July 20, 2026 Committee of the Whole

The City of Kalamazoo Committee of the Whole met on July 20, 2026, primarily to discuss updates and proposed amendments to the city's marijuana social equity policy. Staff presented an evaluation of the existing policy, highlighting successes in outreach, education, and community partnerships, while noting challenges in entrepreneurship development and business ownership workshops. The proposed amendments aim to broaden the policy's scope beyond the cannabis industry to support long-term economic opportunities, including access to capital, asset acquisition, business retention, and wealth creation in social equity neighborhoods. The city plans to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to engage external contractors for program implementation, with a commission vote anticipated in August 2026. Commissioners raised questions about policy details, accountability measures for cannabis businesses, and the potential for bringing some functions in-house. Additionally, the meeting included a motion passed to enter a closed session to discuss pending litigation, with no further public action taken.