Lansing · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lansing public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Michigan Avenue Corridor 2026 activities update
The raingardens along Michigan Avenue aren't being maintained at all. The committee may organize county, city, Peckham and MSU partners — or volunteers — to fix that, and might make it a budget priority.
Saginaw Street Corridor 2026 Activities
Several art projects are moving: a traffic cabinet vinyl-wrap plan headed to MDOT, a mural planned by Amy's Catering, and finished Durant Park mural installations. Public art aims to brighten and brand the corridor.
Parking regulation on the 500 block of W. Ionia Street
A proposed traffic control order would change parking rules along the 500 block of West Ionia Street downtown.
Stop sign and turn restrictions at five intersections
The committee is scheduled to act on five intersection traffic changes: stop signs at Ellen/Brookland, State/Daleford, and Lincoln/Forest, and a yield sign at Pico/Moores River Drive.
Renaming E. Cesar E. Chavez Avenue
The committee continues its quarterly review of the street renaming, including a resident survey of affected parties and a budget priority to reimburse street name change costs.
Darby Drive parking near Cumberland Elementary
Residents near Cumberland Elementary report school drop-off and pick-up vehicles staging on both sides of Darby Drive, blocking travel and driveways. The proposed rule would bar parking on school days from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the west side between Cumberland Road and Tecumseh River Drive.
PILOT Tax Incentives for Affordable and Workforce Housing
Lansing would give eligible affordable housing projects a by-right property tax break — paying 4% of annual shelter rents instead of full taxes. Supporters say it levels the playing field with Detroit and Grand Rapids; critics worry about lost tax revenue and who vets developers.
Mod Pod homeless housing delays
Council Member Nevarez Martinez pressed staff and Mayor Schor on why the modpods project slipped from this winter to roughly 2027, citing shifting explanations about site layout and County decisions.
Support for State Homeless and Tenant Bills of Rights
Council discussed endorsing Michigan HB 4197 (a homeless bill of rights) and HBs 6086-6089 (a tenant's bill of rights). Both resolutions come back for a vote December 7.
Make Safe or Demolish order at 1606 Reo Rd.
The committee was scheduled to consider a resolution ordering a property at 4507 Devonshire Avenue to be made safe or demolished. These orders typically address dangerous or blighted structures and affect the neighborhood's safety and appearance.
Fair Chance Access to Housing ordinance
A proposed new ordinance (Section 1460.54) would regulate how landlords screen prospective tenants — often called a 'fair chance' housing rule. It was scheduled for introduction and setting of a public hearing.
District Court treatment grants
The 54A District Court's Sobriety Court and Adult Drug Court grants would fund treatment, testing, and supplies.
Rewrite of the city noise ordinance
The rewrite ditches decibel meters for a 'plainly audible' standard officers can actually enforce, targets loud modified exhausts, and cleans up decades of leftover legalese. It goes to Public Safety committee next.
City Homelessness Response and Overnight Shelter
HRCS laid out a three-phase plan: warming centers at Letts and Union Baptist Church this winter, a 70-bed low-barrier overnight drop-in center targeting early December (pending rezoning), and permanent NOVA housing by 2027. Residents at public comment criticized LPD 'sweeps' of encampments and asked for a moratorium.
MDOT US-127 Phase: I-496 to Lake Lansing Road
The board was scheduled to continue discussing MDOT's planned 2027–2029 construction project covering the Frandor area and the I-496 corridor to Lake Lansing Road. Drivers through these corridors could see significant construction impacts over the project window.
Brownfield Plan #87 (New Vision) agreements
The New Vision project's reimbursement agreement and interlocal agreement determine how and when the developer gets repaid using tax increment dollars captured on the brownfield site. The board got a status update scheduled on where those agreements stand.
City Tax and Debt Dashboard
The TIFA district's tax increment capture is currently being used to pay off existing debt rather than fund new projects. The scheduled financial update matters for anyone watching how downtown and district redevelopment gets funded.
ARPA funds spending plan
The board was set to review what the agency accomplished with federal ARPA funds as those programs wind down. That affects how remaining recovery money is spent locally and what comes next.
South Lansing Roadmap and Neighborhoods of Focus redevelopment
The LEDC board was scheduled to receive presentations on targeted redevelopment work in South Lansing, including the South Lansing Roadmap and the Neighborhoods of Focus initiative. These efforts shape which neighborhoods see new investment and development opportunities.
Facility and Street Naming Policy
The City's Public Service Department updated the board on street sign toppers, which stay installed pending board authorization. The board also flagged maintenance needs, including trees at The Point.
City Lot #8 Monthly Parking Permit Fee
A new $40 monthly parking permit for City Lot #8 will let employees near the 2000 block of East Michigan Avenue park with more freedom and comfort. The rate matches other similar lots in the area.
LPD Indigenous People's Day Celebration Donation
The police department is accepting donations to fund performers at its 2026 National Indigenous People's Day Celebration. The committee's approval sends the acceptance to the full City Council.
Unsafe structure at 6031 S. MLK Jr. Blvd.
A large red-tagged building with roof and flooring structural failure and nearly $5 million in needed repairs has been stalled in committee since mid-2025. The committee has tabled it twice for 60 days and must now decide whether to order demolition, require it be made safe, or grant another delay.
Downtown Lansing, Inc. Board Appointment
Mayor Schor has recommended Christopher Buck of the Gillespie Group for a seat on the Downtown Lansing, Inc. Board through June 2027. The board helps guide downtown revitalization efforts.
