Portage City Council Meeting - October 21, 2025
The Portage City Council met on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comments on the waste management contract, a presentation on plastic bag recycling, approval of an AI police report writing platform, a property sale, and a vote to not approve a shared emergency management position with Kalamazoo County. The meeting also featured committee reports and council member announcements.
Proclamations
- Lights on After School 2025: Proclaimed October 23, 2025, as Lights on After School Day in Portage. Jackise Robertson from the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network accepted the proclamation and highlighted the organization's 25-year history supporting youth-serving programs.
- Red Ribbon Week 2025: Proclaimed the week of October 23–31, 2025, as Red Ribbon Week, encouraging drug-free lifestyles. Portage Central and West Middle School students read the proclamation. The theme is "Life is a puzzle, solve it, drug-free."
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jay Woodams (2323 Bayside) urged Council to postpone the waste management contract from March 2026 to March 2027, citing a pending ballot initiative (Take Back the Trash) and potential litigation over the single-waste-seller project. He argued postponement would protect residents and prevent job losses.
- Les Minor (2514 East Shore Drive) criticized the waste management contract for including a lien provision on resident properties for non-payment, and raised safety concerns about bulky waste collection not addressing hazardous items like refrigerator doors, referencing Michigan Penal Code 750.493d.
- Andrew Larkin (8139 Mayfield) expressed support for the city’s cost-saving efforts and transparency in the RFP process, but urged the city manager to address the lien provision. He noted that another waste hauler has pursued small claims for unpaid bills.
- Tom Wyman (former city employee) alleged unequal enforcement of ethics rules, claiming he was forced to retire while another employee continues to receive a stipend for using a personal vehicle alongside a city vehicle. He asked Council for an explanation.
- Deborah Lyman (Tom’s wife) alleged that city staff (including Mr. Combs and Mr. Russell) covered up theft of millings and that her husband faced an ultimatum while others did not. The mayor noted public meetings are not the appropriate venue for personnel issues but said the city manager would address it.
- James Bedoyne (8645 Belmoral Street) echoed Woodams, asking what it would cost the city to exit the waste contract and urged tabling the award.
- Bill Davies asked about taxpayer money used for a new parking lot near Dan’s property on Forbes Street. The mayor directed him to contact the city manager.
Discussion Items
- Axon Draft One AI Report Writing Platform (Item #4): Councilmember Ledbetter expressed concerns about AI-generated police reports (bias, accuracy). Chief provided details: the platform uses body camera audio to draft reports, saving 25 minutes per report; a two-month pilot with 6–12 officers showed positive results; reports are reviewed by supervisors; the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor is on board; the system has built-in safeguards (e.g., inserted absurd phrases to prove review). The contract is three one-year terms at $93,898.42 for year one. Approved 8–0.
- River Cadis PUD Extension (Item #6): Councilmember Miller requested discussion because of citizen inquiry. Chief Development Officer Pete Dame explained the request for a six-month extension to final plan approval due to infrastructure challenges (drain relocation). The developer has been actively working; final plan submitted early September; two-month public hearing process needed. Approved unanimously.
- Sale of Property at 9246 Portage Industrial Drive: Council approved selling to Kalamazoo County for $600,000 (purchased for $740,000). The city retains 1,600 sq ft of climate-controlled storage for election equipment and a trail easement. If the county sells within 6 years, the city gets $140,000 back. The city plans to immediately solicit RFPs for its old dive shop property now used for storage.
- Shared Emergency Management Staff with Kalamazoo County: Council debated a proposal to split a full-time emergency manager evenly with the county (Portage paying about $40,000). Concerns included: loss of control over the employee’s time, county underfunding, and that city staff performed excellently during the May 2024 tornado. Councilmember Ledbetter, Randall, Young, and Burns opposed; Urban and Miller supported. Motion to not approve carried 4–2 with one abstention? Wait: roll call from transcript: Urban no, Young yes, Burns yes, Miller no, Pearson yes, Randall yes. That's 3 no (Urban, Miller, Ledbetter? Actually Ledbetter not listed; let me re-check transcript excerpt: "
Key Outcomes
- Waste Management Contract: No action taken on public requests to postpone; Councilmember Urban noted the city cannot unilaterally change an existing contract.
