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East Lansing City Council Meeting Recap 6/4/24


** 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 June 4 Meeting
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The East Lansing City Council met on Tuesday, June 4 at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC) for a regular meeting. Watch the meeting from the beginning (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=587) .

During communications from Council, East Lansing City Councilmember Erik Altmann and East Lansing City Councilmember Mark Meadows responded to public comments regarding the housing code in relation to a petition for a proposed charter amendment.

East Lansing City Councilmember Dana Watson reminded the community that there is a no-fee yard waste collection on Monday, June 10 for properties west of Abbot Road. She also wished everyone a happy Pride month.

East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem Kerry Ebersole Singh reminded community members to register for and attend "Exploring Unconscious Bias with Verna Myers" (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/912065441287?aff=oddtdtcreator) on Wednesday, June 12. She also encouraged community members to sign up to serve as election workers.


** 3.1 Special Presentation by Judge McCormick on the Ingham County Specialty Court Coalition
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=4285) . Chief Judge Molly Hennessey Greenwalt of 54-B District Court introduced 30th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Lisa McCormick. The judges talked about specialty courts in Ingham County. The full list of specialty courts in Ingham County includes the following:
* Felony Sobriety Court
* Domestic Violence Court
* Sobriety Court
* Drug Recovery Court
* Veterans Treatment Court
* Mental Health Court
* Weapons Court
* Swift and Sure Sanctions Court
* Business Court
* Phoenix Court
* Truancy Court
* Family Treatment Court

View the Specialty Court Booklet (https://docs.ingham.org/Specialty%20Court%20Booklet%20final.pdf) (PDF).



** 5.1 Consideration of a Single-Story, Multi-Tenant Retail Building with Drive-Through Window at 210, 218 & 224 W. Lake Lansing Road
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=5468) . Council considered a request from Puff Puff Tobacco, owned by Aqeel Daudi, for a special use permit and site plan approval to construct a single-story, multi-tenant retail building with a drive-through and parking lot at 210, 218 and 224 W. Lake Lansing Road. This item was reviewed by the Planning Commission at a public hearing on Jan. 10 and unanimously approved for Council approval on Jan. 24. The applicant then requested a delay in order to allow time for a traffic statement to be completed (enclosed in the agenda item report). At its April 16 meeting, Council held a public hearing and requested additional information regarding drive-throughs in the City as well as the current retail market. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380060/Consideration%20of%20a%20request%20to%20construct%20a%20singl.pdf?handle=76145BE7F2C5477EA2B713DD6A1531C3) . East Lansing Mayor George Brookover
moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Altmann. The motion failed with Mayor Brookover and Councilmembers Altmann and Meadows voting against and Mayor Pro Tem Singh and Councilmember Watson voting in favor.



** 5.2 Consideration of Development of the Five-Year Park, Recreation, Open Space & Greenways Plan
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=8000) . Council considered a contract with Spalding DeDecker Associates in the amount of $63,211 for consulting services for the development of the five-year Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenways Plan. The purpose of the plan is to assess needs within existing park and recreation infrastructure, determine future needs and identify actions to be taken to improve/maintain facilities and plan for future needs. The five-year plan is required by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to maintain eligibility for grant funding and the plan must be developed in accordance with the MDNR Recreation Plan Guidelines. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380663/Consideration%20of%20a%20contract%20with%20Spalding%20DeDec.pdf?handle=BFC0723AE7DB4CF3BF93D7C1CEAA74CD) . Councilmember Meadows moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Watson and passed unanimously.



** 5.3 Consideration of Renaming the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center & Softball Complex
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=8149) . Council considered a proposal to establish an ad-hoc committee to rename the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center and Softball Complex to honor the late Ted Staton, the second-longest serving City Manager in East Lansing history, and his wife Carol. The proposed committee would consist of Douglas Jester, Samir Singh, Konrad Hittner, Diane Goddeeris, Elinor Holbrook, Barbara McMillan, Peter Kakela, Michelle Sneathen, Roger Peters and David Chapin. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380959/Consideration%20of%20establishing%20an%20ad-hoc%20committ.pdf?handle=19F38B92FCCB46E0924E8D615E484D3B) . Councilmember Altmann moved approval of establishing a committee to consider renaming the facilities, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Singh and passed unanimously.



** 5.4 Consideration of Consulting Services for Valley Court Park & Corridor Redevelopment
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=8450) . Council considered a contract for consulting services related to connecting Valley Court Park with the City's downtown. Staff noted that over the last five years, the west end of downtown has been transformed with the development of the Park District Project including the Graduate Hotel, the Abbot and the new MSUFCU office building as well as infrastructure improvements, the realignment of Albert and Evergreen avenues and new pedestrian pathways. Connecting Valley Court Park and downtown East Lansing is part of the City's ongoing placemaking efforts. Features may include archways, wayfinding signage, landscaping, pathways, art sculptures, benches and a stage/amphitheater among other items. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381123/Consideration%20of%20a%20contract%20for%20$52,463%20for%20Spa.pdf?handle=67029812002A4D419EB4BBED61002A42) . Councilmember Meadows moved approval,
seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Singh. Motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Singh and Councilmembers Altmann, Meadows and Watson voting in favor and Mayor Brookover voting against.



