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[6:03] [Music]

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[6:28] welcome everyone to this regular city council meeting for Monday February 17

[6:33] 2025 I'd like to note that uh neither Ashley lch or Maria borma could be here

[6:39] this evening so our supporting staff today is Melissa boss and finance

[6:43] director Emily green thank you for being here would you please call the role L

[6:48] here Fritz here mlin yeah here manetta one of

[6:54] here yes yes here here one of them please rise and uh our invocation this

[6:59] evening is by Pastor Nathan stom of the Grand Haven Church of God please rise

[7:03] and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance Let's us pray Heavenly Father

[7:09] we thank you so much for this opportunity that you have given to us to

[7:12] come together to do business for the great City the Grand City of Grand Haven

[7:18] in Michigan Lord right now we pray that your Holy Spirit would come into this

[7:22] place and lead us guide us direct us Lord that as we make decisions that

[7:28] there'll be decisions father God that you have already prepared for us that

[7:33] you have led us into that Lord you will help give them wisdom each and every

[7:37] commissioner father God they have the wisdom of your spirit to lead and guide

[7:42] this city to the best that it can be father God I pray that you be with our

[7:47] mayor tonight help him Lord give him the strength that he needs to do what he has

[7:52] to do tonight father God we thank you for everyone that made it out here to

[7:56] this council meeting tonight that Lord you will be with us bless us bless this

[8:02] city make this city the grandest city that you can by your power and your

[8:08] grace we love you Lord for all that you have done and all that you are going to

[8:13] do through this city through this Council in your name we pray amen

[8:22] amen I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[8:28] Republic for which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and

[8:34] justice for

[8:41] all now we have no appointments or reappointments this evening brings us to

[8:46] the approval of the consent and regular agendas can I get a motion for that

[8:49] please so moved and I'll second it motion by low second by mcclaflin any

[8:55] questions or change I'm Sorry by Fritz no second by Fritz

[9:02] um any changes to the

[9:06] agenda if none would you please call the RO Fritz yes mlin yes L yes manessa yes

[9:16] okay it brings us to our first call to the audience this is the first of two

[9:20] opportunities at this time members of the audience May address Council on any

[9:23] item whether on the agenda or not those addressing Council are asked to provide

[9:27] their name and address will be limited to 3 minutes of speaking time Council

[9:31] will hear all comments for future consideration will not have a response

[9:35] at this time those not physically present who would like to call may dial

[9:39] in at 616 935 3203 who would like to address

[9:50] councel M Davis 209 South Third Street I guess I'd like to begin with a prayer

[9:57] two the Christian goes to to where Christ is being

[10:01] crucified I'm going to make my proposal to you and then I hope I have enough

[10:06] time to give some of the reasons I want you to take measures to declare Grand

[10:14] Haven to be a sanctuary City or if you need a euphemism a welcoming City many

[10:20] large cities in our state and throughout the nation have so declared themselves

[10:25] but why should a small City do it if we don't raise any trouble trouble they

[10:29] won't come after us we have many migrants in this city by the

[10:33] way our duty when something is going on such as

[10:40] being done by ice and if you need a short course on that I would suggest

[10:46] that you see the Tuesday January 21st issue of the Grand Haven Tribune where I

[10:52] at my own expense made a full statement about what ice is doing I'd also call

[10:58] your attention to a letter from the Holy Father a letter from the uh Bishops of

[11:04] of uh Michigan and a suit uh against

[11:11] Ice uh that is joined by among others lutherans menites methodists Quakers

[11:17] Presbyterians unitarians uh and the Jewish Community

[11:23] uh I'm sad to report that in Grand Haven after I wrote a letter to 27 pastors

[11:29] asking them to support measures against ice only one uh was able to do that

[11:37] perhaps their conscience went in some other direction on this matter I ask you

[11:42] to not let your conscience go in another Direction I want you to get in touch

[11:49] with me within the next few days set up a meeting where I can meet with you and

[11:56] and discuss what we have to do to go about doing this thing and I think it's

[12:01] important that we do it as soon as possible uh we must remember that what's

[12:07] happening involves all of us uh and if people in small cities don't act we in

[12:15] danger of the same thing that people in Germany in the 30s did when they didn't

