Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Regular MeetingLansing, MI · September 5, 2018
Minutes
MINUTES
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m.
Council Conference Room, City Hall
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Member Kathie Dunbar, Chairperson
Council Member Brian T Jackson, Vice Chairperson
Councilmember Peter Spadafore
OTHERS PRESENT
Sherrie Boak, Council Staff
Rachel Lewis, Lansing School District
Gabriel Lawrence, Lansing School District- arrived at 8:47 a.m.
Guillermo Lopez, Lansing School District – arrived at 8:36 a.m.
Jim Smiertka, City Attorney- left the meeting at 9:30 a.m.
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
No Public Comment
MINUTES
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPADAFORE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM
AUGUST 15, 2018 AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0.
DISCUSSION
DISCUSSION with the Members on the Lansing School District Intergovernmental Relations
Committee
The Committee and Lansing School IGR Committee discussed items that they can assist each
other with and potential partnerships. Topics included the future of Hill, what plans could occur
for Pleasant View, which currently houses Dwight Rich students K-6th. The groups also
discussed community centers in the area of Pleasant View and the work at Willard Walker Park.
Ms. Lewis asked who appointed the LHC director and was informed the LHC Board does.
Mr. Lopez how the Council, and this IGR Committee planned to work with the Mayor, since
previous years the Mayor did projects and Council was not aware. Council Member Dunbar
assured the group that the new Administration and Council are working closely in tune with what
is going on and there is open dialogue. Council Member Spadafore added that the School
District and the City could put out a collaborative process between the two to show all groups
are on the same page. Council Member Spadafore then asked the District representatives is
there is a location near Pleasant View that the City can assist them in establishing or continuing
Pleasant View, based on an earlier concern by Council Member Hussain.
The group discussed current properties of the School District and City Park property where the
two groups could collaborate in the maintenance of, and shared facilities. This could include
joint services such as payroll, HR, Information Technology and printing services. Ms. Lawrence
voiced her concern with shared services in payroll. Council Member Dunbar suggested starting
with future collaboration on facilities and purchasing powers. The group continued discussions
on other options to collaborate on including the City becoming part of the Pathway for
Vocational Training, and a future City Junior Council to work with the District Junior Council.
The group move onto an overview of their processes when it comes to suggestions, funding,
tasks and action. The District members stated if they have suggestions they will present to the
School Superintendent and if the School Board then approves it, they will forward to the City.
Mr. Smiertka outlined the City process which would be for IGR to make a recommendation to
the full Council, the Council if it so chooses would adopt a policy, the Mayor would look at the
policy, then can propose budget for it, in turn the Council would have to approve budget, and
then it would go back to the Mayor to implement it.
Council Member Spadafore made one suggestion to consider, which would be for City
employees to get paid time off to volunteer at the schools.
Mr. Lopez brought up the suggestion that the City and the schools should find ways to have
summer jobs for students to give them incentive, and Mr. Smiertka added in information that
Mott in Flint works through their foundation to pay for those jobs, and it would be an option to
consider. Council Member Dunbar confirmed that Parks and Recreation already hire high
school kids for summer camps and summer programs. The group discussed other options for
job opportunities including a similar program to what BWL does and job shadowing in City
departments. Council Member Dunbar pointed out that if the program with the City was
established Council would also have to establish a budget for training of the students.
Council Members encouraged the School District to encourage the Superintendent to have the
City become part of the Pathway. Council Member Dunbar suggested meeting again to go
through the Pathway Program coordinates to see where the City would fit in and what they
wanted to do.
Ms. Lawrence suggested a collaboration with the City Sister Cities and the schools.
Council Member Jackson stated he would initiate the City Junior Council proposal and bring
back to the Committee.
Ms. Lawrence invited the group to attend an upcoming event on September 21, 2018 at Eastern
High School for the viewing of the Rudy Valdez documentary “The Sentence”.
