Kalamazoo commissioners reluctantly adopt Healthcare Action Committee resolution; set date to consider moratorium

During Monday night’s regular business meeting, Kalamazoo city commissioners said their “hands were tied” as they unanimously adopted a resolution setting the election date and determining ballot language for a proposed City Charter amendment to establish a Citizens’ Healthcare Action Committee, and require a healthcare action plan.

While commissioners said they respected the signatures gathered to put the proposal before voters, they criticized what they described as an out-of-town organization taking advantage of and misinforming residents.

“As an elected official in this city I find it ridiculous that somebody 60 miles from where we serve came into our city, held a press conference, collected signatures to change something in the city we serve in. And so again my colleagues, I am consistent on manufactured urgency and tonight this feels extremely manufactured,” Vice Mayor Drew Duncan said.

Mayor David Anderson described the organization’s funding as “dark money,” said he does not support the initiative, and will “work from now until November 4 to make sure that’s communicated.”

The ballot initiative was spearheaded by Community Action Michigan. Chokwe Pitchford, a Berrien County commissioner and representative of the organization, spoke during the meeting in favor of the proposal.

The group filed its petition signatures and proposed ballot initiative with the city clerk on July 1, seeking to amend the Kalamazoo City Charter to:

• Establish a citizens’ healthcare action committee
• Create a healthcare action plan and make recommendations to address health care costs and accessibility
• Prescribe the powers and duties of the citizens’ action committee
• Prescribe the citizens’ action committee composition and organization
• Require public review and adoption of the health care action plan 

Under the city’s charter-amendment petition requirements, organizers needed signatures equal to at least 15% of the valid ballots cast for Commissioners at the most recent City Commission Election, according to the city’s website. 

The City Clerk has verified that the petition contains enough valid signatures. Following the commission’s approval Monday, the proposed amendment will undergo review by the governor and attorney general before it can officially appear on the ballot. If it clears that review, the proposed amendment will appear on the November 3 ballot, where Kalamazoo voters will have the final say.

Data center moratorium

During the commission’s Committee of the Whole meeting, held immediately before the regular business meeting, commissioners discussed plans to consider a data center moratorium at their next meeting, on August 17.

The move comes after weeks of public opposition since Harbor Farmz marketed its cannabis cultivation facility at 2839 Full Circle Dr. for potential redevelopment as an artificial intelligence data center. The company has said cannabis prices have dropped sharply since 2020, prompting its decision to seek alternative uses for the industrial building. 

City Attorney Aaron Leal outlined two options for adopting a moratorium:

• The City Commission could adopt a moratorium based on public health concerns; or
• Pursue a moratorium through the zoning process, which would first go before the Planning Commission and then the City Commission.

Watershed Voice will continue to provide updates as the issue develops. 

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.