** 5.5 Consideration of Approval of Ordinance 1534: Amendments to Mobile Food Vending Units
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=9165) . Council considered amendments to Ordinance 1534 regarding regulatory requirements and administrative procedures for operating mobile food vending units in the City of East Lansing. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381148/Consideration%20of%20approval%20for%20Ordinance%201534,%20a.pdf?handle=E918B481A32E4354AD909E1370DEACF2) . Councilmember Altmann moved approval, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Singh, with a friendly amendment to refine the language. The motion passed with Mayor Pro Tem Singh and Councilmembers Watson, Meadows and Altmann voting in favor and Mayor Brookover voting against.



** 5.6 Introduction and Referral to Planning Commission of Ordinance 1535 to Define "Bed & Breakfast"
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Watch this part of the meeting (https://youtu.be/6kRrxAl5UR8?t=10510) . Ordinance 1535, amendments to the zoning ordinance to define a "bed and breakfast" was introduced and referred to the Planning Commission. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381247/Introduce%20and%20refer%20to%20the%20Planning%20Commission%20.pdf?handle=823ECDFF7C95427BB5BB222C04CECABB) . Councilmember Meadows moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Watson and approved unanimously.

Council adjourned to closed session at 9:47 p.m.


** Other Items
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1. Council approved several full-term reappointments to Boards and Commissions, including Polly Synk to the Library Board of Trustees, expiring June 30, 2029 and David Ledebuhr, Jeff Smith and Reuben Levinsohn to the Downtown Development Authority and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, expiring June 30, 2028. Council also appointed Danielle Beard to the Commission on the Environment for a partial term expiring Dec. 31, 2026.
2. Council approved a resolution recognizing June as PRIDE Month. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381013/Approve%20a%20resolution%20recognizing%20June%20as%20PRIDE%20.pdf?handle=071664FEEC3346CE99719A98702111F0) .
3. Council approved a resolution recognizing the Ingham County Specialty Court Coalition. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380478/Approve%20resolution%20recognizing%20the%20Ingham%20Count.pdf?handle=D2874F793FBD4C12BFEDF51C755DDEA9) .
4. Council approved the eighth addendum to the contract for services and use of school facilities agreement with the East Lansing Public Schools for $58,900 and authorized the City Manager to sign. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380613/Approve%20the%20Eighth%20Addendum%20to%20the%20Contract%20for.pdf?handle=726924B8BBD74BD0B9BD07D64D0C558B) .
5. Council approved a contract for $20,400 with Clark Trombley Randers to provide design, engineering and construction administration services to replace the boiler plant at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380670/Approve%20a%20contract%20with%20for%20$20,400%20with%20Clark%20.pdf?handle=D0A3ED402C9445ACABF90920E6DA0807) .
6. Council approved a contract with StructureTec for $33,925 to provide design and bidding management services to replace portions of the roof at City Hall and the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380674/Approve%20a%20contract%20with%20StructureTec%20for%20$33,92.pdf?handle=E86E6D5A92DD45D5AF3F16BA86CF4EC1) .
7. Council approved a contract with Clark Trombley Randers for $20,400 to provide design, engineering and construction administration services to replace the boiler plant at East Lansing City Hall. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380677/Approve%20a%20contract%20with%20Clark%20Trombley%20Randers%20.pdf?handle=2366013F8A1B4E908AC71DF7FD884BF4) .
8. Council approved a resolution authorizing an application to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council's FY2025 Experience Support Grant and approved the assurance of compliance for the application and authorized the City Manager to sign. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/380692/Approve%20a%20resolution%20authorizing%20an%20application.pdf?handle=7A944416FDB04560B0C18433DE592A66) .
9. Council approved a contract for $87,900 with VIRIDIS Design Group to provide design, engineering and construction administration services to improve the parking lot at the East Lansing Soccer Complex and the parking lot serving the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center and the East Lansing Softball Complex. View the agenda item report (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381046/Approve%20a%20contract%20with%20for%20$87,900%20with%20VIRIDI.pdf?handle=00B2097167284CC5B1245E683C1321B0) .

To learn more about all items discussed during the meeting, view the (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381268/) Agenda Packet (https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/document/381268/) (558 pages) and the meeting synopsis (https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/Archive.aspx?ADID=2229) (PDF).

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 11


** 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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