Kalamazoo City Commission - Committee of the Whole

Kalamazoo City Commission - Committee of the Whole - October 19, 2026 Meeting

Updated about 12 hours ago

Commissioners discuss the strategic vision and goals for the city. The meeting covers the importance of community feedback in shaping the strategic vision and highlights engagement efforts with various groups, including young professionals and community partners. Commissioners raise questions about the alignment of goals and guiding principles, specifically addressing concerns about public safety and gun violence, which are mentioned in the discussion of community trust and safety. The meeting also touches on infrastructure improvements and the role of the Foundation for Excellence in supporting the city's strategic initiatives. The commission plans to continue refining the vision with community input and aligning it with future implementation plans.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:00:50)
The meeting was called to order by the presiding official at five o'clock.

The meeting was called to order by the presiding official. The time was noted as five o'clock or a little bit after, which was the scheduled start time for the public meeting.
Roll Call (00:01:14)
Roll call was conducted to confirm the presence of commissioners and other officials.

The clerk conducted a roll call to confirm the presence of the commissioners and other officials. Each commissioner responded to confirm their presence.
Communications (00:01:44)
There were no communications to report at this meeting, but there would be some at the seven o'clock meeting.

The COO, Lam, reported that there were no communications to be shared at this meeting. However, it was mentioned that there would be communications for the upcoming seven o'clock meeting.
Public Comments (00:01:55)
Public comments were invited, limited to two minutes per speaker. Several community members spoke on various issues.

Public comments were invited, with each speaker being limited to two minutes. Several community members came forward to speak on various issues, including local governance, housing, and community planning. Wendy Fields and other community members expressed their concerns and support for different initiatives.
Discussion on Strategic Vision and Master Plan (00:10:15)
Presentation and discussion on the strategic vision document and the process of community engagement for the master plan.

The COO and the interim CPED director presented the strategic vision document, outlining the extensive community engagement process that informed the development of the master plan. They discussed the guiding principles, goals, and outcomes that were developed through public meetings, focus groups, and other forms of engagement. The presentation emphasized the importance of continuous engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in shaping the future of the city.
Strategic Vision and Implementation Discussion (00:32:32)
Discussion on strategic vision, goals, outcomes, and implementation plans with a focus on core services.

The discussion centered around the strategic vision and implementation plans using the GOSM (Goals, Outcomes, Strategies, and Measures) model. The focus was on high-level goals and outcomes meant to work across city departments, particularly through the master plan focusing on the built environment. The importance of strategies and metrics for success was emphasized, as well as the need for core services and setting the bar for community support. The dialogue included specifics on community trust, safety, and strategies for public safety, as well as the integration of various departmental plans like the parks and rec plan, neighborhood plans, and HUD consolidated plan.
Public Comments and Feedback on Strategic Vision (00:59:59)
Public feedback and comments on the strategic vision are discussed, with concerns about clarity and specificity of goals.

Commissioner Slaby raised concerns about the clarity of the strategic vision and its goals, questioning the specificity of the vision for Kalamazoo's future. The discussion included questions about the city's intended role in the regional economy, the reasons families might choose to live in Kalamazoo, and how the city's vision distinguishes it from others. There was a request for more specific targets and a clearer articulation of Kalamazoo's future beyond general goals shared by many communities.
Discussion on Data Synthesis and Guiding Principles (01:04:00)
Detailed discussion on the synthesis of data, guiding principles, and strategic goals, focusing on health, equity, and operational frameworks.

The discussion began with concerns about the synthesis of data and the need to broaden the scope to address missing elements. Health was frequently mentioned as a potential guiding principle, given its importance across goals. The conversation highlighted the elimination of the shared prosperity goal, replaced by guiding principles like DEIA and economic mobility. Concerns were raised about the duplicative nature of goals and guiding principles, particularly regarding effective city operations and operational excellence. The need for consistency in applying logic across goals and guiding principles was emphasized. The commission has not fully discussed the operationalization of these frameworks, and there is a struggle to implement them effectively.
Discussion on Vision Statement and Frameworks (01:04:00)
Commissioner Slaby questions the coherence of vision statements and frameworks within the strategic vision document.

Commissioner Slaby expressed confusion over the multiple vision statements and frameworks presented in the strategic vision document. The vision statement, 'All Kalamazoo neighborhoods are supported by sustainable, responsive, and accessible services,' was contrasted with the phrase 'happy healthy City,' and the concepts of population growth, Kalamazoo Promise, and health as visionary outcomes. The discussion highlighted the need for a clearer understanding of how these elements fit together and which are prioritized.
Engagement with Young Professionals and Recent Graduates (01:20:05)
Engagement efforts with young professionals and recent graduates to gather feedback, focusing on housing, transportation, and downtown vibrancy.

The engagement process involved meetings with Link, a young professional group, to understand their priorities. Key issues included support for the unhoused community, housing availability, and activation of the Kalamazoo River as an asset. The need for a vibrant downtown with third spaces and evening activities was also highlighted. These elements are reflected in the strategic document, with efforts to clearly tie these priorities to the plan's goals and outcomes.
Population Growth and Community Attractiveness (01:24:47)
Discussion on factors contributing to population growth and how community attractiveness can retain and attract residents.