[12:19] act the time to act is now and uh once again the Christian is one who goes to

[12:27] where Christ is being crucified thank you thank you thanks

[12:32] mayor who else would like to

[12:37] speak uh Oliver champine 540 D Avenue uh I'll I'll Echo uh Max's previous

[12:44] statements I'm just going to read something from the Pope Francis in his

[12:47] new book immigration and War are two sides of a single coin it has been

[12:51] rightly said the greatest producer of migrants is war war in one gu or another

[12:55] since climate change and poverty are essentially the sick fruit of a BL war

[12:59] that man himself has declared against a fair distribution of resources against

[13:03] nature against his own Planet moving on though uh it's a pleasure to be here and

[13:07] I appreciate your time and attention uh so I come here to iterate a statement I

[13:11] made a couple weeks ago the previous meeting and while I do respect and impla

[13:15] the works of the Department of Public Works uh I believe we can do and should

[13:20] do more for our residents humans are the only bipedal mammals who are like

[13:23] exclusively on walking upright for movement and as a species we've traveled

[13:27] and estimated 2 2 quadrillion miles which is a lowend estimate enough to

[13:33] walk to Pluto and back over 400,000 times yet when winter arrives many

[13:37] cities priorities colleting roads for cars while whilst neglecting the

[13:41] sidewalks and Pathways used by pedestrians to me this is a diservice to

[13:45] our community it affects those who are Line Walking as the primary mode of

[13:48] transportation those out with their dogs our mail carriers and delivery workers

[13:51] and most critically the young and elderly who need safe passage ensuring

[13:56] clear and accessible walkways is not just a matter of convenience it's a

[13:59] matter of equity safety and public health I'm worried that there even could

[14:02] be lawsuits in the future in fact this is the issue issue is one of the main

[14:06] pillars of my campaign so I'm going to announce that here today uh I'm running

[14:09] to fill the empty seat over there held by Ryan cumins um and my idea first that

[14:15] I'm going to give to you is accessibility and public transportation

[14:17] so we often hear about parking in the city concerns about it but I'd argue

[14:21] that Grand Haven does not have a parking problem at all it is a walking problem

[14:25] uh in a pursuit of our own convenience and comfort we've de deprioritized

[14:28] walking enti but the real issue lies in our drift

[14:31] away from physical activity the lack of accessible and passable routes and the

[14:35] absence of a robust public transportation system so this is just

[14:38] one of my many policy pillars that I'm addressing but today I wanted to

[14:41] highlight it because it's affecting many of our communities right now and just

[14:44] it's relevant and the coming weeks I plan to come back with more but uh I end

[14:49] with if we really want a city that truly serves all its residents I think we got

[14:52] to start rethinking our priorities so I'll Echo Max statements again too

[14:56] thanks for yours thank you who else would like to address

[15:05] Council see no on I'm going to close the call to the

[15:09] audience at this point I'm going to present a proclamation drafted by the

[15:14] human relations commission regarding Black History Month in the City of Grand

[15:18] Haven so this is one of the things that we attempt to do toh to address some of

[15:22] the diversity some of our appreciation for all of our citizens in this

[15:27] community so human relations commission has prepared this resolution for us the

[15:31] black history African-American Heritage Month whereas it was the late great

[15:36] Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr who had a dream of equality and shared

[15:41] Mutual acceptance of true freedom and when this happens and when we allow

[15:45] Freedom we allow freedom to ring and we let it ring from every village and every

[15:49] Hamlet from every state and every city we'll be able to speed up that day when

[15:54] all God's childrens black men white men Jews Gentiles Protestants and Catholics

[15:59] will be able to join hands and sing the words of the old spiritual free at last

[16:03] free at last thank God Almighty we are free at last and so it is that we in the

[16:08] City of Grand Haven Michigan does proudly acknowledge and Proclaim that

[16:12] the month of February will henceforth and forever be black history

[16:16] africanamerican africanamerican heritage month and whereas Grand Haven vows to

[16:21] honor the many achievements and contributions made to our Fair City by

[16:25] those citizens who are of African Heritage in the areas of civic duty

[16:28] beuty economic growth and success along with contribution to grow and help

