[1. Proclamation recognizing National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, October 25–31, 2026] [00:00:09] GOING TO CALL THIS MEETING OF COMMITTEE HOLDS ORDER. AND OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS IS A PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK. AND I WILL GO UP TO THE MICROPHONE AND OUR CONNIE BOHAC IS COMING UP AS WELL. YEAH. WELL I'M TURNING THE MIC ON FOR HIM. SO MIKE'S ON FOR YOU. RIGHT ON. SO I'LL READ THE PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS LEAD EXPOSURE IS A SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN, PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AND PREVENTING EXPOSURE THROUGH EDUCATION, COLLABORATION AND IMPROVEMENTS TO DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE AND HOUSING CONDITIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO PROTECTING THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEREAS NATIONAL LEAD POISONING PREVENTION WEEK, OCTOBER 20TH 5 TO 31, 2026 RAISES AWARENESS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING LEAD EXPOSURE, PROMOTING TESTING AND PREVENTION STRATEGIES. WHEREAS, THE CITY HAS LONG TERM COMMITMENT TO REDUCING LEAD EXPOSURE AND HAS REPLACED OVER 9000 LEAD SERVICE LINES TO DATE. AND WHEREAS OUR PROGRAM HAS HELPED THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM SIX PROTECT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN FROM LEAD BASED EXPOSURE BY MAKING MORE THAN 2000 HOMES LEAD SAFE. WHEREAS, THE CITY HAS PRIORITIZED TRANSPARENCY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHEREAS, THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE THROUGH STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING THE KENT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, HEALTHY HOMES RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, LINK-UP AND GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. RESIDENTS, CONTRACTORS AND MANY STAFF MEMBERS WHOSE DEDICATION HAS ADVANCED LEAD REDUCTION EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. AND WHEREAS OUR PROGRAM IS RECOGNIZED AS A MODEL FOR OTHER COMMUNITIES IN THE UNITED STATES BY THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND THE CITY WAS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT COLLABORATIVE WITH THE EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD IN RECOGNITION RECOGNITION OF ITS WORK. NOW, THEREFORE, I. DAVID LEGRANDE, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ON THIS DAY, CALL ON ALL RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO JOIN ME IN RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO RAISE AWARENESS, PROMOTE PREVENTION, AND CONTINUE ADVANCING INITIATIVES THAT REDUCE LEAD EXPOSURE AND PROTECT THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND MISS OR MISS DERNBURG, COME UP AND TALK. THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS. WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO BE IN FRONT OF YOU TODAY. THIS COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND WATER TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF LEAD. AS THE MAYOR ACKNOWLEDGED, THE WATER SYSTEM RELEASE RECEIVED A NATIONAL AWARD THIS SUMMER. IN TERMS OF OUR COLLABORATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE FOR LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENTS, AND WE COULD NOT. OBVIOUSLY, THE CITY IS NOT JUST THE CITY, BUT IT'S ALSO OUR PARTNERS, WHICH WE'RE VERY, VERY FORTUNATE TO, TO, TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM HEALTHY HOMES COALITION HERE TODAY THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH NOW FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS IN SOME WAY, SHAPE OR FORM, AND OUR LEAD SERVICE LINE INITIATIVE. WE ALSO, THROUGH OUR WATER ADVISORY COUNCIL THAT WE'VE HAD NOW FOR SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS NOW, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE BUILT WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS, THE GRPS REALLY A GREAT PARTNER WITH THE KENT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS WELL. VERY SUPPORTIVE. WE'RE VERY, VERY PLEASED TO SAY THAT WE'RE STILL MAKING PROGRESS. WE HAVE A WAYS TO GO WITH LEAD SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT, BUT THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SUCH GREAT COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT HELP US GET THE INFORMATION OUT IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF THE RISKS, THE IMPACTS, AND THEN BEING PROACTIVE IN TERMS OF REPLACEMENT. WE'RE VERY, VERY PLEASED. SO, COUNTY. YES. THANK YOU. WE ARE EXCITED TO ACTUALLY CELEBRATE THIS WEEK, AND I WANT TO THANK WAYNE AND HIS TEAM FOR THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING. MOST RECENTLY, THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN DOING WORK WITH LEAD BASED PAINT HAZARD REMEDIATION IN HOMES FOR 23 YEARS. WE RECEIVED OUR FIRST GRANT FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN 2003, AND FROM THAT, SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE ACTUALLY RECEIVED NINE COMPETITIVE GRANT AWARDS THROUGH THAT HUD PROGRAM, AS WELL AS NINE GRANTS THROUGH THE MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. AND WE'VE BROUGHT IN $38 MILLION IN TOTAL OVER THE YEARS FOR ENSURING MAKING OUR HOMES MORE SAFE. BUT IN ADDITION TO THAT, AS THE MAYOR READ, WE ADDRESSED 2000 HOMES, BUT WE'VE ALSO WITH THOSE RESOURCES AND OUR PARTNERS THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, INCLUDING THE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION, WHO ARE NOT HERE TODAY. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUPPORT TRAINING MORE THAN 3500 INDIVIDUALS AND LEAD SAFE CLEANING AND WORK PRACTICES, ASSISTING NEARLY 160 SECTION THREE ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS AND COMPANIES, AND MAINTAINING PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION TO PERFORM LEAD REMEDIATION AND CONDUCTING MORE THAN 1000 COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT LEAD HAZARDS AND AVAILABLE REMEDIATION RESOURCES. [00:05:03] SO NOT ONLY ADDRESSING THE HOME SPECIFICALLY, BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE EDUCATION AND RESOURCES FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AS WELL THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. SO AGAIN, WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERSHIPS AND OF COURSE, THE DEDICATED STAFF. WAYNE HAS A CREW FROM WATER HERE, AND WE HAVE ALSO HAVE OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STAFF FROM THIS PROGRAM. I'M SORRY. THE ONE ONE OTHER THING I'LL ADD FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC IS THIS IS ONE OF THE I MEAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE THE WORK WE DO, BUT THIS IS IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL OUTCOMES, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE HUGE SUCCESS STORIES IN OUR COMMUNITY. SO IF YOU LOOK NEIGHBORHOOD BY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ZIP CODE BY ZIP CODE, THE ZIP CODES THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST LEAD EXPOSURE NOW ARE, ARE VASTLY LOWER THAN THE LOWEST NEIGHBORHOODS WERE IN 2003. AND OVERALL LEAD EXPOSURE IN CHILDREN IS ABOUT A THIRD OF WHAT IT WAS IN 2003 IN THE CITY. SO OUR NUMBERS HAVE JUST MASSIVELY, MASSIVELY REDUCED. SO THAT'S THAT'S REMARKABLE TO GO FROM, SAY, TEN UNITS TO THREE UNITS AND SOMETHING TO CUT THAT EXPOSURE LEVEL WITH THESE KIND OF PROGRAMS IN THAT TIME IS REALLY REMARKABLE. AND IT MEANS THAT OVERALL, OVER OVERALL IN THE CITY, EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD IS GETTING CLEANER. ALL EVERY PLACE WE COUNT LEAD EXPOSURE NUMBERS ARE GOING DOWN. AND THAT'S REALLY GREAT. AND IT'S A TESTIMONY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE'S WORK. SO JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT. THE NUMBERS ARE REAL. THE PROGRESS IS REAL. SO WE'RE NOT JUST DOING WORK. WE ARE REALLY, REALLY SEEING RESULTS. SO I WANTED TO. I THINK WE JUST STAND BEHIND. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK A SECOND ROLL. I WAS I GOT. YEAH. YOU SURE YOU DON'T WANT TO GO NO. GOOD. THIS IS THE REAL WORK. I'M JUST HERE TO. I KNOW THIS IS MY FAVORITE ONE OF MY FAVORITES. THANK YOU. FOR EVERYBODY. OKAY, THAT BRINGS US [2. Resolution approving the request from Miro Mediterranean LLC for a Development District Liquor License to be located at 10 Ionia Ave NW.] TO A FEW ITEMS OF FAIRLY PEDESTRIAN BUSINESS. THE NEXT IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REQUEST FOR FOR MICRO PARDON ME, MIRO MEDITERRANEAN LLC FOR A DEVELOPMENT LIQUOR LICENSE FOR A LOCATION AT TEN IONIA AVENUE NORTHWEST. MR. CLARK SO MOVED FORWARD. YEAH. THIS IS LOCATED IN THE RESIDENCE IN OR NOT THE RESIDENT. YEAH. THE RESIDENTS IN HOTEL THERE AT THE CORNER OF FULTON, IONIA. A NEW VENUE GOING INTO THAT LOCATION. GREAT. ANY DISCUSSION? COLLEAGUES? ALL [3. Resolution recommending approval by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission of Social District Permit application pursuant to Public Act 124 of 2020 for Grand Vin, LLC located at 125 Ottawa Ave NW Suite 150.] RIGHT, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT RESOLUTION. THIS IS FOR A SOCIAL DISTRICT PERMIT FOR LOCATION AT 125 OTTAWA NORTHWEST. CAN I HAVE A MOTION SUPPORT, MR. CLARK? SO BOTH. WE HAVE TWO SOCIAL DISTRICT PERMITS. THEY'RE IN THE DOWNTOWN SOCIAL DISTRICT. SO ANYTIME THEY WANT A SOCIAL DISTRICT PERMIT TO TO SO YOU CAN CARRY YOUR STUFF IN A MARKED CUP, YOU CAN. