OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Committee on Appointments Meeting - April 14, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, April 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 19:15

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Good morning, everyone.

0:05

We will call the committee on appointments to order at 8 a.m.

0:09

We have a few items on our agenda starting with the resolution confirming Mayor LeGram's appointment of Danielle Daniel Savage to the Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board.

0:20

So moved.

0:21

Moved and supported.

0:22

Comments on this appointment, colleagues.

0:27

Seeing none, all those in favor?

0:29

Aye.

0:29

Aye.

0:30

Those opposed, motion carries.

0:32

Brings us to our second resolution recognizing Commissioner Knight's appointment of Ronisha Harden to the Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board.

0:39

So moved.

0:39

Support.

0:40

Moved and supported.

0:41

Comments, colleagues.

0:45

Seeing none, all those in favor?

0:47

Aye.

0:47

Aye.

0:47

Those opposed, motion carries.

0:50

Brings us to our third resolution confirming City Manager Washington's reappointment to of Monica App to the Grand Rapids Housing Commission.

0:58

So moved.

0:59

Support.

1:00

Moved and support it.

1:01

Comments, colleagues.

1:02

Yeah, I'll make a couple of comments.

1:03

Commissioner.

1:04

Thank you.

1:05

Um I really appreciate the work that the Housing Commission does and that Monica App has been on that for a while.

1:15

Um I'm happy to reappoint her, and I I like the work that we are doing with that.

1:20

But I do think that that commission as a whole has some opportunities to expand and do some more interesting things.

1:27

So I'm looking forward down the line to um discussing with Monica and others how we can bring more housing for our lower income folks.

1:38

And I do have some small concerns that uh Rockford hasn't necessarily been so on board with some of that.

1:46

Um not because they're not interested in it, but I think because of the market rate pressures that we have in our city.

1:52

I have uh unfortunately not had the opportunity to meet with Rockford and talk with them at this point.

1:58

Um schedules are being what they are.

2:00

So um I again I'm happy to continue her work and what she's doing.

2:05

I like her.

2:06

I like uh that we have developers like Rockford that want to be involved, but I do have uh some overall concerns that we continue to really evaluate who we are uh having move this work forward.

2:20

Thank you, Commissioner.

2:22

Any further comment?

2:24

Seeing none, all those in favor?

2:25

Aye aye, those opposed, motion carries.

2:29

Brings us to our fourth resolution confirming City Manager Washington's appointment of Joshua Lunger to the Grand Rapids Housing Commission.

2:36

Support.

2:37

Moved and supported comments on this, colleagues.

2:39

I'll begin.

2:40

Uh I believe um I will not be supporting uh this appointment.

2:44

Um I have several concerns with uh the Grand Rapids Chamber um and their work.

2:51

Um our housing commission is our housing authority uh pushing forward imperative work to our city, uh really uh spearheading and and being in the weeds with some of the most important work, uh such as supporting our frontline communities, such as those who are unhoused or those who need access to affordable housing.

3:11

The Grand Rapids Chamber has uh strategically and for many years opposed uh legislation at the state level that would be directly uh effective to help some of our most pressing housing needs, but I want to take it locally since that's what we're dealing with.

3:30

The Grand Rapids Chamber uh was a part of a few groups uh and organizations who helped basically um criminalize being unhoused here in downtown Grand Rapids.

3:42

I believe that passed like five to two on the city commission years back.

3:46

I believe that was considered our nuisance ordinance where they drafted language that uh folks like the ACLU uh stood against and said was in violation of human rights.

3:59

So I can know in no way in good faith uh support someone who is representing an organization that does not consistently uh do positive work for our most frontline communities.

4:11

I want to thank the chamber uh for their work with 10 and 100.

4:15

I think the city manager said they surpassed uh the amount, the 100 that they were looking towards housing.

4:22

I am so thankful for their work there.

4:24

Uh but that's one, right?

4:26

That's that's one initiative uh that is successful and people focused, um, but then continuing to advocate against uh those folks' very needs at the state level, local level, in addition, they continue to spread misinformation um and unsupported claims about our climate action and adaptation plan that is meant to help owner homeowners.

4:49

They continue to say that we are going to uh charge homeowners an extreme amount uh in addition to already rising cost, and they will not support these claims.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████71%
Affordable Housing█████████████21%
Technology and Innovation█████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Committee on Appointments Meeting - April 14, 2026

The Committee on Appointments met on April 14, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to consider several appointments to city boards and commissions and to discuss the upcoming First Ward appointment process and current vacancy list.

