Director Hewitt Smith reported that the Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion has received 12 civil-rights complaints so far in 2025, with a monthly breakdown of Feb. 1, Mar. 2, May 3, June 4 and July 2.

According to Hewitt Smith, the complaints were categorized by the complainants initially as housing (6), law enforcement (3), public accommodation (2) and one related to a child support matter. Two of the most recent complaints are pending city-attorney review.

Several complaints were referred to other agencies after city-attorney review found they fell outside the scope of the city's civil-rights ordinance. The board heard these examples:

- Three complaints related to Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety (KDPS) officers were referred to KDPS. One complaint alleged an unlawful stop that resulted in vehicle damage and emotional distress; the city attorney determined it fell outside the ordinance and the complainant was directed to the KDPS citizen-complaint process and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR).

- One complaint about alleged assaults in the county jail was referred to MDCR and to private counsel as the city attorney found it outside the ordinance.

- One complaint was referred to Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) after an allegation that city staff entered a backyard without authorization and damaged property; the city attorney found that matter outside the ordinance.

- Other complaints were referred to state agencies, legal aid, insurance providers or the specific organization's internal complaint processes. One complainant alleging mold and health impacts after a housing-assistance intervention was referred to state agencies and legal aid; another disputing library suspension was advised to use the library's HR process.

Board members asked for clarity on how complaints enter the system. Vice Chair Lukeman and others asked whether all complaints go to the city attorney. The board heard from the city attorney (name not specified) that complaints submitted on the civil-rights form typically come to the civil-rights office for review, and that the city screens complaints to route them to the appropriate department when they do not fall under Chapter 18/18a. The city attorney said public-services issues (for example sewer or trees) are handled by those departments, while public-safety issues normally go to KDPS internal affairs.

Hewitt Smith said a few July complaints had not appeared on the version of the complaint log previously circulated but will be included in the board's August complaint log update.