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East Express | January 2025
A MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR Friends and neighbors, Happy New Year! To kick off 2025, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for making our community an exceptional place. Your participation and engagement in decision-making and events create a community of collaboration that makes East Grand Rapids truly unique. I look forward to all the exciting things 2025 has in store for us and our community. Is becoming more involved in your community one of your 2025 resolutions? If so, there are plenty of opportunities to make a difference and help shape our community’s future by serving on a board. Consider filling out an online application today to get started. I also encourage residents to provide input regarding the upcoming Brownfield Redevelopment Authority public hearing 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE, and the Parks and Recreation Master Plan Update public hearing 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Community Center. Residents and community members can also provide input by emailing input@eastgrmi.gov. Looking to stay active and engaged all winter long? Take advantage of our beautiful trails by going for hikes on the Fred Bunn Multipurpose Trails, Reeds Lake Trail and visiting our dog park. Ensure to dress in warm layers and bright colors to ensure visibility. Also check out all the exciting programming at the EGR branch of the KDL library, including the Let It Snow Winter Reading Club, and take note of our open swim hours. Have a great winter, and I look forward to seeing you all throughout the year!  All the best,
Katie
 COFFEE HOURS Residents have the opportunity to speak with elected officials in-person at these upcoming coffee hours at Bagel Kitchen: - 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10: Mayor Katie Favale, First Ward Commissioner Kate Skaggs and Second Ward Commissioner Chris Wessely.
- 10:30 a.m. Friday, Jan. 24: Mayor Katie Favale, First Ward Commissioner Ryan Burdick and Third Ward Commissioner Laura Schwartz.
PARKS & RECREATION SPORTS NIGHT OUT The annual Sports Night Out is Saturday, Feb. 8. Elementary school-aged children and their adult chaperones are invited to join us 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the East Grand Rapids High School gym, 2211 Lake Drive SE, for a fun evening of games, challenges and activities. Plus, there’s a photo booth so you can have a keepsake from the evening. Register children and adult chaperones online. The cost is $24 for residents and $29 for non-residents. PARKS & RECREATION MASTER PLAN A draft of the new Parks and Recreation five-year master plan is available for public review and comment. The plan is available on the City’s website, and a printed copy is available at the Parks and Recreation Department during regular business hours. A public hearing to provide in-person feedback is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. The new plan is a guide to the development of parks, trails and recreational opportunities over the next five years. We welcome your input! FINANCE & CITY ADMINISTRATION 
CITY COMMISSION MEETINGS The next City Commission meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 and Tuesday, Jan. 21 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. Community members can also watch the meeting live via the City’s YouTube channel and view minutes and agendas here. 
WINTER PROPERTY TAXES Winter property taxes are due upon receipt. They will be considered late after Feb. 14, and late fees will apply. Details at eastgrmi.gov/taxes. BROWNFIELD REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing to consider creating a Brownfield Redevelopment Authority is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at the Community Center, 750 Lakeside Drive SE. BRAs are resources created by municipalities to develop and build brownfield projects – initiatives to redevelop land previously used for industrial or commercial purposes but now designated as underutilized. The BRA would act as a state funding tool to provide economic incentives for any potential brownfield projects.
Community members can also submit feedback at input@eastgrmi.gov. GASLIGHT INVESTORS PROJECT Community members can learn more about the potential Gaslight investors Planned Unit Development project, along with an approval timeline and FAQs, by visiting this webpage. PUBLIC SAFETY
ICE SAFETY
Winter in East Grand Rapids offers community members plenty of recreational opportunities to enjoy the season. If you plan to venture out on Reeds Lake, Public Safety has a few tips for you: - Share your plans with friends and family and communicate what time they should expect your return.
- Don’t venture out alone – always travel with someone else.
- Be mindful of the weather and changing conditions that may affect ice thickness.
- Pack the following:
- Fully charged cell phone equipped with GPS
- Ice spud to test depth
- Set of ice spikes in the event of a breakage
While no ice is safe, measuring the thickness of the frozen water can help determine which parts are safer than others. Read the full list of safety tips here. WINTER PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
When using our community’s streets, sidewalks and trails, be sure to “stay seen” by making yourself visible to motorists and others. Wear bright, reflective clothing and carry a light. This helps roadway users to see you and help keep you safe. Thanks to our friends at the Grand Valley Metro Council for creating the safety video here. PUBLIC WORKS WINTER WEATHER OPERATIONS Curious about our street and sidewalk salting and plowing operations? How we prioritize road routes? How can you help make snowplowing easier for our Public Works team? Get the answers to these questions here. When snow events are in the forecast, Public Works asks residents to park in their driveway instead of the street. If you must park in the street, please avoid parking directly across from another vehicle so snowplow drivers can provide safe and efficient service. 
