[00:00:07]
          I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE TO ORDER, AND I'M GOING TO. OUR 
          [1. Proclamation Recognizing 2026 Welcoming Week (September 10–19, 2026)]
FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A PROCLAMATION REGARDING WELCOMING WEEK. SO I'M GOING TO GO UP TO THE DAIS AND READ THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I SEE MR. DAVIS HERE, BUT. OKAY. CAN YOU COME DOWN, PLEASE, SIR, CAN YOU COME DOWN TO THE PODIUM, PLEASE? COME DOWN AND LOOK UP CIRCUITS RULE. SO I WILL PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THAT I'M GOING TO READ A PROCLAMATION ON WELCOMING WEEK, BUT THIS IS PART OF OUR LARGER FRAMEWORK OF WHAT I'LL SAY IS OUR COMMITMENT TO MAKING IT VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT EVERYONE WHO'S A RESIDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS EQUALLY VALUED AND RESPECTED. AND, AND WE HAVE A VISION, AT LEAST, THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY IS EQUALLY SUPPORTED. AND THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WORK TO DO IN THAT, IN THAT SPACE. AND, AND WE ALL KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT IT'S ONE THING TO HAVE HAVE SOMEONE SAY THAT YOU'RE WELCOME. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO FEEL WELCOMED AND TO FEEL. REAL, REAL INCLUSION. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT I WANT TO SAY OWNERSHIP BECAUSE I'M NOT REALLY ALL THAT INTO OWNING THINGS, BUT FEELING LIKE YOU'RE AN EQUAL MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY AND YOU HAVE AN EQUAL VOICE. AND HOW WE KNOW PEOPLE IN GRAND RAPIDS ARE ENTITLED TO THAT IS IF THEY ARE RESIDENTS, NOT IF THEY ARE. WE DON'T HAVE PASSPORTS IN GRAND RAPIDS AND WE DON'T HAVE CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE RESIDENCY. AND SO PEOPLE EVERYONE WHO IS A RESIDENT OF OUR CITY IS PART OF OUR WELCOMING VISION. AND OF COURSE, WELCOMING MEANS WE WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO JOIN THE PARTY. 
          WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A CITY THAT REALLY SAYS TO PEOPLE OUT EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD THAT WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US HERE. WE'RE PROUD OF OUR CITY AND WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE IT BETTER, BUT WE HOPE IT'S INVITING AND WELCOMING ENOUGH THAT OTHER PEOPLE WILL WANT TO JOIN US AND BE RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. SO I READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS THE SUCCESS OF GRAND RAPIDS DEPENDS ON ENSURING THAT ALL GRAND RAPIDS ARE WELCOME, AND THAT NEW GRAND RAPIDS REMAIN A VITAL PART OF OUR COMMUNITY AND A LONGTIME. ALONGSIDE OUR LONGTIME RESIDENTS, THEY BRING. BRING IDEAS, START BUSINESSES, SERVE IN CIVIC ROLES, AND CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DIVERSITY. AND. WHEREAS, IN JANUARY 2019, THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY, ORGANIZATIONAL PARTNERS AND WITH SUPPORT FROM GATEWAYS FOR GROWTH, EMBARKED ON A JOURNEY TO CREATE A WELCOMING PLAN FOR OUR CITY. AND WHEREAS TO FULLY EMBRACE DIVERSITY AS AN ASSET, OUR COMMUNITY MUST CREATE POLICIES AND A CULTURE THAT ENSURE THAT EVERYONE BELONGS AND THRIVES. THIS INCLUDES ADDRESSING DISPARITIES, COUNTERING HATE, UNDERSTANDING HISTORY, AND HELPING NEIGHBORS COME TOGETHER. WHEREAS, GRAND RAPIDS STANDS AGAINST RACISM, XENOPHOBIA, AND ALL FORMS OF OTHERING THAT THREATEN OUR COLLECTIVE WELL-BEING, HEALTH, AND PROSPERITY, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BY FOSTERING A WELCOMING COMMUNITY FOR ALL, WE ENHANCE THE CITY'S PROSPERITY AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. AND WHEREAS, DURING THE LAST YEAR, THE CITY HAS PARTNERED WITH REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT ORGANIZATIONS TO IMPLEMENT A RANGE OF INITIATIVES THAT REDUCE BARRIERS TO INTEGRATION, STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY BONDS THROUGH EVENTS AND FESTIVALS, AND FOSTER FULL PARTICIPATION OF NEW AMERICANS. AND WHEREAS, THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS IS A MEMBER OF THE WELCOMING PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE, AND DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS COMMITTED FINANCIAL AND STAFF RESOURCES TO SUPPORT THE WEST MICHIGAN WELCOME PLAN, AND, IN ITS CURRENT YEAR, HAS REAFFIRMED ITS COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE FOCUSED INITIATIVES TO BUILD TRUST AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND NEIGHBORS WHO MAY FACE CULTURAL, LINGUISTIC AND INSTITUTIONAL OBSTACLES TO CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. AND WHEREAS, THE THEME OF WELCOMING WEEK IN 2026 IS STORIES, WE SHARE THE COURAGE TO CONNECT AND IS FOCUSED ON THE COURAGEOUS WORK OF BEING TOGETHER IN VULNERABILITY, TO WELCOME OTHERS TO BE SEEN AND MAKE OUR COMMUNITY STRONGER. NOW THEREFORE, I, DAVID LE GRAND MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM SEPTEMBER 10 TO 19, 2026 AS WELCOMING WEEK IN GRAND RAPIDS AND CALL ON RESIDENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO JOIN TOGETHER TO BUILD STRONGER COMMUNITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL OUR NEIGHBORS, RENEW OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR COMMON VALUES, AND TAKE ACTIONS IN THE SPIRIT OF WELCOMING. SO RIGHT ON. THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND GOOD MORNING COMMISSION, CITY MANAGER, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS SARAH HATFIELD. I'M THE EQUITY SYSTEMS MANAGER IN 
          [00:05:01]
THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT. FILLING IN FOR MR. DAVIS TODAY. JUST WANTED TO SAY A FEW WORDS. FIRST OF ALL, IT IS AN HONOR TO JOIN EVERYONE HERE TODAY. AS WE RECOGNIZE WELCOMING WEEK HERE IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS. WELCOMING WEEK IS A NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THE MANY BACKGROUNDS, CULTURES, LANGUAGES, EXPERIENCES, AND PERSPECTIVES THAT MAKE GRAND RAPIDS STRONGER. BEING WELCOMING IS MORE THAN SIMPLY INVITING PEOPLE INTO OUR COMMUNITY. IT MEANS CREATING A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY BELONG, WHERE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE, CONTRIBUTE, ACCESS SERVICES, AND KNOW THAT THEIR VOICE MATTERS. THIS IS WHY WE SUPPORT THE WEST MICHIGAN WELCOME PLAN AND OTHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND NETWORKS THAT HELP MAKE GRAND RAPIDS FEEL LIKE HOME TO A WIDE VARIETY OF CULTURES AND BACKGROUNDS. WELCOMING WEEK ALSO REMINDS US THAT BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING THAT MUST HAPPEN OVER TIME AND WITH MANY HANDS. IT IS SOMETHING WE BUILD TOGETHER THROUGH OUR WORKPLACES, OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR BUSINESSES, OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND OUR INTERACTIONS WITH EACH OTHER. FOR THAT REASON, WE ARE EXCITED TO CONTINUE WORKING AS A CITY ON THE LANGUAGE INCLUSION POLICY AND OTHER TOOLS FOR STAFF TO BUILD OUR CULTURAL COMPETENCY AS PUBLIC SERVANTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE MORE MEANINGFUL INTERACTIONS WITH ALL OF GRAND RAPIDS DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION HERE ABOUT SOME UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES THAT I WILL LEAVE OUTSIDE, BUT WE HAVE AN UPCOMING PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISABILITY ADVOCATES OF KENT COUNTY AND SOME PROGRAMING WITH THE MICHIGAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT LATINO NETWORK EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUP FOR LATINO HERITAGE MONTH. GRAND RAPIDS IS AT ITS BEST WHEN EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BELONG AND PARTICIPATE. SO FINALLY, I ENCOURAGE ALL OF US TO TAKE THE SPIRIT OF WELCOMING WEEK AND THE STORIES WE SHARE THEME BEYOND THIS CELEBRATION. TO BE CURIOUS ABOUT ONE ANOTHER, TO LISTEN TO PERSPECTIVES DIFFERENT FROM OUR OWN, AND TO LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY A LITTLE MORE WELCOMING FOR ALL. AND AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MR. OMAR FROM THE CHAMBER TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. BOYNE CITY COMMISSIONERS, CITY MANAGER AND CITY ATTORNEY OMAR CUEVAS AT THE GRAND RAPIDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT THAT YOU'VE PROVIDED TO OUR KENT COUNTY WELCOME PLAN. 
          IT'S WE'RE IN THE NINTH YEAR OF THIS WELCOME PLAN, THIS WORK THAT IS IS CHALLENGING WORK, BUT IT WAS ALWAYS DONE WITH THE INTENT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALIGN OUR PRIORITIES AROUND POPULATION GROWTH, ECONOMIC VITALITY, NOT FORGETTING ABOUT THE HUMAN ELEMENT THAT'S AT THE CENTER OF ALL THIS, A WELCOME PLAN THAT WAS CREATED WITH IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEES, MAKING SURE THAT THEIR VOICES WERE HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING, IDENTIFYING EVEN LITERACY ISSUES, TECHNOLOGY LITERACY TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE HAVING FOCUS GROUPS, WORKING WITH CENTERS OF INFLUENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT WE HEARD DIFFERENT VOICES AS WE PUT TOGETHER THIS WELCOME PLAN. IT'S ABOUT EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, SAFE AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, EQUITABLE ACCESS TO SERVICES, AND THE WORK THAT THE WELCOME PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE AND THE DIFFERENT WORK GROUPS HAVE DONE HAS MOVED THIS WORK FORWARD. WE DON'T WANT TO LET PERFECTION BE THE ENEMY OF PROGRESS. WE KNOW THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO DO. WE ARE IN A JOURNEY, BUT THE GOAL HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT KENT COUNTY AND THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS IS BEST IN CLASS WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY BELONG. AND THIS WORK IS NEVER ENDING. AND WE WANT TO THANK YOU ALL ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE, FOR BEING COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS IN THIS WORK. THIS MORNING, AS WE CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT IN TIME WELCOME WEEK. BUT IT'S A REMINDER THAT IT'S JUST NOT LIMITED TO ONE WEEK. WELCOMING IS DONE IN THE SMALL MOMENTS. IT'S WHERE WE SHOP. IT'S WHEN WE INTERACT WITH INDIVIDUALS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO SOMETHING, AN ACT OF KINDNESS, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE GRAND RAPIDS IS THEIR CITY, BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS GREATER HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH THIS MORNING. SO WE DO A PICTURE. YEAH. ALL RIGHT. 
          I THINK I MISSED YOU, SIR. I TRIED. AND. YOU. FOR BEING HERE. 
          [00:10:04]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. 
          OKAY. THIS BRINGS US TO MORE OF THE. NUTS AND BOLTS WORKS WORK OF OUR GROUP. SO NEXT UP, I 
          [2. Resolution establishing an Industrial Development District for City Built Brewing Company at 1560 Taylor Avenue N]
HAVE A RESOLUTION IN ESTABLISHING AN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT FOR CITY BUILT BREWING AT 1560. TAYLOR, WE GOT BRIEFED ON THIS PRETTY EXTENSIVELY LAST COMMISSION SESSION, BUT THIS IS A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE DISTRICT. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SUPPORT ON. OH SORRY. AND YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND REFRESH OUR MEMORIES ON THIS. 
          ABSOLUTELY. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSION RACHEL GRAY WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. 
          THIS IS FOR AN INDUSTRIAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AT 1560 TAYLOR AVENUE. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE BUILDINGS ON THAT PROPERTY BUT THEY ARE VACANT. THEY MOSTLY BEEN USED FOR STORAGE SPACE AND CITY BUILT BREWING, WHICH IS ONE OF OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES HERE. THEY ARE LOOKING TO USE THAT THAT PROPERTY FOR BEVERAGE PRODUCTION FACILITY, TAPROOM AND COMPLEMENTARY COMMERCIAL DESTINATION. HAPPY TO ANSWER OTHER QUESTIONS. GREAT, EVERYONE RECALL THIS THEN IF THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, I'LL ASK FOR A VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY 
          [3. Resolution approving an application for a 12-year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, pursuant to PA 198 of 1974, for City Built Brewing Company for a project located at 1560 Taylor Avenue N]
AYE. AYE AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND THE NEXT RESOLUTION IS REGARDING EXACTLY THE SAME PROJECT. AND THIS IS A RESOLUTION FOR A 12 YEAR INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE FOR THE SAME PROJECT. CAN I HAVE A MOTION SUPPORT. ANY DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE AYE AYE. THANKS MISS GRAY. AND NEXT WE HAVE A RESOLUTION 
          [4. Resolution revising the existing Downtown Grand Rapids Social District to add another location to the commons area]
REVISING THE DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DISTRICT TO ADD ANOTHER LOCATION TO THE COMMONS AREA. 
          AND, MR. CLARK, YOU WANT TO THANK YOU. SUPPORT. YEAH. SO THIS IS ADDING ON TO 115117 SOUTH DIVISION IN THAT AREA TO ADD IT TO THE COMMONS. AND THE NEXT ITEM WILL BE TO ALLOW FOR A SOCIAL DISTRICT IN SAID AREA. GREAT. THIS IS 115117 DIVISION. SO PRETTY CLOSE TO THE OFFICE HERE. I'M SURE ALL OF US KNOW WHERE THAT. WELL, IT'S SORRY IT'S THE OLD ROCKWELL REPUBLIC, RIGHT. SO THIS IS A CORE SORT OF AN ANCHOR, VERY VISIBLE PROJECT DOWNTOWN THAT'S CURRENTLY UNOCCUPIED. SO THIS IS EXCITING. WE'VE GOT A MOTION. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION, COLLEAGUES? ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. AND THEN THE NEXT IS 
          [5. Resolution recommending approval by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission of Social District Permit application pursuant to Public Act 124 of 2020 for Elite District L.L.C dba Trust Restaurant and Tellers Lounge located at 115-117 Division Ave S]
THE RESOLUTION ON THE SOCIAL DISTRICT FOR THE SAME PROJECT. CAN A MOTION. SO MOVED. SUPPORT ANY DISCUSSION. THANK YOU. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE. I ALL OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR BRIEFINGS. YES. BEFORE WE GET THERE, WE OUR CITY ATTORNEYS ASKED THAT WE GO 
          [6. Motion to go into closed session]
TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS LITIGATION MATTERS. AND CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. AND ROLL CALL, COMMISSIONER KILGORE. YES, COMMISSIONER. KNIGHT. YES. COMMISSIONER. SASSY. YES. 
          COMMISSIONER. PURDUE. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. MAYOR. LAGRANGE. YES. AND THAT WILL BE IN 601601 THANK YOU. OKAY. MR. CLARK, GIVE US AN UPDATE ON ELECTION WORK. WITH SLIDES AND 
          [1. City Clerk Elections Update]
PICTURES AND ARROWS AND PARAGRAPHS IN THE BACK OF EACH ONE. THANK YOU, MR. KANE. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. GLAD TO BE HERE TO GIVE A LITTLE UPDATE ON THE PAST AUGUST PRIMARY ELECTION, AND THEN LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NOVEMBER 3RD ELECTION SEASON. 
          NOT ONE DAY ANYMORE. IT'S OVER SEVERAL DAYS. SO EVEN THOUGH WE SAY THE ELECTION DAY, IT STARTS MUCH EARLIER. RECAP AUGUST 4TH PRIMARY ELECTION. WE HAD 100. WE'RE UP TO 153,000 REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, 47,000 PLUS VOTED, GIVING US ABOUT ALMOST 31% TURNOUT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE THE THE GRID BELOW HAND SHOWS THAT THAT'S A 7.36 HIGHER TURNOUT THAN TWO YEARS AGO, AND THAT'S 12,000 ACTUAL VOTERS INCREASE IN IN AUGUST PRIMARY. SO OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS SOME MORE INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION. THIS WAS THE FIRST THIS IS THE FIRST ELECTION SINCE THE DIRECT ELECTION OF US SENATORS. SO IT'S BEEN A WHILE THAT WE'VE 
          [00:15:02]
HAD AN OPEN US SENATE AND OPEN GOVERNOR SEAT ON THE SAME SAME BALLOT. SO THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION WITH ANYTIME THERE'S AN OPEN GOVERNOR SEAT VERSUS THAT, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 2018 AND 2022 TURNOUT WHEN WHEN WHITMER WAS THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR, IT DEFINITELY DECLINES. AND WE SEE THAT WE SEE THOSE PRESIDENTIALLY TO BE BETWEEN THE OH EIGHT AND 012, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN THE FIRST OBAMA ELECTION AND THE SECOND OBAMA ELECTION. IF YOU LOOK AT ANY TIME, THERE'S AN INCUMBENT RUNNING TURNOUT DIPS DOWN A LITTLE BIT. SO WE'LL PROBABLY SEE A LITTLE BIT HIGHER TURNOUT THIS NOVEMBER WITH AN OPEN SEATS AS WELL. THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE PRECINCT TURNOUT WAS PRECINCT 25 AT ENCOUNTER CHURCH, WHICH IS IN THE SECOND WARD, 50.20 50% TURNOUT AND ONLY ONE PRECINCT UNDER 10%. SO IN 2022 AND OTHER ELECTIONS, WE'VE HAD OTHER A LOT MORE PRECINCTS AT UNDER 10% TURNOUT. SO THAT'S REALLY GOOD THAT IT'S NOT GOOD, THAT IT'S UNDER 10%, BUT ONLY ONE PRECINCT IS THAT. AND IF I CAN INTERRUPT YOU A LITTLE BIT, MR. CLARK, JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE HERE, WHAT'S REALLY I MEAN, THERE'S TWO THINGS THAT STAND OUT. ONE IS WE HAD A GREAT TURNOUT, BUT THE OTHER IS SINCE 2018, WE'VE HAD AN ALMOST 15% INCREASE IN REGISTERED VOTERS. AND OUR POPULATION DID NOT INCREASE 15% SINCE 2018. CORRECT. SO A COUPLE OF FACTORS WITH THAT. I'LL GET TO THAT THAT HOW WE GOT TO THAT FACTOR. AND THEN IF YOU CAN, YOU CAN ALSO SEE THAT JUST BARELY MORE, MORE OVER 50% OF VOTERS VOTED ABSENTEE OR EARLY THAN VOTED ON ELECTION DAY IN THE PRECINCT. BUT THE PRECINCT TURNOUT WAS HIGHER THAN WHAT WE HAD ANTICIPATED. SO THERE WAS THERE WAS GREAT INTEREST AT THE END. AND WE'LL SEE HOW WHAT HAPPENS WITH EARLY VOTING, ABSENTEE VOTING. AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT UNCERTAINTIES HERE IN A LITTLE BIT. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE TURNOUT. IF YOU IF YOU CAN NOTICE IF THE REGISTERED VOTERS. BECAUSE AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO 2030, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CENSUS AND THINGS, IF YOU CAN SEE THE REGISTERED VOTERS ARE STILL PRETTY, PRETTY CLOSE BETWEEN THE THREE BETWEEN THE THREE WARDS. THE SECOND WARD HAS A FEW MORE VOTERS, BUT IT'S STILL THE THREE WARDS THAT ARE STILL DISPERSED PRETTY EVENLY, EVEN WITH LOTS OF CHANGES. SO THIS WAS A THIS VIDEO I'M GOING TO PLAY IN HERE. THIS WAS ON ELECTION NIGHT. SOMEONE ACTUALLY SOMEBODY FROM THE COUNTY OFFICE SENT IT TO ME. BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK ON THE ON THIS BOARD, THERE ARE NO RESULTS HERE. THERE'S NOTHING ON THE BOARD FOR MICHIGAN. SO IF YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH STEVE KORNACKI, HE'S KIND OF THE NUMBERS GURU ON NBC. AND SO HE'S GOING TO SHOW SOME RESULTS THAT POP UP ON THE SCREEN HERE IN A MINUTE. THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR ABSENTEE, OUR FIRST BATCH OF ABSENTEE VOTERS. SO THE FIRST RESULTS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MICHIGAN CAME FROM OUR ABSENTEE COUNTING BOARD. THAT FIRST BATCH. NOW, I'LL GIVE THE CAVEAT. WE'RE ALSO THE THE LAST BATCH THAT CAME IN AT THE END OF THE NIGHT BECAUSE WE HAD ALL THE END OF THE NIGHT. SO WE WERE THE FIRST AND THE LAST WHICH WHICH IS OKAY. BUT HIS EXCITEMENT HERE OF GETTING GETTING ELECTIONS. ELECTION RESULTS STARTED COMING IN. THIS WAS, IF YOU NOTICE, IT SAYS 56 MINUTES TILL THE POLLS CLOSE, BECAUSE YOU REMEMBER, THE U.P. 
