River Restoration
Steering Committee
Final Report
City Commission – Committee of the Whole
July 28, 2015
Background/Context
2011 - City Commission adopts Green Grand Rapids Master Plan
• It is recommended that the City “pursue river and stream restoration” and “capitalize on the Grand River as
an asset for economic development and quality of life by encouraging a change in land use along the
riverfront”
2012 - Grand Rapids WhiteWater (GRWW) visioning continues
• Chris Muller and Chip Richards continue the work to create the vision, actively study, plan, and design
particular aspects of the river
2013 – Grand River Restoration Project receives Urban Federal Waters Partnership Designation
• Fourteen Federal Agencies join to bring expertise and resources
2014 – GRWW, City and DGRI launch GRForward Downtown and River Corridor process to continue the
visioning
• Three steering committees appointed to guide the process: River Restoration, River Corridor and
Downtown
• Robust Community Engagement process held in 2014/2015
2015 – GRForward vison process moving into implementation phase
• Vision document in draft form; will include action plan for implementation with short, medium and long
term goals
• Approval of plan anticipated in fall ’15
• Some implementation already begun; grants, acquisition, development, permit applications
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July 22, 2012
River Restoration Committee Members
• Vicki Anthes, Planning Section Chief, Michigan
Department of Natural Resources
• Patty Birkholz, West Michigan Director, Michigan League
of Conservation Voters and West Michigan Environmental
Leadership Network
• Steve Faber, Byrum & Fisk Communications
• George Heartwell, Mayor, City of Grand Rapids
• John Helmholdt, Executive Director of Communications
& External Affairs, Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Scott Hicks, Field Office Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
• James Moyer, Associate Vice President for Facilities
Planning, Grand Valley State University
• Chris Muller, Co-Founder, Grand Rapids Whitewater
• Nkatha Mwenda, Student, Grand Rapids Public Schools
• Larry Romanelli, Ogema (Chief), Little River Band of
Ottawa Indians
• Rodney Stokes, Special Advisor, Office of Governor Rick
Snyder
• Greg Sundstrom, City Manager, City of Grand Rapids
• Mary Swanson, Assistant Administrator, Kent County
• Ryan Huppert, Assistant Principal, Grand Rapids Public
Schools
• Rick Truer, City of Grand Rapids Planning Commission
• Fred Keller, Founder and CEO, Cascade Engineering, CoChair
July 22, 2012
• Megan Lemmen, Student, Grand Valley State University
• Rachel Hood, Executive Director, West Michigan
Environmental Action Council
• Joe Jones, President and CEO, Grand Rapids Urban
League, Co-Chair
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• Kris Larson, President and CEO, Downtown Grand
Rapids, Inc.
• Jim Talen, County Commissioner, Kent County
• Kristian Williams, Resource Conservationist, U.S. Natural
Resources Conservation Service
Steering Committee Charge and Tasks
Charge:
• Provide overall guidance on efforts associated with the restoration of the Grand River and
riverbank;
• Assure a common vision that advances broad and diverse community interests and the
effective alignment of various projects related to river restoration;
• Serve as a resource to advise the City Commission regarding the GRWW plan, permits, funding,
project staging, construction, maintenance, and operations of any projects associated with the
Grand River.
Tasks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
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July 22, 2012
Develop guiding principles by which to consider and evaluate recommendations; The
principles shall take into account the environment, the economy and social equity;
Monitor the progress, coordination and alignment between the Restoration Plan, Downtown
Plan and River Corridor Plan;
Cultivate and inspire widespread participation and support of the project;
Advocate for resources on the Federal, State and regional levels;
Explore potential organizational models and processes for the long-term operation,
management and programming of river improvements;
Ensure annual reporting on progress/outcomes is available to citizens.
Task 1
Develop guiding principles by which to consider and
evaluate recommendations; The principles shall take
into account the environment, the economy and
social equity;
Guiding Principles
• Recognize that the Grand River belongs to everyone and contributes to our quality of life.
