HOLLAND, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Apr. 13, 2023) – Holland City Council members and city staff were in for a long Wednesday night, with another lengthy stay at City Hall (270 S. River Av.) on the cards for Thursday evening.
It’s the second of two nights of budget review, beginning at 7 PM in the second floor training room. The Tulip City’s governing panel will be briefed by City Manager Keith Van Beek and his staff on various aspects of government that will be funded by the spending plan for Fiscal 2024, which begins on July 1st. The first session addressed the Holland BPW, public safety, capital projects, and transportation/engineering. On Thursday, issues to be brought up include the downtown district, parks and recreation, community and neighborhood services, and city operations, and the public is invited to attend.
In setting up a public hearing and an expected final vote for May 3rd on the proposed budget, Mayor Nathan Bocks expressed the sentiments of his fellow council members during Wednesday night’s meeting.
A link to the 446-page proposed Fiscal 2024 Holland City Budget is here.
Before moving to hold that budget vote on May 3rd, Council on Wednesday night approved a proposed Brownfield Amendment to the current 7th Street Parking Deck site so that Home Holdings Holland can move forward on a proposed $4.5 million, three-story office building that would house, among other entities, the regional business promoter Lakeshore Advantage.
Angela Huesman, Chief Operating Officer of Lakeshore Advantage, explained the need for this building to the west of the Parking Deck, off of the corner of East 7th Street and College Avenue.
Council also gave its OK to a more than three-fold increase in the annual funding for the Macatawa Area Coordinating Council’s Community Enhancement Program, from over $12,000 to $50,000 for the next three years. Second Ward Councilman Jay Peters is a part of overseeing that program.
City Manager Van Beek said that the increase is already factored into his proposed Fiscal 2024 budget.
