[00:00:08]
WILL CALL THE COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS TO ORDER AT 8 A.M. WE HAVE A FEW ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA THIS MORNING. WE ARE GETTING THROUGH OUR APPOINTMENTS AND FILLING A LOT OF OUR VACANCIES, AND VERY PLEASED TO SEE THE WORK OF THE MAYOR AND MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
[1. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Kurt Reppart to the Local Officers Compensation Commission]
SO. FIRST IS A RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LEGRAND'S APPOINTMENT OF KURT REPPART TO THE LOCAL OFFICERS COMPENSATION COMMISSION. SO MOVED, MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT. COLLEAGUES, I'LL JUST ADD ONE THING. SO SO OBVIOUSLY KURT IS A FORMER FIRST WARD COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER RUTH KELLY JUST CAME OFF OF THAT. SO IT'S KIND OF NICE TO HAVE THAT FEELING. COMMISSIONER, FORMER COMMISSIONER LANIER'S ON THERE AS WELL. THEY GIVE A GOOD PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT THE JOB, WHAT THE JOB ENTAILS SO THEY CAN GET THROUGH THAT. MAYBE SOME OTHER CITIZENS MIGHT NOT UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE JOB. NICE.THANK YOU. MR. CLARK. ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE
[2. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Amanda Faber to the Urban Agriculture Committee]
OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. THAT MOVES US TO OUR SECOND RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LEGRAND'S APPOINTMENT OF AMANDA FABER TO THE URBAN AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE SUMMIT. OKAY, I'LL SUPPORT MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT. COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S NICE TO SEE PEOPLE FILLING IN THE SPOTS ON THIS COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I KNOW THERE WERE SEVERAL. YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. OKAY. SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENTS. THOSE IN[3. Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of Elizabeth McDonnell to the Historic Preservation Commission]
FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES MOVES US TO OUR THIRD RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT OF ELIZABETH MCDONALD TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SUPPORT MOVED IN. SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT, COLLEAGUES, I THINK SHE'LL BE A GREAT ADDITION. BASED ON THE PROFILE THAT I SAW. IT'S NICE TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A WIDE VARIETY OF EXPERIENCE. AND I DON'T KNOW, THIS IS A COMMISSION THAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT A LOT LATELY, SO MAYBE THAT'S A GOOD THING. YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER.SEEING NO FURTHER COMMENT, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE, AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES MOVES US
[4. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Lindsey Perez Plescher to the Mobile GR Commission]
TO OUR FOURTH RESOLUTION CONFIRMING APPOINTMENT OF LINDSAY PEREZ PLETCHER TO THE MOBILE GR COMMISSION. SO MOVED, MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT COLLEAGUES OKAY. SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. MOTION CARRIES. BRINGS US TO[5. Resolution confirming Mayor LaGrand's appointment of Samuel "Chip" Hurley to the Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority]
OUR FIFTH RESOLUTION CONFIRMING MAYOR LAGRANGE'S APPOINTMENT OF SAMUEL CHIP HURLEY TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.SUPPORT. MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS COLLEAGUES. OKAY. SEEING NONE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR?
[6. Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of Nate Rauh-Bieri to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board]
AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES MOVES US TO OUR SIXTH RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT OF NATE. ROBBERY TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD. SO MOVED, MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT. COLLEAGUES, I WILL ADD A COMMENT. I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH MR. ROBBERY AND MULTIPLE OTHER PLACES, INCLUDING WHEN HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE WEST MICHIGAN ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COUNCIL, AND HE HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN A CHAIR OF THE GRAND RAPIDS CLIMATE COALITION. SO IT IS REALLY A WONDERFUL WHEN FOLKS CAN BRING THAT ON THE GROUND EXPERIENCE TO OUR BOARDS AND COMMITTEES. SO I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THIS. ALL RIGHT. ALL[7. Resolution approving the City Commission's appointment of Mark Bjelland to the Board of Zoning Appeals]
THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. BRINGS US TO OUR LAST RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY COMMISSION'S APPOINTMENT OF MARC BRIDGELAND TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.SO MOVED. MOVED AND SUPPORTED. HOPEFULLY, I DID NOT BUTCHER THAT. I APOLOGIZE, I DID MOVED AND SUPPORTED COMMENTS ON THIS APPOINTMENT. COLLEAGUES. YES. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK THIS IS OUR LAST APPOINTMENT FOR THIS, THIS THIS BOARD OF APPEALS. AND JUST AS WE'VE GONE THROUGH ALL THESE OTHER ONES, THERE'S JUST A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, JUST DISTRIBUTED DECISION MAKING. AND I REALLY DO FEEL LIKE THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS IS ONE THAT WE FORGET.
THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT WHEN PEOPLE HAVE A COMPLAINT. AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE WORK OF THAT THAT GROUP THIS YEAR. YES. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. ALL RIGHT. SEEING
[8. Discussion on the current Board and Commission Vacancy List - February 24, 2026]
NO FURTHER COMMENT. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR I THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. AND MISS BOSSCHER, IF YOU COULD LEAD US THROUGH A DISCUSSION ON OUR CURRENT BOARD AND COMMISSION VACANCY LIST.SURE. I'LL START BY MENTIONING THAT THERE IS ONE RESIGNATION ON THE AGENDA THIS WEEK FROM SOUTH TOWN. SO THAT WILL BE A VACANCY THERE. THE MAYOR'S GOT A SHORTLIST OF APPLICANTS TO LOOK OVER, AND WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS WITH FILLING THAT VACANCY. AND THEN I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ON THE THE VACANCY LIST, BUT SOME
[00:05:03]
BOARDS THAT HAVE TERMS ENDING SOON. THEY'RE GOING TO HOUSING COMMISSION AND THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HAVE TERMS ENDING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS IN APRIL AND MAY. SO JUST TO KEEP US IN MIND, AND I'LL COLLECT APPLICATIONS AND SEND THOSE AROUND, BUT WE'RE HOPING TO CONTINUE TO FILL FILL VACANCIES AT THE NEXT COUPLE OF MEETINGS. WE HAVE A VITAL STREETS POSITION. THE WOMEN'S DESIGNATED POSITION HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT MEETING, AND WE'RE STILL MOVING FORWARD. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU MISS. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.AND LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, WE ARE PLUGGING OUR WAY THROUGH AND TRYING OUR BEST TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE JUST, YOU KNOW, A DIVERSE REPRESENTATION ON ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. ANY FINAL COMMENTS, COLLEAGUES? YES, COMMISSIONER SASSY, THANK YOU. AT THE LAST MEETING, WE TALKED ABOUT THE BODY MAKEUP OF MOBILE GR. CAN WE GO TO THAT BODY MAKEUP? NO.
WHERE YOU HAVE THE DETAIL OF THE O OF WHO'S CURRENTLY THERE. OH YEAH. SORRY, I SHOULD COULD BE MORE CLEAR, MR. CLARK. SO I MEAN, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS ONE, BUT I DO WANT TO JUST GO BACK TO WHAT WE SAID JUST THE LAST TIME WE MET. I BELIEVE, MISS, AND I HOPE I'M SAYING THIS CORRECTLY. MISS FLEISCHER IS A FIRST ORDER. I BELIEVE YOU ARE CORRECT. SO.
SO WE WERE SORT OF HEAVY ON THIS ON THE, ON THE SECOND WARD, AND WE WERE REALLY LIGHT IN ANYONE WHO WAS NONWHITE, ANY BLACK OR BROWN FOLKS. AND I, I CAN'T SPEAK TO MISS FLEISCHER'S RACE OR ETHNICITY AT THIS MOMENT, BUT I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE SAID THIS WAS GOING TO BE THIS PARTICULAR ONE IS A FOCUS. SOME OF THESE BODIES REQUIRE DIFFERENT SKILL SETS THAT MIGHT NOT, YOU KNOW, SORT OF GO BY THE TRADITIONAL RECRUITING AREA THAT WE HAVE, WHICH WOULD BE, I WOULD SAY, JUST RESIDENTS OVERALL, YOU KNOW, SPECIFICALLY WHEN I WOULD THINK ABOUT MAYBE BROWNFIELD OR EVEN BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS OR PLANNING, BUT CERTAINLY SOMETHING LIKE MOBILE GR IS MORE, YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT LIKE, WHAT IS THAT USER EXPERIENCE OR NON-EXPERIENCE AND WHAT WOULD MAKE THAT. SO I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE. I ALSO WANTED TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT CIVIL SERVICE.
