Neighbor engagement and Commission Night Out event set for August 23

By Press release submission

Aug 17, 2022

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The City of Grand Rapids will host a series of City Commission meetings featuring neighbor engagement sessions in each ward, beginning August 23. The first “Commission Night Out” (CNO) takes place Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Sibley Elementary, 943 Sibley St. NW, Grand Rapids, 49504. The other two ward-based Commission Nights Out are tentatively slated for October and November. Dates/times/locations of each of the remaining CNOs are still being finalized.

In addition to conducting Commission business in the neighborhoods, public comment will include interactive engagement with residents about their thoughts on livability factors posed in the National Community Survey (NCS).

Free childcare during the Commission Night Out will be provided during the portion of the meeting featuring the interactive discussion of the NCS. That discussion is slated to take place between 5:30 and 7 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. for childcare check-in. Pre-registration is required. Due to limited space, childcare is limited to the dependents of Grand Rapids residents who are attending the interactive discussion as an in-person attendee.

CLICK HERE to register for children ages 0 to 3.

CLICK HERE to register for children ages 4 to 12.

Each CNO will feature unique meeting protocol to facilitate community engagement:

5 p.m.

Doors open with food and beverage available.
City resource tables featuring leaders of various City departments and educational material.
Free childcare check-in begins.

5:30 p.m.

City Commission meeting called to order.
After a general welcome, there will be a brief presentation about what the NCS results showed by that particular ward. From there, facilitators will engage residents at tables set up by livability factor as defined by the survey. Those in attendance can visit and participate in the livability factor table that most interests them – Economy, Mobility, Community Design, Utilities, Safety, Natural Environment, Parks & Recreation, Health & Wellness, Education, Arts & Culture, and Inclusivity & Engagement.
The City anticipates two 25-minute sessions to allow attendees to discuss a variety of topics of interest.
Facilitators will monitor a discussion focusing on four questions:
What does [this factor] mean to you personally?
What does success in this area look like for your neighborhood?
Are there specific projects or areas where investments could make a positive difference?
Are there other groups or organizations that can contribute to success?
Those in attendance can verbalize their thoughts on the topics and/or can write out their feedback on placards available at each table.
Worksheets will be gathered and used to create a report out after each meeting.
Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, the six City Commissioners and City administrators will circulate and visit tables to observe and engage with residents on the various livability topics.
Although each engagement session date will focus on NCS results for a particular ward, the meetings are open to all residents/non-residents.

7 p.m.

Meeting moves to the more traditional business items of the City Commission.

City Manager Mark Washington said he looks forward to resuming the Commission Nights Out after a two-year hiatus.

“We’ve often heard that community members are interested in greater interaction than the traditional three-minute citizen comment provides at Commission meetings,” Washington said. “This gives us that opportunity to engage in specific and meaningful discussion about key aspects of what makes Grand Rapids a livable community and learn what that means for our wards and our neighborhoods. The survey gives us a good starting point, but this provides us with the detail we can incorporate into our future strategies and budgeting.”

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss said, she too, is eager to take our City Commission meetings out into neighborhoods once again.

“I’m excited to relaunch Commission Nights Out and give folks who can’t always travel down to City Hall a chance to participate in a government meeting,” she said. “This blended event also will help us engage with residents in a meaningful way. The data tells us one thing, but it is always helpful to put some life behind that by talking to people about their experiences.”

The City Commission meeting will air beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Comcast Channel 26 and be live streamed on the City of Grand Rapids Facebook page and YouTube channel. Look for updates on the other meeting dates/times/locations on the City’s website: grandrapidsmi.gov and Facebook page.