City Commission - Regular Meeting

All right. Well, it is so nice to see everybody here in the chambers with us this evening. Uh this is our actually second business meeting uh for the day and this is our business meeting with our newly seated commission members. So, the first item of business is uh calling this meeting to order. So, I'm calling the city commission business meeting for Monday, November 17th, 2025 at 700 p.m. to order. And first order roll call. Clerk Bolley.

Commissioner Hes present. Commissioner Hoffman, present. Commissioner Pradle, present. Commissioner Slay, present. Wilson, present. Vice Mayor Duncan, present. Mayor Anderson

here. Thank you, Clerk Borley. For our opening ceremony this evening, we are honored to have pastoral uh intern. Is that correct? All right. Joel Han here from uh is that Emanuel Fellowship Church? All right. Welcome. I'm going to ask him to come forward. And uh prior to his invocation, I will ask everyone to please stand and then remain standing for the pledge of allegiance. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, you have created this world and govern it by your power. And you've called men and women to hold wicked men and women to account. to defend the righteous, to protect the poor and the powerless, to remove any barrier to the proper worship of the holy God into the spread of the good news of Jesus Christ. Lord, we pray that the mayor and the commissioners of this commission would be blessed with wisdom, humility, compassion, and honesty. And Lord, that you would use them to your purposes in this world. God, we pray that each and every one of those gathered here today would be used for your will in this world. That what is good might prosper and that wickedness would be controlled and be held to account in our land. And we pray that not only would we walk before you in a way that is pleasing to you, but that by your will, we would all become your precious children by the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We ask this all in Jesus' name and by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. For our guests this evening, we do have the Kalu County Public Art Commission year end report.

Welcome.

Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner and Mayor, as well as Vice Mayor Duncan for having us today. Um, I'm Patrick Hersburg, commissioner of the Kazoo County Public Arts Commission with Ann Videtic, who is our city representative to Casey PAC Commission. Uh, since 1981, the Kazoo County Public Arts Commission, or Casey Pac, as it's better known as supported the public art related objectives of the city of Kazoo and Kazoo County. In 1986, the city of Portage entered into an existing urban cooperative agreement for the same purposes. Um you have before you in a packet both our um bylaws as well as our current roster and our end of year report which I'm here to present today. In 2025 Casey PAC was proud to host as members individuals from the Arts Council of Greater Kalazoo Discover Kamazoo the Kazoo Institute of Arts and the American Institute of Arts. Thank you. And the Kazoo Public Library among others. The Casey Pax knowledge base is broad. its members personal interests and talents wonderfully varied and their goals align towards enhancing vibrancy of the Kazoo's built environment for a betterment of all. Each month our member volunteers their time for projects and regular meetings in 2025. Our meetings occurred monthly on the 4th Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Arts Council's Greater Calazoo facilities. Our full 2025 roster is attached to this report. The Edison Neighborhood Association uh met with us to discuss plans and logistics for the Washington Square pedestrian scramble this year, which did happen later in August. Um the yet to be installed sculpture to be placed in the front of the crearyy apartment building was also discussed and that is in progress. Uh this year has been a particularly significant one for KCPAC and the broader Kazoo arts community as the brush the block mural festival which happened in September hosted by Arts

Council of Greater Kalamazoo proved to be a smashing success. It resulted in half a dozen brand new murals across downtown Kalazoo and massive engagement from the public. I'm pleased to report that Casey Pac was involved throughout the duration of the planning and ex uh excuse me and execution of brush the block with the ACKG program manager Kim Shaw bringing news and exciting developments to each of our monthly meetings for consider consideration and feedback. During the festival, Casey PAC hosted a public arts panel discussion featuring local artists. Panelists answered questions from members of the public concerning their experiences in creating public art, from sculptures to murals to graffiti, the trials and tribulations involved in organizing and marketing public art events and installations, and ways in which community members can involve themselves in the process. Since 2020, Casey Pack has installed 20 pixel 6 plaques on works of public art with plaques for another 12 pieces slated, including those from Brush the Block uh in the spring of 2026. Pixel 6 plaques are attractive, durable, affordable, and connect visitors to web-based multimedia concerning the work and an artist in question. Uh for more information, you can head over to pixelsticks.com/kcpac. Lastly, KCPAC also continues our partnership with Bike Friendly Kalazoo. This year, through leadership of their fall bark, excuse me, fall bike celebration art committee. To date, Bike Friendly Kalamazoo and Casey Pac have collaborated to commission three murals created by Kazoo based artists located in the city of Kalamazoo, the city of Portage, and the city of Gailsburg dedicated to celebrating the joys of cycling. Um, this year, Bike Friendly Kalazoo uh is looking to have a building for their next mural for 2026. So, interested business owners can get a hold of them at bikefriendlycalazoo.org/pub-art.

As Casey Pac plans for the coming year, we will continue to hold our regular meetings in the Epicenter from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the 4th Wednesday of each month. These meetings conform to the open meeting act and all interested members of the public are welcome to join us. Artists, building owners, project managers and anyone planning on or interested in planning public art projects throughout Kalamazoo and wishing to be included in our agenda are encouraged to contact contact us at info@calamazoo city.org. KCPAC is currently seeking an art historian for the calendar year of 2026. Uh this position specifically required by Casey Pac bylaws is currently held by the author of this report Patrick Shelby who is our current chair and will be retiring after 14 years of consecutive membership. We will miss him. On a personal note um Patrick says that as a founding member of the KCPAC commission he found it to be an incredibly valuable and unique volunteer opportunity especially for someone with his background in li in the library. uh he is not an artist. Membership in KCPAC is a fantastic way to get involved in making Kalamazoo a brighter space to live and work and meet fascinating individuals to accomplish shared goals. Interested parties are encouraged to contact us and join our monthly meetings. In closing, I would like to offer my earnest thanks to Kazoo City Commission, the staff for the city of Kalamazoo and our city of Kalamazoo representative and Videtic uh for their continued support uh for the Kumu County Public Arts Commission and our amazing arts community at large. As always, Casey PAC stands to ready to assist with any and all public art projects in all stages from planning to review. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Appreciate it. Thanks for coming here.

Thank you. Next on our agenda is something that we always look forward to and that is recognizing great work that's been happening over a period of time here in the city of Kaloo. And this evening we're recognizing building blocks of Kaloo 30th anniversary. So if there's anybody here from building blocks for that, please come forward now. Vice Mayor Hess will be reading the proclamation. I'm sorry, Commissioner Hess. Sorry, Vice Mayor Rein. That might tip you a little bit. So, this gives me great pleasure to read because of my many years spent at Kalamazoo College and uh being there when in fact building blocks was a class at Kamazoo College taught by Dr. Cummings. So um this is Building Blocks of Kalamazoo 30th anniversary 2025. Whereas Building Blocks of Kalamazoo was founded in 1995 by Kalazoo College Professor Kim Cummings to empower resident groups one block at a time to enhance the quality of neighborhood life. And whereas for 30 years, Building Blocks has worked alongside neighbors to envision and create vibrant communities where residents have the tools to voice and voice to address block level issues. And whereas Building Blocks is committed to prioritizing support for historically marginalized neighborhoods, including East Side, Edison, North Side, Vine, West Douglas, and working to address systemic inequities. And whereas guided by the values of inclusion, collaboration, empowerment, equity, trust, community, and teamwork, [snorts] Building Blocks has built lasting partnerships with residents, local

organizations, and civic leaders to co-create solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of the people it serves. And whereas the 30th anniversary of building blocks of Kalamazoo is an opportunities to celebrate its legacy, honor the residents, staff, and volunteers who have shaped its work, and look forward to the continuing flourishing of neighborhoods led by the power of resident voices. Now, therefore, on behalf of the 56th city commission and David F. Anderson Mayor, I do hereby recognize and honor building blocks of Kalamazoo on its 30th anniversary and express sincere gratitude for its outstanding service, vision, and enduring contributions and to the neighborhoods and residents of Kalamazoo. Congratulations and happy anniversary. [applause] Thank you. Uh, Mayor Anderson and members of the commission. Um, on behalf of building blocks, I want to thank you again uh to the city of Kalamazoo for honoring our 30 years of work. Um, of course, in addition to our founder, Kim Cummings, this recognition really belongs to the neighbors and volunteers, uh, partners and supportive supporters who have made Building Blocks what it is today. So to the Kalamazoo community, I wish I could turn around and I mean I like you guys, but I would rather if you say uh we are deeply grateful for your trust, your energy, your vision, and your leadership. Thank you for walking with us, guiding our evolution, and continuing to invest in our collective future. We look forward to another 30 years together. I want to um also take a moment to shout out my amazing staff. I have uh Jonah Bolton and Erica Brown and Emily Whitman with me today. Thank you all. [applause]

Uh just thanks so much uh building blocks team. This is something that is near and dear to my heart. Uh longtime friend of Kim Cummings who started building blocks. And as a licensed builder and former union mason, one of my very early participations in building blocks was laying a masonry block wall to replace a fallen over masonry block wall in front of someone's house on Blakesley. Uh so uh anyway, I appreciate the work and the effort that goes into it. It makes a big difference. Commissioners, now is the opportunity for adoption of the formal agenda. Are there any items on G, the consent agenda, you would like to have moved to H, the regular agenda? Seeing none, the agenda stands as it is. Communications COO Lamb.

