Sep 09, 2025 Fiscal Committee Meeting

ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. I THINK WE GOT EVERYONE READY.

[00:00:03]

[1. Resolution authorizing $50,000 in support of the recommendations of the SAFE Task Force through a Pitch and Highlight Night]

ALL RIGHT. MOVE TO SUPPORT. WE GOT MR. KANE HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONERS. YOU GUYS ALL LOOK BEAUTIFUL TODAY. JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT. THANK YOU. SO THIS IS AN ANNUAL EVENT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 5 OR 6 YEARS.

IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HELPING US LIMIT GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FIVE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS TO GET AWARDED UP TO $10,000 TO EXECUTE THEIR PROGRAMS. WE HAVE HAD PROGRAMS SUCH AS RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY WE'VE EVEN DONE A MOVIE WITH THIS WITH, WITH THIS FUNDING, A VERY GOOD MOVIE THAT I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO SHOW AT THE PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER. AWESOME.

I'LL TURN TO MY COLLEAGUES AND SEE IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT.

HEARING. SEEING. NONE. YOUR FLATTERY WILL TAKE YOU FAR, BY THE WAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT.

ALL RIGHT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES ITEM NUMBER TWO.

[2. Resolution Authorizing Funding to the West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the West Michigan Asian Association, and the African American Art and Music Celebration in support of Event Promotion and Cultural Awareness with ArtPrize 2025 in an amount of $15,000]

AND THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF 15,000.

THANK YOU. I WILL TRY TO EXCUSE ME.

SORRY. SO MOVED. AND I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THIS.

OKAY. SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

WE'VE GOT HOLD ON, HOLD ON.

DID YOU SAY. DID YOU JUST SAY SO? MOVED. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

YES. YEP. WE'RE GOOD. THANK YOU.

COMMISSIONER. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVED AND SUPPORTED. I'LL HAND IT BACK TO YOU, MR. KANE. THANK YOU.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE DONE FOR PROBABLY 5 OR 6 YEARS.

ALSO, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP PROMOTE ARTPRIZE, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE REPRESENTED.

THEY SEE THEMSELVES AND THEY ALSO FEEL LIKE IT'S AN EVENT FOR THEM ALSO.

SO THIS WOULD PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE WEST MICHIGAN ASIAN ASSOCIATION, THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ART AND MUSIC CELEBRATION, WHICH I AM THE LIAISON TO FOR THE CITY.

I SHOULD SAY THAT ALSO, I'M THE LIAISON TO THE COMMITTEE FOR THE CITY. THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING THIS ITEM. AND THEN ALSO FOR THE HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. SO EACH OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS WOULD GET $5,000 TO HELP PROMOTE ARTPRIZE IN VARIOUS WAYS, INCLUDING SUPPORTING ARTISTS DIRECTLY.

AWESOME. THANKS. COMMISSIONER KILGORE, YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? NOPE. ALL RIGHT. NO, I'LL JUST I'LL MAKE A COMMENT.

I KNOW WE HAD A BRIEFING ON ARTPRIZE AT OUR LAST MEETING, AND IT'S ALWAYS A QUESTION OR A COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW WE CAN GET ALL, YOU KNOW, THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO OUR CITY TO VIEW, YOU KNOW, THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THIS. I THINK IT WILL BE HELPFUL TO ENGAGE, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS GROUPS AND DEMOGRAPHICS WITHIN OUR CITY AND HELP EVERYBODY REALIZE A LOT OF THE BENEFITS THAT A, AN EVENT LIKE ARTPRIZE CAN, CAN BRING. SO WITH THAT, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE, AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED, THE MOTION CARRIES.

THANK YOU. APPRECIATE Y'ALL. THANKS SO MUCH. APPRECIATE IT. ALL RIGHT.

[3. Resolution accepting a $10,000 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Infrastructure Grant award from the Michigan Association of Municipal Clerks]

SO MOVED. SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVED AND SUPPORTED. I'LL TURN TO MR. HONDORP HERE. YEAH. SO THIS IS AN INTERESTING GRANT.

SO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, THROUGH LAST YEAR'S BUDGET APPROPRIATED $1 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS TO BRING POLLING LOCATIONS UP TO UP TO COMPLIANCE AND ADD OTHER ADA FEATURES.

BUT THEY APPROPRIATE IT TO THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS, WHO'S NOT A GOVERNING BODY. SO IT'S UP TO THE AMC TO RUN THE GRANT PROGRAM.

WHICH WHICH GRAND RAPIDS IS A IS A MEMBER.

AND SO THEY SAID THEY WERE DOING $10,000 GRANTS.

SO FOR THIS GRANT I WAS APPROACHED EVEN BEFORE THIS GRANT WAS COMING OUT, I WAS LOOKING FOR OTHER GRANT DOLLARS FROM NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH OVER ON DELAWARE. AND WHICH HAS BEEN A GREAT POLLING PLACE OVER THE YEARS.

