[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:07]
CALL THIS MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION TO ORDER AND ASK TO HAVE YOU JOIN US, AS IS OUR HABIT. WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. PLEASE JOIN US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE
[PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU. AND
[ROLL CALL]
AS OUR CLERK CALLS THE ROLL, IF OUR INTERPRETER COULD COME UP AND INTRODUCE HIM OR HERSELF.COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. YES, COMMISSIONER BOUCEK, PRESENT COMMISSIONER. SASSY. MAYOR LEGRAND. YES. COMMISSIONER KILGORE WILL BE HERE MOMENTARILY. THANK YOU. HOLD ON ONE SECOND. OH, WE HAVEN'T DONE. OKAY. YOU WANT YOU WANT. OH, FINE. IF I COULD BRIEFLY HAVE A MOTION TO EXCUSE COMMISSIONER PURDUE. AND COMMISSIONER KILGORE IS RUNNING LATE. WE DON'T NEED A MOTION FOR THAT. SO CALL THE QUESTION. OH, YEAH. QUESTION ALL. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? TRY AGAIN. THE HISPANIC CENTER AND WE ARE PROVIDING SOME INTERPRETATION SERVICES FOR THE END OF THE. GRACIAS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND THAT BRINGS US
[PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS]
TO OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON ANY ITEMS ON THE AGENDA THE PUBLIC WISHES TO ADDRESS. MISTER JONES IS COMING UP FROM THE FIRST WARD. OTHERWISE, PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELF AND IF YOU COULD, AND WHERE YOU LIVE. JUST SO I CAN BE SURE I'M ALIGNING WITH THE AGENDA. I CAN SPEAK ON THE ORDINANCE TO BE ADOPTED, WHICH IS THE CONSIDERATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. THAT'S COOL. ALL RIGHT. COOL. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M DEE JONES, PASTOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND VISIONARY. AND IF WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN OR ANYTHING WITH CRIME PREVENTION, I HOPE THAT WE GET OUR PEOPLE FROM OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, OUR NONPROFITS THAT ARE BLACK LED, LIKE THE NAACP, THE URBAN LEAGUE, PEOPLE THAT CAN REALLY GIVE CRITICAL FEEDBACK BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE THE PRODUCT OF THEIR ENVIRONMENT. IF THERE'S HIGH POVERTY, IF THERE'S NO RESOURCES, IF THERE'S NO JOBS, LIKELY YOU'RE GOING TO GET CRIME. AND SO I WANT US TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WHEN WE DESIGN THESE INITIATIVES, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THE, I BELIEVE, STILL THE SECOND WORST CITY FOR ECONOMICS, FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS, TO BE HONEST. AND OUR STUDENT POPULATIONS OF COLOR IN OUR POOR CAUCASIAN COMMUNITIES. AND I JUST WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE VERY STRATEGIC AND VERY, VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT BEING SURE THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE PROGRAMS OR INITIATIVES ALSO, WHEN WE HAVE THESE POLICES, POLICE OFFICERS, SOME OF THESE POLICE OFFICERS COME FROM SPARTA. SOME OF THEM COME FROM ROCKFORD. THEY DON'T EVEN LIVE AROUND THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE POLICING THE COMMUNITIES. AND SO I LIKE FOR THEM TO ALSO BE A PART OF THE DISENGAGEMENT, BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IF THESE PEOPLE, THESE POLICE OFFICERS, ARE NOT FROM THIS COMMUNITY, IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY, BUT THEY'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF TRAINING, AND THEN THEY GOT TO GET OUT INTO THE FIELD WHERE THEY'RE NOT REALLY USED TO DEALING WITH PEOPLE FROM HIGH POVERTY, HIGH CRIME AREAS THAT WE EDUCATE THEM ON THIS. BECAUSE IN THE SNAP, FAST OF A SECOND OF SOMEBODY THAT COMES FROM A NICER NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A LITTLE BIT OF POLICE TRAINING AND SOMEBODY THAT'S BEEN LIVING IN POVERTY THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. THE SECOND IN THE HEAT OF PASSION CAN HAPPEN. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, THERE CAN BE SOME TYPE OF INCIDENT. SO I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO REALLY, REALLY CONSIDER THE ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE THAT YOU GUYS GET INVOLVED WHEN YOU'RE DESIGNING THIS KIND, THIS CRIME PREVENTION, ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, AND BEING SURE THAT WE GET PEOPLE OF COLOR, BEING SURE THAT YOU HAVE DIFFERENT BODIES OF GOVERNMENT. I LIKE FOR THE COMMISSIONERS TO BE THERE. THE POLICE OFFICERS DEFINITELY SHOULD BE THERE BECAUSE THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY AND THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH. THESE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THESE HIGH CRIME AREAS, THESE HIGH POVERTY AREAS, LIKELY IT'S A LOT OF CRIME BECAUSE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH JOBS ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE AND RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES GET OUT OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. SO I REALLY LIKE YOU GUYS TO CONSIDER GETTING DIFFERENT PARTIES INVOLVED AND BEING SURE THAT THE POLICE IS REALLY EDUCATED ABOUT THE HIGH, HIGH, HIGH, HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY THAT THEY ARE POLICING. AND THANK YOU. HELLO, FRIENDS. MARK FROM GRAND RAPIDS. I WANT TO SPEAK ON THIS AS WELL. I THINK THAT SOME OF YOUR. CRIME PREVENTION. EXECUTIVE ORDER[00:05:13]
THIS MORNING AND. I'M GONNA COME AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. I UNDERSTAND YOU GET THE LOW POVERTY, YOU GET HIGH CRIME. THAT'S NO BRAINER. BUT AS FAR AS THE GUN VIOLENCE IS CONCERNED, YOU LEFT OUT. ONE THING THAT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT. YOU LEFT OUT THE PART THAT YOU SHOULD FIND METHODS TO. TELL THESE GUNSHOTS TO THESE GUN SHOP OPERATORS, TO LIMIT THE SALE OF BULLETS. CAN'T FIND NO GUN WITHOUT A BULLET. YOU LIMIT THE SALE. LIMIT THE SALES TO THE PEOPLE WHO PURCHASED FIREARMS. AND YOU PUT HIGH TAXES ON THE PURCHASES OF THE BULLETS. YOU DO THAT. IT CAN BE. IT CAN REDUCE GUN CRIME BY HALF. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, ANYBODY WHO PURCHASES A FIREARM AND AMMUNITION. SHOULD BE MANDATED TO HAVE GUN SAFES. AND FIND A WAY TO MAKE THESE GUN SAFES AFFORDABLE FOR ANYBODY TO PURCHASE. BECAUSE ONCE AGAIN, YOU LEAVE YOU DON'T YOU DON'T HAVE YOU DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE HANDS OF ROWDY YOUTH. THEY GO, DO THEY? THEY GO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH THEM. YOU CAN HAVE SITUATIONS LIKE THE LAST TIME IN SANDY IN SAN DIEGO, WHERE YOU WHERE YOU HAD, YOU HAD WHEN YOU HAD TEENAGERS OPENING FIRE ON INNOCENT PEOPLE. BECAUSE THESE PARENTS OF THESE INDIVIDUALS DIDN'T HAVE NO GUN SAFE TO STORE THE GUNS. SO YOU YOU DO THAT. THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I, I WAS I WAS MISSING OUT OF THAT. YOU PUT THEM TO YOU. YOU PUT THOSE TWO THAT I JUST MENTIONED IN YOUR EXECUTIVE ORDER. I GUARANTEE YOU THE GUN VIOLENCE WILL BE REDUCED TO WHERE NOBODY CAN USE THESE WEAPONS TO DO BAD THINGS. THANK YOU. THAT BRINGS US TO PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS.[APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
