Grand Rapids Roundup: Elections, River Project, Gun Buyback, Bikeshare & More

Press release from the City of Grand Rapids:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City Commission held its bimonthly meetings Tuesday and heard updates on the City’s COVID-19 recovery efforts, elections, census and the equitable Grand River restoration initiative. It took action on a gun buyback program and an e-scooters and bikeshare pilot program and set public hearings on a proposed street name change to honor Breonna Taylor and a proposed smoking ban in City-owned parks, among others. Here’s a recap:

COVID-19 recovery

City staff provided updates on the Homeless Outreach Team (HOT), homelessness work group and economic recovery.

Fire Chief John Lehman provided an update on HOT:

• The City is contracting with Network180 for social services and recovery personnel for the HOT program.
• A social worker and substance abuse counselor are being added this week.
• The City is coordinating with Coalition to End Homelessness agencies to perform a September point in time count.

The homelessness work group is working to protect the health and safety of and improve outcomes for individuals who are experiencing homelessness and the community by addressing immediate, emerging and systemic conditions made worse by COVID-19. It also is expanding on the HOT’s work, enhancing partnerships to focus on immediate interventions and long-term solutions and focusing on evidenced-based approaches, innovation and experimentation.

The economic resiliency and recovery work group has created an investment strategy for roughly $6.4 million, including $250,000 for rent and mortgage assistance to Grand Rapids residents who meet eligibility requirements of the Grand Rapids Community Foundation’s La Lucha Fund. It also has collaborated on the creation of the city’s social zones.

The Wealthy Street social district and Fulton Street social zone have been added, and City staff are developing policies for winter activation of social districts. Three proposed recommendations – in partnership with the Kent County Health Department – are expected to be considered by the City Commission on Sept. 29. They are:

• Extension of social zones with seasonal and public health-related modifications
• Extension of outdoor temporary uses on private property as a public health measure
• Authorization of outdoor wood fires on residential college/university campuses as a public health measure

The commission voted to recommend Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) approval of social district permit applications for:

• One Bourbon, 608 Bridge St. NW
• Ferris Coffee, 40 Pearl St. NW
• Homewood Suites, 161 Ottawa Ave. NW
• Peppino’s, 130 Ionia Ave. SW
• Zivio, 724 Wealthy St. SE

This brings the total of commission-recommended social district permit applications to 38. Social districts are areas where alcohol sold by qualified MLCC licensees can be consumed. The commission designated the city’s first social districts in July, increasing outdoor spaces for restaurants and bars amid COVID-19 restrictions. Read more HERE.

Elections

City Clerk Joel Hondorp provided an update on the Nov. 3 elections and efforts under way to ensure they are safe and secure. This includes:

• Every polling place will have personal protective equipment – face shields, masks and gloves – for workers as well as hand sanitizer, disinfectant and alcohol wipes.
• All poll workers must wear a face covering.
• Voters do not have to wear a face covering. However, each polling place will have signage encouraging face coverings.
• Voting booths will be set up 6 feet apart for safe physical distancing and floor signage will remind voters of this guideline.
• The City will add five absentee ballot drop-off boxes around the city. The ballots will be emptied at least once daily.

The City will begin to mail absentee ballots later this month. Voters need to submit an absentee ballot application for each election. No additional action is required for those who applied to vote absentee for the Nov. 3 election when the Clerk’s Office mailed out applications in June. To request an application, CLICK HERE.

Voters may track the progress of their application and absentee ballot HERE. Voters also may check their voter registration status, find their polling location or view a sample ballot on this website. For more information, CLICK HERE.

Complete Count Committee Census liaison Lou Canfield provided an update on the communitywide count effort:

• 91.3% estimated response rate
• 70.4% self-response among Grand Rapids residents compared to 69.7% in 2010
• Estimated 8.7% non-response = potential $313 million loss to the Grand Rapids community over 10 years
• Census count ends Sept. 30 and the City’s outreach efforts continue, including the Sept. 19 canvassing in the Garfield Park neighborhood and other lower-response areas

Read the complete COVID-19, election and census updates HERE.

Equitable Grand River restoration initiative

Ciarra Adkins of the Office of Equity and Engagement announced an $800,000 grant award from Grand Rapids Community Foundation to continue river development-related equity work through 2024. The River for All Racial & Economic Equity (RAREE) grant will allow the City to:

• Employ an equity analyst to systemically embed racial and economic equity within the project both in-river and alongside the riverbanks
• Work with local organizations and groups that focus on diverse leadership and engagement with nature
• Create dedicated business incubator spaces where women and businesses of color can create thriving businesses along the river’s edge
• Install an automated electronic water quality notification system in the Grand River and Plaster Creek to help foster rust and stewardship among city residents.

“Construction for the River for All project will span several years, and this award allows the City of Grand Rapids to strategically walk alongside the development to ensure that racial and economic equity principles are strongly embedded within the entirety of this project.” Adkins said.

Eugene Sueing, program director at the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, told the commission the foundation is focused on investing in projects and programs with partners who share its commitment to becoming actively anti-racist.

“The transformational river restoration will have significant environmental, social and economic impacts on our community, so it is critical equity is intentionally embedded,” Sueing said. “Our donor partners, including those with a focus on the environment through field of interest funds, have made this grant partnership with the City of Grand Rapids possible.”

Read more about equitable Grand River restoration initiative HERE.