• The Grand River as it flows through Grand Rapids is part of a watershed that has regional implications.
• Every action should improve the ecological condition of the watershed and be an exemplar for others.
• Seek to balance human interaction, commercial investment, and environmental considerations.
• Consider future generations by ensuring that actions are sustainably designed, well-managed, responsibly assessed,
continuously evaluated, and corrective action taken as necessary.
• Preserve and restore habitat for desirable species and deter invasive species.
• Direct and develop the capacity and resources (people, organizations, and finances) necessary to enhance all human and natural
habitats.
• Encourage innovation, the leveraging of resources, and shared accountability by engaging residents, businesses, government,
education, philanthropy, and non-governmental organizations.
• Celebrate our history and cultural diversity.
• Ensure that future development of the river and its edges contributes to the local economy by creating wide-ranging
investment, recreation, and employment opportunities for all.
• Develop the programming of places and activities to be accessible and safe for everyone; being mindful of social and/or physical
barriers.
• Use intentionally inclusive and transparent decision-making to foster ownership of a re-imagined Grand River watershed that
serves as a beacon for civic identity.
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July 22, 2012
Task 2
Monitor the progress, coordination and alignment
between plans
7 July 22, 2012
• Eleven River Restoration Steering
Committee Meetings
• Fourteen River Corridor Steering
Committee Meetings
• Twelve Downtown Steering
Committee Meetings
• Committee updates provided at
each meeting
• Good coordination between
consultants
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July 22, 2012
Task 3
Cultivate and inspire widespread participation and
support of the project;
9 July 22, 2012
• GRFoward has engaged over 3,300 people
• Two public forums with over 200 attendees
total
• Open house with 450 visitors
• 24 meetings in the neighborhoods
• Dozens of meetings in the region with
government and other interest groups
• Over 31,000 website views
• Over 1,100 Facebook likes
• 250 Instagram followers
• 290 Twitter followers
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July 22, 2012
Task 4
Advocate for resources on the Federal, State and
regional levels;
Grants
Applications in Progress
• Healing Our Waters – Assistance in Developing a GLRI proposal
• Consumers Energy - Education
• NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program – conservation assistance to producers and landowners
Submitted/Waiting Decision
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Sustain Our Great Lakes Full Application - River Habitat Restoration
• Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund – Land Acquisition
• HUD – National Disaster Resiliency Competition submitted by the State
Received/Underway
• United States Fish and Wildlife Service – Fish Passage Grant
• Michigan Department of Transportation, Monroe North TIFA, Michigan Trails and Greenways Coalition – River
Edge Construction
• National Park Service – Technical Assistance Grant for Organizational Models
• United States Army Corp of Engineers – Great Lakes Fishery and Ecosystem Restoration – Adjustable Barrier
• Healing Our Waters - Mussel Report
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July 22, 2012
Task 5
Explore potential organizational models and
processes for the long-term operation, management
and programming of river improvements;
Two Work Groups formed:
• Organizational Models
• Water Quality
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July 22, 2012
Footer text here
Organizational Models Work Group
• Eric DeLong, City of Grand Rapids
• Steve Faber, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks
• Rachel Hood/Elaine Sterrett-Isely, WMEAC
• Kris Larson, DGRI
• David Marquardt, City of Grand Rapids
• Chris Muller, Grand Rapids Whitewater
• Barbara Nelson-Jameson, National Park Service
• Kalie Nye, Grand Rapids Whitewater
• Wendy Ogilvie, Grand Valley Metro Council
• Suzanne Schulz, City of Grand Rapids
• Jay Steffen, City of Grand Rapids
• Mark Van Putten, representing the Wege Foundation
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July 22, 2012
Interviews
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
• Atlanta – Proctor Creek (UWFP Project)
• Pittsburgh – River of Steel (Nat’l Heritage Area)
• Cleveland -- Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition (Nat’l Heritage Area)
• Memphis Riverfront Development Corporation
• LIAA – Recreational Authorities under Michigan Law
• Ottawa County Parks & Recreation Commission
• Traverse City/Garfield Township Recreational Authority
• National Land/Park Conservancies
• Trust for Public Land
• Conservation Fund
