City Commission - Regular Meeting

Yeah, it was a long on the Dewey Decimal plan. Yes. I don't know how to do that. Card catalog system. Card catalog system. [laughter] Bust it back out. How is it they just do that? I remember that. [clears throat] They they made you do that. You can do this online, but they would make you do this. [laughter]

For instances like this, when the whole system goes down, right? You can still find a book. I don't know. They won't give you that information. Why? Why the library? My library. I don't understand. She won't There's something weird. Who knows? It must just be for us. All right, 6:00. I'm going to call this meeting to order. If everyone could please stand and join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, first on the agenda is the approval of this evening's agenda. Commissioners, do we have anything to add or take away from the agenda? Okay, hearing none, I will move on to public comment. Is there anyone joining us this evening to make public comment? Welcome, Mr. Hoffman. I am Jack Hoffman. I am on the Rapid Board, serve with with the mayor. I wanted to make some uh comments on the future of uh state and local funding for public transportation. I believe a copy of this is in your uh packet. I do have paper copies if anyone that would be helpful. But, here's my take. The 2025 2026 state transportation budget subsidizes rural roads and the trucking industry at the expense of cities, the state, and public and personal transportation. Rural county road commissions receive $444 per capita in road funding versus $195 per capita in road funding for cities. Public transportation receives $27 per capita.

MDOT calculates that it needs an additional $280 per capita just to keep state trunk lines in good repair. Trunk lines received an additional $18 per capita in the final budget. Heavy trucks cause 95% of pavement damage in the amount of $8 billion per year and pay only $600 million in state road taxes. On the other hand, cities far exceed low-density areas in terms of economic productivity and demographic health. Dense urban areas produce $90,000 per capita in gross domestic product versus $30,000 per capita for low-density counties. Likewise, where there is a healthy public transportation system, the higher the density, the more young people in the 25-to-34-year-old age group. High urban densities are essential to economically and demographically successful cities, counties, regions, and the state itself. A healthy dense urban community requires a healthy public transportation system. A plausible scenario for the future is that state trunk lines continue to deteriorate to the point where the trucking industry itself is willing to contribute a fair share just just as a matter of economic survival. That will be an opportunity to address fair share for dense urban areas as well. Until that time, dense urban communities can be supported by passing Representative Morgan's House Bill 4210, which restricts proceeds of the sales tax on transportation products to transportation purposes, similar to the way in which House Bills 4180 to 4183 recently restricted use of the proceeds of the sales tax on motor fuels to transportation purposes. HB 4210 would generate an additional 25 per capita for public transportation. In the meantime, the residents of the cities and counties of the West Michigan region should continue to show their recognition

of the importance of public transportation to the regional economy and culture. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mr. Hoffman. It's nice to see you tonight. Yes. Hello, Mrs. Fisher. Welcome. Good evening. Thank you. My name is Mary Lee Fisher. I'm at 609 Lakeside, apartment D. In response to the last commission meeting regarding exploring the need for a joint city school parking ramp costing approximately 13 million, I am about to say what has never been said before in these chambers. The city of East Grand Rapids has ample parking. I can prove it. Since 2018, my husband and I have lived in Lakewood Hills. Our back windows look out on the former parking ramp and current surface lot. We can testify that in it may be in all the time we've lived there, the ramp surface lot has been full five times. Primarily when the weather is ideal for either the 4th of July or tree lighting. Often, drivers park illegally near Lakewood Hills risking a $25 parking ticket rather than pay to park in the surface lot. When people state there is no parking, what they mean is there's no free parking in front of their merchant of choice. Many of us enjoy events downtown Grand Rapids and don't hesitate to pay a $30 event parking fee. I ran errands last week in Eastown and paid a total of $5 through the Motu app. Honestly, I had to look it up because I don't even think about it. I use the app and I paid to park. As for high school parking, we lived at 855 Lakeside, which is across the street from the high schools and three houses south. And for those of you that don't