APPROVAL OF MINUTES. CAN I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE LAST WEEK'S MINUTES REPORT? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US TO PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS,[PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS]
MR. CLERK. COMMUNICATION RECEIVED FROM GRAND RAPIDS UNITED FOR REAL PUBLIC SAFETY, WITH RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING ICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY. STEVEN FILE RECEIVED FROM RHONDA BAKER REGARDING A VACANCY ON THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. SIR REFERRED TO[REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS]
COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS. THAT BRINGS US TO REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS. THE CITY CLERK SUBMITTED THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS POLICE AND FIRE RETIREMENT SYSTEM ANNUAL ACTUARIAL VALUATION REPORT ENDING DECEMBER 31ST, 2025. FILED CONTROLLER'S REPORT REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF MAY 5TH, 2026 THROUGH MAY 18TH, 2026. THE AMOUNT OF $27,891,420.27 IN THE MONTHLY TRAVEL REPORT. ARE YOU SURE IT WASN'T $0.28 $0.27 RECEIVED AND FILED? TREASURY REPORT. THAT'S RIGHT. TREASURY REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF MAY 6TH, 2026 THROUGH[CONSENT AGENDA AND REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES]
MAY 19TH, 2026. STEVEN FILED. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR CONSENT AGENDA FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION. THIS IS. THESE ARE ITEMS WHICH PASSED UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH COMMITTEE EARLIER TODAY AND WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN PULLED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA. FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION BY ANY OF MY COLLEAGUES OR MYSELF. AS WE'RE AS WE'RE ABLE TO DO, IF THEY FEEL LIKE THEY WANT FURTHER[CONSENT AGENDA APPROVAL]
DISCUSSIONS, COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA? SO MOVED. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US ALL THE WAY TO OUR ORDINANCES[1. Consideration of an ordinance amending Chapter 175 - Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)]
TO BE ADOPTED. AND OUR FIRST ORDINANCE IS AMENDING CHAPTER 175. OUR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ORDINANCE. AND WE'VE ALREADY HAD A COUPLE PUBLIC COMMENTS[00:10:03]
ABOUT IT, BUT COMMISSIONER SASSY. OH, I'M SORRY, COULD I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. THANK YOU MAYOR. SO THIS IS A CONSIDERATION. AS WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTED, ON MAY 19TH, WE ESTABLISHED TODAY AS THE DATE TO CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT. FOR CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN DESIGN. WHICH I'LL NOW REFER TO AS TED JUST FOR TIMING PURPOSES. THIS ORDINANCE TO ADJUST AN OUTDATED CODE REFERENCE AND TRANSITIONING TO THE CURRENT ENFORCEMENT APPEALS PROGRAM, TO THE OVERSIGHT OF A DESIGNATED HEARING OFFICER. I'LL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND. BACK IN 2019, THE CITY COMMISSION ADOPTED THIS ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT FOR BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS WHERE CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES LIKE BEER, WINE, LIQUOR, TOBACCO, AND CANNABIS ARE SOLD AND WHICH ARE REGULATED BY THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, AS WELL AS BUSINESSES WITH WHAT ARE CONSIDERED LATE NIGHT OPERATIONS. SEPTET IS A PHILOSOPHY OF CRIME PREVENTION THAT DRAWS ON PASSIVE STRATEGIES INCORPORATED INTO THE PLANNING, DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THESE INHERENT CUES ARE INTENDED TO TO TO DETER CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR AND FOSTER COMMUNITY QUALITY OF LIFE BY DEFINING PRIVATE VERSUS PUBLIC SPACES AND REINFORCING AN ASSUMPTION OF PUBLIC VISIBILITY. THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT DOES HAVE A SEPTET SPECIALIST THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS. AND THEN JUST NOTING THE DIFFERENT DETAILS ABOUT THE AMENDMENT. BUT NOW THAT WE'VE HAD THIS PROGRAM IN SEVERAL YEARS, THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT HAS IDENTIFIED AREAS WHICH WOULD REQUIRE TIMELY ADJUSTMENTS TO ENSURE LONG TERM EFFECTIVENESS AND SUSTAINABILITY, WHILE A MORE COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE PACKAGE AND FUTURE STATE PRESENTATION WILL BE PLANNED. THE PROGRAM DOES REQUIRE THESE IMMEDIATE CHANGES THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY, SO THEY ARE RELATED TO THE CODE REFERENCE AS IT RELATES TO PROPERTY CODE MAINTENANCE, WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY TERMED BUILDING CODE, AND THEN THE APPEALS PROCESS THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY NOTED IN THE OVERVIEW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST TO DECODE THAT FOR THE PUBLIC, ESSENTIALLY THIS IS A THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO SAY THAT PLACES WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE HOT SPOTS IN THE COMMUNITY.WE TRY TO HAVE REALLY GOOD VISIBILITY BECAUSE VISIBILITY IS ONE OF YOUR PRIMARY TOOLS FOR PREVENTING CRIME. SO MAKING SURE THAT THERE'S GOOD WINDOW TRANSPARENCY IN THESE OPERATIONS AND GOOD LIGHTING THAT OVERSIMPLIFIES. BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO.