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION COLLEAGUES? OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. NEXT [4. Resolution recommending approval by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission of Social District Permit application pursuant to Public Act 124 of 2020 for The 1850 Room LLC located at 53 Monroe Center St NW.] RESOLUTION. VERY SIMILAR IS FOR A SOCIAL DISTRICT APPLICATION FOR 53 MONROE CENTER NORTHWEST. SO MOVED. SUPPORT MR. CLARK ANY SAME THING. OKAY. ANY OPPOSITION? ANY ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE. ALL OPPOSED. PARDON ME. ALL. ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION [5. Resolution scheduling a December 1, 2026, public hearing for the 2027-2032 Parks & Recreation Strategic Master Plan] CARRIES. AND THAT BRINGS US TO OUR PRESENTATION ON OUR PARKS. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSION. LAURA CLAYPOOL, DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION. VERY EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY. WHAT YOU HAVE [00:10:05] BEFORE YOU IS A RESOLUTION APPROVING A REQUEST TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING DATE. OH I'M SORRY. YES. GO AHEAD. RESOLUTION. SO MOVED SPORT. AS YOU CAN TELL, WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE OUR PARKS MASTER PLAN. SO THIS IS TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH WILL BE DECEMBER 1ST HERE IN COMMISSION CHAMBERS AT 7 P.M. THIS PARKS MASTER PLAN IS ESTABLISHES A GUIDING FRAMEWORK FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OF INVESTMENTS, BOTH IN HOW WE BUILD IN OUR PARK SPACES, BUT ALSO HOW WE ACTIVATE HOW WE PROGRAM AND HOW WE ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY. IT ALSO ENSURES ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY PRIORITIES AND SETS OUR VISION FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE DNR GRANT REQUIREMENTS. SO AS I SAID, IT REALLY SETS A ROADMAP. THIS PLAN WAS FIRST REVITALIZED IN 2017. THE 2017 MASTER PLAN SET THE VISION IN THE FUTURE FOR THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. AS WE WERE COMING OUT OF SOME RATHER CRITICAL YEARS OF DEFERRED MAINTENANCE AND ISSUES WITH OPERATIONS, AND BEING ABLE TO MAINTAIN 2022 WAS AN UPDATE AND REALLY GUIDED A MAJOR PERIOD OF INVESTMENT FOR OUR PARK SYSTEM. AND THE 2027 PLAN FOCUSES ON STEWARDSHIP OPERATIONS AND EQUITABLE ACCESS ACROSS THE SYSTEM. SO JUST A REAL QUICK SNAPSHOT OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY. I JUST WANT TO GROUND US BY THE SCALE AND MAGNITUDE OF WHAT THE SYSTEM IS. TODAY. WE HAVE 9598 CITY PARKS, 702 ACRES OF PARK, PARK OWNED LAND, AND THEN MILES OF TRAILS AND OTHER NETWORK OF RIVER ACCESS NATURAL AREAS AND RECREATION FACILITIES. THE SYSTEM REALLY HAS GROWN QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE 2017 IN IN ITS IN ITS QUALITY, BUT ALSO IN ITS COMPLEXITY. SO JUST A QUICK TIMELINE. WE STARTED THIS PROCESS EARLIER THIS SPRING. PHASE ONE WAS PROJECT INITIATION SYSTEM INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS. WE THEN MOVED ON TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT THAT TOOK TOOK US THROUGH MAY THROUGH AUGUST. AND THEN WE RELEASED THAT TIME TO DEVELOP OUR PLAN TO DEVELOP OUR GOALS, OUR OBJECTIVES, AND OUR STRATEGIES. AND NOW WE'RE TO THE FINALIZATION OF THE PLAN. SO WE'RE HERE TODAY TO SET THE PUBLIC HEARING. WE WILL BE BACK ON DECEMBER 1ST TO LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY VOICE ON THE PLAN, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE APPROVALS BY THE PARK ADVISORY BOARD AND THEN FINALLY BACK HERE FOR ADOPTION ON DECEMBER 15TH. SO JUST GIVING A QUICK OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR VERY ROBUST ENGAGEMENT WAS. WE HAD EVENTS THAT EIGHT CITY PARKS, WE ENGAGED ONE ON ONE WITH 655 RESIDENTS, AND WE HAD 738 ONLINE SURVEY SURVEY RESPONSES, ALL LEADING US TO ONE COMMUNITY VISION. SO WHAT WE HEARD REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS WERE KIND OF TEN KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM THE COMMUNITY. AND YOU SEE THOSE UP ON YOUR SCREEN, BUT ESSENTIALLY IN MAINTAINING AND IMPROVING THE EXISTING PARKS, PROTECTING OUR NATURAL RESOURCES, ENSURING THAT FOLKS FROM EVERY SINGLE CORNER OF OUR CITY, EVERY WALK OF LIFE, EVERY AGE FAMILIES HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN PROGRAMING AND WITH NATURE. AND THROUGH THOSE KEY INITIATIVES, IT REAFFIRMED THE MASTER PLAN GOALS THAT WERE FIRST SET IN 2017, WHICH ARE CONNECTED NETWORK, NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS, HEALTHY COMMUNITY AND SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM. AND I WILL GET INTO KIND OF SOME DEFINITIONS OF WHAT THAT IS. SO THIS PLAN IS STRUCTURED VERY SIMILARLY TO THE CITY STRATEGIC PLAN. WE HAVE ALL FOUR OF THE OVERARCHING GOALS THAT I JUST MENTIONED. EACH GOAL CASCADES DOWN INTO OBJECTIVES, WHICH FURTHER CASCADE DOWN INTO STRATEGIES. AND SO I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EACH OBJECTIVE, BUT I DO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT REALLY THE THE UNDERLYING MISSION AND INITIATIVE IS FOR EACH OF THE PLAN GOALS. SO OUR CONNECTED NETWORK GOAL EMPHASIZES BUILDING A SEAMLESS SYSTEM OF PARKS, TRAILS, AND GREENWAYS AND WATERWAYS THAT MAKE IT EASY FOR RESIDENTS TO MOVE THROUGH THE CITY, REACH DESTINATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE NATURE. IT REFLECTS THE IDEA THAT THE VALUE OF THE PARK SYSTEM GROWS WHEN PARKS ARE LINKED PHYSICALLY, VISUALLY AND EXPERIENTIALLY. THIS GOAL STRENGTHENS NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, EXPANDS ACCESS TO THE GRAND RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES, AND IMPROVES EXPERIENCE ALONG THESE ROUTES. ULTIMATELY, IT CREATES A CREATE A A VERY COHESIVE PARK NETWORK THAT ENHANCES MOBILITY, RECREATION, ENVIRONMENTAL CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY. NEXT, I'LL FOCUS ON THE THE NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS OR THE HEALTHY COMMUNITY. SO OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITY GOAL RECOGNIZES THAT PARKS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE PHYSICAL, MENTAL, AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING OF GRAND RAPIDS RESIDENTS. THIS GOAL IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, ABILITIES, AND [00:15:03] BACKGROUNDS CAN MOVE, PLAY AND GATHER AND RESTORE AND CONNECT WITH NATURE IN MEANINGFUL WAYS ACROSS OUR PARK SYSTEM. IT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT HEALTH LOOKS DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE, AND IT POSITIONS OUR PARKS, NATURAL AREAS, AND RECREATION PROGRAMS AS EVERYDAY RESOURCES FOR WELLNESS. NEXT, OUR NEIGHBORHOOD INVESTMENTS GOAL. THIS FOCUSES ON SUSTAINING, OPTIMIZING, AND ENHANCING THE PARKS THAT RESIDENTS USE EVERY DAY. THIS GOAL REFLECTS WHAT WE HEARD CLEARLY THROUGH ENGAGEMENT. PEOPLE WANT CLEAN, SAFE, WELCOMING PARKS WITH THOUGHTFUL IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAKE DAILY EXPERIENCES BETTER. IT EMPHASIZES CARING FOR EXISTING ASSETS, IMPROVING COMFORT AND USABILITY, USABILITY, ADDRESSING DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS WITH NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENSURING THAT EVERY PARK CONTINUES TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITY WELL. AND THE FOURTH GOAL IS OUR SUSTAINABLE SYSTEM. AND THIS GOAL IS ABOUT ENSURING THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AND STEWARD THE PARK SYSTEM LONG TERM. OUR SYSTEM HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN SIZE, COMPLEXITY AND COMMUNITY EXPECTATIONS, AND IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT OUR MAINTENANCE PRACTICES, STAFFING, BUDGETS, TECHNOLOGY AND PARTNERSHIPS EVOLVE WITH IT. THIS GOAL STRENGTHENS THE OPERATIONAL BACKBONE OF THE DEPARTMENT BY EMPHASIZING CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE STANDARDS, PRIORITIZING REINVESTMENT IN AGING ASSETS, ALIGNING CAPACITY WITH SERVICE LEVELS, AND PLANNING FOR THE FULL LIFE CYCLE COST OF NEW AMENITIES. THIS GOAL HELPS ENSURE THAT EVERY DECISION WE MAKE TODAY SUPPORTS SUPPORTS A PARK SYSTEM THAT REMAINS SAFE AND RESILIENT AND HIGH QUALITY FOR GENERATIONS. SO I JUST REAL QUICK WANT TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR WHERE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THIS PLAN ON THURSDAY MORNING, WHICH IS OCTOBER 29TH. THE PLAN WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION PAGE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. IT WILL ALSO BE AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY AT FOUR OF OUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, INCLUDING THE MAIN LIBRARY, THE WEST SIDE BRANCH, THE VAN BELKUM BRANCH, SEYMOUR BRANCH AND COOK LIBRARY. YOU CAN ALSO SHOW UP ON DECEMBER 1ST AND SHARE SOME OF YOUR FEEDBACK. OR YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT THAT IN WRITING THERE WILL BE AN EMAIL BOX. IT'S UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT IT WILL ALSO BE ONLINE, OR YOU CAN MAIL THAT DIRECTLY TO THE PARKS DEPARTMENT. SO LOTS OF WAYS TO ENGAGE. I DO WANT TO JUST ALSO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FANTASTIC PARKS AND RECREATION TEAM THAT YOU SEE BEHIND ME SITTING IN THE SECOND ROW. WE HAVE FOLKS REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR MARKETING TEAM, OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM, PLANNING AND ENGAGEMENT, AND ALSO OUR OPERATIONS TEAM. WE ARE A VERY NEW AND FRESH AND VERY EXCITING TEAM, AND EACH ONE OF THESE PARK PROFESSIONALS SHARE THE SAME PASSION THAT I DO FOR SERVING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR OPEN SPACES. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEM. AND NOW I WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE. THANK YOU COLLEAGUES. WELL, COMMISSIONER, I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. CLEARLY, WE ALL ARE VERY LIKE YOU GUYS. GOT THIS. THANK YOU TO TO EVERYONE BEING HERE. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING GOOD, ROBUST COMMUNITY FEEDBACK ON THIS. I KNOW THE PLAN IS VERY THOROUGH. AND, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HIGHLIGHT LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I KNOW THAT ON THE FIRST WARD, PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING TO BE HAPPENING AT THE ROOSEVELT PARK LODGE. I'M SURE THAT'S PART OF THIS ASSET MANAGEMENT THAT'S IN THIS PLAN. WE'VE WE'VE, YOU KNOW, IT'S PLANS LIKE THIS THAT THINGS LIKE THE MLK LODGE COMES OUT OF AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO I DO THINK WE ARE STARTING TO LISTEN AND SHOW THAT HAVE THE RESULTS THAT SHOW THAT. AND I, I THINK THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE WHERE WE NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THE SOUTH SIDE CREEK WAYS, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OXFORD TRAIL AND WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THESE OTHER THINGS THAT SAY, OH, THAT'S A PARK, BUT THAT'S ALSO A BIKE TRAIL, THAT'S ALSO A COMMUTER, THAT'S ALSO A PLACE TO ENGAGE WITH MAYBE SOME ECONOMIC ACTIVITY, BUT IT'S ALSO A PLACE WHERE WE GET OUR HEALTH, WELL-BEING, AND SOCIAL NATURE MET. SO THEY ARE THEY ARE NOT EXTRA. THEY ARE PART OF THE FABRIC OF WHO WE ARE. THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK. THANK YOU. SO I WILL I WILL WEIGH IN HERE AS A, YOU KNOW, AS A RANDOM MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY, PERHAPS, BUT LOOKING AT THIS PLAN, THREE THINGS THAT I THINK ARE WORTH EMPHASIZING. I TEND TO THINK THAT PARKS IN CITIES ARE THEIR PRIMARY USE IS FOR PEOPLE. SO THEY'RE NOT NATURE PRESERVES. THEY'RE NOT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE OTHER PLACES, PERHAPS TO PRESERVE NATURE. WE GOT LOTS OF LAND OUTSIDE OF CITIES TO DO THAT. AND BUT THAT MEANS WHEN I LOOK AT PARKS, I REALLY AM LOOKING TO SEE WHERE DO I SEE COMMUNITY HAPPENING? AND I TEND TO SEE THAT HAPPENING IN PLACES IN STREET DESIGN, PEOPLE TALK ABOUT DESIRE LINES. YOU CAN SEE IN PARKS THAT PEOPLE ARE DOING WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING AND [00:20:04] WHAT'S POPULAR THAT PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DO. AND I THINK THAT I HONESTLY WONDER WHETHER THERE'S THERE'S MAYBE MORE EMPHASIS ON TRAILS AND CONNECTIVITY, WHICH IS ACTUALLY TURNS OUT TO BE A VERY EXPENSIVE THING TO DO THAN ON MORE NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUSED AND LESS, LESS HIGH DOLLAR OPERATIONS. SO, FOR EXAMPLE, I RELATE TO PARKS THAT I CAN WALK TO THAT ARE WITHIN A COUPLE BLOCKS OF MY HOUSE. I DON'T WANT TO GET IN A CAR AND GO TO A PARK, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T WANT TO BIKE ACROSS TOWN TO USE A PARK. I WANT TO USE A PARK IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND SO ONE OF OUR FOUNDATIONAL, YOU KNOW, PRINCIPLES WAS HAVE A PARK WITHIN A TEN MINUTE WALK OF EVERYONE. AND THAT'S IMPORTANT. BUT I ALSO THINK THAT I HOPE THAT THERE'S DISCUSSION AROUND HOW TO GET MORE INTENSIVE USE. SO MY, MY FAVORITE PARKS ARE THE PARK AT THE CORNER OF EASTERN AND DIAMOND, WHICH IS ALWAYS FILLED WITH PEOPLE, OR A PLEASANT PARK, WHICH IS IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH IS ALWAYS FILLED WITH PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE THINGS FOR PEOPLE TO DO. IT'S A VERY THEY'RE VERY SMALL PARKS, BUT THEY'RE VERY INTENSIVELY USED. THEY HAVE PLAYGROUNDS AND THEY HAVE PING PONG TABLES AND. AND LITTLE LOOPS THAT PEOPLE CAN RUN ON. YOU DON'T NEED A 20 MILE LOOP TO RUN ON. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE RUN ON TRACKS. SO IT'S POSSIBLE TO GET THOSE IN MUCH SMALLER SPACES. BUT THEN, OF COURSE, IT'S ALSO TRUE THAT SOMETHING LIKE, AND I'VE SAID THIS BEFORE, BUT SOMETHING LIKE 42% OF OUR RESIDENTS OWN A DOG. AND I THINK THAT WE REALLY, REALLY NEED TO UP OUR GAME ON LETTING PEOPLE HAVE PLACES THEY CAN TAKE THEIR DOGS. AND I THINK THAT THAT'S ACTUALLY A HUGE PART OF COMMUNITY SAFETY. IT'S A HUGE PART OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, AND I THINK THAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE AN EMPHASIS ON, ON CREATING MORE SPACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN GATHER AND BUILD COMMUNITY TOGETHER. SO HEALTH IS GOOD, BUT I CAN ALSO DO HEALTH ON AN EXERCISE MACHINE. I THINK THAT FOR ME, I HOPE THAT THERE'S AN EMPHASIS ON THE REAL COMMUNITY BUILDING ASPECT OF PARKS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT FUNCTION THAT PARKS PROVIDE IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD COMMUNITY. SO I HOPE OUR DISCUSSION CAN FOCUS ON THAT. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT YEAH, THIS IS GREAT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. WONDERING BECAUSE WE'VE HAD MULTIPLE CONVERSATIONS, MYSELF AND COMMISSIONER SASSY WITH OTHER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE DONE, WHAT THE TIMELINE IS FOR, THINGS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ASKING FOR, SIGNAGE, PARK BENCHES, CLEAN OUTS, GOING INTO CERTAIN AREAS THAT PEOPLE TRY TO USE, BUT THEY CAN'T BECAUSE OF ALL OF THAT AND HOW HOW THIS WILL IMPACT SOME OF THOSE THINGS. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE VERY VOCAL ABOUT NOT FEELING LIKE THEY'RE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, RIGHT? FEELING A LITTLE STEPCHILD THERE. AND SO REALLY TRYING TO LOOK AT THE BROADER COMMUNITY AND BRINGING EVERYBODY INTO THAT SPACE AND HOW WE ARE BUILDING UP ASSETS IN THERE, HOW WE'RE SUPPORTING THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR. LIKE THEY HAVE A SCHOOL OVER THERE THAT'S CLOSED DOWN, THAT'S GETTING READY TO BE TORN DOWN. SO THERE'S LIKE 11 ACRES THAT HAVE SOME POTENTIAL AND POSSIBILITY OVER THERE. SO REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW THAT PLAYS INTO THE STRATEGIC PLAN. UNFORTUNATELY, I COULDN'T OPEN IT AT ALL THE DOCUMENTS, SO I HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN ABLE TO READ THROUGH THE WHOLE THING, BUT WOULD JUST BE VERY INTERESTED IN HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PULLING IN ALL PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY INTO THIS SPACE. AND THEN JUST, JUST WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS ADDRESSING THE NEEDS IN EVERY PART OF THE COMMUNITY. COMMISSIONER STACY, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR THE OVERVIEW AND THANKS FOR HIGHLIGHTING THE TEAM, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS LIKE TRUE LEADERSHIP. SO NOT ABLE TO KNOW EVERYBODY INDIVIDUALLY, BUT CERTAINLY AT, YOU KNOW, GROUNDBREAKINGS AND RIBBON CUTTINGS, THOSE ARE THE MOST EXCITING THINGS. BUT I WANT THE TEAM TO KNOW THAT IN BETWEEN THAT, WE KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FRUSTRATION AND THERE'S A LOT OF EMAILS AND UNCERTAINTY, RIGHT? FUNDING DIFFERENT THINGS THAT YOU ALL APPLY FOR. I THINK IT CAN'T BE UNDERSTATED. THE AMOUNT OF BRAIDING AND MAXIMIZING WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS. I THINK ABOUT JUST THIS PAST YEAR, THERE WAS SOME INVASIVE SPECIES AND ACTUALLY WAS SOMEBODY THAT WAS RIGHT ON THE TOWNSHIP. BUT LAURA, YOU AND THE TEAM WERE ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHAT STEWARDSHIP AND BEING THE SECOND LARGEST CITY IN THIS STATE IS. WE DO NEED TO THINK ABOUT HOW ARE WE THAT STRATEGIC PARTNER ACROSS DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR HOUSE, BUT WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THAT AND PEOPLE RELY ON US. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. I THINK, YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IF I THINK ABOUT THE TOP THINGS THAT COME TO ME IS, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY I REMEMBER GOING TO GARFIELD PARK AND THE SWIMMING POOL WHEN I WAS A LITTLE KID. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, PUTTING MY LITTLE QUARTER IN THE LOCKERS. AND, YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE CHANGED OVER THE [00:25:04] YEARS. NOW, I TAKE MY NIECE AND NEPHEW TO THE SPLASH PAD, AND THEY LOVE IT BECAUSE THEY CAN WALK THERE FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD. SO I'M HEARING MY COLLEAGUES AND I THINK IT IS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DO WANT TO WALK TO THOSE AMENITIES. AND ALSO WHERE ARE THE WHERE'S THE FLEXIBILITY? AS COMMISSIONER KNIGHT SAID, WHEN WE HAVE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT COME ONLINE, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE, LAURA, AND THE TEAM TO THESE CHANGES THAT ARE RIGHT. WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT FROM AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE, BUT I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT, HAVE BEEN A PARTNER THERE TO TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, ABOUT WHAT MAY BE. AND SO WHAT I CAN TELL FROM THE PRESENTATION IS THAT WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM. WE'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THINGS THAT WE ABSOLUTELY MUST PLAN FOR. AND I THINK THIS IS PUTTING US IN A REALLY GOOD POSITION. CITY MANAGER, WE KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL. YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW SENATOR IN OUR STATE NO MATTER WHAT. THERE'S GOING TO BE A NEW GOVERNOR NO MATTER WHAT. AND SO AND NEW, YOU KNOW, POTENTIALLY NEW LEGISLATURES ACROSS THE LEGISLATURE, ACROSS THE STATE. AND SO I THINK HAVING A PLAN LIKE THIS HELPS US TO BE BEST PREPARED TO SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO PRESENT THEMSELVES, WHICH I THINK ALWAYS HAPPENS AT THE FRONT END OF AN ADMINISTRATION. SO WHAT I'M WHAT I'M HEARING FROM THIS PLAN IS WHAT'S THE LONG TERM PLAN? SOME OF THIS IS ALSO REALIZING INVESTMENTS FROM ARPA AND THINGS THAT WE'VE HAD IN PLACE. AND SO WE'VE GOT TO KIND OF CONTINUE TO STEWARD THAT. AND THEN HOW DO WE RESPOND TO THINGS LIKE, HEY, GR IS MAYBE GOING TO BE GETTING RID OF THIS AND THEN WE DON'T KNOW AND THEN IT'S GOING TO BE A DEMOLITION. BUT YOU KNOW, MAYOR, YOU AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THAT STUFF IS GOING TO BE MAYBE UNKNOWN FOR THE SHORT TIME, BUT HOW DO WE DO THINGS THAT ARE FLEXIBLE? AND I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOUR DESIRE. I DON'T HAVE A DOG. MY HUSBAND SAID I CAN GET ONE IF I STAY HOME THREE NIGHTS OUT OF FIVE DAYS. SO MAYBE I CAN COME VISIT PHIL'S DOG, I DON'T KNOW. AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO, YOU KNOW, LIFT OUT HERE. AND THEN IT CANNOT BE UNDERSTATED WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OTHER INVESTMENTS THAT ARE TIED IN THE CITY. AND I KNOW I'M GOING A LITTLE LONG, BUT THIS IS A REALLY BIG DEAL WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT WHAT IS THE PARK, TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT THEIR COMMUNITY AND GREAT STORIES LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO STEAL THIS FROM MY THIRD WARD COMMISSIONERS, BUT BAXTER COMMUNITY AND THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BAXTER NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE CENTER HAVE DONE TO REALLY SAY, THIS IS OUR PARK, WE ARE GOING TO RECLAIM THIS FOR EDUCATION, FOR COMMUNITY BUILDING THAT DON'T LET US BE THE SINGLE STORY OR THESE MULTIPLE STORIES. WE'RE GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU THIS, THIS STORY. AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, THE DEPARTMENT DID DURING COVID AND DURING THAT YEAR OF 2022, WHEN THERE WAS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY AND PEOPLE, MAYBE WE'RE FEELING A CERTAIN WAY ABOUT ABOUT CERTAIN PARKS, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE HAVE THAT IN THE SECOND WARD, TOO. AND SO I JUST WANT TO SAY IT'S WE'RE MANAGING FEDERAL INVESTMENT, STATE INVESTMENT. WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL? YOU'RE WORKING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY TO MAKE THIS TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU'VE ALSO GOT THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE PARKS, YOU'VE GOT THE TREE CANOPY IN THE PARK. SO THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS TO CONSIDER. SO I KNOW THAT THERE WILL BE THIS PUBLIC HEARING. I TOO, YOU KNOW, HAVEN'T DUG INTO THIS FURTHER. AND SO I THINK THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HAVE SO THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE OUR INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, PIECES AND HOW DO WE MAKE THAT COME TO FRUITION SO LONG? BUT BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF APPRECIATION AND YOU MIGHT BE IN MY TOP THREE OF PEOPLE THAT I'M WRITING TO ON A WEEKLY BASIS. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER PERDUE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. THANK YOU, TEAM, FOR ALL YOUR WORK. I DO FEEL LIKE THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE TEAMS I SEE THE MOST, BECAUSE OF ALL THE EXCITING NEW WORK HAPPENING IN THE PARK SYSTEM. SO THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT THE PLAN WILL BE RELEASED THURSDAY. YOU SAID MADE PUBLIC. BUT LOOKING AT THIS OVERVIEW, I MEAN, THIS FEELS VERY COMPREHENSIVE SHORT TERM, LONG TERM. AND I LIKE HOW YOU'VE KIND OF ORGANIZED THESE THESE FOUR KEY AREAS AS WELL. MY FEEDBACK WOULD BE LIKE, WHEN I THINK ABOUT OUR, OUR SYSTEM, I THINK IT'S A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S DESIGNED WITH ALL USERS IN MIND AND ALL TYPES OF USERS. I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WE TALK ABOUT HOW, HOW UPKEPT AND NICE AND PLEASURABLE A SPACE IS, BUT IT ALSO NEEDS TO BE FEASIBLE FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS EVERYTHING FROM PHYSICAL ABILITY TO INTEREST AND DIFFERENT USERS OF OUR SYSTEM. SOMEONE WITH A DOG, SOMEONE WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, SOMEONE WHO IS SINGLE AND A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL. SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO HAMMOCK. SOMEONE WHO LIKES TO PLAY GOLF, FRISBEE, PLAY SPORTS IN THE PARKS, ARE ALL GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT NEEDS AND ACCESS POINTS. AND SO FOR ME, I THINK WE HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL SPACE, ALMOST 100 ACRES. I'M LIKE, HOW DO WE GET TWO MORE ACRES TO MOVE FROM 92 TO 100 TO MAKE THAT EASIER TO SAY. BUT NO, IT WAS OVER 1700 ACRES, 9298 PARKS, I THINK WAS YEAH, YEAH, TWO MORE PARKS. BUT [00:30:07] YEAH, I MEAN, WE HAVE SUCH AMAZING ASSETS AND I APPRECIATE YOU KIND OF GROUNDING US IN THE CONTEXT OF WHERE THIS STARTED IN 2017. WE'RE CONTINUING TO BUILD. AND PART OF THAT IS, I THINK, REINTRODUCING PEOPLE TO THEIR PARKS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF WHAT CAN HAPPEN THERE. BECAUSE FOR SO LONG, MOST FOLKS DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS. THEY WEREN'T KEPT IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE NOW. AND CERTAINLY I THINK WE ACHIEVED 83% WALKABILITY, TEN MINUTE WALKABILITY. BUT THAT WASN'T THE CASE TEN YEARS AGO, 15, 20 YEARS AGO. SO WE NEED TO REORIENT FOLKS TO USE THESE PARKS. SO I THINK FOR ME, ENSURING THAT THAT IS EXPLICIT OF ALL TYPES OF USERS AND ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN ACTIVATE A SPACE AND ENSURING THAT THAT ACCESS AND ACTIVATION IS EASY. AND THAT INCLUDES SPECIAL EVENTS WITHIN THE CITY, AS WELL AS JUST INFORMAL KIND OF MEETUPS AND HANGING OUT. MY FINAL THING IS, YOU KNOW, I, I DISAGREE WITH THE MAYOR ON THE PURPOSE OF PARKS AND THEIR ROLE IN SUPPORTING HEALTH. I THINK THEY ARE ESSENTIAL FOR SUPPORTING HEALTH. I THINK THEY'RE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO ENGAGE IN ENVIRONMENTALISM AS WELL AS CONNECT WITH COMMUNITY. I THINK I THINK THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF PARKS. THEY DO ALL THREE THINGS, PROBABLY PLUS MORE, WHICH IS ALL THE MORE REASON WHY WE CAN, WHY WE SHOULD BE THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT HOW TO BEST LEVERAGE THEM. SO THANK YOU ALL. I WANT TO KEEP THAT HEALTH PIECE IN THERE. I KNOW IT'S A HUGE IT'S A HUGE PILLAR, BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT'S EXPLICITLY THERE AND CONNECTS WITH THE IDEA OF ALL USERS AND ACCESS. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. SURE. AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR THE PUSHBACK, COMMISSIONER. I DIDN'T MEAN TO SUGGEST THAT, YOU KNOW, ENVIRONMENTAL I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WORK ON INVASIVE SPECIES AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. AND, YOU KNOW, HAVING HAVING DIFFERENT SPECIES OF PARKS. I TOOK MY KIDS OUT AND WE DID THE, THE LEAF COLLECTION STUFF WHEN THEY WERE AT SCHOOL. AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S PARKS CAN DO ALL OF THAT. AND OF COURSE, THEY CAN DO FITNESS LIKE A LOT OF US WORK OUT IN PARKS. BUT I THINK THAT WE ARE A CITY. AND WHAT I WANTED TO SAY WAS, I THINK THE THE PRIMARY USE OF PARKS IS ARE THEY GOOD FOR OUR PEOPLE? BECAUSE WE, AFTER ALL, ARE REPRESENTING PEOPLE FIRST AND FOREMOST. I MEAN, WE CAN DO OTHER THINGS TOO. BUT I WANT TO KEEP I WANT TO KEEP THE PRIMACY OF HUMAN USE AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR OF OUR CONSCIOUSNESS. THAT'S ALL I REALLY MEANT TO SAY. BUT. COMMISSIONER STACEY. YEAH, AND THIS IS PROBABLY NOT JUST FOR LAURA, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TIME FRAME. WE HAVE THIS PLAN, BUT THEN WE JUST GOT DONE. WAS IT TWO MEETINGS AGO OR THE LAST MEETING? WE REVIEWED OUR NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY. AND SO THIS WAS I CAN'T REMEMBER THE. AND MR. MATTHEWS WALKED OUT. RIGHT, RIGHT WHEN I WAS GOING TO CALL UPON HIM. BUT NO, I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD TO JUST CROSS-REFERENCE THOSE SORTS OF PIECES LIKE. SO MAYBE WHEN THIS DOES GO OUT THERE, COULD WE HIGHLIGHT THAT NATIONAL COMMUNITY SURVEY CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE THAT IS A, YOU KNOW, STATISTICAL GROUP OF PEOPLE. SO. RIGHT. WE'RE ALL INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE WITH THE THINGS THAT WE WANT AND WE HEAR FROM PEOPLE. BUT IF WE COULD CROSS-REFERENCE THAT AND THEN WE DO THAT. SO THEN, AS YOU KNOW, WE MAKE THIS PLAN, BUT THEN WE HAVE THAT CONTINUOUSLY. SO THEN THAT HELPS US. AND I KNOW YOU ALL LOOK AT THAT. SO I JUST DIDN'T I DON'T THINK THAT'S JUST A LAURA THING. THAT CERTAINLY COULD BE A LOT OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ENGAGE IN THESE LONG TERM PLANS. THANK YOU. THANKS. OKAY. THANKS FOR THE PRESENTATION AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK, EVERYONE. AND THANKS TO ALL YOUR STAFF AND ONWARD TO COMMUNITY DISCUSSION. THANKS. NOW WE HAVE TO VOTE. ALL IN FAVOR OF MOVING US ON TO A PUBLIC HEARING ON DECEMBER 1ST. SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. BRINGS US TO OUR FINAL RESOLUTION [6. Resolution establishing November 10, 2026 as the date for the City Commission to consider a Zoning Ordinance text amendment modifying the allowable uses in the Grand River Overlay District.] ACTION. AND THAT IS ESTABLISHING NOVEMBER 10TH AS A DAY FOR CITY COMMISSION TO CONSIDER A ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT MODIFYING THE ALLOWABLE USES FOR THE GRAND RIVER OVERLAY DISTRICT. I HAVE A MOTION SO MOVED AND OUR DEVELOPMENT OFFICE IS. PARDON ME NOT NOT PLANNING DIRECTOR. WHAT THE PLANNING DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF PLANNING. I WAS CONFUSED. PLANNING AND ECON DEVELOPMENT BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF THE SAME THING, RIGHT? SO MY BRAIN JUST DIDN'T GO THERE. SO. YES, MR. NICHOLSON, THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. COMMISSION. I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT A RECOMMENDATION THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION. THIS IS SPECIFIC TO ELIMINATING SELF STORAGE USES FROM BEING PERMISSIBLE WITHIN OUR GRAND RIVER OVERLAY. THIS WAS ACTUALLY PART OF A BROADER CONSIDERATION BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE PLANNING COMMISSION. BUT ULTIMATELY, WE WE TEASE THIS APART A LITTLE BIT, AS NOTED IN THE STAFF REPORT, BECAUSE WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT MIGHT IMPACT EXISTING BUSINESSES ALONG THE GRAND RIVER HAD A SPECIFIC CONVERSATION OR ENGAGEMENT WITH THOSE PARTICULAR BUSINESSES AND, AND PROPERTY OWNERS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE WERE CAREFUL OR MINDFUL AND NOT TO CREATE [00:35:06] NONCONFORMING USES THAT WOULD AFFECT A EXISTING BUSINESSES ABILITY TO INVEST AND EXPAND AT THAT LOCATION WITHOUT HAVING DIRECT CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THAT CHANGE MIGHT MEAN FOR THEIR BUSINESS, AND WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WHAT PLANS EXIST TODAY FOR THEM. THERE ARE NO LEGAL KNOWN SELF STORAGE FACILITIES ALONG THE GRAND RIVER. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF ZONING DISTRICTS THAT ENCOMPASS THAT ARE WITHIN OUR GRAND RIVER OVERLAY. AND AS WE SEE RIVERFRONT PROPERTIES BEING REDEVELOPED OR BECOMING AVAILABLE, I THINK MANY OF US HAD THE CONCERN THAT SELF STORAGE CERTAINLY DOES NOT SEEM TO COMPORT WITH THE PLANS AND THE CONVERSATIONS THAT THE CITY HAS HAD AS BEING AN ACTIVE, VIBRANT USE THAT SERVE TO SUPPORT THE VISION THAT WE HAVE FOR THE GRAND RIVER PROPERTIES. AND SO WITH THAT, WE TEASE THIS APART A LITTLE BIT AND CREATED A PRETTY SIMPLE, I THINK, ZONING RECOMMENDATION TO SIMPLY ELIMINATE SELF STORAGE FROM BEING A PERMISSIBLE USE THAT COULD BE ASKED EITHER BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION OR BEING CONSIDERED BY CITY STAFF TO MOVE FORWARD. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. GREAT. THANK YOU. THAT'S AND I APPRECIATE THE FORWARD THINKING ANALYSIS HERE. THIS IS. SO I THINK IT'S A VERY WELL MADE POINT. I HAVE A TECHNICAL QUESTION TO ASK, IF I MIGHT. THE FIRST REACTION I HAD WHEN I HEARD SELF STORAGE WAS I AM I AM DREAMING OF A DAY WHEN I WILL BE ABLE TO SELF STORE MY KAYAK ON THE RIVER BOAT LOCKERS. I ASSUME THAT WOULDN'T CONSTITUTE SELF SELF SELF STORAGE AS DEFINED BY THE CODE MEANS PUTTING MY OLD OLD, YOU KNOW, FURNITURE IN A LOCKER. I MEAN IT'S IT'S YEAH, EXACTLY THE WAY THE CITY'S ZONING ORDINANCE DEFINES SELF STORAGE IS, IS WHAT MATTERS. AND IT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO SEE. AND WE DO HAVE SEVERAL FACILITIES ALONG 28TH STREET, FOR EXAMPLE, I THINK ALPINE AVENUE HAS SEVERAL DEPENDING ON THE GEOGRAPHIES MIGHT BE IN THE CITY OR MIGHT NOT BE. SO IT IS NARROWLY DEFINED. IT WOULD NOT SPEAK TO THE THE BOAT LOCKER. OKAY, GOOD THAT THAT WAS MY ONLY QUESTION. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COLLEAGUES? GREAT. THANKS FOR THE BRIEFING AND THANK YOU. I HAVE NO NO FURTHER SEEING, NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE RESOLUTION, SAY AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR BUDGET FOLLOW UP. OH, [7. Motion to go into closed session.] I'M SORRY. BEFORE WE GO THERE, I HAVE A REQUEST FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY THAT WE MOVE TO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS PENDING LITIGATION. FOLLOWING OUR BUDGET DISCUSSION. CAN I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVE SUPPORT. AND THAT'S A ROLL CALL VOTE COMMISSIONER. KILGORE. YES, COMMISSIONER. KNIGHT. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. COMMISSIONER. PERDUE. YES. COMMISSIONER. YES. [ FY 2027 Budget Follow-Up Discussion] MAYOR LAGRANGE. YES. THAT BRINGS US TO OUR BUDGET FOLLOW UP DISCUSSION. AND CITY MANAGER, YOU PROBABLY WANT TO KICK THIS OFF, BUT TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY, THERE WERE SOME ITEMS THAT WERE GOING TO HAVE TO COME UP FOR OUR CONSIDERATION MID-YEAR. COUPLE STAFFING POSITIONS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE FULL YEAR FUNDING FOR. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT. THANK YOU MAYOR. BEFORE I BEGIN, LET ME MORE ON A LIGHTER NOTE, THANK THIS BODY, THE APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE, FOR ADVANCING FORWARD FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION THIS EVENING, THE APPOINTMENT TO YOUR MAYOR, YOUTH YOUTH COUNCIL, WHO IS HERE IN FULL FORCE THIS MORNING. I WANT TO WELCOME THEM AND THANK MISS HARRIS FOR CONTINUING TO ORGANIZE THAT. CONGRATULATIONS. AND THERE YOU ARE, REPRESENTATIVES THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY FROM NINTH TO 12TH GRADE, ABOUT 23 OF THEM. AND THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO START WITH THAT, WELL PLAYED, MISS HARRIS, IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN ONE OF THE OUTCOMES OF YOUR DELIBERATIONS HERE. SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING OUR DISCUSSIONS VERY CLOSELY. NO PRESSURE. AS THEY SHOULD. SO TODAY WE WANT TO CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION THAT WE BEGIN, AS THE MAYOR INDICATED DURING OUR YEAR END BRIEFING, AROUND ITEMS THAT WERE PARTIALLY FUNDED DURING THE BUDGET. AND IT ESSENTIALLY INVOLVES FOUR AREAS, THREE POSITIONS. AND OF THE FOUR YEARS, THERE ARE THREE POSITIONS AND ONE PROGRAM. SO THERE ARE TWO GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS THAT ARE BEING. SCHEDULED TO BE DELETED AT DECEMBER 31ST IF THERE IS NO CONTINUED FUNDING, AND PER OUR POLICY, WE DON'T ASSUME CONTINUED FUNDING WITHOUT POSITIVE ACTION FROM THE COMMISSION. WE RECENTLY DISCOVERED AFTER THE BUDGET WE ANTICIPATED PARTNERSHIP, THE LONG STANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND GRPS TO CONTINUE WITH OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN IN THE CITY, FUNDED