City Commission - Regular Meeting

. Yesterday, I get a hot. It's like think a soup. Can you take like, just couldn't do. Not even race. I'm going to interrupt the friendly discussion here at so nice to have this in the chambers, people that are happy to see each other this so wonderful night when we're. Getting together for a business meeting. And it's nice to see my colleagues again, after the five o'clock committee of the whole meeting. So we are now going to I'm calling to order. The K city commission meeting for Monday, February 16th. 2026. Crippling, please call the roll Commissioner Hess, present Commissioner Hoffman. Commissioner Praedel present Commissioner Slaby present Commissioner Wilson, present vice mayor Duncan here. Mayor Anderson. Here. Thank you, clerk, boing. And may I please have a motion to excuse Commissioner Hoffman. So moved motion made by Commissioner. Praedel second. Supported by Commissioner SLA. Slaby all in favor, please say aye. Aye. Pose. Nay. Nay motion passes. Passes. Thank you so much. So we have for opening. Ceremony tonight. We always start with an Invocation. We're we're blessed to have chaplain Michael Kemp here. For that just a couple quick things. That we also have a couple very important. Proclamations this evening. So we'll get to that as well. And I just wanna let everyone here in the chambers and everyone who's

watching know that we are. Blessed to have our assistant city attorney with us this evening, Sarah. Van hefty. Our city attorney Leo is out of town. This evening. So when we do have the Invocation, I'll ask chaplain temple, come up in just a moment. I'll just ask everybody to please stand here in the chambers and then remain standing. For the pledge of allegiance. Chaplain Kemp. Thank you. Mary Anderson. Thank you. City commission. Such a privilege to be here before you to have the opportunity to pray. Thank you for your leadership here in our city. I also want to remember my dear friend. Who's one of the reasons I love coming here and that's Chaplin Marcus Mays. We miss him a lot, but he was a mentor to me and helped direct me. And so I thank you for this opportunity. I pray, Lord God for the meeting that will be happening here tonight. There are multiple things on the Agenda. And I thank you for each man and woman that's involved in this commission. Thank you for the way that you lead and direct and guide. Lord your word says that there is faith and there is hope and there is love. And the greatest of these is love. And I pray that each man and woman here will understand and sense your love as you lead them. And you direct them in decisions that they'll make, give them wisdom. Give them grace, may they have compassion? Because Lord you place leaders in their positions. Positions. And even though our con our community is so diverse, not even though that's a blessing and we're thankful for that. We're thankful that this is black history month and we celebrate that as well. Lord. I hear that they're a great proclamations that are being given tonight. I pray blessing on everyone involved, lead us in the way

that we should go. We'll give you all the glory in Christ. Jesus. I pray. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. I pledge alleg to the flag United United States, America to public for which it stands. One name. Under God, invisible, indivisible, Liberty and justice. For all thank you again, chaplain Kempel. I know he told me he felt bad, but he was gonna have to leave right after. The Invocation. We have a couple proclamations, like I said, this evening, the first one is the NAA CP founder's day. And that proclamation is gonna be read by vice mayor Duncan. I have the proclamation here. So whoever is in the chambers, that's here to accept this proclamation. Please come forward. And I will come down with the. Official copy of the proclamation. Vice mayor. NAACP founders day. Whereas February 12th, 1909 is recognized as the founders day of national day of the national association for the advancement of colored people. N a, a C P. This year Mark's 117 years. The N a, a C P has spent fighting against the racism. And discrimination throughout communities nationwide. And whereas this significant occasion. Honors the vision perseverance. Dedication of the diverse individuals who founded the N a, a C P and. Whereas the N AA, C P. CP is the largest and oldest civil rights organization in the United States and continues to be the leading force in advocating for civil rights. Rights and social justice driven by over. 500,000 members. And whereas the N a C P has worked.

Tirelessly to eliminate racial prejudice. Ensure political educational, social. And economic equality. Insecure the rights guaranteed of the, in the constitution for all citizens. And whereas the metropolitan Kalamazoo branch of N a C P has made significant contributions to our community. Through advocacy education. And outreach that promote unity. Equity equality, injustice. In, in our, whereas metropolitan Kalamazoo in AA, C P is dedicated to advocating for equitable. Policies that foster inclusivity fairness. And justice in all municipalities. With an intentional focus. On our most disenfranchised communities. And whereas February 12th, 12th 2026 is an important date in American history. This year marks the 100th anniversary of black history month. Originally established as a black history week by Carter G Woodson in 1926. The week has chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln. And honorable Frederick Douglass. Douglass black history month serves as a vital reminder of the contributions and struggles of African-Americans. Americans the entire month is dedicated to recognizing and highlighting the significant contributions of African Americans in the United States. It is celebrated annually in February in the United States and Canada. Since 1995. Now, therefore on behalf of the 56 city commission. Aye. Drew Duncan, vice mayor of the city of Kalamazoo. Do hereby. Proclaim February 12th, 1909 as N a a C P founders day

in the city of Kalamazoo. And encourage all residents to join in honoring the N NAACP's legacy. Supporting its mission and committing to the ongoing pursuit of justice inequality for all. Thank you all so much. And so on behalf of this wonderful body, of people. It's not a windy thing, but it is a branch, a membership thing. And so with me, I have some of our executive committee members. But also some of our regular branch members. Who are here to support. We have branch members like members that sit. Up here with this commission. It means a lot to be recognized for the work that we do. Because it gets difficult. It gets tiring. And, you know, I wear many different hats when I come here. Sometimes, sometimes I think you guys are happy to see me sometimes. I don't think you are. But it is what we have to do as we continue to do the work that we do fighting for justice, fighting for equity, fighting for equality. And it's what we will continue to do because it aligns with the mission of this commission. And we do the accountability and we have to hold each other. Accountable. So again, on behalf of the metropolitan branch of the NAACP, we say, thank you.

Dave, you don't know to. And next we have the black history month, 100th anniversary proclamation. If you're here to accept this proclamation, will you please come forward? Okay. Okay. I thank you all for coming here. And you may know that Commissioner, Stephanie Hoffman worked diligently to get this on our Agenda tonight. And she was not able to be here. We are here with us tonight, so we lift her up in prayer for her wellbeing. For the black history month, 100th anniversary. Whereas 2026 marks the hundredth anniversary of the first celebration of Negro history week. Initiated in February, 1926. By a renowned scholar, educator, and founder of the association for the study of African American life and history. Dr. Cardi Carter, G Woodson. And whereas the city of Kalamazoo and commission take pride in joining.

Community members throughout the country. In recognizing February 20, 26. As black history month and honoring the year 2026 as the hundredth anniversary of black history. And whereas Dr. Woodson established this observance aiming to encourage the study of African-American history. And it's sure that the contributions of black Americans were recognized as a fundamental part of our nation's history. And whereas the association for the study of African American life and history. Has named the theme of black history month in 2026 to be a century. Of black history, commemorations. This theme celebrates that what began as a week-long observance of black contributions to history in modern culture in 1926. Has overtime become the black history month. We know today. And whereas inequities white supremacy and injustices still impact our city's states and country. It should be the aspiration and. Responsibility of every community member. To advocate. So that hope equity, abundance, and love are infused in our policies and practices. Practices to build the beloved community. Has spoken about by Dr. Mountain Luther king Jr. We encourage all to recognize. Acknowledge and confront continuing inequities. By eliminating barriers with unwavering, courage and determination to reduce racial. Disparities so that we may realize. Equitable outcomes of health. Wellness employment. Education and opportunities for our black community members. And children are vital for continued advancement. And whereas the city of Kalamazoo is proud. To honor the history,

contributions and achievements of our black community members locally. Nationally and globally, we uplift our local black community members. Leaders, clergy, organizers, educators, historians, violence, interrupters caregivers, educators, medical, and health workers. Business owners, agricultural workers. Professionals valuable manual workers and elected officials. Also community nonprofits. Nonprofits organizations and congregations. Who worked tirelessly for civil rights. Rights to ensure that our community thrives and all others who promote wellbeing, knowledge and community engagement. Throughout the many facets of our black community. As part of our whole inclusive community. We remain committed to honoring the implementing. Honoring and implementing equity. Inclusion anti-racism mutual respect and collective care. Throughout our community. And whereas for a century. This commemoration has evolved from a week to a month long national observance. Providing a dedicated time to honor the vast contributions of black Americans to the arts sciences. Sciences business education and beyond. For the ongoing struggle for equity. And civil rights and whereas. The 2026 national theme, a century of black history commemorations. Highlights the impact of black history on the modern world. And acknowledges the leadership, resilience and brilliance. Of our black community and. Whereas we reflect on the significant strides made by our black ancestors. For us toward a more just and equitable. Society. We remember our local black leaders who have passed away. And we honor their positive work.

That their positive work continues to impact our community for generations. While acknowledging the continued work. Including our local black community members, workers. Leaders and elected servant leaders. To further overcome systemic injustices. Injustices and ensure the beloved community for all. Now, therefore on behalf of the 56 city commission and David F Anderson mayor of the city of Kalamazoo. I do hereby proclaim February. As black history month in the city of Kalamazoo. I encourage all residents to join in celebrating the hundredth anniversary. By recognizing the achievements of black Americans. And reaffirming our commitment to a more inclusive. Equitable and thriving Kalamazoo community. And to celebr and to celebrate black history. All year signed David F Anderson mayor. Thank you. To mayor Anderson and vice mayor Duncan. To city manager Hankins and just to the city commissioners. Thank you. For the honor of responding to such a critical proclamation. What we understand proclamations are not policies. We do feel 100 years of black history. Especially when history is being threatened to be raced. Raced needs to be lifted in our city. Black history is American history. And should be celebrated all year long. So in honor of those who have passed on and those still with us. Who have sewn into the civil rights of our city. Including you and many others. We honor, 100 years of black history. We also acknowledge that disparities and injustices still persist. So we are, so our

work continues collectively. As we together work to build the beloved community. Let us remember that. No one is free. Until we are all free to God. Be the glory for the things he has done. We thank God for 100 years of black history. And as Maya Angelou, so eloquently states. And if you allow me to make it plural, as we look back and as we celebrate 100 years of black history, and the amazing accomplishments in the face of opposition. And still we rise. Amen. Amen. Oh, thank you. Yeah, thank I am gonna provide a special, thank you for everyone who did come down here for the proclamations. These are, are, are formal. Ceremonies, but also very important reminders. Reminders to live. What we proclaim and believe every day going forward. So thank you for coming here. Commissioners. We are now down to the adoption of the

formal Agenda. Commissioners. Are there any items on G. The consent Agenda that you would like to move to? H the regular Agenda, Mr. Mihir? Yes. Can we please move? We've had pretty considerable communication in the last. Few days regarding G 11. And I was wondering if there's any way we could move that to the regular Agenda. Okay. G 11 move to the regular Agenda. Any other changes, commissioners. All right. The Agenda stands as adjusted. And we are now down to communications. Manager Hankins. Thank you mayor. First, thank you again for all those who came out tonight and honor of black history month and the NAACP's recognition. I appreciate seeing you. A few things I'd like to give to the council, to the commission. Our imagine Kalamazoo 2035. Design it continues. And so that effort has been ongoing. I think we've had seven. Meetings so far in the community. I got a thumbs up that I was right on that we have about seven more. That we will continue to have. Thank you for participating in that process. It's a, an opportunity to hear directly from residents in the community about what you'd like to see for your future. In Kalamazoo in your specific neighborhoods. Neighborhoods. So please continue to show up for those. As you can. I'll re reserve the rest for my manager's update. All right. Thank you so much. Now is the time on our Agenda for public comments. Just as a reminder, this is a time for anyone who's here in the chambers to provide a comment on topic that is important to them. You'll have four minutes. Please state your name and whether you live in a city.