[16:33] diversify the overall culture of Grand Haven and whereas in the same manner

[16:38] that Reverend Dr Martin Luther King Jr proclaimed his great dream for this

[16:41] nation from our nation's capital we the collective unified body of Grand Haven

[16:46] do Proclaim our continued support to the work and goal of that dream from for for

[16:51] from our own City Hall and whereas as our growing city continues to

[16:57] diversify in its culture makeup it becomes imperative that the City of

[17:01] Grand Haven continues and improves its efforts to educate all members on the

[17:05] culture of our citizens of African descent we commit to the cultural

[17:09] education and support of our citizens of African descent as we raise awareness

[17:14] and do the work necessary to Route out all Prejudice and discrimin

[17:18] discriminatory practices no matter what form they may take and whereas now comes

[17:23] the time that the city of City Council of Grand Haven calls on its great

[17:28] citizenry to come together hand in hand as Dr King envisioned extending the hand

[17:33] of Brotherhood and friendship embracing with love and dignity the citizens of

[17:37] our city of African Heritage we commit to the dream of all people regardless of

[17:43] color or Creed truly being free at last and whereas in celebrating the black

[17:48] history African African-American heritage month we are committed to the

[17:52] support provision of advocacy for all citizens of African descent so it may

[17:57] serve as an opportunity to strengthen and the internal Alliance of this city

[18:01] with all its citizens equally as we Foster Mutual acceptance for all and now

[18:06] therefore be it resolved that the City of Grand Haven does hereby Proclaim that

[18:10] the month of February is now and henceforth to be acknowledged as black

[18:14] history African-American Heritage Month in support of all those of African

[18:18] Heritage who call the City of Grand Haven home so thank you to the human

[18:22] relations commission we certainly take this to Heart

[18:30] and now that brings us to our consent agenda the consent agenda allow me to

[18:35] read this um item a approve the regular council meeting minutes for February 3rd

[18:42] 2025 Item B approve the Bill's memo the Bill's memo in the amount of

[18:48] $739,500 120 item C approve a

[18:53] 85t easement within Rick's Robinson Park to Merit Network Incorporated van Miss

[18:58] Michigan for the purpose of conducting fiber optic

[19:01] utilities and item D approve the proclamation drafted by the human

[19:06] relations commission recognizing Black History Month throughout the City of

[19:09] Grand Haven can I get a motion so moved second motion by first second by

[19:16] mlin any questions on any item on the consent agenda yeah I'm just questioning

[19:22] on the um I think on our agenda the numbers on

[19:27] the bills memo don't I have on and maybe I have

[19:34] 739 5432 and then up on the screen it says

[19:39] 739 054 91 I don't know if that was a late change a typo okay so is this the

[19:46] correct one no the what's on the agenda is a correct one okay oh oh so the slide

[19:51] is the one that's not updated okay so we're we're correct okay okay good then

[19:56] what you read is correct my only question all right but thanks for

[20:01] catching that any other comments or questions on

[20:04] the consent agenda no please call the role Fritz yes M

[20:13] Laughlin yes I said I'm sorry I I speaking into the mic I apologize

[20:18] Melissa you're fine lello yes M I'm sorry

[20:22] manessa yes

[20:29] [Applause] all right that brings us to our first

[20:32] item of new business first item of new business is consideration by city

[20:36] council of a resolution to award a street resurfacing to award a street

[20:40] resurfacing a beach tree non-motorized pathway contract to Michigan Paving and

[20:45] materials of Comstock Park Michigan in the amount of

[20:57] $418,500 $892 7620 and authorize the mayor and city

[21:03] clerk to execute the necessary documents the administration recommends approval

[21:07] can I get a motion so move second motion by first second by

[21:13] mclin uh Mr Mike England is going to briefly describe what this is good

[21:19] evening um so Leah from abam Marsh did a lot of work on this for us her B her

[21:25] estimate was 54500 $54,000 we came in pretty low underneath

[21:32] the estimate and we're asking to do more than the streets that were in her bid so

[21:38] we can get some more streets done at this time okay well thank you that

[21:41] explains why you want the not to exceed budgeted amount just to because we had

[21:45] it budgeted yep okay questions from Mr England good work we get more roads done

