[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6053303,"mediaKeyId","3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12","parentId",3375788,"title","City staff say sewer rate increase was included in budget assumptions but omitted from fee resolution; amendment required","audioSeconds",311,"startMs",4900000,"endMs",5211000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12&start=4900&end=5211","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12/thumbnail_4900000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6053303/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/City-staff-say-sewer-rate-increase-was-included-in-budget-assumptions-but-omitted-from-fee-resolution-amendment-required","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053303-63e6a883e74e4cdfc3c2c02d555f1c9c/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755752&Signature=K4l0pk4I1l8xP0BCIMIjGdpKyVzBDA6zD3r9-fHvuhOCuIf8TSN5bfKMO9jrV0F65pW5PRBc7I59vhuXgMuBaLBLpHN1yVjoyGgZx6-hRBsBzyuo0TqILtvwJTkjZsDUvMhQ1InP6Yv99SpRy7B2xlKF0EcC0WShYFM1vK~MvtK1KDgVCLojKs929gydXGs89HSRo4AaR9HXmgNzw2Ky~ZTVgdE-B~Vyy3mIEMIf9RnX3yTI2hd41FnMB5ncc2fTvtGVsdSprAhi7f6nCV4l8i2yslS9n7UJffeNMDAViDIneIsr1wzKy5qHDjPEZrHj5vmmhDGtTX4duTDUqS9-VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lansing, Michigan","date","2025-05-13T16:52:40Z","article","A city staff presenter told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that the budget assumptions included a sewer rate increase but that the resolution provided to the council did not include those rate changes.

The staff member said the proposed increase is 5.5% for the fixed monthly fee and 5% for the commodity and other fees; historically the city has raised sewer rates about 3%–5% per year. He said the increases are intended to fund capital projects, especially combined sewer overflow work, and to cover long‑term debt service tied to ongoing infrastructure work through roughly 2038.

Nut graf: The omission matters because fee changes must be adopted by resolution; staff told council the current budget was built on an assumption of the rate increases, but the fee resolution before council omitted them. City staff and the city attorney said correcting the omission requires an amendment to the fee resolution before final budget passage.

The presenter said about half of the sewer budget — roughly $45 million in total — is devoted to capital and that CSO and other capital projects require multi‑year funding. He said the administration chose a moderate increase rather than a larger one in order to avoid a sudden large rate spike for customers. The city attorney confirmed the council could amend the resolution document prior to passage to add the intended rate increases.

Ending: City staff offered to provide a historical schedule of sewer rate changes and said they would work with the council to amend the fee resolution before finalizing the budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 12th, 2025 Committee of the Whole Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A city staff presenter told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that the budget assumptions included a sewer rate increase but that the resolution provided to the council did not include those rate changes.","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},6053308,"Unions press city on 29 Teamsters vacancies and long‑running contract positions; HR outlines recruiting activity",2772,2679000,5451000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12&start=2679&end=5451","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12/thumbnail_2679000.jpg","/articles/6053308/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Unions-press-city-on-29-Teamsters-vacancies-and-longrunning-contract-positions-HR-outlines-recruiting-activity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053308-e7355447a7afc09dab0e0be83aeb0fc8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755752&Signature=PQXWkS0cvG9u3EdH3J2s2kfN5Cjis5wy5R9BTEy7IngCk8IMJ4I-9C4VbN-1EdM~mmZDiOOw6wehOxOJR~AXgaDaNBG3jB3h1kJ8QeVipBG7w6g5yCSDMVw~GgTdM1NyP5QtcDDbe9z4lUJHd-rvbooT0Yg3WYW5m5o7gpsFJFw833yiig6IOzPdaJ9npqu4QhyfbUetFR9JElnllGCMiraYwIqmnP2FFYIKzc6LpvskNEhW6q11P5~c6Vc4h~XFKT7aEa9EGUtbo9E2u7eUVOX-TgrsziQX~YdiT1xL2lKjEBlgyS9owsUGObSRby2q83V885vjvdipSdlpaDhv9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Heather Dehoske, business agent for Teamsters Local 243, and other union representatives told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that the city has dozens of funded but vacant positions and that some long‑term work has been performed by contract employees rather than full‑time staff.

