KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It may be cold & snowy outside but Kalamazoo’s city commission meeting could heat up today.
The water and wastewater system will present their recommendation for 2026 rate hikes to commissioners this afternoon. City memos say the overall hike for water will be 5%, and 9% for sewer rates. It’s the latest in a series of annual hikes.
The higher rates will be the subject of a public hearing at a future meeting before they are considered for final approval.
The city is also being asked again to rezone a lot at Stadium and Drake from residential to commercial, a request that has failed twice before to get through the city planning process because of its proximity to Asylum Lake, and opposition from residents who want the preserve protected.
Two of them spoke at the city’s last meeting to oppose the change, Robert Piellusch, and Iris Potter.
“We have maybe 13, maybe 14,000 people on a petition to try and save the green space,” said Piellush, and Potter added the land “must never be threatened by commercial zoning.”
The proposed rezoning comes to the commission after it was unanimously rejected by the Planning Commission last month.
The city will also release its proposed budget for 2026 today, as required by City Charter.
Commissioners will set aside time to go through the budget and make any alterations they would like to see before a public hearing and final approval next month.
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