🚲 On Oct. 2, the Mobile GR Commission, joined by Deb Prato, CEO of The Rapid, talked about the DASH. There was discussion about its purpose, how it's funded and more. Mobile GR Director Jessica Smith also provided a review of the fiscal year 2025 budget and actuals.

🏗️ On Sept. 25, the City Planning Commission held four public hearings. It approved projects at 1041 Leonard St. NE, 855 Butterworth St. SW and 1058 Butterworth St. SW and tabled a project at 540 Russwood St. NE. It also approved a final site plan review for a development at 1644 Ball Ave. NE.

Written by @joshuapolanski.bsky.social

💰 On Sept. 11, the South Division-Grandville Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) heard presentations about streetscape design/alley activation projects and the City's parking investment strategy. It also approved a façade improvement application and a letter of support.

🌳 On Sept. 11, the Urban Forestry Committee heard a presentation on the Forestry Operations and Management Plan. It also discussed tree awareness items, the Mayors' Monarch Pledge and Tour des Trees.

🍎 On Sept. 15, the GRPS Board of Education reconvened its recessed meeting. Over 60 commenters talked about teacher pay/retention, understaffing in special education, the loss of families and educators to other districts and more. Many commenters also called for district leadership to take action.

💰 On Sept. 10, the Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) approved three action items, including a business associations MOU, corridor management RFP and an event funding request. The Board also heard an update on the MLK streetscape project.

🍎 On Sept. 8, the GRPS Board of Education adjourned its meeting early due to concerns about potential violations of the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Public commenters talked about teacher pay and retention.

🚲 On Sept. 4, the Mobile GR Commission reviewed what it has done so far in 2025. Commissioners also discussed their priorities/motivations and major changes they'd like to see in ten years.

💰 On Aug. 13, the Southtown Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) approved a funding allocation for an ArtPrize event (with one opposed), three façade improvement requests and more. The Board also heard a presentation from Mobile GR about the City's parking investment strategy.

💧 On July 9, the Water System Advisory Council, without a quorum, heard updates on lead reduction initiatives, lead service line replacements, annual lead and copper rule sampling and more.

🚦 On Aug. 7, the Mobile GR Commission heard a presentation about traffic signals. City staff told commissioners that the traffic signals division maintains hundreds of traffic signals throughout the Greater Grand Rapids area.

💰 On Aug. 1, the West Side Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) approved two Façade Improvement Program grant applications and other items. It also heard a presentation on the City's parking investment strategy and voted to submit a letter of opposition for the Matthew's House relocation project.

🍎 On Aug. 11, public commenters at the GRPS Board of Education meeting talked about ongoing negotiations between GRPS and the GREA, a proposed 4.5% salary increase and more. The Board also heard presentations on Sinking Fund millage feasibility, back-to-school safety and construction projects.

💰 On Aug. 6, the Uptown Corridor Improvement Authority (CIA) approved requests to recommend Development Area Liquor Licenses, a public art funding request and more. It also heard a presentation from Mobile GR about the City's parking investment strategy and data collection.

📚 On July 29, public commenters expressed support for library pages' request to join the GREIU and called for open bargaining and greater transparency. The GRPL Board of Library Commissioners also decided not to move forward with a proposed project with the Grand Rapids Children's Museum.

🏗️ On July 24, the City Planning Commission approved a Planned Sign Program for the Acrisure Amphitheater and recommended approval of requests to rezone sections of 1362 and 1364 Leonard St. NW. City staff also gave a demonstration of new lot analysis tool.

🚍 On July 23, The Rapid's Board of Directors discussed proposed updates to The Rapid's fare policy. Staff also presented the draft fiscal year 2025/2026 operating and capital budgets.

🍎 On July 28, the GRPS Board of Education heard an update about the Michigan Legislature, approved its purchasing agenda and went into closed session for "superintendent evaluation goals update.”

🍎 On July 28, the GRPS Board of Education held the first of two public hearings on updates to the district's sex education curriculum.

🏗️ On July 23, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved six action items related to projects at 4325 Breton Ave. SE, 1407, 1409 and 1417 Robinson Rd. SE and more. It also approved Emerging Developer Grants for projects at 807 Martin Luther King Jr. St. SE and 1133 Fulton St. W.

🏛️ On July 29, public commenters at Commission Night Out urged the City Commission to adopt sanctuary status/policies, including limiting GRPD's cooperation with ICE. Commenters also talked about arrests of activists and community leaders, zoning, a humane pet shop ordinance and more.

🏗️ On July 10, the City Planning Commission held public hearings related to projects at 2 Fulton St. W, 2286 Ball Ave. NE, 840 & 846 Cesar E. Chavez Ave. SW and 1356 Kalamazoo Ave. SE.

🍎 On July 14, the GRPS Board of Education discussed a potential sinking fund millage. Public commenters talked about teacher pay and offered support for former Sibley Elementary principal Roselyn Charles-Maher following her departure from the district.

🏗️ On June 25, the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority approved its FY 2026 budget. It also approved six action items related to the Pleasant Hills project (539 New Ave. SW), M-Village redevelopment project (1865 Eastern Ave. SE), Academy Manor project (43 Lakeside Dr. NE) and more.

💰 On June 18, the Michigan Street Corridor Improvement Authority approved a Poutine Week event planning proposal for up to $81,000. It's also continuing its search for a new corridor manager.

📚 At the June 17 GRPL Board of Library Commissioners meeting, the head of the Grand Rapids History Center gave an update on Backstage Library Works and newspaper viewer project. A public commenter reminded the Board about request from library pages asking to join the GREIU.