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Record of Proceedings

Fiscal Committee Meeting Summary - October 27, 2026

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, October 27, 2026
BodyGrand Rapids, Michigan
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, October 27, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 41:03

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

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:02

Good morning.

0:03

The time is now 8 30, and we're gonna go ahead and call this fiscal committee committee meeting to order.

0:08

Good morning, everyone.

0:09

Good morning.

0:10

So the first item today is a resolution accepting the continuation of a grant award from the Office of Highway Safety Planning in the amount of 25,269.59 cents.

Unassigned speaker

0:20

Do you

Speaker 1

0:20

have a motion?

0:21

So

Speaker 2

0:21

moved.

0:22

Support.

Unassigned speaker

0:22

Thank

Speaker 1

0:22

you.

0:23

Moved and supported, Mr.

0:24

Weibel.

Speaker 3

0:24

Good morning, Commissioners.

0:25

This is a grant we receive from the state each year for traffic enforcement.

0:29

It helps cover wages and equipment.

0:31

You'll see there's a LIDAR, or we have two LIDAR units, which is more accurate than radar for measuring speed.

0:37

Um I want to note with this year's grant.

0:40

Uh Chief Trig recently added two officers to our traffic unit for evening and nighttime enforcement.

0:46

So this will help supplement that.

0:48

Um and again, they're focused on speeding, DUI, um, traffic incidents as well.

0:53

And when the traffic unit responds, it frees up your regular patrol to other calls of service.

Speaker 1

1:00

Questions?

1:03

All those in favor?

Speaker 3

1:04

Aye.

1:04

Aye.

Speaker 1

1:04

Any opposed?

1:05

Item carries.

1:06

Thanks.

1:07

Item number two is a resolution accepting a 12,000 dollar grant from voters not politicians education fund for election communications.

Speaker 4

1:14

So moved?

Speaker 2

1:15

Support.

Speaker 1

1:16

Moved and supported.

1:16

Mr.

1:17

Clerk.

Speaker 4

1:17

Yeah, um, voters not politicians offered a grant for communications about elections, and um, we're using we're gonna use this grant for um radio ads.

1:27

Um talking about early voting, same-day um registration, and importance of getting out to vote.

Speaker 1

1:33

Great.

1:34

Thank you, Mr.

1:34

Clerk.

1:35

Questions, colleagues?

1:36

Yes, commissioner.

Speaker 2

1:38

Just a comment.

1:38

I'm very excited to hear about this, Mr.

1:40

Clerk.

1:40

I know voter not voters not politicians.

1:43

Probably 18 was involved in creating this sort of nonpartisan uh commission to uh make um our lines more fair.

1:52

Uh I can't think I'm

Speaker 1

1:54

redistricting.

Speaker 2

1:54

Redistricting, there we go.

1:55

Technical today this morning.

1:57

Um, but I I'm hoping the public can see that we're engaging in uh civic engagement and voter outreach that is nonpartisan and simply uplifting uh their right to vote.

2:08

So I'm very excited to hear this, and um it'll be radio waves.

Speaker 4

2:12

Yes,

Speaker 2

2:12

all right, cool.

Speaker 4

2:13

And um they also did a couple mailers as well, but what's we're great what's good about them is they um they run it all through by me first to make sure that it's all correct.

2:24

So which is good because some people don't run it by the clerks and they send stuff out.

2:28

So I'm I was glad that that we had some input in to make sure that we had the correct factual information.

2:33

So awesome.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████████████████████34%
Economic Development████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Emergency Management███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure██████6%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Personnel Matters█████5%
Traffic Safety████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Fiscal Committee Meeting Summary - October 27, 2026

The Fiscal Committee of the City of Grand Rapids met on October 27, 2026, at 8:30 AM to consider 12 resolutions and receive two financial reports. All resolutions passed unanimously, and reports were received and filed. The meeting covered grants, contracts, budget amendments, salary adjustments, and economic updates.

