Municipal legislative body
Appears in 13 stories · Last updated Nov 10, 2026
Received briefing on local SNAP enrollment decline
About 10,000 fewer Kent County residents are receiving federal food aid than before Congress and President Donald Trump changed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in July 2025. The Kent County Essential Needs Task Force gave Grand Rapids city commissioners that figure on Tuesday, tying it to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Updated Yesterday
Governing body that includes the 2nd Ward seat Knight won
Grand Rapids voters returned Lisa Knight to the 2nd Ward City Commission seat, defeating challenger Bryan Cody. The result, reported by MLive Grand Rapids, gives her a second and final four-year term on the body that sets zoning, approves the city budget and oversees departments including the police.
Updated 7 days ago
Governing body for Grand Rapids
Lindsey Perez-Plescher won the Grand Rapids 1st Ward commission seat on Nov. 3 with 65% of the vote, beating Steve Tibbe. Voters also re-elected incumbent Lisa Knight in the 2nd Ward and chose David Bulkowski over Comptroller Max Frantz.
Advanced the hearing resolution at its Oct. 27 Committee of the Whole meeting; adoption of the plan is scheduled for Dec. 15
Grand Rapids residents have until 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 to send written comments on the city's draft 2027-2032 parks master plan, by email to parkinfo@grcity.us or by mail. The draft is posted at grandrapidsmi.gov/parks and in hard copy at the parks office, the Cook Library Center and four Grand Rapids Public Library branches.
Updated Nov 2
Approved the Miro Mediterranean liquor license request on Oct. 27 and directed the clerk to certify it for the state.
Grand Rapids commissioners approved a development-district liquor license for Miro Mediterranean at their Oct. 27 meeting, clearing the way for a bar and restaurant on the ground floor of the Residence Inn by Marriott at 10 Ionia Ave. NW. The city says the application was reviewed by key departments and supported by the Downtown Development Authority, which took it up Oct. 14. Commissioners directed the city clerk to certify the approval for submission to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.
Updated Oct 30
Approved the amphitheater's noise exemption 6-0 on Oct. 27, 2026
Grand Rapids commissioners voted 6-0 on Oct. 27 to keep Acrisure Amphitheater exempt from the city's noise limits between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. About 30 people spoke at the hearing, and most opposed the exemption. Written comments in the meeting packet ran 17 against and 8 in favor.
Oversees the RFQ process; expected to choose a partner in December or January.
Grand Rapids is seeking a development partner for 6.4 acres of city-owned land in River North. The city issued the request for qualifications on Oct. 7 for two riverfront parcels at 1101 and 1165 Monroe Ave. NW and the Development Center at 1120 Monroe Ave. NW.
Approved three rezonings on October 27, 2026
Grand Rapids' City Commission approved three rezoning requests on October 27 that make room for new housing on Livingston and Fuller avenues. Part of 834 Livingston Avenue NE can now hold a 12-unit residential building. A 2.7-acre wooded site at 1951 Fuller Avenue NE was rezoned for mixed-density development, and part of 1911 Fuller Avenue NE can be combined with it for about 64 homes.
Holds the annual CAPER public hearing
Grand Rapids' City Commission agenda for Sept. 22 listed the city's annual public hearing on how it spends federal housing dollars: a review of the past year's work on roughly $8 million in Community Development Block Grant, HOME and Emergency Solutions Grant funds.
Updated Oct 27
Sat as Board of Review on Sept. 22 for Nuisance Roll 8808 appeals. The hearing opened and closed; no action on the roll is recorded.
The Grand Rapids City Commission opened its Board of Review hearing on Sept. 22 as scheduled. The meeting transcript shows two written appeals had been filed by then. The board hears challenges to Special Assessment Nuisance Roll 8808, which are charges for code violations such as housing and yard violations.
Approved the OPRA district on October 6, 2026
Grand Rapids city commissioners approved two resolutions on October 6: one created an Obsolete Property Rehabilitation District at 2130 Plainfield Ave NE (parcel 41-14-07-476-026), the other granted North Quarter Development LLC a ten-year tax exemption for its rehabilitation there. The $1.19 million project turns a 3,000-square-foot building into four one-bedroom apartments and adds a 1,600-square-foot commercial building.
Updated Oct 20
Approved the agreement on October 6, 2026
Grand Rapids city commissioners approved a three-year intergovernmental agreement with Kent County on October 6 that replaces the Kent County Dispatch Authority. According to the city's Commission Connected newsletter, the deal raises capital funding for 9-1-1 technology upgrades to $1.9 million a year, adds $200,000 in annual revenue for the city, and cuts administrative costs by $150,000.
Updated Oct 12
As of September 2026: Approved moving ALPRs under surveillance policy; will vote on future Flock renewals
After a contentious August briefing, Grand Rapids moved to bring its license plate readers under the city's surveillance policy. City Manager Mark Washington said he will issue an administrative order by mid-September that requires future Flock contract renewals and expansions to go through public review.
Updated Sep 9
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