Thank you, Mayor. A few updates for tonight. Um, fall leaf collection is underway. Um, just as a reminder, we ask everyone to put their leaves at the curb, uh, clear of landscaping, utility pools, storm drains, mailboxes to try to make it as easy as possible. Uh, there is great information on our website. If you go to our website/leaves, uh, you'll be able to see kind of where things are at with the schedule. I also want to just remind everybody that our hardworking leaf crews are also our hardworking snowplow crews. And so we do know that when winter rears its head before we're ready, sometimes that can cause delays. And so we just ask for patience and just know that um our teams are out there working as hard as they can to clear leaves despite whatever weather throws our way. Also, we've got some uh community open houses that are happening regarding some upcoming street safety projects. There was one actually this evening. Um another one in Edison on December 2nd. This is to really talk about the planning, the improvements for Cork Street, Lovers Lane, and Portage Streets. Um, this is an opportunity to attend an open house to be able to understand what's being proposed, to have staff answer questions, and just get more information about the projects. Again, that next meeting will be Tuesday, December 2nd, 5 to 7. Um, and there's more information on our website on that as well. And lastly, we have a food drive underway. um city staff kind of came together and really wanted to solicit donations knowing how much we have communities in need. Um so we've got some cans and we got some bins that are brimming to the top um in our atrium. This is going to run through November uh 20th. So Monday through Friday 8 to 4:30. People are welcome to bring cans here. Um and this is uh to benefit Kazu Loavo and Fishes. Want to thank Kazoo Loavo and Fishes for everything that they are doing right now. They always do incredible work, but I know right now is a very difficult time and I'm so grateful to have them as a partner in our community. Thank you.

Thank you. COO Lamb, uh, Clerk Bowling, do you have a report this evening? [snorts] Yes, your honor. Um, in your packet, uh, mayor, vice mayor, commissioners, is a clerk's report, uh, that includes as anformational item a resolution that, uh, my office received. Uh that is a proposal for commission action. Uh it's a resolution that would direct staff to initiate the acquisition of property at 4301 Stadium Drive uh for conservation purposes. That's there for information. Um and if you have any questions, uh I'd be happy to answer them.

Thank you, Clerk Borland. Any questions for the clerk at this time? [snorts] All right. Thank you so much. Now is the opportunity for public comments. Uh just a reminder that this is not an opportunity for dialogue, but it's time for you to take advantage of expressing uh your thoughts on any topic that's appropriate here for our public meeting and for this commission. You'll have four minutes. Please state your name and whether you live in the city. Anyone who wants to take advantage of the public comment period. Yes, please come forward. You can sign in afterwards. That's fine. Good evening, Mr. Mayor, commissioners. Um, my name is Drew Duncan. I am a city of Kalamazoo resident. I live at 604 Douglas Avenue in the Stewart neighborhood, actually right behind Mr. Mayor. Uh, the reason why I'm here today is to reintroduce myself to the community. Um, I was born here in Kalazoo 36 years ago, right downtown at Bronson Hospital. I receive a lot of phone calls and emails, text messages, congratulatory cards, and I am not the vice mayor of the city. I am I'm not um I am however uh the construction manager for community homeworks under Commissioner Prao's leadership. I am the former building inspector for the city of Kazoo. I was formerly Commissioner Sllay's coworker Pier. Um I have been a housing champion for the city of Kazoo for 10 years. I've

repaired upwards 5,000 homes. Um I have a very now common name in the city. Um I it's been made very clear that there has been some confusion surrounding the election and the name Drew Duncan. I just wanted to come here to clear it up. Uh, I not totally sure if all of Drew Duncan's votes went to Drew Duncan. And that's not to take away from his campaign or anything. I just want to make that very clear that we are two different people. So, if um if people voted for me, thank you. Um I moving forward I would like it if people definitely knew that two Drews exist in the city. Um Drew Duncan seems to be very passionate about the the city he now belongs to and I will continue to do the work that I've been doing. So if um two Drew Duncan show up at your door then we're different people. This is the first time we've shared a space. Nice to meet you. Um, that's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes. Next, please.

Good evening to Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor Duncan, um, to all of the city commissioners, new and also continuing, returning, and also to city staff. My name is Charlay Davis and I do work with Isaac and I am energized to stand before you this evening. As a new commission, I want to ask you all to think about what Dr. King said about the beloved community. He said, "The beloved community is an inclusive democratic reality. While not devoid of conflict, it is free of violence. It's a place where our deepest values of abundance, equity, community, hope, and most of all, love are infused into our policies and our practices so that every person is held as beloved. Now, this sounds good. It's easy to say, it feels good to say, but building the comm the beloved community, as you already know, is not always easy. Dr. King spoke with a centered l a human people centered lens and with the understanding that some are not valued in our community. Now I was born and raised in Kalamazoo. I love Kalamazoo but I have to engage in truthtelling and say that not all in Kalamazoo, not all of our community members are held as beloved. Not yet. That's where we need to get. Building a beloved community means that truthtelling. It means being uncomfortable at times. It means knowing that conflict can bring change. It means standing alone sometimes. And it also means addressing systemic harm. Now, as we enter the harsh winter months and into 2026 of unknowns, may we remain equity focused and human focused. I want to remind you that you have a vocal, wonderful community

standing with you all. People who love our community. They want to center humanity, equity, anti-racism in our practices and policies just as you all do. And when it is hard, when it is uncomfortable, just know that we are here to support you in this collective work so that each and every person in Kalamazoo is held as beloved. Thank you all.

Thank you. Next, please. Hello, my name is Rebecca Bergman at 253 Shippers Lane. I'm a community organizer in Kalamazoo. [sighs] I'm here tonight in support of funding for increased winter shelter capacity for ministry with community because I know what it means to be homeless here in Kalamazoo. I felt what it's like to depend on the gospel mission for shelter. I understand the cost when they turn people away. I watched them refuse entry to another young mother with an infant in the middle of the night. I've seen how quickly they claw back aid to those who find their program guidelines oppressive or their leadership offensive. It's been more than a decade since I since I escaped the life where I had to choose between keeping my baby safe and following their rules to stay warm. But even if their leadership and policies were perfect, the needs of the unhoused exceeds the gospel mission's capacity. People are being left out in the cold. I see it every morning as I drive past to take my son to school. People are sleeping on the freezing hard ground. [sighs] [panting] We have kids being discharged from foster care without a safety net who end up on the streets. I was one of them. We have people who become disabled through no fault of their own who can barely fend for themselves. I've heard their stories.

[snorts] It could happen to any one of us. We cannot abandon the most vulnerable in our community. Your decision here tonight could make the difference between a person surviving or freezing to death. The hard truth is that even with the new leadership at the Gospel Mission, they can't meet the demands on their own. I'm asking you to cast the vote that gives our unhoused neighbors assurance that they will be safe and warm this winter. [clears throat] I thank you in advance for your grace and care and governance. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes. Next, please.