Dehoske said she counted 29 current vacant positions represented by Teamsters Local 243 and told council that some contract employees have been renewed year after year, noting that “some of them since 2015.” She said the prevalence of long‑term contract staff reduces incentives for workers to invest in the city and asked what the plan is to convert continuing contract roles to permanent positions.

Nut graf: The exchange matters because it raises questions about how the city fills funded vacancies, whether contract staff are displacing permanent hires, and how recruitment and retention affect service delivery for residents.

City HR representatives told council they have filled 42 full‑time positions since Jan. 1, have about 23 current job postings visible on the city website, and reported that roughly 101 positions were in some stage of the hiring process (vetting, conditional offers, onboarding). HR said the team attended 13 recruiting events in the fiscal year and worked with departments on targeted recruitment including outreach to vocational programs and neighborhood resource centers.

Council members asked for follow‑up detail on how many contracted positions are effectively filling funded vacancies and requested a breakdown for specific long‑running contract roles. HR said it can provide time‑to‑fill metrics from its applicant tracking system (NeoGov) and will supply vacancy and contract conversion details to council on request.

Ending: Unions urged the council and administration to accelerate conversions of long‑term contracted work into permanent positions where the workload is ongoing; city HR said it will provide vacancy tracking and recruitment details and acknowledged continued work to shorten time‑to‑fill for critical roles.","Heather Dehoske, business agent for Teamsters Local 243, and other union representatives told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that the city has dozens of funded but vacant positions and that some long‑term work has been performed by contract employees rather than full‑time staff.",{"_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},6053318,"ASM Global to operate Lansing Center, Groesbeck and stadium under LEPFA deal; board vote expected May 20",1475,432000,1907000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12&start=432&end=1907","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12/thumbnail_432000.jpg","/articles/6053318/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/ASM-Global-to-operate-Lansing-Center-Groesbeck-and-stadium-under-LEPFA-deal-board-vote-expected-May-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053318-e0f71af2afc64b3c553da194159685b3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755752&Signature=FvsP0hmGf780NN-ArK9lpjEFEr2fGbPByGGb1Ib-4dLXcvxsmIJSbhDXGk8LwQXqoc0P9B5f64zejZfHoku0YP9lotEM-rYeuIYJJd4wyP~QUU5jwWntXeEIeiRGrHc6LWaj-HsGFfFcIn0SkJbB-LJ4r6Rmb0w4VQhTSnQK6SgfsL8OWaXm7Q6om5ZWnHLFHKHU5-PZrpGYyIgXPvQdT-p0bT3bdQtnnrhEkc~rElnIGbwX7-QkWUc7jAQfcb42uQOZEkX2tfDjnJVXvv5b6ksJ6bEs4SvVI9KJxkZ3vjgoufOAR3Q88J~aMlvQOpOp6wfm~NDz9PLFbDwLLpZobA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tristan Wright, president of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that LEPFA plans to contract day‑to‑day management of the Lansing Center, Groesbeck Golf Course and the stadium to ASM Global.

The LEPFA president said the authority’s request to the city would decrease by $12,358 under the proposed management arrangement and that ASM Global “will be contributing $500,000 for mutually agreed upon customer facing revenue generating capital improvements to LAPFA.”

Nut graf: The discussion matters because the management change alters who employs facility staff, could change operating subsidies the city pays over several years and shifts responsibility for most daily operations from a public authority to a private operator. Council members pressed LEPFA and ASM on employee retention, capital responsibilities and the timeline for executing the management contract.

ASM Global’s regional vice president, Brian Crow, told council that ASM will hire and retain the majority of current employees working at the facilities and that the company will either assume or negotiate existing bargaining agreements. “It is our intent to negotiate, with with their I know there are I believe there are 3, bargain groups for employees, and we would be either assuming existing agreements or will negotiate either directly or in partnership with Lehi for continuation of those agreements,” Crow said.