          IS PART OF THE U.P. IS CENTRAL TIME. THEY ACTUALLY GO WITH THEIR TIME ZONE, NOT EASTERN TIME. SO THAT'S WHY IT SAYS SO. WITHIN FOUR MINUTES OF THE POLLS CLOSING, WE GET RESULTS IN A NUMBER OF HOUSE RACES TOO. THAT WILL BE KEEPING AN EYE ON MICHIGAN. BUT OH, AND WE DO LOOK AT THIS. WE HAVE OUR FIRST RESULTS. OH, OKAY. SO THIS IS FROM KENT COUNTY, WESTERN MICHIGAN. THIS IS WHERE GRAND RAPIDS IS FROM. THOSE ARE THE RESULTS STATEWIDE. THEY ARE ALSO THE RESULTS THAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN KENT COUNTY. SO I THINK ONE, ONE THING WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT RIGHT AWAY IS ARE WE LOOKING AT EARLY VOTE? ARE WE LOOKING AT ELECTION DAY VOTE HERE? THAT'S GOING TO BE KEY. ADAM IS TAKING A LOOK AT THAT. BUT ONE THING I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT THIS COUNTY HERE IS THIS IS A PLACE WHERE SIDE HAS TO DO WELL, OKAY, HIS SUPPORT IN POLLING AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE PROGRESSIVE INSURGENT CANDIDATES. SO THAT SHOWS THAT WE, WE, BECAUSE OF EARLY TABULATION, WE CAN HAVE WE CAN HAVE THOSE RESULTS READY TO GO TO SEND TO THE COUNTY SO THEY CAN UPLOAD THEM. RIGHT. 8:00 AND THEN THEY UPLOAD THEM RIGHT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, WHICH THE WIRES AND EVERYBODY ELSE GRABS FROM THERE. 
          SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN WANTING FOREVER IS TO GET ELECTION RESULTS QUICKER. AND EARLY TABULATION HAS REALLY HELPED WITH THAT. JUST A LITTLE BIT ON ELECTION RESULTS, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MISINFORMATION THINGS FROM 2020, AS PEOPLE WERE WATCHING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON THE SCREEN. THIS GOES BACK TO 2000 AS WELL. 
          FOR THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER THE 2000 ELECTION, WHEN WE WHEN EVERYBODY WAS UP AND DOWN AND WITH BUSH GORE, THIS WE GET INTO THIS THING OF WE'RE WATCHING THE SCROLLS ON THE 
          [00:20:05]
BOTTOM OF THE SCREEN. THIS IS ALL UNOFFICIAL FROM UNTIL THE COUNTY BOARD OF CANVASSERS AND THE STATE BOARD OF CANVASSERS DO THEIR WORK AND CERTIFY THE ELECTION. THE ELECTION RESULTS ARE UNOFFICIAL. THINGS CAN CHANGE IN BETWEEN THAT MILITARY AND OVERSEAS BALLOTS, AS LONG AS THEY'RE POSTMARKED BY ELECTION DAY. WE HAVE SIX DAYS. THEY CAN RETURN THOSE. THOSE CAN BE ADDED IF YOUR SIGNATURE DOESN'T MATCH OR YOU DIDN'T SIGN YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT, YOU HAVE TO UNTIL THREE DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION TO CURE YOUR SIGNATURE THAT GOES OVER TO THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS, SO VOTES CAN BE ADDED BETWEEN ELECTION DAY AND THE CANVASS AND THE THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION. SO WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT ON ELECTION DAY, WHEN WE'RE WATCHING THINGS THAT ARE ON THE TV SCREEN OR ON WEBSITES, THOSE ARE ALL UNOFFICIAL. THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN IN MILWAUKEE WHERE THEY UPLOADED THE THEY DOWNLOADED THE WRONG FILES AND THEN GOT UP AND THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEM. SO THEY HAD TO ADD THOSE. DURING THE CANVASS. 
          THINGS HAPPEN. ELECTIONS ARE STILL. EVEN THOUGH WE USE ELECTION EQUIPMENT THAT'S COMPUTERS AND TABULATION, IT'S STILL A VERY HUMAN PROCESS, WHICH IS GREAT BECAUSE THERE'S STILL PEOPLE THAT ARE MONITORING THINGS, MAKING SURE THINGS HAPPEN, BUT ERRORS OR MISTAKES CAN HAPPEN. THEY'RE RARE, BUT IF THEY DO, THERE'S A WAY FOR THEM TO BE FIXED. AND THAT'S HOW THAT HAPPENS THROUGH THIS OFFICIAL PART. SO JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN GO TO KENT COUNTY VOTES.COM TO SEE UNOFFICIAL RESULTS. WE SEND ALL THAT STUFF TO THE COUNTY. WHEN I POST RESULTS, IT'S A FEW. IT'S A COUPLE WEEKS LATER AFTER THE CANVASS IS ALL DONE AND I POST OFFICIAL RESULTS ONTO THE ONTO THE CLERK'S WEBSITE. SO JUST TO MAKE SURE, JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC IS CLEAR THAT THERE'S A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN UNOFFICIAL RESULTS AND OFFICIAL RESULTS, AND CLERK, HOW WHAT'S THE AMOUNT OF TIME BETWEEN THE ELECTION AND THE. 
          THE BOARD OF CANVASING. THE COUNTY HAS TWO WEEKS AND THEN THE STATE HAS LIKE ANOTHER WEEK AFTER YOU SAY ABOUT THREE WEEKS, ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE IT'S DONE. SO JUST A JUST A REMINDER, I ALWAYS LIKE TO THROW IN THESE COUPLE SLIDES OF WHAT TO THE PROPOSALS IN 2018 AND 2022 GOT. 
          SO YOU HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO A SECRET BALLOT, STRAIGHT PARTY VOTING, NO REASON, ABSENTEE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION. THAT'S THAT'S THE ONE THAT GAVE US THE TOOL TO HAVE THIS HIGH, REALLY HIGH VOTER REGISTRATION. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF GROUPS THAT ARE OUT DOING REGISTERING VOTERS, BUT YOU HAVE AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION. SO ANYTIME YOU'RE DOING SOMETHING AT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, THEY AUTOMATICALLY REGISTER. 
          YOU HAVE TO OPT OUT. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE REGISTERED, SAME DAY REGISTRATION UP UNTIL 8:00 ON ELECTION NIGHT. YOU CAN REGISTER TO VOTE. MILITARY OVERSEAS BALLOTS AVAILABLE 45 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AND ELECTION AUDITS IN 2022. STILL, A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE GIVES US EARLY VOTING PHOTO ID OR SIGN AN AFFIDAVIT ON THE BACK OF YOUR APPLICATION. 
          SINGLE APPLICATION FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR POSTAGE TO HAVE YOUR BALLOTS MAILED BACK. WE HAVE TO HAVE DROP BOXES, ONE FOR EVERY 15,000 VOTERS. ABSENTEE BALLOT TRACKING YOU CAN GO TO THE STATE'S WEBSITE TO SEE IF YOU GOT YOUR ABSENTEE BALLOT. IF WE RECEIVED IT BACK HERE, YOU CAN CHECK THAT THERE TOO. THAT'S THE THERE'S THE POSTMARK FOR THE MILITARY AND OVERSEAS ALLOW PRIVATE DONATIONS SO WE CAN ACCEPT GRANT MONEY. SOME STATES DON'T ALLOW YOU TO TAKE ANY PRIVATE MONEY TO LIKE GRANTS OR VARIOUS OTHER THINGS, BUT WE ARE ALLOWED TO DO THAT. AND THEN AUDITS AND CERTIFICATION. I'M JUST LOOKING AT POST NOVEMBER OR PAST NOVEMBER ELECTIONS. JUST KIND OF YOU CAN SEE THE THE UPS AND DOWNS BETWEEN GUBERNATORIAL AND PRESIDENTIAL YEARS. SO THAT 77,000 FOR YOU SAW 77,020 18, ABOUT 70,000 77,000 2022. I'M GOING TO SAY WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION, WE'LL PROBABLY SEE THAT TICK UP A LITTLE BIT. SO WE MAY SEE PERCENTAGES GO UP A LITTLE BIT HIGHER THAN WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER GUBERNATORIAL YEARS, BUT NOWHERE NEAR PROBABLY A PRESIDENTIAL YEAR IN 2024. YOU CAN SEE THE INTEREST THAT WAS IN EARLY VOTING AND ABSENTEE VOTING. WE'LL SEE IF THAT HOLDS TRUE GOING INTO THIS NOVEMBER ELECTION AS WELL. WE WE WE USED A LOT OF THIS DATA WHEN WE USED TO, TO CHANGE THE PRECINCT LINES AND THE POLLING LOCATIONS IN 2025. AND I DID NOT HEAR A LOT OF CONSTERNATION FOR THE AUGUST ELECTION OF PEOPLE FINDING THAT FINDING THEIR NEW LOCATIONS THERE. I THINK PEOPLE FOUND THAT INFORMATION. AND SO WE'LL SEE AS WE GO, AS MORE PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION, WE'LL BE GETTING INFORMATION OUT THERE, MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE KNOW BEFORE THEY GO TO GO TO MICHIGAN.GOV/VOTE. SO THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER ELECTION IS A FEDERAL AND STATE PARTIZAN. THERE'LL BE A FEDERAL AND STATE PARTIZAN SECTION. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN VOTE THE STRAIGHT PARTIES, THE REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, NATURAL LAW WORKING 
          [00:25:01]
PARTY. I THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THERE'S LIKE SEVEN, SEVEN DIFFERENT PARTIES HERE IN MICHIGAN. YOU CAN VOTE A STRAIGHT TICKET, A SPLIT TICKET, OR YOU CAN PICK CANDIDATES HOWEVER YOU WANT. ONE CANDIDATE FROM THIS PARTY HERE, ANOTHER CANDIDATE FROM ANOTHER PARTY IN A DIFFERENT SECTION OF THE BALLOT. WE ALSO HAVE A JUDICIAL CITY, LOCAL EDUCATION BOARDS. 
          THOSE WILL BE ON THIS BALLOT. AND THERE'S FIVE PROPOSALS. THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION MONEY OUT OF POLITICS MADE THIS. SO THERE'S GOING TO BE STATE TO STATE PROPOSALS. THERE'S A THIRD ONE OUT THERE THAT WAS THAT DID NOT MAKE IT BECAUSE OF THE THE THE CERTIFIED BY THE STATE. THEY WENT TO THE US SUPREME COURT GOT DENIED. THEY DID NOT TAKE IT UP AND WENT TO THE STATE SUPREME COURT. THEY'RE NOT TAKING IT UP EITHER. THEN WE HAVE THE MUSEUM, ZOO MILLAGE, THE CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION FACILITIES MILLAGE. AND FOR 19 OF OUR VOTERS, THEY HAVE THE KENOWA HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOL MILLAGE. SO NO OTHER MAJOR SCHOOL BONDING ISSUES THERE. SO THOSE ARE THE FIVE PROPOSALS MOST OF OUR VOTERS WILL BE SEEING FOR PROPOSALS ON THEIR BALLOT, EARLY VOTING. SO WE ARE GOING TO HAVE 13 DAYS OF EARLY VOTING. SO THE CONSTITUTION MANDATES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST NINE. WE'RE GOING TO ADD FOUR MORE DAYS STARTING ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20TH, AND GOING THROUGH SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1ST. THE REASON WHY WE ADDED THE FOUR DAYS IS IN 2024. AFTER SEEING THE FEBRUARY TURNOUT FOR EARLY VOTING IN THE AUGUST. WE THOUGHT, OH, PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY ENGAGING TO THIS. AND THEY DID ENGAGE INTO IT. AND WE STARTED ON A SATURDAY MORNING AND WE WERE OVERWHELMED. WE WEREN'T OVERWHELMED. WE WERE WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE PEOPLE, BUT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE HOW MUCH PEOPLE WERE GOING TO TURN OUT. AND WE HAD TO GET PEOPLE LIKE READY AND ACCLIMATED TO, TO DO THEIR DUTIES AT THE, AT THE EARLY VOTING SITE. AND THEN IF WE HAD ANY COMPUTER ISSUES, WE HAD A COUPLE LITTLE COMPUTER ISSUES. IT DEPARTMENTS AREN'T OPEN ON THAT ON THAT SATURDAY. 
          ALSO, WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TONER AND PAPER AND IT'S IT'S THE WEEKEND. SO WE WE'RE RUNNING AROUND TO STAPLES AND OFFICE DEPOT AND STUFF. SO WE, WE'VE DONE, WE'VE LEARNED SOME LESSONS. AND ONE OF THOSE LESSONS IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO START EVER ON A SATURDAY IN A MAJOR ELECTION. WE'RE GOING TO START ON A TUESDAY. GIVE US SOME TIME. YOU CAN SEE ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS WE GO 11 TO 7. SO WE HAVE THAT MORNING TO GET INTO THE FLOW. AND THEN AFTER THE AFTER DAY ONE, EVERYBODY'S GOING BECAUSE WE GENERALLY HAVE THE SAME THE SAME ELECTION INSPECTORS EVERY DAY. SO BY DAY NINE, THEY GOT THEY ARE WELL OILED MACHINE. BY DAY 13, THEY'RE GOING TO BE EITHER REALLY TIRED OR REALLY GREAT. SO NO, IT'S EIGHT HOUR DAYS. SO IT'S NOT LIKE THE 14 HOUR ELECTION DAY. SO IT'S DIFFERENT. SO EVERY DAY. SO ON TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS WE DO 11 TO 7. THE OTHER DAYS WE DO 9 TO 5 EXCEPT ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, WHICH IS HALLOWEEN. WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING 7 A.M. TO 3 P.M. SO PEOPLE CAN GET OUT AND DO THEIR WHATEVER THEIR FALL FESTIVAL SLASH TRICK OR TREATING THERE. GET OUR ELECTION INSPECTORS OUT. NOT EXPECTING A LOT OF VOTERS AFTER THAT TIME. ALSO, WE'RE ADDING A FOURTH LOCATION AT NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH. SO THAT GIVES US AN EARLY VOTING SITE IN ALL FOUR QUADRANTS OF THE CITY. AND NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH HAS THEIR FALL FEST THAT EVENING TOO. SO WORKING WITH THEM, WE DECIDED, LET'S MAKE MAKE SURE IT'S UNIFORM, THAT WE'RE NOT HAVING DIFFERENT TIMES AT DIFFERENT PLACES. SO HALLOWEEN IS 7 A.M. TO 3 P.M. AND THAT MATCHES THE HOURS THAT WE HAVE HERE AT CITY HALL FOR OUR CLERK STAFF AS WELL. ABSENTEE VOTING, MILITARY, OVERSEAS BALLOTS MUST BE SENT, AT LEAST AT THE LATEST, 45 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AVAILABLE 40 DAYS FOR VOTERS. SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING BALLOTS AROUND SEPTEMBER 19TH FOR US TO RECEIVE THEM AND START PREPARING THOSE TO BE MAILED. OUR PERMANENT BALLOT ENVELOPES ARE BEING PRODUCED RIGHT NOW. WE GET EVERYTHING SCREEN PRINTED OUT. SO WE'RE GETTING WE'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO TO RAMPING UP TO PREPARE ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO BE MAILED. ELECTION DAY POLLS ARE OPEN 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. ANYONE STILL IN LINE CAN STILL VOTE. ALL 59 PRECINCTS WILL BE OPEN. WE'RE STILL KENISHA IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THAT WAS SOME MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AT KENISHA ELEMENTARY, SO THERE'LL BE ACROSS KALAMAZOO AVENUE AT BROOKSIDE CRC. BUT THIS WILL BE LIKE THE THIRD ELECTION WHERE THEY'LL DO THAT. THOSE VOTERS HAVE HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY MAIL. THE OTHER THING THAT HAPPENS ON ELECTION DAY AS WELL IS SAME DAY REGISTRATION. YOU CAN REGISTER UP UNTIL 8:00 ON ELECTION NIGHT BECAUSE THE THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT DO REGISTER AND BECAUSE OF THE INTEREST IN THIS ELECTION, I HAVE A FEELING THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT ARE GOING TO WANT TO REGISTER FROM, YOU KNOW, THAT ARE STUDENTS THAT THAT ARE DON'T LIVE HERE YEAR ROUND, BUT ARE RESIDENTS HERE FOR THEIR 60 DAYS. SO THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE IN GRAND RAPIDS. I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INTEREST IN THAT. SO ON THE MONDAY AND TUESDAY, SO NOVEMBER 
          [00:30:03]
2ND AND THREE, THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE IS ACTUALLY AT DEVOS PLACE IN EXHIBIT HALL A. SO IT GIVES US MUCH MORE SPACE. WE DON'T HAVE THE ROOM HERE TO DO HAVE LONG LINES OF PEOPLE. SO WE ARE USING EXHIBIT HALL A ACROSS THE STREET. SO WE'RE GOING TO DIRECT EVERYBODY ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY TO GO TO DEVOS PLACE. AND SO WE'LL BE PRODUCING SOME VIDEOS THAT ALSO SHOW THAT WE SHOT A VIDEO THE OTHER DAY THAT SHOWS ME WALKING FROM MAYOR PARKS STATUE AND WALKING ACROSS THE STREET TO DEVOS PLACE TO SHOW HOW THAT WILL WORK. SO THAT VIDEO WILL BE SHOWING ON THOSE THOSE DAYS. MY TAGLINE IS KNOW BEFORE YOU GO. SO THIS IS A LOT OF GOOD THREE GOOD WEBSITES TO GO THAT IS FACTUAL, GOVERNMENTAL ISSUES ISSUED ELECTION INFORMATION. SO GRAND RAPIDS ELECTIONS, YOU CAN GO TO GRAND RAPIDS, MI.GOV, GR VOTES, MICHIGAN BUREAU OF ELECTIONS, MICHIGAN.GOV/VOTE. AND THEN KENT COUNTY ELECTIONS IS KENT COUNTY VOTES.COM. SO ANY OF THOSE ELECTION RESULTS CAMPAIGN FINANCE YOU'LL FIND THAT KENT WHO'S, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING, YOU KNOW, WHO'S PAYING FOR CAMPAIGNS. YOU CAN FIND THAT LOCALLY. YOU CAN FIND THAT AT THE KENT COUNTY ELECTIONS. AND ALSO SO THIS GIVES YOU A GOOD INFORMATION AREAS TO GO TO SO THAT YOU'RE PREPARED, THAT YOU MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE. ALL RIGHT. EXECUTIVE ORDER 14 399, ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION, INTEGRITY AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS. 