remember, what is now called the senior lot was tennis courts. And it So, there was no parking there. That's where the tennis courts were located until the early 2000s when they were relocated on the corner of Lake Drive and Hall. Student enrollment was higher than that it is currently. Yet, kids found a way to get to school. Please note, we have a public high school in an urban area. We are not a private institution with land to spare. Nothing is new under the sun except maybe student and parent expectations. It's an if you build it, they will come [clears throat] situation. If it's free to drivers and maintained by the taxpayers, the new ramp will be full. If there is a charge, a long history tells me there will still be complaints of no parking. As for the exploratory nature of the situation, I am all for spending $40,000 to determine the need and feasibility of a parking ramp. We must get an answer to this parking question. In that study, please include the paid spaces that are available now and likely will be available through the two-year high school construction period. Since the lot is owned by Since the lot owned by Gaslight Investors is monitored by Ellis Parking, I'm guessing there are records on how many spaces are available at high need times. When Scott Weier had last spoken in front of this commission, he stated he wanted to be a good East Grand Rapids neighbor. Asking him to provide parking data may be met favorably. Thank you. Thank you, Ms. Fischer. Would anyone else care to make public comment to something not on this evening's agenda at this time?

Okay. Hearing none, I will close public comment and move on to the report of mayor and city commissioners, including committee liaison reports. I'll start here to my left. Do you have any comments tonight? I do have just a couple of updates from library commission. Um I believe I mentioned this last time as well, but we still have three vacancies on library commission, so encourage folks to reach out and submit an application if they're interested in serving on this commission. Um we also had the opportunity to take a look at the new mural in the children's section by local artist Riannon [clears throat] Seebaldt, um that just displays a really cool scene of Reeds Lake from underwater to the sky throughout the seasons, so um thank you to the friends of the library for um commissioning that, um and I encourage everyone to go take take a look.

[snorts] Right. Commissioner Wesley, do you have anything to add?

nothing tonight. Commissioner Burdick? Um we had joint facilities meet, and we got together and approved the upcoming budget for the coming year. So, another year, looking good. Perfect. Thanks so much for being there. Thanks for doing that. Commissioner Skeggs? Uh yeah, I just would like to encourage everybody to participate in the waterfront phase two survey that's been sent out via everybody's mailbox. Um it's also available online on the city website. Uh and note that there are community open houses this week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and from 3:00 to 5:00 on Friday. Um one other thing I wanted to know as folks are cleaning out their garages this spring uh is that the Kent County Department of Public Works offers a Safe Chem household hazardous waste drop-offs and encourage everybody to take their hazardous waste and drop it off there instead of down our drains. Wonderful. That's all. Thank you. Thanks so much. Um and thanks also for the reminder on the um the survey and those open house dates. That's super important and exciting stuff. So, I have nothing to add to that. Well, Commissioner Skaggs took my one speech, so

[laughter] Oh, but perfect. [clears throat] Okay, then we'll move on to the regular agenda items tonight. First on the agenda, we have to consider the final reading and adoption of ordinance amendments to section 102, bicycles, and section 105, helmets, to include micromobility devices in both. Those will be two separate motions for approval. That introduction is by City Manager Charles.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor. So, before you have two recommended ordinance amendments to incorporate micromobility into our ordinance structure. Um the uh amendment to 102 has been updated based on commission feedback at the last meeting to include Excuse me. Definition of a downtown area, um clarification on uh handle handle bars, etc. And then um clear um the young child exception um for that um on uh section 10.33. Other than that, um these were introduced and I excuse me, the last section was 10.4, addition of penalties as was discussed. So, with that, um this was at introduced at the last meeting and can be adopted this evening if commission so chooses. Perfect. Are there any questions for Manager Charles? Commissioner, quick question. Um in the downtown area designation, is that intended to apply to private sidewalks as well if and when we have those in operation. I mean and we kind of do now. And I would say it is. It's cuz it's really the nature of the area not who owns it. Got it. Um I also well we I have another question but we can do it after motion and and discussion. Okay, perfect. Any other questions? Uh not a question but a uh suggestion for a change to an edit. Does that come before or after the motion? Um it can come now. Either. Come now. Yeah. Um so looking at section 1033, um the phrase that was added um or a young child accompanied by a parent or other adult with responsibility for additional children, my understanding from our last conversation was that that was going to be handled in enforcement not that we were adding language and I'm uncomfortable with this with the language being in here um for a couple of reasons. Um

