Council approves Peace Frogs lease amendment (with contingencies) and authorizes police body‑worn camera grant application

Grand Haven — Council approved two administrative items on March 2: an amended lease to allow the business Peace Frogs to expand in the Depot Building and authorization for staff to submit a small rural body‑worn camera grant application for the police department.

On the Peace Frogs lease, staff described a proposed expansion from 750 to 1,272 square feet in a city‑owned depot space and said base rent would be increased; utilities and taxes remain the tenant’s responsibility. Council members requested standard contract safeguards — a termination clause, a clear notice provision for renewal, and a corrected expiration date (council requested January 31, 2036 rather than February 1). The council approved the lease on a contingent motion requiring insertion of the notice and termination language and correction of dates; the roll call recorded affirmative votes.

Separately, the police department requested authority to apply for a Small Rural Body Worn Camera Program grant of $35,000 with a required 1:1 local match. Staff said the department currently has about 10 cameras and the grant would allow the department to double that inventory to better cover 36 sworn officers and replace aging equipment. Council approved moving forward with the grant application; any final grant agreement would return to council for signature and appropriation of matching funds if awarded.

Why it matters: The lease decision supports a local downtown tenant’s expansion while preserving standard city contract protections; the camera grant application would upgrade public‑safety recording equipment if the grant is awarded and local match is budgeted.