Discussion Items

  • Item 1 – Highway Safety Grant: Resolution accepting a $25,269.59 grant from the Office of Highway Safety Planning for traffic enforcement, including two LIDAR units. Staff noted the traffic unit was recently expanded with two additional officers for evening enforcement. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 2 – Election Communications Grant: Resolution accepting a $12,000 grant from Voters Not Politicians Education Fund for radio ads promoting early voting, same-day registration, and civic engagement. The Clerk emphasized that content is reviewed for accuracy. Commissioners praised the nonpartisan outreach. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 3 – Website Platform Contract: Resolution approving a three-year contract with GHD Services Inc. (GHD Digital) for the GovStack website platform, not to exceed $140,000, including tools to meet federal web accessibility requirements by April 2027. Discussion noted the website serves as a hub for multiple city digital tools. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 4 – Routine Program Documents: Resolution authorizing the mayor to sign routine program documents for Community Development and Economic Development for calendar year 2027, primarily related to mortgage subordination and deed corrections. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 5 – United Response Fund MOU: Resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Heart of West Michigan United Way for the Grand Rapids United Response Fund, with $100,000 in seed funding from the FY27 budget. The fund provides rapid assistance for disasters not rising to state/federal emergency levels. United Way will distribute funds to partner organizations serving residents. Commissioners discussed eligibility, tax implications, and fundraising for longevity. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 6 – Healthy Homes Coalition Contract: Resolution amending the contract with Healthy Homes Coalition for lead awareness, education, and filter distribution, adding up to $225,000. Originally funded by 3rd Ward participatory budgeting ($500,000), the program will expand citywide. Commissioners highlighted the coalition's trusted reputation. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 7 – Substation Replacement Budget Substitution: Resolution authorizing a $541,755 budget substitution for the North Primary Control Substation Replacement at the Water Resource Recovery Facility, due to low bid exceeding engineer's estimate. No budget impact. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 8 – Trails Budget Substitution: Resolution authorizing a $587,200 budget substitution for the Eastern Railroad to Grand River Trails East project, using savings from other projects to provide local match for DNR and other grants. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 9 – Godfrey Avenue Budget Substitution: Resolution authorizing a $3.4 million budget substitution for the Godfrey to Market to Oxford project (utility and road reconstruction, planned for 2028), using previously unspent funds. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 10 – Salary Ordinance for Emergency Communications Operators: Resolution amending the wage scale to settle grievance No. 26-42, adjusting the top step for ECO3s from $40.52/hr to $41.33/hr (affecting two employees, ~$4,000/year each). Unanimously approved.
  • Item 11 – Budget Ordinance Amendment No. 4 (FY27): Resolution amending Section 1 of Budget Ordinance 2026-11, covering appropriations and grant funds: $300,000 for Challenge Scholars to College, contributions for Sullivan Field improvements, $70,000 for College is Possible campaign, and $300,000 for River Edges Trail from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Contingency remains at $1.5 million. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 12 – Bid List Resolution: Resolution approving the October 27, 2026 bid list, including water meters (large ticket) and temporary services contracts totaling ~$4.5 million awarded to four firms. Unanimously approved.
  • Item 13 – Comptroller's Warrant Report & Small Claims Report: Report for period September 22–October 12, 2026, showing cash payments of $71,680,271.61 (including ~$12.6M payroll and ~$1.3M income tax refunds, 461 refunds issued). Quarterly small claims report: 21 claims totaling just over $53,000. Received and filed.
  • Item 14 – Treasurer's Report & Fiscal Year-End Investment Portfolio Summary: Treasurer reported producer price index at 6.3% (4.5-year high), inflation at 3.4%, and fuel price volatility. Investment officer Levi Bolt presented the FY2026 year-end portfolio (as of June 30, 2026): $683 million in reserves, earning 3.46%, emphasizing safety, liquidity, and yield. Portfolio includes U.S. Treasuries, Michigan MSHDA bonds, and mortgage-backed securities; unrealized losses of $12.8M are not expected to be realized. Also highlighted diversity in broker dealers including MBEs. Received and filed.

Key Outcomes

  • All 12 resolutions (Items 1–12) passed unanimously.
  • Comptroller's and Treasurer's reports (Items 13–14) were received and filed.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning. The time is now 8 30, and we're gonna go ahead and call this fiscal committee committee meeting to order. Good morning, everyone. Good morning. So the first item today is a resolution accepting the continuation of a grant award from the Office of Highway Safety Planning in the amount of 25,269.59 cents. Do you have a motion? So moved. Support. Thank you. Moved and supported, Mr. Weibel. Good morning, Commissioners. This is a grant we receive from the state each year for traffic enforcement. It helps cover wages and equipment. You'll see there's a LIDAR, or we have two LIDAR units, which is more accurate than radar for measuring speed. Um I want to note with this year's grant. Uh Chief Trig recently added two officers to our traffic unit for evening and nighttime enforcement. So this will help supplement that. Um and again, they're focused on speeding, DUI, um, traffic incidents as well. And when the traffic unit responds, it frees up your regular patrol to other calls of service. Questions? All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Item carries. Thanks. Item number two is a resolution accepting a 12,000 dollar grant from voters not politicians education fund for election communications. So moved? Support. Moved and supported. Mr. Clerk. Yeah, um, voters not politicians offered a grant for communications about elections, and um, we're using we're gonna use this grant for um radio ads. Um talking about early voting, same-day um registration, and importance of getting out to vote. Great. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Questions, colleagues? Yes, commissioner. Just a comment. I'm very excited to hear about this, Mr. Clerk. I know voter not voters not politicians. Probably 18 was involved in creating this sort of nonpartisan uh commission to uh make um our lines more fair. Uh I can't think I'm redistricting.

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