Votes at a glance: Grand Rapids approves grants, contracts, appointments and development actions

The Grand Rapids City Commission and standing committees on Aug. 12 approved a range of items including grant acceptances, contracts, appointments and development approvals. Many items were routine; several carry budget or development implications that staff said will advance this year’s capital and program priorities.

Key actions approved (motions moved, supported and carried during committee and full-commission sessions):

- Appointments: Committee on Appointments approved multiple appointments, including the appointment of Miss Vandenberg (appointment to Brownfield-related board noted in committee discussion) and the appointment of Nick Fisher to the Grand Rapids Water System Advisory Council, both carried by voice vote. (Appointment discussion and votes recorded in Committee on Appointments.)

- Grants and grant administration: - Resolution accepting Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds (total award $112,500); Grand Rapids’ portion is $7,875 per staff presentation. Outcome: approved. - Resolution accepting a grant from the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission (MIDC) for implementation of the FY26 compliance plan; staff described the award as “up to approximately $5,000,000” and said the compliance plan requested approximately $4,900,000; staff also noted the plan included funding for an administrative aid to manage rapidly growing caseloads (cases assigned rose from about 3,000 to more than 4,600 per year). Outcome: approved. - Resolution authorizing execution of a donated-funds agreement with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for a dedicated eligibility specialist in the eviction prevention program; staff described the position as a shared role between MDHHS and the city but did not specify a final dollar amount in the discussion packet. Outcome: approved.

- Contracts and professional services: - Contract authorization with Experience Grand Rapids, $150,000 annual agreement for tourism and inclusion work. Outcome: approved. - Authorization for the city treasurer to do business with Cantela Capital Group LLC and Cambridge Investment Research Inc. as broker-dealers. Outcome: approved. - Resolution to remove certain inactive broker-dealer firms from the authorized list after review; staff said firms that did not bid since 2019–2021 were recommended for removal. Outcome: approved. - Black & Veatch design services for UV disinfection replacement at the Water Resource Recovery Facility: base design $760,000, total not to exceed $942,401 (sewer fund). Outcome: approved. - Contract award to Owen-Ames-Kimball (OAK) for community archives and research center improvements: low bid $2,752,671; contract not to exceed $3,433,056 from the capital improvement fund and museum fundraising. Outcome: approved. - Contract award to Owen-Ames-Kimball for Paul I. Phillips gymnasium improvements: low bid $589,287; total authorization not to exceed $833,525 from capital improvement funds. Outcome: approved.

- Infrastructure and easements: - Payment and easement acceptance for Buchanan (Curran to Hall) reconstruction: authorized payment $1,350 and easement acceptance. Outcome: approved. - Construction agreements and easements for Forest Hills Aquatic Center water-main relocation and for 5591 Wing Ave. private development sewer/water connections. Outcome: approved. - Resolution approving payments up to $25,000 to Kent County Drain Commissioner for maintenance work to the Paris Drain; staff noted the drainage area affects about 32% of Grand Rapids. Outcome: approved.

- Ordinances, salary and classification changes: - Salary ordinance amendments to create a paralegal classification and reclassify the utilities director; personnel and HR presentations noted parity aims. Outcome: approved. - Salary range adjustments for Electrical Inspector 1 and 2 to respond to changing technical requirements and labor market; Civil Service Board reviewed ranges July 29. Outcome: approved.

- Fiscal and administrative reports: - Controller’s warrant report for period 07/15/2025–07/21/2025: payments released totaling $55,705,174.40; staff noted payroll, refunds and other routine payments. Outcome: received and filed. - Treasurer’s report: staff reported invested cash balances around $859,000,000 earning about 3.56% and summarized market conditions and Fed expectations. Outcome: received and filed.

- Community Development and land-use items: - Fireworks discharge permit for indoor special effects at Van Andel Arena (Oct. 22). Outcome: approved. - Beacon Hill at Eastgate: resolution establishing a project area and temporarily appointing two special EDC directors to facilitate issuance of tax-exempt or taxable bonds for a project described in staff comments as seeking roughly $190,000,000 to expand assisted living and memory care operations; staff referenced Act 388 of 1974 procedures. Outcome: approved. - Rezoning hearing dates set for 08/26/2025 for two small parcel rezonings at 1362–1364 Leonard Ave. NW to correct lot line and land-use designations; staff described encroachments between a residence and adjacent cemetery property discovered during survey. Outcome: hearings scheduled. - Public hearing scheduled for 09/23/2025 to consider the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) and future housing/community development needs for FFY 2024. Outcome: approved. - Downtown Improvement District special assessment roll confirmed after no appeals were filed. Outcome: approved. - Sidewalk, utility and construction agreements and easements for multiple small projects; outcomes: approved.

- Liquor licensing: The commission approved two development-district liquor licenses (1445 Lake Drive SE and 701 Wealthy SE); commissioners discussed difference between quota licenses and development-district licenses under state law. Outcome: approved.

- Brownfield amendment: The commission approved an amendment to the Brownfield plan for Pleasant Hills Phase 3, a Habitat project that will remove an existing building and build 27 for-sale homes; staff said 16 of the homes are expected to be affordable at below 80% AMI and other units planned in the 80–120% AMI range. Outcome: approved.

Votes were taken by voice in committee and at the full commission with standard “all those in favor/aye” calls; where roll-call tallies were not read aloud, outcomes are recorded here as approved or scheduled per the minutes. Staff presentations accompanying several items noted funding sources, engineer estimates and micro/local business participation rates (for example, OAK noted a 21% micro-local business enterprise rate on the archives project). For items where the packet or discussion left amounts or some details unclear (for example one MDHHS donated‑funds agreement figure in the packet appeared inconsistent), staff noted amounts as “not specified” in discussion and will provide clarifying budget amendments.

What’s next: Several capital projects will move into design and bidding phases and will be included in the city’s capital improvement program. Staff will return with follow-up details and agreements where transfers or additional approvals are required (staff indicated a plan to transfer $425,000 in Third Ward equity funds to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority/EDC for targeted Third Ward investments).