Edward Nickerson. I live in the city of Kalamazoo. Just a minute. Let me think. You talked about taxes. And don't the people in the city of Kalamazoo, that own homes. Homes deserve tax strikes. Breaks. Well, when they give a person food stamps that has a million. Dollars in assets when somebody's poor. And gets horribly anything. Maybe you guys ought to look into that. And I'm this recycling. These electronics and computers and TVs. TBS how much gold and silver is gonna be pulled out of these and how much is gonna go into the employee's pocket instead into the city's pocket. And there might be even some other. Stuff in them things. Better worth money. Think about that. And I was just Muslim Woody about Mr. Anderson he owned the Ponderosa ranch. I knew him. thank you. Next please. Hello, my name is Kay. I am bringing something that happened in our neighboring city of grand rapids. Rapids that affects our city too. Byron Martinez, a beloved grand rapids community member and friend was brutally detained by ice in Cal collaboration with ATF and G R P D

on February 3rd. Not only was he racially profiled, but he was denied that chance to present his valid paperwork and violently. Forced from his car while he pleaded to show his asylum documents, he was thrown into the snow. He couldn't breathe because an agent was pushing his face in the snow. While he pleaded not to be treated so violently. This highlights, our racial profiling leads to persecution. And an escalation of violence, especially when local agencies such as the grand rapids police department are involved. This is in direct contracts to their same, their state of commitment. As J R P D has said that they would not collaborate with ice. Many in the community are in disbelief that a gentle, humble. And mild Manor, young man. Would be treated so horribly for no reason and detain unlawfully simply for being brown, indigenous Latino, who didn't speak much English, the perfect victim for such a violent and brazen abduction, especially as we witnessed the escalation with billions being poured in into ice. Communities are on edge and grand rapids is a perfect example of a government that is failing to protect its most. Vulnerable people. City city leadership has failed to listen to the community and be brave and protect its people by passing sanctuary policies in support of Ceia. Their statement is as follows. Follows with the president administration's deportations and ice violence. It is imperative that institutions across Michigan. Step up and take action. In support of our undocumented immigrants who are integral part of our community. Join rapid response to ice for action and meetings urging the city of grand rapids and Kent county to pass our proposed sanctuary policies policies that prohibit local law enforcement from detaining individuals on civil immigrant warrants that prevent G R P N shares departments from collabo. Collaborating with ice policies that prohibit the sharing of personal data gathered by the city and county, including the information gathered by flock. Technology policies that ban 2 87 G agreements with ice that oppose establishment of detention centers. In city and county limits that

prevent entering in agreements with entities with current contract to ice. Similar in Kalamazoo, we would like to discuss more in detail, how policy four 14 on immigrant violations need to be updated, to reflect increase in ice violence. I will reiterate when agencies collaborate with ice community members are brutalized, a Perfecta example, being a in G R P D, collaborating with ice. To lights, Byron. In Kalamazoo, we have been demanding policies that prevent K DPS and Sheriff's department from collaborating with ice, as well as prohibiting staging on city and government property. The removal of, of anti investment from flock. Technology a public audit of data sharing agreements and a relocation of, of critical funds. To impacted communities, the denouncement and of, and policies that ban 2 87 G agreements with ice. It has been highlighted before that den announcing this is den announcing the culture of hatred for immigrants that seeps into our communities. I chose. Thank you. Thank you. Next next, please. Yes, I'll go. Cuz no one else. Stood up. My name is Rachel viles. I do not live in the city of Kalamazoo. I'm a resident of the township of Kalamazoo. But I was raised in this community. I came back to work at the Kalamazoo county defender and I was educated here in. In the city of Kalamazoo and

the Kalamazoo public schools. I'm here today because I decided. About a month and a half ago to run for the eighth district court judge position that will be vacated by judge Santon. And I, I am so grateful to have been here during the meeting. Where these proclamations were read. And after we just heard that other Public Comment, because those are exactly the reasons why I want to be. The next judge in this county. Representing, not only other people in Portage, in the township, in Schoolcraft, in Vicksburg, but many people that live here in the city of Kalamazoo. One thing that I think. Sets me apart and what makes me really want to make sure my perspective. Is on the bench is because of my background. I've worked exclusively as a public defender. Defending the rights, the constitutional rights of citizens in this community every single day. And I think that that's a perspective that is missing. In some ways from the bench I've seen multiple times the kinds of bias. Racism prejudice that were, that was spoken about by the other people at the podium earlier tonight. And I want to make sure that. When people come into court, they feel that they are seen they're treated fairly. They are heard and they are treated with compassion. That's the way that I have worked my entire career. Those are principles that are deeply ingrained in me. They're not going away. But I, I would be that kind of judge to treat the citizens of this community with a kind of caring and compassion that I've. Bled by every single day in my career. So just wanted to introduce myself. I'll be out in the community. Hope, hopefully meeting many more people. In this body, many of the people behind me and other people that aren't here tonight. But I look forward to speaking more with, with residents of the city of Kalamazoo about the

kind of court that I envision. And the kind of justice that I hope to bring to our community. Hopefully following my election in November. Thank you. Thank you next, please. Good evening again, my name is Wendy fields and I stand before you as the president of the Kalamazoo branch of the NAACP with just a few announcements, community announcements. So one of them is NAACP. We will be hosting our sixth annual black history, infant mortality. Awareness baby shower drive. The items that we collect for this drive, we donate to cradle Kalamazoo. Because they host four. Baby shower, community, baby showers every year. And the items that we collect, we donate back to them. For those community, baby showers. One of the reasons that we support the, the, the baby shower. Is because it's a shower of not just giving things away, but they also provide education, maternal infant health, infant growth and development. Of family planning and the whole gamut. So it's one that NAACP. NAACP can fully put its support behind. There there's gonna be three different locations. All this information is on our website. So we will be at the Unitarian Universalist church. We will be at urban Alliance in our last stop for the day will be at the Douglas community center. And those things are on our website, but I'm also gonna make sure you get it by emailing you that information. The other thing is NAACP is partnering with KV, C, C. Center for new media. Every year they have a black artist. Showing and exhibit art exhibit. And so that show is gonna take place March 5th. But right now, what they're

looking for are black artists. And if you know of any black artists. Doesn't matter how young doesn't matter how old. Please send them that way. And the cutoff deadline is the 27th of this month. Yep. They had it. They had NAACP. We will be hosting a blood drive. We do these about every two months. And so our next one is going to be March 5th. And so we strongly encourage any and everybody to come, but particularly African-American because there is a strong. Shortage of black donors. And given the fact that we dispo disproportionately. Have sickle cell disease are blood is most. Compatible with those that look like us. So, but we want everybody's bug because there's a national shortage. And lastly oh, lastly, I just wanna give a plug for membership. NAACP, we are going up in cost for our lifetime membership. So right now for a lifetime member. A lifetime membership is $750. March 1st, it will be $1,000. You have the opportunity. And for that membership over 10 year period, cuz we believe in the layaway plan. And so if you make your first payment, before March 1st, we will honor the 750 for the 10 years. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank. I have a buddy against me again. You know, floodings right around the corner. Probably this week, your storm drains don't work. They flood out the neighborhood. It's frozen ground. We're

gonna flood what you gonna do? Just roll close signs out and say, okay. Deal with it. Cuz that's normally what we get and it's not just me. It's a whole neighborhood. You're talking Crosstown vine. Lake Walter Park. Verdict. It also goes all the way down. Crosstown. To Portage road, where there is no water. But it comes up through the storm drains and it floods the streets out. South. So you lose your furnace in the winter. You can't wait for it to dry out. You have to replace it. Because you don't have time to wait. Way. So it, it it's time. Stop taking away green spaces in my neighborhood. Stop building in my neighborhood. Until you fix this problem. Your bill K V C, C growing field. Before you build that you'll never fix the sewer system. You'll never fix the storm system. You never fixed anything you just built on top of a floodplain, which meant you built the building up higher. And where does the water go? But to the lowest point, which is your residents who live in Kalamazoo. I've been fighting this for eight years, guys. Come on. How many more years must I come up here? How many more Mondays? Mondays must I come and ask? You over and over and over again. Fix your storm gains. Your storm drains are not working. They are flooding the streets out. It's not axle Creek. It's not the ponds. It's your storm drains. Drains. Evidently they're not working. Because every other neighborhood doesn't have flooded streets. They can get out of their homes. Homes they can get in their homes, police station. Can't get out when we flood. Brighton hospital gets trapped, but they raise the payment up. So now the water's not so bad, probably over there.

Everybody floods. Floods. It's a poor neighborhood. It's not easy to keep fixing the same problem. Over over and over again because the city of Kalamazoo won't do their job. And clean the storm drains out, clean them, fix them. We pipe them, put screens in them. Something, but you have did nothing. In eight years. Thank you. Thank you next, please. Good evening. My name is Sarah Kennedy and I am a resident of the city of Kalamazoo. I was raised in the city and my husband and I are now raising our five children here. My children attend St. Augustine cathedral school, which is. Located at 600 west Michigan avenue in downtown. The school has been in operation at this location for over 100 years. I am here on behalf of St. Augustine cathedral school. I am the president of the school's local advisory council. We advise the principal on all matters pertaining to the school. 250 students attend St. Augustine cathedral school. It is a preschool through eighth grade school. Our youngest children are three years old. We draw students from all corners of the city. We consider ourselves a downtown community partner. We are a private school that serves a public good. We are the only grade school in the downtown core. Our school is keenly aware of its location. We aim to serve our community with love and compassion. Our students volunteer at St. Vincent and DePaul serving the less fortunate. They collect winter coats every year for the salvation army. They assist at Catholic charities. And they collect food every month for local food pantries. Additionally, our students take advantage of our downtown location with. Walking field trips

to places like Bronson park. The Kalamazoo valley museum in Sheri auditorium. Also our school is located in a residential neighborhood. After school hours, our school playground is open to that neighborhood. I come here with a concern. In October, we saw a sharp uptick in trespassing on our school campus. Trespassers aggressively approached parents in the drop off line in the morning. As well as walked through the playground during recess. We have a closed campus during school hours. For the sake of student safety and supervision. It is the responsibility of the school to know who is on the campus at all times. In order to prevent unauthorized contact with the school children. Unauthorized adults. Regardless of intent. Break that safety model. We contacted Kalamazoo department of public safety for assistance in keeping our campus. Secure K D P S was phenomenal. They conducted directed patrols during drop off and pickup as well as recess. They responded immediately. If a trespasser was present. They gave us advice on best practices to keep our campus secure. In addition, K D P S has given us valuable safety training to our three Catholic schools in the city. We give K DPS, our heartfelt thanks. My ask of the city commission. There is much development going on downtown around our campus. Including the arena and road redesign. These projects greatly affect our campus and its security. St. Augustine cathedral school requests, the city commission. To remember our school in the midst of issues that

affect our downtown campus. A closed campus is paramount to the safety of the children who attend the school. We are asking for help in Minta, in maintaining a safe and predictable. School environment for the students. Thank you. Thank you. Next please. Hello again. I am still Margaret Wilson and I'm still a resident of Kalamazoo. I am a parent of three. Kalamazoo public school students. And I'm a resident of the vine neighborhood. I want to both. Thank you and acknowledge the effort and work that went into moving. Forward the safe routes to school, federally funded program. For maple street, middle school. And Winchell elementary school that was started in 2019. When that process was conducted. The most concerning location identified in that process was the crossing from the vine neighborhood. To maple street crossing Howard. At the bottom of Merrill. I have enthusiastically. Probably slightly annoyingly. Aggressively engaged with the process for that. Program the entire time. Even though when it started, I didn't have any kids at maple street yet. Now my oldest has moved all the way through and is at Loy Noricks. And my two youngest are both students at maple street. The original plan in the safe routes to school. Process. Was to put the crossing. Where it is now and add some extra infrastructure to alert drivers. To pedestrians who are crossing. In the interim.

