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IS NOW 830 AND WE CAN GO AHEAD AND CALL OUR FISCAL COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER. FIRST UP IS A
[1. Resolution approving an agreement with the Michigan Green Building Collaborative to accept $210,099 in funding for the Office of Sustainability to hire a full-time staff person.]
RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MICHIGAN GREEN BUILDING COLLABORATION COLLABORATIVE TO ACCEPT $210,099 IN FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO HIRE A FULL TIME STAFF MEMBER. A MOTION. SO MOVED. SUPPORT MOVED AND SUPPORTED. MISS WILKINSON. THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSIONERS. GOOD MORNING. RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH MICHIGAN GREEN BUILDING COLLABORATIVE, FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL OF WEST MICHIGAN, TO ACCEPT FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY TO HIRE A STAFF PERSON. THE MICHIGAN GREEN BUILDING COLLABORATIVE ACCEPTED GRANT DOLLARS FROM THE FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF OUR E ZERO INITIATIVE. EQUITABLE, HEALTHY AND ZERO CARBON BUILDINGS, A JOINT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MICHIGAN GREEN BUILDING COLLABORATIVE AND THE URBAN CORE COLLECTIVE TO ADDRESS DECARBONIZATION OF BOTH OUR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SECTOR. THIS STAFF PERSON, A COMMERCIAL SUSTAINABILITY SPECIALIST, WILL HELP SUPPORT OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY AS WELL AS HELP US INCREASE CAPACITY TO ADDRESS OUR BUILDINGS INDUSTRY CHAPTER OF OUR CLIMATE ACTION AND ADAPTATION PLAN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT. OVERVIEW QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER. WELL, JUST A COMMENT. THANK YOU, MISS WILKINSON, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. I THINK IT'S AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT THIS IS NOT A CITY INVESTMENT, THAT WE ARE GETTING OUTSIDE INVESTMENTS FOR THIS WORK AND WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS WITH NO UNDUE STRESS ON HOMEOWNERS, BUSINESS OWNERS. IT VERSUS, YOU KNOW, IT'S A FUNDING AN OUTSIDE FUNDING SOURCE. SO VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT AND FURTHER SHOWS THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO PENALTIES FOR THE CLIMATE ACTION ADAPTATION PLAN. AND OUR OFFICE IS FINDING VERY INNOVATIVE WAYS TO DO THIS WORK. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU. MR. YES, COMMISSIONER. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THAT WE'RE ADDING TO OUR STAFF.I AGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUE ON THE FUNDING MECHANISMS AND ALL THAT, BUT I THINK THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT IS INCREDIBLY VITAL FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A CITY AND AS A COMMUNITY. AND SO ANY TIME WE CAN BE, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING THE WORK OF OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN OR OUR SUSTAINABILITY WORK OR ALL THESE THINGS, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND I'LL JUST SAY I ECHO THOSE COMMENTS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE AYE. ANY OPPOSED ITEM CARRIES. THANKS SO MUCH. ITEM NUMBER TWO IS A
[2. Resolution accepting a $70,000 donation from Matt Richenthal and authorizing execution of an agreement with SeyferthPR for the College Is Possible campaign for the To College, Through College Initiative]
