Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell says much has been done since he was first elected to the City Commission in 2003. But he says there is still a lot of work to do.
Hopewell is running for a two year term as Mayor under the new election format approved by voters last year. The changes to the city charter mean that the mayor is elected separately from the six members of the city commission. Hopewell has been elected mayor in every Kalamazoo city election since 2007 by winning the most votes of all city commission candidates.
Hopewell, a Kalamazoo native says he has served the community in many ways, as a paramedic, serving on civic boards and then the city commission and mayor. Hopewell says the city has tightened its belt since he’s been on the commission. He says programs such as an early retirement program have helped reduce costs.
A blue-ribbon panel is considering a series of options for bringing in additional revenue. Hopewell says he wants to see the full plate of options before making any judgment. Asked if there is anything “off the table” to bring in more revenue, Hopewell says there may be some options that voters won’t consider. He says some ideas could require voter-approval.
Hopewell says many cities in Michigan are facing a structural deficit because of a lack of revenue sharing. He says it’s important for cities to make their case to state lawmakers. But Hopewell admits that the outlook for a “legislative fix” isn’t promising given the problems that state lawmakers have had in coming up with a road funding package.
Collaboration is one way Hopewell says cities have to address their bottom line. He says sharing resources and consolidating services can cut costs. Hopewell says the recent agreement on a 911 dispatch center is one example of local governments sharing resources and saving money. He says city leaders need to look for other opportunities.
The EPA has proposed “capping and containing” PCB material at the old Allied Paper Landfill site. That was similar to the city’s proposal unveiled earlier this year. Hopewell says he, and many others, would have been preferred to have all the contamination removed. But he says the city needed a “Plan B.” Hopewell says the PCB’s will still be on site, but it does allow for the redevelopment of 30 acres of the land.
The tenth anniversary of the Kalamazoo Promise is being marked this fall. Hopewell says there is lots of work being done to support the scholarship program. But he says more can be done to help children get the best education possible. Hopewell says the Promise is a tremendous gift, but he says there is also a great responsibility to make the most of the opportunity.
