KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – This evening’s Kalamazoo City Commission meeting may or may not be the last held in an online format.
Commissioners had been initially scheduled to resume face to face meetings today, July 19, but it was put off after the board was unsatisfied with the first plan to do so.
Vice Mayor Patrece Griffin was particularly concerned about continued public participation in dozens of other voluntary boards and commissions that have also been meeting on Zoom during the pandemic.
“Whether that be because they don’t feel safe showing up, or because they have have families and lives and so on and can’t be here,” Vice Mayor Griffin said.
Commissioner Erin Knott doesn’t feel its safe to return yet, citing the Delta variant creating a surge in new cases, as well as falling vaccination rates.
“At our current rates, the State of Michigan won’t be at the 70 percent, which is the minimum goal, until December 6,” Knott said. “So I’m not comfortable moving forward until we take a deeper dive.”
Commissioners will discuss the plans at today’s 5 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting, but there are no action items on tonight’s regular agenda that would reinstate the more traditional in-person meetings.
However, city documents state that Commissioners will discuss an extension of its Committee of the Whole trial period. If the resolution is approved, the trial period for those meetings will be extended until December 31, 2021.
— John McNeil contributed to this reporting. —
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