Robert Pish, 2228 Springmont Avenue, Kalamazoo. and I'm here tonight to support the resolution that is in your packet. Um, we've talked a few times about the idea of buying the stadium drive buffer zone to Asylum Lake preserve through establishment of a 5013C nonprofit and then making capital campaign to my my plan would be to give the present owner what he paid for it and give him the opportunity to walk away and do his civic duty. Um, how much he wants for it is another thing. Uh, I think the city's got a lot of weight to be able to go in and just say we're going to give you what you paid for it. Um we have 13 maybe 14,000 people on a petition um to try to save that green space. Today there was 200 more on a new petition asking the city commission to go with this resolution. I first heard of this resolution. I thought what a great idea. We're buying McDonald's for $9 million. just a little pl p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p p patch of land. So what to to Kamazoo City? What's 2.5 or even less maybe market value to do what overwhelming support of the city of Kalazoo has come forward many many times. I mean 2023, 2020, now

2025. I mean, some of us are getting old. We can't keep doing this for the next 35 years. I'm probably not going to be here anymore. But you have an opportunity to make your legacy that Kalumu stood up against urban blight, paving paradise to put up a parking lot and protected the whole of Asylum Lake and its surrounding area. like Central Park in New York. I mean, all you got to do is drive down West Maine or Oakland Drive or Whites Road. Anywhere around Kazoo, you can see massive deforestation. West Maine, all kinds of forests are being cut down to make new properties. You know, in 50 years, it's going to be malls and housing all the way to Lake Michigan. You have an opportunity to protect our little Walden Pond in Kalamazoo. So, write off 2.5 or whatever it takes and buy that property and put us all out of our misery. Like, you know, how many more years do we have to come up and talk to you guys? Um, I mean, I talked to David myself a few times and and you know, I I know there's alpa, there's ecologists, there's birds and bee people. Um, I think it's what the city wants. Uh, and you're the employees of the city and we're asking you to do the right thing. Thanks.

Thank you. Next, please. Hello everyone again. Welcome new commissioners. It's good to see some new faces on this board. Thank you. Um my concern is I live on Lake Street. My name is Tina McClinton. I live at 310 Lake. I live next door to our last remaining green space in the whole neighborhood. Same neighborhood where you want to build a man-made green space with a water retention pond. There's a lot of children that live around that neighborhood. There's a lot of animals. There's a lot of wildlife. Retention ponds cause a lot of insects. We don't need any more water added to our area. That is our problem is the water. Your storm drains. Your storm drains do not work in my neighborhood. So why would you build a green space a block down the street from the same green space that you want to destroy? the same green space that has a natural watershed, wetlands, over 100 mature trees. You It's been on the city's destruction list for eight years. I've been coming here for eight years. So tell me, why would you destroy our last real natural green space that absorbs a lot of water and has a lot of endangered species in it? My last natural green space is Lake Dot Rich to John. It saves our home from flooding. If you destroy it, you will cause severe flooding in our neighborhood and make it worse than we already have. But your storm drains overflow after an inch of rain. One inch. What other neighborhood does that? None of them. Just my neighborhood. I've been coming here eight long years at every single city commission meeting

asking the same thing over and over again. Will you please fix your storm drains? Your storm drains come up and flood the streets out when there's no ponds around it. There's no water. There's no stream. Why are they coming up flooding out the streets? I I don't understand. That's why I've been coming here for 8 years asking you to spend the money this time. Fix this problem once and for all. You waste a lot of money on these common traffic projects, which is a joke cuz it causes more traffic backup causes more pollution. Cars sitting out at every light two to three times. It's nothing new. We're in a new we're in a climate change, a severe climate change. Flooding is getting worse and it's going to be so bad that it's going to it's going to end up killing somebody someday if it's never fixed. Like Riverview Drive, somebody drove through and drown. People have died in the flood water in Kazoo. It's time to fix it and bring back public callings. Why can't we call in? There's some people that can't make it here. There's disability. There's people I've seen an older couple come one time. They could barely walk, but they come up and they spoke about the X train in their neighborhood. All they would have had to do is make a phone call. If you bring back public comments, call-ins at public meetings, this is something that's very important. If you really want to hear from the residents of Kal Mazoo and you really do love Kalazoo and you really do care about Kalamazoo and you care about the residents, you will bring back public callins so people can call in that can't make it here. I work two jobs and I've still managed to make it here for eight years. All I want you to do is fix your

storm drains. I want you to leave my words alone. Fix your storm drains. Stop the flooding once and for all. Stop building in a flood plane. You're just making it worse for everyone. Thank you. Thank you. Next, please.

Um, good. Good evening. My name is Heaven Simpson. Um, I am a community consultant with the Calamazoo County Continuum of Care and I'm also a member of the grant review community. I want to begin by thanking you for your time and for your willingness to work with us on the winter shelter program or the winter shelter. I'm here tonight because winter sheltering in Kalamazoo County is not just a service, it's a lifeline. When the temperature drops, the stakes rise. For many of our neighbors, winter isn't just a season, it's a threat. A simple lack of shelter can become the difference between a safety and suffering, hope and despair, sometimes even life and death. This year, that reality hit hit my family in a way that I'll never forget. I recently lost my uncle to suicide here in town. The cold was beginning to settle in and he had nowhere to go. Nowhere he felt safe, nowhere he could simply exist without the fear of freezing or become being turned away. Um, that loneliness, that hopelessness, that absence of warmth, warm of a warm place, it matters and it cost us someone that we loved. I share this not to cast blame but to remind all of us that every decision made in this room touches real people with real families. When we talk about winter sheltering, we are talking about someone's father, someone's daughter, someone's uncle, someone who deserves another chance to stay alive long enough to heal. When winter sheltering saves lives, it gives people stability when everything else is slipping away. It g it gives families hope and it gives our community the chance to act with compassion, dignity and responsibility. We are asking not for the impossible but for support, resources and commitment needed to ensure that no one in Kamazoo County has to face the cold alone. Thank you again for your time, your service, and your willingness to hear us. We truly appreciate appreciate the work that you do. We look forward to what

comes next together. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please. Thank you for your comment. Uh my name is Iris Potter. I live at 1204 Manor Street and I'll be commenting on a couple things, but um first, as a board member for Dignity in Motion and a volunteer for Kazoo Together for the Unhoused, I want to thank you for your support this past winter and for your continuing support this year for sheltering. You have helped save lives and you also see the urgency to support hotel sheltering for our medically fragile community members. WM Med Street Medicine Program of Kazoo has identified approximately 220 individuals who are patients of theirs who are medically fragile living on the streets. This doesn't include people who are not their patients. The need is great and I know you know that there is overwhelming community support for our hotel projects. The dedicated community volunteers who help are truly amazing and they think and I want to thank each of them. All of our paid shelter employee staff are individuals who are currently unhoused, recently unhoused andor in recovery from substance abuse disorders. Our successes this past winter included zero property damage at hotels, zero fights, zero police calls, and zero overdoses. But the most important thing that we were able to do was to give a warm bed, food, support, and save lives for many vulnerable members of our community. So, with your support tonight, we will continue to do that. it's on your agenda and I know you you will continue that. So, I must also take the opportunity to support the resolution on your agenda for information um requesting that the

city consider the purchase of uh 4301 Stadium Drive property for conservation purposes, including the option of eminent domain. I know we can do this. I know that we need to support and preserve our preserve. Our community's beautiful asylum link preserve is Kazoo's treasure. I think we all know that. We go there. We love it. And it must never be threatened by commercial zoning. We are have no obligation to do that. So, I encourage you to put that resolution on your agenda for next time. And thank you very much.

Thank you. Next, please. My name is Shannon Dono and I'm here for the the homeless outside. Um I've never done this before. I'm not really sure how to do this. Nice to meet you guys all. Uh we are I don't know where these people are getting their information, but it is not true. I'm outside of everybody. We're not getting no money. I don't understand. We're not getting all that money was donated. We've got not a dime. They don't feed us. They don't give us nothing. the people that come on Sunday that's donated out of their own pocket. We have somebody that comes on Thursday. They're a nonprofit organization that they feed us and they get it from the embassy. The college, that's where they get food to donate to feed us. Um there's one other guy. They feed tacos and pizza and that comes out of their pocket. So I don't understand why they're thinking that we are being we're not being housed well outside. That's the only reason we're all over because they tore down Tent City. The police did just plowed through it. Well, a lot of these people have been down here for years. They don't know, not to be rude, but they know nothing but that living. They weren't taught nothing. I mean, they were promoted to come here. People I don't understand how people don't know that that people promoted people for homeless to come here. There's nobody know this or what? They Yeah, they did. They promoted most of the people. There's not no new ones coming. But everybody that's already been here, I mean, you're just going to what? Just kill them off? What? I don't understand. That's all you could do because they don't know nothing. They know nothing. That's why they're sitting out there doing drugs then cuz that's all they know. That's all they did in 10 city. But why would you separate them all? That's why they're all over town because you kicked them out. Police just went in their doctor tents down and whatever, abused them, whatever, and sent them out to where they're at right now. They don't have That's why they're spread all over. It seemed like they have one area and there's only 33 going in the mission. 32 women. They stopped it. They have a program that's going on. There's 33 people that go in there. That's it. Women's. And then when one messes up,