RESOLUTION EXECUTING A $70,000 AGREEMENT WITH SEAFORTH PR AND CARBON STORIES TO CREATE A COLLEGE AS POSSIBLE PR, MARKETING AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR CCS TWO COLLEGE THROUGH COLLEGE INITIATIVE AND ACCEPTING A DONATION BY MATT RICHENTHAL. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SUPPORT MOVED AND SUPPORTED MISS HARRIS. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. SO AS YOU MENTIONED, OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN MANAGES THE TWO COLLEGE THROUGH COLLEGE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE T2C STUDIO, GRAND RAPIDS CENTER FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS. AND WE'VE NEVER HAD A PROJECT QUITE LIKE THIS BEFORE. WITH THIS PROJECT, WE WILL PARTNER WITH SEAFORD PR, WHO ALSO SUBCONTRACT WITH CARBON STORIES TO PRODUCE A COLLEGE'S POSSIBLE PR, MARKETING AND SCHOLAR ENGAGEMENT CAMPAIGN. AND SO OUR TARGET AUDIENCE IS GRPS SCHOLARS AND FAMILIES. AND WE WANT TO DRIVE HOME THE ABSOLUTE FACT THAT COLLEGE DEGREE ATTAINMENT IS STILL RELEVANT AND ACHIEVABLE WITH THE VILLAGE, WHICH CAN INCLUDE OUR TTC STUDIO. AND SO WE'LL BE LEANING ON STORYTELLING, LEAVING A DIGITAL FOOTPRINT, AFFORDABILITY, AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT. AND SO THIS IS OUR PROJECT AND WE'RE EXCITED TO GET STARTED. GREAT. CONGRATULATIONS. THANK YOU FOR OVERVIEW, COLLEAGUES. QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER. YES, THANK YOU, MADAM CHAIR. THANK YOU, MISS HARRIS, FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS. I AGREE IT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN TODAY'S TIMES TO CONTINUE HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENT AVENUES OF EDUCATION. I'M ALSO VERY THANKFUL TO, I BELIEVE I DON'T KNOW IF THEY CALL THEM TRUSTEES, BUT I KNOW MR. RICHENTHAL IS A PART OF THE EAST GRAND RAPIDS SCHOOL BOARD, SO I'M REALLY THANKFUL ONCE AGAIN FOR THE COMMUNITY SHOWING SUPPORT. I THINK WE ARE QUITE RESOURCE RICH IN THIS COUNTY AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE SUCH COLLABORATION. SO VERY HAPPY TO SUPPORT THIS AS WELL. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. HEARING NO. NOBODY ELSE. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. ANY OPPOSED ITEM CARRIES. THANKS SO MUCH. NEXT IS A[3. Resolution authorizing a Budget Substitution of $115,000 for Cesar E Chavez - Hall to Tenhaaf Reconstruction]
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A BUDGET SUBSTITUTION OF $115,000 FOR ACCESSORY CHAVEZ HALL TO ONE HALF CONSTRUCTION. MISS IRVING IS YOU TAKE THIS ONE, MOLLY. I GUESS I CAN YEAH. I'M SORRY. SO MOVED. YES. NO, I'M HAPPY TO HAPPY TO PINCH HIT. THIS IS SIMPLY JUST MOVING. YOU'LL SEE.YOU'LL SEE IN THE. I BELIEVE IT'S THE SECOND PAGE OF THE DOCUMENT. YOU'LL SEE THE MOVEMENT OF THE FUNDS CLOSING, CLOSING DOWN A FEW CAPITAL PROJECTS TO SHIFT FUNDING OVER OVER TO THIS ONE. SO FAIRLY SIMPLE BUDGET SUBSTITUTION. YES, I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT. ANY
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QUESTIONS COLLEAGUES? OKAY. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? THANK YOU. ITEM[4. Bid List Resolution for October 6, 2026]
