OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee Meeting - August 11, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 21:27
Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good morning, everyone.

0:03

It is now time to call our fiscal committee to order.

0:06

Um colleagues, before we get started, I'd like to just take a moment because Miss Claren does not have a report at the end, and I don't want to forget.

0:14

Um, but Miss Claren, um, you all have hired a new deputy for the office.

0:18

So I want to turn over to her for an introduction, a few moments.

0:21

Yes, I already lost them.

0:22

Oh, there he is.

0:23

Okay.

0:23

Ross McGinn.

0:24

Uh Ross McGinn is our new deputy chief financial officer.

0:28

He'll be um, he joins us from Melbourne, Florida.

0:31

So and Australia.

0:34

Yeah, yeah.

0:35

He uh, yeah, he he had the comment last week that gosh, it's so cool.

0:39

Like, you know, the weather up here compared to Florida right now, obviously is a little different.

0:44

Vastly better here.

0:45

So this is just really enjoyable weather while the rest of us are like, oh my gosh.

0:49

But uh happy to have um Ross with us.

0:52

He'll be filling in for me on the dais if I'm ever out and um he'll he'll be overseeing well, helping helping me with my uh directory part departments as well as directly oversight of fiscal services.

1:04

So we're happy to have him on board.

1:07

Welcome.

1:08

And um, yeah, we'll look forward to either being on the dais or in the hallway.

1:12

So thanks so much.

1:14

And I hope you live in the second ward.

1:16

Um okay, let's go to our first item.

1:22

What first is a resolution recognizing Fulton Street Farmers Market as a local civic organization.

1:27

So moved.

1:28

Support.

1:28

Moved and supported, Ms.

1:29

Hartman.

1:30

Uh good morning.

1:31

This is a routine uh item.

1:33

Our office has confirmed uh the Fulton Street Mark Farmers Market as uh its status with the state of Michigan and that they meet the statutory requirements for a local civic organization.

1:45

Uh if anyone from Fulton Street Farmers Market is present and would like to speak on its behalf.

1:51

Seeing none, uh I don't think anything else to say.

1:55

Yeah, I think we're we're all set.

1:56

This is a pretty, as you said, a purely fairly routine item, a well-known um organization, our community.

2:02

So um I'll call the question.

2:03

All those in favor, aye.

2:05

Any opposed?

2:06

Uh item carries.

2:07

Thank you.

2:08

Next item is a resolution approving an amendment to the interlocal agreement between Grand Valley State University and the City of Grand Rapids for extending dispatch services for an additional three years for an amount not to exceed six thousand eighty dollars.

2:20

Do you have a motion?

2:21

So moved.

2:22

Support.

2:22

Moved and supported, Mr.

2:23

Weibel.

2:24

Good morning, commissioners.

2:25

This is uh one item where I get to come to you not to ask for money, but to ask for permission to bill.

2:31

Uh our dispatch emergency communications center performs this service for Grand Valley's downtown campus.

2:37

They have their own sworn officers, but we um pitch in with dispatch.

2:41

It's not a huge um lift on our dispatchers.

2:45

We did 95 um calls last year, 46 to date this year, where we have an officer go out.

2:52

Um obviously, if they're officers, uh GVSU officers are not around, GRPD will uh respond.

2:59

But this uh agreement has been in place since 2018, renewed every three years, just um codifies the interlocal agreement.

3:06

Great, thank you.

3:07

Questions, colleagues, on this uh item.

3:10

Hearing and seeing none, all those in favor, aye.

3:13

Any opposed?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████19%
Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████19%
Public Safety██████████████████18%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████15%
Personnel Matters████████8%
Pending Litigation██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Grand Rapids Fiscal Committee convened on August 11, 2026, to consider a series of routine and operational resolutions, receive reports from the city comptroller and treasurer, and address an ongoing charter interpretation dispute. All eight resolutions were passed unanimously. The meeting began with an introduction of a new deputy chief financial officer and concluded with chair comments regarding public trust.

