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February 2025 General Meeting Notes

Mitchell Mudd

Local Conversation Leader

THANK YOU TO LEMONJELLO’S FOR HOSTING US! ☕💛Thank you to Jake Norris from 3-Sixty for speaking to the group about the awesome work your team and the neighborhoods in the City of Holland does!

STH Updates

  • Plowing sidewalks (ice removal)

    • We continued discussing this issue

  • Continuing to connect with organizations

    • We’re working to connect with Hope College and housing groups in West Michigan

  • Resources Page

    • A resources page is in development that would help residents find their representatives, housing grants, and other helpful information to make advocacy in Holland easier

  • Macatawa Area Coordinating Council newsletter shoutout

    • Thank you to The MACC for shouting us out in your newsletter!

  • Value per acre map

    • Cole is working on a value per acre map that will generally show which areas of Holland are the most economically viable

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Bike Parking Map & Faded crosswalks

    • We’ll plan to really get after this in the spring when it’s more pleasant to be outdoors

    • Feel free to continue taking pictures of bike parking locations and faded crosswalks and send them to mitchell@strongtownsholland.org

  • Book Club

    • If anyone is interested in running a STH book club please reach out to Local Conversation Leader Mitchell

City of Holland Happenings

Events

  • City Council Meetings (6:00 pm at City Hall Council Chambers)

    • February 19

    • March 5

  • Velo Kids In the Dirt Film Screening

  • Strong Towns Holland March General Meeting

    • March 18 (Tuesday)

    • 6:00 pm

    • Herrick District Library Main Classroom

    • MAX Transit will be presenting on their new routes

      • Bring questions for them!

  • South Washington Ave Public Input Open House

    • This is a great opportunity to share your experience walking, biking, or driving on South Washington Avenue

    • February 24 from 4:00 - 6:00 pm

    • City of Holland City Hall in the City Council Chambers

  • The MACC Active (Non-Motorized) Transportation Plan Open House

    • Open House to solicit public comments on non-motorized (pedestrian paths) routes in the greater Macatawa area

    • March 19

    • 3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

    • Herrick District Library Main Classroom

Speaker

Jake Norris from 3-Sixty spoke to the group about 3-sixty and the neighborhoods in the City of Holland. Learn which neighborhood you live in and what neighborhood group may exist there: https://www.cityofholland.com/1209/Neighborhood-Connections 

Group Discussion

  • There were discussions concerning the Ice Park and whether that would cause issues with birding/being in nature at Window on the Waterfront, but the park isn’t close enough for that to be an issue. (multiple members)

    • We also talked about parking and whether the City of Holland plans to add more for the Ice Park. As far as STH is aware, the City will not be adding additional parking, and we hope that continues to be true.

  • 16th Street crosswalks, and how difficult it is for nearby residents to cross the street to get to Meijer (Nancy)

  • Bike Lane Uprising - an app you can use to report objects (work vehicles, regular vehicles, car parts, dead animals, etc) blocking the bike lane (Daniel)

  • We talked about the Holland Sentinel article on the new pre-approved housing plans that the Ottawa County Housing Commission is working on (Chris)

  • Talked about being excited to create more short form content for STH (Mitchell)

  • Discussed the opportunity to volunteer for STH (Mitchell)

    • Grace is crushing Graphic Design

    • Cole is working on a value per acre map

    • If you have an idea for a way to help the group or want to be more involved, but don’t know how reach out to Mitchell (mitchell@strongtownsholland.org) 

  • Offered to help any members with her knowledge of impervious surfaces, rain gardens, and other cool environmental based stuff (Kathleen)

  • Complaints about how sidewalks are closed off without any detour forcing those walking to choose between breaking the rules, walking in the road, or walking around the entire block (Mitchell)

    • The City of Holland has previously put out temporary sidewalks in downtown on 8th street, but the group has noticed two times when a sidewalk was closed without detour and without a sidewalk on the other side of the street

    • Ottawa Avenue (right now)

    • Waverly Avenue (a couple months ago for the new apartment building)

  • MAX Transit (Amanda & others)

    • Sometimes MAX Transit doesn’t stop when it’s dark out, and with hour frequencies currently that forces the rider to have to walk or find another ride

    • The group discussed how great contactless payment would be for MAX Transit