you're on a waiting list and one more can go in. So I don't understand how the mission is doing anything anymore anyways. Can I ask where you guys get all your information because I'm outside with all of these people and nobody's being housed know nothing. The people that are feeding us, which barely. I know it's not their responsibility, but at least since they've been doing it all this time, it's kind of like, you know, they depend on it. Teach them something. Don't just whatever they're doing with, you know what I mean? That's why they're sitting where they're at. They don't know nothing but to do drugs and they sit there. They wheel and deal whatever, hustle and do drugs. That's all they know. They know nothing else because that's all they've done for years in this tent city that that they had. I don't know you guys know that over by the bridge over behind checkers. You all just looking at me like nobody's saying nothing. Do you know what tent city was? Huh? Anybody? You don't? Do you? It was for a bunch of homeless people. They were all packed in there and that's all they did was and do drugs. That's it. They know nothing else. They just And if one day the cops just surprisingly went in there, kicked them all out, cleaned it all up, and now they're all out where everybody's, you know, don't want them. I understand that. But you can't just They promoted these people to come here. I don't know why. Maybe because of the mission or something. I'm not positive why. But they need to be taught something. I mean, it's not it is kind of the responsibility if they brought him here and they let him stay there all this time. It is kind of the responsibility to help them out, not just kick them to the curb, you know what I mean? Well, that's and it's nasty out there. I have to admit this is the grossest thing I've ever seen. I don't know how these people live, how they're living anywhere. It is repulsive. I do admit that. And I am homeless myself, but we're being treated like crap. Beside I do understand that, but we need help. I'm asking we don't get a dime out of billions of dollars supposedly been donated to the homeless. We've gotten not a dime of this money in three years. Maybe one or two's been housed, but nothing. I swear they've got nothing. I mean, the town ain't that big to know if somebody's going to feed or

we all know about it cuz we're going to go. You know what I mean? It's not your responsibility. I understand that. But they need to be taught something or I don't know how else to do it. You can't just There are people like she said there. So there's somebody's mother, there's somebody aunt, there's somebody they're human. Thank you.

Thank you very much. Next, please. Good evening, Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor Duncan, and congratulations on the new commission. My name is Michelle Davis. I'm the executive director at Housing Resources. Um I'm here to thank you for the agreement that you're about to approve um for winter shelter. I also want to share the realities of the winter shelter program that's going to be proposed. Um the request for proposal that was released was a partnership with Kazoo County, the city of Kazoo and the continuum of care. It called for 160 winter shelter beds and 24hour 7 coverage for shelter access including holidays and weekends. What was funded was 65% of the beds that went out in the RFP and one day shift of shelter access through business hours Monday through Friday. The realities of what will happen is those shelter beds will fill immediately. People can keep that shelter bed until they don't show. They will be full. People will continue to call every day and be told that there aren't any. And there will not be access overnight and on weekends unless the shelters themselves allow people in, which they may. I thank you for your commitment. This is the first time in a while there's been a formalized plan for winter shelter. We are one month late in getting this approved and I ask you to please find some additional funds for the need. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor Anderson and members of the commission. I'm Andrea Traml. I am the development director at Ministry with Community. I'm here tonight to first off thank you uh thank you for your continued support of the work we get to do here in the 47 years history of ministry with community. And that is to be Kazoo's only permanent daytime shelter. Tonight, you folks get to vote on an opportunity for Ministry of Community to become um an overnight temporary shelter during the winter months. And I have to tell you, um it's an undertaking, but we're we are able, willing, and want to step up to serve the citizens of Kazoo with 80 beds. And we can do it. And we can do it at the premier level that we do our folks here. So, I really just want to say thank you. And um it's cold out there. And before I came to this meeting tonight, I stepped over a resident on my door outside of my building as she was snuggling in for the night and I said, "Please stay warm." As she had a million blankets over her. So, I just want to take a moment and think of her and hope she stays warm tonight. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Uh, hi there. Um, welcome to new commissioner members as well. I echo support for previous speakers um on some serious issues. This feels uh kind of pales in comparison in some ways, but um I'd like to raise a broader issue concern about the city's public public participation policy and how it's applied in staff reports using the report for the recent resoning request at Stadium and Drake as a case study. uh the participation policy requires u a summary of outreach of activities. In practice, this requirement is being fulfilled in reports, but in the narrowest way possible, I believe. Uh for example, the most recent commission report simply notes that the applicant held a neighborhood meeting with roughly 50 attendees. Uh but it does not convey what occurred in those 90 minutes. This matters especially when applied to high-profile cases where community members are at their most vocal. Most notable examples of public participation that didn't make the report or more notable examples rather uh record attendance and public comments at the 2020 meeting on the same site. Again, that meeting went till near midnight as I recall. Um a 14,000 plus signature petition and multiple ALPA hosted forums. Some of these examples aren't city approved uh public participation requirements, but uh surely they warrant some acknowledgement in a staff report that uh commission members rely on to make educated decisions. Um and so the recent public planning commission staff report reduces years of public engagement to single sentences that meetings were held and attended. There's no reflection of what people actually said, no acknowledgement of the depth of concern, and no indication of whether any input shaped the actual proposal as it moved forward. For example, the report section on community need makes no reference to the overwhelming public

feedback that explicitly rejects the public uh a need for this resoning. I was at the recent meeting at Anna Whitten Hall and the public spent much of their time about the distinct lack of community need for this resoning. U the report suggests that community need was independently defined of the community itself. Um I think that actual data should inform these determinations and be reflected in the reports. Um I don't think these are minor oversightes and I think they spill over into other serious issues outside of environmental uh concerns. uh when a staff report checks the outreach box without reporting the content of public input, the public participation policy becomes a procedural tool, not a meaningful one. The policy ends up masking rather than reflecting the public's voice. And I think that really happened in this uh recent uh staff report. I urge the city to strengthen the standards for what qualifies as as a summary quote summary of outreach activities going forward. Staff report should include the substance of public feedback, not just the outreach that occurred, so decision makers and community members can see how public input is informing proposals when they come to a vote. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, please.

Good evening, Mayor. Um, Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor Duncan, Commissioner Hoffman, Commissioner Slavy. I just wanted to come and thank or give my congratulations to you for your reelection and for you for raising your hand to um serve. My name is Vic Le Better. I'm a um Portage City Councilman. I too won reelection. I get sworn in tomorrow, but I just wanted to come by just say congratulations and I look forward to working with you and anything I can do to help. Please reach out to me. But again, the city is good hands and going in the right direction. Thank you. Thank you.

Good evening. I'm Jane Gochoo, the convention and visitors bureau for Kazoo County. I too want to welcome the new the vice mayor and new commissioner. And I look forward to working with you on everything that we do to help make this city of Kazoo a great place to live, work, and play. And on that note, I have a few messages to deliver. The first is um extreme gratitude to the staff of the city of Kalamazoo for everything that they're doing to help us be successful in the development of the indoor youth and amateur sports facility. Many people on the city of Kazoo staff have sat with the development team to make sure that we understand the right process to make sure that we have the right input that we do things the right way and meet our aggressive timeline. and we could not ask for more professional and more helpful support than we're getting from city staff. So, we're deeply grateful. On a related note, Commissioner Hes serves on that authority board and she has dedicated a great deal of time and commitment and passion to helping the project be successful and we very much appreciate that. Two other pieces of information I wanted to pass along. Um, starting in the spring of 2026, the Gilmore International Piano Festival will become an annual event. So, up until now, it's been a bianual event. Starting in 2026, it will be annual. For those of your viewers who might not be familiar, the NPR called the Gilmore International Piano Festival, the greatest gathering of piano talent in the Western Hemisphere. It is a phenomenal event that brings people from around the world to our fine city. In 2026, the festival is from April 30th until May 10th. That's the beginning of the annual event. And this Wednesday is the preview event. And for donors,

tickets go on sale uh starting on November 19th. And for non-donors, for the general public, tickets are available in January for this event. and they do have events that sell out, but the headlines will be um revealed on Wednesday, November 19th. And then lastly, I wanted to make sure that everyone is aware that the um Kalamazoo Holiday Parade is this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. downtown. So, Saturday, November 22nd, 11 a.m. downtown. That is an event that brings people from around the county and beyond because it's the kickoff of holiday celebrations here in Kalamazoo County. I look forward to seeing many of you there. Thank you. Thank you.

Yes. Next, please.