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July 22, 2012
Statement of Work – Requesting letters of Interest to:
• Help evaluate and, if appropriate, lead the creation of a new conservancy-like
organization and, if appropriate, a complementary “recreational authority”
pursuant to Michigan law
• Provide interim fundraising, fiscal stewardship and fiscal agency roles
• Provide project management, especially with respect to the rapids restoration
project
• As appropriate, provide transitional support and leadership over 2-5 years
developing a new conservancy-like organization’s and recreational authority’s
capabilities
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July 22, 2012
• Designate successor to Steering Committee for
transitional role to conservancy-like
organization
• Arrange for transitional staffing and functions,
potentially from Trust for Public Land
Recommendation #1
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July 22, 2012
• Develop conservancy-like organization to
provide/coordinate:
Fundraising
Project management
Accountability
Public Outreach
Programming
Operations, maintenance and sustainable
financing of facilities, structures and certain
river corridor sites/amenities
Current Organizational Infrastructure & Process
City of
Grand Rapids
River Restoration
Steering Committee
Grand Rapids
Whitewater
River Corridor
Committee
GRForward Downtown & River Corridor Vision & Design Process – September 2015 through June 2015
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July 22, 2012
Project Implementation (June 2017 – forward)
Interim Organizational Structure
City of
Grand Rapids
New NGO or Local
Project Manager
Grand River Corridor Revitalization
Committee
(appointed by GR City Commission)
Operations
Support Team (incl.
designed TPL staff)
Board Recruitment
Cooperating
Regional
Governments
Recreational
Authority
Fundraising
Committee
River Corridor
Development
Corporation
Environmental
Stewardship
Advisory
Committee
Outreach &
Programming
Advisory
Committee
Rapids Project
Advisory
Committee
Project Management for ‘Wet’ Implementation and Strategic Planning for Finance,
Capital Investments, Maintenance, Programming & Partnerships –
June 2015 – June 2017
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July 22, 2012
Corridor Projects
Advisory
Committee
Project Implementation, Operations Finance, Capital Investments &
Maintenance, Programming & Partnerships –
June 2017, Forward
Best Practices for Outreach & Coordination
• Continuous and inclusive refinement of River
restoration vision essential
Recommendation #2a
• Proactive public engagement including strong
efforts to more fully engage communities of
color and historically disadvantaged
communities
• Ongoing outreach to near-by private property
owners and economic development leaders
• Constant coordination and mutually supportive
relationship with City staff
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July 22, 2012
Best Practices for Governance & Board
Directors Composition
• Government representation, but not control
• Participation by acknowledged community &
business leaders
Recommendation #2b
• Focus on accountability and fundraising
assistance
• Directors independent of organizational
representation roles
• Regional perspective
(downstream/upstream/neighborhoods)
• Interlocking representation with recreational
authority (if created)
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July 22, 2012
Best Practices for Integration of Local Expertise
Recommendation #2c
• Assess and develop local expertise and
leadership
• Partner with local NGOs and professionals for
programming and implementation
• Non governance role for programming partners
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July 22, 2012
Explore Long-Term Financing Options
Recommendation #3
• “Recreational authority” under Michigan
Recreational Authorities Act
• Business relationships
• Improvement district
• Other financing mechanisms
• Coordination with City parks millage & financing
priorities
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July 22, 2012
Potential partnership with TPL
• National not-for-profit organization
• Completed more than 5,200 park and
conservation projects, protecting more than 3
million acres
Recommendation #4
• Experience working with public-private
partnerships on urban parks, green space and
trails projects
• Worked with several cities on water-oriented
urban greenway projects, including in Atlanta,
Chattanooga, Pittsburgh, Newark, Minneapolis
and Memphis
• Conducted GR site visit in January 2015
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July 22, 2012
Explore MOU with TPL to address:
• Reporting/accountability structure
• Integration and sequencing of “wet” and “dry” projects and TPL’s role
• Short- and long-term tasks concerning which TPL would likely add
significant value, e.g.:
Assessing capacities of local professionals and organizations
