Partnerships

West Michigan Strategic Alliance (WMSA)

• WMSA has taken a unique approach to defining the future of the “triplex” that focuses first on the region’s economic competitiveness in the world economy and builds consensus on strategies from that perspective

West Michigan Regional Planning Commission

• The City is a contributing partner in this effort at regional coordination

Grand Valley Metropolitan Council (Founding Member)

• Grand Rapids was a founding member of this unique regional partnership that is focused on developing regional consensus on development and cooperation.  GVMC has developed competencies in regional land use planning, transportation planning (MPO), advocacy and GIS

Urban Metro Mayors and Managers (UMMM)

• The six cities of the Grand Rapids Region formed UMMM to pursue joint interests.  Work, to date, includes sharing over 150 services including a significant program of shared specialized Police services, progress on shared Fire services and joint action on matters of mutual interest

Interurban Transportation Partnership (ITP)

• Six partner cities banded together to form this innovative transportation partnership, pass three transportation millages, expand services and develop a modern regional transportation system.
• Parking Services partners with ITP to provide the Downtown Area Shuttle (DASH) bus service from its remote parking facilities to downtown and surrounding area businesses, universities and events.

Regional Geographic Information System (REGIS)

• Twenty local units, including Grand Rapids and  Kent County, worked together to develop a regional GIS (geographic information system) that went on-line in December 2001.

West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC)

• The City has partnered with WMEAC for stormwater and other low impact development (LID) educational activities.  Their initial rain garden project was funded by the City of Grand Rapids together with the Frey Foundation, the Steelcase Foundation, and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation

Metropolitan Planning Organization

• The City is a partner in the GVMC Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Wyoming/Grand Rapids Dispatch Partnership

• Beginning July 1, 2010, the new Wyoming/Grand Rapids Dispatch Partnership serves the two partner communities at a savings of $1.6 million

Metropolitan Medical Response System Development with Kent County, Wyoming, Kentwood, Spectrum, St. Mary’s and Metropolitan Hospitals

• The City received federal funding to develop a regional Metropolitan Medical Response system for the City alone.  Our experience has taught us that a regional approach is the only way to be truly prepared.  The City and Kent County led the development of this partnership which includes the Cities of Wyoming and Kentwood along with Spectrum, St. Mary’s and Metropolitan Hospitals.

Electrical Inspection Agreement with the City of Walker

• The City of Grand Rapids and the City of Walker have reached an agreement that enables the City of Grand Rapids to provide electrical inspections and plan review services to the City of Walker at a savings to both communities 

Community Sustainability Partnership (CSP)

• The City was one of 5 founding partners of the CSP, along with GRPS, GVSU, GRCC and Aquinas College.  The CSP is a diverse network of community organizations in West Michigan who embrace and support sustainability guiding principles in their planning and operations and are striving to make a positive impact in our community.

Joint Committee on NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permitting

• The City and County participate in a coalition of local governments to develop tools to support applications for Phase II stormwater permits.  As a Phase I community, the City led with development of its stormwater ordinance that served as a template for a model ordinance.  The County was instrumental in creation of the model ordinance for Stormwater control, which has been adopted by five urban townships in Kent County and two urban townships in Ottawa County.  At the February 2002 Conference of the Michigan Drain Commissioners, the Kent County Drain Commissioner was selected to receive the Public Education/Participation Award for this ordinance

Jail Use Agreement

• Kent County has financed, developed and operates a modern jail facility that is used by local law enforcement under a long-term operating agreement.

Kent County Central Dispatch Authority

• The City is a partner in the Kent County Central Dispatch Authority. 

Area Community Services, Employment and Training Council (ACSET )

• In 1985, the City of Grand Rapids and the County partnered, via the Urban Cooperation Act, to establish the Area Community Services, Employment and Training Council (ACSET) to administer state, federal and local funds to provide job training, foster self-sufficiency and advocate for a reduction in the causes of poverty.  The City and County partnered in development of a new DHS/ACSET facility.

Community Archives and Research Center Project

•  In 1999, the City and County committed to joint venture in the construction of a community archives and research center to be located on the site of the old public museum in Grand Rapids.  Its vision is to bring together under one roof the off-exhibit collections of the museum, the archives of the City, and the public records of the County so that researchers, students, and the general public may access all of them in a “one-stop shopping” setting.  The County and City developed and financed this project jointly.

Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention/Arena Authority

• The City and County, along with the State of Michigan, and private sector, have joined forces through the creation of a convention/arena authority to own and operate the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place Convention Center.  The County was a major funder for the Convention Center ($92 million), along with the State ($65 million), private sector ($33 million), and City of Grand Rapids DDA ($10 million).

City/County Complex and Court House

• The City and County share an administrative headquarters that is operated by the City.  The two partners also joined forces to finance the construction of a $60 million Courthouse, which houses the County’s judiciary and ancillary services as well as the City’s 61^st District Court.  Once bonds are retired, the County and City will be co-owners of the facility (County 70% - City 30%).  This facility is operated by Kent County.

Grand Rapids-Kent County Convention and Visitors Bureau

• The City is a contributing partner in the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) through the levy of a promotional millage and participation in CVB affairs.  The CVB is the marketing arm of the Convention Arena Authority and has had significant success selling convention dates at the new DeVos Place Convention Center.  The CVB also works cooperatively to market West Michigan.

Development of Millennium Park

• Kent County has taken the lead in development of a 1500-acre metropolitan park resource focused on the Grand River in the communities of Grand Rapids, Walker, Wyoming and Grandville.  The City has pledged $500,000 to this multi-million dollar, multi-year development effort.

Waste to Energy Plant

• Kent County created this partnership with Grand Rapids and surrounding cities to finance and operate the Waste-to-Energy incinerator.  Refuse from these communities is burned to produce steam for the central business district and electricity for sale to Consumers Energy.

Recycling

• Single Stream Recycling will begin in 2010 thanks to an investment of the County Board of Public Works (BPW) in partnership with the City.  These partners have also entered into an agreement to share profits from recycling activities at the County-operated recycling facility in return for the City’s commitment to bring all of its recycling collection to the County’s recycling facility.

Emergency Management

• Emergency management organizations and staff of the City and County cooperate on many significant levels, including the sharing of grant resources, cooperative planning and joint support through a series of teams that include medical professionals, city staff, county staff, public health officials, EMS providers and others.

West Nile Virus Control

• The City worked with Kent County Department of Public Health to develop a sustainable protocol to address West Nile infestation.

Department of Human Services (DHS) Building

• The County has served as lead partner in an innovative collaboration with the State, the City and city neighborhoods that led to the replacement of an antiquated facility and to redevelopment of their current site.

o    The Cities of Wyoming and Grand Rapids have partnered to develop a regional biosolids authority that will permit the two communities to develop facilities to condition sludge at less cost than either could do separately into the foreseeable future.

Utility Advisory Board

o    The City and nine of its customer communities have created an innovative utility partnership centered around a new generation utility contract that creates economic incentives for good utility and land use practices while providing for cooperative management of the utility system with the partners.

MI WARN (Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network)

o    The Grand Rapids City Commission approved a mutual aid agreement with MI WARN on July 13, 2010.  MI WARN is a statewide network of “utilities helping utilities” with a mutual aid agreement for sharing resources in an emergency in a pre-determined and agreed manner.

Water Interconnection agreements with Ottawa County, Wyoming, Plainfield Township and North Ottawa Water System

o    The City Water System is interconnected with both local water systems and systems as far away as the lakeshore through important cooperative agreements.

Purchase and rehabilitation of Wright Township Sewer System

o    The City has purchased the Wright Township sewer system in order to solve environmental problems in Wright Township including closure of failing sludge lagoons and elimination of discharges into Sand Creek, a designated cold water stream. This action also eliminated an amount of phosphorous equal to the City’s remaining CSO discharge.   Wright Township has joined the Utility Advisory Board partnership. 

Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds (LGROW)

o    The City participates in this multidisciplinary watershed organization which was created to oversee restoration, protection and enhancement activities in the Lower Grand River drainage basin that encompasses more than 3,000 square miles starting at the confluence of the Grand and Looking Glass Rivers in downtown Portland in Ionia County through Metro Grand Rapids to Lake Michigan.