[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6063315,"mediaKeyId","3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e","parentId",3269760,"title","Charter commission adds sustainability to Public Service, rejects new sustainability board","audioSeconds",731,"startMs",1872000,"endMs",2603000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e&start=1872&end=2603","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e/thumbnail_1872000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6063315/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Charter-commission-adds-sustainability-to-Public-Service-rejects-new-sustainability-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063315-2805c0086d5e17a63ba6c3a22064d33e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204344&Signature=ZLARP2dOj2D0Lekx9m7asMLXHJCsnkpHehwBZ-itzp47Wg4h66OiELEtLmtpIEIv27QRyhBR4kn34crL-vOUVPG2keGwL85OWce~BV9v7fbymSsjs2f6gd0gK~esyFwuPCLLeQimDgpPr58IrB75vZavD9eNy8FcZ~wjxJK-l0lqpi4zI9rY9MF5hrMpQdp8hLKn271VXLtHAj2qT9ME0WuqSgBa8MIWh1QaneKX2YcIGrDZ7S0xa~4tw3PgcnwrUlKL6cMGKb~pmlL7N8bZGg0z3NJhK~9l3DTZpAXoDmG4Doc9xz2xKPJYgmGEppcLoZyszkllgvcRIChF0oUTNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lansing, Michigan","date","2025-05-07T00:53:32Z","article","LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing Charter Commission voted May 6 to add sustainability and environmental‑affairs language to the Department of Public Service but stopped short of creating a new chartered Sustainability and Environmental Affairs Board.

Commissioner Dowd moved and the commission adopted revised language for Section 4‑308, adding sustainability and environmental affairs activities to the duties of the Department of Public Service. The change, supporters said, enshrines current functions without creating a new department.

Commissioner Washington and several others opposed establishing a separate, chartered sustainability board. Washington said she preferred folding sustainability into the existing Public Service advisory board and warned that creating a new board would remove seats held by current volunteers and could duplicate mayoral advisory structures. Commissioner Boyle and Commissioner Cooley also said the current mayoral advisory board had been active and should be consulted before enshrining a separate board in the charter.

Commissioner Bauer moved to adopt a new Chapter 7 (Sustainability and Environmental Affairs Board). That amendment failed by roll call: the chair announced the tally as two yeas and four nays and stated the amendment was not adopted. The commission therefore kept sustainability language within the Department of Public Service and did not add a new charter board.

Why it matters: Including sustainability work in the Department of Public Service makes those duties part of the chartered responsibilities of a city department, potentially strengthening continuity across administrations. Commissioners who opposed a chartered board said advisory boards can be created by a mayor and that enshrining boards in the charter can displace experienced volunteers and create unnecessary duplication.

What comes next: The commission will proceed with the revised Article 4 language as adopted and will not add Chapter 7 unless members bring a new proposal and secure a majority vote at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lansing Charter Commission May 6th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lansing Charter Commission on May 6 added sustainability and environmental‑affairs duties to the Department of Public Service but voted down a proposal to create a chartered Sustainability and Environmental Affairs Board.","taxTitle","Lansing City, Ingham County, Michigan","taxId",5771,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063320,"Charter panel to revise council investigation language after union objections",1121,733000,1854000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e&start=733&end=1854","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e/thumbnail_733000.jpg","/articles/6063320/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Charter-panel-to-revise-council-investigation-language-after-union-objections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063320-d6688181319544507577a0f3644f1c37/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204344&Signature=THFyFfXGwQ~5wjmdNfmGlQ-nEuG8tXW39v4qHGkddM1cC0P-TsmUGyPvydhwM2~mS2p~iEhm1vp1kcFY4KzkFNpV2OQGF7Cee66wCOyfRNzkOMmlyng0Jv-YeEOhEs15x7muEg9MQ0b7ksloogL6BVcxyS6UrG6U9caV1SOENWfkbcMK9N5-aNwQqJRTqMNTc3IYWCO~Te661mVrdGBJ-xHlKmMqd6zi6onu2h5yRZW6WrDWONm1XCyyhUAKagD2NDh5OkJFW~vwhZZWeVIcGqOUu6oQhMs9myrUEewKFCXttMjuW91kjEifoIWqv-mfoS43aqilMOyacfxZTatJ4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing Charter Commission on May 6 agreed to return revised language on council investigations to address concerns from union representatives about possible conflicts with the Public Employee Relations Act (PERA).