[21:52] and get more more done that's good very good doesn't always happen

[21:57] that way uh any other questions no please call

[22:02] the rooll M llin yes Fritz yes Lo yes manessa

[22:09] yes uh next item is a consideration by city council of a resolution to approve

[22:14] a contract with Michigan Department of Transportation for project contract

[22:18] number 24- 5496 the beach tree and Robins traffic signal replacement and

[22:24] the not to exceed amount of $16,839.23

[22:28] and authorize the mayor and city clerk to execute the necessary documents

[22:32] Administration recommends approval can I get a motion so moved in support motion

[22:39] by low second by Fritz Mike would you like to tell us what this one's about

[22:44] yes that's through the beach tree traffic signal over there and um in

[22:48] Robins Road we were able to get a participation grant for

[22:54] $326,000 um and then it came in a little bit overestimate because of the fancy

[23:00] street light scheme that we use here in the city so that's why it's we're

[23:05] requesting it to the extra money for this

[23:09] one now the grant we got was through m.4 correct and so we're just making up the

[23:15] difference on the quote correct yep or was that a percentage participation it

[23:19] was I believe it was a percentage participation Emily am I correct yes and

[23:23] the total is 326,000 that were Grant funds 326,000

[23:30] yeah and this is just standard this this street light just

[23:34] going to be standard just like the the remainder of in the city is that what

[23:38] you're saying it's the decorative the the I believe the black decorative ones

[23:42] that we've been putting up around the city down by c bar and all the other

[23:45] ones you put in got it thank you I'm good any other questions

[23:53] no well I'm glad to see us get some grant money to help us pay for these

[23:57] things get some of the money back that we send into other other uh capitals

[24:02] around correct if there other questions please call the roll hello yes Fritz yes

[24:09] mlin yes manetta yes the next item is a consideration by

[24:15] city council for resolution to approve an agreement for property assessment

[24:19] administrative Serv services with Ottawa County for a three-year period fiscal

[24:24] years 2025 26 fiscal year 2026 27 fisc year 20

[24:30] 2728 with a three-year optional extension and authorize the mayor and

[24:34] city clerk to execute the necessary documents can I get a motion don't move

[24:40] support motion by mclin second by low this is a uh something we've been doing

[24:47] for years using the city or using the county assessing Department in Lou of

[24:51] the city doing it that's correct that started the the original agreement

[24:54] started in 2011 2011 or 201 excuse me um and uh has been a three-year extension

[25:02] since then and so this is just another three-year extension um the current

[25:07] agreement start um runs through June 30th of 2025 and so it's time for us

[25:12] to sign up for another three years with the county uh assessing Department okay

[25:17] and we save considerable money we save considerable money yeah correct and we

[25:22] get a very professional result yes we do yes any questions or comments

[25:30] no you please call the rooll M Laughlin yes Fritz yes lell yes Mana

[25:39] yes last item of new business is a consideration by city council of a

[25:44] resolution to award the custodial Services contract toer a facility M

[25:49] maintenance in the amount of $534 75 cents monthly and authorize the

[25:55] mayor and city clerk to execute the necessary documents Administration

[25:58] recommends approval can I get a motion so moved second okay motion by Fritz

[26:05] second by mclin Mike you're back yes Derrick is at

[26:09] home taking care of his family um so yeah dererk was able to get three bids I

[26:14] believe we right now we do have Professional Building Services of Norton

[26:18] Shores they were the lowest bid and um Derek is recommending approval of that

[26:24] okay and this is this was before us once before the a little bit of clean up in

[26:29] the contract language which I believe this reflects MH yes I believe so okay

[26:35] thank you any questions or comments

[26:40] no okay well then would you please call the roll L yes britz yes mlin yes maneta

[26:49] yes that's all our items of new business it brings us to the report by city

[26:55] council any who would like to go first

[27:00] oh bman you

[27:04] didn't yes it is cold outside I'm reporting cold and cold for

[27:11] a while yet but spring is coming soon I hope other that baseball Tigers be

[27:20] starting pretty soon I think opening day is with the Phillies so for them down

[27:25] there in spring training so sco Tigers okay I'm good thank you I

[27:33] have nothing to report no um don't have much of a report tonight either

[27:39] so and we don't have a report by the city manager unless there's something

