City of Kalamazoo - July 8, 2026 Historic Preservation Commission

Updated about 11 hours ago

The Historic Preservation Commission Meeting on July 8 featured a review process for consideration of a new commissioner. The commission votes to recommend the appointment of Dan Kastner to the board, following a review of his qualifications. A significant portion of the meeting focuses on financial reports and the allocation of grants from the O'Connor Fund. Among the decisions, the commission approves a $10,000 grant to Disability Network Southwest Michigan for elevator repairs, highlighting the importance of non-traditional preservation efforts. The commission discusses the need for consulting services to assist applicants in drafting grant proposals, aiming to improve application quality and accessibility for organizations lacking professional grant writing experience. The meeting concludes with public comments and reports from subcommittees, underscoring the commission's ongoing commitment to historic preservation and community engagement.

Chapters

Welcome and Call to Order (00:00:11)
The meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission is called to order and attendees are welcomed.

The chair welcomes everyone to the meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission and officially calls the meeting to order.
Roll Call (00:00:20)
Roll call is taken to confirm attendance of commission members.

Kayla, Fred, Nora, Kyle, Dusty, Melissa, and Patrick are present. The roll call confirms that all members are present.
Approval of Agenda and Amendments (00:00:43)
Discussion on amending the agenda to include financial report and MHPN notes, and moving the commissioner appointment review.

The agenda is reviewed with changes including adding a financial report and MHPN notes, and moving the commissioner appointment review earlier in the meeting. A motion is made to amend the agenda.
Commissioner Appointment Review (00:07:50)
Dan Kastner introduces himself for the commissioner appointment and discusses his background and interest.

Dan Kastner, a local business owner with a background in historic preservation, introduces himself and answers questions about his interest in joining the commission and his familiarity with historic preservation projects.
Approval of Commissioner Appointment (00:19:00)
A motion is made to recommend Dan Kastner for appointment to the commission, and a vote is taken.

A motion is made to recommend Dan Kastner for appointment to the Historic Preservation Commission. The motion is seconded and a roll call vote is conducted, resulting in unanimous approval.
Public Comments (00:21:10)
Public comments are invited but none are made at this time.

The floor is opened for public comments, however, there are none made by attendees at this point in the meeting.
Financial Report (00:21:47)
The financial report is presented and there is mention of upcoming changes to the report format.

The financial report is presented with no major issues highlighted. There is a discussion about potential changes in the way financial information will be presented in the future.
MHPN Notes Report (00:28:52)
Kyle provides notes from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network conference.

Kyle has prepared notes from the MHPN conference to share with the commission. These notes include resources and information from the sessions he attended.
O'Connor Fund Report and Discussion (00:29:59)
The O'Connor Fund's recent changes are discussed, including fund reclassification and implications for grant processes.

Pam provides an update on the O'Connor Fund, which has been reclassified to a field of interest fund, allowing for more direct grant-making processes. This change simplifies the handling of project funding and grants.
Funding for Operational Expenses (00:34:26)
Discussion on the funding for operational expenses and how it will be handled, with a focus on the city account and placeholder funds.

The meeting discusses how the funding for operational expenses will be managed. There is a conversation about whether the city will still be involved in the disbursement process or if it will look different. It is mentioned that there will still be some placeholder funds in the city account for now.
Mini Grants and Budget Concerns (00:35:27)
The conversation revolves around mini grants, budget allocations, and ensuring clarity in financial reporting.

The participants discuss the status of mini grants and their reflection in the budget. There are concerns about whether certain allocations, like those for the Friends of Kalamazoo Historic Cemeteries, are shown as encumbrances. The discussion emphasizes the importance of clarity in financial communication and reporting.
Clarification on Budget Reports (00:37:02)
Clarification is provided on how budget reports reflect encumbrances and the separation of funds from city accounts.

There is a detailed explanation that funds for certain projects, such as those from the Kalamazoo Community Foundation, are not reflected in the city budget reports because they do not come from city accounts. Instead, these funds are dispersed directly to the nonprofits.
Approval of Motions and Voting (00:39:23)
The meeting involves discussing and voting on various motions, including grants and appointments within the subcommittee.

The participants discuss various motions that are up for approval. These include granting money to the Disability Network for their elevator project, appointing a new chair for the subcommittee, and other committee-related decisions. There is a roll call vote conducted for these motions.
Recommendation on Grant Amount Increase (00:46:17)
A discussion and vote on raising the maximum amount available for competitive grants in light of recent donations.

The committee discusses the possibility of increasing the upper limit of competitive grants due to a significant donation received earlier in the year. The consensus is that this increase is within the safe parameters of their budget.
Hiring a Consultant for Grant Application Pre-Review (00:47:21)
The committee considers hiring a consultant to pre-review grant applications to improve their quality before submission.

There is a proposal to hire a consultant who can provide feedback on draft grant applications before they are officially submitted. The aim is to increase the number of complete and eligible applications by giving applicants a chance to refine their proposals.
Implications of Hiring a Consultant (01:00:21)
Final thoughts on hiring a consultant and its implications for improving grant applications and supporting applicants.

The committee reflects on the potential benefits of hiring a consultant to assist applicants with their grant proposals. They discuss the importance of providing support to organizations that may lack professional grant writing experience and the expectation that this could lead to more successful applications.
Reflections on the Grant Process (01:05:21)
The committee reflects on the challenges and successes of the grant review process and their commitment to helping applicants.

There is a discussion about the challenges faced in the grant review process, such as incomplete applications and the need for clarity. The committee expresses their commitment to improving the process and supporting applicants in meeting the necessary standards.
Discussion on Raising Fund Ceiling (01:07:00)
The committee discussed increasing the fund ceiling to provide more financial aid to the community, with hopes to offer greater assistance next year.

The committee discussed the implications of raising the ceiling on the fund, which would allow them to distribute more money. This was a continuation of previous discussions, and the hope is that this change will enable them to provide more help to the community in the following year.
Coordinator's Report (01:07:16)
The coordinator did not prepare a written report but discussed progress on the O'Connor fund and outstanding grants, highlighting the need for better coordination.

The coordinator did not have a prepared written report but mentioned significant progress on the issues with the O'Connor fund. The coordinator also talked about the status of outstanding grants, such as those with the KNAC and the need to finalize timelines. There was an emphasis on the expansion of project scopes beyond preservation, which now includes building systems and larger project management issues.
Commissioner Comments (01:10:05)
Commissioners made comments including a farewell from a departing member and appreciation for past collaborations.

One commissioner, who is attending their last meeting, expressed gratitude for the collaboration and enjoyment of working with the group over the past years. They looked forward to staying in touch and contributing remotely. Another commissioner shared an unrelated but positive update about the Association of Gravestone Studies tour and historic property visits in Kalamazoo.
Announcement of Gun Lake Tribe Powwow (01:12:21)
Announcement of the Gun Lake Tribe's annual powwow, open to the public with various cultural activities and vendors.

An announcement was made about the Gun Lake Tribe's annual powwow, which is open to the public. The event includes cultural dances, vendors, food, and opportunities for the public to participate. The powwow will be held at Chi Jack Camp, with grand entries and a feast planned. Attendees were encouraged to come and enjoy the cultural festivities.
Meeting Adjournment (01:15:48)
The meeting concluded with an announcement of the next meeting date in August.

The meeting was adjourned with final remarks and a reminder that the next meeting would take place in August. Participants were thanked for their attendance.