East Grand Rapids approves $100,000 design commitment and temporary lot as part of shared parking plan with schools

City Manager Charles presented a multi-part proposal for a shared parking solution with East Grand Rapids Public Schools: preliminary design work for a proposed three-story parking deck on Bagley Street, a bond reimbursement resolution, and construction of a temporary parking lot at the east end of the school track while construction proceeds.

Charles said preliminary cost estimates placed the deck at about $13.6 million and that a conceptual plan would devote ground-floor spaces to public use while reserving upper levels for school needs. "Preliminary cost is estimated at 13.6 6 million," Charles said, explaining the request for design funding to answer operational and technical questions.

Commissioners probed several issues: the net change in parking (staff reported a proposed deck would provide roughly 213 spaces and likely yield a net gain compared with campus losses), whether the first floor could be open to the public during school hours, security and access-control measures for student parking, the schedule to place a millage on a future ballot, the adequacy of community engagement time, and the risk if a voter measure failed.

Public comment was strongly critical in places. Jerry Anderson and other residents recalled a prior decision to allow demolition of a private Wealthy Street parking deck and argued the city had insufficiently planned alternatives. David Decker called the situation a "failure of leadership" and urged a comprehensive, systemwide plan rather than a hurried bond question.

After deliberation the commission split the actions and voted on them separately. The commission approved a cost-sharing authorization for preliminary design work (up to $100,000; motion carried with two dissenting votes noted), approved a reimbursement resolution to permit future bonds to reimburse these expenses if the city issues bonds, and approved construction of the temporary track-end lot with the schools providing up to $40,000 and city staff contributing labor and oversight.

Staff said schematic design and design-development work will produce renderings and technical analysis for residents and that the contract is time-and-materials, enabling the city to pause work if the project proves infeasible. A summer community engagement process will follow; if the commission chooses to pursue funding, staff said a November ballot request could be considered but the commission may delay depending on public feedback and technical findings.

Next steps: staff and school administrators will begin design work and public engagement; the commission will review schematic results before making any final funding or ballot decisions.