City of Grand Rapids - Executive Office
City of Grand Rapids - Executive Office
Company Information
The City was incorporated on April 2, 1850. On August 29, 1916, the people of Grand Rapids voted to adopt a Home Rule Charter that abolished their old alderman system and replaced it with a Commission-Manager form of government that, with amendments, is still in effect today. The City Commission has seven elected, non-partisan commissioners, with two commissioners from each of the three wards and a seventh commissioner elected at large who serves as the Mayor. The City Comptroller is elected at large and, with the assistance of the staff members in the Office of City Comptroller, is responsible for monitoring the financial activities of the City Commission and all City departments. Terms of all the elected offices are four years, with three commissioners and either the Mayor or Comptroller elected every two years. The City Manager is appointed by the City Commission to serve as the City’s chief administrator and is responsible for the coordination of all City departments and execution of City Commission policies and programs. There are approximately 1,600 full-time employees. A seven-member Library Board is elected at large and is responsible for the operations of the library system. All other boards, such as the pension, building authority, and other component unit boards, have a majority of members appointed by the City Commission. The City provides its citizens with a full range of municipal services.