Developing a strategy and timetable for conservancy-like organization
Serving as fiscal agent and fiduciary for funds for specific projects
Recommendation #4 Developing and coordinating fundraising strategy
Coordinating with the City and key partners in applying for permits
and project management
• Development of initial budget (including potential philanthropic funding
sources)
• Time and cost associated with “onboarding” TPL
• TPL’s proposed staffing, including consultations on personnel decisions
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July 22, 2012
Water Quality Work Group
• Scott Hicks, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Rachel Hood, West Michigan Environmental Action Council
• Mike Lunn, City of Grand Rapids, Environmental Services Department
• Kalie Nye, Grand Rapids Whitewater
• Nick Occhipinti, West Michigan Environmental Action Council
• Wendy Ogilvie, Grand Valley Metro Council, Lower Grand River Organization
of Watersheds
• Eric Pessell, Kent County Health Department
• Dana Strouse, State of Michigan, Department of Environmental Quality
• Jim Talen, Kent County Commissioner
• Kristian Williams, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource
Conservation Service
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July 22, 2012
Recommendation #1
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July 22, 2012
The notion of improving the quality of the water in
the Grand River should be imbedded in the
messaging, branding and funding initiatives of the
river restoration effort. Responsibility for
monitoring progress on the recommendations
should become part of the work of the entity that
takes on oversight and coordination of the next
phase of the project.
Recommendation #2
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July 22, 2012
Address high impact point-source water quality
infrastructure opportunities in the Grand River
watershed area.
Recommendation #3
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July 22, 2012
Address livestock and cropland pathogen
pollutants in the Direct Drainage Subwatershed
management unit of the Lower Grand River
Watershed and in the Urban Waters Federal
Partnership area. Plant buffer and filter strips
along priority acreage adjacent to and
encompassing the Direct Drainage Subwatershed
and Urban Waters Federal Partnership area.
Recommendation #4
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July 22, 2012
Improve septic programs and policies in the Grand
River watershed area. Work with the Governor's
Administration on a statewide septic code and
with local health departments to adopt
operational inspections and maintenance
requirements in their septic regulations.
Recommendation #5
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July 22, 2012
Maximize implementation of green infrastructure
and low-impact development (LID) within the
River Restoration Project Corridor area by
encouraging local policies and incentives that
favor LID.
Recommendation #6
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July 22, 2012
Implement projects identified by the City of Grand
Rapids Green Infrastructure Opportunity
Assessment. Inspire a similar assessment and
implementation process for managing stormwater
runoff in upstream communities.
Summary
• The River Restoration Steering Committee has played a vital role in assuring coordination between river restoration
and the GRForward visioning process for the downtown and river corridor.
Recommendations
• The City Commission should authorize a transitional role for a successor to this Steering Committee = Grand River
Corridor Revitalization Committee (GRCRC) is proposed;
• Work with key partners including the City of Grand Rapids and Grand Rapids Whitewater to develop a
Memorandum of Understanding with Trust for Public Land (TPL) by which (with private philanthropic funding)
would provide support to the Grand River Corridor Revitalization Committee;
• The Grand River Corridor Revitalization Committee, supported by TPL, should explore the formation of a future
“conservancy-like” organization to operate, maintain and sustain the improvements in the river and on the banks;
• On a parallel track, the GRCRC should explore the formation of a complementary “recreational authority” like
organization under Michigan law (with inclusion of key government jurisdictions upstream and downstream from
Grand Rapids) and/or of potential “improvement districts” and similar funding mechanisms;
• The Grand River Corridor Revitalization Committee and any subsequent entity or entities managing the oversight
and coordination of the river corridor projects, must work in partnership with others to closely monitor water
quality and support both regional and local efforts to minimize pollutants to the Grand River.
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July 22, 2012
Questions & Answers