AND AN IMPACTFUL NEIGHBOR THAT THAT PRECINCT IS A LOW TURNOUT PRECINCT.

SO AND THEY'VE THEY'VE HOSTED US FOR SOULS TO THE POLLS IN THE PAST.

SO THEY REACHED OUT ABOUT GETTING A ADA DOOR TO THEIR THEIR LOWER LEVEL GYM DOOR.

AND I'M LIKE, WELL, I DON'T HAVE ANY GRANTS OUT RIGHT NOW, BUT WE'LL SEE WHAT WE HAVE IN THIS GRANT CASE. SO WAS PROVIDED.

SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

THE $10,000 DOESN'T COVER THEIR WHOLE THEIR WHOLE PROJECT.

BUT THEY SAID THEY'LL COME UP WITH WITH THE OTHER PART OF IT.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH, THAT THIS IS PART OF THAT PROCESS OF HOW WE DO GRANTS IN THE CITY OF.

EVEN FROM 10,000 TO MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO I'M FINALLY WORKING MY WAY THROUGH THE PROPER PROCESS ON A GRANT.

[00:05:02]

SO IT'S WITH IT IS COMING FROM THE STATE THROUGH THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS. OKAY. HOW I GUESS WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES FREQUENCY WISE OR CADENCE WISE, TO SEEK THESE TYPES OF GRANTS? IS IT JUST KIND OF ONCE PER ELECTION CYCLE OR IT'S JUST WHEN THEY, THEY JUST THEY JUST KIND OF APPEAR.

BECAUSE LAST YEAR I GOT A $100,000 FROM THE INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT.

AND THEN IF YOU REMEMBER BACK THE CENTER FOR TECH AND CIVIL, CIVIL CIVIC LIFE BACK IN 2020, WE GOT LIKE 400,000.

SO I THINK AS ORGANIZATIONS AND STATE APPROPRIATES THESE JUST KIND OF THESE KIND OF PROP UP AND THEN WE GET SECURITY GRANTS.

SO IT'S KIND OF HARD TO PLAN LONG RANGE FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY KIND OF POP UP AND THEN THEY GO AWAY AND YEAH.

NO, THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. THANK YOU. COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? ALL RIGHTY.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES.

THAT WILL BRING US TO ITEM NUMBER FOUR. WE'VE GOT A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING A $720,000 GRANT

[4. Resolution accepting a $720,000 grant award and approving an agreement with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for the FY 2026 Michigan Medicaid CHIP Lead Hazard Control Community Development grant program]

MICHIGAN MEDICAID CHIP LEAD, HAZARD CONTROL, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM.

SO MOVE. SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVED IN. SUPPORT. GOOD MORNING. MISS. GOOD MORNING. I'M SORRY THAT'S SO LONG. IT'S ALL RIGHT. IT'S NOT OUR PROGRAM.

WE JUST RUN IT. SO THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR EIGHTH GRANT AWARD.

WITH THIS PROGRAM. AND IT REALLY FOCUSES ON CHILDREN THAT ARE CHIP ENROLLED WHO HAVE VERY HIGH ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS.

SO IT'S A VERY NARROW PROGRAM.

SO WE DON'T REALLY ADVERTISE IT.

WE GET THOSE CLIENTS THROUGH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHO ARE OUR PARTNERS IN THIS WORK.

AND THIS PARTICULAR KILLER GRANT WOULD RUN THROUGH OCTOBER 1ST OF 2025 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30TH OF 2026. OKAY. THANK YOU.

ANY QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES? YES.

SO WHAT IS THE THE THE APPLICATION OF THE GRANT.

LIKE WHAT IS IT ACTUALLY USED FOR? IS IT HELPING WITH SERVICES FOR THE FAMILIES, HELPING THEM REPAIR STUFF IN THEIR HOMES? SO IT'S SIMILAR TO OUR HOUSING REHABILITATION PROGRAM. BUT IT'S VERY NARROWLY FOCUSED TO THOSE WHO THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAVE IDENTIFIED AS BEING POISONED.

SO OUR HOUSING REHAB STAFF WILL ACTUALLY BID OUT THE PROJECTS AND DO ALL OF THAT.

AND THEN THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DOES THE OUTREACH.

THEY WILL ALSO DO WHAT'S CALLED THE LIRAS AND THE CLEARANCES AND THINGS OF THAT'S REQUIRED IN TERMS OF THAT COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.

DOES IT MATTER IF THEY OWN THE HOME OR NOT? YES, THEY DO OWN THE HOME.

AND IN SOME CASES THERE ARE SOME SOME RENTAL.

BUT IT'S REALLY FOCUSED ON THE CHILD AND THE UNIT.

