Grand Rapids, Michigan
From Sunshine Review
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Grand Rapids is a city in Michigan. Its population according to the 2000 census was 197,800. It is the county seat of Kent County, Michigan and is the second-largest city in the state next to Detroit.
Grand Rapids has been a home rule city with its own city charter since 1916 which provides for the Commission-Manager form of municipal government. Political responsibilities in the city are divided between an elected City Commission and a full-time city manager.
Two part-time city commissioners are elected to four-year terms from each of three wards, with half of these seats up for election every two years. The part-time mayor is elected every four years and serves as chair of the Commission. The Commission sets policy for the city, and is responsible for hiring the City Manager and other appointed officials.[1]
[edit] Website evaluation
[edit] The good
- Budgets are posted[2].
- Meeting agendas and minutes are posted.[3]
- Contact information for the Commissioner is provided.[4]
- Some of the Administrative officials are listed with their contact information.[5]
- Property taxes and income taxes can be searched online.[6][7]
- Forms and applications for zoning are posted online.[8]
- Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports are posted.[9]
[edit] The bad
- No contracts or lobbying affiliations are listed.
- There is no information about requesting public records.
[edit] External links
- City of Grand Rapids
- Grand Rapids Tourism site
- Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce
- Grand Rapids Press
- History of Grand Rapids
