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Grand Haven council approves festival and several construction contracts; consent agenda fails
Summary
At its March 17 meeting the council approved event permits and awarded multiple city contracts but the consent agenda — which included a resolution reaffirming the city's inclusivity statement — failed on a 2-1 roll call, leaving that reaffirmation unadopted.
The Grand Haven City Council approved several event permits and awarded three service contracts March 17, while the consent agenda containing routine items and a proposed reaffirmation of the city's inclusivity statement failed in a 2-1 roll call.
What passed
- Coast Guard Festival special-event permit: Council approved a special-event request from the Coast Guard Festival Committee to hold the 2025 Coast Guard Festival from July 25 through Aug. 2, 2025. Motion: moved by Councilmember Fritz, second by Councilmember Lowe. Roll call: Fritz — yes; Lowe — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved.
- City Hall elevator rehabilitation: The council authorized a contract with TK Elevator of Grand Rapids for rehabilitation of the City Hall elevator in the budgeted amount of $94,780.26. Staff said the work updates the elevator to meet current code requirements and address recurring failures. Motion: moved and second (staff record). Roll call recorded: Fritz — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved as recorded.
- 5 Mile Hill Overlook improvements: Council approved a contract with Lakeshore Property Services of Grand Haven for overlook improvements at 5 Mile Hill, in a not-to-exceed amount of $42,623. Staff said the project replaces a deteriorated wood deck with stamped concrete, adds native plantings for erosion control and reduces long-term maintenance. Motion: moved by Councilmember Fritz, second by Councilmember Lowell. Roll call: Fritz — yes; Lowell — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Good Friday service rental waiver: Council approved a rental-fee waiver of $250 for Lighthouse Ministries to hold a Good Friday service at Lynn Sherwood Waterfront Stadium on April 18, 2025. Motion: moved by Councilmember Fritz, second by Councilmember Lowe. Roll call: Lowe — yes; Fritz — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Bicentennial wall contract award: Council authorized a service contract for the Bicentennial Park retaining-wall replacement to Ryerson Brothers Excavating of Muskegon in the budgeted amount of $43,830 and authorized execution of the documents. Staff said the replacement will use a ready-rock retaining wall similar to recent Harbor Drive projects. Motion: moved by Councilmember Fritz, second by Councilmember Lowe. Roll call: Fritz — yes; Moe — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved.
Consent agenda and bills
The consent agenda included approval of the March 3 meeting minutes; a bills memo in the amount of $3,143,149.87; a notice of award in the amount of $480,621.60 to Rythe Riley Construction (contingent on the city receiving federal funding to complete the 18/36 runway reconstruction project); a change order to HDR in an amount not to exceed $148,671 for construction management and reporting on the coal yard closure project to be reimbursed by the Board of Light and Power; and a resolution reaffirming the city of Grand Haven's inclusivity statement.
Motion to approve the consent agenda was moved and seconded. Roll call: Fritz — yes; Manetza — yes; Lowe — no. Because one member voted no, the consent agenda failed and the items listed on it were not adopted as part of that motion.
Process notes
- Several contract awards were described by staff as within previously budgeted amounts and intended to be completed this fiscal year where possible.
- The Rythe Riley Construction notice of award for the runway reconstruction was explicitly conditioned on the city receiving federal funding; the contract execution authority was tied to that contingency.
- One councilmember expressed concern about routinely reaffirming previous resolutions (the inclusion statement reaffirmation originated from a Human Relations Commission request). The item remained on the consent agenda but was not approved when the consent motion failed.
Votes (at a glance)
- Appointments: Megan Allison to the Community Center Board (term ending 06/30/2029); Steffi Thayer to the Human Relations Commission (term ending 06/30/2025). Motion: Fritz; second: Lowe. Roll call: Fritz — yes; Lowe — yes; Manetza — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Consent agenda (including inclusivity reaffirmation): Motion failed on roll call (Fritz — yes; Manetza — yes; Lowe — no). Outcome: failed.
- Coast Guard Festival special-event permit: approved (Fritz, Lowe, Manetza yes).
- TK Elevator contract for City Hall elevator: approved (roll call recorded as Fritz and Manetza yes; staff presented and recommended approval).
- Lakeshore Property Services contract for 5 Mile Hill overlook: approved (Fritz, Lowell, Manetza yes).
- Good Friday event rental waiver (Lighthouse Ministries): approved (Lowe, Fritz, Manetza yes).
- Bicentennial wall award (Ryerson Brothers Excavating): approved (Fritz, Moe, Manetza yes).
What this means
Council approved a set of targeted contracts and event permits that will allow planned maintenance and seasonal activities to proceed. The failed consent agenda left several routine items unresolved under that single motion; council can reintroduce failed consent items for separate votes at a future meeting.
