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Commissioner Jae Slaby

Kalamazoo City Commission tables Safe Routes to School contract amid public pushback

Commissioners voted unanimously to table the item and revisit it at a future meeting. City staff said they plan to prepare additional information, including visuals, and hold a meeting to gather resident feedback before returning to the commission. “If we postpone it to one more meeting, it’s not going to have a delay on receiving the funds,” Commissioner Jae Slaby said. “It will not jeopardize these funds. It will not jeopardize the contract. So why not just have the due diligence done and send the message to the community that we are hearing their concerns?”

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After nearly seven-hour meeting, Kalamazoo City Commission votes to preserve Asylum Lake

Residents spoke for nearly three hours during the public hearing portion of agenda, with nearly every speaker voicing opposition to the rezoning.

Kalamazoo City Commission meeting dominated by public anger after unhoused man’s death

Residents also asked city officials for answers about a separate recent death involving a 60-year-old man found deceased near the intersection of Stockbridge Avenue and Mills Street. Chief Boysen said the death was ruled a suicide and that there was no evidence of foul play or involvement by other individuals. He said the man had a history of mental illness and other challenges.

Kalamazoo Commission seeks larger venue for first reading of Asylum Lake rezoning ordinance

Commissioners unanimously voted to direct staff to identify a more suitable date and potentially a larger venue for the first reading of an ordinance that would rezone 4301 Stadium Drive, the Asylum Lake property.

Kalamazoo City Commission approves $300,000 for winter shelter services, swears in 56th commission

According to the agenda report, this year’s winter shelter system will include a mix of day shelter, overnight congregate shelter, hoteling for medically fragile residents, and coordinated access services. Ministry with Community will operate an 80-bed day/night congregate shelter, with the capacity to expand to 91 beds during Code Blue weather. Dignity in Motion will provide hoteling for medically fragile individuals and their pets, and Housing Resources Inc. will handle shelter coordination. Winter shelter operations are anticipated to begin December 1 and run through March 31, 2026.

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