City of Kalamazoo - December 8, 2025 Kalamazoo City Commission Meeting

Updated 2 days ago

The Commission holds a comprehensive review of the city's Fiscal Year 2026 budget, focusing on public safety, housing initiatives, and infrastructure improvements. The meeting addresses concerns about public safety budgets, community engagement, and the impact of state funding changes. Public comments highlight issues like waterline breaks and the importance of shelter programs. The commission discusses strategies to support housing, including the Home Share program and foreclosure prevention. Public safety achievements, such as reduced crime rates and response times, are acknowledged. Infrastructure topics include road maintenance, stormwater management, and challenges in leaf and snow removal. The meeting also touches on sustainability efforts, including renewable energy transitions and electric vehicle integration. Overall, the session provides an in-depth look at the city's financial and strategic planning for the coming year.

Chapters

Call to Order (00:01:31)
The Kalamazoo City Commission Committee of the Whole meeting is called to order.

The meeting is officially called to order for the Kalamazoo City Commission Committee of the Whole.
Roll Call (00:01:42)
Roll call is conducted with Commissioners Cradle, Slabby, Wilson, Vice Mayor Duncan, and Mayor Anderson present.

The roll call is conducted to verify the presence of the commissioners. Commissioners present are Cradle, Slabby, Wilson, Vice Mayor Duncan, and Mayor Anderson.
Meeting Focus (00:02:07)
The focus is on the public rollout of the city budget with no action to be taken, only informational discussion.

The meeting is a Committee of the Whole focusing on the public rollout of the city budget. It is informational, with no actions to be taken, allowing for input and questions.
Public Comments (00:02:37)
Public comments are invited, with several citizens expressing concerns about city resources and budget allocations.

Public comments segment invites citizens to express their views. Edward Nickerson comments on a recent incident at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and concerns about city resources. Another citizen comments on the budget allocation for shelter programs and the need for more community engagement. A third citizen expresses concern about the visibility of unhoused people in the city.
Work Session Introduction (00:06:05)
Introduction to the work session focusing on the city budget proposal and staff presentations.

The meeting transitions to the work session phase, with Manager Moore introducing the focus on the budget proposal and presentations from staff members.
Budget Presentation and Discussion (00:06:12)
Detailed presentation of the city budget, covering financial strategies, department allocations, and future projects.

The city budget is presented in detail by various city officials. Topics include financial strategies, department allocations, budget impacts from state funding, and future projects. Presentations by the city manager, COO Lamb, Deputy City Manager Rebecca Kick, and others cover areas such as housing development, community prosperity, public safety, and infrastructure improvements.
Closing Remarks (00:31:25)
Closing remarks and acknowledgments from city officials, summarizing the budget session and next steps.

City officials provide closing remarks, summarizing the budget session, acknowledging the work of staff and previous leadership, and outlining next steps for public input and further discussion on the budget.
Budget Challenges and State Changes (00:37:12)
Discussion on budget challenges due to state changes, including gas tax reform and public safety trust fund.

The meeting covered the impact of state budget changes on the city's financial planning, particularly the reform of gas taxes and the replacement of the public safety trust fund with a revenue sharing component, which affected the general fund.
General Fund Budget Adjustments (00:38:41)
Departments made cuts to future plans to balance the general fund budget amid challenges.

To address budget challenges, each department provided cuts to their future plans. The city also looked at areas with excess funding, such as the shared retire healthcare plan, which had been over 100% funded for two years.
Personnel and Staffing Changes (00:39:32)
New positions added across various city departments to meet increased demands and funding opportunities.

The city is adding positions in core services like labor relations and FOIA, as well as in streets, solid waste, and water funds, due to increased state funding and rising demand. Additional staffing is also requested by the Downtown Economic Growth Authority.
Special Revenue and Enterprise Funds (00:42:12)
Overview of special revenue funds and enterprise funds, focusing on operations and capital plans.

The meeting provided an overview of special revenue funds, highlighting operating amounts and capital plans. Key funds include major streets and the Kalamazoo Municipal Golf Association. The enterprise funds, such as water and wastewater, are purely rate-based.
Capital Plans and Infrastructure (00:44:00)
Capital plans focus on maintaining city infrastructure and include projects like PFAS compliance and street improvements.

The capital plans show a decrease compared to last year but remain robust. They focus on maintaining city operations and infrastructure, including PFAS compliance, street improvements, and leveraging state and federal grants for local and major streets.
Public Safety and Community Perception (00:54:10)
Discussion on public safety budget, response times, crime trends, and community perception of safety.

Public safety was discussed in terms of budget allocation, response times, and crime trends, which are improving. The perception of safety, especially concerning the unhoused population, was addressed, highlighting the efforts of the community service team.
Youth and Community Programs (01:04:17)
Programs for youth engagement and safety, including PAL activities and outreach initiatives.

The city offers a wide range of programs for youth, such as PAL activities, to engage at-risk youth and reduce juvenile crime. Outreach efforts include door-to-door engagement to involve youth in positive programs.
Homelessness and Public Perception (01:08:11)
Efforts to assist the unhoused and address public perception of safety related to homelessness.

The city is investing in resources for the unhoused, emphasizing that homelessness does not equate to crime. The community service team works to build relationships and provide necessary services to those in need, ensuring safety for all residents.
Housing Support Initiatives (01:09:22)
Discussion on FFE funding for housing activities like development, shelter, and repairs, showing city collaboration.

