The City of Kalamazoo issued the following announcement on July 21.
In February 2020, the City Commission reviewed a proposal to update Chapter 18 of the City Code of Ordinances. This chapter addresses community relations and discrimination. The proposal would strengthen protections for Kalamazoo residents related to housing. The proposal was developed in collaboration with community partners including Interfaith Strategy for Advocacy and Action in the Community (ISAAC), and Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) Kalamazoo. If adopted, this would be the first significant change to address housing issues in Kalamazoo since gender identity and sexual orientation were added as local protections in 2009.
The update would expand housing protections to include educational affiliation, source of income, status as a victim of domestic violence, personal identification method, and prior arrests or conviction record.
The proposal also protects renters against predatory application fees and strengthens enforcement for gender identity and sexual orientation.
To enforce new and existing provisions in Chapter 18, the ordinance would create a Civil Rights Board. The Board would review allegations and violations of the ordinance. Another role of the Board would be to make recommendations to the City on how practices or polices that lead to discrimination can be changed.
The proposal was first introduced as an update to Chapter 18. During the review process, it has been separated into two chapters. Chapter 18 addresses Civil Rights and Discrimination, and the new Chapter 18A would address Fair Housing. You can find the most recent documents for review below. Please offer any comments or questions by email to Rebekah Kik, Community Planning & Economic Development Director at kikr@kalamazoocity.org, or to hello@kalamazoocity.org.
City staff have planned several community conversations throughout August. Forums will be held with landlords and with housing partners and advocates. The City of Kalamazoo will host a virtual townhall on Monday, August 10 at 7 p.m. Community members will be invited to provide questions for discussion by a panel. The panel will consist of City staff, members of the City Commission, and potentially other community partners.The townhall will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.
The proposal is expected to be presented to the City Commission for first reading in August, with a public hearing expected in September.
pdfChapter 18 Non-Discrimination (209 KB) , Updated July 15, 2020
pdfChapter 18 Redline (276 KB) , Updated July 15, 2020
pdfChapter 18A Fair Housing (187 KB)
pdfChapter 18 City Commission Presentation, July 20, 2020 (1.88 MB)
Original source can be found here.
Source: The City of Kalamazoo
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