City of Kalamazoo - August 11, 2025 Committee of the Whole Special Meeting

Updated about 5 hours ago

The Kalamazoo City Commission begins the search process for a new city manager. Pamela Weidman from Reftellis presents the timeline and process for interviewing candidates. Commissioners emphasize the importance of community involvement and transparency in the process, including public surveys and potential community-led meetings. Qualifications and characteristics desired in candidates, such as experience in public administration and commitment to equity, are discussed. The meeting also addresses public comments regarding stakeholder engagement and the need for accessibility in the selection process.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:03:05)
The Kalamazoo City Commission meeting was called to order.

The meeting was officially called to order by the presiding official of the Kalamazoo City Commission.
Roll Call (00:03:28)
Roll call was conducted for the Kalamazoo City Commission.

Deputy Clerk Moss called the roll, with Commissioners Hoffman, Wilson, Vice Mayor Hess, and Mayor Anderson present. Commissioner Decker was excused.
Approval of Absences (00:03:47)
Motion to excuse Commissioner Decker from the meeting was passed.

Commissioner Decker was excused from the meeting after a motion was put forward and approved by the commission members present.
Public Comments (00:04:36)
Public comments were made by several community members.

Community members, including representatives from ISAAC and other organizations, spoke on various topics, including stakeholder engagement and the city manager selection process.
Presentation by Pamela Weidman (00:15:00)
Pamela Weidman presented the city manager recruitment process.

Pamela Weidman from Ref Tellis presented the timeline and process for recruiting the next city manager, outlining the steps taken so far and the planned future actions.
Discussion on Recruitment Process (00:28:00)
Discussion on the city manager recruitment process and community engagement.

Commissioners discussed the recruitment process, the importance of community engagement, and ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion in the selection criteria.
Discussion on Interview Process for City Manager (00:37:48)
The commission discussed the interview process for the new city manager, focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The meeting highlighted the importance of understanding candidates' commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and how they have demonstrated success in previous roles. The commission considered co-designing an interview process that includes these aspects.
Updates on City Manager Recruitment (00:41:02)
Weekly updates on city manager applicants will be provided to the commission.

The commission agreed to receive weekly updates on the number of applicants for the city manager position. The subcommittee meets every Tuesday, and updates will be provided accordingly.
Public Engagement in City Manager Selection (00:45:00)
The commission discussed ways to ensure public engagement and feedback in the city manager selection process.

Commission members emphasized the importance of public engagement and suggested hosting after-hours meet and greets to allow working residents to participate. There was also discussion on how to gather public feedback effectively.
Stakeholder Meeting and Community Feedback (00:50:52)
Plans for a stakeholder meeting to gather community feedback for the city manager search were discussed.

The commission discussed the upcoming stakeholder meeting which will involve a wide range of community members to provide feedback on the city manager selection. The meeting aims to gather input on priorities for the new city manager.
Transparency and Public Communication (00:56:02)
Commissioners stressed the importance of transparency in the recruitment process and discussed ways to ensure public communication.

The commission discussed the importance of transparency in the city manager recruitment process, including making meeting notes public and ensuring that the community is informed and can provide input through surveys and town halls.
Commissioner Comments (01:06:00)
Opportunity for commissioners to provide comments as there will be no business meeting following.

As with every committee of the whole, commissioners were given the opportunity to provide comments. There will be no business meeting following this session, so commissioners are encouraged to share their thoughts now.