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Public pushes ethical investment clause and stronger audit oversight of Lansing utilities
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Charter Commission to include an ethical investment clause and to expand internal audit oversight — including over the Board of Water and Light — citing transparency gaps and large projects; commissioners requested presentations from audit committees and retirement boards.
At the start and close of the Dec. 17 meeting residents repeatedly urged the commission to include community‑drafted ethical investment and procurement language in the charter and to increase transparency of pension and procurement practices.
Speakers in the public‑comment period included Randy Dykeis, who asked that the city’s internal auditor be given authority to audit the Board of Water and Light (BWL) to review rate increases and major capital projects, including a $750,000,000 clean energy plan announced by BWL in July 2023. A series of other commenters — Sam Iyer, members of the Lansing Area Peace Education Center and other community members — pressed for a clause that would prevent city funds, pension money or city contracts from flowing to entities the speakers described as complicit in human rights abuses or environmental harm. One commenter cited recent pipeline spills and urged vigilance in procurement.
Commissioners acknowledged the public interest and the complexity of oversight: they asked city staff to arrange a presentation from council’s ad hoc audit committee and noted that retirement boards (for city employees and for police/fire) control pension investment decisions and public reporting. The commission paused deeper action on Chapter 4 (audits) and asked counsel and staff to clarify whether the charter language should require a city external audit to include the BWL or if BWL‑commissioned audits suffice, and to address timing feasibility for audit deliverables.
No change to Article 7 (ethical investment) was adopted at this meeting; commissioners signaled interest in further information from city investment officials and retirement‑board materials before considering charter language that would bind pension portfolios or procurement.
Next steps: The commission plans to invite council audit committee members and city retirement‑board representatives to present at a future meeting so the commission can determine whether charter language should expand the internal auditor’s purview or require different reporting standards.