The city engineers have redesigned that crossing and are now moving it from that known intersection to a mid-block crossing. Up the hill, closer to the crest of the hill, shortening the line of sight for drivers to see that the students are there. And putting it at a unexpected location where you, everyone knows there's a corner. There there's an intersection there, even though it's not controlled by a traffic light. It also moves the sidewalk. Over to the side of the road that is owned by private homeowners and my neighborhood I'm sad to say has a terrible. Terrible terrible record of clearing sidewalks. And I know for a fact that the owners who are on that side, don't clear the sidewalks that are they're already. Now. I'm not trying to shame anybody. It's just a cultural thing. The side of the road that they walk up now to go up, how are is a exclusively and the control. Of the school. So it's really well maintained. So that's one of my concerns with that. Moving it up there. The I, while you drive by maple, you can see that there are doors to go in. From Howard, but the kids don't go in or out of those doors. They go through the doors on the other side. And their current habit is to walk through the playing field. Most of the time in the summer, a little less in the winter, cuz the snow's so deep. So now the kids are gonna have to change their traffic pattern. To not use that intersection when it moves. Moves. I think there are some things that the city can do that will mitigate some of those. And there are some things that, that change is gonna happen and it's not gonna be. Easy to fix. One of the things that I don't think the city can address is that after school activities and regular usage by neighborhood residents, residents will not reflect the movement of that. Away from the intersection. So lots of dog, walkers, lots of people with little kids, lots of people going sledding. Cross there to get to the field. When the sporting events are over the kids who are playing football, if

they live in the neighborhood, they're leaving at Merrill. So even if we expanded. The new fabulous city program to clean sidewalks, to clean that sidewalk. You're still gonna have a problem with the neighborhood, no longer being able to access the field and kids leaving sporting events, not being able to cross. So I just wanna thank you from moving at, from a consent item to an Agenda item to allow for a little bit more. Discussion. And I'm really hopeful that going forward. That there'll be more chances for engagement and problem solving with the neighborhood. So. Thank you for that. Thank you. Next please. Hello, my name is Katie Platy and I am a resident of the Kalam city of Kalamazoo. I also live in vine and I'm here to voice my concern about the same issue. My son. Started middle school this year. He has to cross that crosswalk in the morning to go to school either on his bike or walking. At four or the last four months, it's been completely dark at that time of day when school starts. And the lights flash, but it's not enough to stop the traffic. And I've seen so many cars run through their one car will stop. The other car will zoom around them, which makes it even more dangerous for kids. And even during the daytime, I've come to pick him up at that same intersection and I've heard honking and thought that someone was gonna get hit. And it was like, a firetruck honking at cars to try to make them stop for the children. So while I'm really happy that you guys are considering. This and trying to make it more safe. I do think a stoplight would be the most appropriate thing there. In Portage for their bike paths, they have stoplights. That you can push and it will turn red, well, like the ones downtown, except for, you know, they don't work all the time. Something like that would be good. And I walk across that intersection myself all the time to get to client stuck and walk, and I'm scared to walk across and I'm an adult that's big.

And walking in the daytime. So thank you. Thank you. Next please. Good evening. Good evening. My name is Steve Walsh and I'm a resident of the vine neighborhood. And I wanted to start by. Congratulating and acknowledging the NAACP's founder's day and black history months, 100th anniversary as well. I'm here to comment on the same topic that the previous two speakers just said, they were very eloquent. They stated things very clearly. This is of a very dangerous intersection that we've been trying for, as Maggie said, since 2017, I believe to try to work on ways to get children safely across this intersection. We're talking about. Pre-teens trying to navigate four lanes of traffic with cars going 40 plus miles an hour. They're Frogger across here wearing backpacks in the Gomen. As Katie said in the dusk. Dusk it's we it's just been the wheel of fortune so far that something tragic hasn't happened. I've seen cars flipped over. I have taken kids there. I've been in the pedestrian there. I walk my dog over there and I drive down that stretch as well. And it is a very. It's a very dangerous area to ask kids to try to navigate. They just simply don't have that type of experience. So I appreciate you moving this to. The, or from the consent Agenda to. The action Agenda, I guess. I'm sorry. I'm, I'm drawing blank on it, but. One thing that I wanted to, to also introduce here is that for children in the vine neighborhood, with the failure of SEL SEL to. To continue to exist within the neighborhood, children who want to go to the eat up and meet up. They have to try to cross the street now and go to maple. And I have kids in my neighborhood on my, in my area who come to our house for snacks and do small jobs. And we said, you know, you can go across

the street to maple and get, get food there. And they've told. Us that their parents said that they're not allowed to cross maple street. So this has a number of different ripple effects. I appreciate you taking a look at this and I'm gonna ask that you take a look at this with some urgency as well before something bad happens. Thank you. Thank you. Hello everyone. Chris Glasser from the east side. Last meeting myself and several other residents voiced their concerns about the flock cameras that are scattered across the city. And chief Boise came up, explained how the cameras work, how to, how KPS S uses them. And insisted that they're completely secure. Only the city can access the data. Nothing to worry about. He even talked to me after the meeting. Saying, oh, they have certain security standards that they need to meet. It's totally secure. Don't worry. Literally the next day, there was a new, new story about how a city turned off their flock cameras. After they discovered that their data had been accessed by literally hundreds of state and federal. Agencies and this isn't a one time situation it's literally happening across the country. Where they are being accessed, unauthorized, the cities aren't aware of it. And they find out after the fact. So just because flock tells you that it's secure and that only you have access to it, they're not a trustworthy. Trustworthy organization, they're working with a not so trustworthy federal administration. And we can't just take their word for it. We know that this data is being accessed. By other organizations. Now, if the data was truly. Just within the city of Kalamazoo's hands. I wouldn't be super worried. I'm not worried about KPS having the time or resources to master surveil all of our citizens. However, they are making the data accessible to corporations and agencies that do so in unless new you do something in, unless you change it. I think we need to turn off these flat cameras.

Thank you. Thank you. Next please. Hi, my name is Courtney. Smith. We're SEMA. I'm a former administrator for Kalamazoo public schools. And I am a current resident of the Winchell neighborhood. I'm here to comment on the. Addition of a sidewalk on the south side of windchill. I know this is gonna be up for discussion during the regular Agenda. I have two children who walk to school. And are able to make a safe route around, but they have to go all the way around the block on Broadway to get to the crosswalk. I make them do that. Of course, but my concern. Just from working in the public school system is for all of the families who are dropping off on my street. Who don't have the time or the energy or the resources to make that loop all the way around to get to the crosswalk. And it's creating a very unsafe situation as everyone kind of froggers across windchill there to get to the school because there is no side sidewalk on the south side. There's no good way to go. Down without walking in the street to get to the. Safe four-way stop where they can cross. In addition to that, we just added a peep wing. To the school. So we're currently at 500 students. Students that we're probably gonna get up to five 50, maybe close to 600. This next fall, you gotta think we've got one little strip. And a tiny circular drive as far as like drop off and pick off. It's a very, very congested area. And the addition to that sidewalk would offer an entire other side of the street where parents could safely drop their kids off, get them to the crosswalks and across,

over. Crossover to the school. Thank you. Thank you. Hi, my name is Shauna Espinoza. I mean, I guess if we're all coming up here to complain about sidewalks, can we talk about getting busing and cleaning the sidewalks off for those that go to Hills hillside that walk from interfaith. That's dangerous. That should have been in that safe first program. Hillside even Millwood middle school. They're walking down. What's called Sheridan. There's no sidewalks. It is dark. Cars drive in and out of there. So if we're talking about. Sidewalks and schools, maybe it should be. All schools. Across the country. I mean, the county. Because our, our friends from interfaith, they don't get a bus. They're walking across three. Main streets in the dark, as people would say, the north side is. Dangerous. So why are we letting students. Students walk that far sidewalks aren't shoveled always there's some, there ain't even no sidewalks. So, I mean, if we're talking about sidewalks and safety of students, students make it across the board, not just certain schools to be fair, to be equitable. Our black and brown students deserve the same thing. Thank you for the meeting mayor. Lazzo slavery meeting was a success I'm hopefully it continues. Continues. That's all I have to say. It's been a long day. Bye. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the chambers wants to take advantage of this? Opportunity for Public Comment. Scene, no one else. The Public Comment. Period is closed. I do want to thank everybody that took the time and made the effort to come here

and provide a comment for this meeting. Next is the consent Agenda. Manager Hankins. Thank you, mayor. The following items are submitted for approval. G one approval of a sole source purchase with my motion for the rehabilitation of two fault gear drives. Drives for the primary clarifiers at the water reclamation plant, any amount of $124,914 and 9 cents. Cents. Let him two approval of a contract with dewpoint for rapid seven vulnerability management, rapid seven insight IDR cybersecurity software. Services through the, my deal cooperative purchasing program. Any amount of $147,000, 322. Three approval of a purchase of three Ford utility explorers from Garnell Ford. Through my deal, through the my deal cooperative purchase programming, the amount of $149,994. For approval of a one-year contract extension with Kronos to continue with human resources information system in the amount of $169,919 and 65 cents. Cents five approval of a contract extension with Santiago services for mowing and trimming of parks and green spaces. In the amount of $199,000 and 900, excuse me, $199,904. Six approval of a contract with a one asphalt for the two, 2026 water main brake patch. Repair project, any amount of $217,401. Seven approval of the purchase of four Chevrolet Tahoes from burger Chevrolet. Through the, my deal cooperative purchasing program in the amount of $221,568. Eight approval of the purchase of audio visual equipment. Integration services and sound masking. For the one 50 east Crosstown facility renovation project from smart homes and smart offices, Inc. Through the ideal cooperative

purchasing program, any amount of 371,000. $94 and 78 cents. Cents nine approval of the lease placement. Excuse me, lease replacement of 26 vehicles for public safety from enterprise fleet management. Any amount of 830, $6,119 and 80 cents over 60 months. 10 approval of a contract with S w T excavating, Inc. For new water service installations. Any amount of $894, $894,000. 519 N 90 cents. Cents 12 adoption of a resolution approving an act. A C T 3 81 brownfield plan for. Perg peninsula located at one 11 Portage street. 13 acceptable. Excuse me. Acceptance of funds from the state of Michigan under public. Act one 20 of 2024 for the purchase and uplifting. Upfitting of a patrol vehicle in the amount of $63,672 in 19 cents. Cents 14 acceptance of a risk avoidance program grant and a cert certification and accreditation grant from the Michigan municipal risk management association in the amount of $193 and 193,775, $5. 15 approval and acceptance of public utilities, easement with CD arena, LLC. LLC for water main and storm sewer installed as part of the Kalamazoo event center project. 16 approval and acceptance of a snow melt system easement with CD arena, LLC. LLC for private snow melt installed as per the Kalamazoo event center project. 17 approval and acceptance of an air rights easement with CD arena, LLC. LLC for building overhang element installed as part of the Kalamazoo event center project. And 18 approval of the minutes from the city commission meetings on December eight. Excuse me. On December

