Meet-and-Greet and Interviews Scheduled for City Manager Candidates
Published on September 03, 2025
The Kalamazoo City Commission is moving forward in its search for the next City Manager, announcing a finalist meet-and-greet and scheduling a Special Meeting for interviews.
Community members will have the chance to meet the finalists during a public meet-and-greet on Tuesday, October 14, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Catalyst Center, 180 E Water Street. Candidates will introduce themselves to the community and answer questions ahead of their formal interviews.
The City Commission will conduct finalist interviews at a Special Meeting on Wednesday, October 15, at 4 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. This meeting is open to the public, and comments will be accepted before interviews begin.
Community members can share feedback on the candidates at the October 15 Special Meeting, at the Regular Business Meeting on October 20, or by completing an online form that will be shared in advance on the City Manager Search page at www.kalamazoocity.org/CityManagerSearch.
Following the interviews, the City Commission anticipates voting to extend an offer to the top candidate at its October 20 meeting. If terms are agreed upon, a Special Meeting is expected to be called the week of October 27 to formally approve the employment agreement.
As of today, 20 applications have been submitted for the City Manager position. The first review of applications will begin on September 12. Community input has played a significant role in shaping the recruitment process, with 415 residents completing the City Manager survey in August.
“This search has continued to be guided by the voices of our community,” said Commissioner Chris Praedel. “We are grateful to the hundreds of people who took the survey, attended or hosted an input session, made a public comment, or met or wrote to us to engage with this process so far. We are eager to meet the final candidates, and I hope our community will continue to share their perspectives as we move toward this important decision.”
The City Commission remains committed to a transparent, community-informed selection process. Updates, materials, and details about opportunities for public engagement are available at www.kalamazoocity.org/CityManagerSearch.
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