CARRIES. THANKS SO MUCH. NEXT IS OUR ITEM NUMBER FOUR IS OUR BID LIST RESOLUTION FOR OCTOBER 6TH, 2026. DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. SUPPORT MISS KAREN JUST SEVEN ITEMS TODAY. ALL FAIRLY ROUTINE. A COUPLE EXTENSIONS LIKE ROUTE WHERE AN IMAGE TREND. BUT IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS MYSELF OR THE DEPARTMENTS HERE CAN ANSWER. THANK YOU SO MUCH. YEP. JUST A REMINDER THAT TYPICALLY THIS LIST HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE THAT'S LARGER AND AND SOMETIMES LARGER, SOMETIMES NOT, BUT THAT WE DON'T NECESSARILY GO THROUGH EACH ONE, BUT CERTAINLY CAN OVERVIEW ANYONE'S COLLEAGUES THAT YOU HAVE IN FULL AND AS MISS KAREN SAID, CAN DO AN OVERVIEW WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS AS WELL. SO I SEE YOU'RE RAISING YOUR HAND, BUT RIGHT NOW IS NOT A TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. BUT WE CAN CONNECT AFTER THE MEETING. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALL RIGHT. SO I'M GOING TO CALL THE QUESTION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. ANY OPPOSED ITEM[5. Comptroller's Warrant Report for the period of September 8, 2026 through September 21, 2026 in the amount of $37,060,657.57 and Monthly Travel Report]
CARRIES. SO THAT TAKES CARE OF OUR BUSINESS. AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO OUR CONTROLLERS.ONE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 8TH, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21ST, 2026 IN THE AMOUNT OF $37,060,657.57 AND OUR MONTHLY TRAVEL REPORT, MISS KIRKLAND. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING CHAIR. OH, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY ABOUT THAT. OKAY. AS STATED, AS STATED, THE CASH PAYMENTS ISSUE TOTALED 37 MILLION, INCLUDING 6.2 MILLION IN PAYROLL, 380 FOR INCOME TAX WARRANTS, WHICH INCLUDED 420 29 INCOME TAX REFUNDS AND 1241 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE. CHECKS WERE ISSUED. SO ONE REPORT FOR THE TIME PERIOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT REPORT. THANK YOU, MADAM DEPUTY CONTROLLER. ANY QUESTIONS? THAT REPORT IS RECEIVED AND FILED. AND NEXT IN
[6. Treasurer's Report for the Period of September 9, 2026 through September 22, 2026]
OUR LAST ITEM FOR TODAY IS OUR TREASURER'S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF SEPTEMBER 9TH, 2026 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 22ND, 2026. MR. TREASURER, GOOD MORNING, COMMISSIONERS, WITH OUR REPORT TODAY, WE DID SEE AGAIN THE 25 BASIS POINT RATE HIKE. WHAT'S HAPPENED SINCE THEN, THOUGH, IS THE JOBS REPORT HAS COME IN, HAS BEEN VERY FAVORABLE TO WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY PUSHING GENERAL THOUGHT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THOSE RATES PROBABLY IN OCTOBER. WE PROBABLY WON'T SEE AN ADJUSTMENT UNTIL MAYBE THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR. THE PROBLEM IS THOUGH, EVERY EVERY WEEK WE GET MORE DATA, EVERY WEEK WE GET MORE GLOBAL ISSUES POPPING UP, WE GET MORE LOCAL ISSUES POPPING UP. SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S LIKE I FEEL LIKE A FLAG BLOWING IN THE WIND WITH EACH GUST, IT CHANGES. AND SO THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY HAPPENING WITH THE ECONOMICS GOING ON RIGHT NOW. WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF UNSTABLE ITEMS. HOWEVER, GRAND RAPIDS IS STABLE. WE ARE STABLE. OUR INVESTMENT PROGRAM IS STABLE. WE HAVE $714 MILLION INVESTED AT 3.44%, WHERE WE SEE RATES GO UP. THAT BENEFITS OUR OFFICE BECAUSE WE JUST INVESTED SOME OF OUR RESERVE PORTFOLIO ABOUT $90 MILLION. WE WERE GETTING OVER 5% ON THAT MONEY.SO PUSHING IT OUT ANYWHERE FROM 12 TO 30 