Public Works also reminds residents of a new state law that requires motorists to stay 200 feet back from active Public Works snowplows and maintain a 20-foot distance when stopped at an intersection. EGR Public Works will be adding the yellow signs pictured below to the rear of its snowplows to remind motorists of the law. Public Works thanks you for your partnership in making sure our streets and sidewalks stay safe for everyone. HOLIDAY TREE PICKUP
Public Works will collect natural trees and wreaths for chipping Jan. 6-17. Trees and wreaths should be put out the night before your regularly scheduled pickup day and placed on the terrace side of the curb, not in the roadway. Please remove lights, ribbons, wire and ornaments from the greenery. MASTER PLAN UPDATE Learn more about the updated Community Master plan, where you can read about the update process and review the current 2018 plan. PREVENT PIPES FROM FREEZING
During the winter, pipes and water meters can freeze. The City is responsible for water service from the curb stop in the right-of-way to the water main in the street. Property owners are responsible for water service from the curb stop to and throughout their property. The City offers the following tips to help protect water service pipes: - Wrap and insulate all water pipes in unheated areas of your home, paying particular attention to pipes near exterior walls.
- Keep the location of your water meter above 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Make sure any garden hoses on the exterior of your home are disconnected and the outdoor faucet is winterized.
- Know the location of your water shutoff valve in case of a leak.
What to do if your pipes freeze: - If your pipes freeze and you have water running in your home, turn off the water at your water shutoff – usually located near the water meter – and contact a licensed plumber.
- If interior pipes freeze, do not apply any direct heat to your pipes and instead use a space heater or a blow dryer to heat the area around the piping.
- If your water service stops and the entire interior plumbing and water meter are insulated or located in an area heated above 40 degrees Fahrenheit, please contact Public Works at 616.940.4870. Public Works staff will assess the situation and, if the water service is frozen from the curb stop to the main, they will thaw the service line and restore water service.
CLEAR SNOW AND ICE FROM FIRE HYDRANTS
If you have a fire hydrant near your home, please consider helping Public Safety by keeping snow piles away from the hydrants or shoveling out around the hydrant after heavy snow events. Public Safety officers do make the rounds and shovel when necessary, but their immediate duties may keep them from clearing the snow from all hydrants in a timely manner. Thank you for your help! COMMUNITY PARTNERS  E-GREEN SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
Don’t miss the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative’s electronic waste and foam packaging recycling event 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, at the EGR Public Works building, 2310 Reeds Lake Blvd. SE. 
LOWER GRAND RIVER ORGANIZATION OF WATERSHEDS
LGROW reminds community members to practice good housekeeping by storing salt or other deicers under a roof or other cover to minimize polluted runoff. EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Kindergarten pre-enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is available for East Grand Rapids residents. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/2ZVhsdk. For residents looking to enroll their students in 1st through 12th grade, email enrollment@egrps.org. 
KENT DISTRICT LIBRARY: EAST GRAND RAPIDS BRANCH Join the library's "Let it Snow" Winter Reading Club and snuggle up with a good book this winter. Adults and teens 11 and older who read or listen to six books earn a Let It Snow mug. Want more? Log four more titles and be automatically entered into our Power Reader drawing for a chance to win an Amazon Kindle Scribe. Pick up your mug any time between now and the end of February. Below are some fun featured KDL programs: - SnowFest Craft Time – 10 a.m.-noon Tuesday, Jan. 21: Celebrate the snowy season with winter-themed craftmaking for all ages.
- How Not to Kill Your Houseplants – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21: Whether you’re a newbie or have a bit of experience, this program will help you learn how to keep your indoor plants happy and healthy. Come learn practical tips on watering, lighting, plant propagation and dealing with common pests. This is a hands-on course, and you'll leave with some new plants! This Sustainable Neighbors series is presented in partnership with the E-GReen Sustainability Initiative and sponsored by the Friends of the EGR Library.
- Trivia Night @ KDL – 6:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27: Enjoy themed rounds of trivia and brain games covering general knowledge and pop culture topics with fun audio and visual clues. The game will be played in teams of up to four members, so come with friends or join a team and make new ones.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Save the date for the East Grand Rapids High School design presentation 6-7:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 at the East Grand Rapids High School Performing Arts Center, 2211 Lake Drive SE. Read Dr. Kattula’s Nov. 15 letter here and find more information on the district’s website. KINDERGARTEN PRE-ENROLLMENT
Kindergarten pre-enrollment for the 2025-26 school year is available for EGR residents beginning Jan. 7. Details are available at https://bit.ly/2ZVhsdk. For residents looking to enroll for 1st through 12th grade, please email enrollment@egrps.org. As a reminder, community members can sign up to receive EGRPS notifications, delivered right to their email inbox. See the information above for details.
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