ONE HALF OF A POSITION IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, FUNDED THE OTHER HALF. SINCE THEIR BUDGET, ADOPTION AND BUDGET REDUCTIONS [00:40:05] IN. SOME OF THE SCHOLARS THAT ARE HERE TODAY WILL NOW GO BACK TO THE SCHOOL BOARD AND TALK ABOUT THIS GRPS HAS NOT FUNDED HALF OF THE POSITION IN THEIR PROPOSED BUDGET. WHICH LEAVES US LIKEWISE TO MAKE A DECISION ON CONTINUATION OF THE PROGRAM. AND THE LAST ITEM IS ON THE COMMUNICATION SUPPORT CONTRACT THAT EXPIRES DECEMBER 31ST, IN WHICH SEAFORD IS CURRENTLY PROVIDING, THAT ALLOWS ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE WARD COMMISSIONERS. SO THE FIRST POSITION IS IN THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND ENGAGEMENT, AND IT SUPPORTS CAPACITY BUILDING FOR MINORITY AND WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. AND YOU'VE SEEN THEIR WORK ON PROJECTS RELATED TO WHITEWATER AND OTHER. MAKE SURE THERE'S INCLUSION AND PARTICIPATORY ENGAGEMENT AND NEW DEVELOPMENTS. SOME OF OUR. EVEN OUR PARK PROJECTS ALSO, THIS POSITION HELPS US WITH THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE THIRD WARD EQUITY FUND PROGRAMS THAT EVOLVE AROUND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND HALF OF THE YEAR FUNDING FOR THAT POSITION IS ABOUT 78,000. A FULL YEAR COST, AS YOU CAN SEE, IS OVER 150,000. THE OTHER POSITION IS IN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND IT IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST FOR ENERGY AND CARBON, AND IT HELPS US WITH ADDRESSING SOME OF OUR ENERGY SAVINGS AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION GOALS AND INITIATIVES ACROSS THE CITY, BOTH INTERNALLY AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO HELPS US WITH OUR CAP MONITORING AND INVENTORY AND REPORTING. AND YOU CAN SEE A HALF YEARS COST FOR THAT POSITION, 63,000 AND A FULL YEAR AT 126,000. THE ENHANCED COMMUNICATION SUPPORT PROGRAM WITH SEIFERTH PR IS $100,000 ANNUALLY. WE HAVE 50,000 IN THE BUDGET, AND WE AGREED TO REVISIT THAT ITEM PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION. AND THEN THE LAST IS OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN. AND YOU'RE WELL AWARE THE PROGRAM SUPPORT AND HELPING WITH MANY INITIATIVES LIKE THE MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, THE GROW 1000 PROGRAM, TWO COLLEGE THROUGH COLLEGE, AND MANY OTHER PROGRAMS TO HELP WITH AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUTH. THE FUNDING FOR THAT POSITION ANNUALLY IS 184,000, WITH A HALF YEAR COST AT 92,000. AND YOU CAN SEE IN AGGREGATE ALL FOUR OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND POSITIONS, SIX MONTHS COST ABOUT 283,000, DOUBLE THAT FOR FULL YEAR'S COST. THAT WOULD HAVE TO BE ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD ASSUME THAT WOULD BE CONTINUED IN FISCAL YEAR 27. THE CHALLENGE AND THE REASON WHY WE HAD TO PAUSE DURING THE BUDGET ADOPTION. WE HAD ABOUT 144,000 TO BALANCE IN THE BUDGET WHEN WE ADOPTED THE BUDGET. AND AS YOU CAN SEE, WE WERE ABLE TO FUND SIX MONTHS, BUT TO FUND THE ENTIRE YEAR WILL REQUIRE US TO USE SOME FUND BALANCE RESERVE. IF WE WERE TO FUND ALL PROGRAMS, WE WE WILL ACTUALLY. AT YOUR WORK SESSION, WE'LL ALSO DO A FINANCIAL UPDATE. THERE WERE ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS THAT WERE MADE INTENTIONALLY TO THE BUDGET AFTER IT WAS ADOPTED, BUT WE'RE STILL IN A GOOD FINANCIAL CASH POSITION. BUT WE'LL CERTAINLY NEED TO BE VERY MINDFUL OF FUTURE AMENDMENTS MOVING FORWARD, PARTICULARLY WITH THE EVER GROWING ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. SO AGAIN, YOUR OPTIONS TODAY, WE'D LIKE TO CONSIDER WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SUPPORT THE BALANCE OF THE SIX MONTH FUNDING FOR ALL PROGRAMS OR FUND PARTIALLY SOME OF THE PROGRAMS UP TO THE 144,000 WITHOUT USING FUND, BALANCE, RESERVE OR CHOOSE TO MAKE ANOTHER DECISION AND ALLOW THE PROGRAMS TO EXPIRE. SO THAT IS OUR OPTIONS TODAY. WE ARE CERTAINLY RECOMMENDING THE CONTINUATION OF THOSE PROGRAMS WITH NO REDUCTION IN SERVICES. COLLEAGUES. COMMISSIONER BELICHICK, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO OUR ATTENTION, ESPECIALLY ABOUT THE OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN. I THINK AT WELL, I DID AT AN EARLIER COMMITTEE MEETING, JUST HIGHLIGHT THAT WHEN I WAS AT MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, THERE WERE OTHER CITIES AND AND EXECUTIVE OFFICIALS ASKING, WHAT IS GRAND RAPIDS DO TO SUPPORT CHILDREN AND GET YOUTH INVOLVED IN CIVICS AND YOUTH INVOLVED IN HAVING A VOICE IN HOW CITY GOVERNMENT AND WHAT THEIR COMMUNITY LOOKS LIKE. AND [00:45:02] I WAS ABLE TO SHARE ALL THE THINGS, INCLUDING OUR MAYOR'S YOUTH COUNCIL, WHICH WAS A BIG HIGHLIGHT, HOW WE HAVE SO MANY SUCH A ROBUST AVAILABILITY AND PROGRAMING FOR OUR YOUTH AND CENTERING THEM AS THE FUTURE LEADERS. SO IT IS VERY CONCERNING TO ME TO HEAR THAT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THEIR FINANCIAL CONCERNS AND BUDGETING TO CONSIDER, BUT I, I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE SOME TIME TO VERY MUCH PUSH BACK ON THEM, TO HAVE THEM CONTRIBUTE TO THE ONGOING BENEFIT OF THE THE LEADERS THAT ARE RIGHT HERE. 23 OF THEM. THANK YOU. AS YOU SAID, WELL PLAYED. BUT IT'S ALSO TIMELY BECAUSE MANY OF THEM I HAVE INTERACTED WITH IN THE PAST. AND I THINK WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE AT OUR ARCHIVE FOR THE MUSEUM LAUNCHED WHEN WE HAD OUR NEW EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES AND PUBLIC EXHIBIT VIEWING AREA LAUNCH. SO HE, HE OR HERE. NICE TO SEE YOU. THESE ARE VERY BRIGHT PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE DESERVING THE INVESTMENT. AND SO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THAT IF THEY CAN. AND IF NOT, HOW CAN WE HELP THEM? AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THE LIAISON TEAM WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT CAN TAKE ON. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO AT LEAST PUSH BACK A LITTLE BIT THERE. I CONCUR WITH YOU THAT IN GENERAL, ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE SHOULD FIND WAYS TO FUND THEM. COMMISSIONER KNIGHT YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, AND THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION. JUST REFLECTING BACK BEFORE I BECAME A PART OF THIS COMMISSION, I REMEMBER DURING THE PANDEMIC THAT I GOT A PHONE CALL TO GATHER A BUNCH OF PEOPLE TOGETHER TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE WERE GOING TO SUPPORT OUR YOUTH IN THIS COMMUNITY. THEY ALSO ASKED FOR A FRIED PORK CHOP, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE ONE OF THOSE AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, I WAS A PART OF HAPPILY A PART AND GRATEFULLY A PART OF HELPING TO CREATE THAT PROGRAM AND PUT IN PLACE MENTORS TO HELP SUPPORT OUR YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK THAT WAS VERY VITAL AT THAT TIME. I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES AT ALL. AND BECAUSE WE DON'T CONTROL ANYONE ELSE'S BUDGET. SO I REMEMBER BEING A PART OF THAT MEETING WHEN WE HEARD THIS INFORMATION. AND WE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, ORGANIZATIONS AND PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING ACROSS OUR, OUR, OUR CITY AND ACROSS THE COUNTY AND ACROSS THE NATION. HOWEVER, OUR YOUTH ARE THE ONES THAT ARE GOING TO START TAKING UP THE SPACES THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY OCCUPYING. AND I THINK IF WE DIVERT FROM KEEPING THE FOCUS ON WHO'S COMING UP NEXT AND EDUCATING THEM AND PROVIDING THAT THAT ACCESS FOR THEM, THE OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS, THE T.C. T.C. STUDIO THAT HELPS THEM FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCESS THE SERVICES THEY NEED SO THAT THEY CAN FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION, PROVIDING OPEN DOORS AND PLATFORMS FOR THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR VOICE, TO CREATE A COMMUNITY IN A WORLD THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE FUTURE, THAT WE WILL BE CREATING A HUGE DEFICIT FOR US AS WE MOVE FORWARD. AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THIS WORK. I KNOW IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A STRUGGLE. AND SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE NEED TO TIGHTEN OUR BELTS. BUT I THINK OUR YOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITIES IS WORTH THAT, THAT SHIFT AND WORTH THAT CHANGE. AND, AND I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT WORK AS WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD. YEAH. COMMISSIONER STACEY, THANK YOU. MAYOR. MY APOLOGIES. I HAD TO STEP OUT FOR A SECOND, BUT THANK YOU, CITY MANAGER, FOR THIS OVERVIEW. ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, AND MAYBE THIS WILL BE MORE WHEN WE MEET IN NOVEMBER, BUT DID WE RECEIVE THE MONEY FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND AND THE ROAD FUNDING? SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE WE RECEIVED THOSE FULL FUNDING THAT WE ANTICIPATED. PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND, I'M NOT SURE, ON THE ROAD FUNDING YET. I'LL SAY WE RECEIVED SOME NOT THE FULL AMOUNT, BUT SO SO IT'S WILL WE. THE WE RECEIVED TWO PAYMENTS ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD ROADS FUND. OKAY. AND THEN PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND, I BELIEVE WE'VE ONLY RECEIVED ONE PAYMENT SO FAR. WE'RE HOPING THEY'RE FALLING INTO THE SCHEDULE OF THE REST OF THE REVENUE SHARING WHERE WE RECEIVE IT EVERY OTHER MONTH. SO I WILL LET YOU KNOW AT THE END OF THIS MONTH IF WE HAVE ANOTHER PAYMENT FROM THEM. YEAH, THANKS. I THINK THAT'S FOR ME. THOSE ARE THE PICTURES BECAUSE TO ME, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT ESSENTIALLY WE'RE BUILDING THIS BUDGET, SOME OF THE BUDGET AROUND. SO FOR ME, I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, NUMBER ONE, FOR ME, I, I, I DON'T THINK, COMMISSIONER, YOU TALKED ABOUT GOING BACK TO GR. I THINK THEY'VE MADE THEIR DECISION ABOUT THEIR BUDGET. WE WERE AT THE WE WERE AT THE LIAISON COLLEAGUES THE OTHER DAY, AND MISS HARRIS GAVE AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION. AND AND YOU ALL HAVE SEEN IN THE LAST MEETING OTHER DOLLARS THAT THEY HAVE PULLED IN TO SUPPORT THIS WORK, AND I JUST DON'T I CAN'T SPEAK TO THEIR BUDGET, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT IS NOT AN AVENUE. I'M JUST GOING TO SAY. SO FOR ME, I THINK THAT I WOULD WANT TO I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS [00:50:06] POSITION BECAUSE I THINK THIS IF WE WE GOT TO MAKE SURE. I THINK IT'S SUPPORTED FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT MY COLLEAGUE SHARED, BUT MORE SO WE NEED THAT ROLE BECAUSE IF YOU SEE IT'S NOT JUST THE DEPARTMENT, IT'S THE ROLE. AND SO THAT ROLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT FUND DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE RELATIONSHIP BUILDINGS. AND I THINK WE JUST GOT TO GIVE SOME CERTAINTY THERE. AND I THINK WE CAN MAKE THAT UP. AND IF NOT, THEN I WONDER HOW THAT MIGHT FALL INTO THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND. AND I ALSO KNOW WE HAD SOME PLANS FOR THAT AS WELL. BUT I WOULD SAY THAT'S MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, ONE FOR OFFICE OF EQUITY ENGAGEMENT. AGAIN, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY? I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT WORK. IS THAT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND, I THINK OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND THE COMMUNICATIONS PIECE, TO ME, THESE ARE ALL IMPORTANT AND I HAVE SHARED SOME OF MY THOUGHTS HERE. YOU KNOW, I THINK ON COMMUNICATIONS, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WEBSITE TODAY. WE TALKED ABOUT JUST A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. QUITE HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ALL OF YOU, BUT I AM SO TIRED OF GETTING SO MANY TEXTS, YOU KNOW, ABOUT ELECTIONS, ABOUT ISSUES, ABOUT DOING A SURVEY. AND WHEN YOU HAVE THAT, INDIVIDUALS CAN REPRESENT ONE POINT OF VIEW. AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO'S BEHIND THAT POINT OF VIEW. IN POLITICS, IT'S CLEARLY STATED SOMETIMES MAYBE FOR A CANDIDATE OR AN ISSUE, BUT FOR SOME OTHER THINGS THERE'S NOT. AND SO FOR ME, IF I AM ONE COMMISSIONER TRYING TO COMMUNICATE WITH MY 76,000 CONSTITUENTS AND NEIGHBORS WHO GOT OTHER THINGS TO DO THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, COME TO THE MEETINGS HAVING THAT ABILITY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE FEEDBACK WAS ABOUT THE VIDEOS, BUT, YOU KNOW, HAD CERTAINLY GOTTEN THAT. I THINK IT HELPS TO DRIVE WHAT IS THE COMMISSION DOING? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE LIVING IN A WORLD EIGHT DAYS OR HOW MANY DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION? SEVEN. SORRY, I'M NOT ON THE BALLOT. AND AND. REALLY STRUGGLING WITH HOW INFORMATION IS SHARED. AND I SEE YOU YOUNG PEOPLE HERE AND I HOPE YOU'RE GETTING, YOU KNOW, WE THERE WAS AN EVENT THE OTHER DAY AT THE LIBRARY ABOUT HOW TO FIND OUT TRUE SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. THERE HAS TO BE. THAT'S KIND OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, CHATGPT FOR GEN XERS, YOU KNOW, LIKE A BOOK. LIKE WE GOT TO FIGURE IT OUT. I GO TO COMMISSIONER AND TO, TO FIGURE IT OUT. BUT I THINK THAT THAT IS A SIGN THAT WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW INFORMATION IS BEING SHARED OUT IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND SO WE LOOK AT THE SIX MONTH COST FOR ENHANCED COMMUNICATION SUPPORT OR 12 MONTHS. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO HAVE NARRATIVE SHAPING. IT'S YOU KNOW, I THINK WE HAD SOME MAYBE FIGHTS BEFORE ABOUT HOW WE DO IT. AND I THINK WE'VE WORKED THROUGH THAT ABOUT PROCESS AND PROCEDURE, BUT WE CAN'T DENY THAT COMMUNICATIONS RIGHT NOW IS OVERWHELMING. AND I WANT TO BE THE ONE CONTROLLING IT. I DON'T WANT NECESSARILY ONE PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE ACCESS TO RESOURCES THAT I DON'T HAVE, HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHAPE. ONE PARTICULAR ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY OR ANY OTHER ISSUE. SO I GUESS MY LONG LITTLE SPEECH IS THAT I THINK ALL OF THESE ARE IMPORTANT. AND THEN ALSO, HOW CAN WE PULL FROM OTHER POTS OF MONEY THAT WE MAY HAVE SOMEWHAT REALIZED BUT NOT REALIZED? BUT I THINK WE'RE PROBABLY AT OUR POINT WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE US VERSUS OTHER ENTITIES, OR OBVIOUSLY OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WANT TO COME ALONG AND SUPPORT AND THEN ALSO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR. SO I'M SURE, YOU KNOW, MAYOR, YOU'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS ON THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE, THERE'S GOING TO BE DIFFERENT INVESTMENTS OR THINGS THAT WE CAN PROBABLY ACCESS AS WELL. SO THANK YOU. THANKS. SO THANKS FOR ALL THOSE GOOD POINTS. I'M COMMISSIONER KILGORE, IF YOU WANT TO JUMP IN, GO AHEAD. I'VE GOT A COUPLE COMMENTS. SURE. THANK YOU. MAYOR. I CONCUR WITH A LOT OF WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. I AM FULLY IN SUPPORT OF OPTION ONE. I THINK THE OUR COMMUNITY'S CHILDREN. I THINK THAT IS IMPERATIVE. I KNOW COMMISSIONER PERDUE WAS ON. YOU DID GET A SHOUT OUT FOR MISS HARRIS THIS MORNING, WHICH WAS AWESOME AT FISCAL. AND AS OUR YOUNGEST COMMISSIONER, I AM VERY OFTEN THINKING ABOUT MY GENERATION AND THE GENERATION BEHIND ME AND OUR FUTURE. SO VERY HAPPY TO SEE YOU ALL TODAY. AND SO THAT I JUST THINK THAT'S IMPERATIVE. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE FOR THE CITY TO, TO OWN, TO MANAGE AND TO, TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE EXECUTIVE OF THE ADMIN ANALYST ONE FOR THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY. WE HAVE HAD COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FROM THE BUILDING COALITION, MOST RECENTLY AT OUR LAST MEETING, WHERE IT WAS NO TAX DOLLARS TO SUPPORT SOME OF THE CAP WORK. BUT I THINK LIKE SO MANY OF THESE INITIATIVES THAT [00:55:04] WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S A TEAM GOAL. IT'S TEAM WORK. SO I DO REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING THE POSSIBILITY OF US INVESTING IN THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY BECAUSE AS I'VE SAID SINCE I'VE GOTTEN HERE, I THINK WE HAVE TO. THAT JUST NEEDS MORE INVESTMENT HOWEVER WE CAN. I'M THANKFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT, BUT THIS IS A CHANCE WHERE I DO BELIEVE, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE PASSED THINGS LIKE THE CAP OR WE COULD HAVE THAT INVESTMENT. SO VERY EXCITED TO SEE THAT BE ENHANCED COMM SUPPORT. I THINK OF URBAN LEAGUE AND CURE VIOLENCE, AND I HIGHLIGHTED HOW THEY DID REALLY WELL ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW THAT SUPPORTED THEIR WORK. AND I THINK THAT OUR ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS DO THE SAME THING WITH OURS. OF COURSE, THE WORK IS OF THE WORK. NOT EVERYONE SEES THESE ALMOST 12 HOUR PLUS MEETINGS THAT WE HAVE MONTHLY, BUT THESE THIS ENHANCED COMMUNICATION SUPPORT HOPEFULLY WILL CONTINUE TO PUSH THAT OUT AND SHOW PEOPLE WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO ALL OF THESE, TO ME NEED TO BE SUPPORTED AND I THINK REFLECT THE NEEDS OF COMMUNITY. SO I WILL BE IN SUPPORT OF OPTION ONE. THANK YOU. COMMISSIONER. COMMISSIONER PERDUE. SURE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS BACK UP. CITY MANAGER. YEAH, I THINK ALL OF THESE ROLES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR MAKING PROGRESS ON OUR STRATEGIC GOALS AND ON THE COMMITMENTS THAT WE'VE ALREADY MADE. I ECHO SOME OF THE SENTIMENTS MADE AROUND WANTING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THESE ROLES, WHILE ALSO KEEPING OUR EYES OPEN AND BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT FINDING GRANTS TO ALWAYS KIND OF COUNTER BACK, COUNTERBALANCE THE COST. SO YEAH, I'M SUPPORTIVE. I