It's not clear what definitions are, what's a young child, etc. But more importantly, a lot of the conversations that we've had about making our streets and sidewalks safer is about education um and educating kids especially from a young age to cultural change um and so like using the opportunity So So there's no exceptions is an opportunity to teach our young ones. This is where we get off and walk our wheels um because they can be very unpredictable on their wheels uh around other folks. Any other questions or comments? Councilor Charles? If we're talking about the things we would have quick edits on, I can Sure. Sure. Um So in the definitions section, I would suggest in the micro-mobility device definition that we just strike electric uh from the the discussion of a motor. So that if there are ever any other technologies or if somebody, you know, decides to like what do we talk about? Hook a jetpack to a a lawnmower or

[laughter] [clears throat]

that we're covered uh no matter what the what the fuel is that we're fuel neutral here. Um so I would just have it say micro mobility devices may be propelled either by the power of the rider or by a motor. That would be an amendment I would suggest. Um and then I had one other comment on the downtown area that I would be interested in explicitly including but not limited to Wealthy Street from Love It's Lakeside as a place where folks should be walking their devices. I I think my only comment about that is if something changes then having to go back and adjust ordinances versus if we figure out that we want to put the signs here that's my my only thought of.

I can live with it. I just, you know, feel like that's the the problem area by and large. Yeah, my only concern as I said is if we put it in there then we figure out oh we really want to have the signs there then keeps us from having

That's why I had the but not limited to. But I like I said, I think it's fine. I just Can you just repeat, I'm sorry, what your solution was? That you I heard the concern but then your answer was with the signs you were saying. Just saying if by not um including the definition of the roads then if something happens a few months from now we'll we'll figure out that we want to tweak the signs or something. Oh, I see. Okay. We don't have to come back and amend the ordinance. We can handle that at administrative level. Okay. Any other tweaks or comments? Do we need to discuss how we're handling the edits? I I guess my question is is there's um feedback from the balance of the commission on the proposed uh changes, both the um Commissioner Groatlands action and comment of removing the added language and um In removing the added language from 10.33? 10.33. I heard that correctly, correct?

And what was the exact language that she wanted struck? The struck language. What's in red, the language that was added. Oops. Oh no, I'm good. I'm good. Um Thoughts on that? I just need to be brought totally up to speed on that one cuz if I'm remembering this right, it wasn't in there on the initial reading, but it was proposed to be in there from Commissioner Schwartz, correct? Correct, because And then it was put in for this reading because of that. On her suggestion, yes.

And the idea being her her I And and I guess I'm just wanting to know exactly what the what the thinking was on both sides of this. Um mainly what the thinking is on enforcement if we keep it out or if we were to strike it. Um how do we enforce a young child on a scooter downtown? Do we enforce it with the parents or do we write the kid a ticket? Typically right now, we would enforce it with the the child. However, I think both languages before the edit and after the edit probably accomplish the same thing from the enforcement side. Okay.

From my view. Okay. So, um I don't have a problem with the current language and I really don't see an issue before we made the edit as far as educational opportunities and and enforcement. Okay, so you guys are cool either way. All right, that's really helpful. Thank you.

Do you remember why Commissioner Schwartz I I can't She was concerned about um you know, pushing a stroller but having another young one maybe on a scooter riding along and the difficulty of like caring for one kid in one hand and like picking up a stroller and having a kid walk and like maybe need carried and you know, it was a lot to juggle I think was what was on her mind. Okay. And I I will come back and say too that um totally sympathetic to that plight, right? Like we've we've all I think been there. Um and what I remember is not that she was proposing adding this language but that there was a discussion around enforcement and Chief Wewood said listen, we're going to do common sense enforcement. It's not like we're going to ticket a two-year-old on a on a scooter. Um but it does provide that opportunity for education and and that culture building. Commissioner Wesley, you had something No, I think well, I think that that's exactly it. I think with uh uh Commissioner Schwartz was just talking about you know, it's like the the the difficulty. So it made sense but I think what uh Director Wewood, if I'm not mistaken, last the last meeting with the first reading essentially said the same thing that you know, the the uh the police force is using their discretion. They'll know when something's being abused or not um and and then can understand situations. So it my understanding is that you were fine with language either way. Um I if you're fine with the language either way, so am I and I think the only hesitation to me striking is just because Commissioner Schwartz did put uh suggest it uh in the first reading. No one really combatted it or had discussion about it at that time. It was put in here and then she's not here to to defend it and I think that it I don't know. I think optic-wise, I think it's just it's safest to leave it in if it doesn't matter whether it's in or not in terms of enforcement. So It's enforcement. If you're good with it here, I I agree. I don't feel comfortable striking this after she has requested that this language was put in.