Commission priority setting
The board is continuing to set its priorities — deciding which arts and culture efforts get attention and resources in the coming year. This shapes what arts programming and support Lansing residents can expect.
Art for City Hall artist selection
The commission is weighing artist names for public art at City Hall. The choices made here shape what artwork residents and visitors see in one of the city's most prominent civic buildings.
Mural sponsorship at 221 West Saginaw Street
M3 Group gave a detailed update on the launch of the mural district marketing campaign, promoting the corridor as an arts destination.
Virtual currency machine licensing
Bitcoin kiosks popping up around the city can be a scam vector for seniors. A draft ordinance would require operators to get licensed and pay an annual fee, since the state doesn't regulate these machines.
New City Hall opening and sale of old building
Spadafore gave a history sendoff: 300 people have served since 1859, and the new building puts the council chamber on the ground floor — 'democracy is coming back down to the ground floor.'
Flock license plate reader surveillance
Residents pushed back on license plate readers all year. The auto theft grant now carries a written condition that none of the money — city or state share — pays for ALPR tech, and LPD must report spending back to Ways and Means.
Water/utility affordability
Mike Smalligan asked council to get real data on the roughly 25,000 BWL customers struggling to pay bills, and to look at Rep. Devendorf's bill capping water bills at 2-3% of income for low-income households.
Silver Bels Celebration fireworks license
The city's annual downtown Silver Bells fireworks show on November 20 needs its yearly pyrotechnics license, handled by the same contractor as in prior years. It heads to full Council on November 9 once the insurance certificate arrives.
Kalamazoo Street curb, sidewalk and pavement work
The long-planned Kalamazoo Street project — curb and gutter replacement, sidewalk replacement, and pavement resurfacing — is moving forward after years of delays. A public hearing on the noise permit is the next step, and residents can expect detours during construction.
Gobble Wobble Thanksgiving Basket Drive funding
Remnant International Ministries runs an annual drive delivering Thanksgiving meal baskets; it fed about 550 people in 2025 and hopes to reach 600. The committee bumped its community funding grant to $1,000.
César Chávez Avenue renaming
The long-running street renaming debate continues. The committee heard from community members, plans more outreach including possible surveys and door-to-door contact, and will revisit quarterly — with holiday season off the table for timing.
Office of the Independent Internal Auditor
A new ordinance creates an independent internal auditor office for the city — a watchdog function to review how the city spends money. A drafting error briefly suggested the City Market was being repealed; that was clarified as a mistake.
Homeless Encampment Sweeps and Winter Shelter
The city's HRCS office told commissioners homelessness is increasing nationwide, and described local outreach events and website updates to help unhoused residents connect with services.
LPD Officer Hiring and Staffing
The department started 19 recruits in August, some former cadets or interns, and made 3 lateral officer offers (1 accepted, 1 pending, 1 declined). Hiring activity could affect response times and neighborhood policing capacity.
OPRA tax abatement for 2231 W. Willow Street renovation
Two properties — on S. Washington Ave. and W. Mt. Hope Ave. — are getting Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act certificates, which cut property taxes to encourage rehabbing old buildings. The upside is more likely redevelopment; the trade-off is reduced tax revenue during the abatement period.
Freestanding sign size limits
The city is tightening its rules on freestanding signs — bigger setbacks, shorter and smaller signs — and cleaning up references to zoning districts that no longer exist. This shapes what commercial corridors look and feel like, and affects businesses that want visible signage.
Supportive housing services funding
An ordinance would allocate city funding for supportive housing services, but the committee wants more time to review amendments circulated last week before voting.
CATA Board reappointment of Eric Tans
Eric Tans returns to the Capital Area Transportation Authority Board through September 2029, keeping continuity in regional transit oversight.
Code compliance treatment of fire victim
A speaker described code enforcement piling fees on 70-year-old Angela Washington's fire-damaged, underinsured property and demanded the mayor intervene.
Census 2030 proposed rule opposition
The council formally opposed a federal rule that could leave noncitizens out of the census count and drop race/ethnicity questions — which would cost Lansing federal dollars and distort redistricting.
Rental property regulation and code enforcement overhaul
An out-of-state landlord appealed $215 in grass-cutting fees on her Lansing rental, blaming a hospitalized tenant. The committee upheld the fees, signaling that absentee owners are still on the hook for keeping their properties in compliance.
Big Red Ball and Legendary Women of Lansing fundraising
The Big Red Ball needs a ticket-sales push, with four ads running and marketing kicking in this month. Board members were asked to promote tickets, including on the MSU parent page, and frame the event as an MSU community ambassador moment.
Downtown safety follow-up
Choose Lansing wrote to the board worried about downtown safety after losing an annual convention — a real financial hit for downtown businesses. Old Town's director also reported an arrest in the River Trail homicide cases.
Michigan Walk of Fame revival
The Walk of Fame project timeline is being stretched to about a year, with committees forming statewide. Existing plaques will be redone and new honorees will get updated plaque designs with Michigan elements.
Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board reappointment
Melissa Horste will serve another term on the board that reviews community services grant applications. She says she wants to improve the grant-review process, which handles a high volume of applications each year.
Pleasant Grove Road construction delay
Residents asked the city to move the West Miller Road reconstruction up a year because the road is deteriorating. Staff said acceleration may not be feasible, but patching will keep the road maintained in the meantime.