City Commission Policies
City Commission policies are approved by the City Commission. These policies are sets of rules, procedures, and guidelines that govern the City Commission and City Employees.
NOTE! Some of the City Commission Policies may be missing in search and list below. Please check the list of policies at the bottom of this page.
Additional Policies (under construction)
Use the list below to find a policy, or you can find any policy by its name or number using our site's search bar.
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City Commission Policy for construction, reconstruction, and repair of sidewalks and other public improvements. Enacted May 29, 1979. Revised April 17, 2001.
City Commission Policy regarding combustible waste and solid waste ordinances. Enacted March 20, 2001.
The Adopt-A-Park Program provides an opportunity for individuals, volunteer groups, neighborhood associations, and businesses to take an active role in improving, maintaining, and beautifying parks, riverfront, trails, and other city-owned green spaces. Volunteers can volunteer time or donate money and/or equipment. Volunteers can work on a variety of projects that include planting flowers, maintaining parks and trails, painting, cleaning up litter, and other activities that serve to beautify or improve park property. This policy establishes a procedure and basic criteria for organizations, donors and volunteers seeking to participate in the Adopt-A-Park Program.
1100-09 Adopt-A-Park Program in Parks and Recreation(PDF, 79KB)
Enacted October 24, 1995. Last revised August 8, 2023.
This policy aims to encourage and incentivize City of Grand Rapids employees to live in the City’s geographical boundaries. The policy will serve to foster stronger community relationships with residents and to enhance the employee’s ability to achieve greater work life balance, and employee incentives to assist with mortgage closing costs and prepaid cost.
City Commission Policy to establish a uniform basis on which the City may assign or rescind assignments of 24-hour vehicle use to officials and employees. Enacted November 17, 1970. Revised May 15, 1996.
City Commission Policy to establish procedures and guidelines for enhanced access to public records. Enacted October 1, 2002.
City Commission Policy for equal business opportunity. Enacted July 13, 2004. Revised October 27, 2015.
City Commission Policy to promote environmental stewardship and sustainability practices in the operations, renovations and construction of City buildings and facilities. Enacted January 24, 2006.
To set forth the City’s commitment to ensuring equal services to all persons, regardless of immigration status and/or national origin. Enacted 11/14/2017.
City Commission Policy regarding financial assistance for grant agreements. Enacted February 15, 1972.
City Commission Policy to establish a policy for Special Assessment billings. Enacted December 12, 1978.
City Commission Policy on special assessment for residential, commercial, and industrial developers. Enacted September 18, 1979.
City Commission Policy to encourage the General Operating Fund Departments to have unexpended year-end departmental appropriation balances. Enacted November 23, 1993.
City Commission Policy to establish basic guidelines for homestead poverty exemption eligibility. Enacted December 22, 1998. Revise May 9, 2017.
City Commission Policy to establish the amount the City will determine “substantially delinquent” status to enforce certain provisions of the State Renaissance Zone Act. Enacted December 22, 1998. Revised June 8, 1999.
City Commission Policy to provide guidelines for price quotes or bids to make purchases of goods in an amount of up to $2,500. Enacted August 10, 1999. Revised October 27, 2015.
City Commission Policy to establish a policy regarding the full cost recovery of all user fees. Enacted April 30, 2013.
City Commission Policy to encourage compliance with rules and regulations concerning the conduct of police officers during interactions with citizens. Enacted July 23, 1996. Revised on July 8, 2003.
This policy establishes basic criteria which will enable the City Commission to determine certain purposes and activities which persons, organizations or associations performing “public purpose” activities may not receive financial support of the City. Enacted December 23, 1975.
City Commission Policy for the leasing or use of City-owned property for commercial billboard and sign purposes. Enacted November 29, 1966.
City Commission Policy for special assessments in improvements within Community Development target areas. Enacted March 2, 1976.
City Commission Policy to determine alternatives for providing housing for the lower income families. Enacted March 9, 1965.
City Commission Policy to encourage the renovation and expansion of manufacturing facilities and the construction of new industrial plants. Enacted June 29, 1982. Revised September 14, 2010.
City Commission Policy on the signage for the Neighborhood Business Improvement Program (NBIP). Revised September 15, 2020.
