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Record of Proceedings

Committee on Appointments - August 11, 2026: Appointments and Board Vacancy Discussion

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 9:57
Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

All right, good morning and happy August.

0:05

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

0:09

Okay.

0:10

We have a light agenda this morning, starting with a resolution recognizing Commissioner Belchak's appointment of Zachary Baker to the Storm White Stormwater Oversight Commission.

0:21

So moved.

0:22

Support moved and supported.

0:24

Good morning.

0:28

Any uh comments on the appointment of Zachary Baker to the uh stormwater oversight commission.

0:35

May I?

0:36

Yes, please.

0:37

Um I just I just want to say I'm uh really happy to be able to bring Zachary in to the um Stormwater Commission oversight.

0:46

He's very interested in this field, has environmental background.

0:49

And if you recall, he was one of our first ward um appointee candidates and interviewed for us during the first 10.

0:57

Awesome.

0:57

Thank you, Commissioner.

0:58

Any further comments?

1:01

Okay, seeing none, all those in favor?

1:03

Aye.

1:04

Aye.

1:04

Those opposed.

1:05

Motion carries.

1:06

That brings us to our second resolution approving the city commission's appointment of Ethan Walker to the Historic Preservation Commission.

1:14

So moved.

1:15

Moved and supported.

1:16

Comments on this appointment, colleagues.

1:21

Seeing none, all those in favor?

1:23

Aye.

1:24

Those opposed, motion carries.

1:27

Our third resolution confirming Mayor LeGrand's appointment of Anthony Parker to the mobile GR Commission.

1:33

So moved.

1:33

Support.

1:34

Moved and supported.

1:35

Comments on this appointment, colleagues.

1:37

Yes, Commissioner.

1:38

Thank you, Mr.

1:39

Pardon me.

1:40

Thank you, Mr.

1:41

Chair.

1:41

Um, I know this was one of the bodies where we talked um at a variety of length about um wards and maybe different perspectives.

1:51

So could we do an overview of this body before we call the vote?

1:55

Uh yes, Miss Bosker, please.

1:59

Sure.

1:59

I can bring up um the demographic composition.

2:03

I will note that the mayor met with the mobile GR director, and this appointment fills a parking perspective need on that body.

2:13

And so I while it may not satisfy some of the geographic um representation.

2:20

I know that it does, they do also have parallel to the demographic makeup.

2:25

They've got a list of needs that they like to satisfy in the community, and parking is one of those, and that is one thing that this appointee fills.

2:36

Yeah.

2:36

Thank you so much, Miss Bosker.

2:38

And then this is this is this is zero vacancies.

2:42

Okay.

2:42

Correct.

2:43

Just want to make sure because I know sometimes and somebody else and I didn't know if we I didn't I didn't recall the any resignation.

2:50

So thank you for highlighting that.

2:52

I think that's just important as the other, you know, obviously the racial and ethnic and um ward perspectives.

2:59

I think this one is as we have there's Max in the back.

3:02

We're gonna hear from mobile gr we've had them on the agenda a lot.

3:05

I think this body is one where certainly a lot of um you know questions and a lot of policy that I mean all the boards are, but this one in particular.

3:15

And um, you know, just looking at the demographic makeups, even just in gender is is a little concerning to me.

3:22

Um thank you, Commissioner.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Community Engagement█████████████████████████████████████████████55%
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████45%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee on Appointments - August 11, 2026

The Committee on Appointments met on August 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM and adjourned at 8:09 AM. The meeting approved three appointments and included a detailed discussion on the composition of the Mobile GR Commission and upcoming board vacancies.

Consent Calendar

  • Zachary Baker appointed to the Stormwater Oversight Commission, sponsored by Commissioner Belchak. Commissioner Belchak noted Baker's environmental background and that he was a prior candidate. Approved unanimously.
  • Ethan Walker appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission. Approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment of Anthony Parker to the Mobile GR Commission: Staff (Ms. Bosker) explained that the appointment fills a need for parking expertise. Commissioner Isasi raised concerns about geographic (ward) and gender diversity, noting that the board currently has six Second Ward members vs. two First Ward members, and uneven gender representation. Discussion revealed that three current members have terms ending in early 2027, all from the Second Ward. Commissioner Isasi expressed comfort approving the appointment after hearing about the parking expertise need and future opportunities to diversify. Motion carried.

Key Outcomes

  • All three appointments approved: Zachary Baker (Stormwater Oversight Commission), Ethan Walker (Historic Preservation Commission), and Anthony Parker (Mobile GR Commission).
  • Staff (Ms. Bosker) will communicate with liaisons about end-of-year appointments, emphasizing diversification of boards.
  • Current vacancies identified: Local Officers Compensation Commission (one vacancy, another in September), Community Relations Commission (one new vacancy), and Michigan Street Corridor Improvement Authority (one new vacancy). Ms. Bosker will bring these to the mayor.
  • The committee acknowledged high voter turnout in the midterm elections and encouraged continued civic engagement.

Meeting Transcript

All right, good morning and happy August. We will call the committee on appointments to order at 8 a.m. Okay. We have a light agenda this morning, starting with a resolution recognizing Commissioner Belchak's appointment of Zachary Baker to the Storm White Stormwater Oversight Commission. So moved. Support moved and supported. Good morning. Any uh comments on the appointment of Zachary Baker to the uh stormwater oversight commission. May I? Yes, please. Um I just I just want to say I'm uh really happy to be able to bring Zachary in to the um Stormwater Commission oversight. He's very interested in this field, has environmental background. And if you recall, he was one of our first ward um appointee candidates and interviewed for us during the first 10. Awesome. Thank you, Commissioner. Any further comments? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Aye. Those opposed. Motion carries. That brings us to our second resolution approving the city commission's appointment of Ethan Walker to the Historic Preservation Commission. So moved. Moved and supported. Comments on this appointment, colleagues. Seeing none, all those in favor? Aye. Those opposed, motion carries. Our third resolution confirming Mayor LeGrand's appointment of Anthony Parker to the mobile GR Commission. So moved. Support. Moved and supported. Comments on this appointment, colleagues. Yes, Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Pardon me. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, I know this was one of the bodies where we talked um at a variety of length about um wards and maybe different perspectives. So could we do an overview of this body before we call the vote? Uh yes, Miss Bosker, please. Sure. I can bring up um the demographic composition. I will note that the mayor met with the mobile GR director, and this appointment fills a parking perspective need on that body. And so I while it may not satisfy some of the geographic um representation. I know that it does, they do also have parallel to the demographic makeup. They've got a list of needs that they like to satisfy in the community, and parking is one of those, and that is one thing that this appointee fills. Yeah. Thank you so much, Miss Bosker. And then this is this is this is zero vacancies.

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