          SO THIS HAS BEEN IN THE NEWS A LOT LATELY. THERE'S BEEN COURT CASES AND INJUNCTIONS AND SUPREME COURT RULINGS AND VARIOUS OTHER THINGS. AND YOU U.S. POSTAL SERVICE RULES. 
          WE'RE WATCHING THIS VERY, VERY CLOSELY. SO THE BIG PARTS OF THIS IS THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS TO DEVELOP A STATE CITIZENSHIP LIST. SO. SO THEY WOULD HAVE TO. SO HOMELAND SECURITY WOULD DEVELOP A LIST OF OF CITIZENS. THEN THERE'S USPS MAIL GUIDELINES. 
          WE GENERALLY FOLLOW THIS ALREADY. WHERE THIS WOULD AFFECT IS MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE THEY'RE NOT USING LIKE PREPRINTED ENVELOPES. THEY'RE JUST MAILING THEIR BALLOTS IN A REGULAR ENVELOPE. THIS WOULD SAY ELECTION MAIL. SO THIS ONE, THIS ONE WOULDN'T AFFECT US TOO MUCH. WE'RE ALREADY DOING WE'RE ALREADY DOING THESE THINGS. BUT THE NEXT PART IS A STATE SPECIFIC MAIL IN AND ABSENTEE PARTICIPATION LIST SENT TO THE US POSTAL SERVICE. SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE WOULD HAVE TO SEND A LIST OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE MAILING BALLOTS TO, AND IT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE POST OFFICE, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO MATCH THAT MAIL TO THAT LIST, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WOULD PROBABLY DELAY IN MAILING BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH AND, AND MATCH THESE. NOW THERE'S SOME TALK OF WHAT DOES THAT ACTUALLY MEAN? IF, IF LIKE ONE OF THE BATCH IS GONE IS THE WHOLE BATCH. SO THERE'S A, THERE'S SO MUCH UNKNOWN IN THIS. AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, 60 DAYS, LESS THAN 60 DAYS OUT. SO THERE'S AN INJUNCTION THERE. THE THE PRESIDENT HAS ASKED FOR THE SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON THIS LATEST INJUNCTION. SO WE'RE WE'RE FOLLOWING THIS REAL CLOSE. THE OTHER PART THAT'S IN THIS THIS LAW IS. WELL, IT SAYS IF A STATE OFFICIAL OR A LOCAL OFFICIAL ISSUES AN A BALLOT TO AN UNDOCUMENTED OR ILLEGAL. WELL, IN THEIR TERMS, AN ILLEGAL ALIEN OR UNDOCUMENTED PERSON, THEN WE COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. IT MIGHT NOT EVEN BE SOMETHING THAT I DID. BUT IF I SENT A BALLOT TO SOMEBODY WHO WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO GET A BALLOT BECAUSE THE STATE REMEMBER, I SAID THE STATE AUTOMATICALLY DOES AUTOMATIC REGISTRATION. I DIDN'T REGISTER THAT PERSON OR THEY THEY SEND ME A FORM. IF EVERYBODY LIKES TO USE THAT. THE STUDENT FROM CHINA IN ANN ARBOR IN 2024, HE FILLED OUT AN APPLICATION AND MARKED THAT HE WAS A US CITIZEN. HOW HOW AM I? IS THE CLERK SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT? BECAUSE IT'S A SELF. YOU KNOW, YOUR SELF DECLARING THAT YOU'RE OVER 18 AND THAT YOU'RE A US CITIZEN? IF THAT IF THIS LAW WAS UNDER THERE, THEN THE ANN ARBOR CLERK, BECAUSE IT FOUND OUT THE ANN ARBOR CLERK COULD GO TO JAIL BECAUSE THEY ISSUED A BALLOT TO SOMEONE. SO THAT'S GOT CLERKS A LITTLE ANTSY RIGHT NOW IF THAT PART OF THAT GOES IN THERE. SO SO WE ARE, AS I SAID, WE'RE MONITORING VERY CLOSELY, WATCHING WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ANY INJUNCTIONS OR THAT. SO OUR PLAN IS TO MAIL OUT BALLOTS. I FORGET WHAT STATE ONE OF THE STATES JUST OH, NORTH CAROLINA ALREADY MADE THEIR BALLOTS. THEY'RE ONE OF THE FIRST STATES THAT MAIL THEIR BALLOTS. THERE'S GOING TO BE OTHERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE STARTING TO SEND BALLOTS IN THE NEXT WEEK. OURS WILL BE BY THE 24TH OF SEPTEMBER. SO WE'RE OBVIOUSLY EVERYBODY'S WATCHING THIS VERY, VERY CLOSELY. NOVEMBER. SO LIKE I SHOWED YOU BEFORE THE AUGUST ELECTION, THESE ARE OUR POSTS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. WE ARE DOING SOCIAL MEDIA BUYS. SO WE'LL BE PUTTING OUT CAROUSELS AND VARIOUS OTHER REELS THAT WILL BE OUT IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND WE WILL BE BUYING INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK ADS AS WELL. SO TO, 
          [00:35:05]
TO, TO BOOST THAT TRAFFIC OF IT GOING OUT. AND OF COURSE, EVERYBODY ELSE CAN HELP SHARE BY SHARING ANYTIME ANYTHING COMES OUT FROM THE OFFICIAL CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK OR INSTAGRAM POSTS AS WELL. AND PLEASE SHARE THAT AS WELL SO WE CAN BOOST TRAFFIC. 
          THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE ABSENTEE VOTING SOCIAL MEDIA CAROUSEL TO GIVE PEOPLE INFORMATION. WE'RE ALSO DOING. WE HAVE A BILLBOARD BY IF IT'S 4 OR 5 BILLBOARDS, THAT WILL BE DOING AS WELL, BUT ONE OF THE ONE OF THE BILLBOARDS WILL BE IN THE CESAR CHAVEZ CORRIDOR, AND THAT ONE WILL BE IN SPANISH. SO WE ARE DOING BILLBOARDS AROUND THE COMMUNITY AS WELL. 
          THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE THIS THE SAME INFORMATION IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH THAT WOULD BE PUT UP ON OUR. ONE OF OUR AD BUYS. AND THEN THIS IS A VIDEO THAT WENT OUT ON ELECTION DAY. WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE THIS ON ELECTION DAY ITSELF. HI, I'M CITY CLERK JOEL HUNTER AND IT'S ELECTION DAY. POLLS ARE OPEN FROM 7 A.M. TO 8 P.M. AS LONG AS YOU'RE IN LINE AT 8:00, YOU CAN STILL VOTE. AND ALSO, IF YOU AREN'T REGISTERED TO VOTE YET, YOU CAN STILL REGISTER BY GOING DOWN TO THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AND REGISTER KNOW. BEFORE YOU GO, GO TO MICHIGAN.GOV/VOTE AND VOTE TODAY. I WAS EITHER SELLING USED CARS THERE OR MATTRESSES, BUT IT WAS IT WAS, IT WAS, IT WAS A LITTLE A LITTLE QUICK, BUT BUT TRY TO TRY TO KEEP TRY TO KEEP HIGH ENERGY AND GET THESE, THESE OUT. SO THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT I'M DOING TO PREPARE FOR THIS. I'M DOING A, A SHOOT WITH A VIDEO SHOOT WITH ACLU ON THURSDAY MORNING TO THEY'RE, THEY'RE DOING SOME VIDEO SERIES WITH SOME, SOME CLERKS THAT THEY, THAT THEY, THAT THEY WORK WITH. SO WE'LL BE DOING SOME MORE THINGS. SO THERE'S OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE OUT THERE DOING STUFF, BUT SOME OF THE GROUPS HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SO I CAN REVIEW THEIR INFORMATION AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FACTUAL. THERE. THERE ARE SOME GROUPS THAT ARE ELECTION PROTECTION GROUPS, BUT THEY DON'T EXACTLY GET THE THE NUTS AND BOLTS OR DETAILS RIGHT AS WELL. SO WE DON'T WANT MISINFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TRYING TO ASSIST US AS WELL. SO THERE'S A CONCERTED EFFORT BY THE THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REVIEWING, WORKING WITH OUR TRUSTED PARTNERS AND ARE NOT TRUSTED PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT FACTUAL INFORMATION IS GOING OUT. AND SO AS YOU'RE HOW THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE PUBLIC CAN HELP TO LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE LIKE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S QUITE RIGHT. AND THAT THAT COULD BE MISINFORMATION. AND IT'S NOT EVEN LIKE THEY'RE TRYING TO THEY'RE TRYING TO MISLEAD. THEY JUST HAVE SOME OLD INFORMATION FROM SOME OTHER WAY. FOR EXAMPLE, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY EARLY VOTING STARTS IN GRAND RAPIDS ON OCTOBER 24TH. WELL, THAT COULD BE THE CASE IF WE DID THE NINE DAYS, BUT WE'RE STARTING OCTOBER 20TH. SO I'M GOING THROUGH MAKING SURE EVERYWHERE ANYBODY WHO I TALKED TO IS SAYING, NO, WE DON'T. WE'RE DOING 13 DAYS AND FOUR LOCATIONS, NOT THREE LOCATIONS. SO IT'S GOING TO BE THAT IT TAKES IT TAKES A VILLAGE ON THIS ONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GIVING OUT GOOD INFORMATION AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE, WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE TO MAKE SURE VOTERS ARE WELL INFORMED AND READY TO GO. QUESTIONS FOR ME. QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? COMMISSIONER. SASSY MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR CITY CLERK FOR THIS PRESENTATION, BUT ALSO THANK YOU. REPRESENTATIVE GRANT HOSTED A FEW OF US. WAS THAT LAST MONTH? CITY CLERK RIGHT BEFORE THE PRIMARIES, I THINK JUST TO TALK, BROUGHT IN SOME OF THE STAFF FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE. SO IF WE COULD PROBABLY SHARE THAT WITH THIS, THEIR OFFICE, TOO, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR FOR THEM TO KNOW ALL THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AND JUST STAYING INFORMED. SO THANKS FOR GOING TO THAT FORUM, SHARING WHAT WE'RE DOING. AND THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, WORK ON THOSE DAYS LEADING AND RECRUITING ELECTION WORKERS. I HAVE A COUPLE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO, WHO VOLUNTEER AS WELL, NOT IN THE SECOND WARD, BUT REALLY THE ELECTION WORKERS TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN WHAT THEY DO. SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF COORDINATION THAT GOES INTO THAT AS WELL. THANKS. COMMISSIONER PERDUE. 
          YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. CLERK. HAPPY TO SEE SOME OF THE POSITIVE TRENDS FOR TURNOUT. I DO WANT TO REITERATE, COLLEAGUES, THAT ELECTION DAY VOTING STILL IS OUR MOST POPULAR MODE OF VOTING. AND SO THIS WAS A BIG CONVERSATION LAST YEAR. SO I JUST WANT TO REITERATE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO HAVE ACCESS TO SOME PLACE LOCAL THAT YOU CAN SHOW UP ON ELECTION DAY SO THAT, THAT THAT PATTERN REMAINS AS WELL. CLARK, I'M JUST WONDERING, I THINK THAT THE PARTICULARLY THE ABVE, THE ABSENTEE BALLOT. LACK OF CLARITY AROUND WHAT WE CAN EXPECT WITH THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS. DO YOU PLAN TO COME BACK TO US TO GIVE US AN UPDATE ON WHERE THAT LANDS BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY? YES. SO IF IF 
          [00:40:06]
ANYTHING, I'LL MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE MEMOS ON AND I'LL PROBABLY DO A COUPLE MEMOS BETWEEN NOW AND THE ELECTION UNDER THE UPDATES FROM, YOU KNOW, MEMOS OR COMMUNICATIONS FROM APPOINTED OFFICIALS. I'LL PROBABLY JUST KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP ON THAT AND ANY OTHER ELECTION PREPARATION AS WELL. THANK YOU. I THINK WE WOULD ALL APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE THAT IS DICEY SITUATION FOR SURE. LASTLY, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT THE I MEAN, LOGISTICS GALORE. OKAY. BUT PARTICULARLY AROUND ANTICIPATING THE AMOUNT OF NEW REGISTRATIONS THAT MIGHT COME AND GETTING TO A BIGGER VENUE SO THAT WE CAN HANDLE THAT. I JUST WANT TO, YOU KNOW, PLANT A SEED OF, YOU KNOW, WITH A LOT OF THINGS. WE KNOW THAT COMING DOWNTOWN CAN BE A BARRIER FOR FOLKS, WHICH IS WHY WE DO COMMISSION NIGHT OUT AND A LOT OF THINGS OUT AT COMMUNITY LOCATIONS. AND SO JUST ASK YOU TO CONSIDER IF WE STILL CAN FOR THIS ELECTION TO DO SOME OUTREACH, WHETHER IT'S PARTNERING WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS BASED THROUGHOUT THE CITY, BUT JUST TRYING TO MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE TO HELP THEM REGISTER EASILY. AND EVEN IF IT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S IF WE'RE EXPECTING MORE COLLEGE STUDENTS GETTING ON AQUINAS CAMPUS, GETTING ON CALVIN AND THOSE WHO ARE LOCAL AS WELL AS IN SOME OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AROUND ACCESS AND EASE. RIGHT. 
          SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR WORK. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THROUGH THIS MIDTERM AND HOPEFULLY SEEING SOME, SOME POSITIVE RESULTS OF, OF REALLY GOOD LEADERSHIP TO KIND OF LEAD US THROUGH THESE REALLY DIFFICULT TIMES, QUITE FRANKLY. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. YEAH. SO, MR. CLARK, I GUESS ONE QUESTION I HAVE IS, AND THIS IS PIGGYBACKING OFF OF COMMISSIONER PERDUE'S COMMENTS. I IN THE PAST, IN THE LAST FEW ELECTIONS HAVE GOTTEN MY ABSENTEE BALLOT. WHAT FEELS LUXURIOUSLY EARLY, SO EARLY THAT I'VE I SORT OF TURN IT AROUND, MAIL IT OUT THE SAME DAY USUALLY, AND THEN I KIND OF LIKE IT'S DONE AND IT'S DONE A LONG TIME BEFORE ELECTION. SO A LOT OF US ARE GETTING USED TO THAT. HAVE YOU GIVEN SOME THOUGHT TO COMMUNICATIONS IF THIS IF THE FEDS SLOW THIS PROCESS DOWN? I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST WE MAY WANT TO HAVE SOMETHING REALLY, REALLY PROMINENT ON THE CITY WEBSITE SAYING SOMETHING LIKE, YOU KNOW, HEY, YOU KNOW, BALLOTS HAVE BEEN DELAYED SEVEN DAYS. DON'T PANIC. SOMETHING THAT STOPS OUR 311 SYSTEM FROM BEING SWAMPED WHEN PEOPLE DON'T GET THEM, OR PEOPLE WORRIED THAT THEY GOT DROPPED OFF THE LIST. IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE, I MEAN, IF I DIDN'T GET A BALLOT ABOUT WHEN I EXPECTED TO GET IT, I MIGHT THINK, DID I DO SOMETHING WRONG? LIKE, IS THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY BROKEN? SO I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT NOT JUST TO GET THIS INFORMATION OUT. NOW TO THE AT LEAST TWO THIRDS OF THE VOTERS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS HEARING, BUT ALSO THAT WE GET IT UP ON, SAY, TWO THIRDS OR 2 OR 3. I'M SURE WE'VE GOT 100,000 VIEWERS RIGHT NOW, BUT THE YOU GET MY POINT. I GUESS I AND CITY MANAGER MAYBE WORK WITH THE CLERK TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MAY HAVE TO SORT OF TAKE OVER OUR HOME LANDING WEB PAGE IF THINGS GET WEIRD HERE, BECAUSE THIS IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL FOR OUR VOTERS IF THEY START, IF THEY START NOT SEEING BALLOTS THAT THEY EXPECT TO SEE, WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO MANAGE, MANAGE UPDATING PEOPLE. SO WE DO WE DO MONITOR THAT CLOSELY BECAUSE WE HAD AN ISSUE IN THE 2020 4TH NOVEMBER ELECTION WHERE THERE WAS WE GOT THERE WAS A WHOLE TRAY OF BALLOTS THAT WENT AWRY SOMEWHERE IN THE POSTAL SERVICE, AND THE POSTAL SERVICE TRIED TO PUSH IT BACK ON OUR VENDOR AND US. AND WE'RE LIKE, NO, WE HAVE A PROOF THAT WE DELIVERED IT TO THE DOCK AT THE POST OFFICE. 