City Commission Policy to continue the Delinquency Control Committee Enacted November 16, 1993.
City Commission Policy to establish a policy for City response to requests by businesses to receive exemption, deductions, or credits of the Renaissance Zone Program. Enacted March 4, 1997. Revised February 24, 1998.
City Commission Policy to encourage the expansion of businesses. Enacted July 27, 1999. Revised September 14, 2010.
City Commission Policy to provide guidelines and criteria for the acquisition of real properties. Enacted August 10, 1999.
City Commission Policy to provide guidelines for the acquisition and transfer of tax foreclosed properties under P.A. 123 of 1999. Revised August 20, 2002. Revised May 28, 2013.
City Commission Policy to guide the evaluation of tax foreclosed properties in the City of Grand Rapids for potential acquisition. Enacted August 20, 2022. Amended May 28, 2013. Amended May 24, 2022.
City Commission Policy to give exemptions to qualifying companies located within an existing Renaissance Zone. Revised August 29, 2006.
City Commission Policy to define program goals of the Corridor Improvement Authority and designation of one or more Corridor Improvement Districts within the City of Grand Rapids. Enacted November 13, 2007.
City Commission Policy to establish qualifications for economic development tax-exempt bond allocations. Enacted August 25, 2009.
City Commission Policy to establish the terms and conditions under which the City Commission will approve applications for commercial rehabilitation exemption certificates under Act 210, PA 2005. Enacted October 20, 2009.
City Commission Policy on Business Improvement Districts and Boards.
This policy defines goals and requirements for the establishment of one or more Business Improvement Districts and the designation of one or more Business Improvement District Boards within the City of Grand Rapids.
City Commission Policy to provide procedures and guidelines for the disposition of all City-owned real property. Enacted June 21, 2022. Rescinds and replaces 900-22; 900-27 and 900-41.
City Commission Policy to provide loans to homeowners lacking other resources to correct exterior conditions which are a hazard. Enacted March 15, 1988. Revised April 29, 1997.
Exterior Repair Loans (900-18)(PDF, 19KB)
City Commission Policy for guidance for establishment, operation and long-term investment in the City of Grand Rapids Affordable Housing Fund. Enacted September 14, 2021.
Affordable Housing Fund Policy(PDF, 175KB)
City Commission Policy to provide principles to guide public and private decision-making, which affects the provision of housing and the maintenance of neighborhoods throughout the City. Enacted March 9, 1965. June 6, 1982.
Housing Policy (900-26)(PDF, 15KB)
It is the policy of the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department (department) that the naming of new and renaming of existing parks and recreational facilities be reserved for exceptional circumstances and that the naming process comply with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this policy.
1100-11 Naming and Renaming of Parks and Recreational Facilities(PDF, 97KB)
City Commission Policy to strengthen the competitive position of downtown building owners and managers and ease the transition of suburban workers into the downtown environment. Enacted November 14, 1995.
Parking Incentive Plan (900-33)(PDF, 10KB)
Policy to actively pursue sponsorships from for-profit entities for department programs, events, projects and sites to sustain the City’s park and recreation system, as well as Mobile GR facilities, in a manner that respects the purpose of and nature of public park spaces and public purpose of transportation assets and programs.
1100-12 Parks and Recreation & Mobile GR Sponsorships(PDF, 128KB)
City Commission Policy to provide guidelines for the administration of relocation assistance to low and moderate income persons. Enacted January 27, 1976. Revised March 7, 1989.
Relocation Assistance (900-16)(PDF, 13KB)
City Commission Policy to define the basis upon which the City of Grand Rapids shall enter into agreements with other municipalities for the repair and maintenance of borderline streets. Enacted November 24, 1959.
Repair of Borderline Streets (1000-11)(PDF, 9KB)
City Commission Policy to about requesting the City’s consent for the vacation of a public right-of-way. Enacted February 13, 1963. December 15, 2015.
Street Vacations (1000-01)(PDF, 11KB)
Policy to provide an advertising policy with clear standards that declares certain transit advertising spaces as non-public forums, places restrictions on content advertised only in conformance with First Amendment principles, and fosters a consistent, ministerial review of advertisements for compliance with policy regulations.
900-61 Transit Advertising Policy(PDF, 99KB)