September 8, 2026 City Commission Action Summary

Published on September 09, 2026

At its meeting on September 8, 2026, 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 here.  

Consent Agenda (G)

The City Commission approved items G1-16:

1. Approval of a professional service agreement supplemental with Hubbell, Roth & Clark Inc. for additional design engineering services for Portage Street and Alcott Street pedestrian improvements in the amount of $55,000.
2. Approval of a contract supplemental and change order with Severance Electric Co., Inc. for city fiber conduit work in the amount of $64,810 for a total contract amount of $160,250.
3. Approval of a professional service agreement with GHD for environmental consulting services at the Cork Street Landfill Superfund Site in the amount of $225,100.
4. Approval of a contract with Peters Construction for new hydrant installations in Oshtemo Township in the amount of $252,794.53.
5. Approval of a contract supplemental and change order with Carrier and Gable for 2026 traffic equipment in the amount of $250,000.
6. Approval of a contract with Peters Construction for the city-wide sidewalk repairs project in the amount of $285,365.72.
7. Adoption of a RESOLUTION recognizing FullTilt Performance Athletics as a non-profit organization operating in the community for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license.
8. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving a Neighborhood Enterprise Zone (NEZ) new certificate application for a new mixed-use development in the Park-Cedar- Burdick-Lovell NEZ District.
9. Adoption of a RESOLUTION adopting and approving the Act 381 Brownfield Plan for the 116 W Cedar Project.
10. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving the Project Plan for the Heritage Community expansion project and granting consent to the project jurisdiction of the Kalamazoo County Economic Development Corporation for the portion of project in the City of Kalamazoo.
11. Approval of a recommendation to the Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners that Curt Aardema be reappointed as one of the three City representatives on the Central County Transportation Authority.
12. Approval of updated bylaws for the Civil Rights Board to amend the language in Sections 5.2 and 5.3 regarding meeting locations.
13. Approval of the acquisition of two (2) permanent easements and one (1) temporary grading permit for the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements (HSIP) #1 project in the amount of $1,207.
14. Approval of the acquisition of two (2) permanent easements and six (6) temporary grading permits for the Citywide Pedestrian Improvements (HSIP) #2 project in the amount of $ 6,797.
15. Approval of a request from Western Michigan University to publicly display fireworks at Waldo Stadium on September 12, 2026.
16. First reading of a Transfer and Development Agreement for the acceptance and dedication of land for public right-of-way at 116 West Cedar Street and 433 South Rose Street by warranty deed.

Regular Agenda (H)

The City Commission approved items H1-6:  

1. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving an amendment to Contract No. 26-5089 (replacing it with contract 26-5334) with the Michigan Department of Transportation for construction engineering services associated with Kalamazoo Avenue Construction. (Action: Motion to adopt the resolution)
2. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving an agreement (26-5212) with the Michigan Department of Transportation for railroad crossing improvements associated with the reconstruction of Kalamazoo Avenue (Action: Motion to adopt the resolution)
3. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving an agreement (26-5213) with the Michigan Department of Transportation for railroad crossing improvements associated with the reconstruction of Kalamazoo Avenue (Action: Motion to adopt the resolution)
4. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving an agreement (26-5214) with the Michigan Department of Transportation for railroad crossing improvements associated with the reconstruction of Kalamazoo Avenue (Action: Motion to adopt the resolution)

Policy Items (K)

1. Commission considered a change to Purchasing Policy 70.5 that would require City Commission approval for every contract involving automated license plate reader technology, including amendments, renewals, and terminations, regardless of dollar amount. The proposal would have added ALPR contracts as an exception to the usual staff purchasing authority. Rather than adopt it on September 8, the Commission voted to postpone the item to its September 21 meeting. The discussion centered on whether the policy should be broader and more complete before adoption, rather than address only ALPR technology.
2. Commission unanimously approved changes to its meeting rules to bring back public call-in comments for Regular Business Meetings. The public-comment period will remain where it is now, after Communications and before Public Hearings.
   
   Beginning October 5, 2026: People attending in person and people calling in will each have up to three minutes to speak, unless extended by the chair or Commission. Call-in speakers may speak only during the general Public Comments section; they will not comment separately on individual action items later in the meeting. In-person speakers may continue to comment during Public Comments and on agenda action items, subject to the existing exceptions for consent agenda items, public-hearing-setting votes, and most secondary motions. The prior four-minute allotment during Public Comments is reduced to three minutes.