The issue centered on proposed revisions to Article III (council investigations), including language that would let the council compel attendance of “city officers” and require employees to “cooperate” with inquiries. The commission’s city attorney, Kristen (city attorney), told commissioners her legal review did not find that drafting the charter revision and submitting it to voters would by itself violate PERA, but she said the language contains “gray areas” that could touch mandatory subjects of collective bargaining and would likely require bargaining after voter approval.

The matter drew sustained criticism from several commissioners. Commissioner Washington said she would oppose language that “compel[s] any employee of the city to have to come to a meeting,” saying it could put employees in a precarious position under union rules. Commissioner Dowd and Commissioner Bauer expressed similar concerns about council authority to recommend discipline or demand records directly from rank‑and‑file employees.

After discussion, commissioners instructed staff and the attorney to return with revised language that removes or clarifies the most contested provisions — including the provision on compelling attendance and several subsections described in the packet (3‑207 subsections related to compelling attendance and 3‑206 subsections 1–3) — and to bring related edits to section 2‑302.2(d) (language about forfeiture of office) back for review at the next meeting. The chair said the commission would prepare the correct procedure for making those deletions or amendments and review them when the attorney provides redlines.

The commission did not adopt final charter text on the subject at the May 6 meeting; the action recorded was direction to staff and counsel to draft clarifying deletions and bring them to the next meeting for consideration.

Why it matters: Changes to the charter’s investigation provisions could shift how the city council obtains information about city affairs and how employee participation in council inquiries is handled. City unions told the commission the language as drafted could implicate collective bargaining rights and asked for specific carve‑outs. The attorney advised the commission that, even if voters approve charter language, implementation affecting terms and conditions of employment would be subject to bargaining between the city and unions.

What comes next: The commission expects redrafted language next week that will (per commissioners’ direction) either remove the contested clauses or explicitly limit their application to exclude union‑covered employees or employee discipline matters, and will revisit related provisions in Article II at that time.

","The Lansing Charter Commission agreed May 6 to return revised language on council investigations and employee cooperation after city unions raised collective-bargaining concerns; the commission directed staff to draft deletions and clarifications for review next week.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063306,"Charter commission strikes chapter on marijuana from draft charter",594,2145000,2739000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e&start=2145&end=2739","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e/thumbnail_2145000.jpg","/articles/6063306/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Charter-commission-strikes-chapter-on-marijuana-from-draft-charter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063306-b6e0145956ba25548e6691d3f7c2c8aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204344&Signature=RuHQWJZc5PiOpnbD1RbUSmjI~FrQIlOBY--6prSXxoGvR5eMNO4ideJm-4X~I~KQRM~jnF~yPc5FbbMS2UGE2Y4nvZqVlEAm8Z5lDRsd8yrX2fg6E6eQA~MQhpL2f7BmMNmsbDxajBx4ZOl-RD5rWPWRgQzIXWVVXfLud8kShV6M9Ydf1zuLW-eldwzrwpWEes7q3Z99KCNLBrvsRaUZcGXii7C93v0G1-NuqhdwjaZoRUlUPlqoRyhpHbqDtyRjBHDBGFWsJW~PqI39BTLUkViLpCoktteFbrnq-851OiHmb-4YpjUz94gwNVIJ-CgufgpLQFCiRuS13HPcnOemvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing Charter Commission voted May 6 to remove the charter chapter addressing marijuana (cannabis) from the draft charter.

