Charter Commission approves multiple Article 4 changes, keeps boards at eight members

The Lansing Charter Commission on March 25 approved a series of charter amendments and procedural clarifications for Article 4 and related sections, acting on attorney recommendations and multiple motions from commissioners.

Why it matters: The adopted edits clarify administrative duties, reporting language and departmental responsibilities in the charter. One high‑profile change removed the phrases “diversity” and “inclusion” from the mayor’s annual report provision and replaced them with a requirement that the mayor make “an annual report on the status of initiatives and programs of the city that promote opportunity for all employees.” Commissioners discussed the legal risk tied to federal litigation over DEI language and considered whether to keep policy language in the charter or leave it to ordinance.

Key outcomes and votes at the March 25 meeting included several formal approvals: the commission adopted new language on the mayor’s annual report and related department head duties, approved amended language clarifying the Finance Department’s coordination role, confirmed that certain department head provisions remain “indefinite term,” and left City Clerk duties in place. The commission also voted to keep the membership for boards and commissions at eight members (five ward representatives and three at‑large), with that motion passing by recorded vote.

Several items were deferred or held for additional information. The commission asked for follow‑up material about the appointment/confirmation process for the police and fire chiefs and requested representatives from those commissions attend a future meeting before finalizing related charter language. The city attorney selection and whether council should have a standing or retainer counsel or a dual termination authority were discussed; staff will prepare proposed language for commissioners to consider.

Votes at a glance - Mayor annual report language (Article 4, section on annual report): Motion to adopt attorney‑recommended language replacing affirmative action/DEI phrasing with reporting on initiatives that “promote opportunity for all employees” — Approved (voice vote; recorded amendment attempt later failed 3–6). - Finance Department wording (4‑302.2): Motion to change “Department of Finance shall be in charge of” to “Department of Finance shall coordinate with the divisions of accounting, assessment, budget management, income tax and treasury” — Approved (voice vote). - City Clerk duties (attendance/minutes): Motion to retain clerk attendance and record responsibilities as written — Approved (voice vote). - Boards and commissions membership: Motion to retain eight members (one representative per ward and three at‑large) — Approved by roll call (5 yeas, 3 nays, 0 abstentions recorded at time of vote). - Numerous Article 4 line‑by‑line subsection updates (including oath language for police and fire chiefs, department head appointment language, and definition of “indefinite term” for department heads): Approved (voice votes or motions recorded; several subsections deferred pending clarifying language for police/fire appointment processes).

What the commission asked staff to provide next: draft charter language to reconcile differences in police and fire chief appointment/removal sections, proposed language on city attorney appointment/dual‑termination or council‑retainer options, representative materials from the police and fire commissions about their hiring processes, and cost estimates and language options for the sustainability office (see separate article).

Ending: The commission moved a number of technical and policy clarifications forward; several items remain open for additional drafting and testimony at upcoming meetings.