Hello. Okay. Again, um just wanted to give a little background of when I started coming here. Um I started coming here in 2021 after the Amperscy evictions and a homeless community member had mentioned Amperscy um tent city is what it was called. Um those were heartless evictions and I when I hear the word compassion and compassionate use it just really makes my stomach turn because it is about to get cold and I hope that there's no push back from um this commission um with getting funds for the overnight shelter. That's something monumental. I'm happy to see all the different organizations coming together to make this happen and um you know it it does take a community effort. Um, you know, um, there are still just a lot of issues in Kalamazoo with homelessness, with the flooding, you know, um, people come here and and and and say their stories and um, I'm hopeful that it's going that you all are listening and and are going to act on this. Another thing that is happening is that MDOT is um has new proposed administrative rules um for their facilities. And um so we need to talk about the real reason people experience homelessness. It's not about individual failure as was highlighted at the Kasu at this commission September 2023. This is a systemic issue. Our housing, healthcare, and education system have system systems have created this crisis with a disproportionate impact on communities of color. Right now, the new MDOT rules are making a bad situation situation worse. These rules treat necessary access survival as a crime. The facilities these rules cover like rest areas are designated for people passing through, but for our neighbors with

nowhere else to go there, the last resort for safety. The current approach is not only unaffected if it it's inhumane. It creates a 4-hour parking limit which means that people living in their cars are not going to have a stable place to sleep. Um and it creates a time cycle of moving around. The benefit of camping um implies that um this is a recreational choice instead of a a life sustaining activity. Um it makes just homelessness a crime. Um it prohibits um people from messing inside the facilities um and it talks about creates like if as if they were an inconvenience um when they're simply trying to be warm. This is happening more than ever as people are struggling to get by. We have a large population known as the Alice community that's as a limited income constraint unemployed people who have jobs but still can't afford basic necessities. and the data encounter of black households, 70 47 Hispanic and 38 of of white households, for example, are below the Alish threshold. This means that families are a crisis away from housing instability and homelessness. 13 1,396 children in our school district are identified as homeless. When we punish people for trying to survive by giving them tickets, um that creates a criminal record. it's harder for people to get services. I urge all of you to go to the M do um website and look for the proposed rules for their facilities and u make a public comment and as well as um approve approve the funds for this. This is really good for the community. Um, you know, right now people are about to lose limbs, extremities, and um, their lives. Um, because there's not enough beds and it's a crisis in Kalamazoo and it definitely needs to be humanized and um, I'm happy to see the organizations that came and put a a

human perspective on this situation. Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone else in the chambers that would like to take advantage of this public comment period? Well, thank you once again to everyone who took the time and made the effort to come here and provide public comments for this meeting. Next is the content consent agenda. COO Lamb.

Thank you. Uh, item one, approval of a 63-month copier and printer maintenance cooperative contract with DL Gallivan through the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies contract in the amount of 128,770.74. Approval of a 63-month cooperative contract with Wells Fargo through the Association of Educational Purchasing Agency's contract for the lease of new copers and printers in the amount of $22,38246. Three, adoption of a resolution certifying the project area designation, establishing the project district area boundaries, appointing additional directors to the economic development corporation board, and scheduling a public hearing on December 15th for the Friendship Village of Kazoo project. Four, adoption of a restated resolution approving an application for a commercial rehabilitation exemption at 261 East Kazoo Avenue. Five, adoption of a resolution setting a public hearing on December 15, 2025 to consider the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget for the city of Kalazoo. Six, approval of an amended lease agreement for 459 North Rose Street between the city and the Central County Transportation Authority. Approval of the mayor's appointments and reappointments to the local officers compensation commission. The appointment of William Reid for a full term expiring March 31st, 2032. the appointment of Levi Winrob for a full term expiring March 31st, 2032. The reappoint of Mark Little for a full term expiring March 31, 2031. And the reappointment of Barbara Miller for a full term expiring March 31, 2031. Lastly, eight, approval of a purchase agreement for the sale of 459 North Rose Street to Kazoo County for the sale price of 200,000. This will be postponed until December 1st for action.

Thank you very much. CO lamb. Commissioners, the requested action is a motion to approve items 1 through 7, postpone item 8 until December 1st, 2025, and authorize the city manager to sign all related documents on behalf of the city. Is there a motion? So moved. Motion made by Commissioner Hoffman, second. Uh supported by Vice Mayor Duncan. Clerk B, please call the RO. Commissioner Hoffman, yes. Commissioner Pradle, yes. Commissioner Sllayy, yes. Commissioner Wilson, yes. Vice Mayor Duncan, yes. Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Hess, yes.

Thank you, commissioners. Items on the consent agenda are approved. We're now at H, the regular agenda. Chief Operating Officer Lamb. Item H1, approval of an agreement with United Way South Central Michigan Continuum of Care to support winter shelter services in the amount of 300,000. Thank you. CO Lam, is there a staff report on this item? We have Patrice Griffin, executive director for the continuum of care. She's here to provide a very brief overview and as we heard during public comment, we also have representatives from Ministry with Community HRI and dignity in motion in attendance. Thank you and welcome Director Griffin. Good to see you this evening.

Good to see you all. Good evening, Mayor Anderson, Vice Mayor Duncan, and members of the commission. Uh so I will share with you a little bit about this uh wonderful opportunity to provide temporary winter shelter for our community members. Um as you know, we have been dealing with this for many years. Um and while we don't have everything figured out, we are much closer than we have been. And so a joint uh proposal was created between the city of Kalazoo, Kazoo County, and the Kazoo County Continuum of Care. Uh the total request for proposals was $700,000, and we're here to request your support of your portion, which is $300,000. The request for proposals went out. Uh the grants were Can you all hear me? I feel like it's

So, uh the uh proposals were received. They were approved or reviewed if you will by the grants review committee. Uh the grants review committee is made up of members of our community consultants uh which one of you heard you heard from one of them today. Uh they are individuals with lived experience of homelessness in our community um who paid to help lead and guide the work of the continuum of care. Um so they made their approvals and move those up to the continuum of care board who made those final approvals. And so you heard from Housing Resources, Inc. who was approved to do very much needed shelter coordination. Uh Ministry with Community will be providing both day and overnight shelter. And then you've got Dignity in Motion who will be providing hotel beds for individuals who are medically vulnerable, who are not able to care for themselves. Um and if those individuals have pets, um they will be allowed to stay there as well.

Thank you very much. Commissioners, any questions for Patrice Griffin, the director of the COC? Yes, Vice Mayor Duncan. Miss Griffin, it's good to see you. Uh, finally not ringing your phone. Um, so we're So the other 400,000 that has already been secured or that's on the way. Yes. And so the Kumu County Commission made their approvals on the 21st of October. They are $396,750. and the Kalamazoo County Continuum of Care. We are supporting with $58,88 and that money is ready to be deployed. We are just waiting for this final approval. Thank you for that thorough answer and your work in the community. Thank you.

Thank you. Other questions, Commissioners? Commissioner Hoffman,

thank you Patrice for being here and thank you for the work you've been leading at the CC. I my question is not for you. My question is internal and uh why are we now just getting this this funding approved? Um I'm I would be hope I would hope that when we know that we're going to be contributing and it's going to be a partnership that we can break down some of the barriers and get this approved uh internally at the city and at the county and when the RFP goes out those those grant uh agreements can be executed immediately. So, I'm hoping we can find a way internally to um change the policy and how we're doing things to ensure that people are not out in the cold when this was supposed to be deployed November 1st. Uh we are a month late and that does not feel right. Um because we have the ability to be more effective and efficient in what we're doing for our most vulnerable. So, I would like us to look at that internally.

Thank you, Commissioner Hoffman. Yes, Commissioner Wilson. Thanks, mayor, and thanks, Patrice, for your hard work. This is an awesome project, and I'm excited to um give my approval today. Um I believe it was stated earlier today that in the public comments that this RFP covers 65% of the beds that we were hoping for. Is that the case?

That is the case. So, we were looking at numbers based on point in time count data. We know that changes were made um at Kumu Gospel Mission, right, to make sure there was safety and security with their staff and people that they served. And so that number was a baseline that was created. Um we we recognize that we did not meet that full um baseline, but we are confident in the work uh specifically with HRI and their ability to um operate fully in that shelter coordination space. Although there are gaps with what they initially uh proposed, um we're hoping that there will be movement, right? And the goal is to get people into permanent housing. Now, I recognize we won't have all of those units that we need created um by the time that you know all this is happening, but for as best as we possibly can, we'll make sure that there is movement um to get people into more transitional or more permanent stability. And I was going to ask a followup um um to cover that gap. Is it just a matter of some gap funding that needs to be addressed or are there other factors that go into getting that from 65% to maybe closer to 100?

