Meeting colors

OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, May 19, 2026

BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan

SessionMeeting Portal

DateTuesday, May 19, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 24:15

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

Good morning.

0:05

The time is now 8 30, so we can go ahead and call our fiscal committee meeting to order.

0:09

Good morning, colleagues.

0:11

We have just a few resolutions.

0:12

So the first is one recognizing be creative for kids as a local civic organization.

0:18

So moved.

0:19

Support.

0:19

Moved and supported, Mr.

0:20

City Attorney.

0:21

I'm gonna guess you're taking this one.

0:22

Sure.

0:23

I don't see a representative here, but we have been in contact with the organization.

0:27

Uh we've done the legal due diligence to make sure that they are up to speed with all their state filings, and uh it would be in order for the commission to approve and recognize them as a local civic organization.

0:41

Thank you.

0:42

Um questions, colleagues for Mr.

0:43

Strong.

0:45

Uh yes.

0:45

So uh be creative.

0:47

Uh yes, thank you, ma'am.

0:49

Chair.

0:49

Um be creative.

0:51

Is it for the arts or what what service to community?

0:55

Uh what's their service to community?

0:58

I'll have to refer back to some of the attached materials, and it might take me just a moment.

1:03

Maybe we could circle back.

1:04

Yeah, let's circle.

1:05

So we can table it.

1:06

Is that this table to the end of this meeting?

1:08

Sure.

1:08

Okay.

1:09

Thank you.

1:10

Thanks so much.

1:10

Yeah, no problem.

1:11

Um, all right, item, so we're gonna put that one on pause.

1:14

Item number two is a resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement between the county of Kent and the City of Grand Rapids for the Kent County Court Administration building at 180 Ottawa Avenue Northwest Grand Rapids 49503.

1:27

Do I have a motion?

1:28

So moved.

1:28

Support.

1:29

Moved and supported.

1:30

Hello.

1:30

Good morning, everybody.

1:32

Good morning, everybody.

1:33

Phil Wheeler, uh, for the facilities and fleet management department.

1:37

Uh, what you have before you this morning is a resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement between the city and Kent County for the court administration building.

1:46

Um staff and staff representatives from the city and county are negotiating the terms of a renewed maintenance agreement um for the courthouse building, which in uh houses the uh enforcement division of the city attorney's office and the 61st district court.

2:01

Uh the original lease agreement was entered into in 1998 to facilitate the construction of the the courthouse facility, and the building opened in 2001.

2:11

Uh the debt service on the outstanding bonds will be paid in full on June 1st, at which time the city's tenant space will transfer to an ownership stake at the current occupancy share.

2:22

Uh so this temporary renewal of the existing agreement will not is not to exceed December 31st, 2026, and will allow us to bridge the ownership transfer and the finalization of a longer term operating agreement.

2:38

Thank you, Mr.

2:39

Wheeler.

2:40

Questions, colleagues on this item.

2:42

Hearing and seeing none.

2:44

All those in favor?

2:45

Aye.

2:45

Any opposed?

2:47

Item carries.

2:48

Thanks so much.

2:48

Thank you.

2:49

Um I'm gonna turn it back over to Mr.

2:52

Strom.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Fiscal Sustainability█████████████████████████████████████████████69%

Procedural██████████████21%

Economic Development████6%

Engineering And Infrastructure███4%

Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Fiscal Committee of the Grand Rapids City Commission met on May 19, 2026, at 8:30 AM. The meeting lasted approximately 24 minutes, adjourning at 8:54 AM. During the session, the commission considered several resolutions, including recognizing a local nonprofit, authorizing a lease amendment, approving a budget ordinance amendment, and receiving financial reports.

Public Comments & Testimony

Brandy Alloway, founder of Be Creative for Kids, presented her organization. She explained that the nonprofit, founded in 2024, partners with three local foster care agencies (Wellspring Lutheran Services, Samaritas, and Bethany Christian Services) to make birthday cakes for children in foster care. She noted her background as a third-ward resident and former for-profit confectioner.