SO THEY'LL DO IT REGARDLESS IF THEY OWN OR DON'T OWN.

YEAH OKAY. YEAH. GOOD QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER. THESE ARE EXTREME CASES.

YEAH. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY.

HEARING SEEING NO OTHER QUESTIONS, I WILL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED IT CARRIES.

THAT WILL BRING US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. WE'VE GOT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES AND ENERGY IN THE AMOUNT OF THREE. OH, NO. DID I SKIP ONE? YEP. OH. SO SORRY. NUMBER FIVE, WE'VE GOT A RESOLUTION APPROVING A COMMUNITY

[5. Resolution approving a Community Grants Program Grant Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the amount of $959,752]

SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. MOVED AND SUPPORTED. AND WE'LL WE'LL WELCOME OUR CITY STAFF HERE TO TELL US ABOUT THIS ONE. YEAH. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MY NAME IS MIKE STAHL.

I'M A PROJECT MANAGER IN THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT.

IN 2024, CONGRESS APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR THE BUTTERWORTH'S STREET STORMWATER PROJECT.

AND SO THIS FUNDING IS COMING TO US AS A COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING THROUGH THE US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.

SO THE THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS JUST TO APPROVE THE GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE EPA, WHICH IS A CRITICAL PIECE OF FUNDING TO IMPROVE THE STORMWATER DRAINAGE THAT ALONG BUTTERWORTH STREET, FROM WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH O'BRIEN ROAD OUT TO THE CITY LIMITS LINE. THE PROJECT IS CURRENTLY IN DESIGN.

AND I EXPECT THAT THAT WILL WRAP UP SHORTLY.

BIDDING SHOULD BE LATER THIS FALL.

AND WITH THE HOPES THAT WE HAVE A CONSTRUCTION START IN 26.

GREAT. THANKS FOR THE INFO. ONE QUICK QUESTION.

I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT ROD.

I'VE DRIVEN IT MANY TIMES, AND I KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT RAINS, HOW HOW BAD THE THE STORM WATER CAN ACCUMULATE.

IS IT JUST KIND OF ADDRESSING A COUPLE OF THOSE SPOTS, OR IS IT TRULY MORE OF A RECONSTRUCTION? KIND OF MORE COMPREHENSIVELY? YEAH.

SO THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE COMBINED WITH OTHER FUNDING THAT WE AT THE CITY HAVE BUDGETED. AND SO THAT WHOLE ROAD IS GOING TO GET RECONSTRUCTED AND THIS FUNDING WILL BE HELPED WITH THERE'S NO DITCHES THERE OUT THERE CURRENTLY.

THERE'S A LOT OF SEDIMENTATION IN THAT AREA.

[00:10:03]

SO WE ARE GOING TO COMPLETELY RECONSTRUCT THAT ROAD AND THEN ADD IN STORMWATER FEATURES WITH THIS FUNDING. GOT IT.

OKAY. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

DO YOU HAPPEN TO KNOW WHAT THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THAT PROJECT IS? WE'RE ESTIMATING IT'S AT 3.3 MILLION RIGHT NOW.

THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SEEING AND HEARING NO OTHER QUESTIONS.

I'LL CALL THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE. AYE.

THOSE OPPOSED, IT CARRIES.

AND THAT'LL BRING US TO ITEM NUMBER SIX.

[6. Resolution approving a Grant Agreement with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in the amount of $3,000,000]

AND THIS ONE'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION.

SO MOVE SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVED IN SUPPORT I'LL KICK IT BACK TO YOU.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS TO ACCEPT THIS GRANT AGREEMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES AND ENERGY IN THE AMOUNT OF $3 MILLION. THIS WAS APPROPRIATED BY THE STATE IN 2020 FOR THIS FUNDING WILL BE UTILIZED TO BUILD THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE TO CONNECT IN THE PROPOSED SOLAR ARRAY AT THE BUTTERWORTH LANDFILL TO THE CITY'S PRIMARY CIRCUIT LINE.

THIS PROJECT IS ALSO CURRENTLY IN DESIGN AND WE EXPECT BIDDING TO BE ALSO THIS FALL, WITH A CONSTRUCTION START TO BE ANTICIPATED IN SPRING OF 26.

AWESOME. THANKS. JUST I GUESS IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, BASICALLY THIS AMOUNT WILL BE PREPPING THE SITE OR KIND OF BUILDING OUT SOME OF THE INITIAL INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH THAT ONCE WE GET FUNDING DOWN THE ROAD TO BUILD OUT THE ACTUAL ARRAYS ITSELF, THEN THEY'LL BE KIND OF ONE STEP IN THAT DIRECTION.

IS THAT RIGHT? SORT OF.

