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Lansing meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Plain-English weekly recaps written from official meeting records. 7 weeks available.

Weeks

Week of 2026-10-19

Lansing weekly roundup: up to $60,000 approved for streetscape art, virtual currency machine rules advance

Downtown Lansing Inc. board members approved a budget of up to $60,000 for staff to work with artist Ivan Iller and SmithGroup on streetscape art redesigns, according to minutes of the board's October 8 meeting. The board also approved its September 10, 2026, minutes and monthly financials on a consent agenda.

Virtual currency machines: ordinance and fees approved

The Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion voted 3-0 on October 13 to approve an ordinance regulating virtual currency machines (Chapter 873, Sections 873.01-873.11) and a resolution establishing a $75 annual license fee and a $35 background check fee. The committee also approved its September 15, 2026, minutes, 3-0. The City Council's October 12 agenda listed proposed licensing and regulations for virtual currency machines (PEND-4602); minutes of that council meeting were not yet published in the materials reviewed.

Four workforce housing tax requests move to public hearing

The Committee on Development & Planning approved 2-0 public hearings for four Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) requests concerning workforce housing: Baltic Flatz at 911-1003 W. Cavanaugh Road; Caroline Flatz at 2411 & 2206 Risdale Avenue and 4316 Pleasant Grove Road; Pacific Flatz at 1317-1421 E. Kalamazoo Street; and Ventnor Flatz at 1000-1156 Dorchester Circle and 4612 & 4620 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The committee also approved its September 21, 2026, minutes, 2-0. The minutes do not state the dollar terms of the requests.

Election preparations for November 3

The Election Commission established an absent voter counting board and authorized processing ballots up to eight days before the November 3, 2026, election. It also approved sending a response to an RNC letter regarding election inspector parity, approved the assignment of election inspectors, and delegated preliminary testing for the November 3 election to the City Clerk's Office. The commission approved minutes of its July 20, 2026, meeting.

Other decisions

On the agenda, not yet decided

Several bodies met or meet on items whose minutes were not yet published: the Planning Commission's public hearing on an amendment to Section 1310.13 on freestanding signs; a Board of Zoning Appeals hearing and possible vote on BZA-4106.26, a driveway variance on N. Hosmer Street for a drive-through restaurant at 809 E. Michigan Avenue; a Historic District Commission public hearing on a Study Committee request for the St. Lawrence Hospital Campus at 1210 W Saginaw St.; and a Board of Ethics closed session on Complaint 2026-002.

Coming up

Week of 2026-10-12

Lansing committees advance four workforce housing tax requests, police grant

Lansing committees took steps over the past two weeks on four workforce housing tax requests, a police grant, and a new internal auditor ordinance, while the City Council's committee approved a change to where December meetings will be held.

Four workforce housing tax requests head to public hearings

The Committee on Development & Planning on Oct. 5 approved resolutions to introduce and set public hearings for four Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) requests for workforce housing. Each vote was 2-0. The requests concern:

The committee also approved its Sept. 21 minutes (2-0). A PILOT is a payment made in place of property taxes. The City Council's Oct. 12 agenda lists proposed PILOT amendments for the same four projects. No dollar amounts were specified in the summaries provided.

Police grant and internal auditor ordinance approved

The Committee on Ways and Means on Oct. 1 approved a STOP Violence Against Women grant for the Lansing Police Department (2-0) and an amended ordinance for the Office of the Independent Internal Auditor (2-0). It placed on file a sole source purchase for the All City Management Services school crossing guard program (2-0) and approved its Sept. 21 minutes (2-0). Two items were moved to the next meeting: the reappointment of Kenneth Salzman to the Income Tax Board of Review and a Supportive Housing Services funding ordinance. The grant amount was not specified.

Noise ordinance hearing set for Oct. 26

The Committee on Public Safety on Oct. 1 approved its Sept. 17 minutes (3-0) and set a public hearing for Oct. 26, 2026 on amendments to Chapter 654, the Noise Ordinance (3-0). Members also received an update from the Economic Development and Planning Department on the property placard system.

Council committee approves December meeting location

The Committee of the Whole on Oct. 12 approved moving December 2026 meetings to the Tony Benavides Lansing City Council Chambers at 425 S Grand Avenue (8-0), approved its Sept. 28 minutes (8-0), and reappointed Eric Tans to the CATA Board through Sept. 30, 2029 (8-0).

Other items

Coming up

Week of 2026-08-24

Lansing committees approve ward-based boards, $1.5M fountain grant

Lansing's Committee of the Whole approved three ordinance amendments aligning boards and commissions with the new City Charter's ward structure, including the Board of Water and Light and reducing the Arts and Culture Commission from 12 to 8 members. The committee also approved a fireworks permit for Frances Park. In other action, the Committee on Ways and Means approved a $1.5 million grant for the Reutter Park fountain, and the Committee on Development & Planning approved five development resolutions.