Gun buyback program

The commission approved $20,000 from the City’s SAFE (Safe Alliances for Everyone) Task Force fund for a new gun buyback program. Police Chief Eric Payne requested the $20,000 to cover expenses related to community engagement, program promotion and the “purchase” of community members’ firearms.

“This program will help us get illegal guns off the street and provide community members who no longer want to have legal firearms in their home a place to safely dispose of them,” Payne said. “Removing these weapons will make the community safer by limiting access to firearms by those interested in using them in criminal acts.”

The amount offered for each gun will be based on a pre-determined tier system corresponding to the type of firearm. In other communities, the amount offered for each gun ranges from $50 to $200.

The program – expected to start in October – aligns with two of the police department’s strategic priorities: safety and engagement. Police department and other City staff will partner with community members to complete the program’s details and launch it, using best practices from other cities that have gun buyback initiatives.

Read more about the gun buyback program HERE.

E-scooters and bikeshare pilot

The commission approved $400,000 for an e-scooters and bikeshare pilot program. The pilot includes various shared micromobility service vehicles, including resident and visitor rentals of electric assist bicycles, stand-on electric scooters and sit-down electric scooters.

The program – expected to begin this fall and continue for 18 months – will be offered in roughly 12 square miles of Grand Rapids neighborhoods and business districts. The pilot timeframe will allow for a thorough evaluation of the services through four seasons, various weather conditions, current and normalized community conditions and public events.

The first fleet deployment will include 400 to 500 stand-on e-scooters, 200 Class-1 electric-assist bicycles and 100 sit-down e-scooters. Read more HERE.

Public hearings

• The commission set a Sept. 29 public hearing for the proposed commemorative renaming of Monroe Center Street NW from Monroe to Division as Breonna Taylor Way. The public hearing will take place during the commission’s 7 p.m. meeting Sept. 29. Taylor, who was born and raised in Grand Rapids, was killed by law enforcement March 13 in Louisville, Ky., at age 26. The nonprofit organization Justice for Black Lives brought forward the proposal, saying it would preserve Taylor’s memory. Read more about the proposed commemorative street designation HERE.
• The commission set an Oct. 13 public hearing on proposed changes to the Clean Indoor Air ordinance, including banning smoking in City-owned parks. The public hearing will take place during the commission’s 7 p.m. meeting Oct. 13. The proposed changes follow a pilot of 28 tobacco-free parks and playgrounds in the city and have the support of the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and Parks Advisory Board as well as community organizations and local health partners that include Cherry Health, Grand Rapids Public Schools, Kent County Health Department and Urban League of West Michigan. Read more HERE. Tuesday’s presentation is available HERE.

Welcoming Week

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss issued a proclamation declaring Sept. 12-20 Welcoming Week in Grand Rapids. As part of the national Welcoming Week initiative, Bliss encouraged community members to reach across lines of difference and support and advance recommendations of a new Welcome Plan designed to make the city and region more equitable, inclusive and welcoming for new and long-term residents alike.

The Welcome Plan – to be issued Thursday – was prepared in partnership with the City, Samaritas, West Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Kent County, Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, several organizations across sectors and the immigrant community. The plan’s recommendations support justice and systemic change goals within additional City reports and plans, including but not limited to the recent Equitable Economic Development and Mobility Plan, Grand Rapids Police Department strategic plan and Office of Oversight and Public Accountability strategic plan, SAFE Task Force report and the City’s strategic plan.

“By fostering a welcoming environment for all, regardless of immigration status, race, ethnicity, place of origin, English language proficiency, religion, gender, sexual orientation, differing abilities and other factors, we enhance Grand Rapids’ health, economic prosperity and well-being for current and future generations,” Bliss said.

Other action

• The commission approved a new policy that allows certain types of gateway signs in business districts and neighborhood business areas. The policy allows business district gateway signs within a public right-of-way and allows for the consideration of archway or suspended signs. The policy defines the review process for installation of these signs, type, number and size of signs, ownership and responsibility of installation, insurance coverage and maintenance, among others. Read more HERE. Tuesday’s presentation is available HERE.
• The commission set a Sept. 29 vote on a major amendment to a previously approved planned redevelopment district (PRD) located near Bradford Street NE and Leffingwell Avenue NE, south of Leonard Street. The amendment would be needed to move forward on construction of an 80-bed rehabilitation center for Spectrum Health. The original PRD – approved in 1993 – is more than 78 acres and intended as a new health care campus. Read more HERE.
• The commission approved two grant agreements with Heart of West Michigan United Way to support the Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Network and T2C Studio: Grand Rapids Center for College Success – programs of Our Community’s Children. The grants total $570,000 over three years and support the professional development of afterschool providers who offer middle school students science, technology, engineering, arts and math activities that inspire learning and an interest in these emerging career fields. Read more HERE.
• The commission approved two energy purchase agreements with Consumers Energy. One agreement allows the City’s Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) to reduce energy costs by selling excess energy from its two new biodigestion generators to Consumers Energy when excess electricity is available and not used on site. The other allows the WRRF to buy standby power from Consumers Energy when onsite generators are not available, such as during scheduled engines and generators maintenance. Read more about the agreements HERE.
• The commission approved a brownfield plan amendment for a project at 341 Henry Avenue SE. Developers are planning a $2.6 million redevelopment that includes three buildings with 10 residential studio, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartment units. Read more HERE.

For a complete look at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting agendas, CLICK HERE.

This press release was produced by the City of Grand Rapids. The views expressed are the author's own.