Wright and Crow said ASM will not cover capital improvements above $10,000 as part of routine operations. Wright said the $500,000 proposed from ASM is “focused on the face forward, type of improvements…something that has the generating factor to it.” Crow added that ASM will pursue revenue enhancements such as food and beverage optimization, sponsorships and naming rights and hopes efficiencies from national procurement partnerships will lower operating costs.

Council members pressed LEPFA and ASM on employee notices that had been mailed under the WARN Act. LEPFA and ASM officials said the notices were required under statute and that LEPFA sent them in anticipation of the transition; LEPFA said ASM informed staff and met with employees the next business day. Wright said the notices were sent under legal timing requirements and that an emergency staff meeting followed to answer employee questions.

Asked about the near‑term city subsidy, ASM said the first‑year budget shows only a small reduction but projected larger year‑over‑year subsidy reductions in years two through five as revenue initiatives take hold. A city strategy official said the administration’s estimate of five‑year savings from the partnership is about $2 million compared with the status quo, though that official also said some of those savings could be reinvested into capital work.

The LEPFA board had not executed the ASM contract as of the May 12 meeting; LEPFA representatives told the council they expect board action on the agreement on May 20. City staff and the city attorney said the city‑side documents (the city’s licensing and management agreement with LEPFA) would remain in effect through their current expiration date in October 2026 unless the council chooses otherwise.

Ending: Council members asked for more detail on multi‑year subsidy projections, the facility condition assessments ASM will perform and the specifics of how collective bargaining agreements will be handled during the transition. Council President Cost moved the agenda along after the LEPFA presentation; no council vote on the LEPFA/ASM agreement was taken at the May 12 meeting.","Tristan Wright, president of the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority, told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that LEPFA plans to contract day‑to‑day management of the Lansing Center, Groesbeck Golf Course and the stadium to ASM Global.",{"_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},6053298,"Longtime resident urges council to prioritize police, fire and basic services over ‘feel‑good’ programs",134,96000,230000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12&start=96&end=230","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12/thumbnail_96000.jpg","/articles/6053298/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Longtime-resident-urges-council-to-prioritize-police-fire-and-basic-services-over-feelgood-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053298-fccb04572e184e04dbc4dbca2addeabc/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755752&Signature=oFbANcM8ZsPjp77hYIsnz1KPxviSQly9KRLH9QTzgcwX4iSrR2u51ARrceOrJHdSoKJekndUXE4zzayjW06yaOY~W3YJkb8eItb-a1ca-zhDD~ODpwGxkqLDAp0cIGULOVBj4dceFu-hurWZeUJ~WfPYwLq8ikHJ31t71ItYpRbOF93uA4nTlY5tbs7dvT-4-DlfJei3cqUm5eqkdB1ZvY6-TYopU31DsQd5j0B5WrUL8uZkoQXu3JvDtEZ908xvyzaGD0vz6fjQxEt4t2G2r0cruHSAwcUwSHMTkCLu8c-DrtQsiGcce~oZozX2j40wMF6xEtvgY2j7hYor4eJ53w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Loretta Stanaway, a Lansing resident since 1985, used the public‑comment period at the May 12 Committee of the Whole to urge the council to prioritize core public safety and infrastructure spending over discretionary programs.

“I think the purpose of a city government is to protect and provide for its citizens, and that is done through police and fire, public service, quality of life goes into parks and rec,” Stanaway said. She asked the council to “eliminate things that are superfluous, feel goods, nice to have” — she named sister‑city programs, façade improvement grants, neighborhood engagement grants, pilots and tax abatements as examples — and redirect that funding to police, fire and public works.

Nut graf: Public comment matters because residents’ spending priorities inform councilmembers and feed into budget conversations; Stanaway asked council to focus on core services for public safety and maintenance instead of discretionary grants or events.

Stanaway acknowledged that the idea would be unpopular and that change would be difficult, but urged deeper budget cuts to free resources for essential services.

