April 1, 2024 City Commission Action Summary

Published on April 02, 2024

At its meeting on April 1, 2024, the City Commission took the following actions. You can watch the meeting online here. You can review the official agenda and detailed reports and documents related to each agenda item (beyond what is provided below) here.   

Consent Agenda (G)

The City Commission approved items G1-4 and G6-11. Item G5 was moved to the Regular Agenda, and Item G12 was postponed until April 15:

1. Approval of a contract supplemental with Peter’s Construction for the 2023 Sidewalk Gap Project in the amount of $120,000.
2. Approval of a professional service agreement with the Northern Pump & Well Company for well rehabilitation and associated maintenance in the amount of $158,965.
3. Approval of the purchase of three vans from Gorno Ford through the MiDEAL Cooperative Purchasing Program in the amount of $163,761.
4. Approval of a contract with L.D. Docsa Associates, Inc. for the reconstruction of Water Station 26 in the amount of $232,140.
5. Approval of an agreement with Norwegian Winds, LLC for the purchase of 232 and 310 Balch Street adjacent to the Central Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $250,000. (Moved to Regular Agenda H5) 
6. Approval of the second amendment to the employment agreement with City Manager Jim Ritsema.
7. Approval of an amendment to the grant agreement, and a budget amendment, with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the engineering and design phase of the Reed Court Flood Plain Project in the amount of $89,745.
8. Approval of the appointment and assignment of City Commissioners to various committees, boards, and commissions.
9. Approval of the Mayor's appointment of Jessica Thompson to the Downtown Development Authority and Downtown Economic Growth Authority Boards for a term expiring on March 31, 2028.
10. Approval of the following appointments and re-appointments to boards, commissions, and committees: - the reappointment of Tiffany Burns to the Community Development Act Advisory Committee as the Eastside Neighborhood Representative for a term expiring on March 31, 2027. - the reappointment of Chealsie Viere to the Community Development Act Advisory Committee as an at-large member for a term expiring on March 31, 2027. - the appointment of Damaris Potter to the Environmental Concerns Committee for a term expiring on January 1, 2027. - the appointment of David DeBack to the Environmental Concerns Committee for a term expiring on January 1, 2027 - the reappointment of Joseph Hohler III to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a term expiring on March 31, 2027.
11. Approval of the proposed settlement in the 2023 State Circuit Court Case Biance Wilson v. City of Kalamazoo for $450,000.
12. Resolution to vacate the northern seventeen (17) feet of W Water Street, between N Park Street and N Westnedge Avenue. (Postpone until April 15, 2024)

Regular Agenda (H)

The City Commission approved item H1-5:

1. Approval of a construction agreement with Graphic Packaging International and James E. Fulton Excavating for the construction of wastewater systems in the amount of $2,164,591.50; and authorize the City Manager to approve up to $500,000 in project contingencies for additional project costs. (Action: Motion to approve)
2. Approval of an effluent sewer easement with Graphic Packaging International for the GPI Effluent Sewer Realignment project. (Action: Motion to approve)
3. Approval of a professional service agreement with Jones & Henry Engineers, LTD for construction engineering services on the GPI Effluent Sewer Realignment project in the amount of $271,500. (Action: Motion to approve)
4. Approval of a contract with Wightman and Associates to design the two-way conversion of Michigan Avenue in the amount of $1,976,459. (Action: Motion to approve)
5. Approval of an agreement with Norwegian Winds, LLC for the purchase of 232 and 310 Balch Street adjacent to the Central Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $250,000 (moved from Consent Agenda G5).