City Commission Preview, August 17, 2026
The water system is borrowing up to $20.4M Monday night, and it’s not the only big water item on the agenda.
🔦 The 3 items worth your attention
The biggest number of the evening is a water revenue bond ordinance, up to $20,440,000, that would let the city finance capital improvements to the water supply system and go to competitive sale with underwriters on September 10. The bonds get repaid through water system revenues, not property taxes. (H-3)
Why, per the city: Funds for the projects are included in this year’s capital plan and 2026 rates as already set.
Right behind it, the commission takes up a $3.2M contract with L.D. Docsa Associates to replace filter media at the Central Treatment Plant. The original media has been in there since the plant was built in 1995, one of the eight filter cells has completely plugged and gone offline, and the other seven need replacement too. Two bids came in; L.D. Docsa wasn’t the lowest, but it’s a Kalamazoo County firm and came in within 2% of the low bid. (H-2)
The data center moratorium is the item most likely to draw a crowd. If it moves forward, the city would immediately stop accepting or processing applications for data centers, battery energy storage systems, crypto mining operations, and AI data centers anywhere in Kalamazoo while the city works on updated zoning rules. The push comes partly from residents who’ve raised concerns as these facilities multiply in nearby communities across southwest Michigan. No dollar figure attached, just a hard pause. (H-6)
🏗️ Roads & property
- Arcadia Creek stormwater corridor: the commission considers a $2.7M budget amendment tied to the second phase of a PROTECT federal grant for preliminary engineering on flood-control improvements running from Oliver Street northeast to Kalamazoo Avenue. Fully grant-funded. (H-5)
- Kalamazoo Christian Schools is asking for a permit to shoot fireworks at Mayor’s Riverfront Park on September 25. State law requires commission sign-off. (G-5)
💰 Where the money’s going
- Radio Readiness grant from Kalamazoo County Consolidated Dispatch Authority: $1,107,210 coming in to fund law enforcement encryption upgrades and radio modernization. (H-1)
- Motorola radios, accessories, and encryption software via MIDeal cooperative purchase, up to $264,058.86, paid from that same grant award, with a matching capital budget amendment. (G-4)
- Odor monitoring contract with Envirosuite for the Water Reclamation Plant, sole-source, $139,344 for one year. No competitive bid. (G-1)
- Aerial bucket truck from MTech (The Safety Company LLC), $154,900, cooperative purchase. The existing truck is red-tagged because it’s over 25 years old and the manufacturer won’t touch it anymore. (G-2)
- Up to $9,400,000 in General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds to cover FY2026 capital projects including streets, parks, tech, and equipment, payable from the General Fund and other city revenue sources. Competitive sale. (H-4)
📌 Also notable
- School Resource Officer agreement between the Department of Public Safety and Kalamazoo Public Schools for 2026-2027; Loy Norrix High School pays $71,000 toward the cost, a partnership that’s been running for more than two decades. (G-3)
- Marihuana Social Equity Policy getting an update as Policy 30.9, with a focus on redirecting how permit fee and excise tax revenue gets used to build long-term economic opportunity in specific neighborhoods. (K-1)
- The commission will also discuss how it handles call-in public comments going forward. (K-2)
Public comment is typically open at the start of the meeting. Check the city’s website at kalamazoocity.org for meeting access details, remote participation instructions, and the full packet.
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