City of Kalamazoo - March 11, 2026 Historic Preservation Commission

Updated about 10 hours ago

In the March meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission, members discuss updates on the O'Connor Fund, including the need for a meeting between the city attorney and the Kalamazoo Community Foundation to discuss fund structural changes. There is a reminder of the open registration for the MHPN annual conference and a need for volunteers. The commission addresses updates for the upcoming Preservation Month, focusing on nominations and awards, and details plans for historic tours of Mountain Home Cemetery and National Register sites. The commission also elects new officers, with Patrick nominated as chair and Kyle as vice chair. The commission acknowledges the departure of members Fred and Melissa and emphasizes the need for new members. A report on the completion of the reconnaissance-level survey for several neighborhoods is presented, highlighting the importance of including historically excluded areas in preservation efforts. The meeting concludes with a discussion on membership and subcommittee participation.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:00:14)
The meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission for March is officially called to order at 6:09 PM.

The chairperson officially calls the meeting to order, marking the beginning of the session scheduled for March. The exact time noted for the start is 6:09 PM.
Roll Call (00:00:30)
Roll call is conducted with Kayla, Dusty, Melissa, and Patrick present. Fred and Nora are absent.

The meeting proceeds with a roll call. Members present include Kayla, Dusty, Melissa, and Patrick. Fred and Nora are noted as absent but with pre-approved excuses. A motion is made and seconded to excuse their absences.
Approval of Agenda (00:01:13)
The agenda for the meeting is reviewed and adopted without any revisions.

Members review the formal agenda for the evening. As there are no proposed revisions, a motion is made to adopt the agenda as it stands, which is then seconded.
Approval of Minutes (00:01:27)
Minutes from the January meeting are reviewed, with corrections noted and approved as amended.

The minutes from the previous meeting held in January are examined. Several corrections are suggested, including minor typographical errors and wording adjustments. These amendments are discussed and agreed upon by the members. A motion is made to approve the minutes as amended.
Public Comments (00:04:49)
Pam sends a note about the MHPN annual conference and encourages registration and volunteering.

A note from Pam is read by the chair, highlighting the upcoming Michigan Historic Preservation Network annual conference. Pam encourages members to register and notes the need for volunteers and the availability of scholarships. There are no additional public comments received for the meeting.
Financial Report (00:05:55)
The financial report is presented, showing no expenses yet for the period reported.

The financial report is discussed, with the chair noting that no expenses have been recorded yet, which is surprising. There is a call for an invoice for room rental and mention of pending food expenses. The report highlights the current financial status pending these expenses.
O'Connor Fund Report (00:07:14)
Updates on the O'Connor Fund are provided, including meetings and fund structural changes.

The O'Connor Fund report is reviewed. Updates include the lack of new numbers since the last submission, ongoing discussions for fund structural changes to allow direct grant dispersals, and a summary of recent pre-application meetings. The report also touches on the number of applications received last year.
Reports on Preservation Month (00:10:45)
Updates on Preservation Month activities, including calls for nominations and award preparations.

The preservation month update includes reports on nominations call-outs, outreach efforts, and award preparations. Email blasts and press releases have been used to encourage nominations. The judging rubric is available, and the application deadline is set for the end of the month.
Historic Tours Report (00:14:36)
Plans for Historic Tours are discussed, including selected subjects and budgeting decisions.

The Historic Tours committee provides an update on plans for two tours: Mountain Home Cemetery and National Register sites in Kalamazoo. Decisions to utilize existing resources and internal knowledge to avoid hiring outside contractors are highlighted, aiming to maximize funds for the O'Connor Fund.
Elections of Officers (00:17:02)
Officer elections are held with Patrick elected as Chair and Kyle as Vice Chair, taking effect next meeting.

The commission holds elections for officer positions. Patrick is nominated and accepted as Chair, while Kyle is elected as Vice Chair. These positions will be effective from the next meeting, with discussion on the process and term limits.
Discussion Items (00:23:33)
Discussion on quorum, membership, and potential meeting rescheduling due to quorum concerns.

The commission discusses the implications of reduced membership on meeting quorum and the possibility of adjusting quorum requirements. There's also discussion about potential rescheduling of meetings to accommodate members' availability.
Administrative Reports (00:30:30)
Administrative updates include Imagine Kalamazoo meeting schedule and recent survey deliverables.

Administrative updates are provided, including the schedule for the final Imagine Kalamazoo design meeting and the receipt of final deliverables for the reconnaissance level survey of several neighborhoods. The importance of these surveys is emphasized, and members are encouraged to review the materials.