THINK I ALSO MUST SAY, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ITEMS, THE, THE COMMUNICATIONS ITEM IN PARTICULAR, I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT. AND WE'VE TALKED, I THINK LAST TIME WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT USING IT, LEVERAGING IT MORE STRATEGICALLY, I THINK THAT THAT OPPORTUNITY IS STILL THERE TO BE REALIZED. I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME DIGGING IN AND A DIFFERENT KIND OF COORDINATION BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVEN'T DONE BEFORE. BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY NEEDED. AND I THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE SHARE MORE ABOUT WHAT WE DO ALL THE WAY FROM KIND OF HIGH LEVEL TREE TOPS, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO KIND OF IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS AND ON THE STREET LEVEL. SO I'M EXCITED TO SUPPORT THESE ALSO LOOK FOR I KNOW OUR STAFF HAS BEEN SO GREAT AT PROACTIVELY SEEKING GRANTS AND FUNDING, AND WE GET A LOT OF NICE SURPRISES TOO WITH THAT. SO YEAH, LOOKING FORWARD TO KEEPING THESE FOLKS ON TO CONTINUE THE WORK. GREAT. DID I MISS YOUR COMMISSIONER OR DID YOU LEAD OFF? SORRY, I LET OFF AND IF I WASN'T CLEAR, I KNOW I JUST I'M IN FAVOR OF ALL OF THEM. THAT'S GREAT. SO JUST JUST TO WRAP IT UP, I THINK YOU GOT CONSENSUS HERE, CITY MANAGER, BECAUSE I, I ALSO AM IN FAVOR OF OF OPTION ONE, BUT TO, TO MAYBE UNDERSCORE A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT COMMISSIONER COMMISSIONER'S PURDUE POINTED OUT. I THINK WHEN WE HAVE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, A REAL INSTINCT TOWARDS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CALL IT EXCEPT CYNICISM TOWARDS THE TRUTH SPEAKING THINGS THAT THAT AREN'T TRUE AT ALL, AND THEN JUST REPEATING THEM UNTIL UNTIL, YOU KNOW, THE LIE TAKES TRACTION. WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT SPACE THAN WE WERE A DECADE AGO AS GOVERNMENT. AND SO OUR, YOU KNOW, WE ARE ELECTED TO DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH AND NOBODY ELSE IS ELECTED TO DO THAT. WE ARE. AND AND I THINK THAT'S EXPONENTIALLY MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT WAS A DECADE AGO. AND UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK THAT THAT CYNICISM AND INDIFFERENCE FOR TELLING THE TRUTH HAS INFECTED, FRANKLY, ALL PARTS OF THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM. SO I DON'T THINK ANY ONE SIDE HAS A MONOPOLY ON IT RIGHT NOW, UNFORTUNATELY. AND SO OUR ABILITY TO, TO, TO PART OF HOW GOVERNMENTS ACT, GOVERNMENT CAN'T BE TRUSTWORTHY IF IT CAN'T COMMUNICATE. AND, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING IS MORE IMPORTANT. MAYBE RIGHT NOW IN OUR IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR NATION THAN HAVING PEOPLE BE ABLE TO TRUST THEIR GOVERNMENT. AND, AND COMMUNICATION IS, IS WHERE IT ALL STARTS. SO, YOU KNOW, I WORRY ABOUT THE COLLAPSE OF THE REPUBLIC. I WORRY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HYPER PARTIZAN RANCOR. I WORRY ABOUT INDIFFERENCE TO THE TRUTH. I WORRY ABOUT LACK OF PARTICIPATION AND PEOPLE DROPPING OUT. WELL, IF PEOPLE LIE TO YOU OFTEN ENOUGH, YOU STOP PAYING ATTENTION, YOU STOP PARTICIPATING. AND SO I, I REALLY, TO PUT IT POSITIVELY, I THINK GRAND RAPIDS DOES A GREAT JOB IN COMMUNICATION. CITY MANAGER, I THINK YOU DO A GREAT JOB. I THINK THAT OUR STAFF DOES A GREAT JOB. I THINK OUR COMMUNICATIONS TEAM IS BETTER THAN WE DESERVE. THEY'RE AMAZING. BUT I THINK THAT WE IT'S IT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO, WE DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SO MUCH, BUT WE'RE IN A NEW WORLD. AND I THINK THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE, THAT WE ARE WE ARE THE REPOSITORY OF AS TRUTHFUL A NARRATIVE AS WE CAN. AND, AND [01:00:08] THAT WE ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THAT OUT TO THE PUBLIC AS EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN. I MEAN, AND AGAIN, WE'RE IN A NEW WORLD 20 YEARS AGO, MAYBE, MAYBE CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS AND PHYSICALLY PEOPLE SHOWING UP WAS HOW WE EXPECTED PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT IN THAT WORLD ANYMORE. I MEAN, COMMISSIONER KILGORE IS ON HIS PHONE RIGHT NOW. PROBABLY. SO, I MEAN, WE'RE AND I AM. PROBABLY PUTTING SOMETHING OUT ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT NOW. LIKE WE'RE JUST IN A DIFFERENT WORLD. THAT'S OKAY. IT'S, YOU KNOW, BUT BUT THE POINT IS LIKE, YES, WE ALL I THINK EVERYBODY IN THIS DAIS GETS THE IMPORTANCE. AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY TRYING TO COMMUNICATE ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT WAYS WITH OUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE RESOURCES TO HELP US DO IT. AND WE AND WE HAVE TO BE PATTERNING TRUTHFUL BEHAVIOR. AND, AND MAYBE, MAYBE WE'LL BE AN EXAMPLE AND MAYBE WE'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE SOME DIFFERENCE IN THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE BY DOING THINGS WELL HERE. SO SORRY FOR THE LONG SERMON, BUT THERE IT IS. SO, CITY MANAGER, I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR CONSENSUS. YEAH. THANK THANK YOU, MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK. CAN YOU KEEP IT UP, JOEL, PLEASE? YEAH. PUT ON THE LAST SLIDE. YEAH, I. YEP. SO JUST TO SAY EXPECTATIONS, A LOT OF DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WEAVING FUNDING OPERATING FUNDING FROM OTHER SOURCES. WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION ON THE 12TH AT THE WORKSHOP. AN UPDATE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND AND THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING, BOTH WITH COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, WE DID INVITE COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PARTICIPATE IN POTENTIAL PROGRAMING OF SOME OF THE FUNDING, BUT ALSO INTERNALLY GIVE AN UPDATE ABOUT SOME OF OUR STRATEGIES AS WELL AS HAVE A BETTER FINANCIAL PICTURE OF HOW WE WILL PERFORM YEAR END, EVEN PRELIMINARY PRIOR TO OUR ANNUAL AUDIT. AND I ANTICIPATE BRINGING BACK AMENDMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING THIS YEAR. SO DECEMBER 15TH IS WHEN WE WILL FORMALLY VOTE TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO CONTINUE THOSE PROGRAMS. OKAY. I THINK THAT MOVES US. OH, I'M SORRY COMMISSIONER. I WAS TRYING TO DO IS UNLIKE THE MAYOR, I DON'T DO BACK OF THE NAPKIN MATH. I TRY TO DO IT CORRECTLY. NOW FOR THE. BACK OF THE NAPKIN IS CORRECTLY. GO ASK ANY THIRD GRADER. THE FIRST THING YOU DO IS ESTIMATE. WE'LL SEE. WE'RE GOING TO PLAY THE TAPES BACK. OKAY, COMMISSIONER, I KNOW THAT THE THE PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND, AM I CORRECT THAT THAT'S 1.7 MILLION FOR US? YEAH. I CAN'T REMEMBER OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, BUT I THINK 1.3 OF THAT IS FOR POLICE. OR IS IT 1.7 FOR POLICE. AND THEN YEAH, YEAH, WE ALREADY CLAIMED A FAIR PORTION OF THAT. I KNOW WE HAVE 200,000 THAT IS BEING ADMINISTERED THROUGH BRANDON DAVIS'S OFFICE AS WELL FOR, FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAMS. SO AND THEN WE HAD ANOTHER THE REMAINDER AMOUNT WAS GOING TO BE USED FOR SOMETHING ELSE. BUT AGAIN, WE'LL HAVE THAT INTERNAL CONVERSATION ON THE 12TH. RIGHT. WE CAN. OH, I JUST WOULD LOVE TO SEE HOW MUCH WE HAVE LEFT OVER TO THINK OF OTHER. SO 1.7. SURE. SO $400,000 OF THAT POT WAS SET ASIDE IS SET ASIDE AND IT CAN BE USED FOR COMMUNITY TYPE PROGRAMS. THE REMAINDER OF THAT MONEY HAD TO BE USED FOR SPECIFIC POLICE OR POLICE OR TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY RELATED MONEY. THAT $400,000 $200,000 HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE GRANT PUBLIC SAFETY TRUST FUND GRANT PROCESS THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY IN. WE'RE ACCEPTING THOSE APPLICATIONS ACTUALLY THROUGH NOVEMBER 1ST. SO PLEASE GET THE WORD OUT THAT THAT'S AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE RIGHT NOW. THE OTHER $200,000 HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR PROGRAMING THAT WAS APPROVED DURING THE BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH INCLUDED THAT TRAUMA INFORMED POSITION THAT WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING OF FOR SOME TIME. SO WE'RE LEFT WITH. AND HOW MUCH WAS THAT? DO WE DO ONE? SO SO IT WAS THE MONEY WAS DESIGNATED FOR THAT PROCESS ALTOGETHER. SO AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE WAY WE HAVE HAD THE MONEY CALCULATED, THAT $400,000 HAS ALREADY BEEN SPOKEN FOR. OKAY. GOTCHA. THANK YOU. THAT THAT WORKS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I WAS THINKING. COMMISSIONER. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO CONTINUE SUPPORT, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW IT WAS ALLOCATED SO FAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT'S PERFECT. THANKS. OKAY. I THINK THAT MOVES US TO CLOSED SESSION. 601 YEP. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.