Commissioner Boyd moved to strike Chapter 5 (marijuana/cannabis). A prior motion to table that proposal failed in a roll call (four nays, three yeas). The commission then returned to the main motion; the chair called the vote and reported the motion passed 5–2, and the chapter was removed from the draft charter.

The attorney had earlier advised commissioners that state recreational marijuana law and related changes in the Michigan Constitution had altered the legal landscape since the chapter was first added in 2013. Commissioners who favored removal argued the state law now governs those subjects and that leaving the charter provision in place could create conflicts or unintended consequences. Others cautioned that removing a charter amendment originally sought to decriminalize marijuana might raise community concerns.

Why it matters: Removing a charter provision that addressed marijuana updates the draft charter to reflect current state law and avoids duplicative or potentially conflicting local charter language. Commissioners noted the original 2013 amendment reflected a different legal context.

What comes next: The chapter will not be included in the draft charter text produced at this stage; commissioners may revisit related language if future proposals are brought forward.","The commission voted May 6 to remove the existing charter chapter addressing marijuana/cannabis; an initial motion to table failed and the main motion to strike passed 5–2.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6063310,"Charter commission adopts updated nondiscrimination language, notes veterans hiring clause",200,2636000,2836000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e&start=2636&end=2836","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3269760-1f3812628dcb28eb1b7ab35470c6708e/thumbnail_2636000.jpg","/articles/6063310/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Charter-commission-adopts-updated-nondiscrimination-language-notes-veterans-hiring-clause","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6063310-99578b32901403236a098b00167c63f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204344&Signature=iMkciPnEo83yQ-IVhZv0Ko0HA1rtWUUkVB7Bo~9sxu1Zd-tpqmiM6KpcrHoHkjFdTTGDl6okOBdt40OW4x54bmuwMMjOUaPH8l4Hi324V1ddbhKFOs-BbzMXLNUF7UjnSp6ZgohEgCq3ip7M~AwRSpVZhZX76ebYAnlUbfbw7qBek32HnkSvyEAGpMmVfdUx54c8fCLTv9wsQsW9rgtFCwbKwKTYZkGOQ0ugsjdM~cx3TkWUcEoxFKnokm0EFDrTQO7apoROydvYfmdX3tlg7epgKlrw1KnkgNplK6KDC~t-kSZKD6vZu35DME2KEVD6rwoU4cQ96jMEx-K9NJGOxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","LANSING, Mich. — The Lansing Charter Commission voted unanimously May 6 to adopt updated nondiscrimination language for Article VI, aligning the charter with state and federal law and the city’s human‑rights ordinance.

The proposed text kept broad protected‑class language consistent with the commission’s earlier drafting in Section 1‑302 and added two sentences clarifying that consideration of a bona‑fide occupational qualification is allowed and that preferential hiring for veterans and their relatives is permissible as required by state and federal law. The attorney said those two sentences were taken from the city’s Human Rights Ordinance and reflect existing legal obligations.

Commissioner Washington asked why relatives of veterans were included; the attorney noted the phrasing mirrors the human‑rights ordinance and federal/state veterans’ preferences. The vice chair moved to adopt the proposal, and the motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: Updating the charter’s nondiscrimination clause aligns city charter language with existing state and federal protections and the city’s ordinance while explicitly preserving recognized exceptions for bona‑fide occupational qualifications and veterans’ hiring preferences.

What comes next: With the commission’s adoptive vote, the revised nondiscrimination language will be part of the charter text the commission is preparing to submit to voters or otherwise advance per the charter revision process.","The commission adopted revised nondiscrimination language for Article VI that tracks state/federal law and the city human‑rights ordinance and includes two sentences permitting bona‑fide occupational qualifications and veterans’ hiring preferences.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Charter commission adds sustainability to Public Service, rejects new sustainability board

Charter panel to revise council investigation language after union objections

Charter commission strikes chapter on marijuana from draft charter

Charter commission adopts updated nondiscrimination language, notes veterans hiring clause