[1:29] All right. Good evening all. It is uh 6:30

[1:32] Monday, August 24, 2026. This is the Walker City Commission

[1:37] Committee, the whole meeting. Um first off, let's uh we've got a number of

[1:42] items on the consent agenda. Um, one is we have an update uh from our public

[1:48] services director around the uh gas electric utility rebate assistance. Um,

[1:54] Scott is here if there's any further questions. Um, the memo did a really

[1:58] nice job explaining out um, you know, initially, you know, we talked about

[2:02] some of the legal things. It's it's a concept I know some of us were familiar

[2:06] with from our business careers. Um, but it does spell out. I mean, really, we we

[2:11] are out nothing. It's basically finding money that we don't have right now and

[2:16] we don't have the capacity uh to necessarily do that and uh uh you know

[2:21] part of the return for doing that is getting a cut of the pie. So um so I

[2:25] guess with that in mind is there any questions or discussion items around

[2:28] that item

[2:32] anybody? All right you're making this easy. All

[2:35] right. Um so that is item 8B. The expenditures are what are there any

[2:42] questions on the expenditures? Okay. Um let's jump to 8C. Uh rental

[2:48] facilities. Um one other thing I'll ask our city manager to give some context

[2:53] that there's uh just been a lot of um a lot of things coming at us. Very

[2:58] exciting time next door um with the library. everybody know that that bright

[3:03] shiny um I'm not going to say toy but bright shiny investment we made in our

[3:07] community um that was long long overdue um and sorely needed um but with the

[3:13] usage of the facility that there's uh um some things that we're going to have to

[3:18] to tighten up there of how what does this look like make sure we get things

[3:21] right. So, um, kind of tee it up from there, but this is one that we

[3:24] definitely we're trying to get ahead of before we get to the library opening and

[3:28] like, uh, we're trying to figure it out, then we're figuring it out. So, yeah, as

[3:32] the mayor had said, this is a it's a great new asset for our updated asset

[3:37] for our community. So we want time to understand what function and use the

[3:42] city will have for some of those rental facilities and then KDL as well and

[3:46] marry those two together and then create a policy from that on how those

[3:50] facilities can be rented out, who they can be rented out for, giving preference

[3:54] to local businesses and residents of the city and then tier that out to

[3:57] non-residents, other entities, things of that nature and then build out the fee

[4:02] structure and the rental platform. So, we just want a little time to make sure

[4:05] we get all of that and understand how that facility operates once it's open

[4:09] and fully functioning. >> That makes sense to me. I'd rather

[4:14] » Mhm. Yep. Exactly. Okay. Any other discussion, questions on

[4:19] that? >> I was just curious how you landed on six

[4:21] months. not no inflammation either way.

[4:25] » I certainly hope it takes shorter than that, but I wanted to make sure that

[4:28] staff and KDL had time to work together to understand how things operate and

[4:33] work within that facility once it's fully opened. So that gives us an ample

[4:36] buffer time >> because that'll take us

[4:41] 6 months from tonight or 6 months from the opening. Six months from the

[4:44] opening. >> I should have been more clear. It should

[4:46] be six months from the opening. >> That's what I assumed. Okay. So, so

[4:49] you're looking to November, December, >> April. I think that more than enough.

[4:54] You've got a holiday time frame in there. You have a new governing body

[4:57] coming here too and and there may be discussion around um policy, what have

[5:02] you at that point in time. But um um I do agree with I think it's a good it's a

[5:06] good strategy. >> Yeah. And that pairs up well. It'll give

[5:08] the city commission time to also um review and consider the use of

[5:12] facilities policy, which lays out what can happen at any facility that owned by

[5:16] the city, whether it be a park. this chamber, the library, things of that

[5:20] nature. So, we can marry those two policies together as well.

[5:22] » Perfect. Okay. Any other discussion or questions

[5:26] on 8C? All right. Um 8D is back in front of us.

