Kalamazoo city staff on the Planning Commission agenda presented an overview of the proposed 2026 Capital Improvement Plan, describing approximately $138 million in planned capital projects across the general fund, parking, major streets, local streets, water and wastewater funds.

"All together, all those capital plans I described are about a $138,000,000," City Engineer/Director James Baker told commissioners, summarizing the multi‑fund totals. Baker said water and wastewater work emphasizes regulatory compliance and infrastructure investment; the wastewater program includes ongoing treatment plant consolidation and interceptor rehabilitation. Baker identified a $60 million Station 5/14 consolidation project currently underway and noted larger biosolids funding pursuits with state assistance.

The presentation highlighted transportation initiatives funded through Act 51 state gas tax allocations and significant federal grants for multimodal work under the "Streets for All" effort and the PROTECT grant program. "We plan to begin construction on Kalamazoo Ave, West Main, and Douglas," Baker said, and added the city expects to bring construction and grant agreements forward with MDOT for those federal awards in the December–February time frame.

Baker outlined local street strategies, noting the 2026 local streets program doubles the previous year’s funding (from $800,000 in 2025 to about $1.6 million in 2026) and emphasizes preventative maintenance — crack sealing, mill and overlays, fog and slurry seals — to extend street life cycles. He added there are plans for a streetlight attrition program to replace high‑pressure sodium fixtures with LEDs in coordination with Consumers Energy.

On water distribution, Baker noted the city has surpassed important lead service replacement milestones: "As of Halloween, we've replaced 6,112 lead services, and we've got another 1,200 services planned to occur in Edison next year as well." He said the city has identified roughly 10,000 lead services across its system and is subject to state deadlines for replacement.

Baker also described general fund projects, naming improvements at the Arcadia Creek Festival site, field and equipment upgrades at Homer Stryker Field, and various park investments. He told the commission the general fund supports fleet replacement and facility upgrades and called out significant public safety investments — notably full replacement of self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) inventory in a planned multi‑year replacement cycle.

Commissioners asked about lead service line material lookups (Baker pointed to the city’s online service material lookup and public testing resources) and whether tree trimming and hazardous tree removal are included in the CIP. Baker said tree trimming is operational (solid waste fund) but noted a new proactive silver maple removal and replanting program being considered for 2026.

The presentation was informational only; no action was requested of the Planning Commission on the CIP during the meeting.