Kentwood · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kentwood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Zoo & Museum Millage Renewal on the November 3 ballot
A ten-year, .4086-mill renewal for John Ball Zoo and the Grand Rapids Public Museum goes countywide on November 3 — about $5.11 a month for a $150,000-SEV home. It funds education programs, exhibits, collections care and zoo animal care, generating an estimated $15.5 million in year one.
Adaptive recreation program recognition
Former mayor Rev. Jerry DeRuiter was honored for helping launch Kentwood's adaptive recreation program, one of only a handful in the country, serving residents with disabilities.
Kent District Library community report
The library reported record circulation of 1.9 million items, 30,000 free summer meals with Feeding America, a 2025 Library of the Year honor, and a 10,000-person author event at Van Andel.
Honoring Peter Lamberts, Kentwood's founding father
Lee Lamberts asked the city to keep his father Peter Lamberts' legacy alive — the township supervisor who fought off annexation and led Kentwood to cityhood in 1967 — by naming City Hall or another feature in his honor.