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East Express | April 15, 2021
A NOTE FROM MAYOR FAVALE
Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Spring has finally arrived and we can see signs of hope all around us. The flowers are blooming and the trees are beginning to bud. This is truly one of my favorite times of the year, as spring brings renewed enthusiasm and optimism into our lives and our community. While venturing out on these warmer days and longer evenings, please remember our Gaslight Village businesses and support them as much as you can. They are working hard to ensure that you can eat, shop and peruse safely and comfortably, so I encourage everyone to Go Gaslight! As you'll notice while reading this newsletter, much is happening in the City. Please stay informed as staff continues to provide opportunities for you to keep apprised of what is going on and participate safely. City Commission meetings will continue to be live-streamed on YouTube and are accessible both in-person and virtually via Google Meet, as will the next Planning Commission meeting. You can always be in the know by signing up for agenda alerts. If you would like to get even more involved, please consider applying to one of our community boards! Applications are available on the City website. Our Personnel Committee will begin reviewing applications in the upcoming weeks. As always, please feel free to reach out to me personally with any questions, thoughts or concerns at kfavale@eastgr.org or 616.949.2110 x 887. I am happy to connect via phone, email, virtually or over coffee — whatever is most comfortable for you! I am so grateful for opportunities to connect with you and very thankful that technology has continued to make it possible during these challenging times. I look forward to hearing from you! I hope you and yours enjoy the beauty of the season and that you continue to stay healthy and safe. All the best, Katie
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE & FINANCE
CITY COMMISSION ELECTION
The filing deadline to run for a City Commission seat in the November 2021 election is this coming 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, COVID-19 vaccination eligibility is now open to all Michiganders ages 16+. You can schedule your appointment online at spectrumhealth.org/wmvaccineclinic. Unfortunately, even during a pandemic, there are people who take advantage of others. Please be alert to fraudulent mail, text messages, calls and emails regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. Remember that government agencies, including the CDC, Secretary of State, IRS and health departments, will never ask for identifying information via text or phone call. The Grand Rapids Water System, which EGR participates in, has extended its local water/sewer shutoff moratorium, suspending all water/sewer shutoffs related to non-payment through June 30 due to the ongoing pandemic and expiration of the State's moratorium on water/sewer shutoffs. Learn more. 
SAVE THE DATE: REEDS LAKE TRAIL BLAZER Save the date of Sunday, July 4, 2021, for the 11th Annual Reeds Lake Trail Blazer 5K Run/Walk presented by Spectrum Health! We’re looking forward to kicking off Independence Day with you once again. Stay tuned for more details — our team is finalizing race details and is committed to keeping participants, volunteers and the community safe while enjoying festivities. PUBLIC SAFETY
NATIONAL PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK DAY Saturday, April 24 is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day! Bring your unused prescription drugs into the Public Safety lobby at 770 Lakeside Dr. between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 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 at home. If you have questions, contact Public Safety at 616.949.7010. The prescription drug drop box is also available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. in the Public Safety lobby. UPCOMING BLOOD DRIVEThe next EGR Community Blood Drive is on Tuesday, April 20 from 2 – 7 p.m. in room 105 of the Community Center. Sign up at versiti.org.
PARKS & RECREATION MANHATTAN PARK MULTI-USE TRAILS UPDATE At its April 12 meeting, the Parks & Recreation Commission reviewed and approved the Manhattan Park Multi-Use Trails proposal. Stay tuned to learn when the project will be presented to the City Commission. You can learn more about this project at eastgr.org/manhattanpark, which provides background information, several resources and FAQs. 
REGISTER FOR SUMMER PROGRAMMING Residents can begin registering for classes TODAY! Registration will open to nonresidents on Thursday, April 22. Take a look at all the opportunities available to stay active during the upcoming season by flipping through our virtual program guide at eastgr.org/programguide. PARK RESTROOMS ARE OPEN Public restrooms located in parks throughout the City have been reopened. Please note that these facilities are cleaned once a day and each individual is responsible for using them safely. We ask the community to help us keep these restrooms clean, especially as we see spikes in COVID-19 cases in our state. 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 Visit our regularly updated Construction webpage to stay updated and learn more about upcoming projects. As a reminder, residents impacted by construction projects will receive mailed notices in the near future with project details. Public Works also posts project notices at project locations as well. CONSUMERS ENERGY SUMMER PEAK RATES Keep an eye on your mailbox in coming weeks for a letter from Consumers Energy on Summer Peak Rates. Learn how the slight increase will affect you by reviewing Consumers’ flyer and FAQs. Remember, the more you engage with your electricity use, the more you’ll benefit! 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 where commissioners provided feedback. An updated plan will be presented to the commission at its May 17 meeting for further review and consideration. The first actionable road segment is the 2021 Hall Street Project which will begin in June. The Mobility/Bike Action plan draft identified Hall Street as an actionable priority with suggested treatment options. 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. WATER MAIN FLUSHING STARTS NEXT WEEK Public Works will begin flushing water mains on Monday, April 19. This work will run through mid-May, and to help limit interruption, will take place during a night shift between 10 p.m.-6 a.m. The City has notified those affected in Zones 1 & 2. During this work, water service may be interrupted or there may be a reduction in pressure. You may also experience water discoloration. If this should happen to you, please follow the recommended procedures listed below: - Run the cold water faucet closest to your service entrance until the water runs clear. (The washtub in the basement is usually the best location.)
- Run all other faucets in your home to clear all house water lines.
- Do not do laundry until all water lines run clear.
Please contact Public Works at 616.940.4817 during regular business hours if you have any questions or problems concerning this work. For after-hour emergencies, please call Public Safety at 616.949.7010. 
FENCES Are you considering installing, repairing or replacing a fence? If you are, review fence regulations in the City Code. Please note a permit is also required. TREE MAINTENANCE In order to improve the reliability of electric service to residents, Consumers Energy and its contractors continue to conduct tree trimming and removal in private utility easements in various areas around EGR. Notices and brochures have been mailed to residents within the areas where tree work will be completed and follow-up notices will also be sent before work starts. To learn more about the tree trimming process, FAQs and contact information for Consumers Energy, please visit the Consumers Energy Trees and Power Lines webpage. If you have any questions regarding this work, please call our local work planner at 616.530.4306.
COMMUNITY PARTNERS FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE Support our local Kent District Library branch at the Friends of The Library Used Book Sale, on Saturday, May 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the lower level of the Community Center. For more information, visit the Friends of the Library website. SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECYCLING EVENT Join the Sustainability Advisory Committee on May 15 for its Styrofoam Recycling Day event from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Public Works Garage at 2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. Bring your Styrofoam for proper recycling to help our environment.
RECYCLE CAR SEATS AT JOHN BALL ZOO THIS WEEKEND Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day? Head to John Ball Zoo on Saturday, April 17 for its Party for the Planet event, where Kent County Department of Public Works will collect car seats for recycling. Learn more.
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