8th and December 15th, 2025 and January 5th, January 26th and February 2nd, 2026. Thank you very much manager Hankins. I appreciate that. Commissioners. The requested action is a motion to approve items. One through 10 and 12 through 18. And authorized the city manager signed all related documents on behalf of the city. Is there a motion? Motion. Made by Commissioner Slaby. Slaby support supported by Commissioner Hess court Burling, please call the roll. Commissioner Praedel yes. Commissioner Slaby. Yes. Commissioner Wilson. Yes, upstanding from Agenda items, 15 through 17 due to an employer conflict. Vice mayor Duncan. Yes. Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Hess. Yes. Thank you. Commissioner's items on the consent Agenda are approved. We're now onto H the regular Agenda. City manager Hankins. Thank you, mayor H one approval of a one year contract extension with the Michigan municipal risk management authority through IBEX insurance agency for property and casualty insurance, annual premium in the, the amount not to exceed 1 million. Excuse me, 1 million, $130,954. And a deposit to the member retention fund of $100,000 and approval of a budget amendment for the contract extension in the amount of $174,589. Thank you, manager Hankins. Is there a staff report on this item? There is not, but management services staff are available with questions or race questions, commissioners. Alright. I think we're all set on that. Okay. Commissioners. Is there anyone I'm sorry, before we get to the motion time, is there anyone in the audience like to comment on this item, this item H one. If, so please come to the podium, give us your name and

whether you live in the city. See, no one, the recommended action commissioners is a motion to approve. Is there a motion? Motion. Made by Commissioner Slaby. Slaby support support by Commissioner Wilson, discussion commissioners. Scene none. Corporal, please call roll. Commissioner Slaby B. Yes. Commissioner Wilson. Yes. Vice mayor Duncan. Yes. Mayor Anderson? Yes. Commissioner Hess. Yes. Commissioner Praedel. Yes. Thank you. Commissioners. The motion passes next on the Agenda is item H. Two city manager Hankins. Thank you. Mayor approval of a sole source purchased with Ferguson waterworks to provide Neptune water meters in the amount of $2 million. Thank you, manager Hankins. Is there a staff report on this item? No, there is not, but there are staff available at their questions. Staff is available. Questions commissioners. All right. Just as a reminder, this is something that has been talked about before. So, this is not the first time we're seeing this no questions at this time. Is that correct? All right. C no questions. Is there anyone in the audience like to comment on this item? This item H two. If so please come to the podium. See, no one commissioners, the recommended action is a motion to approve. Is there a motion? Motion. Support motion, may Commissioner SLA. Slaby supported by vice mayor Duncan. Discussion commissioners. Scene none. Clip oil, please call the roll. Commissioner Wilson? Yes. Vice mayor Duncan. Yes. Mayor Anderson. Yes. Commissioner Hess? Yes. Commissioner Praedel. Yes. Commissioner Slavey. Yes. Thank you.

Commissioners the motion. Passes. We now have a third item. On our regular Agenda H and that was an formerly on the consent Agenda. It was G 11. That was our third item. Under regular Agenda H manager. Hankins. Thank you. Mayor approval of a resolution approving M dot contract number 25 dash 5, 6 91 for Winchell avenue and Howard street infrastructure improvements through the safe routes to school grant in the amount of 47,361. Dollars. Thank you very much, Senator Hankinson. I know there were some comments related to this particular item, which is. Why we moved it to regular Agenda. Is there somebody here who could. Comment in particular on this item? Yes, sir. We have staff here, director baker is available to comment on whatever questions the commission may have. Welcome director baker. I dunno if you wanna start with questions or if there's a few comments you'd like to make first director baker, how do you wanna do this? I can give a, a brief over overview, your honor, if you'd like to, to have that. Sure that'd be helpful. Okay, I'll jump right into it. This project is a safe streets. Excuse me. Safe routes to school. Project launched in 2019. That included. Included a fair amount of work. There's a, a website that we have in our city website. That's dedicated to that. There's a, a pretty lengthy report that goes into a lot of the details. Details. This has been one of those funding challenges for us in that we're. Seeking grants. These grants come federally to us through MDOT. MDOT the project was then. Designed because we got a grant for design dollars in 2023. And then all this

work goes back to MDOT and also gets put into our transportation improvement plan. Here locally with our metropolitan planning agency, which is for us as cats, Kalamazoo, area transportation. Study. So there, there has been some time between. Different levels of engagement with the community and when we've done design for that project and, and come back out. This project focuses on two. Routes to school, it does include some crossings and it does include some significant sidewalk improvements. Those schools are windchill elementary with that sidewalk. On Winchell avenue from rambling road to Oakland drive. We also have the maple street, magnet school, and we have sidewalk improvements on Howard street. And from Stearns to, to Merrill street. So two different project areas all together within the same project. So this project, the phase we're at right now. The design was complete in 2023. The project was turned over to MDOT. MDOT has bid out this project and bid letting. They have a, a contractor. And the recommended action in front of the city commission tonight. Is a contract with MDOT to construct. Construct these improvements. If that is approved tonight, construction. Would start in the fall. Of this year and would go through spring of 2027. So that would be able for folks for the school year. It's the end of the school year in 2027. And then when students return in the, in the fall of 2027, certainly we heard some comments about. That crossing at Merrill, how that's configured. I can share with you that that intersection does present some challenges.

Challenges when that design was. Really kind of went into the details of it in 2023. The engineering team had made the decision. Due to a number of contributing factors. To move that crossing west. Away from the intersection. With Merrill, some of that. Is due to a refugee island, pedestrian refugee island. That's gonna go. In the middle of Howard street. That placement of that refugee island would conflict. With turning movements. Into Merrill street. So this is. You know, a little bit of a give and take, certainly there's risk. You heard about the risk. Certainly we're trying to address safety issues and we're implementing. Countermeasures some of these countermeasures that we propose. Have functional uses that have their own constraints. And so we wanted to add that pedestrian refuge island. And to do so we needed to move. Away from that intersection at Merrill street. There's also some guidance. In terms of the, the lights that we're gonna use, the, the signals, the flashing signals to. Warn the motorist as they're approaching. And following the guidance on those placements, the engineers liked this proposed location. Better. I can also share with you that. This work is gonna happen in coordination with. Another project on Howard street, which was a four-lane to three-lane conversion. So Howard street. Will be configured in the future. If funded. And all these projects go together. That would have a directional. Through lanes center, turn lane and bike lanes. And that would all tie in well with that proposed.

Pedestrian refuge island. Which would be located west of Merrill. So. I'll stop there. I know there's not a lot of visual aids here that we've. Talked through. So I'll pause and open the floor for, you know, happy to receive Commissioner questions. Questions. Thank you. Director baker, vice mayor Duncan. What? So what's our ability. So. I hear what our residents are saying about. The safety issue. If we were to vote on this tonight, what is our ability to go and edit? What that intersection might look like. Because, you know, obviously the parents from the neighborhood are telling us that. It's not gonna be safe in his current format. So do we have the ability to alter the plan? So just to speak directly to the question. The action that we're proposing tonight, we're beyond design. So we're, we're either recommending. Or let me pause. The staff recommendation is to move forward with the contract. The design was done in 2023. If the commission is not prepared to do that. We would need to, to take that back. I don't fully understand what our options are right now. Obviously, if we don't approve the contract, we can't construct the improvement. If we had some time to go back to MDOT to see. If there's room to make changes. I don't know if that's those changes. Changes would be recommended. I, I, I think that we're getting into. Some challenges of kind of designing from the Dias we staff does not usually recommend that. But if the commission is not prepared to go forward. You know, let us take something back and see what our options are. Before we

make that ultimate decision. Thank you, Dr. Yeah. Commissioner Slaby. Sleepy. Hi director baker. Thank you for being here tonight to answer our questions. Questions. You mentioned the timeline. Design was done. Design phase was in 2023. And so that, so this final shift to moving the. Pedestrian refuge further from that from the existing location. Where people are currently crossing. How is that? Then shared out the final design, shared out to the community. For either. Final comment to adjust as needed or just as a, Hey, this is what we landed with. Could you talk a little bit about that engagement timeline? Sure. I'm gonna ask for some assistance on that. I, I can't recall. Exactly what that looked like back to the community. But I know that there were interactions that we had. So if possible, I'd like planner Anderson to, to join, to, to help talk through some of those items. Thank you. Sure. Thanks for the question. There were a couple conversations that were had. When the, when it was determined that the safest location was west of the intersection at Merrill. The engineers. Engineers and planning staff had conversations. With neighbors and with the school to make sure that the placement was not impacting. The turning movement in and out of that driveway. There were a number of conversations that were had, particularly with the neighbors on Howard street. Regarding placement of the crossing impact to trees. Tree planting and a number of other. New design elements related to that.

The plans we had hoped originally, you know, when this design was being done in 23, the plan was to be constructed in 24. And it was gonna be constructed in conjunction. With the Howard street conversion from four lanes to three lanes as all one project. The Howard project got delayed because of budget reasons. And then the safe routes to school at the state level got delayed. Which is why you're just now seeing it rather not in 23. That was delayed at the state because of concerns about tree removal. Related to potential historic properties. I'm sorry, I'm giving you a little more information than what you asked for. I kind of wanted to detail why the delay had happened since 23. So a number of conversations did happen in 23, but it's been a while. Since then certainly. Yeah, that was in my second question to clarify the delay I knew it had to do with Shipo. So. You answered that. Yeah. So director baker, going back to you. With the timing. So let's say we decided to postpone. Just for maybe staff to come back with maybe more information. Maybe some visual aids or just, you mentioned confirming some options. What would postponing this to the next meeting do to any deadlines related to. Receiving funding or just for MDOT to get it on their schedule. For the fall. Sure. I, I think that's totally an option. If we're able to say pause. Go back, engage with the community. Get some visual aids talk through the justification. Build some better awareness. And community support for the project, why? The lane configuration, pedestrian refuge island. The pedestrian intersection, how that blows all move and how they work together. And I think. If we're given some further opportunity to engage with the

public to kind of demonstrate that Rubik's cube of. You might want this. All these colors to be green, but then all those colors over there turn a different color. So it's bringing that all together. Right? So bringing. That back. I, I think we've got. Some time to do that. The good news. Is that construction. Isn't planned to start until the fall. So I think there's definitely some, some room there. I don't know exactly what our drop dead. Date is with MDA, but. I don't have the drop dead date, but I do know that. Pending the action tonight. A pre-construction meeting was being scheduled for March. The work that the reason why the work can't start this spring is you would expect if you see a bid. Now you would expect it to see occurring sooner. Than the fall is, there is a window in the state of Michigan from when you can remove trees to make sure that you're not endangering. Species who inhabit those trees. And that deadline you can't cut starting in March. So from March to early fall. We can't do the prep work in order to do the construction work. So the, there is a pre-construction meeting that's being scheduled right now. So we would be an active conversation with MDOT and can find out if there is. A, a drop dead date. You know, the challenge with this funding. It was delayed first for COVID then it was delayed because of Shipo issues. Issues. I don't, now that it's, without it it's being, it's been led to us. I don't know from end ops perspective. What the timeline is for spending it so we can get those answers to you. And if that's, if that's what is of interest. And then, sorry, I'm going back and forth. Going back to earlier conversations while engaging the community with the final

plan. I just wanna clarify for the community. Cause you say. Conversations. So are we talking about, you know, like small group conversations? One-on-one. Outreach to the school and immediate neighbors, or was there like a, a broader mailer. Or, or something to get, to reach out to the full school community that will be impacted by this. It was more one-on-one outreach. It was having conversation with the school, both schools, right? Because there are two and involved here as well as. Working to go back out. To folks that had participated in previous processes. It was not meetings. It was not mailers. Okay. So we didn't have like a broader. Town hall or anything like that to announce the new the plans? No. Yeah. Okay. And last question. was, I'm just thinking about ahead of time leading if, if we were to postpone it and this would come back to us. Are these considered to this seems like a package windshield and the Howard crossing. So, is there any option for whatever reason, I'm just trying to understand how it's set up for us to move forward with the windshield one. And not the Howard one. Or would that just completely. Disregard the entire grant. My understanding is that they're together. Okay. I believe that construction. I mean, as we said before, we thought we could start Howard. Potentially the crossing this year and, you know, Winchell might go into the next year with the tree work starting this fall. And so I think there's some possibility of. You know, spanning some short amount of time. But my understanding is that those are a package deal. It's funds together. The other element was safe, threats to school is so you get a certain amount of money. From the state, the Michigan fitness foundation. To do physical projects. Projects in this case, the sidewalk crosswalks and the crossing of Howard. But also each school gets. Gets funds to do safety