And if you're comfortable with it as it stands, then I am, too. Any other thoughts on that? I mean, I have said a couple of times that my recollection of that conversation is not that she requested specifically language, but that we had this conversation around what would the scenario be if that family is there. Um and I just I want to reiterate that it's not right, it's not I'm not trying to be combative one way or the other. I do think that phrase also introduces some additional lack of clarity again around how do we define a young child, how do we define an adult, etc. that fall under the common sense again? Would you want to put

the way I view it from an enforcement education piece is if there were if there was a minimum age listed in the ordinance, that would create more of an enforcement type of scenario. But as it says young child, I think that just lends itself even more towards education. And um if we were looking to enforce it, I would I would say no, this needs to be a minimum age. Um but since it says young rider, I think that gives me uh or young child, I'm sorry, a uh much more um [snorts]

much more encouragement to to address it through education without a minimum specific age. Right. But then the scenario that we find ourselves in is that, let's say we have a 7-year-old who's riding a scooter, right? And stop them and try to do the education and the parents like, well, this is a young child. And you're like, well, that child's is actually a little old and maybe is creating a dangerous sort of thing. That's what I'm suggesting in terms of there's a lack of clarity around enforcement and that with that language out of there, I think it makes it easier for us to take the education approach cuz since we're not looking to enforce it anyway. Okay. Thank you. Any other thoughts on this, or are we good? The only other The other option The other I think the other amendment or the change was just striking electric from the motor. Knowing the definition of motor is energy some kind of energy using it to propel something. I'm I'm fine with that strike.

I'm fine with that. Same. John, is everybody Okay, that's okay with you? Yeah, I'm fine with striking electric. Absolutely and just leaving it at motor or jetpack, whatever comes down the road. I think electric got in there only because for a while short while some of these things were gas-powered and they they fell off the market and so electric was all that was left, but I agree with the commissioner. We don't know what comes next. What's going to come next, right? Nothing-powered. Okay. Magnets. Are you there, Ron? Yeah. And I think that This is something we could always revisit, too. So, if we do see some pushback, right? It's hard to enforce. There are somebody taking advantage of the I can't imagine anything else.

that I think we could always revisit, but I think that I feel comfortable just knowing that the If if Director Buchanan's comfortable and using this as you know, it's at the discretion of the enforcement and then the the officers and and again like to his point, you know, it's a great learning moment or education piece. Yeah. Okay. It's great. That's Any other thoughts or tweaks or comments? Nope. Okay. Was there anyone here this evening that would like to make public comment to this agenda item? Now is the time to come forward and do so. No, everyone's shaking their head. All right. [laughter] Well, thank you. I will close public comment then and bring it up here for a motion and second, please. So moved. Second.

Wait, but there's two

to do two. Let's do Okay. So, a motion first on section 102 bicycles. I move to adopt section 102 on bicycles and itemize outline I item number six of tonight's agenda. Second. And Commissioner, when you made that motion, you meant to say with the understanding that the definition the word electrical would be be removed from the word from the definition section. Yes, so with Yep, exactly. Uh what you just said. Thank you. And then we had a second. Yeah, right. Oh, yeah. Okay. Any further comments, Commissioners? Okay. We can vote. All those in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed? Any opposed? Okay, motion carries. Next motion is for section 105. So moved. Second. Wonderful. Any further conversation? My only conversation is I'm really excited and I want to thank everyone that put a lot of time into putting this together cuz it was a lift between city staff and various committees. And this was long overdue and it'd been asked for by a lot of different people at a lot of different times. So I'm really happy to see that you guys put all this work in. Um and I'm just I'm just excited that this is going on the books and it'll be coming down to education, letting everybody know. Yeah, absolutely. And I want to thank the Commissioners that have put in time on this. I know it's been a passion for for several people on the commission and city staff. I just want to thank you for all the heavy lifting on this because I know that um it's been a lot of work and yeah, I'm really excited, too. So thank you. So all those in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed? Motion carries. I think we already we already did the second. Oh, that was the second part. We had to do it in two pieces.

