City of Kalamazoo - Civil Rights Board

City of Kalamazoo - Civil Rights Board - June 3, 2026 Meeting

Updated about 1 hour ago

The board welcomed new Director Dickason and received updates from the Education and Ordinance Review subcommittees. The Education Subcommittee reported on partnerships with community members focusing on housing and employment. The Ordinance Review Subcommittee discussed clarifications and potential changes to the civil rights ordinance, aiming to improve complaint handling and board authority. Board members expressed concerns about the slow pace of change and the need for more actionable steps. The board also deliberated on changing the meeting location to Crosstown Parkway, a move that was eventually approved, pending confirmation of the new venue's accessibility and technological capabilities.

Chapters

Roll Call (00:00:44)
The meeting commenced with a roll call to verify the presence of the directors and commissioners.

Director Tanya Hewitt Smith initiated the roll call. Present were Director Luman, Director Doyle, Co-chair S, Chairperson Faison, Director Dickerson, and Commissioner Hoffman. Director Calderone was also present. The roll call confirmed the attendance of necessary members.
Approval of Agenda and Minutes (00:01:33)
The agenda was adopted without changes, and the minutes from the last meeting were approved as presented.

The agenda was distributed, and members were asked for any additions or corrections. The agenda was adopted as is following a motion and a second. The minutes from the last meeting were also presented for approval, with Director Luman seconding the motion.
Public Announcements (00:03:10)
Director Dickason was welcomed to the Civil Rights Board, acknowledging their new role and anticipated contributions.

The board took a moment to welcome Director Dickason to the Civil Rights Board, expressing appreciation for joining the team and looking forward to the contributions they would bring to the board.
Education Subcommittee Update (00:03:52)
Updates on community partnerships and the brochure project were discussed, emphasizing housing and employment focus.

Director Sling provided updates from the education subcommittee, highlighting great conversations with community partners and plans to bring aboard more partners focused on employment. Feedback was received for the brochure project, which will be interpolated into a new document for the civil rights board and printed soon.
Ordinance Review Subcommittee Update (00:05:32)
The subcommittee discussed ordinance clarifications and potential partnerships with local agencies.

Discussions in the Ordinance Review subcommittee included clarifying ordinance details and exploring partnerships with local agencies to utilize community resources. Data from the Fair Housing Center was shared, and the city is in an information-gathering stage to better handle housing discrimination complaints.
Board and Public Discussion on Progress and Challenges (00:09:49)
Board members expressed frustrations over slow progress and the need for actionable steps and better city support.

Commissioner Hoffman and other board members discussed the need to make revisions permanent, expressing frustration over slow progress. The discussion emphasized the need for city administration support and the importance of transparency and accountability in achieving board goals.
Announcement of Board Position Vacancy (00:25:03)
The board announced a vacancy and encouraged applications, planning interviews to fill the position.

A vacancy was announced for Director Luman's seat, open to residents and non-residents. Three applications were received, and interviews are planned within the next month to fill the position. The board encouraged more applications and discussed the process for filling vacancies.
Shared Email Box for Board Communications (00:29:44)
Discussion on creating a shared email box for direct communication with the board, starting with the chair and vice-chair.

To improve communication with the community, a shared email box will be created for the board. It will initially be accessible to the chair and vice-chair, with the option for other directors to opt in. The DEI office is working on setting up the email system.
Board Meeting Location Change Discussion (00:32:24)
The board discussed moving meeting locations to Crosstown Parkway, considering accessibility and technology capabilities.

The board considered moving its meeting location to Crosstown Parkway, discussing accessibility, parking, and AV capabilities. The move aims to provide a better-equipped venue for board meetings. The board voted on the motion to change locations.