OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Grand Rapids, Michigan/Meeting Portal
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Committee on Appointments Meeting – April 28, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, April 28, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, April 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 8:05

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:03

Morning, everyone.

0:05

Uh, we are closing out April and we will call the committee on appointments to order at 8 a.m.

0:11

We have a just a few items on our agenda this morning.

0:15

We will begin with our first resolution confirming Mayor LeGrand's appointment of Max Gibbs to the Urban Forestry Committee.

0:21

So moved.

0:22

Support.

0:23

Moved and supported.

0:24

Comments on this uh appointment, colleagues.

0:27

Oh, yes, Miss Bosker.

0:29

I'll just add that this is the position that is reserved for a member representing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

0:37

The current person filling that role resigned.

0:39

And so Mr.

0:41

Gibbs is a member of Parks and Recreation who is representing that body on urban forestry.

0:46

Oh thank you so much for that background.

0:48

Uh any further comments, colleagues.

0:51

Seeing none, all those in favor?

0:54

Aye.

0:54

Those opposed, motion carries.

0:57

That brings us to our second resolution confirming Mayor Lagrand's reappointment of Commissioner Isasi to the civil service board.

1:04

So moved.

1:04

Support.

1:06

Moved and supported.

1:07

Comments, colleagues.

1:10

See, oh yes, Commissioner I just want to say thank you.

1:13

I think this is a great board, and your experiences clearly been a demonstratable thing that we needed on there.

1:19

And I know you have a lot of expertise to give.

1:21

Yes.

1:22

Thank you.

1:23

Yes, I agree.

1:24

Okay.

1:25

Seeing no further comments.

1:26

All those in favor?

1:28

Aye.

1:28

Those opposed, motion carries.

1:31

Brings us to our third resolution recognizing Commissioner Kilgore's appointment of Sarah Larson to the Urban Agriculture Committee.

1:38

So moved.

1:39

Support.

1:39

Moved and supported.

1:41

Uh comments on this appointment, colleagues.

1:45

Just that it's nice to see the urban agriculture committee getting filled.

1:49

Yes, I agree.

1:50

There's uh some folks rolling off, so hopefully we will continue to keep uh that board filled, especially as they have a very important role in our climate action adaptation plan.

2:01

Um so I'm I'm excited to see more folks roll on.

2:04

Any further comments, colleagues?

2:08

Seeing none, all those in favor?

2:10

Aye, those opposed, motion carries.

2:13

Now, our fourth resolution can recognizing Commissioner Isassi's appointment of Stacey Stout to the Urban Agriculture Committee.

2:20

I'll move support.

2:22

Moved and support it.

2:23

Comments on this, colleagues.

2:24

Yes, Commissioner Isassi.

2:26

Thank you, Mr.

2:27

Chair.

2:27

Um Miss Stout as she worked here at the city for a number of years in the Office of Equity and Engagement, I should say, so there's no appearance of any conflict, even though she's not gonna get any money for this.

2:39

She is a good friend that I've known since college.

2:42

Um, and with her role at Blandford Nature Center, uh now leading that organization.

2:48

I think we'll uh serve as a another good member to this body.

2:50

So thank you.

2:51

Thank you, Commissioner Saucy.

2:53

I concur.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████████████████████████92%
Procedural████8%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Committee on Appointments Meeting – April 28, 2026

The Committee on Appointments met on April 28, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. to confirm four appointments to city boards and commissions and to discuss the current vacancy landscape. All resolutions passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:08 a.m.

Appointments

  • Resolution 1: Confirmed Mayor LeGrand's appointment of Max Gibbs to the Urban Forestry Committee. Gibbs serves as the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board representative, filling a vacancy caused by a resignation.
  • Resolution 2: Confirmed Mayor LeGrand's reappointment of Commissioner Isassi to the Civil Service Board. Commissioner Isassi thanked the committee, and members acknowledged her expertise.
  • Resolution 3: Confirmed Commissioner Kilgore's appointment of Sarah Larson to the Urban Agriculture Committee. Members noted the importance of filling this board given its role in the climate action adaptation plan.
  • Resolution 4: Confirmed Commissioner Isassi's appointment of Stacey Stout to the Urban Agriculture Committee. Stout previously worked in the city's Office of Equity and Engagement and now leads Blandford Nature Center. Commissioner Isassi disclosed a personal friendship and absence of conflict of interest.

Vacancy List Discussion

  • Miss Bosker (clerk's office) reported several recent resignations: Hannah Mako resigned from Urban Forestry, Carlos Calderone resigned from both Urban Agriculture and Stormwater boards, and Tammy Vandenberg resigned from the Land Bank Authority. Additionally, Civil Service Board terms are ending and will be addressed.
  • Commissioner Belchat inquired about the Stormwater board position, noting a previous member had been asked to serve until a decision was made.
  • Commissioner Isassi provided details: Hannah Mako had been appointed about a year ago and remains on Parks and Recreation; Carlos Calderone is her cousin; Tammy Vandenberg resigned after a few meetings since the Land Bank's first meeting in January.
  • Commissioner Saucy thanked all volunteers and noted that Land Bank appointments are mayoral, so the mayor will fill Vandenberg's seat.
  • Commissioner Saucy also reminded colleagues of the upcoming busy election season, thanked the clerk's office for a presentation at a neighborhood summit, and urged liaisons to stay on top of appointments to manage the clerk's office workload.

Key Outcomes

  • All four resolutions (appointments of Gibbs, Isassi, Larson, Stout) passed unanimously by voice vote.
  • The committee acknowledged the resignations and will prioritize filling those positions by gathering applications.
  • Chair and Miss Bosker will continue to coordinate on vacancy management.

Meeting Transcript

Morning, everyone. Uh, we are closing out April and we will call the committee on appointments to order at 8 a.m. We have a just a few items on our agenda this morning. We will begin with our first resolution confirming Mayor LeGrand's appointment of Max Gibbs to the Urban Forestry Committee. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Comments on this uh appointment, colleagues. Oh, yes, Miss Bosker. I'll just add that this is the position that is reserved for a member representing the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. The current person filling that role resigned. And so Mr. Gibbs is a member of Parks and Recreation who is representing that body on urban forestry. Oh thank you so much for that background. Uh any further comments, colleagues. Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. That brings us to our second resolution confirming Mayor Lagrand's reappointment of Commissioner Isasi to the civil service board. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Comments, colleagues. See, oh yes, Commissioner I just want to say thank you. I think this is a great board, and your experiences clearly been a demonstratable thing that we needed on there. And I know you have a lot of expertise to give. Yes. Thank you. Yes, I agree. Okay. Seeing no further comments. All those in favor? Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. Brings us to our third resolution recognizing Commissioner Kilgore's appointment of Sarah Larson to the Urban Agriculture Committee. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Uh comments on this appointment, colleagues. Just that it's nice to see the urban agriculture committee getting filled. Yes, I agree. There's uh some folks rolling off, so hopefully we will continue to keep uh that board filled, especially as they have a very important role in our climate action adaptation plan. Um so I'm I'm excited to see more folks roll on. Any further comments, colleagues? Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye, those opposed, motion carries. Now, our fourth resolution can recognizing Commissioner Isassi's appointment of Stacey Stout to the Urban Agriculture Committee. I'll move support. Moved and support it. Comments on this, colleagues.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com