          AND SO WE REISSUED THAT TO THOSE 300 VOTERS, NEW BALLOTS. AND THEN LIKE A MONTH LATER, THEY GOT THAT ORIGINAL BALLOT DELIVERED. SO IT WAS A POSTAL OFFICE ISSUE. SO WE SO WE DO MONITOR EVEN WITHOUT THIS, WE MONITOR THIS CLOSELY AND LET PEOPLE KNOW IF IF WE SEE AN ISSUE. SO YES, WE CONTINUE THAT. AND THERE'S BANNER ADS AND THINGS THAT WE CAN DO ON THE WEBSITE. SO YES. OKAY. THANKS. SO LET'S KEEP, LET'S KEEP THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THERE'S, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SLOW ROLLS THIS, THAT WE TELL VOTERS BEFORE EVERYONE FREAKS OUT. YEP. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. NOT SEEING ANY FURTHER 
          [2. An Update from the Kent County Sheriff’s Office on Proposed Corrections and Detention Facilities Millage]
QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES. THANK YOU, MR. CLARK. AND THAT BRINGS US TO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, AND THAT IS THE KENT COUNTY CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION MILLAGE. AND I KNOW WE I SEE WE HAVE OUR SHERIFF HERE TO DISCUSS THIS. OH, AND YOU HAVE THE LAND BANK ONE DEPUTY CHIEF MYCROFT IS DEFINITELY NOT A SHERIFF. SO ARE YOU GOING FIRST? THE LAND BANK. 
          [00:45:27]
GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS. MAYOR MIKE MYCROFT HERE. AND IT'S MY DISTINCT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO INTRODUCE SHERIFF MICHELLE LAJOY YONG, WHO IS KIND OF A BITTERSWEET DAY. SHE'S ANNOUNCED HER RETIREMENT AFTER 37 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THIS COUNTY. AND SHE HAS BEEN AWESOME TO WORK WITH, ESPECIALLY FOR ME FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS. SO WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING SHE HAS DONE FOR US IN THE CITY AND HER LEADERSHIP TEAM. IT IS BITTERSWEET. I KNOW WE'RE IN GOOD HANDS. UNDER SHERIFF MUIR WILL BE ASSUMING THIS ROLE IN OCTOBER, AND I JUST WANT TO TELL HER HOW MUCH WE APPRECIATE THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WE'VE HAD OVER THESE YEARS. SHE'S GOING TO BRIEF YOU NOW ABOUT THE CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION MILLAGE. I'M A MEMBER OF ADJUST G R, WHICH YOU GUYS WERE BRIEFED ON, ALONG WITH COMMISSIONER PERDUE, CHIEF DEPUTY KOHL, MR. DAVIS. AND I THINK PART OF WHAT WE LEARNED AFTER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS IS HOW IMPORTANT THE ROLE OF CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION IS HERE. I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET CAUGHT UP OF ARRESTS, JUST THE ARREST FACTOR. BUT I THINK WHAT THE SHERIFF WILL SHOW US IS HOW MUCH GOES INTO THAT AFTERWARDS AND THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT WE DO TO TRY TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM IN THIS COUNTY AND IN THIS CITY. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT MILLAGE. AND WE APPRECIATE HER DOING THIS BRIEFING TODAY. SO THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING EVERYBODY. SO MY VERY FIRST JOB WITH THE COUNTY WAS A CORRECTIONS OFFICER. I STARTED IN 1989, WHICH WAS A NUMBER OF DECADES AGO. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT AS WE ROLL THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, HOW MUCH CHANGE THERE'S BEEN IN CORRECTIONS AS AN INDUSTRY OVERALL, BUT REALLY SPECIFICALLY HOW OUR OWN COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED AND GROWN AND ADJUSTED TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. SO THE THE TOPIC IS OUR CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION MILLAGE. OKAY. AND I KNOW YOU TOLD ME WHICH WAY TO GO. THERE WE GO. OKAY, SO I'M GOING TO PUT UP THIS SCREEN FIRST. YOU MAY OR MAY NOT REMEMBER THAT THERE IS A MILLAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING COLLECTED. IT HAS BEEN COLLECTED SINCE 1990. THE ORIGINAL MILLAGE WAS 0.84, BUT DUE TO HEADLEE, THAT MILLAGE HAS ADJUSTED DOWN TO 0.733. AND WE ARE ASKING FOR A RENEWAL AND AN IMPROVEMENT TO 0.98, WHICH WOULD COMMENCE 26 THROUGH 2045, WHICH SEEMS UNBELIEVABLE TO SAY OUT LOUD. OKAY, SO WHAT WE'RE SPECIFICALLY ASKING FOR IS A 20 YEAR RENEWAL AND INCREASE. IT WOULD PROVIDE FOR OPERATIONS OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND ALSO IMPROVEMENTS TO ANY FACILITIES THAT MAY NEED TO BE IMPROVED DURING THE COURSE OF THAT TIME. SO LET ME GIVE YOU A COUPLE EXAMPLES. THE BEAUTIFUL ROUND BUILDINGS THAT ARE ON THE EXPRESSWAY THAT HAVE THE BRICK FASCIA. A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO, WE HAD TO REATTACH THE BRICK TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUILDING, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS A PRETTY NORMAL THING. WE'VE HAD TO PUT NEW ROOFS ON, WE'VE HAD TO DO CHILLERS AND REALLY EXCITING THINGS LIKE THAT IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. WE HAD TO SPEND OVER $3 MILLION TO REPLACE DOORS IN A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. SO THINGS THAT HAVE THAT KIND OF STRENGTH AND THAT APPLICATION ARE VERY EXPENSIVE AND OFTEN HAVE TO BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROCESS WITHIN THE COUNTY, BECAUSE HONESTLY, THEY'D SPEND EVERY DOLLAR ON THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY AND NO OTHER RESOURCES WOULD BE UPDATED. SO THAT'S THE KINDS OF THINGS YOU NORMALLY WOULD SEE, AND NOT ONLY FOR THE JAIL, BUT ALSO FOR THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY. SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE COVERED. WHAT THIS ISN'T A SPECIFIC MILLAGE FOR IS A SPECIFIC BUILDING. WE'RE NOT ASKING TO ADD ON TO THE JAIL. 
          WE WE HAVE NO NEED TO ADD ADDITIONAL BEDS TO THE JAIL AT THIS POINT AND DON'T INTEND TO DO THAT. YOU KNOW, IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, IT'S ALWAYS THAT CONCERN THAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED A PARTNERSHIP WITH ICE, AND WE WANT TO BUILD A FACILITY TO IMPROVE OUR ABILITY TO HOLD FOR ICE. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. IT'S NOT ON THE RADAR AT ALL. THIS WOULD NOT INCREASE OUR JAIL BED SPACE, AND IT WOULD NOT LEAD TO ANY CONTRACTS WITH ANY FEDERAL ENTITIES OR STATE ENTITIES, FOR THAT MATTER. SO THE JAIL IS A SHARED COUNTY RESOURCE. BACK IN 1990, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT 
          [00:50:10]
VOTE DID WAS TO CREATE A CENTRAL BOOKING PROCESS. I DON'T KNOW HOW FAMILIAR YOU ARE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, BUT IT'S VERY UNCHARACTERISTIC THAT WE HAVE A CENTRAL BOOKING SYSTEM HERE IN KENT COUNTY. UNCHARACTERISTIC AND VERY, VERY HELPFUL TO ALL OF OUR BUDGETS AND TO THE PROCESS OF JUSTICE HERE AS A WHOLE. MANY YEARS AGO, EVERY CITY THAT HAD A CERTAIN CLASS OF COURT HAD TO MAINTAIN THEIR OWN LOCKUP. THIS MEANT THAT ARRESTING AGENCIES WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY INTO CUSTODY. THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THEIR OWN LOCKUP. THEY WOULD HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR SECURITY FOR THAT PERSON WHILE THEY WERE BEING HELD THERE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN PROCESSING, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE FINGERPRINTS AND MUG SHOTS, ALL THE TECHNOLOGY NECESSARY TO DO THOSE THINGS. IF THERE WERE A MEDICAL NEED THAT HAD TO BE DONE AT THE LOCKUP, AND SO MANY YEARS AGO, THEY THOUGHT THIS THIS WOULD MAKE A LOT MORE SENSE IF WE DID THIS ALL TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY SINCE MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE ARRESTED FOR MORE THAN ONE CHARGE. THEY MAY HAVE OUTSTANDING WARRANTS FROM KENTWOOD, FOR EXAMPLE, AND BE ARRESTED BY THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS. SO INSTEAD OF PROCESSING AT TWO DIFFERENT LOCATIONS, AGAIN, WE GO BACK TO A CENTRAL BOOKING AND WE CAN DO IT ALL AT ONE TIME. AND I WOULD SAY I WOULD BE THROWING AN ESTIMATE OUT THERE, BUT IT COSTS US ABOUT $250 PER PERSON TO DO THAT BOOKING. AND IF THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED OVER EVERY AGENCY, FOR EVERY CHARGE OF EVERY PERSON, THAT WOULD ADD UP TO MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, THAT AS COMMUNITIES WE HAVE ALREADY SAVED BY HAVING THIS MILLAGE. OUR CURRENT FRAMEWORK ALSO HAS A PER DIEM COST THAT IS ASSESSED FOR EVERY CHARGE THAT A LOCAL AGENCY WOULD HAVE FOR PER INMATE, AND ALSO A BOOKING FEE THAT WOULD BE AND MORE ON THAT IN A SECOND, BECAUSE THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO CHANGE. SO CURRENTLY, WITH THAT 50.42 PER DIEM RATE, THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS IS PAYING 400 547,000 IN CHANGE IN PER DIEM COSTS. AND THAT THAT WAS BASED ON A 2025 BILLING, WHICH WAS OUR LAST FULL BILLING. AND YOU WERE ALSO PAYING 1828 BOOKING FEE PER PERSON THAT YOU BOOK UNDER THE PROPOSED MILLAGE. IF THE MILLAGE WERE TO GO THROUGH, WE'RE ADVOCATING THAT THIS BECOME SIMPLIFIED AND REDUCED, SO THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS WOULD NO LONGER HAVE ANY PER DIEM? NO. NO CITY WOULD HAVE ANY PER DIEM COST SAVING OVER A HALF $1 MILLION A YEAR. THE BOOKING FEE WOULD BE HELD TO 10% OF THE BOOKING COST. SO RIGHT NOW IT COSTS US ABOUT $25 PER PERSON TO BOOK THEM. AND AGAIN, THAT'S LIKELY ON MULTIPLE CHARGES ACROSS THE WHOLE AREA. THAT BOOKING FEE IS $25. SO THAT'S 10%. AND YOU WOULD END UP SAVING SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A CITY, ALONG WITH EVERY OTHER CITY IN THE COUNTY. AND AGAIN, I'VE BEEN OVER THIS. THE ORIGINAL FUNDING WAS AT A 0.84 IN 2008 THAT WAS RENEWED AND PUT IN PLACE FOR ANOTHER 20 YEARS. 
          THIS TECHNICALLY EXPIRES TWO YEARS FROM NOW, BUT THIS. IF THIS IS NOT RENEWED, IT WOULD CAUSE SUCH A MAJOR HOLE IN THE COUNTY BUDGET THAT WE THOUGHT IT NECESSARY TO HAVE SOME PLANNING TIME. IF THIS WERE GOING TO BE THE CASE. AND THIS IS JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR OPERATING COSTS, ABOUT $56 MILLION A YEAR TO OPERATE THE JAIL. SO IT'S A IT'S A PRETTY HEAVY LIFT. AND YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT A JAIL IS A MANDATED FUNCTION OF THE COUNTY. IT'S CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED. BUT AGAIN, THE BOOKING PROCESS ISN'T MANDATED, ONLY THE LODGING. AFTER ARRAIGNMENT, WE GET ABOUT 20 JUST UNDER $25 MILLION A YEAR FROM THIS MILLAGE TO OPERATE BOTH THE JAIL AND THE DETENTION. SO THERE'S TWO FACILITIES, AND WE ARE STILL PAYING ABOUT $3.8 MILLION IN DEBT SERVICE. THAT'S LARGELY THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY THAT WAS BUILT, AND SOME SMALLER IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT RATE THAT WE ARE NOW COLLECTING IS 0.73. SO I STARTED THIS WITH SAYING THIS IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I STARTED AS A CORRECTIONAL, AS A CORRECTIONS OFFICER AT THE COUNTY, AND MIKE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF IT. BUT 90% OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BOOKED IN OUR JAIL WILL REJOIN OUR COMMUNITIES AS ACTIVE, PARTICIPATING MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO EVERYTHING 
          [00:55:05]
WE CAN FIRST TO KEEP THEM IN COMMUNITY. IF THAT'S WHERE THEY IF THAT'S WHERE THEY CAN BE SERVED, IF THEY CAN'T BE KEPT IN COMMUNITY AND THEY ARE BEING LODGED IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STABILIZE THEM, TO IMPROVE THEIR SUCCESS WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED BACK INTO OUR COMMUNITY. WE DO THIS A NUMBER OF WAYS, LARGELY THROUGH MUCH, MUCH PROGRAMING THAT HAPPENS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. BUT A SUBSTANTIAL PART OF WHAT WE DO IS TO PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S INCARCERATED. 
          THAT MEANS COMMUNITY EQUIVALENT MEDICAL SERVICES WHILE THEY'RE IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. 
          IF YOU LIVE IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS AND YOU GET SICK, YOU GO TO MANY WORLD CLASS HOSPITAL OPTIONS OR DOCTOR OPTIONS THAT ARE IN THE COMMUNITY. WHEN SOMEBODY'S INCARCERATED IN GRAND RAPIDS, THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY TO GO TO MANY OF THE SAME DOCTORS THAT YOU WOULD SEE, AND PROVIDING THAT CARE FINANCIALLY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT COSTS THAT WE'VE SEEN RISE, JUST AS YOU HAVE IN THE COMMUNITY. BUT ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CAUSES WE'VE SEEN RISE IS THAT MEDICAL COSTS THAT WE'RE PROVIDING, I'M GOING TO GET TO A LITTLE BIT OF HOW WE CAN ATTACK THAT FURTHER IN THE PRESENTATION. BUT THE OTHER THING I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IS PSYCHOLOGICAL CARE. 
          WHEN I STARTED IN 1989, THERE WERE NO COUNSELORS IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. THERE WERE NO PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IF SOMEBODY NEEDED TO RECEIVE PSYCHIATRIC CARE, AND IT WAS SEVERE ENOUGH THAT THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO STAND TRIAL, THEY HAD TO WAIT LONG, LONG, LONG PERIODS OF TIME TO GET TO A PSYCHIATRIC BED. GENERALLY, IN THE STATE SYSTEM, THE STATE SYSTEM STILL TAKES A VERY LONG TIME TO GET SOMEBODY THERE. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE REALLY STROVE TO, TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE IN COMMUNITY IN THE FACILITY, ARE THOSE VERY PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO STABILIZE THIS. THIS IS WRAPPED INTO OUR MEDICAL COSTS, BUT IT'S A SIGNIFICANT COST FOR US TO DO. 
          BUT I WOULD ADVOCATE TO YOU IT'S A MORE SIGNIFICANT COST IF WE DON'T DO IT. IF SOMEBODY IS NOT STABILIZED, THE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE SOON AFTER THEY'RE RELEASED. THAT OFFENSE CAUSES THEM TO CONTINUE TO BE JUSTICE INVOLVED, BUT IT ALSO CREATES ADDITIONAL VICTIMS IN OUR COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WHO THEN HAVE NEEDS THAT HAVE TO BE MET IN OTHER SERVICES. SO OUR BEST APPROACH AS A COMMUNITY IS TO CONTINUE TO PITCH IN TOGETHER, TO WORK, TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY HAS THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED AND THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT SIZE CARE WHEN THEY BECOME JUSTICE INVOLVED SO THAT THEY CAN RE-ASSIMILATE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND BE PROUD OF HOW THEY'RE PARTICIPATING IN DAILY LIFE. I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU A SMALL EXAMPLE. OUR MAP PROGRAM. THIS IS A MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. ONE OF THE FEW PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE VERY SPECIFIC STATS ON WHEN SOMEBODY IS OPIOID ADDICTED AND THEY'RE INCARCERATED WITHOUT ANY TREATMENT, THEY ARE 48% LIKELY TO COME BACK TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY WITHIN A VERY NEAR TERM, 48%. SO HALF OF THEM WILL COME BACK OVER AND OVER, IN MANY CASES WITH TREATMENT, WITH THE RIGHT CARE, WITH THE RIGHT PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES AND MEDICATION, THAT DROPS TO 23%. HALF OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE GETTING OUT AND BEING SUCCESSFUL IN RE ASSIMILATING TO LIFE. AND MOST OF THEM STAY IN THE TREATMENT PROGRAM THAT THEY ARE INTRODUCED TO WHILE THEY'RE IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. SO MANY LIVES ARE IMPACTED BY HAVING THESE PROGRAMS. AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT PROGRAM. WE HAVE MANY UP TO 20 DIFFERENT PROGRAMING. SOME OF THEM ORIENT AROUND JUST FUNCTIONAL THINGS LIKE, DO I HAVE AN ID WHEN I GET OUT OF THE BUILDING SO THAT I CAN ENGAGE IN SERVICES? DO I KNOW WHERE TO GO IF I NEED MEDICAID ENROLLMENT? DO I KNOW WHERE TO GO? IF I NEED CASE MANAGEMENT OR ASSISTANCE GETTING MY MEDICATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH? AND THOSE THINGS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEBODY'S GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL. SO MATCHING THOSE PEOPLE UP SO THAT THEY KNOW WHERE TO GO WHEN THEY WALK OUT THAT DOOR IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF WHAT WE DO. A FEW STATS TO JUST KEEP IN MIND, ALMOST 18,000 PEOPLE COME THROUGH OUR DOORS EVERY YEAR. 
          MOST OF THEM WILL BE RELEASED SOON AFTER THEY'RE ARRAIGNED. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WILL. 