projects on their campus. And I don't know the timing of that release. If it's with. The construction work. If it's separate. But tho those funds are also coming down the pike. So those schools can do safety projects, which they came up with a list of things that they wanted to do. Of course, that was back in 2019. But they had a list of improvements that they wanted to do on campus. Thank you, Commissioner Hess. Sure. I hear there are two separate projects. Projects, the Howard work. Moving going to two lanes. Turn lane bike lanes. And then this crosswalk work and they're not concurrent. Right. Talk to they are separate projects. Projects. If funding comes through in the next tip. They may be under construction at the same time. In kind of a lagging overlap. Okay, thank you. And I do wonder if. If traffic were slowed in that regard. For that crosswalk, it would really be helpful. That is one of the most dangerous places for people to cross. In, in Kalamazoo. People, I think, what is it? 30 miles an hour. And people they go 60 down that hill. And until we change people's driving habits. Habits. We're gonna have to do a whole lot more work on the streets. I think so, but I think if, if we were able to do the street and the crosswalk all at once there wouldn't, we would eliminate a little bit of confusion. For the crosswalk. Thank you. Commissioner Hess, Commissioner Praedel. Yeah, thank you for allowing us to put this on the regular Agenda, just so we could talk a little bit about it more and then it would be helpful to kind of hear any clarifying. Comments from the residents really want

to thank everybody for their patience in this as well. I've had some dialogue with. City engineer, Dennis Randolph at a number of the design at meetings. Just talking about this in particular. And each time that I've had the conversations with them, it seems like the common thread is like he's profusely trained to apologize because of all these. Unforeseen delays. And I will say. I know, I don't expect that every resident's gonna be at every meeting, but I can say. With confidence in the six plus years that I've been here that at least once or twice per year, sends people have like lifted this Ford in my six and a half years. When we've had these kind of conversations, this crossing has come up as part of the conversation. So we, we have not let this dwindle and I know city staff is, is likewise. Tried to balance that with all the delay challenges that you've had. So I wanted to thank you for your patience and thank you for continuing to, to, you know, push us for this, but also thank city staff for continuing to keep this moving forward as well. I, the reason I'm kind of curious. Deere kind of some follow-up thoughts is based on your presentation, director baker, you know, one of the things you, you, you mentioned kind of three things tonight that are, are conflicting factors that bring challenges to this. One of 'em is the turn lane on Damir. Mural. And there's a couple examples that are recent to this. One of 'em is I think it's Northampton. On on west main where, you know, you, you really do have to be super thoughtful about that because if you get a decent number of people who are looking to turn, it can actually unintentionally create a safety hazard for people who are trying to cross or people who are in the periphery, the roadway, if, if you know people, all us sudden slam on their brakes at the bottom of the hill, because. There's not enough room for people to turn. So that is a thoughtful consideration. I can't remember the, the term for it, but the refuge refuge island. Type thing where it's the painted center that you have to think about what that turn lane. A really good example that I've seen where I feel so much more comfortable crossing than I used to hate crossing. Is right here at Bronson

park where you're it's right by the, that I know it as the commer building, but on academy. I don't know why, but I just do just naturally feel safer crossing that as a pedestrian now, than I did before that was there. So I do think that that's a really effective tool. As a mechanism for just pedestrians, having that peace of mind. And then that kind of visual. Cue to drivers that this is somehow different than the roadway. And then the other part that you brought up tonight as well, is that part of the, the calming is reduction from four lanes to three lanes. And that's, that's huge, right? I mean, and then when you add the. Bicycle lanes to the side. That's one more area. And like, for me, when I'm crossing. On like west Michigan avenue was a good example. Having that, those, those cycle. Lanes really do give you more. Ability to kind of jet out into the road a little bit, and then you have that refuge in the center if you need to. So they're, there's, there's good examples that we're starting to see where those are really effective tools. If they're used correctly. So I'm, I'm curious to get some thoughts as we're kind of dissecting that from residents about their thoughts about those things. I know one thing that is kind of unique as well is that it's one of those projects where. Certain times a day can make it even more unsafe. And so my, my question is, is like in terms of lighting for the early mornings, when it's dark, what things do you think are, are elements to this design that could maybe help with that lighting component to it? You know, whether it be flashing beacons or. Thoughts about just lighting, lighting, overhead or pointed on that so that people are more visible. Is there anything that you can think of that would kind of stand out for that? Certainly. And, and I'll just say something that's maybe unique, but it's certainly something staff are aware of with. A lot of safety improvements or a lot of the overall work that we do is that we might have one goal for improvement, but it might come at at

several projects or it might come from several different sources. So this is another great example of it. We've got the safe routes to school. Project which we have in front of you tonight, it's going to cover specific. Elements of the, of the work we've got the, the future project for Howard street, four lane to three-lane conversion. And then I also want to bring you back to your capital improvement plans, both line items in your major street plan and line it, and your local local street plan, where we have. Roadway lighting improvements, which we're talking about the streetlights. That are, you know, on the telephone poles that come on at night. And so we really have a plan in focus to. Do more streets. And so as we are doing projects, we're also looking to make lighting improvements. We're also making street light improvements to signalize intersections. So. And I'm going back to your five o'clock meeting with some comments there, but we have improvements going on at traffic signals to where, when you push the crosswalk button and you get the crosswalk there's L E D lights on that mask, arm that turn on in lights, your way as you cross to go across. So. Those are all the work that, that we're doing. So. Hearing the comments about the. Vision safety at night. There's certainly some room and opportunity to add. Conventional streetlights to these locations and, and highlight the areas where. There's bus stops where there's pedestrian movements, that sort of thing. I would love to see any of those opportunities like that. You know, it's kind of a dark crossing there as well, just because there's a lot of, I guess, wooded areas as well, but like a, another good example is like, I think it's Killgore in lover's lane. I think about that every single time. I mm-hmm at that intersection. I love that overhead light because it's so dark on that intersection, but it's a really, really effective tool to, to see,

you know, before you're gonna turn or approach the intersection. So, yeah, I think that would be really great to see anything like that to prioritize that area. And then the other thing, too, when I was at Western de Heneca, who was president at one point time was kind of hi, Ren well-known for kind of a premise that he took about like where to place sidewalks. And he, he had this, this thought that. You know, we oftentimes just place things based on where we think things should go or make the most sense. But what he would actually do is he would go up in the middle of winter. And you would look to see where students actually were walking based on the foot path, through the snow. And I always thought that was very practical, you know, because he's, he's really thinking, not necessarily about what we think, but what people actually do. And I guess one of the first kind of visceral reactions, my thought was is about moving the crosswalk up from the intersection. Is that just kind of on human nature? Is do you, do you get the sense or do you think there would be a propensity for people just to still continue to. Walk across to where the intersection is versus. Even if it's, you know, not that far away to go where there's a marked. Crossing. Does that make sense? Sure. And there's still gonna be an intersection with Merrill there and, and. To my knowledge that there's still a legal crosswalk, so that will be maintained. But all the improvements and all the work are going. In to build a, a safer. Crosswalk to the west of that location. And, you know, our hope is that folks will see that. As a open pathway that's well lit. Brand new sidewalk. We've had some conversations with, with staff about. The success of our sidewalk, snow removal, pilot. And although we're not everywhere we want to be there's. We want to go further with that program. But we're getting, gaining a lot of momentum there and we're, we're seeing a lot of.

Positive results. So this is area next to school. There are other areas next to school. We're doing about 35 miles right now, we'd like to do about 70 miles. So there there's certainly opportunity for growth and there's opportunity for improvement there as well. But. Again, I want to kind of look at all these holistically. This project that we have in front of you. The future project for Howard street falling. Three-lane conversion our line items in, in CIP P project for, for lighting and then a project we're not necessarily talking about tonight, but we're referencing is that's sidewalks, snow removal per project. So bringing the, these kind of all together in that community of approach to trying. To make things safer. And then again, speaking towards the public and asking. Our neighbors, ourselves, our families. Please slow down, please obey the speed limits and we can all as a community, come together to do our part, to try to make this a safer intersection. And then just kind of a last question. For a project like this, you know, you, you let's say. Proceed as planned tonight or, you know, next meeting whenever. With the, with the plan design work. And all the work is executed. You know, is there after action? Evaluation that occurs to, to look at or consider, Hey, are there things that we're looking at that, you know, maybe not worked out as well as we thought, or. That we might want to adjust a little bit. And, and you know, how can the public, I guess, provide that input. If they get to that point where like, geez, you know, we thought this would work. Hey four outta the five things they work great. But this one thing we might want to adjust or tweak a little bit, like how, how would that look or how would. That's that's a great, I take comment and question Commissioner Praedel and I, and I just wanna reference back. We've done a lot of projects together, certainly in, in, in your tenure city Commissioner. We did a four

lane to three lane conversion. On cork street, not too long ago. And there is a, a lane that becomes a right turn only lane. Eastbound cork as you're approaching. Lover's lane. And based on comments received, we actually put in some. Updated signals and, and signage to make that be that better. That's just one small example of a project that was implemented. And then we came back immediately afterwards and made some, you know, kinda small tweaks into margin to help improve either operations or how help you improve safe. And we're kind completely open to the, that. That's something that we'd like to look at in every project. You know, there's opportunities for like the, your speed or speed feedback. Signs. And I hope everybody sees smiley faces as they drive around Kalamazoo. That's always reassuring, but those are. Those are things that we can move around and we can, we can move those. Further up the hill, if needed, you know, we can move things around a little bit. Certainly there's gonna be. Carbon gutter and sidewalk it's concrete in the ground. It's. It's more permanent than some of the other things, but there's always opportunity for improvement with every project. And I think that's something that we've looked at across all the projects is making, you know, little tweaks here and there as we're we're implementing them. Or as we come back in the spring and, and say, Hey, you know, over the winter, we notice this, or these are some of our observations, so we're, we're always open to make. Operational and safety related adjustments to projects. I really appreciate you answering all those. It's been really helpful to get, you know, further deep dive into this. So thank you. Thank you. Commissioner Praedel Commissioner Wilson. Commissioner pedo kind of stole my, but my question with his last question there. I'll I'll ask it again. I was just going to, you know, to reiterate. Is there a formal process for.

Evaluating our installed solutions, just to make sure that. Efficacy is where it's at or I mean, where it's supposed to be. And then also, I mean, taking that opportunity to, you know, if we got it right. You know, announce the, those those metrics. Yeah. Sure. This is either getting more into the details of our traffic engineering team, but we're always looking at. Safety analytics, including crash statistics, the details within crash statistics, including. Severity of, of crashes and type of crashes. We're looking at speed data. And we're looking at macro sets of, of large data. Usually it takes one to five years after a project to get a real good. Understanding of, are we trending in the right direction with the safety improvements? Are we trending in the right direction with speed? I can tell you for our Kalamazoo. At large, we are certainly right now trending in those right directions. So across. Entire city. We have really done a great job to address. Injury accidents or severity of accidents over the last five years. We've also been working hard to address speed over the last five years and those KPIs. KPIs are moving in the right direction. So we are seeing. Success with our programs. Programs. And it's something that we're very, very plugged into. And analyzing our traffic engineering team is analyzing that I'm a constant basis. So yes, we're doing that. But it does take some time for us to, to go through that data. And so I think between the two approaches of the real, the very human approach of. You know, Hey, this is this lane. Kind of ends and it's a right turn only lane. And I see a lot of cars that are backing up.