Oh, yes. [laughter]

Okay. Motion carries on both counts. So next on the agenda, we have to consider adopting a resolution to establish a temporary polling location at the community center. That introduction again is by Manager Charles. Uh thank you, Madam Mayor. you is a request to um move the um polling location at the Performing Arts Center to uh Community Center for the August primary um due to the high school construction. So, before you is that request. Um, we're evaluating to see what happens in November, so we may be back. So, um but uh we are comfortable that we need to move it for the August primary. Mhm. And um so, pretty straightforward. Wonderful. Uh any questions for Manager Charles on this agenda item? Just a question. Go ahead. Oh, I was just going to ask uh about the outreach and notification plan for the Ward 3 voters. Um, I actually have postcards done um ready to go out once it's approved here. Monday, the Election Commission will approve the changes well. And then, the postcards will probably go out, I'm guessing, the first to middle of July. Just so they don't get lost somewhere and thrown out. And it will also be We'll do it in the newsletter and the water bills, and we'll have it on our webpage and social media. Will we hang a sign there on election day?

Yes, there there [laughter] will be a sign on election day to to direct people back here. Perfect. Wonderful. Thank [snorts] you. Uh-huh. Um, any other questions for Manager Okay, you're all set? Yes, that was everything. Great. Anyone here to make public comment to this agenda item? No? Okay. I'll close public comment, move it up here, please, for a motion and a second. So moved. Second. Wonderful. Any further comments, Commissioners? All those in favor say yes. Yes. Yes. Any opposed? Motion carries. Next on the agenda, Charlotte is walking her way up. We have the financial [laughter] reports for the 3-month period ending March 31st, 2026. That introduction by our lovely finance director, Charlsie. And I have people that are staying this time, so I'm pretty excited.

[laughter]

I didn't clear the room like I did last time. All right. Financials for the general fund are looking really well. Um we've collected 99% of our taxes, settled with the county. Uh we should be getting that check usually in April, or I'm sorry, June, but our settlement has been approved. Um so at this time we're doing really well in the general fund as far as revenue. Um and our state funding is coming in in the general fund. Um and then as then in for expenditures in the general fund, we should be about 75% about at this time. However, we have a couple of large projects that haven't been completed, so we're only showing 67% um like the Manhattan uh parking [clears throat] lots, which are starting this week, I believe. Um so they're getting ready to to do that project, but it'll be done by the end of the year. So that's why it's showing a little bit under the 75%. Um we may be coming back um in June with another um adjustment for health insurance. We're going to be doing I'm going to do a um deeper dive into it uh this month just to see where we're at, and we want to keep the health fund still stable. So we want to make sure that we're funding that well to keep up with the expenditures that we've had. Um the the street funds um looking about as as where we expect. Uh we anticipate receiving additional funding for the new road fund. However, we don't know when we will receive that or if it will be They're anticipating May, but they have to pay out all their other funds first before we get that, but um our estimate estimated additional amount for this fiscal year is 484,000. We are not budgeting in any expenditures to um against that additional revenue until we've actually received it because [snorts] of timing. The water and sewer fund is is looking good and it's pretty close to

last year as far as usage and billings and revenue. We received the additional 213,000 for the lead service line reimbursable grant. So that grant is closed. So in total we've received 354,000. And then as far as as expenditures, we're about 55%. The reason we're lower than the 75 where we should be about 3 quarters in is just because of the delay in the bills that we received from the Grand Rapids and projects that are still ongoing and not completed and expensed out. Any questions on that? Any questions for Director Z? I do have a question. On [clears throat] the cover memo it notes that there's additional expense related to legal fees for ongoing litigation. Yes. I couldn't find that in the spreadsheets anywhere. Can you just say more like about where we are in relation to that?