MISS BOSSCHER, IS THAT ONE EXPIRATION OR ONE? NO. THERE ARE TWO TERMS THAT ARE TWO TERMS THAT ARE EXPIRING. ARE THEY ELIGIBLE FOR RENEWAL? I BELIEVE SO, OKAY, I'LL DOUBLE CHECK. I DON'T I'M NOT SURE OKAY. AND THOSE ARE ALSO MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS. CORRECT.
I THINK THEY'RE CITY COMMISSION. GIVE ME JUST A MOMENT OKAY. I'M JUST ASKING COLLEAGUES. TODAY WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CIVIL SERVICE MEETINGS. WE TYPICALLY ONLY MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH.
I'M CHAIRING TODAY BECAUSE OUR CHAIR IS OUT OF TOWN, SO I'M HAPPY TO BRING THIS UP AT THAT BODY. OBVIOUSLY, MISS EDDIE IS THE LIAISON, I BELIEVE, AS WELL, AND WE CAN SHARE THAT. BUT THIS, AGAIN, WOULD BE A BODY THAT I WOULD SAY WOULD REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFERENT SKILL SETS THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT NOT JUST BE, HEY, I WANT TO SERVE THIS CITY, BUT SOME PARTICULAR SKILL SETS, EITHER IN LAW, IN HUMAN RESOURCES COMPLIANCE AND OVERSIGHT. SO I WANTED TO JUST SHARE THAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THOSE NOTES, COMMISSIONER. OKAY. OH, MISS PARKER, JUST A QUICK FOLLOW UP. THOSE ARE CITY COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NOT TERM LIMITS. OKAY. THANK YOU. LOVELY. YES, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT COMMISSIONER SAID. AM I STILL. I'M SO SORRY. AND SO I LOST MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT FOR A SECOND.
THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD I KNOW IS REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT MAYBE WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WERE JUST OUTLINED, IF THERE WAS SOMETHING YOU COULD JUST BRIEFLY DESCRIBE WHAT THE BOARD DOES, MAYBE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SURE. I'M SORRY. SURE. SO BECAUSE WE ARE A CITY, WE HAVE CIVIL SERVICE RULES THAT APPLY TO EMPLOYMENT. AND SO THE BODY IS RESPONSIBLE TO BE AND ACTUALLY WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE RULE. SO I WOULD INVITE ANYBODY TO COME TO OUR MEETING. ACTUALLY WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH RULES TWO AND THREE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE RULES. SO IF YOU DON'T HAVE A COPY OF THAT, I WOULD PROBABLY MAKE SURE WE WE GET YOU THAT.
BUT JUST SORT OF THAT GOVERNS THE EMPLOYMENT PIECES AND THINGS OF THE CITY. WE TYPICALLY REVIEW AND APPROVE ANY JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT WOULD MOVE FORTH IN THE CITY. SO THEY REQUIRE A CIVIL SERVICE APPROVAL. WE GET REPORTING ON THOSE THAT ARE ENTERING SERVICE IN THE CITY, THOSE THAT MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED A WHAT'S THE WORD, YOU KNOW, SUSPENSION OR,
[00:10:07]
OR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LEAVING SERVICE EITHER DUE TO SEPARATION, TERMINATION OR RETIREMENT. AND THEN IT'S ALSO A RESPONSIBILITY. RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY THE BIGGEST RESPONSIBILITY IS TO HAVE OVERSIGHT OVER THE THE COMPENSATION STUDY THAT'S BEING DONE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS IN 2017. I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE HAD DONE A WAGE STUDY IN OVER ABOUT 20 YEARS IN THE CITY, SO WE'RE DOING THIS IN A LOT SOONER BASIS. SO THAT'S ALSO ANOTHER MAJOR PROJECT WE HAVE. THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT.SURE. WONDERFUL. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, AND WE WILL ADJOURN THE COMMITTEE ON A
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.