Is there signs that we can put out there. That's a instantaneous, operational improvement. That's gonna impact operations and safety. And those are some observations or anecdotal. Interactions that we can make right away. Some of the bigger picture of, Hey, did this really. Reduce speed by five miles per hour or not. That's gonna take us some time to be able to answer that, but I think both approaches are certainly needed on, on all projects here in the city. So thank, thank you for that. Absolutely both qualitative and quantitative, you know, assessment there. I'm glad to see that we're addressing, you know, the traffic calming on Howard, because I personally, I see a lot of smiley face. I mean, frowny faces around me, not from my vehicle, obviously. From around my vehicle, others, but . Thank you. . Thank you. Any other questions for the. City team here. All right. Thank you so much. I really appreciate all the information. This is the opportunity for anyone who's here in the chambers to comment specifically on this item. If you want to please give us your name, whether you live in a city, you'll have three minutes. For your comments and just a reminder, this is on this item. H three. Thank you. Rob McFadden. I live on Aberdeen. In the Winchell neighborhood, just south of Winchell Ave. With my two children. They're in second and fourth grade at windshield, I'm here to support the. Infrastructure improvements. I wanna start with a huge thank you for the four-way stop that was installed at windshield and Aberdeen. When we moved here five years ago, crossing the street. With my kids was a regular source of anxiety. It was confusing and it didn't feel safe. And I could never imagine letting my kids cross it alone. And that one change has been a total. Life changer for my family's peace of mind. However, I know many families in the south side of Winchell aren't as lucky because

there is no sidewalk and no safe path. To get to a controlled crossing. They are stuck crossing wherever their side street happens to hit windshield. And depending on the time of day and the sun's glare, it can be blinding and really unsafe even for the. Most cautious of parents. This project provides that missing, safe path that allows every family on the south side to finally. Access the crossing guard in the four way. Stop safely. And while safety is worth every. Penny, regardless of the cost, it's also a smart investment. Unlocking those federal dollars with. Small local investment. I think it's an easy decision for a kid's safety, but I also want to stand in solidarity with those who spoke before me for the concerns on Howard. And in my mind, the, the biggest thing, we don't wanna lose those. Federal grant dollars and it sounds like. The Howard improvements to go to three lanes down to four would be. Or from four would be a big improvement. So expediting that as a separate measure would be critical as well. So I urge you to approve the contract. Thank you. Thank you. Next please. Good evening commissioners. I'm Stephanie Watkins, president of the Oakland drive windchill neighborhood association. And I'm speaking tonight, I'm on behalf of our neighborhood and strong support of the contract with M DT for the improvements on Winlight avenue and Howard street. This project directly advances the written goals and priorities that are contained in our imagined windshield neighborhood plan under our plans, connected neighborhood and connected city chapters, our neighborhood specifically calls for improving non-motorized connectivity and safe. Increasing traffic and intersection safety. Implementing safe route to school and repairing and maintaining infrastructure. The proposed installation of a sidewalk on the south side of windshield avenue between Oakland and rambling, along with associated safety enhancement.

Is precisely a type of infrastructure. Our neighborhood identifies as a high priority. As our neighborhood plan recognizes that once avenue, like many of the streets in our city carries a significant. Traffic volumes and that no non-motorized users must be protected. The plan calls for infrastructure that allows residents, especially children on their way to school. Or from school to move safely and independently within their neighborhood. In addition to the proposed sidewalk, the improvements include curb ramps, pavement markings, rectangular. Flashing beacons, these improvements enhance visibility. Short and crust in distance. And create a safer environment for not only students, but seniors, parents with strollers and all residents who are choosing to walk in the neighborhood. Importantly, this project leverages federal funding. Through the transportation alternatives program and safe for us to school program. Bringing outside dollars into our community to implement goals that our neighborhood has already identified through a robust planning process. Enough time has already been spent waiting for this funding and for this project, as you've heard more than seven years. And we urge you to move forward rather than risk losing this funding. W N a has long supported, thoughtful investments and strengthened strengthening pedestrian safety while respecting the neighborhood character. And this project does exactly that for the, these reasons we support the commission's approval of this IEM. And we thank you for your commitment to improving K. Kalamazoo neighborhood safety, connectivity, and walkability. Thank you. Thank you next, please. Sorry, it's me, dad. I feel like I've taken over much. Too much time. I just want to put. A couple comments on end the question. I, yeah, I don't wanna sink windshield. I want them to have that sidewalk. I think that there's a bunch of fabulous stuff that's already been done under the SRTs program. But I feel like the safety. Measures that city staff are putting forward

as the mitigation for my concerns are. Maybes and ifs. Ifs. If the sidewalk clearing program gets expanded, then the kids won't have to worry about an uncleared sidewalk because what kids do. When the sidewalk is not cleared is they walk in the street. If Howard goes from four lanes. To three, two lanes with a central turning lane, then we can have an island. And people will slow down. I would like to read to you. The response. I got to my query. To Dennis Randolph. Which is when I learned this afternoon about the plan to move it. As far as Howard street is concerned as with our other. Remaining four lane streets. We continue to look at possible conversion to a three lane operation. We are finding such convergence are much safer. However we need to consider both existing and future traffic. Volumes to ensure that three lanes will meet traffic demand. So that doesn't sound like the three-lane conversion is a, is a guarantee. So I think that I would like to ask if city staff doesn't mind answering, if they don't go ahead with the three-lane conversion. And they don't. Don't expand the sidewalk clearing program. How will they mitigate those dangers to the kids? Without an island and with an uncleared sidewalk. Thank you for the abundance of time. You've given me today. I really appreciate it. And I appreciate your careful consideration of this. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else who would like to comment on this item? This item H three. So scene no more comments, commissioners. The recommended action is a motion to approve. Is there motion. Just just a little reminder here. And I know we had a little problem with this last time I asked

for a motion. Is that, and just for everyone who's watching. You can, for us to have a discussion, there has to be an item that has a motion and supported for us to have a discussion. So even if an item comes up that you are wholly opposed to. It doesn't indicate anything. To go ahead and support the motion or, or make the motion and support it. Then that's the time for discussion. You can vote against it after that. So I know sometimes there's a misunderstanding. If someone says, you know, I, I, I support the motion. You know, that, that, that means you're supporting it. It doesn't necessarily mean that it just means you're setting the stage for a discussion. Which we did have an issue related to that, and we flipped the motion on his head. So yes ma'am no, but anyway, that said then back to this moment. Is there emotion. Still moved. Moved motion made by Commissioner Praedel. Support supported by Commissioner Hess discussion commissioners. Come here. Oops. Okay. Vice mayor Duncan. Here in the public and our wonderful staff. Conflicted. I, I don't want us to lose the funding. I think it's incredibly important that we keep as those critical federal dollars, you know, coming into our city. But gosh. 50 K is never gonna be worth the life of a child. And I'm hearing parents. Plead with us about a safe pathway for, and I'm really, really concerned. About the ifs. Ifs. And I don't have children myself, but. This is still a, a really. Incredibly important issue. When we talk about safety. I live near a school and I totally agree if the sidewalks are not there

or if they're not cleared. Are going to be in the street. And I. I'm really concerned about safety. I'm really concerned about safety. Thank you, Commissioner slate. Me. So I agree with what director baker. Actually briefly mentioned when he first got to the podium about, you know, let's not design at the dais. Dias. Totally don't wanna be the engineer, director baker. That's all you and Dennis. For me, I think that as someone. Who's worked in government. Who's worked in planning. Who's worked with different grants. I am surprised. How many, how often, when you just simply ask questions and explore things. How much flexibility or opportunities there exist that you didn't know? Was there. And so for me, I guess if I would've be. Commissioner Plato to the mic. I probably would've made a motion to postpone until next meeting, simply for director baker to. Explore those options, cuz we never know. And I've just, I've surprised myself in thinking. Something is a done deal and there's definitely no rigor room. And then I ask you a question and you know, they say, oh, we could tweak this or we could do that. And so. I think about how the timing has been. Protracted, because of all these different delays at the state level. And so I can imagine. And also taking into consideration. When we think about the engagement, this impacts a lot of different users. From dog walkers, people that live in the neighborhood. To people in that school community. And, and so I think, you know, to hear that when we say we did that, the engagement. After the design was done was simply the immediate. Residence on the street. Versus a larger town hall.

Doesn't necessarily mean we don't move forward with the project. But just tells me that I can understand why. Certain people that are users of this. Crosswalk may have felt like. This was a shift they weren't aware of. Or, you know, what have you, because it was done a long time ago and it doesn't even seem at that time. In real time, we really followed up with robust engagement. So I, I appreciated what director baker kind of laid out as a plan where we could do some additional public engagement just to sh raise the awareness. Among people on why we made these decisions because potentially with more discussion with residents, a lot of these concerns. Concerns might be, might go away. Which I think it's hard to maybe understand without the visual aids right here and in this kind of structure, someone in the audience can understand why or why not. We made these decisions like we did. So to me, I just thought that. It sounds like if we postpone it to one more meeting, is not going to have a delay on, on the receiving the funds. It will not jeopardize these funds. It will not jeopardize the contract. It may not even jeopardize the pre-construction meeting, that's scheduled for March. And so I asked we have the power to do this, you know, why not just to have the due diligence done. On to send the message to the community that we are hearing their concerns. Concerns. And that staff seems confident in having a plan to explore those options. Within that within that time. So, so those are my thoughts. I, I have no. Inclination to not move forward. You know, not support this project in its totality. Because overall the message is people want something done there. I think we all want something done there. But, you know, if this doesn't impact. Us getting the grant, you know, I, I, I think

it's. It's let's explore those options and maybe there are no options. I would just love to hear that from director baker. By giving him and his staff a little bit more time to explore that. So those are my thoughts on them on the matter. Thank you. Commissioner slabby, other just Commissioner. Praedel. Cradle director baker. If I were to just yield some time here for a second. Are you prepared to clarify about the three lanes versus four lanes? Sorry. I know you're like way back in the back and I'm. I'm putting you on the spot. Yeah, thank you Commissioner. And just to make sure I understand the question, I believe. We had a Citizen Comment. Asking when that Howard project. Was gonna move forward. So. We looked in the city's budget in 2026 C I P. That's our funding plan was just approved. In that approved C I P. The Howard project, four lane to three lane conversion. Is scheduled in 2028. It's funded at $1.6 million. Design is scheduled a year ahead of time in 2027. So that would be constructed. In 2028. So that project, as it sits in a budget today is funded. And plans to move forward with construction in 2028. It just wouldn't be this year. The, the. Reduction in lanes would not happen this year. Correct in this project that we are recommending in front of you. Would not be complete this year either. Right. And so that's, I think that is certainly important to note that this project that we're recommending. Tonight if approved tonight. Construction would start in the fall of 2026. And we'd go into spring of 2027. The Howard street project would then. Start in 2028 in complete, in fall of 2028. And there's the other component. We talked

about the streetlights that would have to come in the future, but it is funded in your C I P. And then we talked about just overall maintenance programs, sidewalk, snow removal. We continue to get better at that year, over year, over year. So just to kind of coalesce all the conversations, there's not one project in front of you to tonight, it's gonna solve a, those concerns. It's. It's continuing to stay proactive and continuing to invest in these areas and all these different project categories. That will come before the commission as individual items. Over the next few years and being successful with those and completing all those. On time. And as we get through that, in the fall of 2028. We would have a remarkably different intersection and roadway than we do today. Thank you. Thank you. I think city manager, Hankins and, and director baker. If, if, if it seems reasonable, I think we got quite a bit of correspondence today. And even just with work and everything, I haven't even had a chance to look at all the messages, respond to all those messages. Messages. I think we heard a lot tonight. It doesn't necessarily change my mind when we, or the other. Of how I feel about the project. Cause I think that it sounds like there's a lot of really good progress and I actually do feel a lot better after hearing a lot of the comments tonight. But I think there, it would go a long ways personally, if we could even just have just one meeting to give the team time, to have that communication and dialogue with residents, just to, you know, whether it be like, Hey, you know, we're, we're willing to meet out here by the crosswalk this day, this time. If anyone wants to come out and have conversation and point things out. I know that helps me a lot when I've done that with folks before, and I know. Folks from city staff have often been really great about doing that. But that would make me feel a little bit better just to make sure that everybody has more time to educate themselves, visualize what we're