SO THAT'S ROUGHLY WHAT THE ORDINANCE DOES. AND THIS IS JUST UPDATES. AND WE HAD A PREVIOUS PREVIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS AT A PREVIOUS MEETING OF THE COMMISSION. BUT THAT'S FOR THE PUBLIC'S INFORMATION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES. ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE SAY OH, I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL. VOTE. MR. CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL COMMISSIONER. KILGORE. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES, COMMISSIONER.
NIGHT. YES, COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR. LEGRAND. YES. MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US TO THE
[2. Motion to go into closed session.]
NEXT ITEM. WE HAVE THE FINAL ITEM WE HAVE TO VOTE ON TODAY, AND THAT IS TO MOVE IMMEDIATELY FROM FOLLOWING THE SESSION INTO CLOSED SESSION FOR PURPOSES OF EMPLOYEE REVIEW. THESE ARE WE'RE DOING OUR PERIODIC REVIEW OF OUR CLERK, WITH OUR CLERK AND WITH OUR CITY TREASURER.CAN I HAVE A MOTION OR ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. OH I'M SORRY. ROLL CALL ON THAT TOO. YEAH.
AND WE'LL BE DOING THIS IN ROOM 601. I MEAN UNLESS IT'S BOOKED WE'RE GOING TO BE IN 601. WE DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BOOKED. THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING. SO WE'LL PRESUMABLY DO THIS IN ROOM 601. COMMISSIONER KILGORE. YES, COMMISSIONER. NIGHT. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER.
YES. MAYOR LEGRAND. YES, THIS IS THE LAW LIBRARY. MAYOR. OH, GREAT. LAW LIBRARY WORKS FINE,
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
TOO. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR SECOND OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. HOW Y'ALL DOING? I'M D JONES, PASSIONATE ENTREPRENEUR AND VISIONARY. BEFORE I GET INTO A LITTLE BIT OF THE THREE MINUTES, I WANT TO GIVE DAVID LEGRAND A SHOUT OUT. AS I'VE SAID, DAVID, I'M A MAN OF THE THINGS THAT I SAY. AND DAVID LEGRAND DOES HIS MAYORS MONDAYS, AND HE LET MY FRIEND THAT GOT OUT OF PRISON COOK FOR HIM AT ONE OF HIS MAYOR'S MONDAYS. ONE OF THE KING COUNTY COMMISSIONERS LIKED HIS FOOD. AND THEN A YEAR LATER, HE GOT TO COOK FOR AMPLIFY GR. AND THAT WAS BECAUSE OF DAVID. AND NOW HE'S GETTING A BUNCH OF GIGS. SO, DAVID, YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AND YOU'RE REALLY HELPING PEOPLE FROM THE HOOD ACTUALLY CHASE THEIR DREAMS AND HELPING THEM OPEN THE FLOODGATES FOR THEM TO CONTINUOUSLY EARN FUNDING FOR THE THINGS THAT THEY LOVE. SO I HAD TO GIVE YOU A SHOUT OUT FOR THAT, DAVID. THANK YOU FOR THAT. ALSO, I JUST HANDED YOU GUYS A FLIER FOR THE THREE ON THREE.THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION IS DOING A THREE ON 3RD JULY 11TH. MY BIRTHDAY IS JULY 10TH, THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS NIKOLA TESLA. ACTUALLY, YES, I HAVE THE SAME BIRTHDAY AS THE INNOVATIVE GENIUS. I'M AN INNOVATIVE GENIUS TOO. I JUST DON'T CREATE CARS AND A BUNCH OF POLICIES AND STUFF THAT PEOPLE STILL. BUT WE'RE DOING IT THREE ON THREE. IT'S $1,000
[00:15:06]
CASH PRIZE. LOOKING TO GET IT ON TV. WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE DOING A BLOCK PARTY TO. I ACTUALLY JUST CAME FROM A CONFERENCE SPEAKING AT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUND. I WAS INVITED BY IF AND DAVID DEVOLDER. I GOT TO SPEAK TO THEM ABOUT OUR STOCKTON COMMUNITY HUB PROJECT. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THE HUB AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT JUST FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, WE DO HAVE THE FUNDING IF IS HELPING US FINANCE, AND THEY DID GIVE US A SEVEN FIGURE LETTER OF INTENT TO ACTUALLY PURCHASE THE SCHOOL.AND SO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT AND THE PEOPLE TO SPEAK UP AND JUST LET THEM KNOW, HEY, WE ARE WE DO HAVE THE FINANCING, I BELIEVE IF IS ALSO GOING TO BE THERE.
SO WE WILL BE PUTTING THE PRESSURE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DOES THE DUE DILIGENCE AND HOLDING UP THE HIGHEST REGARD OF WHAT THE JLL IN THE SCHOOL FACILITY STAFF RECOMMENDED, WHICH IS THE SALES, THE NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATION, THE SCHOOL. SO WE CAN BE ABLE TO GET TO THIS FULL FLEDGED VISION OF ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE SOCIAL ISSUES, FIXING SOCIETY. I'D SAY I GOT A BIG GLOBAL ECONOMIC VISION FOR THIS, AND WE ALSO ARE GOING TO BE SPEAKING TO THE MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION'S OF AS AS I SPOKE TO THE CEO. SO I KNOW THIS IS GOING TO HAVE A HUGE ECONOMIC IMPACT. I'M HAPPY TO BUILD A 17 TO 25 TRANSITIONAL HOUSING UNITS AND DO THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, JOB TRAINING AROUND 3D PRINTING, CONSTRUCTION, E-SPORTS, GAMING, DIGITAL ASSETS, CRYPTOCURRENCY, ALL OF THESE BEAUTIFUL THINGS. HAVING A PRACTICE KITCHEN, MY FRIEND IS GOING TO BE COOKING IN THAT PRACTICE KITCHEN. THE SAME PERSON THAT DAVID GAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO. AND I'M JUST EXCITED TO REALLY FULL FLEDGE GO AFTER THIS VISION. I'VE BEEN ON THIS SINCE 2018. MY GOAL WAS TO DEVELOP AN INNOVATION CENTER IN 20 2018, WHEN I ACTUALLY EARNED THE $10,000 GRANT, AND I STAYED TRUE TO THAT VISION FOR EIGHT YEARS. AND HERE I AM TODAY, ABOUT TO REALLY CHANGE THE WORLD AND THE UNIVERSE AROUND US. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS STAFFORD SMITH AND I LIVE AT 56 FITCH PLACE, SOUTHEAST AND EAST HILLS. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A PROPOSAL BY A DEVELOPER TO ADD A ADU IN THE BACKYARD OF 645 KELLOGG STREET, AND THAT BACKYARD BUTTS UP AGAINST FITCH PLACE. AND THERE WAS A PROPOSAL TO ADD A NEW ADDRESS ON FITCH PLACE, A 58 FITCH PLACE. I'M SPEAKING FOR THE RESIDENTS OF OUR STREET. WE ARE OPPOSED TO THIS IDEA. FITCH PLACE IS A VERY NARROW STREET. IT'S A CUL DE SAC ALREADY. THE CUL DE SAC IS SO TINY IT WAS BUILT IN THE AGE OF MILK WAGONS. IT'S TOO SMALL TO GET A VEHICLE AROUND THERE. THERE'S ALSO A FIRE HYDRANT IN THERE, AND WE'RE CONCERNED THAT IF THERE'S A NEW ADDRESS ADDED ON THAT SIDE RATHER THAN ON KELLOGG STREET, THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC. AND ALREADY IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT ALREADY IS FIGHTING OVER PARKING AND DELIVERY VEHICLES, EMERGENCY VEHICLES COMING TO THIS DOWN THE STREET WOULD WOULD ADD MORE CONFUSION. THE FIRE MARSHAL AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE POLICE HAVE COME BY, AND THEY'VE ALSO BOTH EXPRESSED TO US THAT THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO ADD THE ADDRESS ON THE FITCH PLACE SIDE, THAT KELLOGG WOULD BE A MUCH EASIER PLACE FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES TO. YOU KNOW, ADDRESS ISSUES AT THAT PLACE. AND IN THE WINTER TIME WHEN THIS FITCH PLACE IS PLOWED, THE SNOW PLOW PUSHES ALL THE SNOW INTO THE CUL DE SAC, BUILDING THIS MASSIVE BARRIER. AND IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR WHOEVER HAD THEIR FRONT ENTRANCE ON THAT SIDE TO ACTUALLY DIG OUT TO, TO GET TO, TO THE STREET. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS GREG SHOTWELL. CAN YOU HEAR ME? EXCELLENT. I LIVE AT 54 FITCH PLACE, NEXT TO STAFFORD FITCH PLACE DOES NOT HAVE SIDEWALKS. IT'S NOT SIMPLY NARROW. IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY SIDEWALKS. NOW, THEY WANT TO INVENT A NEW ADDRESS FOR AN ADU. AS I UNDERSTAND ADUS, YOU CAN PUT A DWELLING ON THAT PARCEL, BUT YOU CANNOT CUT THE PARCEL UP AND SELL THE DWELLING SEPARATE.
THEN WHY DOES HE NEED 58 FITCH PLACE UNLESS HIS INTENTION IS TO SELL? AND I THINK THERE IS A LONG TERM PLAN. HE WANTED A DRIVEWAY. HE WANTED JUST A PLOW FITCH UP AND MAKE A DRIVEWAY.
NOW HE'S GOING TO SETTLE FOR A GATE. GATES GROW. HE'S GONE FOR A DRIVEWAY. THIS IS A AN A SITUATION WHERE A NEIGHBORHOOD, WHEN WE HAVE A PARTY, WE TALK TO THE NEIGHBORS AND WE ORGANIZE PARKING. CAN I USE YOUR DRIVEWAY? SO WE HAVE EXTRA SPACES IN THE STREET? IT TAKES A LOT OF COOPERATION TO LIVE IN A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE PEOPLE SHARE A DRIVEWAY. HAVE ANY OF
[00:20:07]
YOU SHARED A DRIVEWAY? IT'S DIFFICULT. SOME PEOPLE DON'T HAVE DRIVEWAYS, SO THEY HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREET. THIS PLAN WOULD BENEFIT ONE PERSON. IT WOULD BENEFIT ONE MAN'S PROFIT TO THE DISADVANTAGE OF MAYBE 1820 PEOPLE JUST ON FITCH PLACE. ALSO, WINDSOR TERRACE IS AFFECTED BECAUSE WE HAVE TO PARK ON WINDSOR TERRACE. THEY DON'T HAVE SIDEWALKS EITHER.FINALLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE IDEA OF INVENTING A NEW ADDRESS, BREAKING OPEN A FENCE TO PROVIDE A GATE TO A HOUSE ON KELLOGG STREET IS PREPOSTEROUS. IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THANKS. GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS SHEILA SOLOMON SHOTWELL, AND I LIVE AT 54 FITCH PLACE AS WELL. I'D LIKE TO, BEFORE I LAUNCH INTO THE ASPECT, I WANT TO ADDRESS THE HOUSE CLOSEST TO THIS FENCE, WHICH HAS JUST BEEN PURCHASED BY THREE YOUNG PEOPLE. AND WE NEEDED YOUNG PEOPLE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A DRIVEWAY. SO THEY HAVE TO. THEY HAVE THREE CARS THAT ARE NOW ADDED TO OUR VERY STRESSED PARKING AREA. BUT ASIDE FROM ALL OF THOSE FACTS, ANOTHER ONE IS THAT A FENCE WAS PUT IN BY THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THE LONGEST FOR SAFETY REASONS, WHICH THEY EXPLAINED TO THE POLICE THAT SHOWED UP THIS MORNING BECAUSE SO MANY TIMES POLICE WENT TO, PEOPLE WOULD CUT THROUGH WHEN THERE WASN'T A FENCE OVER TO KELLOGG, AND IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POLICE TO TO GO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THEM. SO IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ALL OF US AS WELL.