Appointments Approved

  • Danielle Daniel Savage to Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board (Mayor's appointment) - unanimous.
  • Ronisha Harden to Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board (Commissioner Knight's appointment) - unanimous.
  • Monica App to Grand Rapids Housing Commission (City Manager's reappointment) - unanimous. Commissioner expressed support but noted concerns about market rate pressures and the need to expand housing for lower-income residents.
  • Jordan Eatman to Smart Zone Local Development Finance Authority (GRPS reappointment) - unanimous. Commissioners praised his work and discussed the Smart Zone's role in supporting high-tech entrepreneurs.

Appointments Debated

  • Joshua Lunger to Grand Rapids Housing Commission (City Manager's appointment) - passed with opposition. Commissioner voiced opposition citing the Grand Rapids Chamber's record on affordable housing legislation, misinformation about the climate action plan, and role in the 2023 nuisance ordinance. Other commissioners (Commissioners Yassi Sasi and Sasi) supported Lunger, noting his expertise and the value of collaboration. Commissioner Sasi clarified that the nuisance ordinance did not criminalize homelessness and was a targeted measure. The motion carried but not on the consent agenda, indicating split support.

First Ward Appointment Process

  • First round interviews for the First Ward vacancy will be held Friday, April 17, 2026, in commission chambers. Each of the ten applicants will have 15 minutes. Committee members will each ask one question, and a ranking system will be used. The top three will proceed to final round interviews on April 22, 2026, before the full commission. All applicants have been confirmed and informed of the process.

Board and Commission Vacancy Update

  • Clerk's office reported on current vacancies. Two Civil Service Board terms are up for reappointment (commissioner appointments). Urban Agriculture received another resignation; will be on next agenda. Applications continue to come in. Commissioner noted satisfaction with community interest in serving on boards and commissions.

Adjournment

  • The meeting adjourned at 8:19 a.m.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. We will call the committee on appointments to order at 8 a.m. We have a few items on our agenda starting with the resolution confirming Mayor LeGram's appointment of Danielle Daniel Savage to the Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board. So moved. Moved and supported. Comments on this appointment, colleagues. Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. Brings us to our second resolution recognizing Commissioner Knight's appointment of Ronisha Harden to the Grand Rapids Police Civilian Appeal Board. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Comments, colleagues. Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. Brings us to our third resolution confirming City Manager Washington's reappointment to of Monica App to the Grand Rapids Housing Commission. So moved. Support. Moved and support it. Comments, colleagues. Yeah, I'll make a couple of comments. Commissioner. Thank you. Um I really appreciate the work that the Housing Commission does and that Monica App has been on that for a while. Um I'm happy to reappoint her, and I I like the work that we are doing with that. But I do think that that commission as a whole has some opportunities to expand and do some more interesting things. So I'm looking forward down the line to um discussing with Monica and others how we can bring more housing for our lower income folks. And I do have some small concerns that uh Rockford hasn't necessarily been so on board with some of that. Um not because they're not interested in it, but I think because of the market rate pressures that we have in our city. I have uh unfortunately not had the opportunity to meet with Rockford and talk with them at this point. Um schedules are being what they are. So um I again I'm happy to continue her work and what she's doing. I like her. I like uh that we have developers like Rockford that want to be involved, but I do have uh some overall concerns that we continue to really evaluate who we are uh having move this work forward. Thank you, Commissioner. Any further comment? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye aye, those opposed, motion carries. Brings us to our fourth resolution confirming City Manager Washington's appointment of Joshua Lunger to the Grand Rapids Housing Commission. Support. Moved and supported comments on this, colleagues. I'll begin. Uh I believe um I will not be supporting uh this appointment. Um I have several concerns with uh the Grand Rapids Chamber um and their work. Um our housing commission is our housing authority uh pushing forward imperative work to our city, uh really uh spearheading and and being in the weeds with some of the most important work, uh such as supporting our frontline communities, such as those who are unhoused or those who need access to affordable housing. The Grand Rapids Chamber has uh strategically and for many years opposed uh legislation at the state level that would be directly uh effective to help some of our most pressing housing needs, but I want to take it locally since that's what we're dealing with.

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