Ward structure changes

The Committee of the Whole voted 6-0 on Aug. 10 to approve three ordinance amendments:

All three passed 6-0. The committee also approved a fireworks permit for Frances Park (6-0) and minutes from July 27, 2026 (6-0).

Development approvals and grants

The Committee on Development & Planning approved five resolutions on Aug. 17, all by 2-0 votes:

The Committee on Ways and Means approved two grant acceptances on Aug. 20, both 3-0: a Certified Local Government grant for a Westside Neighborhood survey and a $1.5 million RAP 2.0 grant for the Reutter Park Fountain. It also set public hearings for Sept. 14 on adding Chapter 245 (Office of the Independent Internal Auditor) and amending Chapter 230 to add Section 230.02 for Supportive Housing Services, with an amendment to include 'County' in the ordinance.

Public safety and other actions

The Board of Public Service approved a parking prohibition on the west side of Darby Drive between Cumberland Road and Tecumseh River Drive on school days from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The motion carried. The board also adopted Department Priorities and approved minutes.

The Committee on City Operations approved a noise waiver for Leavitt & Starck Excavating for the CSO 015 South project (2-1), reappointed Jerrod LaRue to the Board of Fire Commissioners (3-0), and recognized Next Generation Family Services for a gaming license (3-0).

The Committee on Public Safety voted 0-3 against setting a show cause hearing for 6546 Mercantile Way, after the new owner obtained a tear-out permit. It approved minutes from Aug. 6 (3-0) and removed the resolution from the table (3-0).

The Board of Police Commissioners approved July minutes and departmental reports (6-0).

Coming up

The Lansing City Council will meet Aug. 24 to consider a resolution to terminate all agreements with Flock for automated license plate reader cameras, an ordinance to allocate funding for Supportive Housing Services, and an ordinance creating an Office of the Independent Internal Auditor. The agenda also includes OPRA certificates, brownfield plans, and grant acceptances.

The Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority will meet Aug. 25 to review the FY26 Qualitative Incentive Evaluation and approve June minutes.

Week of 2026-08-10

Lansing committee approves demolition orders; council to weigh tax change

The Lansing Committee on Public Safety approved demolition orders for four properties at its Aug. 6 meeting, all by 3-0 votes. The orders include a show cause hearing for 920 Long Blvd. and make-safe-or-demolish orders for three other addresses.

Demolition orders

The committee approved a show cause hearing for 920 Long Blvd. on Aug. 24, 2026. It also issued 21-day make-safe-or-demolish orders for 431 S. Francis Ave. and 1217 N. Grand River Ave., and a 60-day order for 4507 Devonshire. A resolution for 6546 Mercantile Way was tabled until Aug. 20 to allow the new owner to present plans.

Other recent meetings

The Committee of the Whole approved minutes from its July 13 meeting by an 8-0 vote on July 27. The session included progress reports on the new City Hall, the Public Safety Complex, and the NOVA MODPod temporary housing project.

The City Council met July 27 with an agenda that included a proposal to repeal the current multifamily tax exemption chapter and replace it with a new chapter imposing a 4% service charge on annual shelter rents for eligible housing projects. No vote was taken; the item remains pending. The council also set public hearings on brownfield plans for 6420 S. Cedar St. and 416 N. Cedar St., and on noise permits.

Several other boards met with no final decisions. The Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board discussed ethics training and new appointees. The Arts and Cultural Commission discussed art for the new City Hall and a partnership with the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art. The Board of Fire Commissioners discussed the annual report, budget, and a sick leave request. The Planning Commission held a procedural meeting with no substantive items. The Lansing Economic Development Corp., Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and Tax Increment Finance Authority all met Aug. 7 with agenda items including a Corner Parcel repurchase resolution, a budget amendment, and bank account updates, but no votes were recorded.

Coming up

Week of 2026-08-03

Lansing committee approves $62,034 snow removal assessment; council weighs multifamily tax change

A Lansing committee approved a $62,034 snow and ice removal special assessment roll, the most concrete decision among recent city meetings. The Committee on City Operations voted 3-0 on July 23, 2026 to finalize the winter 2025-2026 assessment after reviewing appeals.

Snow removal assessment and appointments

The Committee on City Operations approved the $62,034 snow and ice removal special assessment roll on a 3-0 vote. The committee denied a snow removal assessment appeal for 653 Vernon (3-0) and denied an appeal for 101 E. Miller Road (2-0).

