Kentwood · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kentwood public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Police department promotions
The police department promoted two lieutenants and two sergeants, expanding its command team for the first time in years.
Coral Valley cul-de-sac improvements
The city is finally fulfilling decades-old promises to add landscape separation and berms between the Coral Valley neighborhood and 29th Street, and improving the cul-de-sac.
Police Department 2025 performance
Kentwood firefighters handled 5,507 runs in 2025 — most of them medical calls — while keeping average response times at 4:34, beating the 5:20 promised to residents. The department also installed nearly 1,000 free smoke alarms and logged over 3,200 inspections.
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.
32nd Street bridge replacement over Broadmoor (M-37)
MDOT will replace the 32nd Street bridge next year. Kentwood will pay about $308,000 as its share, including added paving on 36th Street while crews are on site, plus a street-lighting contract change.
Automatic license plate readers and privacy
Steve Bennett urged the commission to remove automatic license plate reader cameras, arguing they collect data without warrants and can profile residents. The city hasn't decided anything yet, but the issue is stirring privacy debate.
Code enforcement and neighborhood blight
A 44-year resident said Kentwood is getting run down, with trailers and trash in yards and landlords neglecting properties. City staff countered that code enforcement officers patrol daily and pointed her to the online complaint portal.
New Deputy Fire Chief sworn in
Darren Duffany, a Navy veteran with 25 years at Royal Oak Fire Department, was sworn in as Deputy Fire Chief, filling the seat vacated when Mike Hip retired in December.
ZBA quorum crisis resolved
Sue West's resignation left the Zoning Board of Appeals without seven members, postponing cases and leaving applicants waiting. Two new appointees should restore a full board before its September 21 meeting.
Winter equipment for DPW
The new compact loader and snow pusher will let the city clear parking lots — including the new community center — without pulling its big salt-loading loader off road duty.
Road condition ratings improve
The city's transportation asset plan shows Kentwood's average road rating rose from 5.9 to 6.1, above the regional average of 5.76 — good news for future paving priorities and Act 51 funding flexibility.
Princeton Estates neighborhood maintenance
Resident Bob Hines says the neighborhood's yards, sidewalks, and shrubs have visibly declined, with some owners unable to afford upkeep. He asked whether the city can offer assistance programs or stronger maintenance codes. A town hall on the issue is set for September 17 at the police department.
Front-yard vegetable garden ordinance
The city ordered a resident to remove her front-yard vegetable garden or face fines up to $250/day under zoning ordinance chapter 19, section 19.05. The mayor agreed to hold off enforcement while staff consider a text amendment or variance path.
Lakewood Homes utilities installation agreement
The developer of 2854 & 2920 52nd Street and 5253 & 5491 Wing Avenue will install water and sewer utilities that Grand Rapids will accept as public, with $48,700 escrowed for inspection. Commissioner Artz noted open questions about the larger project but was told the utilities work is needed regardless.
Community center playground built with Amway
The city is building an inclusive playground meant to be a regional destination, especially for kids with disabilities. It's mostly donor-funded — Amway gave $100,000 — but if fundraising falls short, other parks projects like the Covenant Park clubhouse or trail work could be scaled back.
Poverty exemption policy cleanup
The city formally adopted a Poverty Exemption Policy and Guidelines, which sets out how income-qualified homeowners can get property tax relief.
Extensive 2027 road construction season
Next year will bring major closures: the Beltline bridge at 32nd Street removed, the Beltline at I-96 shut down with no detours, plus MDOT work on 28th and 48th Streets and Eastern Avenue. Plan for longer commutes.
City Hall heat pump replacement
Seven of City Hall's 37 heat pumps, all installed in 2004, are being replaced by Trane. The rest are aging too, and staff say they'll be swapped out in batches to spread out the cost.
Paul Henry Trail repaving after contractor defects
The trail's new pavement cracked because the contractor's equipment broke tree branches that ended up in the asphalt mix. The city withheld payment and is having the top course milled and repaved, starting next week, from roughly Stoffer to Wing and other select areas.
Water and sewer rates for FY 2026-2027
Water meter costs go up to cover expenses, and the Clerk's office adjusts passport photo and notary fees while adding a non-resident notary fee.
Road salt supply for 2026-27 winter
The city locked in up to 4,550 tons of salt for winter road clearing at up to $356,766 from street funds.
Breton Ravines stormwater drainage easements
The city is signing drainage easements that protect two off-site properties and keep stormwater moving from the Breton Ravines development's detention basin.
Heyboer Acres Site Condos Phase 1
Final approval of the site condominium plan means the second phase of the Heyboer Acres development south of the original phase can move forward.
State transportation funding shortchanges cities and transit
Rapid board member Jack Hoffman argued the state budget gives rural roads $444 per capita versus $195 for cities and just $27 for public transit, and urged support for House Bill 4210 to direct sales tax on transportation products to transit.
Self-storage boom prompts new zoning rules
Kentwood already has 9.1 square feet of self-storage per capita — well above the state average of 4.99 — so new facilities will now need special land use approval with spacing, landscaping and screening standards rather than a simple building permit.
DPW parking lot repaving
A year of heavy construction traffic at the DPW campus wore out a 20-year-old parking lot, so the city is spending up to $355,438 to repave it with a heavy-duty base rated for 15-20 years.
Kentwood Police state accreditation
Kentwood PD earned its Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission certification, meeting over 130 professional standards. Only 98 of Michigan's 573 police agencies hold this distinction.
Veterans Park Phase IV state grant application
The city is asking the state for $850,000 to upgrade Veterans Park — new basketball courts, a picnic shelter, pickleball conversion, and new paths. If the grant comes through, the city's share is $450,000.
Rondo Station Park improvements
CarboSix Construction will rebuild the aging park with accessible parking, a new playground, lighting, a shade shelter, and a repaired Goethe Street entrance, using a $300,000 state grant the city won in 2024.
Sanitary sewer inspection camera purchase
New cameras let DPW inspect about 10 miles of sewer pipe a year and catch cracks and blockages before sewage backs up into homes. It's $107,100 — actually $12,900 under budget.
29th Street and East Paris sidewalk extension
For years residents have asked why there's no sidewalk connecting 29th Street to East Paris. A road project nearby gave the city its opening, and the vet clinic on the corner agreed to an easement where pedestrians currently cut across its lawn.
Venue3Two events center expansion rezoning
The city rezoned 0.7 acres so Venue3Two can build a pavilion for outdoor ceremonies, keeping 2017 conditions like no bar and midnight curfew. Parking concerns came up but staff say capacity is adequate.
Community Center furnishings and equipment
The commission approved the final $742,809 chunk of spending on furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the new Community Center, including live plants and design work. This gets the building ready for opening day purchases, deliveries, and training.
Ravines of Kentwood Phase II utilities
The city signed off on an agreement letting the developer install water and sewer for the next phase of the Ravines subdivision — with an escrow to cover city inspection costs. Mayor Kepley wants staff to double-check that old Pfeiffer Woods special assessments were paid before the mayor signs.
Enforcement of short-term rental ordinance
A 45-year resident says a nearby home is being rented through Airbnb for days at a time despite the city's 28-day minimum, bringing strangers, parties, and extra traffic into a quiet neighborhood. The city attorney says citations were dismissed by a judge and the city will pursue the case again.