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Residents press council to tighten noise, loitering and panhandling rules downtown
Summary
Several residents at the Nov. 18 meeting urged East Lansing officials to address loud modified exhausts, loitering at Ann Street Plaza, litter and the proposed Alfresco/social district near residences. Speakers recommended ordinance changes, enforcement adjustments and pilot testing.
Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the Nov. 18 meeting to request stronger enforcement and ordinance changes related to downtown noise, loitering and public drinking.
John Sweet urged the council to schedule consideration of revisions to "Ordinance 15-41" to include loitering at Ann Street Plaza and to expand enforcement of prohibitions on camping and sleeping in parks and parking structures. Several Newman Lofts residents and others described nights in downtown East Lansing where loud exhausts, modified mufflers, busy crowds and litter have affected quality of life and sleep.
Speakers proposed a range of responses: removing loud-exhaust exemptions from existing enforcement guidance, using photographic evidence of exhaust systems rather than making nighttime traffic stops, piloting changes to the Alfresco/social-district layout to move activity away from residential buildings, and increasing police or DPW staffing. City Manager Robert Bellman later said Chief Brown will present a downtown-solutions agenda item at the Dec. 9 meeting that could include amending Ordinance 15-41 to address loud exhaust and expanding prohibitions on camping and loitering.