6 TO 60 MONTHS IS GIVING US A BETTER RETURN ON OUR MONEY. BUT THEN AGAIN, THOSE ARE RESERVE FUNDS THAT WE KNOW WE DON'T NEED RIGHT NOW FOR LIQUID OPERATIONS THAT HAVE TO BE USED RIGHT AWAY. SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ANALYZE THOSE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT HAPPEN AS WE HAVE MATURITIES COME DUE AND PLACE THAT OUT ON THE YIELD CURVE SO THAT WE'RE SETTING OURSELVES UP TO HAVE CONTINUED INTEREST EARNINGS FOR A GOOD FIVE YEARS OUT. THAT'S OUR POLICY AS A AVERAGE WEIGHTED RETURN OF AVERAGE WEIGHTED MATURITY OF AROUND FIVE YEARS. AND SO WE'RE GOING TO ACTIVELY LOOK TO DO THAT. WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR OTHER THINGS THAT ARE THERE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS FUNDED THROUGH DECEMBER 11TH. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT BECOMES MORE CONTROVERSIAL AFTER WE HAVE OUR ELECTION. SO JUST EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE NOT IN POWER YET, OR WHOEVER THE NEW ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE, THAT COULD COME INTO PLAY AND AFTER THE NEW YEAR. SO REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYES AND EARS OPEN FOR THAT, BECAUSE WE ARE AN ENTITY THAT NEEDS FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS TO FUND THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE WORKING. SO WE'RE LOOKING AT IT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO INTERRUPTION AND IN ANY OF THOSE FUNDING SOURCES, AND THEN BRING IT TO EXECUTIVES ATTENTION. IF WE'RE SEEING THOSE THINGS HAPPEN, WE CONTINUE TO SEE THE FUEL PRICES GO DOWN. THIS MORNING, IT WAS REPORTED AT $4.53 ON AVERAGE NATIONWIDE. SO OBVIOUSLY IT'S FOUR IT'S $0.46 LOWER THAN OUR HIGH POINT. SO HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE THAT COME DOWN. BUT AGAIN IT'S TIED TO GLOBAL ISSUES OR ISSUES BEYOND OUR CONTROL. I DID PUT A TABLE INTO OUR REPORT TODAY JUST TO SHOW YOU SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE LOOK AT. FOR EXAMPLE, WE'VE GOT A POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON INTEREST EARNINGS BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO INVEST HIGHER. THE VALUE OF OUR INVESTMENTS IS STABLE BECAUSE
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WE'RE INVESTED IN VERY, VERY SECURE US TREASURIES, US AGENCIES, MUNICIPAL BONDS, THINGS THAT HAVE VERY, VERY HIGH RATINGS. WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF CASH FOR DAILY OPERATIONS.WE'RE FUNDING OUT INTO 2028 TO COVER PAYROLL AND DEBT SERVICE RIGHT NOW. SO WE'RE WE'RE GOING OUT 18 MONTHS TO MAKE SURE OUR NORMAL LARGE PAYMENTS ARE FUNDED. WE THE CONCERN, OBVIOUSLY, IS GOING TO BE FUEL FOR OUR VEHICLES, CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, BORROWING FOR MAJOR PROJECTS. WE JUST HAVE TO REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO CITY REVENUE IN CASE ANYTHING IS IMPACTED, ESPECIALLY JOBS. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, UNEMPLOYMENT IS 5%. BUT IN WEST MICHIGAN, WE'RE AT FOUR, 4.3%, STATE IS 4.3. WE'RE AROUND 4.1. WE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE EMPLOYED, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW. IT'S JUST I THINK WHAT WE BATTLE WITH IS FINDING PEOPLE TO FILL THOSE JOBS. AND WE SEE IT AS A AS A MUNICIPALITY, AND WE SEE IT WITH THE SIGNS UP AS WE'RE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. GIL STAFFING HAD 60 JOBS, IMMEDIATE