The committee also appointed Colleen Cole to the Lansing Public Media Authority (3-0) and Kalman Mate to the Human Relations & Community Services Advisory Board (3-0). It approved non-profit recognition for DAP Services & Resource Center (3-0).

Two public hearings were set on noise waivers for sewer projects: one for Hoffman Bros. Inc. related to the Ottawa Street project (3-0), and one for Leavitt and Starck Excavating, Inc. related to the CSO 015 South project (3-0).

City Council considers multifamily tax change

The Lansing City Council has scheduled public hearings on repealing Chapter 886 (Tax Exemptions for Multifamily Dwelling Projects) and replacing it with a new Chapter 886 imposing a 4% service charge on annual shelter rents for eligible housing projects (PEND-4485, PEND-4487). Minutes from the July 27, 2026 meeting have not yet been published, so no vote outcome is available.

The council also set public hearings on amending Chapters 247, 248, and 266 to align boards and commissions with a ward structure as required by the charter (PEND-4504, PEND-4506, PEND-4508). Additional items on the agenda included the snow and ice removal special assessment for winter 2025-2026 (PEND-4478), public hearings on Brownfield Plan #91 at 6420 S. Cedar St. and #92 at 416 N. Cedar St. (PEND-4516, PEND-4547), and orders to make safe or demolish properties at 431 S. Francis Ave. and 1217 N. Grand River Ave. (PEND-4512, PEND-4502).

Committee of the Whole approves minutes

The Committee of the Whole approved minutes from the July 13, 2026 meeting on an 8-0 vote. The session included progress reports on the new City Hall, the Public Safety Complex, and the NOVA MODPod temporary housing project.

Retirement boards review pensions and software

The Police and Fire Retirement System and Employees Retirement System held a joint special meeting July 20 to review a monthly investment report and a request for proposal for pension software. Minutes are not yet published.

On July 21, the Police and Fire Retirement System agenda included a June 2026 retirement allowances report totaling $3,549,734.78, a refund of accumulated contributions for Christopher Clew in the amount of $50,852.34, a regular age and service retirement application for Jwan Randle, a duty disability retirement request for Applicant #2026-P0609, and a scanner equipment request to digitize retirement records.

The Employees' Retirement System board considered regular retirement requests for Larry Ebright (UAW, 28 years 5 months service, age 57, effective 7/1/2026) and Barbara Battle (Teamsters 243 CTP, 9 years 4 months service, age 67, effective 7/18/2026). The agenda also listed duty and non-duty disability requests, and refunds of unvested contributions for Monica Baker ($18,203.70) and Karen Krish ($8,567.61).

Development & Planning Committee

The committee considered reappointing Katie Alexander as At-Large member of the Planning Commission (term expires June 30, 2030), appointing Jonah Stone as 1st Ward member of the Arts and Culture Commission (term expires June 30, 2030), and appointing Tyson Pumphrey as Business Representative of the Downtown Lansing, Inc. Board (term expires June 30, 2030). It also considered setting public hearings on Brownfield Plan #91 at 6420 S. Cedar Street and an OPRA certificate for 2231 W. Willow St., AM Land Holdings LLC. Minutes are not yet published.

Election Commission tests voting equipment

The Lansing Election Commission conducted a public test of voting equipment ahead of the August 4, 2026 election, including precinct tabulators, an early voting tabulator, a voter assist terminal, and a ballot-on-demand system. Minutes are not yet published.

Police board and ethics training

The Board of Police Commissioners held a routine meeting July 21 with an education presentation on the Explorer Program by Officer Damon Pulver, an administrative report by Chief Robert Backus, and a legal update from Chief Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence. The consent agenda included approval of June 16, 2026 minutes and June 2026 department reports.

The Human Relations and Community Services Advisory Board met July 28 to confirm annual ethics training for members and introduce new appointees. No substantive decisions were listed.

Coming up

Week of 2026-07-20

Lansing committees approve federal grant, housing tax changes, and demolition orders

The Lansing Ways and Means Committee voted July 16 to accept a U.S. Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities grant and to overhaul Chapter 886 tax exemptions for multifamily housing, making those the most consequential decisions across a busy two weeks of city meetings.

Housing Tax Exemptions Repealed and Replaced

The Committee on Ways and Means approved accepting the federal Reconnecting Communities grant (3-0). It then voted 3-0 to repeal Chapter 886 tax exemptions for multifamily dwellings, amended the ordinance to set a 14-day effective date (3-0), and approved adding Chapter 886 Sections 886.01-886.07, which establish a 4% service charge for eligible housing developments (3-0). The committee also approved its May 21, 2026 minutes (2-0).