Discussion Items

Resolution Recognizing Be Creative for Kids as a Local Civic Organization: Initially tabled due to a question about the organization's services, the item was reconsidered after Ms. Alloway testified. The commission then approved the resolution unanimously.
Resolution Authorizing Amendment to Lease Agreement for Kent County Court Administration Building (180 Ottawa Ave.): Phil Wheeler from Facilities and Fleet Management explained that the amendment temporarily renews the existing lease through December 31, 2026, to bridge the ownership transfer after the debt service on outstanding bonds is paid in full on June 1, 2026. The city's tenant space will convert to an ownership stake at the current occupancy share. The resolution passed without dissent.
Ordinance Amending Section 1 of Budget Ordinance 2026-11 (Fiscal Year 2026, Amendment #7): Budget Director Miss Claren detailed 15 appropriations, including $565,000 from a donation for the Grand River Edges Trail, $785,000 in interest earnings from the Scribner bond to enhance that project, and $7 million transferred to the Budget Stabilization Fund (rainy day fund). Discussion clarified that the $7 million is not needed to balance the budget but is a prudent move amid economic uncertainty (e.g., rising fuel prices, inflation). The transfer would increase the stabilization fund to 12% of general fund expenditures, exceeding the 10% fiscal policy target. Commissioners expressed strong support, noting it requires a two-thirds vote to access. The ordinance was approved.
Bid List Resolution for May 19, 2026: Passed without discussion.
Comptroller's Warrant Report (April 28 – May 4, 2026): The comptroller reported cash payments totaling $21,457,972.15, including $5.8 million in payroll and over $861,000 in income tax warrants (4,259 refunds issued and 472 checks/electronic payments). The report was received and filed.
Treasurer's Report (April 29 – May 5, 2026): City Treasurer highlighted the city's investment portfolio of $677 million earning an average 3.34% return. He noted that $785,000 in interest earnings on the Scribner bond was part of a broader effort earning over $6 million from recent debt issuances. He discussed market pressures (rate hikes, energy costs) and praised the team's work. The report was received and filed.

Key Outcomes

Be Creative for Kids recognized as a local civic organization (unanimous).
Lease amendment for Kent County Court Administration building authorized (unanimous).
Budget ordinance amendment #7 approved, including the $7 million transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund (unanimous).
Bid list resolution approved (unanimous).
Comptroller's warrant report and Treasurer's report received and filed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:54 AM.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. The time is now 8 30, so we can go ahead and call our fiscal committee meeting to order. Good morning, colleagues. We have just a few resolutions. So the first is one recognizing be creative for kids as a local civic organization. So moved. Support. Moved and supported, Mr. City Attorney. I'm gonna guess you're taking this one. Sure. I don't see a representative here, but we have been in contact with the organization. Uh we've done the legal due diligence to make sure that they are up to speed with all their state filings, and uh it would be in order for the commission to approve and recognize them as a local civic organization. Thank you. Um questions, colleagues for Mr. Strong. Uh yes. So uh be creative. Uh yes, thank you, ma'am. Chair. Um be creative. Is it for the arts or what what service to community? Uh what's their service to community? I'll have to refer back to some of the attached materials, and it might take me just a moment. Maybe we could circle back. Yeah, let's circle. So we can table it. Is that this table to the end of this meeting? Sure. Okay. Thank you. Thanks so much. Yeah, no problem. Um, all right, item, so we're gonna put that one on pause. Item number two is a resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement between the county of Kent and the City of Grand Rapids for the Kent County Court Administration building at 180 Ottawa Avenue Northwest Grand Rapids 49503. Do I have a motion? So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Hello. Good morning, everybody. Good morning, everybody. Phil Wheeler, uh, for the facilities and fleet management department. Uh, what you have before you this morning is a resolution authorizing an amendment to the lease agreement between the city and Kent County for the court administration building. Um staff and staff representatives from the city and county are negotiating the terms of a renewed maintenance agreement um for the courthouse building, which in uh houses the uh enforcement division of the city attorney's office and the 61st district court. Uh the original lease agreement was entered into in 1998 to facilitate the construction of the the courthouse facility, and the building opened in 2001. Uh the debt service on the outstanding bonds will be paid in full on June 1st, at which time the city's tenant space will transfer to an ownership stake at the current occupancy share. Uh so this temporary renewal of the existing agreement will not is not to exceed December 31st, 2026, and will allow us to bridge the ownership transfer and the finalization of a longer term operating agreement. Thank you, Mr. Wheeler.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI

TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com