SO WHAT WE HAVE OUR PRIMARY CIRCUIT, RIGHT, FOR THE CITY'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

AND IN ORDER TO GET THE ELECTRICITY FROM WHERE THAT SOLAR ARRAY IS AT THE LANDFILL, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO RUN A CIRCUIT LINE OUT TO THAT SITE.

SO SOME OF THIS FUNDING IS GOING TO BE TO INSTALL THAT LINE AND, AND RECONSTRUCT THE ROAD, WEALTHY STREET, THAT IT'S WHERE THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO HAVING SWITCHES AND ALL THAT FUN ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT THAT CAN CONNECT IN THE SOLAR ARRAY TO THE PROJECT.

OKAY. GOT IT. THANKS FOR THAT INFO.

COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THIS ONE? ALL RIGHTY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT CARRIES.

THANKS. NICE TO MEET YOU. ITEM NUMBER SEVEN.

[7. Resolution approving a change order to the contract between the City of Grand Rapids and Highstreet IT Solutions, LLC in the amount of $690,500]

SO MOVED. SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT.

MOVED IN SUPPORT OF MISS CLAIRE. I BELIEVE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS ONE? YES. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. THIS ONE IS.

YES. A CHANGE ORDER. WHEN WE ORIGINALLY DID OUR CONTRACT WITH HIGH STREET.

ONE OF THE SORRY STATEMENTS OF WORK.

I HAD TO DO WITH POST GO LIVE SUPPORT.

THE STATEMENT OF WORK ANTICIPATED A CERTAIN LEVEL OF NEED.

SINCE GO LIVE, WE'VE SEEN THAT WE NEED MORE HELP AS FAR AS STABILIZATION.

AND THEN THE FURTHER REFINING OF REPORTS AS WELL AS EXTRA HELP WITH THE BUDGET MODULE.

SO THIS THIS COVERS ALL THOSE BASES I DID INCLUDE BECAUSE I ANTICIPATED THE QUESTION, WHERE ARE WE AT WITH OUR HIGH STREET CONTRACT? WITH I CATALOGED THE VARIOUS CHANGE ORDERS FOR YOU, AND WE'RE UP AROUND $9 MILLION WITH THIS CHANGE ORDER.

AND THEN WE ANTICIPATE A BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ACCOMPANY THIS.

WE STILL HAVE SOME ARPA FUNDS REMAINING THAT WE CAN USE THIS TOWARDS.

OKAY. GREAT. THANKS FOR THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS COLLEAGUES? SO DOES THIS MEAN THAT DO YOU THINK THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY MORE AMENDMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE NECESSARY OR.

I'M HOPING WE CAN, OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS, REFINE WHAT OUR MONTHLY NEED AS FAR AS THAT SUPPORT IS. IT WAS EXTREMELY HIGH IN THE SUMMER AS WE WERE, YOU KNOW, FIGURING OUT REVISING CONFIGURATIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE GO LIVE ENVIRONMENT.

SO WE'RE SEEING OUR SERVICE TICKETS GO DOWN.

SO THAT'S WHY THIS CONTRACT GOES THROUGH DECEMBER.

I'M WONDERING IF, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WE HAVE TO ASSESS IF OUR ORIGINAL SAL, WHERE WE HAVE THAT MONTHLY AMOUNT OF SERVICE LEVEL, IS THAT GOING TO BE ENOUGH? JANUARY.

AND WHAT THAT ANNUAL CONTRACT WE, WE TALKED ABOUT BACK WHEN WE ORIGINALLY ADOPTED THIS CONTRACT IN 2023.

IS THAT GOING TO BE AN ADEQUATE LEVEL? IS THIS ARE WE SEEING MORE NEED FOR SUPPORT JUST BECAUSE IN SOME CASES WE DO HAVE GREEN STAFF OR YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALSO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, PROJECT TURNOVER, I GUESS ON BOTH SIDES WITH WITH KEY PEOPLE LEAVING. SO SO THAT COULD BE ANOTHER DRIVER OF WHY, WHY WE NEED THIS EXTRA SUPPORT RIGHT NOW AS WELL.

SO, SO IT'S REALLY JUST HEDGING OUR BETS AS WELL AS WITH THE AUDIT GOING ON,

[00:15:04]

SO IT'S ALSO PAYING TO KEEP SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH US THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION AROUND SO THEY DON'T HOP TO ANOTHER PROJECT.

SO SO THAT WAS PART OF OUR DISCUSSIONS AS WELL.

SO I'M HOPING TO FOLLOW UP AS FAR AS LIKE A DEBRIEF ON THE ERP GO LIVE WITHIN THE COMING MONTHS. AND THEN I'LL BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, LET YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THAT SERVICE NOW, STATEMENT OF WORK IF WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY AFTER JANUARY WITHOUT THIS EXTRA SUPPORT OR IF WE WANT TO INVEST MORE IN HIGH STREET SUPPORT.