- Axon Draft One AI Report Writing: Approved (8–0).
- River Cadis PUD Extension: Approved (8–0).
- Property Sale to County: Approved (8–0).
- Shared Emergency Management Staff: Denied (motion to not approve passed). Council will discuss alternatives at a future retreat.
- Solicitors/Canvassers Ordinance: First reading approved; second reading November 5, 2025.
- Secondhand Dealers Ordinance: First reading approved; second reading November 5, 2025.
- Council Reports: Received.
Other Updates
- Plastic Bag Recycling Drive: Environmental board collected 1,000 lbs of plastic bags/film in 4 months, earning a recycled bench. Councilmember suggested relaunching with volunteer help; city manager offered to coordinate staff.
- Battle of the Bins: Food drive collected 3,840 lbs for 12 Baskets.
- Veterans Lunches: Meijer donated $10,000 to Portage Zhang Senior Center.
- Tornado Timber: Residents can apply to harvest firewood from downed trees on city property; a staffed timber giveaway event planned for December.
- Election Reminder: November 5, 2025, elections; absentee ballots available; polls open 7 AM–8 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Um, we're just gonna take about two minutes. Council just finished a meeting, and I'll wait for the rest of council to be here and I'll call it to order. Thank you for your patience. QA session has started. Yeah, or you'll get this light. Everybody has a question at the end of the day, while our measure. Um, we're just gonna take a second to finish the meeting and I'll wait for the rest of the council to be here. Okay. Good evening. I call to order the October 21st, 2025 Ported City Council meeting in honor of all denominations and personal beliefs, and as we strive as a community to provide after school programs which help youth choose drug-free lifestyles, support families, and build stronger communities. Please rise for a moment of personal introspection and remain standing for the Pledge of Allegiance. Please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to order into the Republic for which it stands to become one nation, another God, individual liberty and justice for all. And if I could ask the clerk to please call the role. Yes, my mayor. I'll start with Burns. Here. Ledbetter. Here. Miller. Here, Pearson. Here. Randall. Here. Urban. Here. And young. Here. Thank you. All right. We have two proclamations this evening, and we are going to start with the lights on after school 2025. And if I could please ask Jackise Robertson from the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network to please come forward and read it into the official record. Good evening and welcome. Good evening. It's an honor to be here. All right. So I just read the proclamation. Please. Awesome. So keeping the lights on after school. Whereas the citizens of the city of Portage, Michigan, stand firmly committed to quality after school programs because they provide nurturing, high quality, and engaging learning experiences that help youth develop social, emotional, physical, and academic skills, support families by ensuring youth and engaged in supportive learning environments after the rec regular school day ends, and build stronger communities by involving youth parents and business leaders in the lives of young people, thereby ensuring all youth thrive. And whereas the Kalamazoo Youth Development Network or Kid Network has provided significant leadership in improving outcomes for youth, grounded in the principle that quality after-school programs are key to helping our youth thrive. And whereas Lights on After School, the national celebration of after-school programs held this year on October 23rd, promotes the importance of quality after-school programs in the lives of youth, family, and communities. And whereas many after-school programs in our community are facing funding shortfalls so severe, they are being forced to close their doors and turn off their lights. And whereas the city of Portage, Michigan is committed to investing in the health and safety of all young people by providing expanded learning opportunities that will help ensure all youth thrive. Now, therefore it be resolved that I, Patricia M. Randall is the mayor of the City of Portage to hereby proclaim October 23rd, 2025 as lights on after school day and encourage our community to commit to engaging in innovative after-school programming and activities that ensure that the lights stay on, the doors stay open for all the youth in our school. Thank you very much for being here. If you'd like to tell us a little bit about your organization, you're welcome to do so.
openpublica.com