Lansing · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lansing public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
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.
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.
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.
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 A drafting error briefly suggested the City Market was being repealed; that was clarified as a mistake.
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.
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.
Board of Review Appointment
Kenneth Salzman's reappointment to the board that hears income tax appeals was held because staff couldn't confirm he'd attend.
FY2027-2028 budget priorities
The board approved its spending priorities for fiscal year 2027/28, which shape how public service money goes to fleets, facilities and infrastructure. Changes were made to the proposal before approval.
Grantee Training and FY 27-28 Grant Application Process
The board's mini grant application is being updated so applicants must give more detail about the funding they're seeking. A pre-grant celebration on Sept. 17 will help neighborhoods get ready to apply.
Pension funding assumptions lowered to 6.75% investment return
The fund reached a record high of about $475 million, but geopolitical tensions, an oil-price spike, and Fed rate decisions could pressure markets. The consultant says stay the course with current managers.
Digitizing retirement records ahead of office relocation
The retirement office is drowning in paper records going back to the 1970s. The board authorized staff to keep researching scanning equipment and services, with options coming to the August meeting.
Selection of new pension administration software
The pension system serving 322 active members paid out $3.55 million in June retirement allowances and processed a new service retirement, a disability evaluation, and a contribution refund. Routine administration keeps benefits flowing to retirees and their families.
Employee contribution transfer
The city transferred $530,439.35 to the retirement system for net employee contributions covering October-December 2025. The board accepted the memo but asked staff to confirm the reporting period because of a date discrepancy.
Private equity commitments expand diversification
The board committed $6 million to two private equity funds to build toward a 5% allocation target by 2030-2031. The overall portfolio is up about 10.9% this year and beating its benchmark, which is good news for the pension's long-term health.
Union wage reopener for CCLP non-supervisory employees
City workers in the non-supervisory Capitol City Labor Program unit are getting retroactive raises and a bonus. It affects pay and retention for a chunk of the city workforce.
FY 2026-27 City Budget Adoption
The committee's wish list for next budget cycle includes $100,000 for speed bumps, two more code enforcement officers, field tech for inspectors, and three new police officers.
LEPFA Operating Agreement Amendment
Jackson Field has burned through $250,000 in HVAC repairs over three years and has another $273,000 in quoted repairs it hasn't completed. LEPFA can't afford the fixes, so it's sending the big-ticket items to the city for approval — and a repair-vs-replace plan with Trane could stretch replacements to one unit every 3-4 years.
Ingham County Hotel Tax Ballot Proposal
Voters passed the county hotel-motel ballot proposal with 62% support, and Choose Lansing is now working with county commissioners on how to spend the money. The Lansing Center is reportedly at the top of the list, with decisions expected by late October.
Boards and Commissions Vacancies and Recruitment
Seats are open in Wards 1, 2 and 3, and applications are under review. Residents interested in advising the mayor on neighborhood issues can still apply.
Board insurance coverage
The board was scheduled to act on insurance coverage for its members. Related bodies have approved general liability and directors-and-officers policies costing roughly $1,800 a year combined.
Portfolio rebalancing into fixed income
Both pension portfolios had drifted overweight in stocks. The boards approved consultant recommendations to shift roughly $21 million total into bonds to reduce risk.
ERS trustee vacancy and quorum loss
Trustee Larry Ebright retired from the city, which under city code counts as resigning from the retirement board. His seat will be filled by special election this summer — active retirement system members can run with 25-50 signatures.
Board Appointment Term Lengths Under the Charter
A question surfaced about whether board appointments expire in 2029 or 2030 under the Charter. If it's 2029, the LaRue reappointment resolution will need amending on the Council floor.
Snow and ice removal assessments
Property owners billed for city snow-and-ice clearing appealed; the committee cleaned up glitched and undeliverable work orders and passed a $62,034 roll. Kost warned the annual review process is happening too late and too infrequently.
CADL millage renewal on August ballot
The library's 4-year millage renewal is on the August 4 ballot — no tax increase, but it funds 90% of operations. Without it, the library says it couldn't keep all three Lansing branches open.
Employee retirement plan communication concerns
Employee Marilyn Chick told the board new hires aren't getting clear information about the retirement plans, mandatory contributions, vesting and interest on their accounts. The board explained its legal limits — it can't waive contributions or change the interest rate set by ordinance.
CARTA data services for private-market investments
The pension board approved using a new vendor, CARTA, to gather investment data more efficiently for private equity holdings — with the city attorney confirming it's standard practice and liability questions addressed.
