Purchasing policy

NAACP branch president asked the commission to reverse the surveillance purchasing policy, saying it took responsibility away from City Manager Hankins, and also praised Deputy City Manager David Marquot for mobility improvements and asked for metal detectors at city hall.

Southwest Michigan DSA member says the required monthly list of $50K–$100K contracts vanished around 2019 and only returned after a FOIA request; he wants an explanation, an investigation, and the missing backlog released.

The NAACP president called last meeting's 5-2 vote to strip the city manager's surveillance-equipment purchasing authority 'systemic racism,' questioned whether the city manager is trusted, and praised Commissioners Hoffman and Praedel for their votes.

Argued option D is too narrow — drones, covert cameras and aerial tracking slip through — and urged options B or C.

Urged the commission to pass option C or D tonight, saying failure to act after a month would be unacceptable.

Supported options C or D and encouraged the city to adopt policies before deploying new technologies in the future.

Argued facial recognition technology exists and is used elsewhere, and played audio asserting aerial surveillance in downtown Kalamazoo that option D would not cover.