[5:32] We've had some discussion on this up here, but uh anything further? We have

[5:37] basically a um situation where the city had uh um had went too far in a project

[5:44] uh on uh onto property and uh resident has approached us for uh this. So I

[5:51] guess that's the the short of it. The details are in the packet, but is there

[5:54] any question or discussion from commissioners,

[5:59] city manager, anything? We're good. >> No, I think this is an ammo agreement.

[6:02] it it resolves kind of a long-standing issue and hopefully we'll move it behind

[6:06] us. We've documented everything very well so that way this won't creep up in

[6:10] the future. >> Perfect.

[6:12] And then last but not least, the only action item we have on the agenda

[6:15] tonight outside of the consent agenda is resolution 26-812,

[6:20] poverty exemption policies and guidelines. And this is basically to get

[6:23] us in compliance with the state uh for now. There may be um further iterations

[6:28] of this down the road, but this is to get us aligned and uh um our uh um newer

[6:33] assessor newer >> yes

[6:36] » um assessor um has prepared a memo in there if there's any questions or

[6:41] discussions from Charlie on that. >> All right, we should roll through 7

[6:47] o'clock then. >> Yes. And this is a policy that probably

[6:49] should get updated not annually but frequently more frequently so we can

[6:53] adjust those poverty guidelines and things of that nature so we stay up to

[6:56] par on that. >> It's fair.

[7:00] » I'll leave that up to the assessor there. He's more tied into that world to

[7:03] understand the the rhythm from which these are updated and how often.

[7:08] » Mayor, if I can ask. >> Yes.

[7:12] » Can I ask a question? Just out of curiosity, how often is the It mentions

[7:17] an audit by the [snorts] tax commission. How often do we go and undergo that

[7:20] process? >> I It's not annually, but it's it's

[7:25] semifrequently. >> Yeah. I mean, if that's like a periodic

[7:28] two or three years, that seems like a natural opportunity to review the

[7:31] policy. >> For sure. And then check in with other

[7:33] Kent County. >> Now, if it's like five or 10 years,

[7:35] probably we can be a little bit >> correct more poignant than that.

[7:38] » Yep. And the cities get wide birth on what those guidelines can be. So we can

[7:44] increase, decrease, you know, it it's really you you get an understanding of

[7:48] who what your community threshold should be. And it's also a very underutilized

[7:53] um exemption because you you have to be in pretty dire straits to qualify for

[7:57] this. >> Even based on the content of the memo,

[7:59] it doesn't sound like these are like hard and fast. You have to do these

[8:02] things. It sounds like they're just kind of recommending and we're trying to do

[8:05] best align to best practices, but it does seem like there's this is really

[8:08] soft guidance, not >> Yes. And if if a resident is denied on

[8:12] this, they can always uh escalate this up to the tax tribunal and be heard at

[8:15] that level as well. So there is multiple layers baked into this.

[8:19] » Yeah, we love that process. >> Yes.

[8:22] » So not that I don't support this. My first wondering was just budget

[8:26] implications. Any preliminary estimate? >> I can get those, but it's it's very

[8:32] infrequent that these are granted because again, you have to be in pretty

[8:35] significant dire straits to qualify for the property exemption.

[8:40] Good question. All right. Any other discussion on the

[8:44] real or the poverty exemption resolution?

[8:49] » Okay. Okay. All right. Well, let's jump into comments. Uh, madame clerk, we will

[8:54] start with you. >> Uh, just two things. The Kent County uh,

[8:59] board of canvasers did certify the August 4th election on August 13th. And

[9:04] then also, Walker was randomly selected to have an audit of precinct 2. um that

[9:09] is scheduled for tomorrow, August 25th, at 10 a.m. and that'll be held in the

[9:12] clerk's office. It will be a hand count of precinct 2's um in-person election

[9:19] day and counting board. So, absentee ballots, US Senate race.

[9:24] » Okay. >> Thank you, Commissioner Gilbert.

