[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.