Northern Trust custody fee payment change
Northern Trust wants to switch from invoicing to directly debiting custody fees from the system's account. The board will discuss the proposal when Northern Trust reps attend the August joint meeting.
Board insurance coverage gap
The city's insurance doesn't cover MACIA board members, so the authority will need its own policy. A quote comes next month.
Banking services transfer to PNC
The authority is moving its bank accounts from Comerica to PNC — administrative housekeeping that affects where the CIA holds its funds.
Ethics ordinance rewrite (Chapter 290)
The board is tightening the city's ethics rules: a $500 cap on total gifts over 12 months, clearer family-relationship definitions, standardized reporting windows, and possibly new filing deadlines for financial disclosures.
Fiscal Year 2026-2027 City Budget and Budget Policies
The city's proposed spending plan includes new firefighters, police detention staff, code officers, 311 agents, and solid waste operators, plus new fees across departments. Council will shape it before adoption in May.
Essential Services Millage Restoration on November Ballot
The city's operating millage expires December 31, 2026, and this ballot renewal keeps police, fire, road and sidewalk funding at current levels. If it fails, roughly $11.6 million could come out of a $185 million operating budget.
Re-adoption of Codified Ordinances
This is the city's once-a-year bookkeeping move to formally re-adopt all its general ordinances through December 31, 2025 into the municipal code. It keeps the city's rulebook legally current.
Iran De-escalation Resolution
Council called for an end to unauthorized military escalation with Iran and urged diplomacy, citing rising gas and food prices hitting Lansing families.
Repeal of multifamily housing tax exemptions (Chapter 886)
Council Member Nevarez Martinez proposed repealing tax exemptions for multifamily projects and replacing them with a 4% service charge on shelter rents; both were referred to Ways and Means.
Third-quarter city finances
The general fund is on track — revenue at 72.6%, spending at 74.3% of budget, with income tax receipts still accruing.
Fiscal Year 2027 department budget presentations
IT, Assessing, the City Attorney, and Police walked Council through their budget requests — rising software costs, staffing, hiring, and cost-containment. Council is gathering detail ahead of budget adoption.
EOCC Elected Officials Compensation Review
Three motions to reject the compensation commission's raises for the clerk, mayor, and council all failed 2-6. Kost and Hussain argued the raises are tone-deaf while residents struggle; others said fair pay keeps ordinary people able to serve.
CCLP Supervisory Unit Labor Agreement
Council approved a four-year labor deal for the CCLP Supervisory Unit with raises retroactive to 2025 and 2026 plus a $750 signing bonus.
Six New Police Officers Funded in Budget Amendment
Mid-year numbers show property and income taxes on track, though state grants will drop about $560,000. New state public-safety revenue sharing should arrive in April and will fund the Office of Neighborhood Safety, which already has a hire in place.
Second-Quarter Budget Amendment FY 2025-2026
The city amended its budget to capture new state road funding, federal police hiring grants, and pension contributions. About $6 million a year in extra street money could speed up long-overdue road repairs citywide.
Teamsters Local 243 contracts ratified
After a closed-door negotiation session, the committee ratified contracts for the clerical/technical/professional and supervisory units — 3% raises each year for 2026-2028, retroactive to February 1, plus a $250 boot allowance and paid certifications.
Pension systems pursue F5 stock fraud recovery
The city's pension funds lost an estimated $300,000 combined on F5 Inc. stock amid fraud allegations. Adding Robbins Geller Rudman and Dowd as outside counsel lets the retirement systems join the shareholder lawsuit — and Lansing could become lead plaintiff, which gets paid first.
Hulon v. City of Lansing Settlement
The committee unanimously approved a settlement in the Hulon v. City of Lansing lawsuit after a closed session discussing terms with the city attorney and outside counsel.
Requested forensic audit of city finances
The city got a clean audit opinion on all nine funds, but general fund balance dropped $10.7 million to about $30 million, and auditors flagged recurring journal-entry issues plus a new bank reconciliation finding.
Council Rule 16 change and end of Municipal Audit Committee
With the new charter replacing the council-appointed internal auditor with an independent one, President Spadafore proposes eliminating the Committee on Municipal Audit and moving remaining functions to Ways and Means. Action comes next meeting.
2026 Council Leadership Selection
Who leads the council shapes how residents' concerns get heard and which priorities — like the budget and neighborhood safety — move forward. Public commenters largely backed Ryan Kost for president, but the committee voted 6-2 to recommend Peter Spadafore.