[9:29] » Uh nothing for me. >> Okay.

[9:33] A few of us attended the ice cream social last week for the public safety

[9:37] um teams and it was very well attended. Lots of good feedback. Um and our public

[9:41] service our safety teams did a really good job too getting out in the

[9:45] community and um spreading the word on anything that people wanted to know

[9:52] about. So yeah, it was great. >> Good deal. Christ

[9:58] » uh also went to the ice cream social and it was very well attended. Um was happy

[10:02] to see that. Um had a DDA meeting last week, Tuesday I think. Um

[10:10] Scott, maybe can you give a little quick update on the path from the

[10:16] station two to community park? >> Sure. Um the uh community park path

[10:23] that's going to connect the back of fire station number two uh has received its

[10:28] permit from the state. That's from Eagle. Uh, so it's an environmental

[10:31] related permit, which is great news. Um, we're looking at final plans for that

[10:35] now, probably bidding in the next month or two, and then hopefully construction

[10:40] next year with completion before the first concert, which I think is a big

[10:43] deal. >> Okay,

[10:46] » good deal. Thank you. >> All right, Commissioner Chase.

[10:53] » Yeah, just echoing what Commissioner Groers and Babcock said about the ice

[10:56] cream social. [snorts]

[11:00] Mr. >> Same same uh police and fire did an

[11:02] excellent job um interacting with the community and a lot of smiles on kids

[11:07] faces and a lot of ice cream there too. >> You stole mine.

[11:13] » Same. Anyway, Commissioner Birdie. >> Yeah, I think everyone knows school's

[11:17] back up and running. Uh streets are a little bit busier now. uh had a chance

[11:21] to meet with the superintendent West Michigan Environmental Academy today and

[11:25] also met last week with Kenna's superintendent just for a few minutes. I

[11:29] still think we have some great opportunities for school city

[11:33] partnerships and um got a couple people in our I think in our corner that'll be

[11:38] supportive of that as well. >> Awesome.

[11:41] Mr. City Manager, >> um nothing major. I also attended Double

[11:45] Dip. That was great. Um, and my 18-month-old very much enjoyed the ice

[11:50] cream. >> Oh, yes. Oh, yes. I almost forgot to the

[11:54] uh uh the Coventry Woods one. >> Yes.

[11:56] » Um that we went down to city manager um uh chief deputy chief um our new

[12:03] communications manager who by the if you haven't listened to his podcast, he did

[12:06] a really nice job uh with that. I know it just dropped last week, but um that

[12:10] turned out well. Um so I had uh other things I think building on what our

[12:16] clerk had shared. Uh congratulations Commissioner Leara um um in uh winning

[12:22] uh with more than 50%. So she is uh stepping into this. Did confirm with our

[12:27] city attorney just to make sure with all the changes in state laws that things

[12:30] everything is copacetic with all of the roles and uh it is uh December 1st for

[12:35] all possessions and a discussion December 1st at noon I

[12:40] believe it was um 11:59 a.m. >> Yes. Something like that. So something

[12:46] I'll find out. >> But December 1st is the date.

[12:48] » That's correct. >> So perfect.

[12:50] » Good. All right. So that's that. Um and then uh thank you to Mayor Prom covering

[12:56] for me while I was traveling uh the JJ Wright uh 10 year anniversary but also

[13:00] opening of their new location on Remembrance Road. We had just approved

[13:04] that uh [snorts] that resoning request. Um and then also want to thank the KDL

[13:09] uh team um even our project management team with Scott leading that from uh the

[13:14] library piece. Um after talking through with the uh KDL team, it uh really came

[13:19] up about um you know, we have a pressure to to get I mean when you walk over

[13:23] there right now, it just it's like absolute chaos cuz like everything's all

[13:27] around like there's no way this is going to be open by October 19th. Um but

[13:32] nonetheless, um that being said, it's it is coming along and um they're actually

