Watershed Voice Local, News

Kalamazoo City Commission meeting: April 1

A screenshot of Public Media Network's livestream of Monday's Kalamazoo City Commission meeting. You can find the link to PMN's livestream at the bottom of this article.

The Kalamazoo City Commission met on Monday, April 1 and took the following actions:

  • Approved a proposed settlement in the 2023 state circuit court case Biance Wilson v. City of Kalamazoo for $450,000.
  • Approved 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 authorized the City Manager to approve up to $500,000 in project contingencies for additional project costs. The city also approved an effluent sewer easement with the company for the GPI Effluent Sewer Realignment project.
  • Approved 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.
  • Approved a contract with Wightman and Associates to design the two-way conversion of Michigan Avenue in the amount of $1,976,459.
  • Approved the second amendment to the employment agreement with City Manager Jim Ritsema.
  • Approved 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.
  • Approved the appointment and assignment of City Commissioners to various committees, boards, and commissions.
  • Approved 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.
  • Approved 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.
  • Approved 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).

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 in this summary) here.