Introductions and Announcements

  • New Deputy CFO Introduced: City Comptroller Miss Claren introduced Ross McGinn as the new deputy chief financial officer, joining from Melbourne, Florida. He will assist with oversight of fiscal services and fill in on the dais.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution 1 – Fulton Street Farmers Market: A routine resolution recognizing the Fulton Street Farmers Market as a local civic organization was moved and supported. Staff confirmed its status with the state. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 2 – GVSU Dispatch Agreement: Approval of an amendment to the interlocal agreement with Grand Valley State University to extend dispatch services for three years at a cost not to exceed $6,080. Staff noted 95 calls handled last year. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 3 – Eviction Prevention Program: Authorization of a $75,650 donated funds agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHS) for a dedicated eligibility specialist. The program, in partnership with the Salvation Army, provides resources to individuals facing eviction. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 4 – Indigent Defense Grant: Acceptance of an approximately $5 million grant from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) to implement the FY27 compliance plan for the 61st District Court. Staff explained it is a funded mandate with flexibility in final amount. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 5 – Water/Sewer Write-off: Authorization to write off uncollectible water and sewer utility accounts for FY2026 totaling $1,195. Staff noted this is one of the lowest amounts in recent years, with most accounts under $10. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 6 – SCADA Modernization: Approval of a $3 million budget substitution to complete the overhaul of the city's Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Total investment is between $11–12 million. Funds are drawn from completed project accounts (IIP). Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 7 – Crescent Street Alley Reconstruction: Authorization of a $7,892.21 budget substitution to supplement the completed special assessment district project. Unanimously approved.
  • Resolution 8 – Bid List and Overtime Study: Approval of the bid list resolution for August 11, 2026. Staff highlighted the selection of Barry Dunn to conduct a staffing overtime utilization study for the fire and police departments, aiming to inform the FY28 budget. Unanimously approved.

Reports

  • Comptroller's Report: Mr. Comptroller reported $95,166,325.92 in cash payments released for the period July 11–27, 2026, including $6.6 million in payroll and 1,630 income tax refunds. The monthly travel report showed $2.2 million spent (94% of annual budget). Both reports were received and filed.
  • Treasurer's Report: The city treasurer provided an economic update, noting the Fed rate at 3.5–3.75% with a greater than 50% probability of a rate increase. He reported a $674 million investment portfolio and highlighted that $157 million in property tax funds had been distributed to local taxing authorities. The report was received and filed.

Chair's Comments

  • Response to Comptroller's Remarks: The committee chair responded to earlier comments from the comptroller regarding a disagreement over the interpretation of the city charter. The chair stated the dispute is being addressed in court and expressed disappointment that the comptroller's remarks continue to be made in public meetings, asserting that such comments erode public trust in the body.

Key Outcomes

  • All eight resolutions were approved unanimously.
  • The comptroller's warrant report and monthly travel report were received and filed.
  • The treasurer's report was received and filed.
  • The chair publicly addressed the ongoing charter interpretation disagreement with the comptroller, emphasizing the matter is before the courts.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone. It is now time to call our fiscal committee to order. Um colleagues, before we get started, I'd like to just take a moment because Miss Claren does not have a report at the end, and I don't want to forget. Um, but Miss Claren, um, you all have hired a new deputy for the office. So I want to turn over to her for an introduction, a few moments. Yes, I already lost them. Oh, there he is. Okay. Ross McGinn. Uh Ross McGinn is our new deputy chief financial officer. He'll be um, he joins us from Melbourne, Florida. So and Australia. Yeah, yeah. He uh, yeah, he he had the comment last week that gosh, it's so cool. Like, you know, the weather up here compared to Florida right now, obviously is a little different. Vastly better here. So this is just really enjoyable weather while the rest of us are like, oh my gosh. But uh happy to have um Ross with us. He'll be filling in for me on the dais if I'm ever out and um he'll he'll be overseeing well, helping helping me with my uh directory part departments as well as directly oversight of fiscal services. So we're happy to have him on board. Welcome. And um, yeah, we'll look forward to either being on the dais or in the hallway. So thanks so much. And I hope you live in the second ward. Um okay, let's go to our first item. What first is a resolution recognizing Fulton Street Farmers Market as a local civic organization. So moved. Support. Moved and supported, Ms. Hartman. Uh good morning. This is a routine uh item. Our office has confirmed uh the Fulton Street Mark Farmers Market as uh its status with the state of Michigan and that they meet the statutory requirements for a local civic organization. Uh if anyone from Fulton Street Farmers Market is present and would like to speak on its behalf. Seeing none, uh I don't think anything else to say. Yeah, I think we're we're all set. This is a pretty, as you said, a purely fairly routine item, a well-known um organization, our community. So um I'll call the question. All those in favor, aye. Any opposed? Uh item carries. Thank you. Next item is a resolution approving an amendment to the interlocal agreement between Grand Valley State University and the City of Grand Rapids for extending dispatch services for an additional three years for an amount not to exceed six thousand eighty dollars. Do you have a motion? So moved. Support. Moved and supported, Mr. Weibel. Good morning, commissioners. This is uh one item where I get to come to you not to ask for money, but to ask for permission to bill.

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