KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM/FM) — Kalamazoo city commissioners are expected to bring a consulting firm on board to help them pull all the pieces together for a strategic plan on how to reduce generational poverty in the city.
That’s one of the loftier aspirational goals that will be funded by the Foundation for Excellence.
Commissioners say they are swimming in data coming from the Imagine Kalamazoo 2025 project, looking at the work being done by non-profit and governmental agencies, and need someone who can apply best practices into a coordinated community effort guided by a strategic plan
They have identified Moore Consulting Services through a bidding process as the firm they want to hire. Commissioners will be asked to approve the $106,000 contract at their regular meeting Monday.
Commissioners will also be asked to vote on a $1.9 million proposal to build a roundabout at the intersection of Gull Road, Harrison Street and East Ransom Street near the Kalamazoo River.
The project has been controversial from the beginning and already delayed once because homeowners who live nearby had reservations about navigating the intersection.
The design was modified and reintroduced to the commission earlier this month. This time, it’s drawing fire from the bicycle community, who say there’s no accommodation for bike riders to navigate the roundabout.
City engineers say there is no safe way to mix cars and bikes in the roundabout configuration.
An alternative route for bicyclists has been included in the plan.