[13:37] going to be closing. There was a notification, I think it went out email

[13:40] today, um they're going to be closing actually a week earlier um at the

[13:44] temporary location just to allow that pressure to get everything done not to

[13:48] become strut because it'll be it's that there's a lot there's like way way more

[13:53] it's a much larger facility and uh um so that being said, I wanted just wanted to

[13:58] thank them for working with we had a really healthy discussion last week um

[14:02] around that um changing that date. And then last but not least, the um um

[14:10] double dip um in Coventry was uh the milich piece. So that's think that's all

[14:15] I had. So if there's nothing else, we are at uh 7:43.

[14:21] Um so we can take a break until about 7:59. 6:59, sorry. Thanks. Thanks. So

[14:28] we'll stand adjourned till 659. >> Oh, mayor.

[14:30] » Yes. >> There an opportunity for public comment.

[14:33] Um, >> not until

[14:35] » not till 7 o'clock just because it'll be a matter of public record at that point.

[14:38] If you could please. >> Awesome. Good. Thank you.

[14:40] » Thank you very much. >> Yep.

[23:36] There it is.

[28:34] And guys, when we get to the second public comment, the first one's agenda

[28:38] items only. I'm assuming it's non-aggenda. The second, so the second

[28:42] one I'll give you kind of the head knot. So, and that way it's in the public

[28:45] record for you. >> Perfect. You got it. You got it.

[28:58] » [snorts]

[30:50] » We are at 7 o'clock. Good evening all. It is Monday, August

[30:55] 24, 2026. This is the regular city commission meeting for the city of

[31:00] Walker, Michigan. Um, I'd like to open invite Commissioner Shane to deliver the

[31:05] invocation, lead us in, and pledge of allegiance.

[31:08] » Shall we pray? Heavenly Father, we come before you today in humility and faith.

[31:14] We thank you for all that you have given us and the many blessings in our lives.

[31:18] We ask you for your guidance and your strength. Show us the way and fill us

[31:23] with courage and wisdom. Help us to remember your love and your grace and to

[31:27] be faithful in our service to you. Give us the patience and the understanding to

[31:31] face life's challenges with grace. Please watch over our police, our

[31:36] firefighters, our military and our community and our residents. Help us

[31:40] also to take care of others and to take care of ourselves. We ask in these

[31:44] things in your name. Amen. >> Amen. Thank you. Like to invite the

[31:48] audience to stand and join us in the pledge of allegiance.

[31:51] I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[31:57] republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[32:03] justice for all. >> Thank you all. If I could ask the clerk

[32:06] to please call the role. >> Mayor Kerry,

[32:08] » present. >> Commissioner Gilbert,

[32:09] » present. >> Commissioner Babcock,

[32:11] » present. >> Commissioner Groers,

[32:12] » present. >> Commissioner Chase,

[32:13] » present. >> Commissioner Dashaine,

[32:15] » present. >> Commissioner Birdie,

[32:16] » present. >> All right. Thank you all. Um, first on

[32:20] the list is approval of minutes from the August 10th, 2026 city commission

[32:24] meeting. Is there any discussion on said minutes? Seeing hearing none, I a motion

[32:30] for approval and support, please. >> I'll make a motion.

[32:32] » I'll support Chase, Commissioner Tasha. All those in favor, please say I.

[32:37] » I. >> I. Those opposed. All right. Um, next is

[32:41] public comment on any agenda items. Agenda items only. Any public comment?

[32:46] Going once. Going twice. All right. Um, next is consent agenda items. I'm going

[32:53] to spell all list all four of these out for the uh viewing audience. First is

[32:58] the expenditures in the amount of 6,322,66.38.

[33:04] Uh, the second is uh item 8B is the Walker Library Gas and Electric Utility

[33:09] Rebate Assistance. We discussed at our committee the whole meeting this

[33:12] evening. Next is 8C, Walker Library Rental Facility Policy and a six uh

[33:18] six-month um um uh just extension just to get uh get the house in order there.

