that when we get to that point.

Absolutely.

So thank you, Commissioner, for that.

Thank you.

Um all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, next is a resolution awarding a contract with Hearst Inc.

doing business as Hearst Mechanical for HVAC and hot water boiler replacement at the police administration building in the amount of 783,495 with a total amount not to exceed 1,183,850.

Support Mr.

McCall.

Yes, this project um includes demolition of two existing heating boilers, two domestic uh water heating boilers, and two heat pump boilers.

Um these are all gas-fired.

Um the new ones will be um per uh powered by steam, and there'll be uh steam to water heat exchanger, and this is uh there was a study done kind of comparing gas versus steam, and the study concluded that um this was um the most um uh it's best for the overall carbon footprint and also long-term maintenance for the city.

Um it does fall in line with the city sustainability plan.

Um the the little bitter purse mechanical, we only received one bid.

The bid was about 21% under the engineers' estimate.

Um they're not using any MLBEs, but they are subcontracting um approximately a hundred thousand dollars worth of work.

Um it is kind of specialized work with HVAC.

Um it's where they're self-performing the majority of the work.

So thank you for the overview questions, colleagues on this item.

I do, Chair.

Um I am curious if this then is part of the steam district or a way to connect our sir our building to the existing infrastructure.

Um or if we have considered that through vicinity and the steam district, yeah.

Um I'm pretty sure it would be connected to vicinity.

I mean, if it's powered by steam, so it I'll I can check into that, but I'm pretty certain.

I mean, okay, thank you.

They wouldn't be producing their own steam, so question.

Yes.

Uh thank you, Chair.

Um, what will be what's the expected life of this investment?

Um the demolition of the the heating boilers, heat pumps, the new installation of the steam piping.

Just curious how long we expect something like this to last.

I think typically mechanicals are in the 20 to 25 year lifespan.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Um hearing no other questions, all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries.

Item number six is a resolution approving an amendment to grant agreement with the state of Michigan for the construction of fire department facilities.

Do you have a motion?

Support moved and supported Mr.

McCall.

Uh yes, Commissioners.

This um request is to amend an existing agreement that was approved back in May of 2004.

Um the grant provided for a $35 million grant to construct three different fire department facilities, $8 million for the Kendall Fire Station, 12 million for the Division Avenue Fire Station, and 15 million uh to construct the fire training campus at 850 panel.

Um it's become necessary to amend the grant agreement to combine these into one grant budget.

Currently there are three separate budgets.

Um the Kendall Fire Station came in under budget, so we're hoping to use leftover funds there on the other two projects, and then also this will allow a general administration line to be added to the um grant budget to allow for costs associated with engineering to manage the project.

Great.

Um this will not be any increase or decrease to the previously approved grant.

Okay, great.

Thank you.

I see the chief shaking his head in the back of that line.

Noted for the record.

Um all right, thank you for this update.

It's you know kind of great to see these projects, especially at a time where some state money is being clawed back and things like that.

So any other questions, colleagues.

Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries.

Our last item today is a resolution approving an increase of ten thousand five hundred and thirty dollars for the road o'mill resurfacing of Cherry Street from Sheldon Avenue to Le Grave Avenue and from Prospect Avenue to 100 feet west of Madison Avenue for a total not to exceed $672,500.

Do you have a motion?

So moved.

Uh yes, during construction, um, this called for a manhole replacement in Cherry Street with a precast manhole.

Um, existing utilities did not allow the pre-cast manhole to be placed.

Um, there had to be quite a bit of utility relocation and a cast in place structure to be placed.

Um, this resulted in some additional cost to the project.

Um ultimately the bids were a little bit lower than what was approved back in February.

Um, but the way the splits went between the different project funds, the the street lighting share increased where the sewer fund and street lighting or uh vital street shares decreased a little bit.

So um we do have final costs from the contractors now.

Um thus the request to um increase the overall not to exceed.

Great.

Thank you, Jeff.

Um questions, colleagues on this one.

Hearing none, all those in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Item carries, and with that, at 929, it's our last community development meeting of 2025.

So don't be sad.

Um I think I'm uh we'll be back here.

I don't know if it's all of us again.

I have to remember on the appointment.

So the mayor did submit the appointments for our standing committees, but thank you everybody for your time.

And again, my apologies for my tardiness, and we'll see you at 10 o'clock.

Thanks.