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East Express | April 1, 2021
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE APRIL 5 CITY COMMISSION MEETING To accommodate any spring break staycations or travels, the Monday, April 5 City Commission meeting was rescheduled and took place on Monday, March 29. You can always find meeting agendas on our website at eastgr.org/agendas. You can even sign up to receive agendas directly in your inbox as soon as they are available at eastgr.org/signup. Watch past City Commission meetings on our YouTube channel. VIRTUAL CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS At the City Commission meeting on March 29, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission formally declared a local state of emergency for the purpose of allowing continued use of virtual meetings, as allowed by the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Pursuant to by our local ordinances, the Mayor made the declaration and the City Commission affirmed that decision. The local state of emergency runs until June 30, 2021, but can be rescinded earlier if circumstances allow. With COVID-19 cases continuing to fluctuate significantly, the commission felt this step would keep in-person gatherings to the bare minimum and help slow the spread of the virus. Members of the public and a majority of commissioners can now continue to conduct city business through Google Meet. Participation options are always listed on the meeting agendas and on the home page of our website. 
OFFICES CLOSED ON APRIL 2 Please note City Hall will be closed tomorrow, Friday, April 2. We'll be back in the office on Monday at 8 a.m. CITY COMMISSION ELECTION The filing deadline to run for a City Commission seat in the November 2021 election is Tuesday, April 20 at 4 p.m. There is one seat open in each of the City’s three wards. Interested candidates must be a registered voter of the City in the ward they are filing for office, have lived in EGR for at least one year and submit 25 signatures from voters in the ward where they are seeking election. Packets and forms are available in the Finance Department at City Hall. Contact City Clerk Karen Brower at 616.949.2110 or visit eastgr.org/elections for more information. COVID-19 UPDATE & RESOURCES As announced by the Kent County Health Department earlier this week, COVID-19 vaccination eligibility is now open to all Michiganders ages 16+. You can schedule your appointment online at spectrumhealth.org/wmvaccineclinic.
PUBLIC SAFETY SPRING BREAK SAFETY Whether you’re traveling during spring break or enjoying a staycation, there are important health and safety guidelines to keep in mind — especially as the pandemic continues. Take a look at our Spring Break Tips & More article to learn how you can prepare. 
NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY Saturday, April 24 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day! Bring your unused prescription drugs into the lobby of the Public Safety building for safe disposal. Disposing of your medicines this way ensures they are not stolen from the garbage, will not enter our environment and eliminates the potential for abuse and overdoses at home. If you have questions, contact Public Safety at 616.949.7010. #9PMROUTINE Thank you to those who participated in our #9PMRoutine texting campaign! Please remember to continue locking car, garage and home doors each evening. If you need help getting in the habit, we suggest setting a recurring alarm or reminder on your phone for 9 p.m. each night, or another time most convenient for you. Remember, locking doors is the #1 deterrent of theft.
PARKS & RECREATION VIRTUAL SUMMER PROGRAM GUIDE AVAILABLE The virtual Summer Program Guide is ready for you! Take a look at all the opportunities available to stay active during the upcoming season by visiting eastgr.org/programguide. Residents and nonresidents can begin registering for classes on April 15 and April 22 respectively. MANHATTAN PARK MULTI-USE TRAILS UPDATE Thank you to those who joined us and the West Michigan Mountain Biking Alliance this week to discuss plans for the Manhattan Park Multi-Use Trails project. Stay tuned for updates, FAQs and additional resources, which will be posted to eastgr.org/manhattanpark in coming days. PROGRAMMING OVER SPRING BREAK Staying home this year? Parks & Recreation has several opportunities for you and your children to enjoy the time off and stay active. Bricks 4 Kidz is a popular choice for our younger residents — both Brick Royale and Building is Awesome have availability next week. Sign up online today or by call the department at 616.949.1750. 
SAVE THE DATES — CONCERTS & MOVIES IN THE PARK Concerts & Movies in the Park, presented by The Brouwers Agency, Auto-Owners Insurance and Consumers Credit Union are back on for Summer 2021! Save the following dates and stay tuned for more details. Concerts - June 14, 21 & 28
- July 12, 19 & 26
Movies - July 9 & 16
- August 20 & 27
PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION IN EGR Michigan’s favorite season is upon us. Visit our regularly updated Construction webpage to learn more about upcoming projects. As a reminder, residents impacted by construction projects will receive mailed notices in the near future with project details. The Department of Public Works also posts project notices at project locations as well. MOBILITY/BIKE ACTION PLAN UPDATE Mobility/Bike Action Plan documents, including plan updates and draft plan, are available at eastgr.org/2020mobilityplan. The draft plan was introduced to the City Commission at its March 29 meeting and, with additional feedback from the public and City Commission, will be modified in advance of the April 19 meeting for further review and consideration. Public Works thanks those who attended the multiple engagement sessions, participated in the demonstration and/or provided feedback on EGR’s biking and walking infrastructure via the community surveys. This information was taken into consideration as the department and its partners developed the plan, which will inform intentional changes to the City transportation network for the near, mid and long-term future. The first actionable road segment is the 2021 Hall Street Project which will be commencing in June this year. The Mobility/Bike Action plan draft identified Hall Street as an actionable priority with treatment options to be considered. City staff and consultants engaged with residents and the community to align actionable changes. For more information pertaining to the 2021 Hall Street Project, please visit eastgr.org/hallstreet. For more information or to provide feedback, please contact Public Works at 616.940.4817.
YARD WASTE SERVICE Yard waste service will resume Monday, April 5. As a reminder, no loose yard waste is permitted in the street in the spring. For yard waste regulations and routes, please visit our Refuse Collection webpage. Did you know that the City composts or repurposes yard waste material that you place out at the curb each week? The Department of Public Works collects yard waste each week from spring into the winter season throughout the City each and every day. Several times a week Public Works crews load material that is temporarily stored at the DPW Complex into containers that are sent to a processing facility where it is composted or chipped. Material is then sold as composted soil or woodchips. WATER SYSTEM MAINTENANCE City crews will perform preventive water main maintenance and water main flushing in Zones 1 & 2 this spring. Learn more about this work and how it may affect you on our website. FENCES Are you considering installing, repairing or replacing a fence? If so, review fence regulations in the City Code before getting started. Please note a permit is also required. 
TREE MAINTENANCE Consumers Energy continues to conduct tree trimming and removal in private utility easements in various areas around EGR. Learn more. City contractor CHOP also continues to conduct tree maintenance in cycles 5 and 1. CHOP will remove and clean up limbs and branches that are removed as part of the pruning process. POTHOLE PATCHING Please note that City crews fill potholes on a routine basis. When there are freeze and thaw cycles, crews are out on a more frequent basis as these weather cycles cause potholes. To report a pothole in EGR, residents can call Public Works at 616.940.4870 or report them online by selecting the “submit a request” icon on our home page. STREET SWEEPING Street sweeping will begin next week, following behind yard waste collection routes. Street sweeping helps to keep our streets clean, reduces debris from entering the storm sewer system and has a positive impact on stormwater quality. LGROW SPRING UPDATE The Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds’ spring newsletter is packed with great tips on how to protect our watershed this season. Adopt a drain, become a watershed warrior, provide feedback, learn more about invasive species and more.
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