[27:43] Emily would like to contribute there is something that I'd like to pass along um

[27:46] that Ashley wanted me to mention um we have exciting internal Staffing changes

[27:50] to share our own Derek Gatos um has is taking a new role with the city um based

[27:56] on our needs he will be the new project management director and as he makes that

[28:02] switch we will be looking to hire a new public um Works director and so we will

[28:07] need either one or two of you council members um to participate in the

[28:11] interviews so she wanted me to ask who can we count on to help

[28:17] participate I'm more than happy to I'm good i' like these okay well well you

[28:22] both have your hands up I'll volunteer okay I'm used to volunteering it's fine

[28:27] with me whatever yeah whatever you know she needs I'm F don't matter anybody

[28:31] wants to do it no we just can't we can't do three of us just because be a qu no I

[28:36] have some limited availability though coming up so I'm I'm guessing that she'd

[28:40] want to get um right on this so correct okay very good thank you so you get

[28:45] Kevin and Mike very good thank you thank you guys yep no

[28:50] problem okay anything else well then that brings us to our

[28:56] second call to the audience at this time members of the audience May address

[29:00] councel on any item whether on the agenda or not those addressing Council

[29:03] are asked to provide their name and address will be limited to 3 minutes of

[29:07] speaking time Council he all comments for future consideration will not have a

[29:11] response at this time those not physically present who would like to

[29:14] call in may dial 616 935

[29:22] 3203 time uh I'm Don keot by the way

[29:30] uh three minutes go so fast and I really want to impress on you the necessity

[29:38] that you get back to me on this proposal and that we work together either to find

[29:44] out why it can't be done or why it can be done and I'm hoping that you will

[29:49] contact me sometime this week to set up such a meeting uh you may remember

[29:56] Pastor nealer uh in Germany had a a statement that he made that you now see

[30:01] on many t-shirts it begins with the lines I was not a Jew so when they came

[30:06] to the Jews I didn't do anything he goes on I was not a Catholic so when they

[30:11] came for I was not a migrant I was not a black person I was not a

[30:17] Muslim and he said finally when they came for me there was no one to stand up

[30:24] for me we're all in this together

[30:28] fascism never

[30:31] stops um you should I I I wish I had time to present to you all the things

[30:39] that I've done in researching this matter and especially in researching our

[30:42] borders are Homan uh I think a good bumper sticker would be Homan Ain't

[30:48] Human uh his desire to for example he says that if you're in this country

[30:56] illegally you're a CRI criminal that's not the case undocumented people are

[31:02] guilty of a civil offense not of a criminal offense but already that line

[31:08] is being erased soon other lines will be erased there are plans to get rid of Doc

[31:13] uh dreamers there are plans to go into churches to go into schools to go into

[31:18] meeting places this will not stop until we take the actions to stop it and the

[31:26] only way we can stop it even in Little Grand Haven there is no

[31:31] Haven anymore the only way we can stop it is to stand up and say not here not

[31:37] on our watch

[31:40] uh and what they're doing is not only

[31:45] illegal and unconstitutional it's immoral it's terrorism and it is

[31:51] unspeakably cruel the Christian goes to where Christ

[31:57] is being Cru crucified that's true of all other religions too and even of

[32:01] those of us who don't have a religion but it's our duty these are our brothers

[32:06] and sisters um there's so much I I I wish I could

[32:12] say uh there are by the way groups advising

[32:18] our migrants and when they know their legal rights and are able to present

[32:22] them to ice ice backs up they don't know their EV EV their legal rights hauled

[32:28] off so that's another kind of education that we need to give we can really do we

[32:34] can not only do our migrant members of the community great

[32:39] service we can make this community stand up for

[32:44] something I look forward to hearing from you thank you

[32:49] [Music] m uh Oliver champine 54d Avenue just

[32:54] going to Echo M Mac again and just say one of my favorite fav quotes is if we

[33:00] don't do the impossible we will end up with the unthinkable that's all I'm

[33:03] going to say thank you anyone

[33:10] else well if no one else wants to speak to council then I will adjourn the

[33:16] meeting thank you for

[33:26] coming

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Grand Haven Council Meeting

Transcript