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East Lansing City Council Meeting Recap 7/23/24


** Thanks for reading!
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The East Lansing City Council Recap is sent after regular, discussion-only and special City Council meetings. View the 2024 meeting schedule here (https://cityofeastlansing.com/DocumentCenter/View/14120/2024-City-Council-meeting-schedule-PDF) . Readers are encouraged to contact the East Lansing City Manager's Office with questions at (517) 319-6920.

The City of East Lansing occupies the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg – Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi peoples land ceded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.


** Highlights from the July 23 Meeting
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The East Lansing City Council met on Tuesday, July 23 at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC) for a special regular meeting. The meeting date had been rescheduled from Tuesday, July 9 due to inclement weather. Watch this meeting from the beginning (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=648) .

East Lansing Councilmember Dana Watson was granted an excused absence.

During communications from Council, East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem Kerry Ebersole Singh expressed sympathy for community members who had experienced flooding and thanked City employees for their response. East Lansing Councilmember Mark Meadows and East Lansing Councilmember Erik Altmann echoed those sentiments. East Lansing City Manager Robert Belleman reported that an event is being planned to engage with homeowners about the rain events that occurred on July 9 and June 16. The tentative date is Thursday, Aug. 15, with more details to come.


** Special Presentations--
Introduction of ELPD Officer Andrew Lyon
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East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) Interim Chief Chad Pride introduced officer Andrew Lyon to Council. Officer Lyon recently joined ELPD. Lyon is a 2016 graduate of Holt High School and an alumnus of Delta Community College, where he earned an associate degree in criminal justice. In December 2020, Lyon graduated from the Delta College Police Academy. He previously served as a deputy with the Ogemaw County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Pride noted that Officer Lyon also holds certifications in personal training and nutrition, which will help with employee wellness initiatives in the department. Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=1734) .



** East Lansing City Clerk on Upcoming Elections
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The East Lansing City Clerk presented plans for the upcoming August statewide primary election and November general election to Council. The Clerk reviewed recent legislative changes, including Proposals 2018-3 and 2022-2 that have affected election law in the state of Michigan. She pointed out that Michigan is one of only eight states that run elections at the local level, and this requires more people to serve as election workers. The City of East Lansing pays its election inspectors (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/1902/Election-Inspectors) $20 per hour and precinct chairs earn $25 per hour. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382702/Presentation%20on%20Upcoming%20Elections.pdf?handle=0C743907B77C41938EE7B86F6351728F) .

The City of East Lansing is one of only three cities in the state that will operate an election day voting center because it had previously registered more than 500 voters in one day. The Clerk is working with other municipalities and nonpartisan organizations to ensure that voters are in the right place and to encourage people to vote early. Additionally, a universal polling location will be opened on Michigan State University's campus at the WKAR studio in the Communication Arts & Sciences Building, 404 Wilson Road.

Additionally, the City is proud to have had ballot drop boxes (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/203/Absentee-Voting) since 2014, long before Proposal 2022-2 required them. The Clerk also dispelled myths about voter ID, noting that voters are asked for photo ID, not a driver's license because that could disenfranchise someone. Watch the special presentation here (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=1846) .


** Public Hearings
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=4159) .

5.1 A public hearing for Ordinance 1529 was withdrawn by the applicant (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383874/) .

5.2 Council held a public hearing to consider ordinance 1527 concerning an application from George F. Eyde Family, LLC and Leo Brown Group, LLC to rezone a 2.29-acre vacant parcel from A* (Dewitt Township Agricultural) to B-1 (General Office Business District). View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382743/A%20public%20hearing%20to%20consider%20Ordinance%201527_%20An.pdf?handle=E40888A671AB4A98A5FCD8F6DEC3014C) . Council took no action. The item will be placed on the agenda for the Aug. 13 meeting.

5.3 Council held a public hearing to consider a request to demolish the convenience store, gas pumps and carwash at 100 E. Saginaw Road, and reconstruct a new convenience store and gas pumps. East Lansing Mayor George Brookover requested that the applicant provide a 360-degree view of what the updated plan will look like. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382723/A%20public%20hearing%20for%20a%20request%20to%20demolish%20the%20.pdf?handle=2102049830414F00A24AF043275D6355) . Council took no action. The item will be placed on the agenda for the Aug. 13 meeting.