I'M ALSO EXPLORING GETTING AN ORACLE RESOURCE EMBEDDED WITH STAFF FOR EXTRA TRAINING AS WELL, IF IT IF IT'S MORE HELPFUL.

GOING DIRECTLY TO ORACLE AT THAT POINT.

SO A COUPLE OF THINGS IN PLAY TO SEE WHICH WAY WE WANT TO PROCEED.

GOT IT. THANKS. GOOD QUESTION.

COMMISSIONER. SO I GUESS SO FOR EXAMPLE, MY MY PRIVATE JOB, I DO SOME OF THIS WORK TO WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO CROSS THE ONE YEAR MARK SINCE OUR GO LIVE DATE. SO IS HIGH STREET GOING TO BE KIND OF LIKE THE CONSULTANT ON RETAINER TO HELP WITH THE ONGOING CONFIGURATION NEEDS THAT ARE MORE OR LESS ABOVE OR MORE COMPLEX THAN WHAT THE STAFF'S CURRENT KNOWLEDGE IS. YEAH.

SO SO WE DO HAVE TWO SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS THAT TAKE DOWN KIND OF THE THE STRAIGHTFORWARD TICKETS THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO BECAUSE OF THE ISSUES WE'VE HAD DURING GO LIVE. ONE REASON THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO CATCH AS MANY RIGHT NOW IS THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER DURING THE PROJECT, BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT GOING ON DURING THE PROJECT, AS YOU KNOW. SO THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

BUT WE DO HAVE HIGH STREET ON RETAINER.

I BELIEVE IT WAS FIVE YEAR POST GO LIVE SUPPORT WHERE THEY THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE TO HELP US.

ORACLE ONE REASON IT'S A ONE OF THE REASONS ACTUALLY WE CHOSE IT IS THEY DO THEIR UPDATES QUARTERLY TO THE SYSTEM WHERE THEY APPLY PATCHES, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO HAVING THAT EXTRA, EXTRA LINE OF, YOU KNOW, TRIAGE IS HELPFUL FOR IMPLEMENTING THOSE KIND OF THINGS.

AND OPPOSED TO LIKE A LOT OF SOFTWARE SYSTEMS, THEY'LL GO THROUGH A PATCH EVERY, YOU KNOW, TWO YEARS OR SO.

AND IT'S A BIG LIFT FOR THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, FOR THE CITY OR, OR WHOEVER.

SO YEAH, OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL.

AND I WOULD SAY THAT'S BEST PRACTICE TO, TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, EXPERTS ON RETAINER. I THINK DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND THE THE SKILL LEVEL OF INTERNAL EMPLOYEES IT CAN LOOK DIFFERENT, WHETHER IT'S LIKE A, YOU KNOW, MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION TYPE OR BILL BUILD BY HOUR AND HELP AND WHATNOT.

SO YEAH, DEFINITELY CURIOUS TO HEAR MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT RELATIONSHIP WILL LOOK LIKE? ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT WAS THE TOTAL BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR THIS PROJECT AND HOW CLOSE ARE YOU TO BUDGET? OKAY, SO ORIGINAL OR ARE YOU SAYING AMENDED BECAUSE WE DID START OUT WITH ALL IN. IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER STATEMENTS OF WORK. SO POST LIFE SUPPORT HAVING ADP AS A CONTRACT TO HELP US DO OUR TAX COMPLIANCE.

AND THEN WE HAVE THINGS LIKE SIMPRO TO HELP WITH CASH MANAGEMENT.

MANAGEMENT. THAT ALL IN WAS $10.3 MILLION.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE CHANGE ORDER, WE'VE ADDED ABOUT 3 MILLION MORE DOLLARS ONTO THAT. SO WE'RE UP AROUND 13.3 MILLION RIGHT NOW FOR A FIVE YEAR.

ALL IN. YEP. OKAY. YEAH.

WHAT IS THE. SO IF WE ENDED UP AT FIVE YEARS, LIKE WHAT IS THE PROJECTION OF WHAT THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO BE OR DOES IT? WE I'M HOPING TO HOLD.

HOLD. I'M HOPING I DON'T HAVE TO ADD ON EXTRA SUPPORT.

I'M HOPING THIS IS IT.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK I THINK JUST TO DO, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW WE'RE ASSESSING.

WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BE WITH THIS ONGOING SUPPORT.

I'M. I'M HOPING I CAN GIVE YOU A PRESENTATION.

A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO SHOW YOU.

HERE'S HERE'S THE HERE'S OUR GOAL LIVE.

YOU KNOW. LESSONS LEARNED OR AND THEN GAINS AS WELL.

WHAT EFFICIENCIES WE'VE PICKED UP.

AND THEN. WHAT THE ONGOING OUTLOOK WOULD BE FOR IT.