While population growth was not explicitly mentioned by many, the focus was on creating a city that retains and attracts graduates by providing housing, transportation choices, and recreational opportunities. The discussion emphasized the importance of being business-friendly and creating an environment that attracts a new workforce.
Infrastructure and Investment Priorities (01:28:02)
Infrastructure investments and their importance in the community, emphasizing transportation, stormwater management, and placemaking.

The city has invested nearly a billion dollars in infrastructure, focusing on transportation and land use to create places, not just infrastructure projects. The discussion included the importance of addressing gaps in the sidewalk network and prioritizing areas around schools. Stormwater management and the role of natural spaces in supporting the stormwater network were also discussed.
Arts, Culture, and Placemaking as Regional Attractors (01:31:32)
Exploration of arts, culture, and placemaking as key elements to attract regional and broader visitors.

The importance of arts, culture, and placemaking was discussed as a draw for Kalamazoo. The city aims to be a destination beyond southwest Michigan, drawing comparisons to cultural hubs like Stratford. The strategic document reflects this vision, aiming to elevate Kalamazoo's profile as a regional and national destination for arts and culture.
Operational Excellence and City Operations (01:34:34)
Focus on operational excellence and effective city operations as priorities for the community and city commission.

Operational excellence and effective city operations were highlighted as priorities. The New York City example of 'pothole politics' was mentioned, emphasizing the importance of addressing basic city services. The discussion reiterated that these elements are critical for maintaining community satisfaction and achieving strategic goals.
Discussion on Community Operational Excellence (01:35:19)
Commissioner Praedel discusses the importance of operational excellence, emphasizing that addressing basic infrastructure issues is crucial for achieving visionary goals.

Commissioner Praedel addresses the need for the city to focus on operational excellence. He highlights that while the city aims to achieve great visionary concepts and be a leading place in the United States and the world, it is essential to first address basic issues like infrastructure maintenance. He mentions that people lose faith if they see unresolved issues like broken timber on bridges or unmaintained bike paths. He appreciates the focus on operational excellence from the recent retreat and concludes his remarks.
Accountability and Oversight Framework (01:36:12)
Commissioner Wilson inquires about the accountability framework and tracking progress over the next phase, seeking clarity on strategies and measures.

Commissioner Wilson asks about the framework for accountability and oversight. He mentions that detailed discussions on strategies and key performance indicators (KPIs) will occur in the implementation phase. He seeks clarity on how the commission and residents will hold themselves accountable and track progress. Director Brown's point about FFE dashboards is highlighted as a good method for accountability. Wilson asks for any additional insights on the current thinking.
Public Engagement and Reporting Strategies (01:37:06)
The conversation focuses on improving public engagement and reporting, ensuring regular updates and storytelling to involve the community and other bodies in city plans.

The discussion revolves around improving public engagement and reporting on city plans. The importance of not just annual reporting but regular touchpoints is emphasized. The city manager's office will explore ways to ensure ongoing communication and updates about the implementation plans. Past practices like the 'Imagine Kalamazoo at Work' signs are mentioned as effective engagement tools that were unfortunately discontinued. The need for continuous community involvement and feedback is highlighted.
Goals and Guiding Principles Discussion (01:39:12)
Commissioner Slaby questions the clarity and distinctiveness of city goals, emphasizing the need to address community trust and safety explicitly.

Commissioner Slaby expresses concerns about the clarity and distinctiveness of the city's goals and guiding principles. He reads out two goals related to effective city operations and community trust and safety, noting their similarities. Commissioner focuses on the need for explicit emphasis on community trust and safety, suggesting that the goals might overlap too much, reducing their effectiveness as standalone objectives.
Addressing Gun Violence in City Plans (01:40:12)
Commissioner raises concerns about the absence of gun violence as a priority, questioning its omission from the community trust and safety goals.

Commissioner raises a significant issue regarding the absence of gun violence as an explicit priority in the city's vision documents. Commissioner notes that gun violence is only mentioned once, in passing, and not as a central focus under community trust and safety. Despite community engagement indicating its importance, it appears to have been downplayed or omitted. Commissioner questions why gun violence and its reduction are not prominent goals, suggesting that they should be explicitly recognized given their impact on community safety.
Feedback on Blueprint for Peace Coordination (01:42:46)
The discussion includes feedback on the coordination between the city's vision and the Blueprint for Peace, with a call for more explicit integration of gun violence issues.

In response to Commissioner concerns, there is a discussion about the coordination between the city's vision and the Blueprint for Peace, which addresses gun violence. The feedback suggests that while there is a crosswalk between the two, the city's vision document does not explicitly mention these efforts. The city officials acknowledge the feedback and express willingness to integrate more explicit references to gun violence and the Blueprint for Peace in their documentation, emphasizing the importance of community feedback in shaping these decisions.
Adjournment and Next Meeting Announcement (01:45:00)
The meeting is adjourned with plans to continue discussions in the upcoming business meeting. A break is announced before reconvening at 7 PM.

The committee of the whole meeting is adjourned with an acknowledgment of the need to continue the discussions later. The chairperson announces a short break before the next meeting at 7 PM, ensuring members are prepared for the business meeting where these topics will be revisited and further explored. Attendees are encouraged to take a break and refresh before reconvening.