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 June 11 Meeting

At its discussion-only meeting on June 11, the East Lansing City Council was given an update on the City's deer management activities. East Lansing Environmental Services Administrator Cathy DeShambo explained to City Council the main components of the City's deer management efforts: community input and education, partnerships, data collection, enforcement and research. So far, the City has taken multiple actions to better manage and monitor the deer population, including: hosting a community scoping meeting and conducting resident surveys; partnering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, MSU wildlife experts and United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services staff to garner information and guidance; building exclosures in two City parks to monitor ecosystem damage; creating a deer management page for residents and passing an ordinance that prohibits the feeding of deer.

DeShambo explained that the City's future deer management activities will include hosting a second community scoping meeting (tentatively planned for mid September), collaborating with MSU this summer to collect herd data, collecting additional exclosure reporting and tracking/considering emerging concerns. "It's not a problem we are going to solve today and it's not a problem that's going to have a solution with an end point and it's done. It's going to be something that is an ongoing management situation," said DeShambo.

Community members are reminded that the City has an ongoing, online deer management survey, which can be found here. In addition to the update from DeShambo, two community members spoke during the meeting, voicing their concerns about the deer population in East Lansing.

Temporary Development Moratorium in the DDA District

Council discussed a policy resolution that would establish a temporary development moratorium in the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district. East Lansing Community & Economic Development Administrator Tom Fehrenbach explained that the DDA voted 4-4 on a motion to not impose a moratorium. With a lack of majority, the motion failed. During discussion, some Councilmembers voiced concerns about how the moratorium would be perceived by potential developers and how the timing of the moratorium would fit with the potential extension of the form-based code process. Based on Council's discussion, the moratorium will not be moving forward at this time. View the staff memo here.

Housing Study

Council discussed a housing study being conducted to better understand the supply and demand for housing, particularly the higher-density, multi-family housing that includes rental, owner-occupied and income-qualified homes in the community. East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey explained that, when looking at the rental market, the City is looking to partner with the City of Lansing and Meridian Township to better understand rental housing beyond the City's boundaries. Council voiced their support of conducting a housing study and made multiple recommendations to staff about what they would like the study to accomplish. Watch Council make their recommendations here. The next steps are for staff to incorporate Council's recommendations into a request for proposals and present it to Council. View the staff memo here.

Community Center at Valley Court Park

Council discussed the current condition and future of the East Lansing Valley Court Community Center, which is currently occupied by Helping Hands Respite Care. Per Council's request, the Mayotte Group Architects of Lansing, Mich. recently completed a facility assessment report on the building. In total, the Mayotte Group estimates $368,250 in total improvement costs, with $205,250 for interior and exterior improvements, $32,000 for accessibility improvements and $131,000 for mechanical systems and roof replacement.

During discussion, Councilmember Shanna Draheim voiced concerns about investing more money into the building. "I don't think it's fiscally responsible for us to be sinking in several hundred thousand dollars into a building," said Draheim. "I don't think the building does the program justice because I don't think the space is the right long-term fit. I would rather us spend our time and energy, and maybe even our money, trying to help make that transition and transition out."

Additionally, East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas presented staff's recommendation for the building. "I think Helping Hands Respite Care has done a really good job when the City of East Lansing was really not in a position to continue to run the program financially," said Lahanas. "So I think that if there is going to be any different use to the building, that the organization should have a good lead time with which to make sure they're a successful organization. If not there, then somewhere else, because they do a really good job with the community."

East Lansing Parks, Recreation and Arts Director Tim McCaffrey explained to Council that the current lease agreement with Helping Hands will expire at the end of September and staff will bring a recommendation to Council at the July 16 meeting for another lease agreement. McCaffrey also noted that he doesn’t think potential reinvestment in the building is an immediate need.

"In my opinion, we have a couple years before we have to reinvest. We don't have a roof, that I am aware of, that has to be replaced in the next couple of years. I do think that the mechanical systems are operating pretty well because we reinvested in them, not in the last two to three years, but in the last five to seven years. So I think we are in pretty good shape in that way. I am confident we can get through the next couple of years without a really big expenditure," said McCaffrey. View the staff memo here.

Downtown Summer Parking Incentive Pilot

Additionally, Council discussed a downtown summer parking incentive pilot. East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey explained that staff continues to look at additional options to assist downtown businesses during downtown construction, particularly during the summer months when the City's population decreases.

To enhance the business climate in the downtown during this period, staff is proposing free, half-hour parking for all downtown visitors at gated garages and lots for the month of July. This includes the Grove Street, M.A.C. Avenue, Charles Street and Division Street parking garages and the Bailey Street gated surface lot. Due to the program's financial impact, staff is recommending this only be implemented on a test basis for the month of July, which will allow them to see if the program increases activity in the downtown.

"I think this is great timing because there has been such great development going on downtown," said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas. "This gives people the opportunity in July to come downtown to see the progress that has been happening on Albert Avenue and to see all the things that are going positively."

The next step for Council is to adopt a resolution changing the fee schedule for the pilot program, which will be presented at next week's meeting. View the staff memo here.

Income Tax - Board of Review/Rules and Regulations

Council discussed a proposed ordinance that would create an Income Tax Board of Review. East Lansing Income Tax Administrator DaMar Boyd explained that the East Lansing Uniform City Income Tax Ordinance requires Council to appoint a Board of Review to hear appeals from taxpayers and employers. The review board would consist of three East Lansing residents, who are not City officials or City employees, and they would be appointed for three-year terms. The board would also select a chairperson, secretary and other officers as they consider necessary.

The ordinance also allows the City's income tax administrator to adopt rules and regulations for the administration of the ordinance. Boyd presented his proposed rules and regulations, which are consistent with those adopted by other cities that have adopted the Uniform City Income Tax Ordinance, with the exception of regulation 58.1. This regulation gives taxpayers the option to donate all or a portion of their City refund to one of three options in lieu of receiving their refund. The options proposed as part of the presented rules and regulations include parks stewardship and conservation, parks and playgrounds or recreational youth scholarships.

The ordinance will be introduced at next week’s Council meeting and Council will set it for the business agenda at the July 16 meeting. View the staff memo here.

Communications from Councilmembers

During communications from Councilmembers, Mayor Meadows announced that Council will be holding a special meeting next Tuesday, June 18 at 4 p.m. in Conference Room A to interview the finalists for the East Lansing City Attorney position.

Additionally, Councilmember Draheim encouraged community members to read this year's book selection for the 2019 One Book, One Community program: “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City” by author Matthew Desmond. "It is really great, really well-written and is incredibly eye opening," said Draheim. "If you haven't picked up your copy, do."

Mayor Pro Tem Erik Altmann announced that he recently attended a planning workshop at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, where people from across the state who hold master citizen planner credentials come to receive their continued education credits. As part of the workshop, they went on a walking tour of the downtown, led by East Lansing Planning, Building and Development Director Tim Dempsey. "I got to look at the downtown through their eyes and that was actually really affirming because the uniform response from these experts was that we are doing really well with our downtown in terms of financing mechanisms, policies to encourage diversity in the downtown and also the height," said Mayor Pro Tem Altmann. "I just found that affirming for many reasons and I wanted to thank Tim for doing a great tour."

To learn more about all items discussed during the meeting, view the Agenda Packet.

Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 18

Additional Information

Regular meetings and discussion-only meetings begin at 7 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).