The Lansing City Council voted 6–1 on Aug. 11 to adopt a resolution establishing a tenant relocation fee of $85 per day, capped at 30 days, to implement a provision of an ordinance the council passed earlier this summer. Council Member Pelemonoglu moved the resolution; the council approved it on final action.

Councilmember Pelemonoglu read the resolution into the record, noting the fee corresponds to costs HRCS (Human Relations & Community Services) incurs when the city must relocate tenants under limited emergency circumstances and that the cap mirrors the ordinance’s limits. “This resolution lists the tenant relocation fee…this is the current rate that is incurred by HRCS in these situations and that is why the $85 fee per day was established,” Pelemonoglu said.

Councilmember Jackson opposed the fee in the final vote, arguing it could place an undue burden on landlords and prompt them to require renter’s insurance or otherwise shift costs to tenants. Jackson said, in part, “Imagine…storm damage happens…then the landlord’s expected to pay, relocation fee…so I think those things create a problem…So I’ll vote no for this dollar amount just because I don’t think it’s gonna help in the long run.”

Supporters said the fee is designed to ensure the city can cover emergency relocation costs when necessary and is a component of earlier ordinance changes meant to strengthen tenant protections. The resolution implements the council’s prior ordinance 13‑37 (codified changes adding section 14.60) and the newly created codified provision requiring council to set a fee by resolution.

The council recorded the vote as 6 in favor and 1 opposed. The resolution takes effect immediately and is intended as a remedy when tenants must be relocated because of public emergency, habitability or safety concerns; it does not change the underlying landlord–tenant statute beyond the council’s earlier ordinance.