We spent about 25,000. It's more into the budget the budget where we're going to do an additional 75 budgeted for those legal fees, but I believe it's about 25 right now for the gas line investors. Just litigation fees alone right now. [snorts]

Any other questions for Director Z? Okay. Thank you. Okay. So then we'll go on to the next agenda item which is to consider approval of the attached resolution amending the fiscal year 2025-26 budget. Again, introduction by Director Z. Okay. So there are two main funds that budget adjustments were done in this for this quarter. Major local municipal had some movement within the fund, but appropriations in total did not change um, to realign for projects. Uh, the general fund, we received some additional revenue from the state for personal property tax reimbursement. Um, and we also received some additional revenue. Um, we were usually see receive about 5,000 to 6,000 from PA 302 grant funding, which, uh, Chief Bukema, um, does the reporting for, but we received an additional about 5,000 this year, um, based on expenditures and grants that was already approved. It's just timing of the payment of those grants. Um, and as far [clears throat] as budget adjustments, um, there are three main four main expense. I don't I forgot to include one, but one, we paid the rest of the EMS consortium study for, um, the, uh, Metro Council. Uh, we I did a the $75,000 budget adjustment for litigation anticipation of litigation for Gaslight Investors. Uh, we budgeted for the additional amount for the sand and the server moving it from last year or next year to this year and then budgeted the sand, um, that was approved earlier by the commission. And then I also did a budget adjustment, uh, for overtime for public safety, um, just because of, um, current vacancies and the time that it takes to train our new recruits. So, they're pulling people off shifts and they're having to backfill those. So, we're, um, trying to get it more in line with what

we're actually spending [clears throat] for overtime. The other two funds that we, uh, that a budget adjustments are being completed for, requested is the water and sewer fund. Uh, the 93,000 is the additional money that we received from the state. So, just about bump that budget up to the two third 13 that I spoke of earlier. Um, and then if you see the 200,000 from water to the MERF fund, that is funding for the backer truck that we received. So, the water sewer where that truck is mainly used is paying for 200,000 of that Vactor truck. [snorts] And then, lastly, in the MERF fund, that 383,000 is moving fund approved CIP purchases from last year that we finally received in based on the timing. So, that's just moving that to this year. They were previously approved last year and we finally got them in. So, we did the budget adjustment.

[snorts]

Any questions on those? Okay. Thank you. You're very welcome. Was there anyone here this evening that would like to make comment to this agenda item? No? Okay. Then, I will bring it up here to commissioners for a motion and a second. Moved. Second. Any further comments? Thanks for your hard work on this, Charla. All those in favor, say yes. Any opposed? Motion carries. So, next we have to consider authorization of a contract for providing full service requirements for the residential cross connection program as required by part 14 of the Michigan State Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act Administration Rules administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Environment Great Lakes and Energy Eagle from fiscal year 26-27 through fiscal year 29-30 as noted in the memo program contract costs. Introduction by Deputy Manager LaFave. Thank you. Good evening, Madam Mayor and city commissioners. I will not cover the action item again.

[laughter]

So, I'll quickly take care of that. Essentially, with some ministry rule changes at the state level in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act in 2015 under part 14, Uh there's expansion into doing cross connection controls inspections in residential properties too. And I know I had some of those materials inside the packets, but I just just provide this here too just to let people know what a cross connection is. So essentially if you're thinking about our water system, it's a closed system with pressure at all times. If we maintain that pressure, we don't have any back siphonage into the system. And with the change in the rule was recognizing that we have obviously homes with things like irrigation systems, with boilers, other types of appliances and appurtenances that if they have a failure can back siphon in material and introduce that into the closed system and therefore contaminate that system and and cause illness and those types of things for residents. So really the the move is to over was to over time make sure that communities were inspecting their entire systems. Back around that same time 2015-2016 the the city as part of our meter replacement program we had a vendor in that was doing those replacements and at that same time they're doing the replacements since we already had them in homes to change out those meters they were doing those inspections for us. So we got way ahead of what the regulation requires. So essentially if you think about it in terms of like a credit we've been operating off that for about the last decade or so because we were so far ahead. But looking at where we're at we need to make sure that we're getting back through the system to do these inspections and since our meter replacement program is handled differently essentially more aligning with construction projects and we're already in people's homes. So if you think about water main projects we're