HIRE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S TO DRAW PEOPLE IN OR IF THAT'S YOU REALLY HAVE PEOPLE THERE THAT YOU NEED TO HAVE FILL ROLES. BUT WE ALWAYS HAVE THAT CONVERSATION SINCE COVID ABOUT WHAT'S FULL EMPLOYMENT LOOK LIKE. AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE THAT ARE ACCEPTING PART TIME EMPLOYMENT. AND SO A LOT OF TWO WAGE EARNERS AND FAMILY MIGHT HAVE ONE THAT'S WORKING FULL TIME, ONE THAT'S WORKING PART. SO REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT THE DYNAMIC THAT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN IN GRAND RAPIDS AND, AND WHEN IT'S GOING TO MAYBE FEEL LIKE WE'RE ON A MORE LEVEL SECURE AREA. I MEAN, OUR CITY IS GROWING. IT KEEPS GROWING. IT'S IT'S FABULOUS WHAT WE'RE DOING. AGAIN, I JUST THINK THAT AS A AS A REGION, WE DO AN OUTSTANDING JOB AND WE FOCUS ON THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT US. AND THAT'S CRITICAL FOR OUR OPERATION, WHAT WE DO. SO THAT'S MY REPORT FOR TODAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH. QUESTIONS FOR OUR TREASURER COMMISSIONER.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THIS. AND NORMALLY WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR YOU. BUT I DO FEEL LIKE, YOU KNOW, WITH THIS OVERVIEW THAT YOU'VE GIVEN AND WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASED COST PRESSURES ON OUR FAMILIES, EVEN WITH PEOPLE MOVING HERE, THERE'S HOUSING PRESSURE, THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX AND HOW THAT'S ALREADY BEEN GOING UP. I WONDERED IF YOU HAD ANY REFLECTIONS AS YOU'VE BEEN DOING YOUR FORECASTING. I KNOW I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PAYROLL TO 2028, BUT AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT COSTS, INCREASING COSTS FOR CITY SERVICES AND THE INCREASING COST THAT BURDENS THAT OUR CONSTITUENTS ARE HAVING, WHAT WHAT KINDS OF THOUGHTS OR PROCESS, YOU KNOW, REFLECTIONS DO YOU HAVE THERE? WHEN I WHEN I LOOK AT JUST SIMPLY THE PRODUCER PRICE INDEX AND ALSO THE MANUFACTURERS, THEY'RE STILL GROWING RIGHT NOW.
THEIR INPUT COSTS ARE GOING UP, SO THEIR INPUT COSTS ARE GOING TO CASCADE DOWN TO US, JUST LIKE THE CASCADING COST OF TRANSPORTING GOODS ACROSS THE OCEAN, NEEDING OIL AND DIESEL TO MOVE THOSE PRODUCTS, THE DIESEL FOR OUR TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, YOU LOOK AT THE MAYOR'S TRUCK DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE BLUEBERRY SIGN ON THE SIDE, IT'S COSTING THEM MUCH MORE TO GET THAT TO US. AND GROCERS ARE EXTREMELY COST CONSCIOUS BECAUSE THEIR MARGINS ARE SO SMALL. SO THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SEE THAT. SO AS WE SEE THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX CONTINUE TO STAY ELEVATED, OBVIOUSLY THE FED WANTS TO SEE THAT RATCHET DOWN TO AROUND 2%.
AGAIN YOU'RE YOU'RE OVER A FULL PERCENTAGE POINT HIGHER. SO THE ONLY WAY THAT THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO RATCHET THAT DOWN IS GOING TO BE TO TURN UP THE FEDERAL FUNDS RATE. SO TO INCREASE IT FROM 3.75 TO 4.0 AND GO BEYOND THAT TO TRY TO PUSH THAT DOWN, THE JOBS REPORTS AREN'T HELPING THEM. SO THE QUESTION IS GOING TO BE WHAT ARE THEY ONLY HAVE THEY ONLY HAVE ONE TOOL. THE FED ONLY HAS ONE TOOL IN THEIR TOOLBOX TO USE, AND THAT'S THE SCREWDRIVER TO TURN UP AND TURN DOWN INTEREST RATES. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WITH THAT, THAT REPORT IS RECEIVED AND FILED. AND WE'RE ADJOURNED AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.