BUT I WANTED TO JUST PRESENT TO YOU A LITTLE HEART AND SOUL. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS HOUSE SINCE 1985. I'VE RAISED THREE CHILDREN THERE, TWO DOGS, MANY CATS. I'VE LOST A CHILD FROM THAT HOUSE. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A VERY STRONG FOUNDATION. WE HAVE SUPPORTED EACH OTHER THROUGH ILLNESSES, LOSS, DEATHS, BIRTHS, AND LIKE THE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, WE NEED TO REACH OUT ON A CONSTANT BASIS TO BE SURE THAT WE CAN ACCOMMODATE ONE ANOTHER IF WE WANT TO HAVE COMPANY, BECAUSE THERE'S SO LITTLE PARKING. SO BY PUTTING IN A NEW RESIDENT, WHICH THEY WOULD BE DOING AND WHO KNOWS HOW MANY WOULD, I GUESS IT'S A SMALL HOUSE, BUT WHO KNOWS HOW MANY WOULD LIVE IN IT. THERE'S ADDED STRESS TO OUR, OUR OUR SITUATION. AND I CAN'T IMAGINE AN AMAZON TRUCK DELIVERING OR A FIRE ENGINE. AND THE FIRE HYDRANT IS RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE THEY WANT TO PUT THE GATE, WHERE THEY ALREADY CUT DOWN A TREE. AND THE THING THAT BOTHERS ME THE MOST IS NONE OF US WERE CONSULTED OR SPOKEN TO ABOUT THIS POSSIBILITY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE SAW MACHINERY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE, CEMENT BEING POURED, AND WE WERE AT THE FENCE LOOKING THROUGH SAYING, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? AND THEY SAID, WE'RE MAKING A DWELLING TO GO WITH THIS HOUSE. AND. AND THIS DWELLING, I SAID, IS GOING TO BE A KELLOGG ADDRESS. NO. 58 FITCH. THAT IS RIDICULOUS. AND IT PLEASE DON'T RUIN THIS WONDERFUL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT WE HAVE ALL BEEN HONORED AND PRIVILEGED TO LIVE IN. AND MANY OF US ARE SENIOR CITIZENS, AND WE NEED THE SAFETY. AND I PLAN TO LEAVE MY HOUSE TO ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN. I WANT MY GREAT GRANDCHILDREN TO GROW UP IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD AS WELL. SO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AS BEST YOU CAN. I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU. MARK BACK. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT. PRIDE MONTH. I UNDERSTAND THAT. WHAT THE WE WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR EVERYBODY. ALTHOUGH THE. MAGA PEOPLE. WANT TO HARM. THE ENJOYMENT. BUT GET THIS. YOU
[00:25:03]
WOULDN'T HAVE NO PRIDE MONTH. WITHOUT THE SPILLING OF BLACK BLOOD. THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. WITHOUT THAT, THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN NO VOTING RIGHTS ACT, NO FAIR HOUSING ACT, NO TITLE NINE AND NO LGBTQ PROTECTIONS. SO REMEMBER, ALL THIS WOULD NOT BE IN PLACE. I'M NOT. IT WOULD BE NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SPILLING OF BLACK BLOOD. SO REMEMBER THAT.BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T. YOU WILL TAKE. EVERYTHING I JUST MENTIONED FOR GRANTED. IF NOT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE NO PRIDE MONTH. YOU WOULDN'T HAVE NO TITLE NINE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE NO FAIR HOUSING. SO WHEN Y'ALL ENJOY THIS, KEEP IN MIND THE BLACK ANCESTORS MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO HAVE THIS MONTH. REVENGE 2026. THANK YOU. THAT MOVES US TO CLOSING COMMENTS FROM COMMISSIONERS
[COMMENTS BY COMMISSIONERS]
COMMISSIONER SASSY. THANKS, EVERYONE. THANKS FOR BEING HERE TODAY. THANKS TO THE NEIGHBORS THAT CAME FROM EAST HILLS. HOPEFULLY WE CAN CHAT MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. WE'VE BEEN IN SOME EMAIL CONTACT AND HAVE TALKED TO THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT. AND OVERALL, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THE GOOD DAY. WE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT OUR ZONING PIECES AND GETTING AN UPDATE AND THE KICKOFF THERE, AND SO I HOPE THAT DISCUSSION CAN STILL CONTINUE. I KNOW THAT OVER THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, THE AMPHITHEATER OPENED AND IT WAS REALLY WITHOUT A LOT OF INCIDENT IN A GOOD WAY. AND WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT NOISE LEVELS. APPRECIATE YOU, CITY MANAGER, RESPONDING TO THAT TO THE MEDIA. AND I'VE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE THAT OUT WITH SOME OF OUR CONSTITUENTS AS WELL. AND THEN JUST LASTLY, YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THE GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS PREVENTION MONTH PROCLAMATION. THIS WAS SOMETHING LAST YEAR. I KNOW SHE CAN'T BE HERE TODAY.COMMISSIONER PERDUE REALLY ASKED US TO CONSIDER HOW COULD WE TIE IN THIS AWARENESS PIECE WHERE OUR SAFE TASK FORCE IS ALSO WORKING ON WAYS THAT WE CAN MORE BROADLY REMEMBER, RECOGNIZE, AND AGAIN, BRING AWARENESS FOR THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN THE DIRECT VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE. YOU SAID THAT TODAY, MAYOR, REALLY TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE THAT OCCURS VIA A VIA A HANDGUN OR A WEAPON, A FIREARM. AND SO IT WAS REALLY GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. AND I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT COMMISSIONER PERDUE'S ACTIONS IN THAT AS WELL. THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR WORKING TO HELP US ESTABLISH SOME FUTURE MEMORIAL THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, BEYOND ALL OF US BEING HERE ON COMMISSION AND IN PERPETUITY. SO AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT'S WHEN WE LOOK AT AND I KNOW THERE WERE DEFINITELY A NUMBER OF VIOLENT ACTS, AND I THINK TO CONTINUE TO CONSIDER THAT WHAT WHAT WERE THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED OR THE PERSONAL INTERACTIONS OR THE DOMESTIC RELATIONSHIP PIECES, WHAT OCCURRED LEADING UP TO THAT? AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE ARE A SAFE CITY AND ANY LOSS OF LIFE IS, IS ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH SITUATIONS OF MENTAL WELL-BEING, MENTAL HEALTH, YOU KNOW, SERIOUS CRISIS THAT PEOPLE MAY BE, YOU KNOW, IN AND INVOLVING. SO I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO, TO SAY APPRECIATION TO ALL THOSE THAT ARE WORKING ON THAT. AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S OUR PARKS DEPARTMENT. IT'S, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT SEPTA, IT'S PLANNING, IT'S ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR WORKING TO MAKE THIS CITY A GREAT PLACE AND A, AND A SAFE CITY AS WELL. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER KOGER. YEAH. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH, COLLEAGUES. THIS WAS A NICE ONE. THIS 2 P.M. SOMETIMES CAN STILL BE JUST AS PACKED, BUT THIS ONE SEEMED TO BE LIGHTER BECAUSE WE WORKED SO HARD IN MAY. SO I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF AGAIN FOR ALL THEIR WORK. IT WAS WONDERFUL THE WAY WE STARTED THE DAY OF HONORING, OF COURSE, LIFTING UP OUR FIGHT TO COMBAT VIOLENCE OF ALL FORMS, BUT GUN VIOLENCE TODAY, AND THEN ALSO CELEBRATING PRIDE MONTH. IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL FOR ME. JUNE IS A FAVORITE MONTH BECAUSE IT'S JUNETEENTH AT THE END OF THE MONTH, AND THEN PRIDE MONTH IS THE WHOLE MONTH, AND I'M AT THE AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH THE GOVERNOR AND A STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND FOLKS OF BOTH COMMUNITIES, BOTH THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY AND THE