Public Safety Committee Orders Demolitions and Show-Cause Hearings

On July 8, the Committee on Public Safety approved four 21-day make-safe-or-demolish orders, each by a 2-0 vote, for properties at 813 Bement, 708 S Hayford, 2114 E Kalamazoo, and 100 W Hodge. The committee set show-cause hearings for July 27 for 1217 N Grand River and 431 S Francis (both 2-0). Three properties were tabled to allow owners more time: 1218 Gordon, 6031 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, and 4507 Devonshire (all 2-0). May 21 minutes were also approved.

On July 16, the same committee approved its July 8 minutes (2-0) and tabled action on the 4507 Devonshire make-safe-or-demolition issue until the August 6 meeting (2-0).

City Operations Committee Denies Snow Appeals, Approves Fireworks Permit

The Committee on City Operations on July 9 approved its June 25 minutes (2-0) and approved a consumer fireworks permit for the Country Club of Lansing (2-0). It denied a $550 trash violation claim for 1725 Donora Street (2-0). The committee denied 25 of 27 snow and ice removal appeals for the winter 2025-2026 season, each by 2-0 votes, covering addresses across the city. One appeal, for 810 Fenton Ave, was approved (2-0). Two appeals were tabled to the July 23 meeting: 653 Vernon Ave and 101 E Miller Rd.

Council Committee Sets Public Hearings on Board Structures

The Committee of the Whole on July 13 approved its June 22 minutes (8-0) and set three public hearings for July 27, 2027, each by 8-0 votes. The hearings concern amendments to Title 8 and Chapter 247 on ward structures for boards and commissions, Chapter 248 on LBWL Board membership, and Chapter 266 on the Arts and Culture Commission.

Board of Public Service Elects Leadership

The Board of Public Service elected Nancy Mahlow as Chair and Tracy Tanner as Vice Chair. The board approved its agenda, the June 11 minutes, and revised budget priorities with discussed changes. All items passed by motion.

Agenda-Only Meetings: Actions Not Yet Confirmed

Several boards met with agendas indicating planned actions, but minutes have not yet been published. The Lansing Economic Development Corp. was scheduled to act on FY2026/2027 Corridor Improvement Authority service contracts, a budget amendment, and a brownfield grant application for 2231 W. Willow St. The Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority was set to act on Brownfield Plan #92 for 416 N. Cedar St. The City Council agenda included a temporary moratorium on new data centers under Chapter 878, a liquor license transfer for B&A Unicorn Inc. at 327 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., and a fireworks display license for Pro Fireworks at the Country Club of Lansing. The Board of Ethics was scheduled to elect a chairperson for the July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 term and review Sean Gehle's Statement of Financial Interests.

Coming Up

Week of 2026-07-13

Lansing committees order four properties made safe or demolished, deny 26 snow-ice appeals

Lansing's Committee on Public Safety approved 21-day make-safe-or-demolish orders for four properties, and the Committee on City Operations denied the vast majority of snow and ice removal appeals filed over the past winter. Both committees met July 8 and July 9, respectively, with votes recorded in official minutes.

Public Safety: demolition orders and show-cause hearings

With two members present, the Committee on Public Safety approved 21-day make-safe-or-demolish orders at four addresses, each by a 2-0 vote: 813 Bement, 708 S Hayford, 2114 E Kalamazoo, and 100 W Hodge.

The committee set show-cause hearings for July 27 for two additional properties — 1217 N Grand River and 431 S Francis — both by 2-0 votes. Three other properties were tabled to give owners more time to show progress: 1218 Gordon and 6031 S Martin Luther King Jr Blvd were tabled 60 days, each 2-0. The committee also approved minutes from its May 21 meeting.

City Operations: snow-ice appeals mostly denied

The Committee on City Operations, voting 2-0 throughout, denied 26 of 28 snow and ice removal special assessment appeals for the 2025-2026 winter season. Denied appeals covered addresses across the city, including multiple properties on Sparrow Avenue, W Barnes Avenue, S Cedar Street, and Vernon Avenue.

The committee approved one snow and ice removal appeal — for 810 Fenton Ave (2-0) — and tabled two others to its July 23 meeting: 653 Vernon Ave and 101 E Miller Rd.

In other business, the committee denied a $550 trash violation claim (claim #2244) for 1725 Donora Street (2-0) and approved a consumer fireworks permit for the Country Club of Lansing (2-0). June 25 minutes were approved 2-0.

Boards and advisory bodies: agendas only, no minutes yet

Several boards met during the week, but only agendas are available — minutes have not been published.

Coming up

Generated from official meeting agendas and minutes — every underlying document is linked from the city page. Read the primary source before you rely on a detail.