SO, SO YEAH, I CAN ALSO PROVIDE YOU A BREAKDOWN BY EACH VENDOR IF YOU'D LIKE TO SEE WHERE WE'RE AT IN OUR SPEND AND WHAT THE ANNUAL AMOUNT SHOULD BE NOW GOING FORWARD RELATIVE TO OUR PREVIOUS ERP SYSTEM, IF THAT'S HELPFUL.

JUST TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT, MAYBE.

YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. NO, I THINK IT'D BE GREAT AT SOME POINT JUST TO GET LIKE EVEN JUST A FIVE MINUTE BRIEFER, YOU KNOW, EMAIL PRESENTATION ON ON SORT OF THE HOW IT'S ALL GONE.

AND I THINK TO YOUR POINT TOO, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO CALL OUT THE THE EFFICIENCIES GAIN BECAUSE I THINK, I MEAN, THESE PROJECTS HAVE, YOU KNOW, CAN SOMETIMES HAVE STICKER SHOCK FOR SURE, JUST GIVEN THEIR NATURE. BUT I THINK IT'S WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE THE MONEY YOU'RE SAVING ON A LOT OF PROCESSES AND AUTOMATION AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THAT CAN HAVE A, YOU KNOW, A QUICK TURNAROUND PERIOD WHERE YOUR, YOUR NET POSITIVE VALUE OVERALL AFTER JUST A

[00:20:03]

SO YEAH. AND I WOULD WANT TO CALL OUT, I DON'T SEE A LOT OF THE STAFF IN HERE RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THEM. BUT YOU KNOW, I CREDIT THE STAFF WITH HANGING IN THERE.

IT WASN'T AN EASY PROJECT.

OUR GO LIVE GOT PUSHED BACK MANY TIMES, AND AND THAT'S FRUSTRATING.

AND THEY'RE STILL GRAPPLING WITH THIS, WITH THIS, WITH THIS ERP IMPLEMENTATION AND TRYING TRYING TO GET IT TRYING.

WE'RE TRYING TO STAND.

SO, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO HELP US DO THAT.

YEAH. WHICH I CAN ASSURE IS NOT A UNIQUE TO THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS.

I THINK THOSE PROJECTS ARE VERY COMPREHENSIVE AND REQUIRE A LOT OF CHANGE MANAGEMENT, SO I FULLY UNDERSTAND.

OKAY. WELL, THAT QUESTION, I'LL CALL THE QUESTION HERE.

ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. IT CARRIES THAT WILL BRING US TO ITEM NUMBER EIGHT.

[8. Bid List Resolution for September 9, 2025]

ALL RIGHT. MOVED AND SUPPORTED. THESE ARE ALL FAIRLY ROUTINE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING SPECIFIC I WOULD CALL OUT.

JUST. YEAH. IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS MYSELF OR OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE HERE TO ANSWER.

YEP. THANK YOU. AND THAT STARTS ON PAGE 19 OF THE PACKET.

I WOULD LIKE TO POINT THAT OUT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE CURIOUS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. THOSE OPPOSED THE MOTION CARRIES.

WHICH BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER NINE. WE'VE GOT OUR COMPTROLLER'S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD

[9. Comptroller's Warrant Report for the period of August 12, 2025 through August 25, 2025 in the amount of $204,267,925.75]

AND THAT'S IN THE AMOUNT OF $204 MILLION, 269,000 OR 67,000.

EXCUSE ME. $925.75. AND WE'LL TURN THAT OVER TO OUR CITY COMPTROLLER, MR. MAX FRANCE. GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS.

FOR THE PERIOD REFERENCE, THEIR CASH PAYMENTS WERE RELEASED TOTALING APPROXIMATELY $204.2 MILLION.

THIS AMOUNT INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY $5.6 MILLION FOR EMPLOYEE PAYROLL EXPENSE AND JUST OVER $286,000 FOR INCOME TAX WARRANTS.

DURING THAT PERIOD, IN TERMS OF QUANTITY, 1038 INCOME TAX REFUNDS WERE ISSUED AND 990 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CHECKS AND ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS WERE ISSUED.

AS STATED IN THE MEMO, THESE FUNDS WERE ISSUED FOR PAYMENT NOT BY ANY INDIVIDUAL IN THE CITY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE AND NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY CHARTER. THERE IS A PARAGRAPH THAT HAS BEEN ADDED TO THIS REPORT THAT WAS NOT SUBMITTED BY MYSELF OR MY OFFICE.

IT STATES SOMETHING IN REGARDS TO ALL THE APPLICABLE RULES AND LAWS AND REGULATIONS ARE BEING FOLLOWED. I HAVE REQUESTED A LIST OF WHAT REGULATIONS AND LAWS THAT STATEMENT IS REFERRING TO. IT HAS NOT BEEN PROVIDED AT THIS TIME.

OKAY, THANKS. WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RECEIVE AND FILE THAT.