[33:24] Um and then uh 8D is purchase of real property. We also discussed at um the

[33:30] committee the whole meeting at 6:30. Is there any discussion um on any of the

[33:34] consent agenda items? Seeing hearing none, I a motion for approval and

[33:38] support, please. >> So move support.

[33:40] » Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Birdie, I heard second. Uh, all those in favor, please say I.

[33:45] » I. Those opposed. Thank you all. Um, next is resolution uh 26-812.

[33:52] This is the poverty exemption policies and guidelines. We just discussed this

[33:55] uh at our committee the whole meeting at 6:30 as well. Is there further

[34:00] discussion or questions on said resolution? Seeing hearing none on a

[34:04] motion for approval and support, please. >> So moved. Support. Commissioner Babcock,

[34:10] Commissioner Chase. All those in favor, please say I.

[34:13] » I. Those opposed. All right. Resolution 26-812 is passed. Next is other public

[34:19] comment. Um, please feel free to come up to the stand. I believe that is on, but

[34:24] it didn't sound like it at the 6:30. >> Hello.

[34:27] » Um, it does not. We've got a pretty good echo in here, but uh or pretty good uh

[34:31] noise thing in here. So, if you just speak up nice and loud, just state your

[34:33] name. Um if you're within the city of Walker, you're addressing from outside

[34:37] the city. Um just your uh city location and then uh have the floor. Uh so you

[34:43] have it. >> Great. Thank you. My name is Matthew

[34:46] Sanders. I do not live in the city of Walker. I live in the city of Grand

[34:49] Rapids in the third ward. Um but I drive in the city of Walker a fair amount. Um

[34:54] Walker is home to some [snorts] of my favorite places to shop. Uh many

[34:57] fantastic businesses, both large and small, are located in your city. My

[35:01] workplace is lo located on the west side of Grand Rapids and that makes it fairly

[35:04] convenient to come to Walker for stuff like shopping, but like every other

[35:09] municipality in the greater Grand Rapids area, I am subject while I'm driving

[35:13] through to the surveillance from Flock APR cameras um when I choose to drive

[35:18] through the city. Now, I'm not here to scold you for allowing Flock cameras on

[35:22] your roadways. I'm technically not your constituent, so what would be the point

[35:25] of that? And even though I'd be happy to stand here for my aotted time and list

[35:30] in excruciating detail the problems with ALPR cameras, from abuse and misuse by

[35:35] law enforcement to the truly staggering amount of inaccuracies that have turned

[35:38] up from audits and of course the vulnerabilities created by data sharing

[35:42] with federal agencies like ICE. What I'd like to impress upon you today is the

[35:46] opportunity that is currently staring your city in the face. Perhaps you've

[35:50] noticed the increasing numbers of cities around the country who have begun to

[35:54] cancel their contracts with flock and remove their cameras. I would urge you

[35:58] to become the first city in the greater Grand Rapids area to do this exact

[36:03] thing. There's currently a ground swell of opposition against flock cameras and

[36:06] a growing majority of regular people are becoming increasingly concerned with

[36:11] flocks abuses of their privacy, myself included. Of course, this perception

[36:16] will only continue to grow as more campaigns are waged against this

[36:18] technology nationwide and more people become aware of the issues associated

[36:22] with flock. Therefore, my argument to you is that no unique benefit exists

[36:27] from keeping your flock cameras in place. But the amount of goodwill and

[36:30] increased business traffic would receive by being the first municipality in this

[36:35] area to cancel its contract would be sudden, immediate, and likely to grow

[36:40] continuously until other cities followed suit. Walker has the opportunity to lead

[36:44] the way in this regard. Flock has to date not been able to demonstrate a link

[36:49] between their cameras and any decrease in crime rates. The benefits of

[36:54] currently deployed ALPR technology do not outweigh the ongoing cost to the

[36:57] city or the benefits that could be gained by removing them. I thank you for

[37:01] your time. >> Thank you.

