Grand Rapids City Commission
#GRTalksBack on policing: meetings use small-group format
by (arcarpenter)
Submitted 06-13-2017 under NEWS
On Monday June 12 at 12 p.m., the first of a series of Community Listening meetings on policing, hosted by the City Commission, took place at the Michigan First Credit Union on Breton and Burton. Attendees were directed to the basement room and...
City Commission 101: Five ways to be more effective when you go
by (arcarpenter)
Submitted 05-10-2017 under OPINION
In August of 2016, I was inspired by two very different events on the national scene. The first was the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, who encouraged people to get involved in local politics. The second was the horrific police shooting of Philando...
Backyard Chicken Ordinance to be discussed at Public Hearing
by (Marie Orttenburger)
Submitted 12-23-2014 under NEWS
Rapidians will have a chance to comment on the proposed Backyard Chicken ordinance early in the new year. Those who would like to make their opinions heard can meet with the Grand Rapids City Commission at City Hall in the 9th floor chambers at 7 p....
ArtPrize gives official vote of support for sharing economy
by (ArtPrize)
Submitted 06-12-2014 under NONPROFITS
Dear Planning Commissioners, On behalf of the Artprize organization, | am writing to offer my wholehearted support and endorsement of the homesharing economy in Grand Rapids. In fact, through the Artprize Artist Hosting program, we've...
Grand Rapids City Commission postpones vote on panhandling restrictions
by (Ana Olvera)
Submitted 06-04-2014 under NEWS
After debating at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, the Commission decided to postpone its vote on an aggressive solicitation ordinance in order to come up with restrictions that will gain wider public support. Mayor George Heartwell led the...
"City of churches" to consider legal action against begging
by (Elizabeth Roger...)
Submitted 05-20-2014 under OPINION
Grand Rapids City Commissioners will be meeting tonight, Tuesday, May 20, to discuss a proposal intended to put great restraints on panhandling. It wasn't too long ago that we removed laws against begging in our city, and the Federal Court has...
Grand Rapids City Commission approves resolution creating Stormwater Oversight Commission
by (jwiegand08)
Submitted 01-30-2014 under NEWS
On January 28, the Grand Rapids City Commission unanimously passed a resolution establishing the Stormwater Oversight Commission as an advisory body and part of the City's focus on Sustainable Asset Management. The Oversight Commission will be...
WMEAC Presents Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report Findings
by (WMEAC)
Submitted 12-03-2013 under NONPROFITS
Today, the West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) presented the Grand Rapids Climate Resiliency Report which outlines the current condition of Grand Rapids climate resiliency and offers recommendations as to how the City of Grand Rapids...
Place matters if cities are for people
by (ruthkelly)
Submitted 08-20-2013 under PLACE-MATTERS
More than most of us realize, the place we live in impacts us. At a visceral level we sense when we love (or don’t) being in certain places in the city but often don’t realize that the physical environment is influencing our...
The making of our city budget
by (nancyfinney)
Submitted 03-16-2012 under NEWS
How do we budget our city? The first few City Commission meetings of 2012 sparked an investigation into the planning process of Grand Rapids' budget. Who makes the decisions? How are employees paid? What is collective bargaining? Sitting in on a...