It's money. Thank you. Other questions, commissioners? Commissioner S. Hi Patrice. Thank you for being here and thank you for all your work on this and thank you to hri and ministry of community and all who work with the homeless community. Um uh there was there was information about the medically uh in firm and thank you for that. Uh thank you to uh Judy and her folks for for providing that sheltering. Um can you clarify that? So if they have pets the pets can be with or the pets will be taken care of while the people are being sheltered. Can you kind of uh talk about that a little bit?

That's a great question. Um the pets will be able to stay uh in hotel in the unit with the individuals.

You all set commissioner? Yeah. Okay. Commissioner Ple and the the urge to say hello vice mayor as you were the first vice mayor I worked with. Um thanks for being here tonight. thanks for all your work of you and your team and uh the partner organizations as well. Um I was wondering um and maybe this would be better with Michelle as well, but just explaining a little bit more about what the shelter coordination entails and why that's important to this equation as well for this work this winter.

Absolutely. I mean, I'm happy to speak, but I'm also would be happy to have Michelle come up and speak to that amazing work. Uh so, just clearly shelter coordination is something that's been identified by the continuum of care as a need for several years. Coordination is something that our community it does have but it needs more of. It needs to be more increased. it. Coordination allows for those individuals at dignity in motion at ministry community to serve the individuals and that coordination outside of that make sure individuals are in their beds that beds are being reserved um and that there's general movement that they're able to receive other supports and services and their role as the HAR or housing assessment resource agency. So it is in it's extremely important that we have this component. Um, I do just want to acknowledge what Michelle lifted up around those gaps, but I do want to honor the work that the three agencies as well as other shelters um are going to be working in a collaborative way to make sure that all of our community members for as much as we can are not left out.

Thank you. Um, another question as well. So, um I heard somebody mention prior um that you they really appreciated that this is as proactive as it's been in recent history or maybe forever, right? We're not responding because there's a polar vortex happening tomorrow. You know, we're responding hopefully be getting ahead before there's, you know, really really dire uh life and death situations. Uh my question for you, and maybe you're not ready for this answer, but I always like to think about, you know, we want to celebrate the wins, but we also want to reflect on, you know, learning so far. What what what would you say you've learned so far about this process of doing it proactively and something that we can look at to, you know, be even better prepared and ready for next year?

Yeah. Well, I I definitely want to double down on the collaboration that's happening between the city, the county, those municipalities, and the continuum of care. In addition to serving Kazoo County, I'm also the director in Calhoun County. And so and also serving in other statewide capacities, I'm able to see just how uh this doesn't happen, right? How much it it does not take place. Um we are further along than other communities are and and that's a beautiful thing. Um and also, right, we have more work that we need to do. So the beautiful thing is that we're all at the table together. Um it's going to be difficult. To your point, we are further than we have been. I do want to acknowledge that we hope to have this started. Well, we don't hope it will be once you all approve. Uh we will start this December 1st. Um I do want to acknowledge, you know, there have been lives lost. Um and and we will not have those lives be lost in vain because we will do what we need to do to make sure it's better for the future.

Thank you. Thank you. Yes, Commissioner Slayy.

Hi, Patrice. It's really exciting to also know that you guys are working on a five-year strategic plan. So, I look forward to learning more about that um to provide additional coordination and vision around being able to address this issue within our community. Um I'm curious to talk about this is a temporary winter shelter. As we know, Michigan's weather uh can be unpredictable and winter conditions can be prolonged. And so, uh, with this, um, planning to be started in December 1st, how long do you think this is, uh, going to be in operation for those that are seeking refuge there? Um, and do you have a contingency within your budget for any unanticipated uh costs that may come up with having to extend uh the shelter?

So, that's an excellent question. The one thing that we are doing new uh this year that hasn't previously taken place is we're able to operate shelter from December 1 through the end of March. So that is huge instead of just being reactive to the weather that we know we're going to have. Um we do anticipate all of the beds being filled quite quickly. Um and we will do the best that we can. And to be very frank, the $700,000 that has been um awarded in this will all be um you know, it it will all be dispensed to the agency so they can get the work done. There may be additional supports that are needed and so we may be looking to you all. We may be looking to the county and looking internally on ways that we can collaborate. Any other questions for Director Griffin? Thank you so much for being here. I appreciate that.

Thank you. Since there are no more questions there, this is time for anyone in the audience who would like to comment on this item. Item H1. If so, please come to the podiums, give us your name, and whether you live in the city, you will have three minutes for your comments. And I recognize the fact that many people did take advantage to comment during the public comment period as well. Hi, one quick thing. The shelter that is proposed is for single adults and medically fragile. There are not winter shelter beds for families and that's a very important point to make. Thank you.

Thank you. Anyone else in the chambers like to comment on this item? See no one then commissioners the recommended action is a motion to approve. Is there a motion? So moved. Motion made by Commissioner Hoffman. Second and second by Vice Mayor Duncan. Any discussion commissioners? Uh Commissioner Hes.

Yeah. Uh question for CO Lamb. um if the there's not a family shelter available through this program, can you comment somewhat on the family shelter program that's that is happening um with uh out on Kilo Road? So certainly um as uh director Griffin mentioned, we've got a strong partnership happening between Kazoo County, Continue of Care, City of Kazoo

that is operated by Kazoo Gospel Ministries. Uh last I understood they weren't completely full. So there is that option. Uh just another recognition is there is a family shelter that is operated by the YWCA that is specifically for families. There are also family resources. There's a family shelter at integrated services of Kazoo uh which is a family resource. So there are broader community resources uh that are available. Not necessarily saying they're sufficient but uh the the landing is not the only opportunity that's uh available. Other questions, commissioners? Okay, we all set for this clip room.

Please call the roll. Commissioner Pradle, yes. Commissioner Slayby, yes. Commissioner Wilson, yes. Vice Mayor Duncan, yes. Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Hess, yes. Commissioner Hoffman, yes. Thank you, commissioners. Uh, the motion passes. Next is item H2. Item H2, approval of an interim employment agreement with Paty A. Moore for the position of city manager. Thank you so very much. CO Lamb, I presume there's not a staff report on this item. There is not, but Attorney Leel is available if there's any questions of the commission.

All right. Thank you so much. Attorney Leel, any comments you would like to make? I'm happy to to make some comments as well. Whatever. I'll defer to you, sir.

Okay. Well, thank you. Uh, so Commissioner Leal, you know, did our internal work for us on this. Uh, obviously, we're going to have a uh the last day for our manager is tomorrow and the first day for our incoming city manager won't be till January 5th. So, we are required to have a city manager. As a consequence, uh, we are going to, this is a contract for an interim city manager. And along those lines, I've had the the pleasure and the opportunity to work for I mean work with Paty Moore, who was in our city manager's office for quite some time, had a long career here at the city. Very familiar with the responsibilities of the city manager's office. Uh she was also someone who was very involved in creating budgets in the past. That was one of the lead roles that she had. So, I did get in touch with Paty Moore. Paty, are you here? I don't see if you're still here. I know you're here earlier.

Okay, way in the back there. All right. And Paty kindly agreed to fill in for this period of time. I think she's going to be doing a fantastic job as interimm city manager will hit the ground running. Knows the job. And so thank you for agreeing to be available for this. And in order to make it official, this is the uh what we'll be doing is approving the employment agreement with Patymore. Uh attorney mail uh you worked with uh with PY in order to uh negotiate something that is acceptable to to Paty Moore as well as us. Any particular comments you feel you need to make about that?

That is correct, mayor. We um I and uh CFO Steve Asency negotiated with Miss Moore to develop the contract that you have before you. Um just wanted to reiterate that she would technically if approved she would be starting on Wednesday, November 18th at 12:01 a.m. And and there's a reason for a re for that. U and then she would be continued until Sunday January 4th 2026. And then on Monday the 5th uh the our new city manager Malcolm Henkins would then start. So the I' I've listed in the agenda report the key terms to the agreement to make it very easy for everyone to understand what the key terms are rather than having to dive into the agreement and find them. Uh it's for your convenience. And so u from from you know I again I had a a very very good experience in working with with Miss Moore. And with that, I recommend this agreement for the city commission to approve.

Uh, thank you. Thank you very much. Questions, commissioners? Seeing no uh questions, then now is the opportunity for anybody who's here in the chambers to comment on this item. If so, please come forward, state your name, and you'll whe you live in the city, you'll have three minutes. Seeing no one, the recommended action commission is a motion to approve. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Motion made by Vice Mayor Duncan. Second. Supported by Commissioner Slayby. Discussion. Commissioners. Commissioner Bradle.

