Kalamazoo · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Kalamazoo public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
City Hall condition assessment
Two sole source purchases with Michigan Security & Lock — $115,782.72 for access control at eight city sites and $150,000 for Public Services security — were on the consent agenda.
Proposed book fundraiser and education project
A subcommittee has met twice to brainstorm a new book as both a fundraiser and educational tool. Ideas are early — no concrete plan or budget confirmed yet.
Farmer's Alley fencing and downtown placemaking projects
A $25,000 foundation grant funds new fencing at Farmer's Alley, where pocket park construction is expected to start in late July; Rose Street Plaza construction is already underway.
Virtual Hidden Kalamazoo tour
The commission is turning the old "Hidden Kalamazoo" walking tours into an online virtual tour, preserving a time-capsule record of interior spaces that have since been renovated or occupied.
Bronson Park mound preservation work
Commissioners clarified that work happening at the Bronson Park mound is part of a long-running project done in partnership with the Gun Lake Tribe — native planting and interpretive signage are coming, not unilateral city action.
Historic Preservation Awards of Merit
Two longtime preservation champions — Lynn Houghton, known for walking tours and local history knowledge, and Blair Bates, a mason who teaches homeowners — are being recognized. The ceremony May 27 is open to everyone and caps off Preservation Month.