          BUT WE HAVE A DAILY POP POPULATION OF ALMOST A THOUSAND PEOPLE IN CUSTODY EVERY DAY. I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE. I WISH IT WERE LOWER. TRUST ME, WE ALL HAVE THE THE WISH THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE TO INCARCERATE PEOPLE. BUT I'D SAY THE THOUSAND PEOPLE THAT WE DO HAVE 
          [01:00:04]
INCARCERATED FOR A COMMUNITY, OUR SIZE IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN MANY OTHER COMMUNITIES OUR SIZE. AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAMING. THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WARM HANDOFFS, AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE WONDERFUL ORGANIZATIONS THAT WORK WITH PEOPLE INCARCERATED IN OUR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY EVERY SINGLE DAY AND ARE OUT IN OUR COMMUNITY HELPING TO SUPPORT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHEN THEY'RE RELEASED. IT'S 20 PLUS PROGRAMS. WE ALSO REALLY FACILITATE THE VISITATION AND CONNECTION WITH COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING A TABLET FOR EVERY PERSON INCARCERATED TO CARRY OUT THEIR PERSONAL VISITS, TO HAVE PERSONAL PHONE CALLS, TO TALK TO THEIR ATTORNEY, TO REVIEW ANY DOCUMENTS THEY NEED TO PARTICIPATE IN, SOME PROGRAMING OR EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, OR WATCH A MOVIE AND ENJOY THEMSELVES FOR A MINUTE. SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY WOULD SEE WHILE THEY'RE INCARCERATED. WE DO HAVE SOME VERY SPECIFIC PHYSICAL NEEDS IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. I'M HOPING YOU MAY HAVE SEEN SOME OF THAT IN LOCAL MEDIA, BUT OUR MEDICAL FACILITY, AND THIS IS A VERY HARD PICTURE TO READ, BUT THE LITTLE SECTION THAT IT'S TRYING TO POINT TO IS A 1972 PORTION OF OUR FACILITY. IT'S THE OLDEST PORTION OF OUR FACILITY STILL STANDING, AND IT IS ACTUALLY WHERE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES ARE BEING HOUSED TODAY. SO IMPROVING THOSE FACILITIES IS SOMETHING WE VERY MUCH HOPE TO BE ABLE TO DO OVER THE COURSE OF THIS. THIS IMPROVED FUNDING. 
          THE BARS THAT YOU SEE IN THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER, THEY'RE LITERALLY THE LAST BARS THAT EXIST IN THIS ENTIRE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. IT'S NOT HOW FACILITIES ARE BUILT ANYMORE, BUT THIS IS HOW IT REMAINS IN THAT AREA. THE NURSES STATION ARE ALL OLD CELL AND GUARD STATIONS. AND IT'S JUST NOT CONDUCIVE TO THE TYPE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT THAT OUR OUR CLIENTS NEED. MANY OF OUR CLIENTS ARE VERY CHALLENGED MEDICALLY, MAYBE NOT PURSUING MEDICAL TREATMENT ON THE OUTSIDE. AND MANY OF THEM HAVE VERY LONG TERM. ONE EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO NEED PROCEDURES THAT HAVE TO HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. 
          AND BECAUSE OUR FACILITIES LOOK LIKE THIS AND CAN'T CAN'T ACCOMMODATE ALL THOSE TREATMENTS, WE HAVE TO TAKE THEM OUT OF THE FACILITY TO GO TO LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDERS. 
          EVERY TIME I DO THAT, WE HAVE TO SEND TWO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WITH THEM FOR THE ENTIRE TIME. SO IF THEY NEED TO BE AT THE FACILITY FOR TREATMENT FOR FIVE HOURS, THEN I HAVE TWO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WHO HAVE TO SIT WITH THEM FOR FIVE HOURS. IT ALSO CREATES A SECURITY RISK FOR MANY OF THEM. AND JUST AS I CAN IMAGINE, YOU CAN PICTURE SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW WHO HAS SERIOUS MEDICAL CHALLENGES. IT'S A LOT FOR THEM TO GET OUT OF THEIR SURROUNDING, GET READY TO GO GET TRANSPORTED TO RECEIVE SERVICES, ENDURE THE SERVICES, COME BACK. IT BECOMES A VERY LONG OPERATION FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS DOING THIS MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. SO PART OF WHAT WE'D WANT TO DO IS TO BE ABLE TO BRING THOSE SERVICES, COMPETENT LOCAL SERVICES, INTO THE FACILITY, TO BE ABLE TO DO THE MEDICAL CARE WHERE WE CAN MANAGE MUCH BETTER. THE CURRENT MEDICAL WING HAS CAPACITY FOR ONLY TEN PEOPLE, BUT GENERALLY, DEPENDING ON THE MEDICAL NEEDS AND SEPARATION NEEDS, REALISTICALLY, IT'S BETWEEN 5 AND 7 FOR THAT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, SO WE REALLY NEED TO IMPROVE THOSE. AND THEN AGAIN, I TALKED ABOUT PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES. OFTEN WHAT WE SEE WHEN SOMEBODY IS SEVERELY MENTALLY ILL, WHICH IS ABOUT 10% OF OUR POPULATION, IS THEY BECOME WORSE WHILE THEY'RE INCARCERATED BECAUSE THE LOUD DOORS AND THE CLOSE PROXIMITY AND DIFFICULTIES IN GETTING GOOD TREATMENT SPACES FOR THE INDIVIDUALS, THEY BECOME MORE CHALLENGED AS THE TIME GOES ON. SO HAVING APPROPRIATE MEDICAL SERVICE, MEDICAL FACILITIES FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES IS SOMETHING THAT WE PLAN FOR. WE HOPE FOR WOULD LIKELY HAPPEN WITH THIS IMPROVED MILLAGE, BUT WE WOULD NEED THE SUPPORT OF THE MILLAGE TO BE ABLE TO PAY FOR THAT, THAT SERVICE PROVIDED IN THE RIGHT MOMENT, CAN SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT PERSONS INCARCERATED AND ABSOLUTELY IMPROVE THEIR TRANSITION BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, SUPPORTED AND HEALTHY WHEN THEY TRANSITION BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY. SO THIS IS JUST KIND OF A SUMMARY PAGE. APPROXIMATELY 28 MILLION IN ANNUAL OPERATION. DEBT SERVICE SUPPORT WOULD NEED TO BE ABSORBED IF THIS MILLAGE DIDN'T PASS. SO THAT COULD BE A CHALLENGE TO COUNTY. BUT FRANKLY, DUE TO THE 
          [01:05:04]
RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE CENTRAL BOOKING FACILITY, THAT IMPACT WOULD BE FELT IN ALL CITIES, ALL PORTIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY, BECAUSE WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO RECEIVE PEOPLE UNTIL AFTER THEY'VE BEEN PROCESSED, ARRAIGNED AND, AND THEN SENT TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY TO SERVE TIME OR BE HELD PRETRIAL. IT WOULD IMPACT OUR COURTS. OBVIOUSLY, OUR DETENTION, STAFFING AND OUR VIABILITY OF OUR ORGANIZATION. AND CERTAINLY OTHER SERVICES I HAVE ON HERE, SHERIFF'S OFFICE SERVICES THAT ARE GENERAL FUNDED. BUT IN THE COUNTY CONTEXT, IT WOULD BE PARKS, IT WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ALL GENERAL FUNDED SERVICES THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED. WE DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, BUT I'M OPEN TO WHATEVER QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MIGHT HAVE FOR ME. THANKS, SHERIFF. AND SINCE THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE WORKING OUT, I THINK I'LL KICK OFF. SO. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU. YOU KNOW, I'VE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ABOUT THIS, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR FOCUS ON REHABILITATION AND GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT WAS MAYBE THE FIRST CONVERSATION WE HAD EVER ABOUT THE JAIL WAS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE FACT THAT OUR, YOU KNOW, PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD OUR MISSION IS NOT JUST TO KEEP THESE FOLKS SAFE, BUT TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, BE PART OF A SAFE RETURN OF THE COMMUNITY. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. SO, SO I GUESS WHAT I'LL, I WANT TO THROW OUT, AT LEAST PUBLICLY SINCE WE'RE DOING, HAVING A PUBLIC DISCUSSION HERE NOW, SOME CHALLENGES OR HOPES, YOU SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T DETERMINED EXACTLY WHAT PROGRAMING IS GOING TO COME IF THIS MISSION MILLAGE PASSES. AND EXACTLY THE, THE, THE COMPLETE PRECISE LANDSCAPE. SO COUPLE THINGS THAT I, THAT I WOULD EITHER URGE OR ASK I AND I'LL SAY THIS FOR OUR NEW SHERIFF TOO, I GUESS I AM SORT OF I'M HAUNTED, FRANKLY, BY I MEAN, I'VE BEEN GOING OUT TO THE KENT COUNTY JAIL FOR 30 YEARS AND I SPEND TIME THERE EVERY MONTH STILL. AND SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE PLACE. AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK MY HISTORY THERE IS ABOUT AS LONG AS YOUR HISTORY THERE. AND THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'VE WE'VE HAD REAL IMPROVEMENTS IN A LOT OF THESE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN THE JAIL OVER THAT TIME. BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WHERE WE TOOK A STEP BACK ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO WAS WE USED TO HAVE IN-PERSON VISITATION AND WE DON'T ANYMORE. AND THERE'S A STUDY FROM THE VERA INSTITUTE, WHICH IS AN OPERATION THAT I RESPECT, A CAREFUL STUDY THAT INDICATED THAT ACTUAL IN-PERSON VISITATION HAS A REAL EFFECT ON LOWERING RE-OFFENSE RATES AND YOUR YOUR, YOU KNOW, YOUR M.A PROGRAM. IT'S GREAT THAT THAT THAT REDUCES RECIDIVISM. I THINK ANY PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN SEE REDUCTIONS IN RECIDIVISM ARE THINGS WHERE WE REALLY OUGHT TO BE THINKING ABOUT INVESTING. AND THE WAY I ALWAYS PUT THIS IS, YOU KNOW, IF I GOT LOCKED UP, YOU'D WANT TO HAVE MY MOM COME OUT AND YELL AT ME, AND YOU'D WANT MY KIDS TO BE ABLE TO COME AND SEE ME SO THAT I'D FEEL ASHAMED AND NOT AND WANT TO CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR. AND SO I THINK THAT HAVING PEOPLE SEE THEIR PEOPLE. I MEAN, WHEN THEY GET BACK OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, THE NUMBER ONE THING THAT HELPS PEOPLE NOT REOFFEND IS A SUPPORT SYSTEM, A COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM WHO LOVE THEM, OR EVEN IF THEY DON'T LOVE THEM, ARE WILLING TO HELP THEM. AND SO I WOULD I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE VIABILITY IF YOU'RE, IN FACT, GOING TO GET MORE FUNDING. I KNOW THE ROOMS ARE STILL THERE. 
          THEY'RE SORT OF GHOST ROOMS, THOSE VISITATION ROOMS. AND I KNOW THAT IT TAKES OFFICER MANPOWER TO GET FACE TO FACE VISITS. BUT I THINK THAT I THINK THE DATA IS THERE THAT THAT MAKES IT THE REASON I WANT THEM IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE, AND I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO LOWER RECIDIVISM. SO I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST CHALLENGE ALL OF YOU AS WE GO FORWARD ON THIS TO, TO THINK ABOUT REINSTITUTING FACE TO FACE VISITS. THE SECOND THING IS, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION ABOUT THE, LET'S CALL IT AFTERCARE, BUT THE TRANSITION BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, YOU'RE OBVIOUSLY LEAPS AHEAD. I MEAN, WHEN I WAS A STATE REPRESENTATIVE, I. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAUNTS ME FROM THAT EXPERIENCE WAS FINDING OUT THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AFTERCARE FACILITY WAS BASICALLY, DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU ON THE WAY OUT. THEY DIDN'T CONNECT PEOPLE UP WITH COMMUNITY RESOURCES. THEY DIDN'T ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT? YOU KNOW, IF YOU'VE GOT MEDICATION NEEDS, HOW ARE THOSE MEDICATION NEEDS GOING TO GET FILLED IF YOU DON'T HAVE A JOB, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT RESOURCES ARE? BUT AGAIN, WE 
          [01:10:01]
ALL KNOW THEN YOU KNOW THE NUMBER ONE OF THE TOP THREE WAYS YOU STOP PEOPLE REOFFENDING IS BY HAVING THEM HAVE THEIR NEEDS MET. AND THEN ANOTHER ONE IS BY HAVING EMPLOYMENT. AND SO I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO FOCUS ON GOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN NOT JUST NOT JUST PROVIDE SERVICES, BUT STRESS TEST PEOPLE'S ANSWERS. AND AGAIN, AS I SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE INSIDE, A LOT OF THEM HAVE SORT OF OPTIMISTIC PLANS FOR REENTRY, LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY. THEY THINK, OH, I'M GOING TO GO STAY WITH MY BROTHER. WELL, MAYBE YOU'RE MAYBE YOUR BROTHER DOESN'T WANT YOU TO STAY WITH HIM, AND MAYBE HE'S NOT GOING TO LET YOU STAY WITH HIM. AND SO MAYBE THAT HOUSING PLAN IS GOING TO FALL THROUGH. SO I WOULD LOVE TO THINK ABOUT STRESS TESTING INMATES, REENTRY PROGRAMS, THEIR OWN, THEIR OWN IDEAS OF WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'VE REALLY GOT ALL THOSE DOTS CROSSED, T'S CROSSED, AND I'S DOTTED. THE THIRD THING I'D LIKE TO JUST AIR IS AND I, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY NOT FEASIBLE, BUT I. BUT IT'S A DREAM. I HEAR A LOT FROM KENT COUNTY INMATES WHO ARE FACING A CHOICE BETWEEN INCARCERATION HERE OR INCARCERATION IN MDOC. 
          I HEAR WHAT I THINK IS SORT OF TRAGIC, WHICH IS THEY SAY, WELL, I'D LIKE TO GO TO MDOC BECAUSE THEY HAVE EXERCISE YARDS. SO THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF ASKING TO LEAVE OUR COMMUNITY, CRUDELY SPEAKING, SO THEY CAN GET EXERCISE FACILITIES. AND I KNOW WE HAVE CHIN UP BARS OF THE JAIL AND WE HAVE SOME INTERNAL STUFF, BUT IT'S PRETTY MINIMAL. AND I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANY WAY TO, TO THINK ABOUT GIVING FOLKS BETTER EXERCISE FACILITIES. AND AGAIN, ON THE, ON THE RE-OFFENSE AND THE MENTAL HEALTH PART. MY SISTER IN LAW WAS A NURSE SAID, WELL, IF YOU GOT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, YOU REALLY GOT THREE OPTIONS THERAPY, MEDICATION AND EXERCISE, AND YOU SHOULD DO ALL THREE OF THOSE. SO I WOULD, I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW TO GET FOLKS THERE, BETTER PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OPPORTUNITIES IF THE IF THE MILLAGE PASSES. SO, AND I KNOW THAT'S REALLY, REALLY, THAT'S THE BIGGEST AND HARDEST THING BECAUSE WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT MAKING NEW SPACE OR DIFFERENT SPACE. AND I WILL JUST SAY, SO KEEP IN MIND A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, LOCAL JAIL HAS INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE LARGELY PRETRIAL. THAT'S THE BIGGEST CATEGORY OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE. SO THEY'RE NOT THEY'RE NOT CONVICTED OF A CRIME. MOST TIMES WE DO HAVE A VERY SMALL PART OF OUR POPULATIONS THAT ARE SENTENCED TO JAIL. AND SO THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOU'RE TALKING TO. IF YOU'D RATHER BE HERE OR GO TO THE GO TO THE PRISON SYSTEM IN MICHIGAN, THE PRISON SYSTEM, BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THE SAME STATUS, HAS A LOT MORE FREEDOM TO, TO MOVE ABOUT THE FACILITY. THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE IS SET UP FOR EVERYBODY TO HAVE VERY SIMILAR NEEDS, WHERE A JAIL HAS TO BE SET UP FOR EVERY SECURITY TYPE, EVERY STATUS IN TERMS OF PRETRIAL, PREARRANGED SENTENCE. SO WE DO HAVE SUBSTANTIAL WORKOUT FACILITIES THAT ARE IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, FULL WORKOUT AREAS, AND WE HAVE FRESH AIR WORKOUT FACILITIES. AND WE AND ESPECIALLY THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE GOING TO BE THERE FOR A LONGER DURATION, IF THEIR SECURITY LEVEL ALLOWS FOR IT, THEN THEY ARE GENERALLY MOVED TO AN AREA WHERE THEY HAVE THE FRESH AIR FACILITIES, THEY PLAY BASKETBALL, THEY PLAY OTHER GAMES. THEY DO HAVE SOME WEIGHTLIFTING EQUIPMENT. BUT IT'S A CHALLENGE, RIGHT? BECAUSE IT'S A CLOSED FACILITY. I DON'T HAVE A PARK OUTSIDE THAT I CAN SUPERVISE THEM BEING MOVED TO. I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT EVEN WITH ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WE WOULD GET TO THAT POINT. BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW WE STRIVE TO ALLOW THE THE MOST DAYROOM OPPORTUNITY, THE MOST RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN FOR EVERYBODY WHO'S INCARCERATED THERE WHILE STILL MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF SECURITY WITHIN A JAIL WITH A VARIETY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INCARCERATED. BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMENTS. AND I GUESS YOU TRIGGERED A THOUGHT FOR ME THERE, WHICH IS I KNOW YOU LET PRISON MINISTRIES COME IN. I KNOW YOU HAVE LOTS OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS COME IN, BUT I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYBODY TEACHING AN EXERCISE CLASS IN THE JAIL. SO I'M JUST I'M JUST THINKING LIKE, IT'S ONE THING TO GIVE PEOPLE THE OPTION TO USE THE FACILITY. IT'S ANOTHER THING TO INDUCE THEM. IF WE KNOW EXERCISE IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE, THAT MIGHT BE A COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP WOULD BE ONE WE'D BE OPEN TO. I'M SORRY, I SAW COMMISSIONER KILGORE FIRST, BUT MAYBE IT'S JUST BECAUSE HE RAISES HIS HAND HIGHER. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT. BUT I'LL ACKNOWLEDGE HIM FIRST. LONGER ARM. THANK YOU, SHERIFF, SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU. 
          FIRST IS IN REGARD TO THE MOST BURNING QUESTION WE HAD. I KNOW I PERSONALLY HAD A FEW COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REACH OUT TO US BEFORE THIS WAS REALLY PUBLIC TO THEY FELT LIKE IT WAS VERY MUCH RUSHED THROUGH AND VERY QUICK ON THEM BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE USUAL COMMITTEE PROCESS. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT COUNTY BECAUSE I'M A CITY COMMISSIONER. BUT ONCE WE GOT. 
          ONCE I RECEIVED THAT AND TALKED ABOUT IT IN COMMUNITY, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING THAT FOLKS ARE 
          [01:15:04]
REACHING OUT TO ME ABOUT IS WHAT IS THE AVERAGE ANNUAL COST PER HOUSEHOLD THAT RESIDENTS CAN EXPECT FROM THE PROPOSED MILLAGE INCREASE? SO THAT'S MY FIRST QUESTION. 20 ABOUT $24 PER YEAR INCREASE PER $100,000 OF TAXABLE VALUE. GOTCHA. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S THE REALLY THE BURNING QUESTION OF I THINK, YOU KNOW, I HAVE SO MANY CONSTITUENTS. IT'S NOT THAT THEY DON'T CARE, BUT THEY'RE WORKING TWO AND THREE JOBS AND THEY'RE LIKE, I'M BARELY AFFORDING THINGS. GAS IS $5. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME? I WANT TO HELP, YOU KNOW, NEIGHBORS WANT TO HELP, BUT THE DOLLARS AND CENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER ON THAT. AND THEN LASTLY, I'M PROUD SON OF A JUVENILE PROBATION OFFICER. 
