How should Kalamazoo spend $38M of federal stimulus money?
KALAMAZOO, MI  The city of Kalamazoo held a meeting to allow citizens to give their opinions about how the city should spend millions of dollars in stimulus funds coming from the federal government. During its public Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, June 7, the Kalamazoo City Commission took time to discuss with members of the public about the influx of more than $38 million expected over the next two years, Kalamazoo City Manager Jim Ritsema said. The notion here is to help turn the tide of the pandemic and address the economic fallout, and lay the strong foundation for our economic recovery here, Ritsema said during a presentation that begins about 8 minutes into the meeting video:  Deputy City Manager Jeff Chamberlain outlined the categories the money can be spent on, including supporting public health response, addressing negative economic impacts, premium pay for essential workers, replacing public sector revenue loss, water and sewer infrastructure, and broadband infrastructure. The money comes with rules about some things that arent allowed, Chamberlain said, such as placing the money in a rainy day fund. The city has to decide how it will spend the money by Dec. 31, 2024. The money must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026, Chamberlain said. Chamberlain said the city wants to use the money to make lasting impacts, and to do do something great for the community.  Vice Mayor Patrese Griffin said she would like to see a timeline developed so the community can know when funds are going to be distributed. Griffin and Commissioner Jeanne Hess asked about how citizen input would be gathered. Ritsema said the city could design a process to get citizen input, like it has for the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 plan. He talked about some of the other planning efforts the city the city has done already, like setting priorities that are now being discussed in ongoing meetings. Commissioner Chris Praedel said it is a monumental moment for the city. This is a moment where we could truly make game changing, transformational change, Praedel said. Related: $110M coming to governments in Kalamazoo County through COVID-19 stimulus grants  Commissioner Jack Urban said deteriorating housing stock is an issue that needs attention. He presented an idea to investigative a loan or gift program to homeowners and property owners to upgrade their housing so the operating costs are lower. Former city commissioner Don Cooney shared his feedback in an email to the city that he shared with MLive:  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a profound difference in our community and we cannot let this amazing opportunity slip through our hands, Cooney said in an email he sent to the city and shared with MLive. I recommend that we use this money to help those in struggle in our community gain access to what they need for a fully human life. It is what the Nation promised and what people deserve, Cooney said. He suggested that a significant portion of the money should go directly to the neighborhood associations in the lowest income areas. Early childhood people should meet with neighborhood representatives and think tank people to determine what expenditures would make the most impact on the lives of the youngest people, Cooney said. Those who work in the schools and with our older youth should do the same. So should those who work in housing and employment. Those who work in criminal justice should determine how to allocate funds to keep people out of incarceration and assist those who are returning citizens, Cooney said. At each of the meetings there should be representatives from the mental health and physical health systems, Cooney said. The meeting was the beginning of the discussion about how to use the funds, city officials said. Read more:  2 Kalamazoo city commissioners wont seek reelection in November  Drink and dog-friendly walking trail links up two wineries in Southwest Michigan  Michigan man, 63, electrocuted while working on art project, police say