Sure. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um really want to thank uh Paty Moore for willing to step in especially during the holiday season. Um this is somebody who is ex a veteran of of city hall knows uh this place inside and out and um but has been removed for some period of time as well. So um appreciate your willingness to come back and uh and uh serve the community in this way during the interim. Um it means a lot to us and really appreciate it and um grateful uh to to have you back. So thank you.

Thank you Commissioner Po. Other discussion commissioners I keep watching that hand on the mic there but no that doesn't mean it. All right. So I just want to say one thing we are very blessed I would say to have such a great option available to us here to fill in this very critically important role. So thank you again pessimore for being willing to do this and particularly with such enthusiasm. Thank you so very much. Clerk Borley, please call the role. Commissioner Sllayy, yes. Commissioner Wilson, yes. Vice Mayor Duncan, yes. Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Hess, yes. Commissioner Hoffman, yes. Commissioner Pradle,

yes. Thank you, commissioners. The motion passes. Next, reports in legislation. Chief Operating Officer Lamb, do you have a report? I did uh share most of my comments during communications. Just one clarification. Um during public comment, there was a reference to the acquisition of the McDonald's. It's actually Kalazoo County. Um that's doing the acquisition. Um I know it's very easy to get confused between city and county. Just wanted to kind of clear that part up that that is actually a Kazoo County project. And that's it for me. Thank you, CO Lamb. Clerk Berlin, anything you need to share? Um not in addition to what I shared earlier.

Okay. Thank you so much. So, uh, just as a reminder of what's happening tonight, we are now on a point of our agenda for commissioner comments and as a reminder of anyone that looks ahead, we do have a close session on our agenda tonight. And when we go into close session, there needs to be a motion for us to go into close session. There are very particular topics that warrant and allow us to go into close close session. A reminder is that if we take action on something that's been discussed in close session, that happens that needs to happen in public session. So that action would not happen in a closed session. And if we're coming back to take action, we will go into close session and come back. Uh attorney Leel, will we be uh coming back to take any action after this close session?

No, sir. We will not. So that means we'll we'll basically be adjourning the meeting and going into close session after commissioner comments. Commissioners, anyone who wants to make a comment this evening? Commissioner Hoffman.

Thank you, Mayor. First of all, I would like to say thank you to the community uh for allowing us to serve you once again. And to my new commissioners, welcome. I look forward to working with you all. I am not opposed to if we have to choke each other out in the streets to get some work done, we can make that happen. Um, but truly I appreciate and I'm so glad that we're here. Um, [snorts] and I know we are going to be in great hands and we are in great hands. We have been. There's work to do. We've done a whole lot these last four years. Now we get a chance to do even more. Uh, so thank you all and I look forward to serving and serving with you all as well.

Thank you, Commissioner Hoffman. other commissioners. Commissioner Slayby.

Thank you, Mayor Anderson. Thank you, Kalamazoo. Um, as someone who served um under the 54th and 55th commissions here for the city of Kazoo as the neighborhood activator, uh I have the great pleasure now of serving on the 56th commission. only five months uh since I you know uh served in community planning economic development. I really look forward serving in this policy role. I'm excited to be back in this type of capacity um as I previously served on the school board in Battle Creek for six years. So, it's exciting to have knocked on so many doors during the campaign uh directly connecting with each of you uh in the community to understand what's most important to you and your neighborhood and citywide and being able to carry that uh onto this commission knowing that um I'll be able to continue to represent your concerns and advocate for the best um decision possible as a collective commission. Uh what I campaigned on uh during these last few months is that I want to see Kazoo become the easiest place to move to, launch, and start and plug in. And I think that applies to every single person that wants to call Kazoo home. And again, I'm enthusiastic about the work that's ahead of us with our new imagine Cal Mazoo uh 2035 master plan, our new city manager that will be joining us and all of the exciting projects that will come before us uh for us to consider approval of. And I think that there's um a lot of things that we can do differently uh so we can continue to reach more and more people, get them in here and participating and feel like they are heard in the feedback they provide us and feel like there's material impact on their day-to-day lives in a positive way for us to address their concerns and get everybody up out of poverty and thriving in this community. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Slay. Commissioner Wilson. Thanks, Mayor. I'll be quick. I just wanted to congratulate you all on your new election and Commissioner Hoffman, uh, OG, your reelection. Um, I endorsed all three of you because I loved your energy and I'm excited that you're bringing that on to the commission and I'm very excited and happy to serve alongside you and get some good work done. So, congratulations once again.

Thank you, Commissioner Wilson. I'll try to be quick, y'all. Uh, Erin, Chase, Marissa, Travis, Jess, Mari, Joe, Charardai, Chambers, and the neighbors in Kazoo. Again, I would be remiss if I did not take this time and thank you all of you who stood in line, who bubbled me in, who cast your ballot, and those who maybe thought you were voting for the other Drew as well. Uh, I hope that I I earn your vote. Um, Drew, so sorry that you are being harassed. Uh, I'll do this on the record in good faith. My number is 574 32300 0. It's a real number, y'all. So, please uh uh position and posture your harassment or congratulations away from this gentleman. Uh, he's done a tremendous amount of work in the community. I'm I'm finding out. Um, I'm happy to share the name. I hope I wear it well. Um, and then lastly, um, I'm want to use this platform before we close this tonight to, uh, say her name, Tammy Christie. That was our neighbor that froze in the cold last, uh, last winter and who launched my campaign. Um, I'm eternally grateful again to this community, uh, and for the people who saw the urgency of this moment. I thank you all uh particularly Miss Miss Griffin and the people who have run before me. This this victory this this win stands on the shoulders of those who have come before me and and I am I do not forget that. Uh I intend to work very hard to earn the votes um that people gave to me and maybe didn't. Um but I want to be a a vice mayor. I get to say that. Um and then a commissioner um that understands this moment that we are facing as a city. This can be a city that adopts the spirit of dignity and justice for all.

Thank you, Vice Mayor, Commissioner Cradle.

Thank you, Mayor. Want to welcome our new colleagues. Um appreciate your willingness to run and serve. Uh want to congratulate my colleagues who are returning. It's uh continues to be an honor to serve with both of you. Uh, Commissioner Hoffman and Mayor Anderson. Uh, you know, this is one of the things I remember back uh, six years ago being in your particular shoes, but you have you realize when you put your arm up there and you're taking your oath, you have no idea what is going to happen in the next four years. It's you absolute highs, absolute lows. The one reality is is that regardless of what happens, it's going to be the seven of us in the seat figuring out how to get through it together. Uh, I look forward to working with both of you as I have with everyone else because I love this city and I love people who love this city and I love anybody who's willing to work hard for the people who love and live in this city. And so I think we're going to all fit in pretty well irregardless if we might have disagreements or we completely agree on things sometimes because I think you've got seven people up here who who really want to see us uh grow and thrive as a community. Um, wanted to make sure just somebody mentioned earlier about how public services is is duly working right now to plow and do leaves, but you know, they also do the holiday lights. I mean, these folks are working really, really hard right now to balance all these different things that are all happening simultaneously to to help our community. Uh, and so I just really want to give a shout out to those folks who are working their tails off. The other thing too is uh our budget's about to come out as a draft and there's a real hardworking team with Steve Fency and his team and and the team and leadership here who are working really hard to button that up. But simultaneously, while Steve and his team have been doing that, they are transitioning to a whole new system uh uh uh to manage uh their work and also we're heavily involved with the city manager contract, involved with the interim city manager contract. So really, Steve, want to make sure that your team knows and hears how much we appreciate you and all your work uh to get us doing that as well. Uh wanted to

lift up an idea I heard tonight from um from Jeff who's here tonight. But that was a really good idea worth lifting up. Um the idea was is just that in the past there have been mechanisms where during our meetings we use the meetings to uh acknowledge any of the boards and commission seats that are open. I thought that was a really good idea and I don't know if that looks like having it part of the agenda where we just read off if you know there's five vacancies and which boards they are and where you can serve um or even just like including it in the consent agenda or what not. But I just thought that was a really good idea because I know that's something that we've sometimes struggled with filling those seats. And that might be a great way to make sure that people who are tuning in or are interested in plugging in have the chance to to hear right right away with that. The other thing too is uh Tom was here tonight talked about just that public participation plan work as well and and I think I think it was a really valid point because um in this particular instance that you're talking about with that plan you have an issue where it's a very onesided what you're hearing from public input. A lot of times you might have a situation where you have like a trafficcoming project where you have maybe a even divide or maybe a 2/3 one-/ird split of how people feel on things. But in those types of situations, to your point, I think it'd be really valuable to maybe use technology. I mean, we we could use AI. You look at Zoom where it can transcribe whole meeting comments and whatnot. Maybe there's ways where we could be utilizing technology in those kind of forum settings to have it automatically aggregate and collect what is being said and summarize what's happening. Um, we saw that happen with the city manager search and with the public comment. Uh, the summary for that and summarizing what was heard in that summary report was using AI technology. So, um I think there there might be ways where we we could look at that and try to improve that process. But I thought that's worth noting. I also want to acknowledge and note that there have been instances with that public participation plan when uh there are uh instances where there's divided input where they have provided that. But I think again, you know, this one example you gave is an example of where we could potentially do something different or a little bit better. So,