we're doing them at those times. We also have targeted areas that we're hitting but that wouldn't align with the requirements with eagle. So we we also have an existing program with Hydrocore, the vendor, with our commercial inspections that have been in place since this time. So, in East Grand Rapids, that's not a that's not a lot, but it's all of our business community, it's all of our schools, it's all of our city buildings and parks, those types of things. Uh those inspections are done and based off of the determining hazard, depending on what it is. We're on a different schedule for every year or every 3 years or 5 years. The same will be true for residential uh property. So, some of the residential properties will have no issues and we may not be back there for quite some time. Others that have perhaps, you know, boiler systems that have a snow melt that feed a snow melt system in their driveway, we're probably going to be back there every year or two to do inspection to make sure that that equipment's not failing. Those types of things. So, essentially, we're going to be building out over this 5-year contract, noting where all those hazards are, whether they're low or high, and then we'll have our our schedule for returning. So, this this initial 5-year period will look different for the next 5-year period. Um, with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions that any of you may have. Any questions for Mr. LaFee? Thank you. Did anyone want to make comment on this agenda item?

[clears throat] Okay. Then I will bring this up here for a motion in a second. So moved. I'm not going to read that all. Second. Perfect. [laughter] Any comments? Okay. [clears throat] Then we can go to a vote. All those in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed? All right, motion carries. Next, we have the consent agenda items. May I please have a motion and a second to approve tonight's consent agenda items. So moved. Second. All those in favor say yes. Yes. Any opposed? All right, motion carries. Next on this evening's agenda we have a work session, which is the CIP work session and that introduction is by city manager Charles.

Thank you, Madam Mayor. As part [clears throat] of our annual budget process, the commission has traditionally like to take a look at the proposed capital improvement plan. This is a six-year plan for all kind of significant um capital investments for the city side as simple as computers, things of that nature, things as large as waterfront phase two. So, opportunity for the commission to review this, ask any particular questions. We are not asking for approval this evening, just simply to review this. We'll take that input as we move towards approval of the budget. That'll approval of this the CIP will be incorporated in that. We are looking at or have but or having concluded in this year's budget about $8 million worth of capital improvements across streets, parks, etc. Some of these are placeholders such as waterfront phase Excuse me, waterfront park phase two. We have listed in there at 1.9 million. As commission is aware, we're just beginning the public engagement process. We don't anticipate those costs to be there, but we just left that as a placeholder in part of that. Um if these projects are approved or Excuse me, when the budget is approved and the CIP is approved, we will still be back for individual projects for approvals. Mr. LaFave has noted a lot of times we'll bring forward group of projects, particular paving where we'll get authorization for the estimated amount and if it comes in, we go ahead and move forward with the award. That helps us um in being able to secure contractors and things of that nature. And actually this year really served us well because we got out so early, we're able to expedite contracts, got everything in place before some of the turmoil, not some of the the turmoil in the Middle East and the shock that we're seeing on asphalt prices. We were well ahead of the curve. I don't know what pricing is

recent bids have been, but we went from about $90 a ton to 120, 130.

Yep. So, um So, that that agility on our part really is helps us stretch our dollars even more than normal. So, but with that, you have a summary of the projects in front and then actual detailed pages on in the back for just the 26, 27 fiscal year for that. The CIP does play an important role for us in regards to our financial modeling, our forecasting. Enables us to look out at future years and if we have to adjust for projects or we see changes in revenues and expenditures, we can take you know, use that data to look at are we on track or are we not? So, with that, I can answer any questions or if there's anything that jumps out at the commissioners. All right. Any questions for me or for Charles? Um do you have a question on the public works vehicle replacements? Probably an anticipated question, right? Um are we looking at replacements with e-vehicles um for certain of like there were I this isn't some specific page numbers, but Yes, so you'll see I believe we'll have the requests that coming forward at our next meeting, but you'll see for example two of the public safety vehicle replacements will be hybrid replacements. So, so we're certainly modeling or following the model of our climate action plan in our vehicle assessments as well as internally sharing those assessments to make sure that those types of vehicles for various operations are able to provide what is needed by our teams. Okay. Any other questions? Comments, thoughts? Okay. Okay. Great. That's all we have. Anyone here that wanted to talk about

this agenda item? It is a work session. You're available to make public comment. No? Okay. Do you want me to leave you alone? [laughter] Okay, wonderful. Thank you. Um and then lastly it was just informational. Yep. So thanks so much everyone and this meeting is adjourned.