Lansing meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

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Housing Tax Exemptions Repealed and Replaced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

• **July 20 - Election Commission:** Public test of voting equipment for the Aug. 4, 2026 election, including precinct tabulators, an early voting tabulator, a voter assist terminal, and a ballot-on-demand system.
• **July 20 - Committee on Development & Planning:** Consideration of appointments to the Planning Commission, Arts and Culture Commission, and Downtown Lansing Inc. Board, plus public hearings on Brownfield Plan #91 at 6420 S. Cedar St. and an OPRA certificate for 2231 W. Willow St.
• **July 21 - Board of Police Commissioners:** Routine meeting with an Explorer Program presentation by Officer Damon Pulver, an administrative report by Chief Robert Backus, and a legal update from Chief Deputy City Attorney Lisa Hagen-Lawrence.
• **July 23 - Committee on City Operations:** Public hearings on noise permits for sewer projects by Hoffman Bros. Inc. and Leavitt and Starck Excavating, Inc., a special assessment for winter snow and ice removal, and discussion on renaming Cesar E. Chavez Avenue.

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.

• **Demolition Board/Code Enforcement** (July 6): Scheduled a hearing on whether to order 1606 Reo Rd made safe or demolished, with public comment allowed at the start.
• **Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advisory Board** (July 7): Heard updates from Interim Director Delvata Moses and Culture & Accountability Officer Michael Hopson, plus a NOVA community outreach work group update and review of a Concept/Initiative Support Form.
• **Board of Fire Commissioners** (July 8): Agenda listed election of new officers, approval of June 10 minutes, and an administration division update.
• **Downtown Lansing Inc.** (July 9): Discussed an RFP for a Downtown Outreach Team, a Streetscape Art RFQ, a Business & Property Improvement Grant Program, a CSO marketing proposal, and food trucks downtown.
• **Lansing Economic Development Corp.** (July 10): Scheduled action on FY2026/2027 Corridor Improvement Authority service contracts, a FY2026/2027 budget amendment, and a brownfield redevelopment grant application for 2231 W. Willow St.
• **Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority** (July 10): Scheduled action on Brownfield Plan #92 for 416 N. Cedar St. and brownfield policy addendum updates.
• **Lansing Tax Increment Finance Authority** (July 10): Scheduled a financial update and approval of June 5 minutes.

Coming up

• **July 13 — Committee of the Whole**: Discusses resolutions to schedule public hearings on proposed charter amendments that would transition city boards, commissions, and the Board of Water and Light into a ward-based structure, plus Arts and Culture Commission membership changes.
• **July 13 — City Council**: Considers a temporary moratorium on new data centers (Chapter 878), a liquor license transfer for B&A Unicorn Inc. at 327 E. Cesar E. Chavez Ave., a fireworks display license for Pro Fireworks at the Country Club of Lansing, and make-safe-or-demolish orders for the four properties approved by the Public Safety Committee.
• **July 14 — Board of Ethics**: Elects a chairperson for the July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027 term and reviews Sean Gehle's Statement of Financial Interests.
• **July 15 — Lansing Gateway North Grand River Improvement Authority**: Hears updates on a design project, ARPA funds, and coordination with Public Service and CATA.
• **July 16 — Saginaw Street Corridor Improvement Authority**: Considers a service agreement with the LEDC and reviews board procedures.
• **July 17 — Michigan Avenue Corridor Improvement Authority**: Discusses the Eastside Summer Festival and votes on a resolution for event expenses.