[00:30:04]
BLACK COMMUNITY. AT THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE YESTERDAY IN LANSING, AND SOMETHING THAT WE DISCUSSED THERE AND THAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WE'VE COME SO FAR IN A SHORT TIME FOR BOTH OF THESE COMMUNITIES, FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, TOOK A LONG TIME, A LOT OF EFFORT. BUT FOLKS DID IT. YOU KNOW, FOLKS TALKED ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THINGS EARLIER. WE'VE DONE IT AND WE'VE MOVED THE ELLIOTT LARSEN CIVIL RIGHTS ACT HERE IN MICHIGAN FURTHER. BUT THAT JUST SHOWS HOW QUICKLY PEOPLE CAN ALSO UNDO THOSE THINGS AND ALSO ROLL US BACK QUICKLY. JUST AS WE'VE GAINED FORWARD MOMENTUM. SO I'M DEEPLY THANKFUL FOR MY COLLEAGUES AGAIN FOR A SECOND YEAR, REAFFIRMING THEIR COMMITMENT TO EVERY PERSON. WHEN WE DO A PROCLAMATION AND WE REAFFIRM FOLKS LIKE MYSELF, I'M HONORED TO BE THE FIRST OUT OF 175 YEARS TO BE THE FIRST PERSON WHO'S OPENLY LGBTQ PLUS ON THIS COMMISSION IS DEEPLY HONORING, HONORABLE, AND IT'S HUMBLING, BUT IT ALSO MEANS WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO BECAUSE WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN OUR COMMUNITY FEELS GOOD. SO WHAT THESE PROCLAMATIONS DO, IN MY OPINION, IS TO REAFFIRM THAT WE BELIEVE IN EVERY SINGLE GRAND RAPIDS DIGNITY AND THEIR HUMANITY. AND SO THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, AS I'VE SAID HERE, TO DO THAT MEANS A LOT TO ME IN MY COMMUNITY, AND WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. THERE'S TOO MUCH VIOLENCE. ONE LIFE IS TOO MANY. SO WE. WE ARE. I'M SO THANKFUL FOR THE COMMITMENT TO COMBATING VIOLENCE FROM MY COLLEAGUES, FROM THIS COMMUNITY. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE ALL OF THE LEADERS STAND UP FOR THAT AS WELL TODAY. SO JUNE IS A MONTH OF WORK, OF SERVICE, OF REFLECTION. AND I'M PROUD TO BE IN THIS WORK WITH ALL OF YOU. ALL, I HAD A GREAT. AND LASTLY, I HAD A GREAT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION WITH THE LOCAL NAACP AND GOOD NEIGHBORS OF ALGER HEIGHTS AND GARFIELD PARK. WE TALKED ABOUT ALL OF THE THINGS I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED, BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT DATA CENTERS. I HAVE GOTTEN MANY SO MUCH FEEDBACK ABOUT THAT. AND IT IS IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE GOING TO START HAVING A BIGGER, MORE BUILT OUT CONVERSATION ON A PRESSING ISSUE. I THINK IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE LISTEN TO OUR COMMUNITY, BUT WE ALSO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE TEMPERATURE AND WE BRING THE TEMPERATURE DOWN OF LETTING PEOPLE KNOW AND GROUNDING THEM THAT WE ARE DOING OUR WORK. I THINK THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT FOR LISTENING TO THOSE CONCERNS AND GOING ALL AROUND OUR COMMUNITY TO TALK ABOUT CONCERNS ABOUT ZONING, PERIOD. SO I'M EXCITED. I THINK THERE'S GOOD WORK AHEAD FOR US, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE FOLKS WHO CAME TO THAT COMMUNITY CONVERSATION. SO THANKS AGAIN. HAVE A GOOD AFTERNOON. IT'S STILL AFTERNOON, COMMISSIONER. NIGHT. YES. THANK YOU. MAYOR. ECHOING THE SENTIMENTS OF THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WENT FORWARD TODAY, IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO REMEMBER ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY, ALL OF US THAT MAKE UP THE VIBRANT COMMUNITIES THAT WE LIVE IN. AND I'M GRATEFUL TO OUR NEIGHBORS FOR COMING AND HAVING THAT DISCUSSION. WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT, I THINK, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AND HAVE A FEW THINGS THAT WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD TO THAT CONVERSATION TODAY. IF YOU'D LIKE TO STAY AFTER. AND ALSO JUST THINKING ABOUT SOME OF THE CONVERSATION WE'VE HAD HAVING AROUND ZONING AND ZONING LANGUAGE AND CHANGES THAT WE CAN MAKE TO OUR COMMUNITY. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'D LIKE TO SAY A LOT IS, YOU KNOW, WE LOVE TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITY AND ESPECIALLY VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS AND LOOKING AT DIFFERENT WAYS THAT OUR ZONING LAWS CAN IMPACT THAT AND HELP WITH ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACROSS THE CITY, WHETHER IT BE SHORTAGES OF HOUSING AND BUILDING UP SOME OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AND SUPPORTING THAT, AND HOW HOW DO WE CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? SO GRATEFUL FOR THAT PRESENTATION TODAY AND LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE INFORMATION COMING IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER BELCHER. YES. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, AND THANK YOU TO MY COLLEAGUES. I AGREE THAT IT WAS A GOOD WORKING DAY. I WANT TO JUST CONCUR WITH ALL THE THE CONVERSATION THAT WE'VE HAD AROUND THE PROCLAMATIONS THAT WE MADE FOR CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE ARE SAFE COMMUNITY, BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK OUT FOR EACH OTHER, TO CONTINUE TO REMEMBER TO SHOW SOME CARE AND COMPASSION WHENEVER WE'RE GOING SOMEWHERE, AND TO NOT BE AFRAID TO CALL FOR RESOURCES, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE THOSE IN OUR FACILITY, IN OUR CITY. AND SO HELPING OUT. WE JUST FINISHED MAY WITH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH. SO I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING TO CONTINUE ON AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS. AND IN ADDITION TO THAT, I WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT WE HAD A GREAT RIVER RESTORATION FOR THE GRAND RIVER YESTERDAY, KIND OF A KICK OFF, PUTTING SOME STONES IN THE[00:35:03]