          SHE JUST RETIRED 30 YEARS FROM THE COUNTY. SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT. AND I'M SURE YOU'LL BE LIKE HER AND NOT RETIRE FOR REAL. YEAH. STILL WANT TO WORK AND THINGS AND HELP PEOPLE, BUT THAT'S A GOOD THING. BUT WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC NEEDS THAT YOU COULD FORESEE, THE SORT OF ADULT FACILITY NEEDING, BUT ARE THERE ANY MORE DETAILS ON WHAT THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY NEEDS POSSIBLY MOVING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE? YEAH, SO THEY SHARE OUR MEDICAL SERVICES. WE PROVIDE MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES TO BOTH FACILITIES. SO THIS IS A MAJOR NEED FOR THEM. ALTHOUGH THEY DON'T HAVE A FACILITY NEED IN TERMS OF PROVIDING THAT THAT SERVICE, THEY, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE FUNCTION OF IT IS GOING TO HAVE ONGOING CHANGES THAT WILL HAPPEN OVER TIME AS MEDICAL PROCEDURES IMPROVE OR AS PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS MAY DEVELOP. SO THEY WILL BE SERVED BY THE OPERATING COST. AND AGAIN, MUCH OF THE BUILDING THAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY OPERATING OUT OF IS RELATIVELY NEW. WITHIN THE LAST, I WOULD SAY, SEVEN YEARS, BUT I'M GUESSING ON THAT. SO IF ANYBODY'S CHECKING THE MATH, BUT IT'S THE LAST HANDFUL OF YEARS. SO THIS BOND, THIS BOND IS STILL BEING PAID AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE PAID WITH THIS DETENTION MILLAGE. SO REPAIRS TO THEIR FACILITY WOULD ALSO BE BECOME SOMETHING THAT THEY'LL START TO SEE REALLY AT ABOUT THE TEN YEAR MARK. SOME OF THESE FACILITIES NEED TO BE IMPROVED AND REPAIRED, BUT BEYOND THAT, I DON'T SEE A SPECIFIC EXPANSION FOR JUVENILE DETENTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. OF COURSE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER KILGORE ACTUALLY ASKED THE QUESTION THAT I HAD. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. AND THEN COMMISSIONER PERDUE. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COLLEAGUES, FOR ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS. THOSE ARE THOSE ARE AS WELL THE QUESTIONS, PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE VISITING FOR THOSE THAT MIGHT BE THERE FOR, YOU KNOW, UNDERSTAND IT MIGHT NOT BE FOR EVERYBODY BECAUSE OF THE TIME FRAME, BUT THOSE LONGER PERIODS. SO MY QUESTION IS, COULD WE GO TO THE SLIDE? WHERE IT HAD IT HAD A LITTLE CAVEAT AND SAID, THIS IS NOT ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE WHERE IT RELATES TO TO THE MUNICIPAL BOOKING FEE STRUCTURE THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IN THIS. SO I JUST AND MAYBE THIS IS MORE OF A QUESTION FOR MY COLLEAGUES UP HERE WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY MANAGER. SO. SO WE WE GOT THAT QUESTION RIGHT. SO THERE'S A COST SAVINGS. BUT AGAIN, I THINK THE THE CONCERN I TOO HAVE IS WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IN OUR COMMUNITY, FOR MY CONSTITUENTS, I DON'T THINK THIS IS THE SLIDE. 
          IS IT IS IT? THANK YOU. THANK YOU COMMISSIONER. SO THE PROPOSED MUNICIPAL FEE FRAMEWORK IS SEPARATE FROM THE BALLOT LANGUAGE AND WOULD BE SUBJECT TO SEPARATE COUNTY ACTION BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION. SO FOR ME, THIS IS CONCERNING BECAUSE. SO WE HAVE SOMETHING RIGHT NOW WE'RE SAYING THIS NEW PROPOSAL SHOULD THE VOTERS DECIDE TO APPROVE IT WOULD REPLACE THIS. BUT THEN I SEE THIS HERE. SO THAT'S WHAT I'M STRUGGLING A LITTLE BIT WITH COLLEAGUES. HOW DO I KNOW WHAT I CAN COUNT ON IF THIS IS GOING TO BE SUBJECT TO DIFFERENT ACTION. SO THAT'S ONE. DO YOU HAVE OH, I WAS GOING TO SAY MAYBE WE WANT OUR CITY MANAGER TO, TO WEIGH IN ON THIS TOO AND ANSWER YOUR. YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THIS ACTUALLY MIGHT BE MORE OF A QUESTION FOR THEM VERSUS THE SHERIFF. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? I ALSO WONDERED IF WE COULD GO TO THE SLIDE WHERE IT HAS WHAT OUR YOU KNOW, THE 500 AND SOMETHING THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST GOING TO ROUND IT UP. YOU KNOW, IF I HAD $500,000 IN MY POCKET, BUT THAT THAT 546, $47,000, WHAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN THE COST OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS TO THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS WERE OR RELATIVELY SIMILAR THERE? YOU'RE PHONING A FRIEND. YEAH. OKAY. YEAH. YES, COMMISSIONER, I CAME PREPARED. I LOOKED AT THE LAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, FISCAL YEAR 25 AND 26. OKAY. WE BUDGETED 471,000 AND FY 25. 
          [01:20:03]
OKAY. AND 646,000. IN FY 26. WE EXCEEDED THE BUDGET BOTH OF THOSE YEARS WITH A GRAND TOTAL OF 637 IN FY 25. OKAY, SO IT'S ABOUT $166,000 MORE THAN WE ANTICIPATED. OKAY. AND FY 26, WE SPENT A TOTAL OF 764. THAT'S BOTH THE LODGING AND THE BOOKING. OKAY. SO ABOUT 118 OVER BUDGET. COULD THAT BE SHARED WITH US TOO? JUST AS A FOLLOW UP. THANK YOU. THAT'S THAT'S HELPFUL. OKAY. AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MY QUESTION AND THIS IS, AGAIN, MAYBE THIS IS MORE FOR OUR COUNTY COLLEAGUES OR FOR THE ADMINISTRATION. AND I KNOW CITY MANAGER, YOU STAY IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE COUNTY AND ADMINISTRATOR. BUT IF THE COUNTY IS A MANDATED FUNCTION, IF THE JAIL IS A MANDATED FUNCTION OF THE COUNTY, COULD. WHAT'S WHAT HAS BEEN WHAT HAS KENT COUNTY SUPPORTED YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OUTSIDE OF THIS? BECAUSE I'M THINKING, YOU KNOW, FOR US AS A CITY, WE HAVE A CAPITAL FUND, RIGHT? SO WE MAKE A PLAN THAT WE KNOW OUR ASSETS ARE PROBABLY GOING TO NEED SOME REPLACEMENT. NOW, I UNDERSTAND OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THIS CO WORK HERE, BUT THERE ALSO IS THIS MANDATED FUNCTION OF THE COUNTY BECAUSE I'M THINKING ABOUT OUR MANDATED RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COURT SYSTEM, WHICH HAS GONE UP INCREASINGLY, AT LEAST IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE. I THINK MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THEN IT WAS WE WERE IN THE THE SINGLE DIGITS, YOU KNOW, ONE $1 MILLION A YEAR WHEN I WAS ON, IT WAS $1 MILLION. NOW WE'RE UP TO LIKE 13 OR SOMETHING. YES, WE'RE WE'RE CLOSE TO 13. SO THAT'S THOSE ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE FOR MYSELF, AS WELL AS A, AS A COLLEAGUE UP HERE IS WE ALSO HAVE MANDATED REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE NOT SOUGHT OUT ANY ADDITIONAL SUPPORT OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS IN OUR GENERAL OPERATING FUND. I WOULD SAY THANK YOU TO TO THOSE COURTS THAT HAVE, YOU KNOW, WORKED TO TRY TO REDUCE EXPENSES. SO I'M REALLY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHERE IS THE COUNTY, WHAT HAS BEEN THAT CONTRIBUTION OF THE COUNTY YEAR OVER YEAR? AND HOW DOES THAT REFLECT? BECAUSE I THINK SOMETIMES WE GET STUCK IN THE BINARY. THIS EITHER GETS APPROVED OR DOESN'T GET APPROVED. RIGHT. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING ABOUT THE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH FACILITIES, THE, THE, THE CHALLENGING ENVIRONMENT, THOSE THAT ARE PROBABLY COMING THROUGH. AND IF THEY ARE COMING THROUGH ON A REGULAR BASIS, AS YOU SAID, YOU'RE SEEING THESE, YOU KNOW, REALLY CONSISTENT HEALTH ISSUES THAT I MEAN, THAT THAT'S NO SURPRISE AT ALL TO ANY OF US. I THINK UP HERE, RIGHT. YOU KNOW, AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE I'VE HAD TO WORK AND I'VE WORKED WITH YOU IN THE PAST WHEN I'VE HAD AN INDIVIDUAL IN MY OWN FAMILY WHO, YOU KNOW, WAS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THEIR, YOU KNOW, MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS AS THEY WERE BEING HELD IN THE FACILITY. 
          SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THE A THOUSAND PEOPLE EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT I ALSO AM TRYING TO WEIGH OUT WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A CITY. SO. SO IF YOU HAVE THAT, OR IF THAT CAN BE A FOLLOW UP WITH THE ADMINISTRATOR, SEE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW, I HAVE OUR CURRENT BUDGET IS ABOUT $56.93 MILLION ANNUALLY, GOES TO OPERATE THE COUNTY JAIL, AND ROUGHLY 43.7% OF THAT IS COLLECTED BY THE MILLAGE. ALL OTHER RESOURCES ARE. YEAH, THE GENERAL FUND. SO AND I WILL ALSO SAY THIS HAS BEEN IN PLACE NOW SINCE 1990. SO THE FACILITY GREW UP BASED ON HAVING THIS STRUCTURE IN PLACE. IT WAS INTENDED TO BE THE FUND TO DEVELOP THE THE PROGRAMING THAT MET THE INMATES NEEDS 1990 PROBABLY NOT TOO MANY OF YOU GUYS WERE AROUND AT THAT POINT, BUT WE WERE UNDER A FEDERAL MANDATE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE A FACILITY THAT WAS SUBSTANTIAL ENOUGH TO HOUSE THE NUMBER OF INMATES THAT WE HAD. WE HAD NO MEDICAL PROGRAMING. WE HAD NO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROGRAMING. 
          SOMEBODY TOOK US TO FEDERAL COURT. THEY MANDATED RELEASE OF INMATES OR TRANSFER OF INMATES TO OTHER LOCATIONS. WHEN I STARTED AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, EVERY DAY WERE LINES IN THE HALLS WITH PEOPLE WITH THEIR BAG OF PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE BEING SHIPPED TO PLACES OTHER THAN KENT COUNTY, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T HOUSE THEM IN THE COUNTY JAIL. SO WITH THIS MILLAGE BEING PASSED, THEY BUILT THE 92 FACILITY, WHICH ARE THE ROUND BUILDINGS THAT YOU SEE ADDED THE CAPACITY TO HOUSE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT WE NEEDED. ALSO DID THE CENTRAL BOOKING THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH AGAIN, IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE'RE PAYING TO CENTRALLY BOOK PEOPLE. AND THAT'S PART OF WHY WE HAD A MILLAGE, BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT A MANDATED FUNCTION TO DO, AND THEN ADDED THE SERVICES AND ONGOING OPERATING SUPPORT. AND AT THE TIME IT WAS INTENDED TO BE ROUGHLY 50% OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL OPERATING. THAT HAS NOW 
          [01:25:06]
SLIPPED TO 43.7 AS. AND I THINK I SHOWED YOU A GRAPH HERE. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH HEALTH AND FOOD COSTS IN THIS LAST SEVERAL YEARS. JUST LIKE WE ARE ALL AT OUR HOME BUDGET SEEING THOSE INCREASES. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING. SO THE COUNTY HAS DONE QUITE A BIT TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SERVICES ARE SUFFICIENT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WE SERVE. WITHIN THE WALLS OF KENT COUNTY SHERIFF'S CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, BUT THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY RESOURCES TO GO AROUND. SO THIS THIS WOULD, IF IT DIDN'T PASS, REMOVE FUNDING THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR THE LAST 38 YEARS. MAYOR. THANK YOU. THIS IS JUST A FOLLOW UP ON YOUR POINT ON THAT SLIDE ON SLIDE SEVEN. CAN YOU GO BACK TO THAT ONE? SURE, PLEASE. AND THANK YOU FOR FOR BEING HERE TODAY. CAN YOU JUST CLARIFY THAT AMOUNT OF THE MILLAGE SUPPORT AGAIN? SO WHAT YOU SHOW IS 24.8. YOU MENTIONED THE 50% INTENT WHEN IT FIRST PASSED, BUT THAT LAST PART OF THE CHART WHERE IT SHOWS THE CURRENT MILLAGE RATE OF 0.7332, THE NARRATIVE SHOWS 28 POINT ALMOST 28.7 MILLION. SO RECONCILE THE 28.7 WITH THE 24.8. IF YOU COULD. YOU KNOW, I WANT TO JUST SAY FIRST THAT IT WENT INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT BECAUSE I CAN'T DO MATH. SO MAKING ME DO MATH IN FRONT OF ALL THESE PEOPLE, I'M JUST GOING TO START THERE. SO IF I HAVE AN ADJUSTMENT IN MY ADDING SKILLS. SO IF YOU SEE OUR GENERAL OPERATING BUDGET 56.9 AND TAKE AWAY FROM THAT, THE 28.67 MILLION THAT IS CURRENTLY PROVIDED AND THEN ACCOUNT FOR THE $3.8 MILLION THAT IS SERVICING CURRENT BONDS. THAT'S HOW WE GOT TO THE THE PERCENTAGE THAT IS CURRENTLY COMING FROM THE MILLAGE TO GO TO GENERAL. AND THEN, OF COURSE, THE BALANCE THEN COMES FROM COUNTY GENERAL FUND, VERY, VERY FEW GRANTS. I WILL THROW THAT OUT THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, LIKE OUR THE STRADDLE CELLS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT. IF SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE A CHOICE, THAT'S GAP GRANT THAT PAYS FOR THAT PROBABLY TOTAL ABOUT $1.5 MILLION ANNUALLY IN DIFFERENT GRANT FUNDING. THAT WOULD GO TO SOME PROGRAMING, SOME DOC RESPONSIBLE INMATES. BUT LARGELY THIS COMES OUT OF THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND. SO BUT I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY, WHEN YOU TAKE THE OPERATING SUPPORT FROM THE MILLAGE AND THE DEBT SERVICE COMBINED, THEN THAT'S ROUGHLY HALF OF THE TOTAL OPERATING BUDGET. BUT WHEN YOU BACK OUT THE DEBT SERVICE, THAT'S HOW YOU GET LESS THAN 50%. YES. AND AGAIN, THAT DEBT SERVICE LARGELY RIGHT NOW IS THE JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY. GREAT. SO TO COMMISSIONER SASSY'S POINT, WE ISSUE DEBT SERVICE SOMETIMES WITHOUT MILLAGE FUNDED REVENUE. AND I THINK THAT POINT WELL MADE. THANK YOU. YEP. AND COMMISSIONER PERDUE, BUT BEFORE I DO THAT, SHERIFF, YOU THREW OUT A TECHNICAL TERM THERE. SO SINCE WE'RE FOR THE FOLKS AT HOME, STRADDLE CELL MEANS PEOPLE WHO HAVE SENTENCING GUIDELINES CALCULATED AT WHATEVER POINT IN THE PROCESS THAT INDICATES THAT THEY COULD EITHER BE HOUSED IN THE JAIL FOR THE FOR THEIR SENTENCE OR GO TO PRISON. SO THOSE ARE FOLKS THAT INSIDE THE INDUSTRY REFER TO AS STRADDLE CELL PEOPLE. BUT THAT'S SOME PEOPLE ARE HAVE TO BE LODGED IN THE JAIL. I MEAN, THAT'S JUST MATHEMATICALLY WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN. AND THE BREAK OFF POINT IS MORE OR LESS THAN A YEAR ON THEIR SENTENCE USUALLY. RIGHT. COMMISSIONER PERDUE? YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SHERIFF, FOR BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES, FOR THE DISCUSSION THUS FAR. I WANT TO SECOND, COMMISSIONER STACY'S. I NOTICED THAT ITEM ON ON SLIDE FIVE. SLIDE FOUR AROUND THE MUNICIPAL FEE FRAMEWORK AS AS WELL. SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THAT IT WOULDN'T BE CODIFIED IF THIS PASSES, RIGHT. 
          ESPECIALLY GIVEN SOME OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT HAVE COME FROM THE KENT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS RELATED TO MILLAGES. THE OTHER THING I WANT TO POINT OUT RELATED TO FINANCES IS, THOUGH THIS WILL BE PROJECTED TO SAVE THE CITY AROUND HALF $1 MILLION A YEAR, IT WOULD COST OUR RESIDENTS AN EXTRA $2 MILLION A YEAR. SO IT'S REALLY A NET LOSS OR NET, YOU KNOW, INCREASE FOR OUR RESIDENTS AS A WHOLE, WHETHER YOU ACCOUNT KIND OF WHAT WE SAVE OR NOT. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT CLEAR. THIS IS THAT THAT THIS WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE ON RESIDENTS, PARTICULARLY RELATED TO PROPERTY TAX. SO OUR HOMEOWNERS 
          [01:30:03]
AND I THINK THE INCREASES IN PROPERTY TAX IN MANY WAYS, YOU KNOW, ARE A REALLY GOOD SIGN OF A HEALTHY ECONOMY, BUT PARTICULARLY IN OUR URBAN CORE ARE REALLY POSING CHALLENGES AROUND AFFORDABILITY, RIGHT? WITH SUCH DRASTIC INCREASES. SO I WANT TO POINT THAT OUT RELATEDLY, OR I GUESS AT LEAST TO MY QUESTION FOR YOU, SHERIFF, YOU TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE MEDICAL NEEDS. AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING. THERE'S ONLY TWO PLACES THAT MEDICAL CARE IS MANDATED IN OUR COUNTRY, THE EMERGENCY ROOM. AND WHEN YOU'RE IN JAIL. RIGHT. SO I, I APPRECIATE THAT THAT THE MODEL FOR CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION HAS NOT JUST INCLUDED IT OR MANDATED IT, BUT THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT QUALITY AND COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES AND REALLY MEETING THE CURRENT NEEDS IN OUR TRENDS OF FOLKS. SO WITH THAT, I'M WONDERING, HAVE YOU ALL DISCUSSED IN AN ASPIRATIONAL WAY OR IN A MORE COMMITTAL WAY, IF THIS MILLAGE PASSES, HOW MUCH OF THAT WILL ACTUALLY BE ALLOCATED TO THOSE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, THOSE DIVERSION SERVICES, AND THAT MORE THAT THAT COMPREHENSIVE AND EVEN COMPLEX MEDICAL CARE THAT YOU'VE HIGHLIGHTED TODAY. SO ASPIRATIONALLY, I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT PERCENTAGE EXCEPT FOR TO SAY AS MUCH AS IT'S GOING TO COST. WE, WE ARE PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT THAT WE CAN, GIVEN OUR PHYSICAL CHALLENGES, BUT WE'VE WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH PROVIDERS TO TRY TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THAT SERVICE DELIVERY, EVEN EVEN GIVEN OUR PHYSICAL ISSUES. BUT ONE OF THE EXAMPLES I'LL GIVE DIALYSIS, WE'RE PROVIDING THE DIALYSIS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY RIGHT NOW. THAT'S ACTUALLY NEW THIS YEAR. AND THAT'S ONE OF THE EXAMPLES OF A TREATMENT PROCEDURE THAT HAS TO HAPPEN MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK FOR SEVERAL HOURS EVERY TIME. SO NO IMPROVED FUNDING. I CAN MANAGE TWO DIALYSIS PATIENTS WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, WHICH THEN KEEPS THEM FROM HAVING TO GO OUT, GET OUT FOR THE DAY, BE KEPT OUT FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, BE BROUGHT BACK, THE TWO CORRECTIONS OFFICERS. 
          BUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME, I MIGHT HAVE FIVE PEOPLE WHO NEED DIALYSIS THAT ARE INCARCERATED IN OUR FACILITY. OFTEN WE DO. SO THE OTHER THREE PEOPLE I CAN'T ACCOMMODATE WITHIN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. SO WE'RE LEFT TO CHOOSE WHO ARE THE THE MOST FRAGILE HEALTH CARE GOING OUT OF THE FACILITY IS PROBABLY GOING TO IMPACT THEM THE MOST. WE CHOOSE WHO WE CAN SERVE IN THAT WAY WITHIN THE FACILITY, BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON GETS SERVED REGARDLESS. THEY'RE ALL TREATED. YEAH, BUT REASONABLY, IF OUR FACILITY WAS OPTIMIZED AFTER THE INVESTMENT, WE EXPECT, YOU KNOW, 1 MILLION TO $1.5 MILLION REDUCTION IN COST BECAUSE OF SERVICES. WE WON'T HAVE TO CONTRACT OUTSIDE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS TIME. AND, YOU KNOW, THAT IMPROVES THE SYSTEM FOR MORE SERVICES. BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, IT SLOWS THE GROWTH OF THE COST THAT EVENTUALLY IS PASSED ON TO THE TAXPAYERS. AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT A TAXPAYER WOULD EXPECT TO SEE, THAT IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE VERY CAREFULLY EVALUATED. THEY WILL CENTER AROUND THE FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR MEDICAL PSYCHOLOGICAL DELIVERY. THEY WILL ALSO CENTER AROUND SOME LOGISTICAL IMPROVEMENTS FOR VIDEO COURTS AND VISITATION WITH ATTORNEYS, BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SOME GAPS THERE TOO, ALTHOUGH THEY'RE NOT SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE THE THE SUBJECT OF THIS THIS DETENTION MILLAGE CONVERSATION, THEY ARE THERE. SO YOU'LL SEE US MAKING SOME OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS, ALL OF WHICH ONE IMPROVE THE CARE TO IMPROVE THE OPERATIONS OF THE FACILITY. BUT THREE, ALSO SAVE FUTURE GROWTH DOLLARS. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND RELATED TO THAT, SO WE'VE HAD THE THE WELL, I WAS GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE SPECIALTY COURTS, BUT I'M REMINDING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HOLD THAT AT 61ST DISTRICT. HOWEVER, I KNOW THE COUNTY THROUGH ARPA DOLLARS ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THAT. SO AS THOSE DOLLARS LOOK TO SUNSET, DO YOU SEE KIND OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE SPECIALTY COURTS CONTINUING THROUGH MILLAGE DOLLARS? SO I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT SPECIALTY COURTS CONTINUE TO GROW. WE'VE SEEN TREMENDOUS SUCCESS. ALSO, OTHER SPECIALTY COURTS THAT ARE IN THE AREA, MENTAL HEALTH SPECIALTY COURT IS ONE, VETERANS SPECIALTY COURT IS ANOTHER. BUT DETENTION MILLAGE DOLLARS DON'T CONTRIBUTE TO THOSE FUNDS. HOWEVER, GENERAL FUND DOLLARS 
          [01:35:01]
CAN. AND THAT IS ONE OF THE IMPACTS THAT MIGHT BE THERE IF A HOLE IS CREATED IN THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS BY NOT HAVING THE MILLAGE THAT SUPPORTS THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THE WAY IT HAS. OKAY. YEAH. THANK YOU. I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHTS ON THAT. I THINK, AGAIN, LIKE PARTICULARLY THE MEDICAL CARE PIECE IS SO IMPORTANT. SOME OF MY CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSAL, AS IS. WELL, FIRST, I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT IN THE PRESENTATION THE SHERIFF SAID THAT IF THIS DOESN'T I MEAN, THIS IS SET TO END IN 2029. SO IF IT DOESN'T PASS, THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS TO THE VOTERS. AND WE'VE HEARD FROM THE KENT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS THIS A GOOD A DECENT SEGMENT OF THEM THAT THEY FEEL LIKE THIS WAS RUSHED AND THERE WASN'T EXTENSIVE PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNITY AROUND THIS, PARTICULARLY GIVEN THAT WE STILL HAVE ANOTHER THREE YEARS. SO I SHARE SOME OF THOSE SENTIMENTS. AND I THINK ABOUT THE VOTERS IN GRAND RAPIDS WHO ARE USED TO KIND OF LIKE THE MILLAGE OR THE ZOO MUSEUM MILLAGE. AND THERE'S TYPICALLY A PRETTY SPECIFIC PLAN FOR THOSE DOLLARS. THERE'S STILL SOME FLEXIBILITY, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY WELL DEFINED PLAN AND GOAL WITH THOSE THAT I DON'T NECESSARILY SEE HERE. AND THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD THE FEEDBACK FROM KENT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS. AND I THINK THAT PROBABLY WON'T BODE WELL WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. I'M CURIOUS, SHERIFF, YOU KNOW, IF THIS PASSES, WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THAT ROUND UP TO $25 MILLION WILL ACTUALLY BE COMING FROM THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS PROPER? I DON'T HAVE THAT TOTAL, BUT WE CAN GET THAT TOTAL FOR YOU. 
          YEAH. I'M JUST CURIOUS. IS IT 30%, 10%, 80%. JUST I'M THINKING ABOUT POPULATION SIZE. 
          SO I THINK I THINK THAT WOULD BE AN INTERESTING DATA POINT TO HAVE. AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR RESIDENTS HERE, DC MAYCROFT MENTIONED THE JUST GRT WORK. I'VE ACTUALLY NOT BEEN ON THAT COMMITTEE FOR THE LAST LIKE YEAR. IN A FEW MONTHS WHEN I LEFT MY LAST EMPLOYER, BUT I'M REALLY INVESTED IN THAT WORK STILL. AND SO WHEN THEY THEY PRESENTED IT TO US RECENTLY, THEY POINTED OUT ONE OF THEIR FINDINGS WAS REALLY AN OVERRELIANCE ON ARREST AND PRETRIAL CUSTODY. SPECIFICALLY, THEIR ANALYSIS REVEALED THAT 45% OF ALL ADMISSIONS TO THE JAIL ARE BOOKED, PLACED IN CUSTODY, PROCESSED AND RELEASED WITHIN 24 HOURS. AND WITHIN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, A THIRD OF OUR JAIL ADMISSIONS ARE CONCENTRATED IN SEVEN NEIGHBORHOODS. MANY OF THEM ARE IN OUR OUR WARD COMMISSIONER KILLGORE, INCLUDING SICA, MADISON BAXTER. SO IT JUST IT BEGS THE QUESTION OF. AND I WILL ALSO SAY ONE OF THE FINDINGS FROM THAT REPORT IS THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OPTIONS AND ALTERNATIVES OUTSIDE OF ARREST FOR A LOT OF THOSE KIND OF NONVIOLENT LOW RISK OFFENSES. SO I THINK WE HAVE SOME REAL GAPS IN OUR SYSTEM THAT IS CAUSING HIGH EXPENSES. RIGHT. AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, AND I THINK COULD AND SHOULD BE PART OF THIS MORE COMPREHENSIVE CONVERSATION AROUND CORRECTIONS AND DETENTION. SO I GUESS THAT THAT'S THE MAJORITY I WANTED TO SHARE. I GUESS THE OTHER THING FINANCIALLY THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT, BECAUSE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT. AND, YOU KNOW, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE LACK OF, YOU KNOW, I THINK I ASKED ABOUT ASPIRATIONAL VERSUS COMMITTAL BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY WHAT JUST HAPPENED WITH THE COUNTY AND THE ZOO MUSEUM MILLAGE. THE COUNTY DECIDED NOT TO HONOR THE 5050 SHARE THAT WE HAD BROUGHT TO THE VOTERS. AND SO THAT MEANS THAT OUR GENERAL FUND, OUR MUSEUM, IS GOING TO HAVE A $27 MILLION REDUCTION AND WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FROM VOTERS. SO THOUGH WE'LL HAVE THIS SMALL SAVINGS RELATIVELY OF HALF $1 MILLION, 500 000, OUR RESIDENTS WILL BE PAYING $2 MILLION A YEAR. AND WE'RE LOSING 27 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF THIS OTHER MILLAGE BECAUSE OF DECISIONS. SO I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE PUBLIC CONVERSATIONS AND THE FRAMING AND PARTICULARLY THE RUSH AROUND THIS HAS REALLY ERODED SOME OF THE TRUST. AND PARTICULARLY GIVEN THE THREE YEAR HORIZON, MY ENCOURAGEMENT IS THAT OUR RESIDENTS REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND DECIDE IF THIS WILL BEST SERVE OUR NEEDS. AND DO WE WANT TO SAY NO NOW TO GET MORE CLARITY AROUND THE USE? HOW MUCH OF IT WILL BE DEDICATED TO THESE COMPREHENSIVE WRAPAROUND SERVICES TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS CAN BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY COME BACK OUT, AND THEY'RE NOT FURTHER TRAUMATIZED FROM BEING INCARCERATED? SO THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS, I GUESS. MY ASK AM I CALL TO ACTION FOR THIS BODY IS I WONDER IF WE MIGHT CONSIDER TAKING THIS UP IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND SEE IF WE WANT TO ISSUE A FORMAL SUPPORT OR NOT FOR THIS PROPOSAL FOR THIS FALL. 
          COMMISSIONER. YEAH. WITH THAT, SO I JUST YES, WE CAN HEAR MORE ON THAT LATER. AND I'LL BE 
          [01:40:04]
CURIOUS, COLLEAGUES, IF THAT'S OF INTEREST TO YOU. BUT THOSE ARE MY CONCERNS. AGAIN, I APPRECIATE THE PRESENTATION AND I APPRECIATE KIND OF THE THOUGHT AROUND HOW DO WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE FACILITIES AND CARE THAT MEETS THE NEEDS OF FOLKS. BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF KIND OF OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, PARTICULARLY FROM THE GRAND RAPIDS POINT OF VIEW. SO THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER. MAYOR, BEFORE BEFORE ANYONE SPEAKS ON THE LAST PART, I JUST ASKED THE CITY ATTORNEY TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF THAT, SINCE THAT IS PENDING BALLOT LANGUAGE. AT THIS POINT, IT'S NOT THE BALLOT LANGUAGE I THINK HAS BEEN SET. YES. YEAH, YEAH. THANK YOU. OKAY. COMMISSIONER BOUCEK, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT BECAUSE I WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY QUESTIONS. I CAN'T FIND THE BALLOT LANGUAGE RIGHT NOW. 
          IS THAT PUBLIC? BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE MICHIGAN WEBSITE YET. IT'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE SOMEWHERE. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT DIRECTLY, BUT WE'LL GET YOU. THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO SEE SPECIFICALLY, SINCE WE DO HAVE THESE QUESTIONS. YEAH, I THINK THAT COMMISSIONER PURDUE COVERED A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO BRING UP. I, TOO, HAVE THE ADJUST GR PRESENTATION IN FRONT OF ME AND WAS LOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS AGAIN WITH THE, THE WAY WE ARE POLICING AND GRAND RAPIDS CURRENTLY AND UTILIZING THE JAIL, YOU KNOW, IT, IT IS SOMETHING WHERE, YOU KNOW, RESIDENTS DO NEED TO CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHAT THEIR PLANS ARE OR HOW THEY WOULD LIKE TO VOTE BECAUSE IN, IN GRAND RAPIDS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAYING FOR POLICING. SO THAT'S PART OF, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE'S TAXES. AND THEN ALSO THEN COUNTY SHERIFF'S THROUGH THIS AS WELL. AND THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE OF EVERY PROPERTY OWNER IN THE COUNTY, SINCE RURAL AREAS MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE THEIR OWN POLICE FORCE AND THEN USE, YOU KNOW, THE SHERIFF INSTEAD. SO I DON'T WANT TO SAY DOUBLE TAX, BUT SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT. WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT SERVICES GETTING, YOU KNOW, THEREFORE WE'RE PAYING TWICE. AND I SHARE A LOT OF THESE SAME CONCERNS THAT MY COMMISSIONER, FELLOW COLLEAGUES HAVE BROUGHT UP. AND I THINK, LIKE I SAID, COMMISSIONER PURDUE COVERED QUITE A LOT OF IT. I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHAT KIND OF PLAN, WHAT KIND OF BUDGET, WHAT KIND OF YOU KNOW, I THINK PEOPLE ARE ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS WHEN I'M HEARING THAT OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. AND IT'S NICE TO BE ABLE TO SAY WE WOULD LIKE MONEY. I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE MONEY TOO. 
          I WOULD LOVE TO DO SOME HOME REPAIRS AND FIX UP MY 1880S OLD HOME. YOU KNOW, I DON'T REALLY HAVE A PLAN ON WHAT THAT WOULD COST YET, BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE MY BANK GIVE ME SOME MONEY. AND THE PEOPLE ARE THE BANK HERE, SO I, I CARE A LOT ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT INMATES ARE TREATED WELL, THAT THEY GET THE CARE THEY NEED, THAT THEY HAVE FACILITIES THAT ARE NOT RUN DOWN, THAT WE HAVE OUR SHERIFF OFFICERS, YOU KNOW, WORKING IN FACILITIES THAT ARE SAFE AND THAT THEY HAVE THE PAY THAT THEY NEED AND WHATNOT. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO BE ABLE TO SAY, THIS IS HOW WE PLAN TO SPEND THE MONEY AND TO HAVE HAD SOME SORT OF PRELIMINARY APPROVALS OF THAT, TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THE PUBLIC. 
          AND AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THAT'S WHAT I WOULD ASK MY FELLOW COLLEAGUES AT THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO DO. AND ANYTHING YOU YOU CAN DO FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE A GOOD THING. SO I, I WOULD SECOND WHAT COMMISSIONER PERDUE SAID ABOUT HAVING THIS BE SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED FURTHER IN LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, AND I WILL LEAVE MY THOUGHTS THERE FOR NOW. SURE, I. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY BECAUSE PERHAPS I DIDN'T COVER IT THOROUGHLY. THERE IS A VERY SPECIFIC PLAN TO IMPROVE THE MEDICAL DELIVERY SPACE, THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DELIVERY SPACE. THOSE ARE THE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS IN THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY THAT HAVE TO BE REPLACED. SO ALTHOUGH I CAN TELL YOU THERE WAS A STUDY DONE THAT WAS $38 MILLION ISH TO FIX IT. AT THAT POINT, IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY COME UP WITH PLANS TO DO THE FACILITY, IT'S SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS TO HAVE THOSE DRAWN UP. AND OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE NOT INCLINED TO SPEND SEVERAL MILLION DOLLARS TOWARDS A GOAL THAT WE MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WITHOUT THE IMPROVED FUNDING. SO I DON'T WANT IT TO SEEM AS THOUGH, WELL, WE'D LIKE TO DO SOME STUFF HERE. I'D LIKE TO DO SOME STUFF THERE. SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE A GAP IN PHYSICAL FOOTPRINT TO PROVIDE SERVICES IN THE MOST APPROPRIATE, EFFICIENT WAY, AND THAT'S THE PHYSICAL NEED. THAT IS PART OF THIS QUESTION. THE REST OF IT, THERE'S A LOT OF BUDGET HISTORY AND TRENDING THAT WE CAN SHOW THAT WE GET. WE HAVE A PUBLIC BUDGET EVERY YEAR THAT I HAVE TO VERY SPECIFICALLY OUTLINE NOT ONLY MY ASPIRATIONAL GOALS, 
          [01:45:03]
BUT MY ACTUAL FEET HIT THE GROUND. THIS IS WHAT WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY ON. AND THOSE THAT BUDGET IS ALREADY PROJECTED FOR NEXT YEAR. AND YOU WILL BE PAST LIKELY IN SEPTEMBER. SO I DO APPRECIATE THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY BE FEEL LIKE THIS IS MORE OF A RUSHED PROCESS. I'LL ASSURE YOU, THOUGH, THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE BEEN VETTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN BY FINANCIAL STAFF AT THE AT THE COUNTY, A NUMBER OF COMMISSIONERS, IN FACT, EVERY COMMISSIONER SAT THROUGH VERY SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THIS WAS EVER BROUGHT TO A QUESTION. AND WE'RE NOT JUST SWAGGING AT HOW MUCH WE NEED. WE CAN SHOW A GROWTH TREND THAT WE PREDICT WILL VERY MUCH BE THERE IN THE FUTURE, AND WILL CAUSE A GAP IN SERVICES THAT WE CAN EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE TO INCLUDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, WHICH AREN'T PART OF OUR MANDATE, BUT VERY MUCH COST MONEY, BUT ARE NECESSARY. AND THERE ARE TREMENDOUS INVESTMENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. SO I ADVOCATE THAT YOU CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT IS SERVED BY OUR CORRECTIONAL FACILITY, AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE SERVICES THAT WON'T BE THERE FOR THEM BEYOND THE MANDATED SERVICES. IF WE DON'T AS A GROUP, COLLECTIVELY MAKE A PLAN FOR HOW WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO BE SERVED. SO WITH THAT, I'D SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS, BOTH OF YOU ON AND THANK YOU FOR THE CLARITY THAT'S ACTUALLY HELPFUL. I THINK THAT THIS IS PART OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS DO FEEL A LITTLE RUSHED, IS THAT THE COMMUNITY AND EVEN IN THE CONVERSATION LIKE WE'RE HAVING HERE PUBLICLY, ISN'T NECESSARILY AS CLEAR AS WE WANT IT TO BE. AND IT IS ALSO THE KIND OF THING WHERE WHEN WE LOOK AT WHAT HOW THAT BALLOT PROPOSAL, THE ACTUAL WORDING ON THE BALLOT WILL BE GIVEN, PEOPLE WILL BE READING THAT, AND WHETHER THEY UNDERSTAND IT OR NOT WILL BE ANOTHER THING, YOU KNOW. BUT WHEN YOU CAN SAY, WE'RE ASKING FOR X NUMBER OF MILS, BUT YOU KNOW, THIS MANY OF THOSE MILLS IS DEDICATED TO THIS PROJECT THAT'S ALREADY A KNOWN QUANTITY. THEN IT'S CLEARER. BUT AGAIN, THIS IS PART OF WHAT THE I WOULD HOLD THE COUNTY COMMISSION TO MAKING SURE THAT IT'S DONE. GREAT. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION, MAYOR. I DID HAVE 111 OTHER REMARK. I DIDN'T GET TO FINISH MY THOUGHT. SO I THINK AGAIN, SHERIFF, THANK YOU. I WAS NOT EXPECTING THIS LEVEL OF IN DEPTH CONVERSATION, BUT THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY FOR THE COMMISSION, THE FISCAL IMPACT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, CERTAINLY FOR THE VOTERS. BUT BUT FOR THE CITY TO, AGAIN, REMIND THE. I THINK THE POINT THAT'S MADE EARLIER, WE SUBSIDIZE OUR GENERAL USE OF GENERAL FUND DOLLARS FOR THE COURTS, ALMOST 10 MILLION A YEAR. WE HAVE OVERTIME COSTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, PARTLY DUE TO TRANSPORTING PEOPLE TO THE JAIL. AND THIS WOULD CERTAINLY PROVIDE SOME FISCAL RELIEF. WHAT I DO APPRECIATE ABOUT THE MODEL AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE SHERIFF IS AT LEAST MY UNDERSTANDING AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, THE REVISION OF THE NO PER DIEM AND THE INCREASED BOOKING FEE. SOMEHOW I THINK THERE ARE PLANS TO MORE EQUITABLY ALLOCATE THE COST OF JAILS AROUND THE COUNTY, AND NOT JUST RIGHT NOW. THERE'S A LARGE PORTION IN WHICH THE SIX CITIES ARE PICKING UP AS A FEE, THAT THE OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE NOT. SO WITH THIS HELP TO OFFSET SOME OF THE COSTS, THE SIX CITIES ARE CONTRIBUTING AND SPREAD ADDITIONAL COSTS AROUND THE COUNTY TO HELP SUPPORT JAIL OPERATIONS. LET ME HIT THAT FOR A LITTLE BIT. SO LET ME JUST TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PER DIEM FIRST, WHICH IS THE PART THAT'S GOING AWAY. IF THIS MODEL IS PASSED PER DIEM BASICALLY PROVIDES A PORTION OF THE BILL FOR THE ENTIRE STAY FOR THE DURATION OF TIME THAT YOU HAVE A LOCAL CHARGE. SO LET ME PUT THAT INTO A REAL LIFE APPLICATION, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE IN APPLICATION. 
          IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WITHOUT THAT. SO IF GRPD ARRESTS SOMEBODY AND THEY'RE CHARGED WITH A LOCAL OFFENSE, ANYTHING UNDER THE CITY STATUTES INSTEAD OF THE STATE STATUTES, THEY'RE ALLOWED TO THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY. WHEN THEY GET THERE, WE FIND THAT THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF WARRANTS. SOME OF THEM ARE STATE CHARGES, SOME OF THEM ARE FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS. LET'S IMAGINE THERE'S FIVE TOTAL CHARGES. ONE OF THEM IS THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS. SO THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS PAYS ONE FIFTH OF $50.46 FOR EVERY DAY THAT THEY HAVE ONE OF THOSE CHARGES. WELL, THEY DON'T ALL COME AND GO AT THE SAME TIME. SO NOW THEY GO TO THE CITY OF KENTWOOD AND THEY CLEAR UP THEIR CHARGE WITH KENTWOOD COURT, AND NOW THEY 
          [01:50:01]
COME BACK. WELL, NOW YOU'RE ONE OF FOUR AGENCIES, SO YOUR BILL GOES INCREMENTALLY UP A LITTLE BIT, AND THEN MAYBE THE STATE CHARGE IS DISPENSED WITH. YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON, THE ONLY ENTITY LEFT WITH THE CHARGE. YOU'RE PAYING THE WHOLE BILL. PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW YOU WOULD PREDICT THAT AND HOW YOU WOULD BUDGET THAT, BECAUSE I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREDICT IT AND BUDGET FOR THAT. THOSE NUMBERS SWING WILDLY $150,000 PER ONE FROM ONE YEAR TO THE NEXT YEAR. IT'S VERY COMPLICATED FOR A LOCAL ENTITY TO IMPACT IT, PROVIDE FOR IT, BECAUSE AGAIN, THIS IS A LAGGING INDICATOR. YOU CAN MAKE A CHANGE TO YOUR CITY STATUTE, BUT YOU HAVE OUTSTANDING CHARGES FROM THREE YEARS AGO. SO YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT PERSON'S GOING TO BE ARRESTED. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOW THEY'RE PAYING THIS PER DIEM. I THINK IT WAS A VERY GOOD EFFORT OF TRYING TO COME UP WITH A COST SHARING STRATEGY WHEN THE COUNTY WAS ESSENTIALLY TAKING ON SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO TAKE ON. THEY DON'T HAVE TO LODGE LOCAL CHARGE INMATES AT ALL. AND IN FACT, IN MANY LOCATIONS, THEY DON'T DO IT AT ALL. MEANING YOU WOULD YOU WOULD HAVE TO LODGE THEM IN YOUR OWN LOCKUP TO A GREAT EXPENSE. IT WAS AN EFFORT TO TRY TO COST SHARE EQUITABLY. BUT REALLY, OVER THE LAST 40 YEARS HAS BECOME SO COMPLICATED TO APPLY, PREDICT, MANAGE THAT WE'RE ADVOCATING. YOUR CITY IS ALREADY PAYING THEIR SHARE OF A MILLAGE. THEY SHOULD GET THIS AS PART OF THEIR SHARE OF MILLAGE. THAT'S WHY WE'RE ADVOCATING IT GOES AWAY. NOW THERE IS A BOOKING FEE. THE BOOKING FEE IS THE COST THAT IT TAKES TO GET SOMEBODY FINGERPRINTED. MUGSHOT. THE ORIGINAL BOOKING INFORMATION PROCESS WHICH ARE REQUIRED. IT'S THAT SEED THAT THEN GOES BACK TO YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT CREATES THEIR POLICE REPORT, SAVES THEM FROM HAVING TO REENTER. THAT GOES TO YOUR COURT TO START THAT CHARGE. SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WONDER, I GUESS, WHO'S GOING TO SHOW UP FOR COURT TODAY BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO GOT ARRESTED. SO ALL THAT BOOKING PROCESS, IT OBVIOUSLY TAKES A BIT FOR US TO ONE, SUPPORT THE TECHNOLOGY TO DO IT, SUPERVISE THE INDIVIDUALS TO DO IT, BUT ALSO BE AVAILABLE FOR SURGE NEEDS THAT MIGHT ARRIVE. I'LL GIVE AN EXAMPLE. YOU HAVE A LARGE EVENT WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, AND BECAUSE THERE'S MORE PEOPLE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE ARRESTS. GUESS WHO HAS TO STAFF UP EVERY TIME THAT HAPPENS? THE KENT COUNTY JAIL, YOU DON'T GET A BILL BECAUSE I HAVE PEOPLE ON STANDBY. YOU CHARGE. WE CHARGE A 10% OF THE COST BOOKING FEE. 
          THE REST COMES OUT OF THE COUNTY GENERAL FUND AS PART OF OUR BUDGET. NOW WE CAN, WITH ALL THE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, WE CAN BUDGET A LOT BETTER BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE SURGE IN ONE COMMUNITY EVERY WEEKEND. I CAN GUARANTEE IT. SO WE PROVIDE FOR THAT. BUT IT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU COULD EASILY PROVIDE FOR ON YOUR OWN. IF YOU HAD YOUR OWN CITY LOCK UP AND YOU HAVE LARGE EVENTS, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO STAFF UP TO PROVIDE SECURITY OUTSIDE. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE STAFFING UP TO PROVIDE SECURITY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING PROCESSED AND WHETHER YOU'RE LODGED OR NOT LODGED. YOU HAVE TO BE PROCESSED. YOU HAVE THERE HAS TO BE A SET OF FINGERPRINTS TAKEN AND A MUG SHOT TAKEN IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN TO CREATE A CHARGE THAT CAN GO TO COURT. SO THAT PROCESS HAS TO HAPPEN REGARDLESS AND LOOKING FOR A WAY TO TO DO IT WELL, DO IT WITH THE RIGHT SERVICES FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE JUSTICE SYSTEM DOING THAT. WELL, IT DOES COST MONEY. IT IS SOMEWHAT PREDICTABLE WHEN YOU DO IT ON MASS, AND I'D SAY IT REPRESENTS A VALUE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY THAT WILL CAUSE A GAP IN VALUE FOR YOUR COMMUNITY. IF SOMEHOW A DETENTION MILLAGE ISN'T PASSED, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO THAT, IT IS THE FINANCIAL OBLIGATION OF EVERY LOCAL COMMUNITY FOR THE BOOKING PROCESS, $250 PER PERSON, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE. THAT'S WHAT IT COST ME. I BET IT WOULD COST YOU MORE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SERVE AS A AS EFFECTIVELY IN ONE COMMUNITY. IT IS YOUR FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO CARE UP UNTIL THAT TIME OF ARRAIGNMENT. AND THEN OBVIOUSLY, IF IT'S A CITY CHARGE, EVEN PAST ARRAIGNMENT, IT'S YOUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATION. AGAIN, THAT'S PART OF THE VALUE TO YOUR CITIZENS BY. PARTICIPATING IN THE MILLAGE, THAT FUND IS COLLECTED ON A COUNTY WIDE BASIS. IT'S PROPORTIONATE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY, AND THEN WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPLY THAT SERVICE WITHOUT AN ITEMIZED COST FOR EVERY COMMUNITY. AND AGAIN, WE'RE TRYING TO IMPROVE THAT FORMULA. MODERNIZE. I 
          [01:55:01]
MIGHT USE THE WORD, BUT I WILL SAY I TALKED TO OTHER SHERIFFS AND WHO DON'T HAVE CENTRALIZED BOOKING, AND THEY WISH THEY DID OTHER CITIES WHO ARE RUNNING LOCK UPS. IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTACTS OF YOUR COUNTERPARTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, ASK THEM WHAT IT'S LIKE TO RUN A LOCK UP, THE COST OF RUNNING A LOCK UP, WHERE YOU HAVE TO BOOK AND PROCESS YOUR OWN INDIVIDUALS AND KEEP THEM SAFE AND CARED FOR UNTIL AFTER ARRAIGNMENT. IT IT'S A HUGE COST. AND AGAIN, I WELCOME ANY FURTHER CONVERSATIONS ON WHAT MORE WE CAN DO TO DIVERT INDIVIDUALS SO THAT THEY'RE NOT INCARCERATED. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT PROCESSING PART OF IT IS STILL ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN. WE STILL NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S THE NAME AND IDENTIFICATION OF THE PERSON THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IN FRONT OF US SO THAT THEY CAN BE PROPERLY DIVERTED TO AFTER COURT. SO DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, MR. MANAGER? ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT. 
          OKAY. THANK YOU. SO I WANT TO CLOSE WITH ONE MORE THING. WE TALKED ABOUT VOTING TODAY AND WE TALKED ABOUT OUR WELCOMING POLICY. AND NOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT INCARCERATION. 
          AND I THINK THAT THOSE THREE THINGS ALL SORT OF TOUCH EACH OTHER. AND SO I WANT TO READ BRIEFLY A STATEMENT THAT I MADE TO THE PUT OUT TO THE MEDIA ON FRIDAY, AT LEAST IN PART. AND AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT I SPENT WE TALKED ABOUT WELCOMING THIS MORNING, BUT, BUT PART OF THE PART OF WELCOMING, OF COURSE, IS ADDRESSING REAL FEELINGS OF SAFETY. AND I SPENT A GOOD CHUNK OF MY WEEKEND ACTUALLY OUT WITH AN AFRICAN DIASPORA COMMUNITIES OBSERVATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS BECAUSE THEY ASKED, THEY ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO BE PRESENT THERE AND ADDRESS THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY AT THIS POINT IN OUR HISTORY. SO I THINK THIS IS A STRESSFUL TIME IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS. IT DOES FEEL TO ME LIKE WE ARE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM THE DREAM OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOMED, CELEBRATED, AND RESPECTED BY EVERYONE. INSTEAD, I THINK IT'S REAL THAT IMMIGRANTS ARE CONSTANTLY THE FOCUS OF FEAR AND HATE BASED ATTACKS, FALSELY SCAPEGOATED ON ISSUES AS DIFFERENT AS CRIME RATES AND ELECTION RESULTS. I THINK THAT SINCE BECOMING MAYOR, IT'S BEEN I'VE BEEN TRYING TO BE VERY CLEAR THAT MY TOP PRIORITY IS TO KEEP ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS SAFE AND KEEP GRAND RAPIDS A TRULY WELCOMING COMMUNITY, AND PARTICULARLY FOR IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS. AND I KNOW THAT THOSE ARE CONCERNS AND FOUNDATIONAL VALUES OF EVERYBODY UP ON THE STEPS AS WE DO THE WORK OF SUPPORTING EACH OTHER AT THIS TIME. THERE'S BAD NEWS AND THERE'S GOOD NEWS. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT WE'RE SOMETIMES UNABLE TO STOP THE ACTIONS OF OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, SINCE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN SOMETIMES SIMPLY OVERRIDE THE WISHES OF OUR RESIDENTS AND OUR CITY POLICIES. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO TRY TO CRAFT CITY POLICIES THAT IMPLEMENT OUR WELCOMING VALUES. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MISINFORMATION IN THE COMMUNITY AND ONLINE RECENTLY ABOUT GRAND RAPIDS POLICIES, AS THEY RELATE TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ACTIVITIES. THAT MISINFORMATION IS CAUSING FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY IN THE COMMUNITY, PARTICULARLY AMONG THOSE WHO NEED THE TRUTH THE MOST. RIGHT NOW, WE ALL HAVE THE SAME GOAL TO PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORS. THEY DESERVE CLEAR AND ACCURATE INFORMATION AND REAL SUPPORT. SO I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT SOME KEY POINTS IN GRAND RAPIDS POLICIES THAT AFFECT OUR IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS. 
          CAUGHT UP IN A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT TARGETS IMMIGRANTS. GRAND RAPIDS DOES NOT TAKE ACTION ON FEDERAL CIVIL IMMIGRATION WARRANTS STANDING ALONE. WE HAVE A SPECIFIC POLICY ON THIS. IT'S G R POLICY, 7.7-12.1. GRAND RAPIDS WILL NOT ENTER INTO ANY 287 G AGREEMENTS. TO HAVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL DEPUTIZED BY ICE, WE HAVE THREE POLICIES THAT WOULD PROHIBIT ANY SUCH AGREEMENTS. CITY COMMISSION POLICY 617 OUR GRAND RAPIDS HUMAN ORDINANCE POLICY, TITLED CHAPTER NINE, PARDON ME, TITLE NINE, CHAPTER 176, AND GRAND RAPIDS POLICE DEPARTMENT'S FOREIGN NATIONAL POLICY. GRAND RAPIDS DOES NOT OPERATE DETENTION CENTERS. WHILE WE CANNOT CONTROL FEDERAL ACTIONS WITH ZONING POLICIES, THE CITY DOES NOT OPERATE DETENTION FACILITIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL LAWS. MOREOVER, WE HAVE A CLEAR POLICY CLOSELY MIRRORING POLICIES OF OTHER CITIES SUCH AS ANN ARBOR AND CHICAGO, PREVENTING OUR PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEES FROM ASSISTING ICE AGENTS IN ICE INVESTIGATIONS. OUR EMPLOYEES DO, HOWEVER, HAVE A DUTY TO KEEP OUR CITY AND OUR STREETS SAFE, BUT OUR POLICIES PROHIBIT THEM FROM ENGAGING IN INVESTIGATIVE WORK. WITH ICE. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE MORE WORK TO DO TO MAKE OUR CITY FEEL 
          [02:00:03]
MORE WELCOMING AND OPEN. I'M HAPPY ABOUT THE RECENT PROGRESS WE'VE MADE IN DEFINING AND RESTRICTING SURVEILLANCE IN OUR CITY AROUND LICENSE PLATE, READING CAMERAS. ANY SURVEILLANCE RAISES THE RISK OF MISUSE OVER SURVEILLANCE OR INFORMATION BEING SHAPED TO SHARE TOO BROADLY, AND THE PAST FEW WEEKS, I AND WE HAVE ENGAGED IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ADVOCATES AND EXPERTS, AND I'VE ARGUED THAT THE FIRST STATE, FIRST STEP IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS IS TO PLACE LICENSE PLATE READING CAMERAS UNDER OUR CITY SURVEILLANCE POLICY, WHICH WE FIRST CRAFTED TO CONTROL THE USE OF DRONES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE CITY WILL NOW PLACE LICENSE PLATE READERS UNDER OUR COMMUNITY SURVEILLANCE POLICY, EFFECTIVELY PLACING A MORATORIUM ON NEW CAMERAS WITHOUT COMMISSION APPROVAL AND LIMITING USE, REQUIRING REPORTING WITH CLEAR CHANNELS TO REPORT CONCERNS ABOUT MISUSE. IN THE COMING MONTHS, I HOPE WE'LL CRAFT A CLEAR CITY POLICY LIMITING THE SHARING OF LICENSE PLATE INFORMATION AND EXPLORE ALTERNATIVES TO THE CURRENT VENDOR. GRAND RAPIDS IS A CITY FOR EVERYONE. EVERYONE DESERVES TO FEEL LOVED, BELONGING AND SAFETY. EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE TREATED WITH RESPECT, DIGNITY AND HAVE THEIR RIGHTS PROTECTED. SO IF ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY SEES ANYTHING HAPPENING THAT THEY BELIEVE DOES NOT ALIGN WITH OUR POLICIES, I ASK YOU TO REPORT IT TO THE OFFICE OF OVERSIGHT AND PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY, OR TO GRPD ITSELF. SPEAKING UP ALLOWS OUR POLICIES TO BE PROTECTIONS PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY RELY ON RATHER THAN WORDS ON A PAGE. SO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO TRY TO DO BETTER. THANK YOU. 
          CLOSED SECTION 601.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.