Thanks for reading!

Thanks for checking out the East Lansing City Council Recap. This publication is sent out after each regular and discussion-only City Council meeting. Plan for future meetings by viewing the 2019 meeting schedule here: https://cityofeastlansing.com/997/2019-Meeting-Dates

Readers are encouraged to contact the East Lansing City Manager's Office with questions: (517) 319-6920

Highlights from the Feb. 19 Meeting

Electric Skateboard Ordinance

The first topic of discussion at the East Lansing City Council discussion-only meeting on February 19, 2019 was a draft ordinance to amend the Code of the City of East Lansing by adding an article about electric skateboard companies. If approved, the ordinance would create a licensing process for electric skateboard companies (commonly known as electric scooters) and regulations for licensed companies and riders. Some of the regulations discussed included speed limits, required insurance for companies, designated parking locations, licensing and per ride fees, sidewalk vs. street usage, methods for enforcement and various other topics of consideration. Several Councilmembers voiced concerns about prohibiting scooters from being used on sidewalks and also voiced concerns about geofencing, which would automatically reduce or increase the speed of scooters when traveling in or out of the downtown boundary. East Lansing City Attorney Tom Yeadon recommended the ordinance stay consistent with State law and Councilmember Aaron Stephens encouraged continued communication with MSU and Lansing in an effort to create a cohesive approach to the scooters across jurisdictional borders. Mayor Meadows recommended that the designated locations for the scooters be further defined. Scooters arrived in the City last year and City officials have received and taken into consideration a significant amount of feedback from the community. While there have been concerns expressed, initial ride numbers indicate a demand for this new form of transportation. According to Councilmember Shanna Draheim, there were approximately 75,000 rides from Oct. 22-Dec. 10 of last year. Yeadon will be incorporating feedback from Council into the ordinance and will be introducing it at the regular Council meeting on Feb. 26. City officials hope to have the licensing procedure in place before mid-March.

Budget Kickoff

The Council meeting continued with a kickoff of the City's Fiscal Year 2020 budget preparation. East Lansing Finance Director Jill Feldpausch presented to Council the City of East Lansing Long-Term Financial Forecast, which uses history and assumptions to provide a picture of the City's financial standing over the next five years. The forecast assumes a net income tax revenue of $10 million, which is the number estimated by the Plante & Moran income tax study, and a 5 mill reduction in property taxes. Finance staff indicated that there would be a more clear picture of funding generated from the new income tax after taxes are filed and refunded in FY 2020. Feldpausch reported that legislation has been recently passed to fully fund PA 289 Fire Protection in FY 2020; however, conversations with the State have informed a more conservative forecast of a 50 percent increase. If the City does receive full funding, it is staff's recommendation that an additional pension payment be made with the funds from the additional 50 percent increase. Feldpausch also explained that under a new reporting requirement for unfunded pension liabilities, the City will now need to use a State assumption of 7 percent investment rate of return instead of the MERS assumption of 7.75 percent, which will likely cause the City's pension plan funding ratio to drop. Despite this, more aggressive pension payments made by the City in recent and future years will help the City's future financial sustainability in the long term. The City's FY 2020 Budget is expected to break even, although there are two large revenue sources with uncertainty: the PA 289 funding and the income tax allocation for public safety (which will offset general fund dollars). In addition to 20 percent of the income tax going toward public safety, 20 percent will go to infrastructure improvements outlined in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) and 60 percent will be used to address legacy cost challenges. Feldpausch indicated that budget amounts will be refined as the FY 2020 budget request is finalized. There will be budget work sessions for the FY 2020 Budget on: April 9, 16, 23 and May 7, which are all open to the public. More information can be found here: https://cityofeastlansing.com/997/2019-Meeting-Dates.

The budget kickoff continued with presentations from East Lansing Parks, Recreation & Art Director Tim McCaffrey and East Lansing Department of Public Works Director Scott House on their departmental sections of the preliminary draft of the CIP. McCaffrey presented proposed park improvement projects over the next five years, which would utilize income tax dollars and grant/millage funding. McCaffrey indicated that the feedback from the Five-Year Parks & Recreation Plan Update and research/recommendations from the “Planning for Hannah Community Center’s Future” Advisory Committee would be incorporated into the future CIP planning effort. House presented on future improvements to streets, sidewalks and underground infrastructure. House's presentation can be found here.

Other Items

Council discussed a draft ordinance to incorporate the Landlord and Tenant Relationships Act into the International Property Maintenance Code of the City of East Lansing in order to allow for administrative action at the local level.
Council reviewed a renewal proposal from Advance Video Professionals, Inc. (AVP) for their cable television production services. The proposal includes a 5 percent reduction in current contract costs and adds in the televising of 12 City Council discussion-only meetings each year. Council has instructed City Manager George Lahanas to look into alternative options and provide his findings at a future meeting. Mayor Pro Tem Erik Altmann expressed support for the approval of the new contract as proposed. This proposal will be discussed further at a future meeting. If the proposal is approved as currently proposed, the AVP contract will be extended for an additional seven years.

Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, Feb. 26
Regular Meeting

Additional Information

Regular meetings begin at 7 p.m. and discussion-only meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Meetings take place at 54B District Court, Courtroom 2, 101. Linden St. Meeting agendas, minutes and recordings can be found here. Recorded meetings are also televised and replayed on Channel 22 (WELG).