talking about and whatnot. If it doesn't, it doesn't sounds like it's not gonna necessarily screw up the grant. But I also recognize it. That's more resource intensiveness and whatnot as well. So that, that would be my preference. If we could just hold up one meeting to vote on it. No, there's a motion pending, but our discussion and a motion, but we are. Able to take a look at the feedback we've received and have a conversation with the residents about it. And come back after that, if that's what this commission would like to do. Commissioner Hess. Sure. While we're kind of waiting to see what's going on with a motion here. I think that the clearing sidewalks issue doesn't have anything to do with. Where we, we, we shouldn't move a project. Because citizens aren't. Aren't following the Ordinance. We have an Ordinance for sidewalk clearing. That is an awareness and an education that we have to take on as a city. And, and make sure that those are done, then make sure those sidewalks are cleared. And those residents. Residents know that that's that's on them. So I think that's important to, to note as well that we can't, we shouldn't not do this project. Because because folks aren't doing their due diligence and clearing their sidewalks. Sidewalks. There's a lot of education to go on here. And like I, I said before with, with the speed. Please slow down. Please obey the speed limit, especially in areas where there's schools. I think we work also with Kalamazoo public schools, and I think we have good dialogue with Kalamazoo public schools. And make sure that they are also working on. Educating, both families and students about those crossings and how to cross those streets safely. But. I, I would concur with. Postponing a motion. Here and, and waiting for a week or, or for a few weeks and

to getting more information. Mary Anderson. I had a question for staff. Can I ask a question? Yes, please. Director baker. I wanted to do it before he left, but then you kept going, Chris. Just getting the steps in. Just get those. I know he likes that. Okay. So Dr. Baker, I love that it's already in the C I P. And so, you know, correct me if I'm wrong. That would you, like you said, in 2027, the design phase. Of that row diet would be. Initiated. And from my understanding. When we get into that design phase. Whoever we go out, whoever we contract with, you know, they go do. Their research, they take a look and then they provide maybe some options or, or whatever. And so we've seen in, in the past, you know, we initially think that this street might look like this, but actually when we get into the design. Phase actually evolves into something else a little bit, right? Like Kalamazoo Ave. Where we're closing down that near west edge to Kalamazoo app. Now wasn't the original design, but during the design phase and, and engagement. It, it certainly evolved. Right. And so I guess I go back to. The resident's concern around. And, and, and considering you know, Dennis's comments in the email, not to focus on the email, but you know, I mean, is there a possibility when we get into that design phase? That the consultant that we work with comes back and says, Hey, it needs to look like this. Than what we originally thought and potentially doesn't. Doesn't go to a three way where it looks a little bit different that then. You know, conflicts with the

other safe routes to school. Project that we have is that wouldn't that be possible? Certainly you know, to the commissioner's point. There's. There's designs change all the time in, in projects. And so there's certainly elements. Elements of the, the project. That could potentially change. There may be some things that. We're not presently aware of right now. We've done a little bit of, of work on this and preliminary work. How this would go together up at the top of the hill with Oakland. I know engineers have been working on that. So there is. You know, some design that started, but to your point, Kalamazoo avenue, even Michigan avenue to that point. Those designs have changed. Multiple times several iterations of. What those design concepts look like, and it's been. You know, constant updates and changes based on input. Safety factors things we've learned. And so those, those designs are, are certainly fluid. So I think. You know, certainly to your point in 2027, when we go forward with the design phase. For the Howard street, four lane, this three lane conversion there. There's gonna be considerable public participation with that and cons considerable opportunity. To address any further outstanding issues that we have around safety and pedestrian safety. In around this neighborhood note area that includes the school. And I guess I would just note too, during our discussion is that since 2023, when that design was first put together, I think we've learned a considerable amount of things. With different pilots and ways to engage the public. Around these

traffic calming things. That we may have not known at the time of designing this and engaging the public. And so, you know, we're just where we're at, based on the delays. It would've been done in 2024. If it wasn't for Shipo. Shipo but yeah, so I just, I, I just think about all those things and would love to. Again, reiterate that I think it would be, would make a lot of sense for SAF to at least take a couple weeks to. Explore options and then provide it back to us. Thank you. Commissioner Wilson. Yeah, I agree with my colleagues. I think it'll be very beneficial for us. Take a couple weeks. Ensure that our design is. You know, is meeting the requirements for some of the feedback that we're receiving. You know, to calm our neighbors as fears, you know, and made a good point. Commissioner slavery. Actually, my point, I was gonna say. In construction designs change all the time and you see design change, change orders all the time. So. I just ask that we remain fluid. In that design, you know, phase and, you know, be open to feedback. Certainly thank you. This mayor point of clarification, would you like a, as a commission, a presentation? Of the information I've heard discussion about visuals and things like that. Or is this just a meeting with the community and coming back and reporting back on the. What do we have? Do we, what do we have on the cow? Next time. I don't know. Clerk Burling might know the answer to that. Ju just a quick question also. Manager Hankins is is a couple weeks sufficient. Time. To either do any evaluation or put a presentation together either. I mean, we're talk,

we're somehow assuming that that. Is a sufficient timeframe. Thoughts about that director baker? Yeah. I, I think staff one of our, one of our first orders of action tomorrow, morning's gonna be a phone call with MDOT and understand what our timeline is. I think having that call first will give us some perspective on. Do we have to put something together to go out with the community on Friday. Or do we have some time for something more formal, like a cow presentation or something else? So I think. If you allow us some, some room to work with the city manager on that and, and then come back with some options based on our conversations with MDOT. MDOT that's helpful. I appreciate that. Pressure Praedel it looks like a second. We have an economic development update. For the co meeting. Right. Okay. Great. All right. So here just a, as we kind of. Move in this Robert's rules. World here with this. I was thinking Christian Brando. Oh, I thought you were leaning into your microphone. Okay. We got a couple options. I mean, sense of the commission seems to be, you know, don't wanna move forward on this tonight with an approval. So one option is to, to the. Person who made the motion for support of the motion. Withdraw that. Motion and then we could. Basically postpone this to another time. One version of that is to postpone to a date certain, but I don't wanna do that. And, and pick that date certain and then have to do that change again. So we don't really know what our timeframe is on this. So what's the sense here from the commission. Do we want to are people comfortable withdrawing the motion to support this action. That would be made by the person made the motion, the person

that seconded that motion. And then I, I don't think we'd really have to take further action that if we're not. Most plenty to a day, certain. Assistant city attorney. Thoughts on that. So if you vote to, if you vote no on the motion to approve, that's currently. It does not get approved. It could be brought back at a later date. It doesn't have to be a date. Certain it would just be brought back. If you withdraw into a motion to postpone, then it would be to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Thank you Commissioner Praedel. I would certainly be willing to withdraw the motion. I think. Did I make the motion? I I'd be willing to withdraw the motion. But I think like I would like a time. Certain date, just so it doesn't prolong forever. And one idea, I was wondering if it would be okay. Assistant city attorney would be. Could we motion to say, to vote on. No later than the third meeting in March. So that way, you know, you give well that's right. I'm sorry. The third week in March. The meeting at the third week in March. So that way, it's like you have two meetings available, but if, if it. Works out to vote on it in the first one we're able to. But if, if there is a little bit more need of time, you'd have that wiggle room. Would that be okay if Tomo. That way to a motion to postpone it, have to go to the next scheduled meeting. So I can't be postponed. Gotcha. If it doesn't then it essentially. Dies, but I don't think we have to make a motion to postpone. We could withdraw the motion and just, we're not acting on it. And then it's just it's just, it wasn't acted on this evening is that. Response to that. The, I, well, if you vote.

No one, the motion to approve, then it's not approved. It's not acted on tonight. So it's, it's not signed it. Wasn't approved tonight. Then staff could bring that back. With more information at a different. Date, it wouldn't be a certain, a date. Certain it would be brought back later. Your suggestion is to vote. No. Or just in that taking action on it at all on the pending motion to approve. So if you vote no on the motion to approve, it's not approved. But could be brought well, what happens if he withdraws? Withdraws. And then we just sit. I mean, there's been, there's been no action taken, so yeah, I that's one action, right? I think, yeah, that, that could be an option. Sure. So, yes, Commissioner pan, I'm just gonna just ask city manager Hankins. Like what would, what's your preference? Knowing what you know, you and the team need. Thank you Commissioner. Our main question is timeline. How the logistics get us there. Not as concerned about, but if, if we have through March 16th, which I believe is the date. Getting some looks out. I think that's gonna be enough time for us to come back with what you've asked for. All right. So do I, how does this work? Exactly? So correct me if I'm wrong, assistant attorney that. So we could take a step to withdraw the motion and the person support the motion would withdraw. Their support. And then we could take an action to postpone this. But you're saying that it, I mean, the regularly scheduled meeting the next regularly scheduled meeting. Which is not the 16th. Right. Do you have language for what the postpone meant? Motion would look like it would be postponed to the next. Regularly scheduled business

meeting. So, so we wouldn't wanna do that. So it'd be post you're you're proposal. Was to postpone it to no later then. Our second meeting in March. That's what you're thinking about. I, if I heard correctly, if I could ask a question from the city attorney assistant city attorney. I think what I heard said is if you vote, no. We could bring it back whenever we, we wanted to. We were commit to you from a staff perspective that it would be on the 16th Agenda. And right now the outstanding motion is. Is what to approve, to approve, to approve. So if the answer is no, then we get to bring it back. If I heard correctly. Yeah. Okay, fine. That's what I, but also we could withdraw in the, in the same thing holds true. Yes. I think I like the idea of just withdrawing it because I'm worried that if we vote no on it, then the message that goes out to community is like the commission votes know on, you know, school safety measures and that sort of thing. So I don't want that to be per se. So you've already offered and. Support. I withdraw my support. Okay. Didn't vice mayor. Didn't you have something to say? Oh, I'm just wondering how I do that. Do I just say that? I'm I withdraw motion in that's sufficient enough. Okay. Okay. Like to withdraw, I'd like to withdraw my motion, please. I withdraw my support. And we have to take, we don't have to take any further action on this. So there we go. Thanks for all the detailed questions and discussion. I appreciate that very much. Of my colleagues here. So we are now down to reports and. Legislation city manager Hankins.

Do you have a report? Yes, ma'am first I would ask the commission to, for a full report to. Dive directly to the report that I submitted with tonight's Agenda. But I'll call out a few key points from that report and some others. During the month of March, the city will transition to. A more optimized, corrosion control approach. That is an approach that will. Be tailored to Kalamazoo's groundwater chemistry. And, and this new approach is basically moving from a polyphosphate to an art phosphate. And hopefully, you know what those are. . Approach. And it helps to provide a protective lining inside our pipes and reduce the potential of metals. It'll be rolled out starting this month. And. It'll coincide with upgrades to all our 13 water treatment plants. So I thought I'd share that with you tonight. Another water related. Update typical for this time of year, we're experiencing some, some water breaks. Breaks and you know, this is the repeated, freezing and thawing cycles. Cycles. And so we have a team of staff who are working. Round the clock to first and foremost, address those breaks when they occur. But also we have a plan for upgrading the aging infrastructure with more durable materials. So we're being proactive in prioritizing high risk areas. When we do those. Amendments and changes to our current materials. So appreciate, appreciate the community's patience as our crews work, to get these things. Implemented and done. A few other things. I've continued some. Community conversations, I'll call it. Just spending time in the community. Meeting with individuals. I had the fortune of meeting with the NAACP at their general meeting.

