City of Kalamazoo - December 3, 2025 Civil Rights Board Meeting

Updated about 4 hours ago

The board discusses the importance of public participation in the Imagine Kalamazoo planning process and highlights the need for board members to attend these sessions to ensure equity issues are addressed. The meeting also includes updates on the education subcommittee's efforts to create educational materials for landlords and tenants about housing ordinances. Additionally, public comments express concerns about communication and participation in subcommittee activities.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:03:00)
The meeting for the Civil Rights Board was called to order, and quorum was confirmed.

The meeting for the Civil Rights Board was called to order by the chair, and it was confirmed that a quorum was present, allowing the meeting to proceed.
Roll Call (00:03:12)
Attendance was taken with most members present, some excused, and some absent.

A roll call was conducted to verify attendance of board members. Chair Fain, Vice Chair Luman, Director Moore Doyle, and Director Debar were present. Director Cal was not spoken to, and Director S was excused. Commissioner Hoffman was also not spoken to.
Adoption of the Agenda (00:04:03)
The agenda for the meeting was adopted after a motion, a second, and a vote.

A motion to adopt the agenda for the meeting was made by Vice Chair Luman and seconded by Director Moore Doyle. The agenda was then adopted unanimously after a vote, with no opposition or abstentions.
Approval of Minutes (00:05:06)
The minutes from the previous Civil Rights Board meeting were approved.

A motion to adopt the minutes from the previous Civil Rights Board meeting was made by Director Moore Doyle and seconded by Vice Chair Luman. The minutes were adopted after a vote with all in favor and no opposition or abstentions.
Public Announcements and Communications (00:06:06)
There were no public announcements or communications to report at this time.

The board inquired about any public announcements or communications, and it was confirmed that there were none to report at this time.
Board Chair Nomination and Election Discussion (00:06:19)
Discussion on the upcoming nomination and election of the board chair and vice chair in February.

The board discussed the need to nominate and elect a new chair as the current chair's term has exceeded the one-year limit. Elections for chair and vice chair will take place in February, allowing for re-election or new appointments.
Board Roles and Participation Discussion (00:09:02)
Discussion on board roles, participation, and law department support for subcommittees.

The board discussed the importance of active participation in subcommittees and the need for board members to take on more responsibilities as the law department reduces its support to align with other departments. The board aims to be more active and consider how to handle meeting minutes and coordination.
Presentation on Imagine Kalamazoo (00:13:29)
A presentation was given on the Imagine Kalamazoo project, covering past actions and future plans.

The presentation covered the Imagine Kalamazoo project, detailing past actions such as community surveys and book readings, current strategic planning, and future steps for community involvement and design phase planning. The presentation highlighted the importance of community and staff collaboration.
Board Membership and Subcommittee Appointments (00:25:02)
Discussion on filling open board seats and subcommittee appointments.

The board discussed the resignation of Director Burpee, leaving an open seat on the board and the education subcommittee. They considered nominations for the subcommittee and the nomination committee, and discussed the need for more landlord and community member involvement in the education subcommittee.
2026 Meeting Schedule Approval (00:41:02)
The board approved the meeting schedule for 2024, continuing to meet every other month.

The board reviewed and approved the meeting schedule for 2026, which includes meetings every other month starting in February. A motion was made and seconded, and the schedule was adopted unanimously.
Public Comments (00:43:02)
Public comments were invited at the end of the meeting, allowing attendees to express their views.

At the end of the meeting, the floor was opened for public comments, providing attendees with three minutes each to share their thoughts or concerns with the board.
Public Comments - Kathy's Communication Issue (00:43:29)
A member of the public expressed concerns about misinformation regarding her availability for committee meetings. She had not been contacted as claimed.

The speaker expressed frustration over being misrepresented about her availability for a subcommittee. She clarified that she had not been contacted as claimed in a meeting and emphasized her commitment to respond when contacted. She urged for honesty and transparency in communication.
Public Comments - Housing Equity and Education (00:45:06)
A community member emphasized the importance of board participation in housing equity and thanked progress on educational materials for tenants and landlords.

Toby Hannah Davies highlighted the importance of the board's involvement in housing equity ordinance enforcement. She urged board members to actively participate in related meetings and thanked them for progress on educational materials for tenants and landlords, which she deemed crucial for community support.
Public Comments - Meeting Times and Community Involvement (00:47:44)
A newcomer suggested using SurveyMonkey for scheduling meetings and discussed local needs like laundromats and precinct voting locations.

Dawn Miller, attending the meeting for the first time, suggested using tools like SurveyMonkey to better coordinate meeting times. She also brought up the need for a laundromat on the north side and discussed precinct voting location issues, reflecting on the importance of community involvement in addressing local concerns.
Board Response to Public Comments (00:50:45)
Board members discussed communication issues and the importance of better public engagement in meetings. They addressed specific concerns raised by the public.

Board members responded to public comments, particularly addressing the communication issues raised by Ms. Espinoza and the need for better coordination in subcommittee meetings. They acknowledged the importance of public engagement and representation in city meetings to ensure diverse community needs are met.
Adjournment (00:55:52)
The meeting was adjourned after a motion was made and seconded. Participants were reminded to exit the building promptly.

The meeting concluded with a motion to dismiss, which was seconded. The Rights Board meeting ended, and attendees were reminded to exit the building without further conversations inside, especially given the cold weather.