City Council - Regular Meeting

Roland.

good evening and welcome to the july 15 2026 regular meeting of the holland city council i'm nathan box i'm calling this meeting to order brenda would you please call the roll yes clump irons here raymond present raymond here

Corbin? Here. Schultes? Marikeen?

Here.

Rowan? Shea?

Here.

Mayor Box?

Present.

We have a quorum.

Wonderful, thank you. We're going to begin this evening's meeting as we have for many years, first with an opening prayer, followed immediately by the Pledge of Allegiance, and I would invite you to join us if you're so inclined. You're welcome to join me in prayer. Lord, thank you for a wonderful day and a wonderful week and that summer is here. But please look after those who may be suffering from the heat. Keep them cool. Watch over our friends and neighbors. Make sure that they stay safe this week. Lord, also give us open minds, clear hearts, and to use discernment to do the work of the people of the city of Holland. In your name we pray. Amen. 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. Next item on our agenda are our consent agenda items. These items are considered to be fairly routine and have been previously reviewed by council as part of our council packet, and they will be enacted in one motion unless a member of the public or a member of council asked to have an item removed from the consent agenda, and that'll be placed in its regular order on the regular agenda. But before I ask if anyone would like to do that, Brenda, would you please review the consent agenda for us?

OK, 4A, excuse the absences of council members Schultes and Rowan. 4B, approve the minutes of the July 1 regular meeting and July 8, 2026 study session. 4C, oaths of office. 4D. a resolution authorizing transfer of funds for contribution to the city for fiscal year 2027. 4E, engineering design contract for 32nd Street water main replacement for the city joint project and the fiscal year 2027 water capital budget amendment. 4F, a listing agreement for the sale of 4036 Hillside Trail property 4G, claims filed against the city. 4H, issue a pool table license and adopt a resolution for Tulip City Bar and Grill. 4I, social district permit resolution, the Cura. 4J, approve one month rental of pavement mill. 4K, accept sidewalk easements from B&B Lincoln LLC for property at 1102 Lincoln Ave. 4L, the May financial reports. 4M, for transportation, approve the purchase of 42,000 gross vehicle weight snowplow dump truck with upfitting 4n approve the purchase of two mowers and one gator 4o approve the purchase of two 2026 chevy colorado four-wheel drive pickup trucks 4p approve the purchase of four chevy tahoe police pursuit vehicles and 4q award the bid for tulip bulbs

Great, thank you, Brenda. Is there anyone in the public who would like to have an item removed from the consent agenda and placed on the regular agenda? Seeing none, any member of council that would like to have an item removed from consent? Seeing none there either, what is the pleasure of council in regard to the consent agenda?

Mr. Mayor, approve consent items as presented by the clerk.

Moved by Corbin, is there support? Support. Support by Vreeman, any discussion? Seeing none, Brenda, would you please call the roll? Next item on the agenda item number five is public comment under the open meetings act of the state of Michigan we provide the public the opportunity to address council at our regular meetings our study sessions and at every one of our board committee and commission meetings However, we do have guidelines that we ask you to follow. First, each person may speak just one time for a total of five minutes. There are three lights on the dais in front of me. There's a red light, a yellow light, and a green light. Green light means you're doing well on time. Yellow light means that you have one minute left, and the red light means that your time has expired, and we are strict about that. When you approach the podium, please state your name and the municipality in which you live, because it's important to us to know whether or not you're a resident of the City of Holland. You may speak on any subject that you think is important, but please remember that this is one-way communication. We don't answer questions during this time or engage in discussion, but if there is a question that staff can answer after the meeting, they may be able to circle back with you to be able to do that. Now, having said that, is there anyone here who would like to address council at this time? And would you please state your name and municipality for the record?

Anne Henriksen Zeeland. When I was in the ninth grade in Lorain, Ohio, my graduating junior high class took our trip to Dearborn, Michigan, the Henry Ford Museum. In 1966, after graduating from college, I taught in Dearborn Heights at an all-black school, but I rented a room in Dearborn. I never realized that there was a large Lebanese Muslim settlement there. 2023, Dearborn had gained the status of being America's first Muslim majority city. The largest population in the US of Muslims now is New York City. Both Dearborn, Hamtramck, and New York City have mayors who are Muslim. The twin cities in Minnesota have the largest population of the Somalian Muslims. Fraud used in government fundings for daycare and autistic clients has been exposed in the Somalian businesses. With the last four years and open borders, there are unknown numbers of Muslims in the United States. Muslim real estate investors usually choose Sharia-compliant Al-Halala financing, which means co-ownership and no interest loans. In 1998, some friends of mine went to southern France on the Mediterranean Sea to pass out Christian tracts to the influx of Muslim immigrants coming into Europe. Today, the UK Islam is rated the second highest religion and system in the country. Here in Holland, there is an increase in Pakistani Muslim Sunni. You see them in Myers and Sam's club, mainly in how women dress. The building market for affordable housing is booming in Holland and the contractors are buying land to buy more. Low income availability does not seem to be a term that is discussed in the housing needs. It seems more lucrative to say affordable housing. Will the poor have a chance to find a home they can maintain with canceling the brownstone agreements? Apartment owners are now not obligated to have low income tenants. They can raise rents and not be responsible for low income needs. So what am I trying to say? It may take 30 to 40 years for Muslim population to dominate. This is a suspected plan that is subtle and takes patience. Sharia law is illegal in the United States, but like anything else, with patience and persistence, with or without citizenship, it is being done. At this junction, Juncture of the Human Muslims support Black Lives Matter and LGBT, but the Koran does not. The mayor of New York announced that he does, but why? for votes. After they have dominance in government, they will disregard these two cultures and exercise their own form of law and order. In 2017, in Dearborn City Council, the Dearborn City Council was Muslim. I heard a Christian pastor and wife who had their church in Dearborn speak. Each week, Muslim women came to their house to have refreshments. They would take off their burqas and put on their boots and short skirts and visit. One mother asked the pastor if her daughter could spend the night so that the woman could talk to her husband. He had announced that he had betrothed his daughter to some older man in Iran, and the woman disagreed with the arrangement. She was sure they could talk it through. After the daughter arrived that evening, a knock came on the door, and it was the city police. They demanded the young girl. They took her to the Detroit airport, and her father had her board the plane for Iran. Mom never saw her again. The police were under Islamic law, Sharia. My question, as the Muslim population grows in our nation, and specifically in Holland, is there any possibility of a Muslim council member or even the mayor to be in the future of Holland, who would refuse to pledge allegiance to the flag at the beginning of the council meeting.

Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to address council at this time? Seeing none, I will close the public comment period. Next item on the agenda is item number nine, written petitions and communications. In addition to providing the public the opportunity to address council in person at our meetings, we do also provide the opportunity for you to send written communications, and we have an email address specifically for that purpose. It is publiccomment at cityofholland.com. Again, publiccomment at cityofholland.com. When we receive those, we do accept them into the record. We don't read them. Loud at the meetings but accept them into the record and we do have one this evening So I would entertain a motion from council to accept that into the record motion to approve any comment provided to the City Council Moved by Corbin is there support? support support by Marykeen Is there any discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Next item on the agenda, item 12E6.1, the gifts. Brenda, would you please review the gifts for us?

The city manager's office is pleased to report the following gifts. For the Parks and Recreation Services General Parks Fund, $200 from Robert Dykstra. And for the Sal Perez Scholarship Fund, the reporting dates of January 1 to June 30, 2026. Employee deductions totaling $630.

Wonderful. Thank you. What is the pleasure of counsel in regard to the gifts?

Motion to accept gifts presented to the City of Holland and send a letter of appreciation on our behalf.

Moved by Corbin. Is there support? Support. Support by Vreeman. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Next item on the agenda, item 13, communications from the Assistant City Manager, Mr. Van Dyken.

Yes, good evening, Mayor and Council. Just a few quick things. One very important thing, the Laouc Fiesta kicked off today. It started at the farmer's market with some kids' activities. They've got a lot of things going on through the weekend, so I would encourage everybody. I know you have something to say about that in a few minutes, Mr. Mayor, but I would encourage everybody to go out and participate in Fiesta. It's a great event. take water it's going to be a little warm for these next couple of days but we can do that the farmer's market's going great we've got the street performer series coming up again on thursday and just take a minute get out centennial park and downtown are absolutely gorgeous the parks crew along with all the rest of our parks are really just in their peak right now so get out there it's a beautiful day in holland michigan and we can all get out and enjoy it Wonderful.

Thank you, Mr. Van Dyken. Next item on the agenda, item number 14, appointments, communications from the mayor. You are correct. I do have a proclamation in regard to LAOOP. Whereas Latin Americans United for Progress, LAOOP, is a Latino-Latina organization formed in 1964 by founders Lupita and Tino Reyes, Juan Vasquez, Gilberto Marroquin, Sr., and Raymond Gutierrez. And whereas we celebrate another year of growth and partnerships within the community to bring services that include Spanish classes, citizenship classes, financial literacy, individual and family counseling, youth programming, work development, and small business hub. And whereas, LAHOOP continues to empower Latinos to participate in creating a better community for all through advocacy, education, and celebration. And whereas Holland celebrates the rich diversity within this community that includes ancestry from Mexico, Cuba, Spain, and Central and South America. And whereas LOOP continues to triple community impact by enhancing services, fostering organizational growth, and expanding staff to better address diverse needs of our Latino-Latina community. And whereas La Hope has helped their students receive over $1 million in scholarships, has helped participants of the Educate, Elevate Workforce program earn over $1.4 million in wages that are reinvested in the local economy, provided 200 Prospera Small Business Hub entrepreneurs coaching sessions, and served over 600 individuals through resource navigation in the community. And whereas , meaning we are here, LAHOOPS serves the Lakeshore community, is resilient, and brings the community together to advance opportunities yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Now therefore, I, Nathan Box, Mayor of the City of Holland, Michigan, invite the community to join the Latin Americans United for Progresses for the 67th Second Fiesta beginning today, as Mr. Van Dyken said, July 15 through July 19. for a vibrant celebration of Latino culture through music, food, art, and community. Given under my hand and the seal of the city of Holland this 15th day of July, 2026, Mayor Nathan Box. And that is all I have this evening. Next item in the agenda, appointments, motions, communications from council members.

Anything from council members this evening?

Seeing none, then there's just one more motion that I would entertain at this time. Move to adjourn. Moved by Vreeman. Is there support?

Support.

Support by Vreeman. Any discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Motion carries. We are adjourned. Thank you. Have a wonderful evening.