This month, it was a warm welcome. And I, I actually wanted the speakers presented some information on the underutilized services for our veterans, especially those who are unhoused. And so it was an enlightening conversation to understand that there are services of available to folks and. They're underutilized either by choice or by not having awareness of those available services. So something to keep in mind. Also spend some time. In some other community events with Albert White's bust unveiling by artist James Palmer. Successful African American builder in Kalamazoo was Albert White. Contributing to Kalamazoo central high. As well as the administration building at Western Michigan among others. So that was a very. My daughter and I actually got to attend Nat and she's, she's four for some of you who know. So she was. She had a good time up to a point, right. And got cookie. Yes, she did have her cookie. Attended a Bron Bronson sponsored event, Afros fades and razor blades. Blades. It was a, a, an event that explored the significance of. Barbershops in the African American community. With healthcare. So a good dialogue and a lot of interactive conversation. It was very well attended. If it comes back, I recommend that anyone who's here, take a shot and go and see it. Got a chance also to spend time with pastors on patrol. They have a very commendable. Approach to trying to make sure that they bridge the gap between the relationships with our public safety and the community. So I, I welcome that approach and hopefully that can spread to. Many city departments as we work to be, to build trust with our community. So. Just a few things and I won't take much more of your time, but thank you for the opportunity to share those updates. Updates. Thank you. Major Hankins. I appreciate it. We are now. At the time on our Agenda for Commissioner comments, or does anyone wants to provide any Commissioner comments this evening? Picture SLA.

I just wanted to say that. A shout out to director baker and everyone that works in public services for the work that they're doing during. Winter. I know we, we, many of us have already said this, but I just wanna reiterate that I see your trucks out. All hours of the all hours of the day. And so I just appreciate that we are able to provide that responsive service. Because, you know, that impacts people. Again, also at all hours of the night with access to water and just being able to, you know, do what they need to do. So thank you. And I also wanted to say that I really appreciate being able to attend all of the design at meetings. I think I've been to all of them, except for just one. I tried to do 'em all, but just. One I missed. And so I've, I've enjoyed it. I appreciated seeing our city manager. Out at the LA at the latest one at Arcadia. And really being able to see our new city manager present out in the community. So that's been great as you settle in and, and meet with everyone. And so that's, that's my comments. Comments. Thank you, Commissioner. Slaby. Other comments, commissioners. Commissioner PESS. Sure. I'll go. Yeah. So speaking of manager Hankins, it's a welcome to Kalamazoo. It's M live seems to have picked up the wonderful things that you're doing and being out in the community. And it's, it's noticed, and, and you are certainly up presence at, at many events. And I think P are beginning to know you. And understand your care for the community and your want and need to, to continue to make Kalamazoo the best that it can be. So thank you for being out there. One of the events you were at was the ribbon cutting for old school? The, the new bar here on, on. The old union as we call it.

On the mall. And the reason it's called old school is that people that Jim, the owner. Wants us to go in and put our phones away. And talk to each other. Old school. Right. And just engage. You can play ski ball. You can play pinball. You can play pool. But don't talk on your phones. So old, it's a, it's great. They have a DJ, they have, it's a lively atmosphere and encourage anyone to get down there and any place on the mall and all the folks, all the. Entities up and down, up and down Michigan Ave. And, and, and then also the downtown brand launch, you were there too. Manager Hankins, man, what do I go when you're not there? So the downtown brand, if you've noticed downtown there's there's. A new logo on the, the flags on the, on the recycling and waste containers. And it's gonna be used. To brand downtown Kalamazoo. Because downtown is the heart of our region. It's the heart of our region. Not just, not just Kalamazoo city, not just Kalamazoo county. It's our, the seven counties in, in Southwest, Michigan. Kalamazoo is the one of the most vibrant, upbeat cities. Here and we, that's where we gather and we share. Right. And even tonight we, we approve plans for one 11 Portage road. Porter street, where we're gonna add 11 housing units downtown. We've got a lot of good. Energy and good things happening downtown. And we're, we're waiting on the, the street construction and we're, I'm excited about all of that. Lastly happy lunar new year, starting tomorrow. It's the year of the horse. In Chinese new year. Thank you to the Chinese association of greater Kalamazoo. And the sponsors and to Lynn and Charles Zang for a wonderful community celebration on Saturday night at she auditorium that highlighted

just the talent. And the amazing work of the, of the Chinese community. That's that's unfolding here in Kalamazoo. So that was, that was wonderful. Let's. Let's celebrate the year of the horse. Thank you. Commissioner Hess, Commissioner Praedel. Thank you mayor. I also wanted to just echo thanks to city manager, Hankins. Hankins, I think some observations I've made about you so far. Is. So I've noticed that the design at meetings. Meetings. I, I mean, I'm not meaning to like look, but I can't help cuz you know, I'm no you're new and it, it feels like you've been here for months already. And I know it's been a very short amount of time, but the, the, the common thread that I've noticed with my interactions with you, that I really appreciate. So the design at meetings look over. And I'll see you sitting on the corner of a stage talking to just one resident. One-on-one. And had the chance to. I felt especially blessed, cuz I got to go right around in the car. With city manager, Hankins and COO lamb for the point in time, count. Test was that last week or two, I don't know, week or two ago. And again, like just an observation. I mean, this is nature for both you and Laura, but like, again, not meaning to look getting your business, but I couldn't help it. But just noticing the authenticity that you can have a conversation with a person sleeping that night in a car. And just be an authentic self and treat him like a human being. With dignity and respect. Here tonight. Have a city manager report sitting on our table with thorough updates that. Super helpful and useful that then we can use to be better equipped to do our job. And then lastly, just the fact that you're using your time and your. Seat to authentically share what you are doing. And you know, what people should care and know about, which I think is, is powerful because.

Again, you know, when you lead a city of almost 80,000 people, people want to know that you've got your hands on the wheel. And I have very much felt that since you've been here. So I want to thank you for how intentionally you're trying to take a listening posture. And being out in the community because I know that cannot be easy. With all the acclimation that you have, not only like moving here as one of our newest residents, but also. You know, learning so much about our, our city and, and the, and the city hall. So thank you. Thank you. Yeah, that's all I have. Thank you Commissioner Praedel. Vice mayor Duncan. Yeah, thank you. So when I think to parents that showed up tonight to. Speak about the safety issues concerning the road. Thank you so much for coming in, just putting this on our radar so that we can advocate for you and your family and your children. Also happy black history month Kalamazoo. You might not hear it. And we won't be here for the rest of the month. So. Cousins. I just want to tell you happy black history month. And again, what, what a wonderful city we have. Thank you, mayor for the proclamations today. Means a lot to me personally, one to be able to re the proclamation for the NAACP and for this city to. Be so vocal about the contributions that black folks have made to the city in, in the country. So it's incredibly important every month, but especially. During February. Thank you. Thank you. Vice mayor. Yes, manager Hankins. Thank you. I, I couldn't see her and not acknowledge that the reports you have in front of you, the ability that I have to be in the community. And to engage with folks is because we have.

Wonderful team of staff and I didn't create that report. So . But have a team in communications have city manager's office staff. We work as a team and they've allowed me to do the things that I need to do to, to help, to support the initiatives that you want to see made. So. Thank you. Thank you manager. So comments, I want to kind a couple things together here and. I, I guess I will also start with, with Albert J. White, who was recognized. Long, long overdue recognition that happened is gonna be a bust. That's gonna be present here in our. In the Kalamazoo public library, just down the street. And for me I, well, I did get a cookie too, by the way, but. For me seriously. One thing that really connected me to that individual and that event. Was the fact that I spent a good chunk of my life as a masonry contractor. And I was in the union actually for a period of time when I was a Mason league contractor. And unlike many other things in the world. Mystery has not changed that much in the last a hundred years. It is really a job that's done by hand. Brick by brick. Block by block. Actual human in some cases. Back breaking labor that people have done for years and years and years to build things. That last. And for example, if you wanna watch that right now in a street that gets traveled a great deal. You can just come down west main. And you can watch the block structures that are being built for the elevator and for the stairwells net building. Once again. Black by black by hand. People doing that work. And, and somehow there's just something

about that. I've spent a lot of time doing that. So did Albert J. White. And built a lot of buildings around Kalamazoo, many of which. No longer are standing, but if you want to. Go at least in witness one. There it's the former Illinois. Envelope building, which is off of Alcott. Alcott, which is now occupied by the county. Department of health and community services. Services that is a building that was constructed. By by Albert White now by himself by, by a whole. Contracting, you know, a team that he had, that he brought together to do that work. And I think that is worth. If nothing else just going in, looking at that. And remembering that every brick you see in that wall was laid. By a human being, building that building. And that, that whole I want to use that as a metaphor, just to tie back to something else. And that is this, that. I mean, I think Kalman's special place. And perhaps everyone that lives somewhere thinks it's a special place, but I, I actually think we got a. We're a little step up in that in terms of Kalamazoo being a special place. And we are in a world right now. Where things that make us special and tie us together, somehow feel like they're, they're being attacked and they're being questioned. And. Some of that foundation is being kicked out. Of the values that we believe that we. All hold together and actually the values that we even express when we're, when we're doing our pledge allegiance here. In terms of the actual language that's in that pledge. And I think because of that challenging time.

Even in a special place like Kalamazoo right now. We're feeling a little upset and angry and disoriented and. Some of our human response to that. Is to respond in an angry way. And I think that now that we have this vehicle of social media. And I, I feel sensitive to my commission colleagues up here that. In certain instances. Making a comment on the Dias here. Commissioner Praedel for some years ago. The ways were all involved in the community. That there can be a reaction. And I think it's challenging right now where that reaction can turn into. An immediate angry post online. Which can then be shared. And before, you know, it. We have a wave of immediate angry posts and. You can have a thick skin about it, but. You know, it's, it's still something to deal with. And everyone who sits up here ha has volunteered. To be in that space where. Whether it's your community. Activities, whether it's your, the votes or you make, or the decisions. Decisions that you make up here or things you see in the community where somehow. You can now find yourself. Into that fire hose of negative posts. Posts. And so I'm sorry, commissioners. I know we all asked for that, but I still feel sympathetic to that. And I just wanna say back to this is that. I think we're, I think we're above that Kalamazoo. I really think Kalamazoo is a special place and we just need to. Remember something. And that is that if we want to build something. We do that by working together. We build that, not by pushing

people off the scaffolding. And maybe it's not a fast thing. I get it. And sometimes. You know, walls have to be rebuilt, but we build that. Action by action. Block by block brick by brick. When we're building the kind of beloved community. That we want this to be where we live. So that that is a positive action. And. I would hope and, and kindly request that. When those of us in the community that care about this community. Think about, Hey. I'm gonna send something to that person that I think is, you know, deserves to be called out online. We just take a moment. And think about is this contributing to building the community that we want? Same. We're all gonna agree on everything that that'd be. A an assumption that would be, you know, unfounded, but you take a moment to think about that and you think, what can I do in this moment? To build the community that I want to see here. What can I do? What, what is the one thing I can do? That's gonna build that foundation. For this to be a better place. And I know this crew. Appears focused on that. And I know that people come in and comment here. On the Commissioner focused that as well. So I'm just saying. Let's do this together. Let's as much as possible. To support let's let's support each other. In a way that builds towards that community that we all wanna see. I love you. Kalamazoo. We're adjourned. With a prayer.