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Record of Proceedings

City Council Committee on Appointments Meeting - January 27, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, January 27, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, January 27, 2026
StatusFILED
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Appointments to order at 8 a.m.

0:05

Right on time.

0:06

Happy everyone made it in safe.

0:09

Hope uh folks are safe out there uh watching.

0:12

Please give yourself extra time and stay home if you can.

0:16

Um in my newscaster weather voice.

0:20

A lot of people and check the tires.

0:22

Oh my goodness.

0:23

Ball tires are dangerous.

0:25

Okay.

0:26

So we will we've only got a few things on our agenda today.

0:28

We'll move to our first item, which is a resolution confirming Mare Legrand's appointment of Terry Baker to the Mobile GR Commission.

0:35

So moved.

0:36

Support.

0:37

All right, moved and support it.

0:38

Comments on this appointment, colleagues.

0:42

Rather important commission that has a lot of uh important conversation going on, such as uh doubling parking fees currently.

0:52

Uh that was an interesting conversation I saw on the news recently.

0:56

So I will be paying attention to that commission even more.

0:59

Uh so I'm hopeful that this person uh is also paying attention.

1:04

All right, all those in favor.

1:06

Aye.

1:06

Those opposed, motion carries.

1:08

Brings us to our second resolution confirming Mary Legrand's appointment of Andrew Andrew Roher to the Bobble GR Commission.

1:16

So moved.

1:16

Support.

1:17

Moved and supported.

1:18

Comments, colleagues.

1:20

Yes, Commissioner.

1:21

Remind me, is this one a reappointment or this is a new appointment?

1:24

This is a new appointment.

1:25

And this is a mayoral appointment as well, right?

1:27

Yep, okay.

1:28

Obviously, it's right there.

1:29

Sorry.

1:30

All right.

1:32

Seeing no further comment, uh, all those in favor.

1:36

Aye.

1:36

Those opposed, motion carries.

1:39

And lastly, if Miss Bosker, if you could guide us through uh our vacancy on our board in commissions.

1:45

Yes, we have quite a few vacancies.

1:48

Um, but we are making lots of progress.

1:50

And um pending just moving along with vetting February should clean a lot of this up.

1:56

We have North Quarter CIA and West Side CIA appointments planned.

2:01

Those are mayoral appointments.

2:02

Um Historic Preservation Commission appointment.

2:06

Um, another mobile GR and Vital Streets mayoral appointments are planned.

2:12

Um, and then also I'm working on the large batch reappointment of the economic development department members to get them in line with that summer six month later term end date.

2:24

Gotcha.

2:25

Thank you so much, Ms.

2:26

Bosker.

2:26

And uh the um which is what board did I just make a recent appointment to the civilian appeals board, right?

2:35

Yep, civilian appeal board that should be uh in February for sure.

2:39

Okay.

2:39

Um your appointment, and then there's a couple others that are in deliberation, and so we'll make progress towards getting everybody back in line on that body as well.

2:49

Yeah, I'm really looking forward to that.

2:50

I think that's a rather important board.

2:52

I believe I believe each member of the commission has an appointment.

2:56

I know Commissioner Beljack, thank you for submitting your appointment as well.

2:59

So I'm happy that that body, uh all of our boards and commissions are important.

3:04

Um, but that body will have some renewed energy uh and and sense of urgency on on their task ahead.

3:10

So I'm really excited about that.

3:12

All right, any further comments, you all?

3:14

Yes, Commissioner.

3:16

Point of personal privilege, Mr.

3:17

Chair.

3:17

That was the first board I sat on in 2006, all those years back.

3:23

It's hard to believe I was old enough at that time.

3:25

But um, no, that was eighth grade or something.

3:28

Yeah, I know.

3:29

Right fresh, but it was a really good it was a good experience, and so just want to highlight that.

3:35

Um, and I think please let me know if um we need to follow up with any of our colleagues on any of the appointments.

3:41

I'm happy to help with that as well.

3:43

Um I did also, and I know uh Miss Bosker again been keeping us on task.

3:49

There's the one that is a city commission appointment for the parks and recreation committee.

3:54

I I shared some thoughts with you in terms of just um you know, hopefully looking at a good balance of engagement and yeah, that these are all really important, and yes, thank you for the reminder, Commissioner.

4:08

Um, our colleagues who certainly we should reach out to our colleagues in our uh respective wards to let them know that they have an appointment as well on at least the civilian appeals board just to get the the thoughts running uh for uh these new appointments.

4:24

All right.

4:25

Any further comments?

4:27

Yes, Commissioner.

4:28

Oh yes.

4:29

Um, could we review the resignations as well?

4:33

There are not any resignations, no resignations, okay.

4:36

But you said so far we've had there'll be in this month and next month three appointments, new appointments to mobile GR.

4:44

Correct.

4:45

At least three, probably a fourth.

4:47

Okay.

4:48

Well, next month.

4:48

Is that terms?

4:50

Is that just other personal reasons for uh that was as a result of at the end of last year, people were term limited.