WHICH BRINGS US TO ITEM NUMBER TEN.

[10. Treasurer’s Report for Period of August 12, 2025 through August 27, 2025]

WELCOME BACK. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT WAS. IT WAS A LOVELY TRIP UP TO THE PENINSULA.

SO GOOD MORNING WITH OUR REPORT TODAY. ACTUALLY, FOR OUR LAST TWO REPORTS, TRYING TO ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE FLAVOR OF THE ECONOMIC DATA THAT'S OUT THERE.

JUST TO KIND OF SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS WHERE WE'RE HAVING WHY WE'D SAY THERE SHOULD BE A RATE CUT, WHY WE THINK THE FED IS HOLDING THE LINE.

AS OF THIS MORNING, THERE'S OVER A 92% PROBABILITY THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A 25 BASIS POINT RATE CUT COMING UP HERE IN THE MEETING NEXT WEEK.

BUT AGAIN, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF ECONOMIC DATA THAT'S GOING TO BE CHURNED OUT BETWEEN NOW AND THEN. AND YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF POLITICAL RHETORIC.

I THINK WHAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEE IN THIS REPORT IS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THE STABILITY OF THE CITY, THE STABILITY OF OUR CITY, INVESTMENTS AND OUR FUNDS.

WE ARE KEEPING OUR EYE OUT FOR THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY, TO SEE IF IT WILL HAVE ANY TYPE OF NEGATIVE IMPACT ON US, AND HOW WE NEED TO ADJUST AND BE FLEXIBLE.

OUR PORTFOLIO IS EXTREMELY FLEXIBLE.

IT'S QUITE A BIT OF MONEY IN OUR SHORT TERM ENVIRONMENT RIGHT NOW WHERE WE'RE WE'RE INVESTING IN US TREASURIES LESS THAN ONE YEAR.

SO AS THESE TYPES OF EVENTS HAPPEN, WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT AND CHANGE AND REPOSITION OUR PORTFOLIO TO REALLY PERFORM VERY WELL IN THE FUTURE.

AND WHEN I SAY VERY WELL, I KIND OF SET A TARGET THAT I WOULD I WOULD LIKE TO SEE OUR PORTFOLIO EARN BETWEEN 2.75% AND 3.25% OVER THE LONG TERM.

AND REALLY, THIS IS TO BUILD THIS OUT SO THAT WE STRUCTURE THE OF THE PORTFOLIO IN ORDER TO CONTAIN CONTINUALLY HAVE CONSISTENT INTEREST EARNINGS AND AVOID WHAT WE WENT THROUGH BETWEEN 2009 AND 2018.

I MEAN, THAT WAS RELYING ON HOPE THAT SOMEBODY'S GOING TO RAISE AN INTEREST RATE IS NOT A GOOD STRATEGY. BUT WE WERE NOT IN A POSITION WITH OUR CITY FUNDS TO ACTUALLY START PLACING THOSE MONIES.

WE ARE IN A MUCH BETTER POSITION NOW.

AND FROM OUR INVESTMENT OFFICER, LEVI BOLTS WORK,

[00:25:01]

AND YOU'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE OF US WHEN WE'VE COME FORWARD WITH OUR INVESTMENT GUIDELINE CHANGES TO MAKE AND ADAPT TO A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, TO REALLY BUILD OUT A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM.

SO WITH WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW I REALLY EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE THAT RATE CUT. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS I PICKED UP YESTERDAY FROM THE ECONOMIC CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS HAD A PRESENTATION FROM MISS DIANE SWONK, SHE SAID. EXPECT THAT INFLATION IS GOING TO GET WORSE BEFORE IT GETS BETTER.

SHE SAID 2026 HER BELIEFS ARE AND HER FEELINGS ARE, THAT THE ECONOMY WILL BE IN BETTER OFF IN 2026 THAN WE ARE IN 2025.

SO THEY'RE SEEING THE TAILWINDS BUILD IN.

BUT AGAIN, SHE ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THINGS LIKE THE IMPACT OF THE TARIFFS.

THOSE TARIFFS SOMETIMES TAKE 3 TO 6 MONTHS TO EVEN IMPACT OUR ECONOMY.

AS MOST BUSINESSES HEAR OF A TARIFF, THEY'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND THEY'RE GOING TO FORWARD PURCHASE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN AVOID THAT ADDITIONAL COST AND KEEP THEIR PRICES DOWN WHERE THEY'RE NOT HAVING TO PASS IT ON TO CUSTOMERS.

THERE'S STILL A LOT THAT HAS TO BE FILTERED OUT, BUT I REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOU THE CONFIDENCE THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS PROTECTED AND THAT WE'RE POSITIONING OUR PORTFOLIO FOR STRENGTH IN THE FUTURE. WITH THAT, OUR PORTFOLIO IS SITTING AT RIGHT NOW $834 $4 MILLION, AND WE'RE EARNING 3.65% ON THAT PORTFOLIO.