RIVER AND CELEBRATING THE THE 18 OR SO YEARS OF WORK. I DID NOT GET TO BE A PART OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS EARLY ON, BUT I'VE BEEN WATCHING IT FROM AFAR, AND IT WAS A GREAT DAY TO BE THERE YESTERDAY TO GET THE LOWER REACH OF THE RAPIDS KICKED OFF SO THAT WE CAN START THAT CONSTRUCTION. SO IT IS CELEBRATION SEASON, FESTIVAL SEASONS. THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS GOING ON. SO REMEMBER TO BE SAFE OUT THERE AND TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT BECAUSE OF THE RAPIDS BEING BROUGHT BACK TO THE RIVER, WE WILL BE PROBABLY DOING FIREWORKS IN A DIFFERENT PLACE THIS YEAR, SINCE THAT'S ALL A STAGING GROUND THERE BY THE FORD MUSEUM. SO PAY ATTENTION AND KEEP YOUR HEADS UP. AND THEN SPEAKING OF THE FORD MUSEUM, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH SOME BOY SCOUTS. THEY HAD OVER 120 SCOUTS, ALL SORTS OF SCOUTS. I GUESS THEY'RE GIRL SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUTS, BUT THE SCOUTS NOW, THEY THEY HAD THEIR FIRST EVER CIVICS CAMP, AND THE SCOUTS CAME FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO BE THERE AT THE FORD MUSEUM, AND THEY. I BELIEVE OUR CITY MANAGER WAS THERE FOR ONE OF THE SESSIONS. I WAS ONE OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS TO SPEAK AND THEY HAD THREE DIFFERENT GROUPS, AND THEY WORKED US. BUT THOSE. THOSE STUDENTS ARE REALLY BRIGHT AND A FUTURE LEARNING HOW GOVERNMENT WORKS, LEARNING HOW OUR SOCIETY WORKS, LEARNING HOW THEY CAN BE CIVICALLY ENGAGED, AND BECOMING PART OF AN INFORMED ELECTORATE GOING FORWARD. SO THAT WAS CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT CIVILITY AND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE A CIVIL SOCIETY THIS YEAR. THIS WAS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CALENDAR, AND I ALSO HAD A GREAT CONVERSATION WITH ROOSEVELT PARK NEIGHBORHOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION THAT HOSTED A COFFEE HOUR AT THE END OF MAY. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT COMMUNITY SAFETY. WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOUSING AND THE NEED FOR THAT. AND I'M GOING TO BE HOSTING ANOTHER ONE AT CONSTRUCTION SIMPLIFIED ON WEST FULTON ON JUNE 11TH AT NOON. IF YOU FEEL LIKE COMING AND CHATTING MORE ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR CITY AND HOW WE CAN MAKE IT BETTER TOGETHER.THANK YOU, CITY CLERK. MY REPORT TODAY DEALS WITH VOTING. THAT'S NOT SURPRISING. HOWEVER, THIS IS A DIFFERENT KIND OF VOTING. SO PUBLIC VOTING HAS BEGUN FOR I VOTED STICKERS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN. IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR, IN 2024, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN DID I VOTED STICKER CONTEST. IF YOU REMEMBER THE WEREWOLF STICKER THAT EVERYBODY WAS ALL EXCITED ABOUT AND. AND THERE WAS A GREAT INTEREST IN THAT. SO THIS YEAR THEY HAD 2000 ENTRIES. I THINK THAT'S DOUBLE THE ENTRIES THAT THEY HAD IN 2024. IT GOT NARROWED DOWN TO 90 DIFFERENT ENTRIES, 30 AT THE ELEMENTARY SLASH MIDDLE SCHOOL AGE GROUP, THEN 30 FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGE GROUP, AND THEN 30 FOR ABOVE HIGH SCHOOL AGE GROUP. SO THOSE 90 STICKERS ARE OUT THERE. YOU CAN VOTE FOR THREE FROM EACH CATEGORY. SO I WENT THROUGH AND VOTED TODAY TO PICK MY TOP THREE FROM EACH CATEGORY. AND I THINK IT'S JUST BEEN AN INTERESTING PROCESS AND PEOPLE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IT. IN 2024. AND FOR THOSE FOR THAT STICKER CONTEST. SO YOU CAN GOOGLE THAT FOR, FOR THE STATE OF MICHIGAN TO, OR LOOK OVER IN THE SOCIALS AND FIND THAT. AND IT GOES FROM ANYWHERE FROM CATS, DEERS, DUCKS TO EDMUND FITZGERALD TO, TO MACKINAC BRIDGE. THERE'S ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT CATEGORIES FOR THAT. SO TAKE A LOOK AND MAKE SURE YOU VOTE IN THAT, IN THAT CONTEST. THAT'S IT FOR ME. I THINK I HEARD YOU ADVOCATING FOR RANKED CHOICE VOTING. I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE THAT I'M ON THE SAME PAGE AS YOU ON THAT.
BUT CITY ATTORNEY, I THINK YOU HEARD THAT INCORRECTLY. CITY MANAGER THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS, AND THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR YOUR WORK TODAY AND THE PUBLIC FOR FOR COMING.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK THE COMMISSION FOR SUPPORTING THE FUNDING FOR OUR KIDS, AS WE DID STRATEGIZE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND APPRECIATE THE THIRD WARD COMMISSIONERS OFFERING UTILIZATION OF THE THIRD WARD FUND, AND THAT WILL HELP US TO REALLY ADDRESS SOME PRENATAL ISSUES AS WELL AS IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES SIMILAR TO DETROIT AND KALAMAZOO. MUSKEGON, I THINK FLINT AS WELL. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT WORK. I DID WANT TO BRIEFLY COMMENT ON SOME OF THE GUN VIOLENCE THAT HAS PLAGUED OUR COMMUNITY RECENTLY. AND AS YOU THINK ABOUT, I THINK I WAS TALKING TO THE POLICE CHIEF EARLIER, THERE WERE NINE HOMICIDES THIS YEAR. OF THE NINE, SEVEN HAVE BEEN COMMITTED BY USE OF GUNS TO THE OTHER TWO KNIVES. BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT
[00:40:01]
THE PLACES WHERE WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE VICTIMS, THERE WERE TWO INCIDENTS WITH FIVE PEOPLE PASSING AWAY IN TWO INCIDENTS. SO OVER HALF OF THE NINE HOMICIDES WERE DUE TO A DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN TRIPLE HOMICIDE. AS YOU KNOW, THE ONE THAT WAS A TRIPLE HOMICIDE WAS A DOMESTIC.AND SO I REMAIN VERY COMMITTED TO MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMING, AS WE TALKED ABOUT TODAY, AND DOING EVERYTHING FROM SEPTEMBER TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMING, SUMMER PROGRAMING. WE SAW ALL OF OUR PARTNERS HERE THIS MORNING DOING VIOLENCE INTERRUPTION. BUT I ALSO KNOW THAT MANY OF THE CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME ARE THEY'RE ALL DIFFERENT, BUT THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH PROGRAMING WE CAN DO UNTIL THE POINT THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY. AND WHILE I UNDERSTAND THERE ARE AGAIN COMPLEX REASONS FOR WHICH CRIMES ARE COMMITTED, IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO TAKE THE LIFE OF ANYONE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.
