City of Kalamazoo - Civil Rights Board - October 7, 2026 Civil Rights Board

Updated about 10 hours ago

The Board considers a reorganization due to a resignation. Chair Phason appointed herself to ensure quorum and legality, leading to the nomination of a new member, who was approved to advance to the city commission for mayoral appointment. The board also discussed updates to the ordinance and the need for better email communication, with a goal to unify communication across all city boards.

Chapters

Roll Call (00:00:42)
Roll call was conducted at the beginning of the meeting to confirm attendance of the board members.

The meeting began with a roll call to establish which board members were present. Chairperson Phason, Vice Chair Sipling, and several directors were confirmed present. Director Calderon was noted as excused, as she was running late.
Adoption of Agenda (00:01:26)
The agenda for the meeting was adopted after proposing an amendment regarding the nomination subcommittee reorganization.

The meeting proceeded with the adoption of the agenda. An amendment was proposed to add an item regarding the nomination subcommittee reorganization as item 6A. The motion to approve the amended agenda was moved by Director Deboer and seconded by Vice Chair Sipling. The agenda was adopted with no objections.
Approval of Minutes (00:02:41)
Minutes from the previous regular and special meetings were approved without corrections.

The board reviewed the minutes from the previous regular business meeting and the special meeting. There were no corrections proposed. The minutes were adopted after motions and seconds from the respective directors.
Public Announcements and Communications (00:03:25)
The board called for any public announcements or communications, but none were presented.

At this point in the meeting, the floor was opened for any public announcements or communications. There were no announcements or communications from the public at this time.
Nomination Subcommittee Reorganization (00:03:40)
Discussion on reorganization of the nomination subcommittee due to a resignation and lack of quorum.

The board discussed the reorganization of the nomination subcommittee after a resignation left it without a quorum. The board chair self-appointed to the subcommittee to reestablish a voting majority, allowing the subcommittee to continue its work legally.
Nomination of New Board Member (00:05:02)
ReElla Burrell was nominated to advance to the city commission as a new board member.

The nomination committee recommended ReElla Burrell as the new board member to advance to the city commission. A motion was made to approve the recommendation, which was discussed and followed by a vote.
Discussion on Interview Process (00:06:52)
The board discussed the interview process for selecting board members, addressing concerns about fairness and consistency.

There was an extensive discussion about the interview process used by the nomination committee, focusing on the need for fairness and consistency. Concerns were raised about the number of committee members present and the uniformity of the interviews. The board deliberated on the procedural aspects and feedback from various directors.
Public Comment on Nomination (00:20:30)
The floor was opened for public comments regarding the nomination of ReElla Burrell, but there were no comments.

The board allowed an opportunity for public comments specifically on the nomination of ReElla Burrell to the city commission. Despite opening the floor, there were no public comments provided during this time.
Vote on Nomination (00:22:24)
The board voted on the nomination of ReElla Burrell, resulting in a 4 to 1 vote in favor.

The board conducted a vote on whether to move forward with the nomination of ReElla Burrell to the city commission. The result was a 4 to 1 vote in favor of the nomination, allowing it to proceed to the city commission's agenda for approval.
Announcement of Open Board Position (00:23:36)
The board announced an open position due to a resignation and discussed the process for filling it.

Following the resignation of Director Eursla Moore-Doyle, the board announced an open position that needs to be filled. The discussion focused on the process for inviting applications and considering previous candidates, highlighting the importance of finding motivated individuals willing to contribute actively to the board's work.
Education Subcommittee Update (00:31:32)
The education subcommittee is in a holding pattern, awaiting direction for its activities.

An update was given on the status of the education subcommittee, which is currently awaiting further direction to proceed with its initiatives. The board discussed the implications of this status and the need for clear guidance to support educational efforts effectively.
Ordinance Review Subcommittee Update (00:40:11)
The ordinance review subcommittee is waiting for direction to proceed with proposed changes.

The board received an update on the ordinance review subcommittee, which is also in a holding pattern due to a lack of response from Commissioner Hoffman regarding proposed changes. The board discussed the procedural aspects and the need to engage with the commission to move forward with the proposed ordinance amendments.
Discussion on Coalition Building and Code Changes (00:43:04)
The meeting focused on coalition building with city officials and discussed proposed changes to the city code, including the need for a conflict of interest statement and the investigatory process.

The members discussed coalition building efforts and their meeting with City Manager Hankins. They talked about proposed changes to city code, including a missing conflict of interest statement. The need for changes before reaching the commission was emphasized. The investigatory process and its manual were also reviewed.
Update on Email Communication (00:49:17)
Director Hewitt-Smith provided an update on email communication efforts within city boards, stating that work is ongoing to unify communication across all city boards.

Director Hewitt-Smith spoke about ongoing efforts to improve email communication across city boards. She mentioned that the city clerk is working with communication teams to meet the board's needs and unify email communications. A timeline was provided for the expected implementation.
Civil Rights Complaint Update (00:50:51)
A brief update was given on the status of civil rights complaints, but details were limited in the transcript.

The agenda included an update on civil rights complaints, although specific details were not provided in the transcript. The item seemed to move quickly to the next topic.
Public Comments (00:51:16)
The floor was opened for public comments, but no members of the public were present to speak or call in.

The meeting allowed time for public comments. Attendees were instructed on how to provide comments, with a three-minute limit. However, no public commenters were present or called in during this session.
Board Member Comments (00:52:14)
Board members shared comments, including congratulations to a member advancing to mayoral appointment and encouragement for continued engagement.

During board member comments, congratulations were extended to ReElla Burrell for moving forward to a mayoral appointment. Members were encouraged to stay engaged and communicate any challenges in fulfilling their roles. Appreciation was expressed for community support.
Adjournment (00:53:43)
The meeting was adjourned after a motion and second by board members, concluding the session.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, which was seconded and carried. The session officially ended with no further comments or business to address.