Kalamazoo County - Committee of the Whole - May 7, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting

Updated about 5 hours ago

The board reviews accounts payable and payroll disbursements with Finance Director Ryan Post. They then move on to a detailed discussion on housing, featuring updates from Emily Pets of the Upjohn Institute on the latest housing study, which highlights the rising housing costs and the need for diverse housing types in Kalamazoo. The board also reviews the progress of various housing projects and discusses future funding allocations, emphasizing the need for single-family and creative housing solutions. The meeting includes the establishment of an ad hoc committee to recommend a site for a new indoor youth sports facility, as presented by Director Jane Ghosh. The meeting concludes with a presentation on a disruptive person's policy by Corporation Counsel Louis Smith.

Chapters

Review of Accounts Payable and Payroll Disbursements (00:00:00)
Finance Director Ryan Post presents the accounts payable claims list and payroll disbursements for board approval, inviting questions from the commissioners.

The meeting begins with a review of accounts payable and payroll disbursements led by Finance Director Ryan Post. The total accounts payable claims list is presented, along with payroll disbursements. The board of commissioners is asked to approve these disbursements. Ryan Post invites any questions from the board commissioners, but there are none, indicating another successful cycle of work.
Housing Discussion Related to Updated Housing Study (00:01:14)
Emily Pets from the Upjohn Institute discusses the updated housing study, focusing on housing assessment, market demand, and impacts of the Blue Oval Battery Park.

The meeting moves to a housing discussion led by Emily Pets from the Upjohn Institute. Emily presents updates to the housing study, focusing on applied economics, strategic decision-making, and the importance of coordinated action plans. The discussion covers housing assessment, community profiles, market demand, and impacts of the Blue Oval Battery Park. Key findings include rising housing prices, the need for more units, and a balanced housing ecosystem. The importance of different housing types and the challenges of increasing construction pace are highlighted.
Housing Department Funding and Emerging Needs (00:21:24)
Deputy Housing Director Willie de Toronto discusses current housing funding rounds, emerging needs, and requests input from the board on future funding allocations.

Deputy Housing Director Willie de Toronto addresses the board to discuss housing funding rounds and emerging needs. The discussion includes an overview of the first three funding rounds, current progress, and outstanding awards. Emerging needs based on recent housing studies are highlighted. Willie seeks input from the board regarding future funding allocations and priorities. The session includes detailed descriptions of various housing projects and their progress, funding allocations, and insights into the challenges faced by the housing department.
Public Comments (00:38:03)
Community members expressed concerns and support for various local initiatives.

During the public comments section, several community members spoke about the supportive services available and the organizations that receive annual allocations, including the community action agency and the disability network.
Land Bank Grant Application (00:38:42)
Discussion on the land bank's application for a home restoration grant, excluding cities of Kalamazoo and Portage.

The vice chair discussed the land bank's application for a grant to support home restoration projects across the county, excluding the cities of Kalamazoo and Portage. There was a question about when the grant decision would be made and how funds would be distributed to various communities.
Supportive Services Fund Balances (00:40:24)
Discussion on the remaining fund balances for supportive services and the barriers to spending them.

There was a discussion about the fund balances for supportive services, noting that all allocations still had a fund balance except for I S K. The speaker explained that there were initial barriers to spending the funds, but programs are now starting to make use of the allocations.
Single Family Housing Needs (00:42:00)
Discussion on the need for single family housing and the allocation of supportive services funds.

A discussion took place regarding the need for single family housing and how supportive services funds could be allocated to projects that involve attached single family units due to their cost-effectiveness and potential to build generational wealth.
Creative Housing Projects (00:43:23)
Discussion on creative housing projects and their cost-effectiveness compared to single family units.

The commissioners discussed the cost-effectiveness of creative housing projects, such as attached units, compared to traditional single family units. There was a question about why creative projects were not included in the current recommendations.
RFPs for Landing Place (00:44:55)
Update on the RFP process for the Landing Place project, with details on the timeline for updates.

An update was provided on the RFP process for the Landing Place project. The procurement process is still ongoing, and the finance department is expected to provide more updates within the next week or two.
Indoor Youth Sports Facility Committee (00:48:52)
Introduction of a request to establish an ad hoc committee for an indoor youth sports facility.

The board discussed a request to establish an ad hoc committee to review and recommend a site for an indoor youth sports facility. The committee will include members with expertise in sports, tourism, development, and represent diverse community interests.
Disruptive Persons Policy (00:55:23)
Introduction of a new disruptive persons policy to manage and report disruptive behavior on county premises.

The corporation council presented a new disruptive persons policy aimed at managing individuals who become disruptive on county premises. The policy includes a standard incident report for all departments and provides due process and an appeal process for those affected.