The meeting discussed the allocation of FFE funds towards housing-related activities. This includes funding for the housing development fund, emergency shelters, foreclosure prevention, and critical code repairs. There is a strong emphasis on collaboration with community partners to amplify the city's efforts in supporting the housing continuum.
OPEB Fund Communication (01:10:49)
Communication with retirees about OPEB fund adjustments, ensuring no changes to benefits and maintaining promises.

A detailed account was given about the outreach efforts made to communicate changes to the OPEB fund with retirees. Meetings were held with the retiree group's president and vice president, as well as a group meeting, to explain the move towards a maintenance phase of the healthcare plan, ensuring no benefit changes and maintaining funding promises.
Home Share Program and Funding Diversification (01:12:46)
The inclusion of Home Share in the budget and strategies for diversified funding to ensure long-term sustainability.

Director Mitchell expressed gratitude for the inclusion of the Home Share program in the budget and discussed the importance of diversifying its funding sources. This approach aims to secure the program's sustainability even if city funding becomes unavailable in future years. Collaborations with county and community partners are being considered.
Impact of Cannabis Taxation (01:14:06)
Concerns about state-level cannabis taxation's impact on local industry and potential revenue loss for the city.

A discussion was held about the recent state-level taxation on cannabis and its potential negative effects on local businesses and city revenue. The city is considering measures to reduce local costs and promote collaboration within the industry to mitigate these impacts.
Neighborhood Capacity Building (01:16:39)
Initiatives to fund and organize non-core neighborhoods for better communication and community engagement.

The city aims to support non-core neighborhoods by providing funds to help organize and establish effective points of contact. This will enhance communication and engagement for events, emergencies, and other community activities, ensuring all neighborhoods have a level of organization.
Blight Elimination Funding (01:18:19)
Plans for funding house demolitions and handling unexpected increases in blight due to events like arson.

There was a discussion on the blight elimination funding aimed at demolishing 3-4 houses annually. The city plans to use these funds for houses that do not qualify for CDBG criteria. In cases of unexpected events like arson, additional measures will be considered to address increased blight.
Building Inspections Fund Stability (01:20:26)
Discussion on maintaining the building inspections fund amidst market fluctuations and staffing strategies.

Questions were raised about the stability of the building inspections fund, particularly regarding potential market downturns. It was clarified that the city would prioritize maintaining staff over contracts and would only consider reducing positions if absolutely necessary.
Solid Waste and Storm Water Staffing (01:35:34)
Addition of staff for solid waste and storm water management, supported by millage and state expectations.

The city is adding staff to manage solid waste and storm water systems, supported by the solid waste millage. The new positions are critical for maintaining and inspecting storm water infrastructure, which is part of a state initiative to clean and inspect all structures in the city.
Storm Water Infrastructure Update (01:44:19)
Discussion on storm water infrastructure improvements and maintenance funded by gas taxes, including sediment removal and structural repairs.

The meeting covered updates on storm water infrastructure, focusing on the capital program aimed at improving local streets, storm sewers, and removing sediment from key ponds and culverts. Funding is sourced from gas taxes appropriated at the city level.
Transition to Solar Energy Savings and Allocation (01:45:39)
Discussion about savings from transitioning to solar energy and potential allocation of these savings for sustainability efforts.

The council discussed the transition to solar energy through a consumer contract and anticipated budget savings. Consideration was given to how these savings could be allocated to financially support sustainability initiatives, including the community sustainability plan and the sustainability planner position.
Sustainability Funding and Planning (01:47:17)
Concerns about funding for sustainability work, including staff positions and project support, were discussed.

Discussion focused on the need for better funding sources to support the work of the sustainability planner and the implementation of the community sustainability plan. It was acknowledged that while some projects are funded through grants, there is a need for more consistent financial backing for sustainability efforts.
Neighborhood Planning and Capacity Building (01:51:01)
The council discussed budget allocations for neighborhood planning and capacity building, with concerns over the adequacy of funding.

Council members discussed the budget for neighborhood planning activities, particularly the capacity building and planning efforts for neighborhoods. There was concern over whether the allocated budget was sufficient to cover the planned activities, such as mailers and organizing efforts, given the limited funds available.
Public Services and Sustainability Efforts (01:57:01)
The council reviewed efforts to align public services with sustainability goals, including pollution control and vehicle fleet management.

Director Baker provided an overview of ongoing pollution control measures and efforts to integrate sustainability into public services operations. This includes transitioning the vehicle fleet to biodiesel and electric vehicles, as well as efforts in composting and waste management.
Parking System Financial Health (02:09:09)
The financial challenges of the city's parking system were discussed, including capital improvement needs and revenue strategies.

The council addressed concerns about the financial health of the parking system, which is currently operating at a loss. Discussion included capital improvement needs for parking structures and strategies to improve revenue, with the aim of achieving a revenue-neutral operation without further general fund contributions.
Leaf Collection and Snow Removal Challenges (02:13:36)
The council addressed issues with leaf collection and snow removal due to early snowfalls and equipment challenges.

Council members discussed the challenges faced in leaf collection and snow removal, attributed to leaves staying on trees longer and unexpected early snowfalls. Equipment breakdowns also contributed to delays, and the city is working with contractors to improve service delivery.
Adjournment (02:17:27)
The meeting concluded with an adjournment and a reminder of the next meeting schedule.

The vice mayor and commissioners expressed appreciation for the discussions, and the meeting was adjourned with a reminder about upcoming meetings and public hearing opportunities related to the budget.