Grand Rapids City Commission Meeting – February 24, 2026: Public Outcry Over Police Killing, Distillery Approvals, and Boston Square Amendment
Grand Rapids City Commission Meeting – February 24, 2026
The Grand Rapids City Commission met on February 24, 2026, to consider routine business, but the meeting was dominated by public comment and commissioner responses regarding the recent police killing of Daquan Johnson and broader concerns about policing, ICE collaboration, and community safety. The commission also approved consent agenda items, resolutions for an industrial development district and a 12-year tax exemption for Long Road Distillers, and an ordinance amending the planned redevelopment district for the Boston Square Together project.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the consent agenda, including routine approvals and reports.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Police Accountability and Daquan Johnson: Over 30 community members spoke, expressing anger, grief, and demands for justice after Daquan Johnson was shot and killed by GRPD on February 17, 2026. Many called for the release of the officer’s name, full unedited body camera footage, and policy changes regarding canine use, pursuit policies, and accountability. Several speakers noted the historical pattern of police violence against Black residents and criticized the commission for inaction.
- Long Road Distillery: Three speakers addressed the distillery items: one opposed expansion due to alcohol’s harm; one supported the business and its jobs; one opposed cooperation with Long Road due to its alleged ties to ICE and a boycott by immigrant rights groups.
- ICE and Sanctuary City: Multiple speakers demanded the city adopt sanctuary policies, end cooperation with ICE, and reject surveillance tools like Flock cameras.
- 3D Printing and Budget: One speaker advocated for 3D-printed housing and urged the city to schedule budget sessions at times accessible to the community.
Discussion Items
- Commissioner Comments: Commissioners Purdue, Kilgore, Isassi, Belcher, Knight, and Mayor LeGrand each responded to public comments. They acknowledged the community’s pain, listed past reforms (e.g., youth interaction policy, foreign national policy, oversight office, mental health co-response), and committed to further review of K9 deployment, pursuit policies, and the OPA complaint intake process. Commissioner Isassi noted that Flock cameras were grandfathered from surveillance policy but that a report was presented in public safety committee. Mayor LeGrand emphasized the need for collective deliberation and promised continued work on justice issues.
- Appointment for Vacancy: City Manager Washington reported that a process to fill the First Ward vacancy was discussed in committee and will be finalized soon.
Key Outcomes
- Industrial Development District for Long Road Distillers: Resolution passed (voice vote, mayor recused).
- 12-Year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate for Long Road Distillers: Companion resolution approved (voice vote).
- Major Amendment to Planned Redevelopment District at 1150 Adams Avenue (Boston Square Together): Ordinance adopted unanimously on roll call (6-0).
- Commitments: Commissioner Purdue called for immediate review of pursuit policy, K9 policy, and OPA complaint intake process. City Manager and City Attorney stated they are already working on these issues. Mayor LeGrand announced continued conversations at Mayor’s Mondays (next in March) and a coffee hour on March 13.
Meeting Transcript
The City Commission order. Um as is our want, I would ask you to join us by beginning of the meeting with a moment of silence. Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. For which it stands under God with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Uh Mr. Clerk, if you call the roll. Commissioner Kilgar. Present. Commissioner Knight. Present. Commissioner Balchak. Here. Commissioner Asassi. Present. Mayor LeGrand? Yes. Commissioner Purdue's on our way. Right. So we expect Commissioner Purdue momentarily. Um, but I would like to ask for a motion to excuse Commissioner Robbins. So moved. Support. Thank you. Uh this brings us to vote. Oh, right. Uh all in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. All posed. Motion carries. Uh that brings us to our next item. If the our interpreter could come up and introduce themselves, we have an interpreter for Spanish to English and English to Spanish is necessary. So if you can say that in Spanish, that'd be great. Thank you. That brings us to our first opportunity for public comment. This is public comment on items that are on the agenda. So if you could introduce yourself and tell us where you live and tell us what item on the agenda you're addressing, we'd welcome your comments. Speaking on the resolution of you guys uh changing your preliminary plenary preliminary fiscal uh plan starting in December. Uh as you guys have invested into 3D printing construction, or not in not directly invest into it, but actually adopted it into his plan until 2031 because of me. Uh I would like for the city to actually invest into uh potential 3D printers. Am I in order? Am I in order, David? Uh well if you're telling if you're addressing our changing the date, if you want to if you want to speak to our changing the date of the meeting, that would be great. All right, cool. So I would like for y'all to be able to do this at a time where the community can actually give feedback or listen to these preliminary preliminary fiscal budget sessions that you guys give because this is the city's fiscals, this is the city's taxes. Um I believe that the community should definitely be engaged and highly engaged and give feedback on the uh uh plen uh pleliminary budget, it's a lot. But I would really like for the community to get engaged, especially with our uh police department. Um you guys do control the budget for the police department, so I would like for the city to directly the community to directly be engaged once you guys change those dates, change it to a date where the community can actually come and give feedback. If you guys could be really transparent and let the uh the community know on your Facebook page or social outlets, uh we'd like to know when those preliminary sessions are happening, so we can give you guys direct feedback on the budget.
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