4:56

Okay.

4:57

Just wondering since it seemed like a high number.

4:59

Thank you.

5:00

Yes, Commissioner.

5:01

So I will just say that um I continue to be um recruiting, I guess, uh folks out in the community.

5:07

I've had the uh the chance to speak with some people in the J Ban Swan neighborhood, the West Grand neighborhood, uh a little bit in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, but I do consider continue to look for diversity as well as um some Spanish language, I think, and representing some different different parts of the community.

5:25

But um, there's a lot of people who are interested, but um I always remind them that we can't really consider them until they put in their application.

5:32

So um keep pointing people to the website on that.

5:37

Yes, follow through is very important.

5:39

Uh there's nothing we can do until we get to your thank you, Commissioner Belczek.

5:43

All right.

5:43

Well, that uh concludes our meeting for today.

5:46

Stay safe, stay warm, and we will adjourn the meeting the committee on appointments at 8 05 a.m.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Historic Preservation███████████████████30%
Summary of Proceedings

Summary of Committee on Appointments Meeting - January 27, 2026

The Committee on Appointments convened at 8:00 a.m. on January 27, 2026, to confirm two mayoral appointments, review the status of upcoming board and commission vacancies, and discuss recruitment strategies for diverse representation. The committee adjourned at 8:05 a.m. following the confirmation of two resolutions.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution 1: Confirmed the appointment of Terry Baker to the Mobile GR Commission; motion carried unanimously (Aye: All).
  • Resolution 2: Confirmed the appointment of Andrew Roher to the Bobble GR Commission; motion carried unanimously (Aye: All).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No formal public testimony was recorded. Discussions included a "point of personal privilege" by a Commissioner who sat on the Civilian Appeals Board since 2006, noting the significance of returning to the body with renewed energy. A Commissioner also expressed support for ensuring a balance of engagement and diversity during upcoming recruitment.

Discussion Items

  • Vacancy and Recruitment Status: Staff reported progress on cleaning up vacancies in the North Quarter CIA, West Side CIA, Historic Preservation Commission, Mobile GR, Vital Streets, and the Economic Development Department. The Civilian Appeals Board appointment is expected in February. Commissioner Belczek highlighted the importance of these bodies and requested clarification on the high number of appointments.
  • Reason for Appointment Volume: Staff clarified that the high volume of appointments (at least three to four for Mobile GR next month) is due to term limits at the end of the previous year, not resignations (as confirmed there were no resignations to review).
  • Recruitment Strategy: The committee discussed recruiting for diversity, including representation from the J B Ban Swan neighborhood, West Grand neighborhood, Roosevelt Park neighborhood, and bilingual (Spanish) candidates. Staff noted that interested community members must submit formal applications to be considered. A Commissioner supported outreach efforts to colleagues in respective wards to facilitate input on the Civilian Appeals Board.

Key Outcomes

  • Terry Baker confirmed for Mobile GR Commission.
  • Andrew Roher confirmed for Bobble GR Commission.
  • Staff to continue vetting and processing appointments for February.
  • Committee to direct attention to the Civilian Appeals Board and Economic Development Department reappointments to align terms with the Summer 2026 end date.
  • No new appointments were made during this meeting; future appointments are scheduled for February.

Meeting Transcript

Appointments to order at 8 a.m. Right on time. Happy everyone made it in safe. Hope uh folks are safe out there uh watching. Please give yourself extra time and stay home if you can. Um in my newscaster weather voice. A lot of people and check the tires. Oh my goodness. Ball tires are dangerous. Okay. So we will we've only got a few things on our agenda today. We'll move to our first item, which is a resolution confirming Mare Legrand's appointment of Terry Baker to the Mobile GR Commission. So moved. Support. All right, moved and support it. Comments on this appointment, colleagues. Rather important commission that has a lot of uh important conversation going on, such as uh doubling parking fees currently. Uh that was an interesting conversation I saw on the news recently. So I will be paying attention to that commission even more. Uh so I'm hopeful that this person uh is also paying attention. All right, all those in favor. Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. Brings us to our second resolution confirming Mary Legrand's appointment of Andrew Andrew Roher to the Bobble GR Commission. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Comments, colleagues. Yes, Commissioner. Remind me, is this one a reappointment or this is a new appointment? This is a new appointment. And this is a mayoral appointment as well, right? Yep, okay. Obviously, it's right there. Sorry. All right. Seeing no further comment, uh, all those in favor. Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. And lastly, if Miss Bosker, if you could guide us through uh our vacancy on our board in commissions. Yes, we have quite a few vacancies. Um, but we are making lots of progress. And um pending just moving along with vetting February should clean a lot of this up. We have North Quarter CIA and West Side CIA appointments planned. Those are mayoral appointments. Um Historic Preservation Commission appointment. Um, another mobile GR and Vital Streets mayoral appointments are planned. Um, and then also I'm working on the large batch reappointment of the economic development department members to get them in line with that summer six month later term end date. Gotcha. Thank you so much, Ms.

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