Commissioner-at-Large· 2025-11-01 – 2029-11-01 (month-level start: November 2025 per Kent County Clerk results for the Nov 4, 2025 election, sworn in the Monday after the election per the city's 2021 press release; month-level end: November 2029 per city page 'All Kentwood elected officials serve a term of four years')
Betsy Artz
Kentwood
No biography on file yet.
Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 15
- Total speaking time
- 24:40
- Avg per meeting
- 1:39
- Segments
- 532
Want every word Artz has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Artz said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (20)
Housing TIF for the Meadows on Wing — housing for adults with special needs
TIF would divert tax increment to support the development; terms still under review.
Vacancy on the Commission — First Ward seat (Coughlin resignation)
No new tax or fee comes with this — the salary is already baked into the city's personnel budget, so your wallet isn't the story here.
First Companies industrial project on 36th Street
If abatements are later approved, the new companies would pay reduced taxes on improvements, though the added investment could bring jobs and activity to the site.
Garden Park Estates site condominium development
The city and developer split 56th Street costs roughly 50-50, and the construction contract totals about $1.01 million.
Automatic license plate readers and privacy
Taxpayers will cover the cameras and ongoing data/staff costs, though the city hasn't spelled out the full price tag in this snippet.
32nd Street bridge replacement over Broadmoor (M-37)
Roughly $308,000 from the city for its share of the bridge work.
Police Department 2025 performance
The fire operating budget runs about $9.5 million, roughly 84% of it in staffing.
FY 2025-2026 budget adjustment for street funds
Funded from FY 2026 and FY 2027 Major and Local Street Funds at $1,413,195.
Cascade Engineering and Trane tax abatements
The $23 million abatement reduces the company's property taxes while bringing an estimated 250 jobs to the area.
Aging water main replacement program
$261,700 for design now, with about $1 million per year budgeted for construction over five years.
PearTree Development at 1900 Gerda (former Dolphin Swim Club site)
Ten new homes around $475,000 each join the tax rolls on a site that has sat vacant since 2011.
Zoo & Museum Millage Renewal on the November 3 ballot
About 41 cents per $1,000 of taxable value — roughly $5.11 a month for a home with a $150,000 SEV.
Police department promotions
Coral Valley cul-de-sac improvements
Included in the $1,012,588 Kentwood Excavating contract.
Winter equipment for DPW
Up to $142,500 from the FY27 DPW Equipment Fund.
New Deputy Fire Chief sworn in
Up to $20,000 for the recruitment firm, not previously budgeted this fiscal year.
Front-yard vegetable garden ordinance
Could save residents money on groceries; fines of up to $250/day are on hold for now.
Pedestrian lighting on Eastern Avenue and 52nd Street
Cost of lighting improvements not yet known; study to be conducted by Consumers Energy.
Princeton Estates neighborhood maintenance
Code enforcement and neighborhood blight
Decisions during term (226)
Recorded while Artz was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
Approval of consent agenda
Approval of October 20 meeting minutes
Garden Park Estates and 56th Street Extension Cost Sharing Agreement
Construction contract for 56th Street extension and Coral Valley cul-de-sac
Water system improvements engineering contract
Appointments to Parks and Recreation Commission and EDC
Approval of agenda
Consent agenda
Agenda approved with three modifications
Commissioner Moseley excused
Consent agenda approved
October 12 meeting minutes approved with corrections
Police and fire quarterly reports received
44th Street & Shaffer Avenue PUD major change approved
Cascade Engineering tax abatement approved (Res. 45-26)
Trane U.S. tax abatement approved (Res. 46-26)
First Companies rezoning tabled to November (Case 11-26 / Ordinance 8-26)
First Ward commission seat declared vacant
Meadows on Wing Avenue Housing TIF resolution approved
City Payables.
Voting record (44)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.