thank you for sharing that. Anyways, uh thank you. Uh have a good night,

Commissioner. H. Sure. I too would like to welcome our new colleagues. Welcome and it'll be a pleasure serving among you for at least two more years. Appreciate uh your your being here. Um Winston Churchill said to improve is to change and to be perfect is to change often. So we pretty much change every two years. So I wanted to say we're pretty perfect up here. Um kidding. Uh so we we do we work to try and be perfect on behalf of the people of Kalamazoo. Um uh Director Baker, I see you back there. I see you back there and I see your people that are working. You know, uh Sierra Oan talked about the the the work of of your crews. I have personally seen them uh working really hard on the streets of Kalamazoo to try and get all of these falling leaves before the snow flies. I want to thank them and I'll be in touch to see how many donuts they want and when. And I will get them donuts because they to so deserve it. Please let them know uh from a grateful community uh about the work that they do. Um uh the parade was mentioned uh the this Saturday the parade 11 o'clock. Bring your families, bring your friends, bring your neighbors, come down and be downtown among your community. As I said many times before, the word community means to have charge of together. It is a verb. It means to be active in your community. One of the best things you can do is be here supporting all of these people that are marching in front of you throwing candy at you. Um and and really just trying to bring joy and goodwill into the holiday season. So um it it is always a wonderful time. Sounds like the weather's going to cooperate and uh we hope to see thousands of people downtown and then also staying downtown and enjoying things like the Holly Jolly Trolley and uh and shopping local and keeping our dollars right here where they belong. That's part of

helping make Kalamazoo abundant again. Um so really just shopping local. Uh the tree lighting, we won't be meeting again before the tree lighting over here. So, I'm glad that Clerk Borling didn't change our seats because we get to sit here and then if we look out that way, we can see all the lights in the in the park as they're lit up. So, um I I I love the work and again, thank you to public services and parks and wreck for for working so hard to make our park so special. But that tree lighting is um the 28th, Friday the 28th between 5 and 700 p.m. at Branson Park. there will be all kinds of things for families and folks to to share. [snorts] Um so again, please come down for that. Uh some of the things that we are asked to do and and we all get emails, we get in invitations to all kinds of things in this community. I I sit here with a grateful heart, an extremely grateful heart. Uh, I was able to visit uh the ribbon cutting for the one of the Reach Sober independent living homes that was is opening on the Engleman Court on just off of uh Riverview over on the east side. And um Chris Pompei, the CEO of of Reach Sober Living, is an amazing person with an amazing vision for housing for people in recovery in Kalamazoo. And he's doing great work for for several several people. And I just want to thank him publicly, him and his staff for everything they're doing from, um, just, uh, six months sober into an independent living contract. And so, um, the nonprofits in Kalamazoo do amazing work and I appreciate them so much. Um, that said, I hope to see everybody out on on Saturday. Thank you.

Thank you, Commissioner Hes. I would like to make sure that this new commission is aware now that uh one of the things that we do sitting up here from time to time is attend uh important community events that are not commissiondriven obviously and uh one that I attended on November 14th expressing a letter of condolence from this commission uh that was uh to a celebration of life over Galilee, which was virtually the sanctuary was virtually full. And this was recognizing Emanuel Alexander Browning, young man who's 18, who very tragically and suddenly died in the wrongway car crash that occurred just within the last couple months here. There were other other young people that lost their lives as well. Uh some of those uh celebrations did not occur in Kazoo but uh we were asked to provide a letter of condolence uh which I did and I attended that ceremony. So I just I I want to say that once again uh part of the letter was that letting uh them know that we all on the commission are holding Mr. Browning's family, friends, and the broader community in our hearts and prayers as they go through this very very difficult time. Uh all life is precious, but the sudden and tragic loss of a young person is particularly painful is for the whole community. And there were so many of his friends who were there and talked about

the very positive effect he'd had in their lives. Uh a sad event. As far as our recent election here, I just want to say first of all, thank you very very much to everyone in the community that came out to make your voice heard by voting. Whether you voted for me or not, I appreciate it. And certainly I appreciate the people who supported my efforts here and the work that I've done. I I appreciate that recognition. But one thing I want to talk about just a little bit is kind of a behind the curtain thing that happens when you are running in a local election. And that is that as it works out, less than a fifth of people who are registered voters in the city of Kalazoo regularly vote in our local elections. I don't think we've ever broken through 20%. Clerk Borlene, you might know better than I, but if we have, it's been very, very little. And so as a result, as you're fundraising and determining uh mailing mailers to people that one of the things you do is you pull up the history of people who vote in count and you might look at the 2003 and I'm not talking about people that vote in national elections. I'm talking about people that vote in the local elections. uh you'd have to raise a vast amount of money to send a mailer to every registered voter in the city of Kalazoo. [snorts] So you look at people who have voted in 2003 and maybe people that voted in 2001, those local elections, those local turn elections and generally speaking, that's how you create your

mailing list. You're trying to get to people who are likely to vote and [snorts] that's just a fact and it's driven by a variety of things. Uh, one of them is is fundraising. And this time I, you know, I had a reasonably good fundraising effort and I decided to broaden that mailing list and mailed to many, many more voters who had not necessarily voted in our local elections in an attempt uh to try to increase voter turnout and interest. I'm not certain whether it ended up having any particular effect. We'll never really know. It's uh kind of like doing an ad and you don't really know for a fact how effective it was. But that said, I'm going to get back to the beginning, which is thank you to everyone that pays attention. I would suggest that probably the people that do vote is a more informed group of people because they think about the local election, they care about it. And I just want to say to all those who put their name in the hat, including those who were successful and those who were not, it is quite an effort to put a campaign together to not only raise funds, but to respond to questionnaires, to go to candidate events, and just make the statements that you think are important. And it is really in some ways uh an endeavor that requires a great deal of energy particularly due to the fact that many people that run have jobs and need to support themselves and have other life responsibilities in addition. I guess just talking about the times in the past, but I just want to say this is that I remember a time because I've been around

for a while when there was a very robust and involved Kazoo Gazette and Kelzoo. As a matter of fact, when I first ran, it was very very important. The Kazoo Gazette uh had candidate nights. They actually endorsed candidates uh based on candidate responses. And there were uh political reporters at the Kelmu Gazette that had worked there for decades and knew about all city functions and important efforts and asked very informed questions. That's gone now and you can decide whether that's better or worse. But what we have now is a very divided new system in Koo. We have now Kumoo. We have uh secondwave media. We have uh other kind of community publications that have popped up in community groups. As a result, for those of us that are running, you will get questionnaire after questionnaire after questionnaire from a variety of groups and a variety of publications and people sponsoring their own events, which adds to the complexity of the whole business. But I'm still don't feel in some ways still gives the platform you'd like for a fully informed voting public. But that's where we're at. So we have the opportunity now to continue to do the work to try to be as public and communicative as possible about the work that we're doing to make sure that people are aware of it not just two years from now but now and hopefully feel more engaged in what I consider to be the absolute and for me almost primary importance of local politics. it. There is so much and and I know we're consumed by national news right

now which can be completely uh disconcerting and distracting but here locally we still have good work to do and the things that we do I think from time to time and maybe many times have more of an effect on our everyday lives than what's happening nationally. help back to the beginning. Thank you to everyone that took the time and made the effort to cast a ballot in this election. Now, we need a motion to go into close session to discuss attorney client privileged communication. Is there someone like to make a motion?

So moved. Motion made by Commissioner Hess. Support. Supported by Commissioner Slayby. Uh, clerk Bon, please call the RO. Commissioner Wilson, yes. Vice Mayor Duncan, yes. Mayor Anderson, yes. Commissioner Hess, yes. Commissioner Hoffman, yes. Commissioner Fredle, yes. Commissioner Slavyy, yes. Thank you, commissioners. The motion passes. I love you, Kelzoo. We are jerked. Yes.