AND SO I APPRECIATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK IN HELPING TO SOLVE THE CRIMES, AND ALSO THEIR WORK IN HELPING TO PREVENT CRIME WITH ENFORCEMENT. BUT I DO WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE WILL DEPLOY EVERY RESOURCE POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT JUSTICE IS SERVED FOR THE PERSONS WHO ARE THE VICTIMS OF THE FAMILIES, OF THE VICTIMS OF THOSE CRIMES, AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING THOSE CRIMES. BUT I WANT TO THANK OUR OFFICE OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND. BRANDON INTRODUCED. I WAS GOING TO SAY, GAIL, LETICIA THIS MORNING. THAT'S RIGHT. AND I GET TO REALLY HELP US IN REALLY SPREAD THE MESSAGE. HE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB PARTNERING WITH SAFE TASK FORCE AND DOING A REAL GOOD JOB, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WORK. LASTLY, I DO WANT TO THANK THE STAFF FOR PUTTING TOGETHER SEVERAL GOOD BRIEFINGS THIS MORNING ON TRAFFIC SAFETY IN THE CITY, AS WELL AS THE ZONING AND BOTH COMPREHENSIVE RESPONSE TO OUR COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN, AS WELL AS THE BRIEFING ON ADU TASK FORCE, AND LOOK FORWARD TO THOSE DISCUSSIONS. WE HEARD THE FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMISSION ON BOTH BOTH THE ADU TASK FORCE AS WELL AS THE ZONING CODE REWRITE. AND SO WE'LL BE TAKING THAT INTO CONSIDERATION AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THOSE UPDATES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE YEAR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO PIGGYBACK OFF A COUPLE OF COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE. THE FIRST IS HARD TO OVEREMPHASIZE HOW EXCITED I AM ABOUT THE KIDS PROGRAM COMING TO GRAND RAPIDS.
AND COMMISSIONER KILGORE, I REMEMBER AN EARLY COMMENT WITH YOU WHERE YOU WERE VIBRATING WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GETTING THIS DONE. THIS IS FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE POLICY WONKS. IT TURNS OUT THAT DIRECT CASH ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE, THAT DOESN'T INVOLVE A WHOLE LOT OF GOVERNMENT STRINGS TURNS OUT TO BE REALLY, REALLY EFFECTIVE. WE'VE ACTUALLY GOT A I THINK WE'VE GOT AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE ACTON INSTITUTE, WHICH ACTUALLY REALLY HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE ELEGANCE OF DOING THIS KIND OF THING. AND SO THE ARCS KID PROGRAM, JUST SO THAT THOSE OF YOU WHO AREN'T FAMILIAR WITH IT, WHAT IT DOES IS IT GIVES SPECIFIC CASH ASSISTANCE TO EXPECTED MOTHERS AND TO PARENTS DURING THE EARLY MONTHS OF A CHILD'S LIFE. AND IT HAS HUGE OUTCOME ADVANTAGES IN TERMS OF PREVENTING EVICTIONS, PREVENTING SOME IMPROVING MATERNAL HEALTH AND CHILD BIRTH RATES AND ALL KINDS OF EXCITING THINGS. SO IT'S REALLY, REALLY PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AND HAVING IT IN THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND CITY MANAGER, THANK YOU FOR PRIORITIZING THAT AS PART OF OUR BUDGET VERY EARLY ON AND EMPHATICALLY. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT OUR WE AS A CITY ARE, TO BE HONEST, CONTRIBUTING A FAIRLY SMALL AMOUNT. SO WE'RE, WE'RE STEPPING UP WITH WHAT WE'RE ASKED TO STEP UP WITH WHEN WE DID THAT TODAY. BUT THIS HAS GOT A PHILANTHROPIC COMPONENT. OF COURSE, IT'S GOT A STATE FUNDING COMPONENT, BUT IT'S A IT'S A GREAT THING TO HAVE IN OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY TO FOCUS ON PEOPLE WITH SOME OF THE MOST NEED. THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS THAT I WANTED TO. THERE ARE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THERE ARE POTENTIAL CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON, AND IT'S HARD TO PREDICT THE FUTURE AND SEE HOW THINGS WILL ACTUALLY GO. AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS RIGHT NOW IN THE WORLD THAT WE KNOW IS THE WHOLE QUESTION OF AI AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO ROLL OUT AND WHAT OUR WORLD'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN A YEAR OR TWO YEARS. AND THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, REAL POTENTIAL ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS AND SOCIAL DISRUPTIONS THAT ARE GOING TO COME FROM WHAT'S CLEARLY A
[00:45:03]
RAPIDLY EMERGING TECHNOLOGY. AND SO, AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK COMMISSIONER KILGORE FOR POINTING OUT THAT WE HAVE TO BE READY FOR THIS, AND WE HAVE TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS. AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE PANICKING AND FEARFUL, BUT WE DO WANT TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT HOW WE HOW WE EMBRACE AND MOVE FORWARD AND CHANGE. AND SO AND COMMISSIONER, I KNOW YOU ALREADY DID RESEARCH ON SOME BEST PRACTICES FROM ALL THE COMMUNITIES, AND I'M CONFIDENT THAT THOSE BEST PRACTICES THAT WE REVIEWED TOGETHER BRIEFLY BEFORE WILL BEAR FRUIT IN SOME KIND OF PLANNING VISION GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING TO MAKE THAT A FOCUS OF PRUDENT ANALYSIS. SO WITH THAT, I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENTS AND* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.