AWESOME. THANKS SO MUCH. COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? COMMISSIONER LOOK LIKE YOU'RE THINKING.

YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

SO I JUST HAD ONE QUICK QUESTION.

SO WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT YOU KNOW, INFLATION COULD GET WORSE BEFORE BETTER, BUT THE BELIEF THAT MAYBE 2026 CALENDAR YEAR WILL BE OVERALL BETTER FOR THE ECONOMY.

I GUESS WHAT WHEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN WOULD LIKE, IS THERE ANY IDEA OR EXPECTATION AS TO WHEN THE INFLATION WOULD GET BETTER BEFORE WORSE? LIKE IS IT KIND OF Q4 OF THIS YEAR, Q1 OF NEXT OR.

WELL, WE'RE STILL WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR THOSE 3 TO 6 MONTHS OF TARIFF DATA TO COME THROUGH. AND THOSE THINGS AREN'T SETTLED YET. SO WE ALSO HAVE A VERY LARGE LAWSUIT GOING ON RIGHT NOW. THAT MIGHT BE US REFUNDING TARIFF MONEY.

SO THAT'S HEADED I THINK IT'S PASSED A NUMBER OF COURTS RIGHT NOW THAT COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS, REALLY, IF WE'RE HAVING TO WRITE CHECKS FOR HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS BACK TO COUNTRIES, THAT WEIGHS ON OUR ECONOMY, RIGHT? THAT WEIGHS ON OUR POSITIONS.

SO I CAN'T REALLY PROJECT A QUARTER THAT IT'S GOING TO GET BETTER, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE FED RATE CUTS AS THIS CONTINUES ON. AND REALLY, THE FED HAS A TARGET OF A 2% INFLATION.

AND NOW I'M STARTING TO HEAR RUMBLINGS THAT IS THAT REALLY A VALID TARGET.

BECAUSE IT'S TWO 2% HAS BEEN THE LONG STANDARD OF THE FED WANTING TO CONTROL THAT AT 2%. WHAT'S OUR NEW NORMAL NOW? IS OUR NEW NORMAL GOING TO BE 3%? SO I THINK THEY'RE STARTING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE. I SEE THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED FED CUTS.

AS WE'VE PROJECTED IN OUR PRIOR TREASURIES REPORT, WE SHOWED A TIMELINE SHOWING THAT FED FUNDS RATE DROPPED DOWN TO AROUND 33.

2% TO 5%, I THINK BY JANUARY OF 2027.

SO AS THOSE RATE CUTS HAPPEN, OUR ECONOMY IS GOING TO ADJUST, OUR BUSINESSES ARE GOING TO ADJUST, AND HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING IS THAT THE IMPROVEMENT WILL START TAKING SHAPE IN 2026.

GOT IT. AWESOME. ALRIGHTY.

[11. City Manager's Report on Contract and Purchase Approvals for January 2024 – August 2025]

AND THIS IS FOR A PERIOD OF JANUARY 2024 THROUGH AUGUST OF THIS YEAR.

SUPPORT. ALL RIGHT. OH WELL YEAH.

THIS IS JUST A REPORT. SO YEAH, EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS.

IT'S EXAMPLES OF USE OF CITY MANAGER'S AUTHORITY AND PURCHASING.

SO HE HAS THE AUTHORITY UP TO $100,000 TO AUTHORIZE PURCHASES.

AND THE INTEREST OF TRANSPARENCY.

WE BRING THIS REPORT TIME TO TIME JUST TO KEEP THE COMMISSION APPRIZED OF WHAT ARE THOSE TYPES OF PURCHASES THAT HE IS USING? A LOT OF TIMES IT'S BECAUSE WE, IT'S WE, WE GET A, WE GET A BID THE, THE VENDOR WON'T HOLD THE PRICE FOR LONG ENOUGH FOR US TO GO TO A COMMISSION MEETING. SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE WOULD USE IT.

THE CITY MANAGER ALSO HAS AUTHORIZATION FOR EMERGENCY PURCHASES, WHICH IS UP TO I BELIEVE $500,000.

SO JUST FOR YOUR INFORMATION, HERE'S HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE.

AND IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP.

GREAT. THANKS. I KNOW TO WHEN IN IN EVENTS WHEN THERE HAS TO BE AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE TO

[00:30:04]

SO NOTHING EVER COMES TO OUR SURPRISE, BUT ALWAYS GREAT TO TO SEE THE TRANSPARENCY HERE. SO ALL RIGHT, COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THIS LAST ITEM.

ALL RIGHT. HEARING SEEING NONE.

WE'LL GO AHEAD AND RECEIVE AND FILE THAT.

AND THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING TODAY. SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND ADJOURN AT 9:00.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.