[37:11] I'm just going to move this away just so that's easier for me. My name is Griffin

[37:14] Sigma. I do not live within the city of Walker. I'm a constituent of Comtock

[37:18] Park, so the greater Grand Rapids area as well. I'm also here today to voice my

[37:22] opposition towards ALPRs. I'm going to build upon a little bit of what Matthew

[37:26] said and give a little bit more specifics. So ALPRs, automatic license

[37:31] plate readers, to many colloally known as flop cameras. Their reported use is a

[37:37] tool to be used helpate crime in the area and that is

[37:42] used by tracking information. Supposedly uh they can track a suspect's license

[37:46] plate. They can track them where they move to follow them and then apprehend

[37:50] them at at that point. Um however, ALPRs uh do not exactly follow how their

[37:56] namesake is. They do not just read license plates. They also read bumper

[38:00] stickers, makes and models of cars, any other dents, dings, scratches may be

[38:04] easily identifiable. And it's not limited to just cars. It also will track

[38:09] anybody. If you walk by a flock camera, it will scan your face and leave an

[38:14] imprint. And that data is sent to a national database. That is anybody who's

[38:19] walking by, anybody who's biking by. There are flock cameras that are pointed

[38:23] towards parks in the greater Grand Rapids area. So any kids that are

[38:26] playing at these playgrounds are having their face scanned and uploaded to a

[38:30] national database. And the city of Walker in the greater Grand Rapids area

[38:34] have no local authority over these cameras. what they're scanning, how that

[38:39] information is being used elsewhere, and everything. As such, anybody who is a

[38:43] Flock contract member has access to all of this information, whether they live

[38:47] in New York City, Miami, Florida, Texas, California, anybody who has a FL

[38:53] contract has access to these cameras. So my question is, why do we as a people

[38:59] allow this private business to have so much information from us where, as

[39:04] Matthew said, there has not been a great link to

[39:07] actually reducing crime rates for areas that these flot cameras are. A recent

[39:12] study of the Los Angeles block cameras shows that there was approximately 32%

[39:18] error rate. Now, I don't know about you, but if I went to work and had a 32%

[39:22] error rate, I would not be working there for very long. And as we all know,

[39:27] Michigan with their license plates is very formulaic. So one digit that is off

[39:32] could implicate a number of different people in a crime that they may have no

[39:36] idea, no suspect, no impact, and they may be stopped for that reason. So I

[39:41] don't believe that this data is very useful for the constituents of Michigan.

[39:46] Thank you for your time. >> Thank you.

[39:50] Any other public comment, agenda items, non-aggenda items?

[39:56] All right. Seeing hearing none, uh, one more time around the horn, Mr. City

[40:01] Manager, anything on your end? >> Nothing to add.

[40:03] » Commissioner Birdie said, >> Commissioner Duchaine,

[40:06] » good. >> Commissioner Chase, Commissioner Groers,

[40:09] Commissioner Babcock, Commissioner Gilbert, Madam Clerk, nothing. All

[40:12] right. Undertain a motion for actually before then, uh, thank you in advance

[40:16] for covering. I will be gone for the two September meetings, um, due to business

[40:20] travel. So, um, our Mayor Prom has the helm up here. Um I don't see anything

[40:27] like major coming down the uh the shoot. So um but anyway, that being said, I had

[40:32] a motion for approval and support to adjurnn. Please

[40:34] » motion. >> Commissioner Birdie,

[40:36] » support. >> Commissioner Chase. Um actually, hold on

[40:39] a sec. Commissioner Birdie, >> go please.

[40:43] » Support. >> Thank you. Get on one time. Thank you.

[40:46] So, uh Commissioner Groers, uh all those in favor, please say I.

[40:50] » I. Those opposed. 710. Uh, thank you.

City Commission - 24 Aug 2026

Transcript