Ending: Council proceeded to departmental budget presentations after public comment; staff and council members later discussed operational and hiring details across departments during the meeting.","Loretta Stanaway, a Lansing resident since 1985, used her three minutes of public comment to urge the council to prioritize funding for police, fire, public works and parks over discretionary programs such as sister city programs, façade grants, festival permits and pilots.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6053313,"Lansing fire union warns of staffing shortfall as ambulance and call volumes climb",694,2918000,3612000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12&start=2918&end=3612","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3375788-2d3cd1bf50fd9fa5e6245d7a84da1c12/thumbnail_2918000.jpg","/articles/6053313/Lansing-City/Ingham-County/Michigan/Lansing-fire-union-warns-of-staffing-shortfall-as-ambulance-and-call-volumes-climb","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6053313-b260ee81e508e18a3547f5c88258f00d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775755752&Signature=FAlEDsnT7Lygaa~DpgC1UFkarB9U-6xk4beD9Ggb8QqE0Bf8-X4LPXef-FRjQKaxxR0fnylTDTKBakp8m52g43XaEUzc8U1X5ZZ4KZmbsB-i2vsqbwFBRhLIiWOaYzbJ0kskWtN0Ppqol7eA1FsAjpTYLel4GeyXWNzQQ5Q5-jAf0axSEdP1gX~AGrRIm6LUg2aobS32ryxdbVoWNoD4MPSL501lwOBfMb8J1~ETstfWXsjvQGxREjMVjoCN16EYPsB1pWcpJbXUMzDWt~zR0yH-GR2R19~XM22R-feFFRiI9B~TCxmNE1~xuTi7bSq7mjKTYHYVKZz~ypmEDi4ZhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brad (IAFF Local 421 business agent) told the City Council Committee of the Whole on May 12 that Lansing Fire Department staffing has not recovered from cuts made during earlier budget reductions and that call volume has increased significantly.

“The number 1 concern for the community stakeholders … is our staffing levels,” Brad said, summarizing a department strategic plan. He said the fire department staffed 52 personnel per day in 2010 but is now at 41 despite rising call volume, and that “we're running 27,000 calls a year.”

Nut graf: The testimony matters because union leaders say minimum staffing is insufficient to meet current emergency medical services (EMS) demand and fire calls; that shortage affects worker fatigue and sick leave; and it constrains the city’s ability to operate additional ambulances or fully crew trucks.

Brad told council that adding one fully operational ambulance position requires multiple hires: “Our minimum staffing…We have 41 people on a day. So if we wanted to staff another ambulance, our minimum staffing would have to go to 43. And that would be 6 new hires.” He said long hours and frequent overtime are producing fatigue and mental‑health strains among firefighters: “we have numerous of my members that are struggling with PTSD, mental health issues…Our sick leave is increasing just due to the fact that a fatigue.”

Union and city representatives said steps are underway to increase trained staffing. Jake, the city’s chief strategy officer, noted the city obtained a SAFER grant that adds 15 firefighter positions immediately; he said the grant addresses attrition but that maintaining those positions beyond the grant requires budgeting. Brad and others described contractual changes that require new hires to pursue paramedic training and noted state moves to create a Michigan‑only paramedic license as support for local training pipelines.

Council members pressed for a long‑term plan. Brad said the department’s strategic plan aims to align staffing with workload by 2029 and applauded recent internal steps, but he said much work remains. Council and the administration agreed to provide further analysis and follow‑up on staffing plans and vacancy fill timelines.

Ending: Union leaders asked the council for a long‑term staffing plan and quicker action to fill funded vacancies; city staff said they would provide additional detail about vacancy timelines, recruitment events and how grant hires will be sustained in future budgets.","IAFF Local 421 and union leaders told the City Council Committee of the Whole that fire staffing has not recovered from cuts a decade ago, that call volume has climbed sharply and that current minimum staffing constrains ambulance availability and raises health and safety concerns for firefighters and residents.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City staff say sewer rate increase was included in budget assumptions but omitted from fee resolution; amendment required

Unions press city on 29 Teamsters vacancies and long‑running contract positions; HR outlines recruiting activity

ASM Global to operate Lansing Center, Groesbeck and stadium under LEPFA deal; board vote expected May 20

Longtime resident urges council to prioritize police, fire and basic services over ‘feel‑good’ programs

Lansing fire union warns of staffing shortfall as ambulance and call volumes climb