** 6.1 City Charter Review Committee Discussion
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Council deferred discussion of the list of proposed candidates for serving on the City Charter Review Committee to the Aug. 13 meeting. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382707/Further%20Discussion%20of%20City%20Charter%20Review%20Commi.pdf?handle=7769DD0CE84644A68D0AD9D8D51A01FE) .



** 6.2 Consideration of Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Position
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=6313) . Council considered a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of East Lansing and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to appoint an individual to serve as the DDA's Executive Director. The Executive Director would be an employee of the City of East Lansing and report to the City Manager and the DDA. The DDA has budgeted the salary and benefits for this position in its FY25 budget. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382816/Consideration%20of%20Memorandum%20of%20Understanding%20be.pdf?handle=746FF83969574962AEDE494E96868424) . Mayor Brookover moved approval, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Singh. However, on a 2-2 vote, the motion failed with Councilmembers Altmann and Meadows voting nay.



** 6.3 Introduce and Refer to the Planning Commission Ordinance 1537
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/mvJT3TA0GD8?t=6807) . Ordinance 1537, a request from Hagan Realty, Inc. to conditionally rezone 743, 755 and 765 Grove St. from R-2 (Medium Density Single-Family Residential District) to RM-32 (City Center Multiple-Family Residential District) for the construction of a multi-family residential building with a maximum of 48 people or bedrooms, rather than units, and associated parking. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382719/Introduce%20and%20refer%20to%20the%20Planning%20Commission%20.pdf?handle=B75D2C899C3E4C7BB28E5875BC36355D) . Mayor Brookover moved approval, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Singh. However, on a 2-2 vote, the motion failed with Councilmembers Altmann and Meadows voting nay.

The meeting was adjourned to closed session at 8:49 p.m.


** Other Items
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1. Council approved a resolution recognizing July as Parks, Recreation and Arts Month in the City of East Lansing. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382909/Approve%20a%20resolution%20recognizing%20July%20as%20Parks,.pdf?handle=1963D9A5693C4C98A16D1659DF991CD0) .
2. Council approved the purchase of a Polystyrene Densifier in the amount of $63,200 and authorized the City Manager to sign applicable purchase order. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382801/Approve%20the%20purchase%20of%20a%20Polystyrene%20Densifier.pdf?handle=12BEF6D807434D60BCB257D9640FDE58) .
3. Council approved a parking agreement with the Local Development Finance Authority to offset costs related to parking for tenants of the Technology and Innovation Center (TIC). View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/382901/Approve%20a%20Parking%20Agreement%20with%20the%20Local%20Deve.pdf?handle=A390C1EB86A24AE58B11857D1CF52B1E) .
4. Council approved a resolution celebrating the 70th wedding anniversary of Dr. Eugene Pernell and Yvonne Pernell. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383826/Approve%20a%20resolution%20celebrating%20the%2070th%20weddi.pdf?handle=2F31426ED7004D0C9D2EFC5E4A95903B) .
5. Council approved a resolution celebrating 90th birthday of Irene E. Sturdivant. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383830/Approve%20a%20resolution%20celebrating%2090th%20birthday%20.pdf?handle=C00B33EB0B3448BE8D4940B7E116974F) .
6. Council approved a resolution acknowledging July 2024 as Americans with Disabilities Month and Disability Pride Month. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383820/Approve%20a%20resolution%20Acknowledging%20July%202024%20as.pdf?handle=44DDDFB6CDA24C37AD1C57867134B1D5) .
7. Council approved a street closure for the National Night Out/Touch-a-Truck event on Thursday, Aug. 8 for Library Lane just beyond the East Lansing Public Library entrance, around the bend to Grove Street just before the path to East Lansing High School from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383834/Approve%20street%20closure%20for%20the%20National%20Night%20O.pdf?handle=2D1060CCE704431BA30CE10111D5FE3E) .

To learn more about all items discussed during the meeting, view the Agenda Packet (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/383837/) (375 pages) and the meeting synopsis (https://cityofeastlansing.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=2245) (PDF).

Next Meeting: Tuesday, Aug. 13


** Additional Information
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East Lansing City Council meetings take place at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road at 7 p.m. A remote option for viewing the meetings and providing public comment is offered via the City's public meeting portal (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/) . The number to call in for public comment is posted at the top of each meeting agenda.

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