Council Member Dunbar invited the district representatives to an energy work group that the
IGR Committee established that is working on climate control and mitigation. Mr. Lopez
suggested speaking to Ms. Camul-Caanul, Superintendent, on the best representative.
The Committee’s agreed to meet again on Monday, October 29, 2018 @ 1 p.m. at the School
District Administration Building.
Council Member Dunbar requested that Mr. Dickens with the Greater Lansing Realtor
Association be invited to the October 3, 2018 meeting.
DISCUSSION – FY2019/2020 Budget Policies & Priorities
No discussion.
Adjourned at 9:39 a.m.
Submitted by,
Sherrie Boak, Recording Secretary,
Lansing City Council
Approved by the Committee on October 3, 2018
Agenda
AGENDA
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Wednesday, September 5, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m.
Council Conference Room, City Hall 10th Floor
Council Member Kathie Dunbar, Chair
Council Member Brian T. Jackson, Vice Chair
Council Member Peter Spadafore, Member
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comment
3. Approval of Minutes
August 15, 2018
4. Discussion/Action:
A.) DISCUSSION with the Members on the Lansing School District
Intergovernmental Relations Committee
B.) DISCUSSION – FY2019/2020 Budget Policies & Priorities
5. Other
6. Adjourn
MINUTES
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations
Wednesday, August 15, 2018 @ 8:30 a.m.
Council Conference Room, City Hall
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Member Kathie Dunbar, Chairperson
Council Member Brian T Jackson, Vice Chairperson
Councilmember Peter Spadafore- left at 8:58 a.m.
OTHERS PRESENT
Sherrie Boak, Council Staff
Bryan Crenshaw, Ingham County Commissioner
Todd Tennis, Ingham County Commissioner
Jim Smiertka, City Attorney
PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS
No Public Comment
MINUTES
MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPADAFORE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM
MAY 16, 2018 AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0.
DISCUSSION/ACTION
Mr. Crenshaw updated the Committee on the recent jail millage that passed, and
informed them they have already begun the bidding process with the intention to break
ground late fall 2019. The jail will be located in Mason off the current jail which will sit
on land they already own, will house the same number of beds (440) and once it is built
they will demolish he current structure leaving only the kitchen. This is because the
current structure was built in the 1960’s. They will also be increasing their treatment
center, substance abuse focus, mental health focus, and increasing the electronic
monitoring program. In addition the funds will go towards providing pre-trial services,
and expanding their educational programming. Council Member Jackson asked if there
were plans to change the transportation from lock-up to the jail. Mr. Tennis stead it was
not part of the millage and Mr. Crenshaw added that the Sheriff is open to discussions
and they have an initial meeting with the Mayor scheduled. It was also stated that the
Sheriff stated he cannot operate a 24/7 lock up in the City for cost options, and he
would discuss options if the City went away from 24/7 lock up and they could transport
to Mason. The discussion went back to the new facility which would be reconfigured
for better design.
Council Member Jackson asked if there were any talks or new developments on the
court consolidation. Mr. Crenshaw confirmed they had a meeting schedule for later
after this meeting, but they already know to move forward it would require legislative
changes at the State level and the local bodies have to agree to it.
Mr. Tennis informed the Committee that he currently sits on a County Ad Hoc that is
tasked to look for a new location in North Lansing for a clinical operation. They are
currently leasing property at Willow and that is the last one they do not own outright.
The intention is to have a large facility on the north side and close Willow but they are
open to options. Mr. Crenshaw added that Willow is a general focus teen facility.
Council Member Jackson encouraged them to look for sites with close public
transportation access, and they agreed that was a strong point.
Council Member Jackson encouraged the County members to reach out to Rena Risper
about the services before leaving the Willow neighborhood.
Mr. Tennis confirmed the County Health took over the VOA operations in the medical
piece, but have not taken over the dental at this time because they have a mobile dental
unit that is working around Lansing.
Mr. Crenshaw stated that he recently has been attending the monthly City Ward
meetings, and inquired into the status of a recent submission to Council for a rezoning
at 1141 Pine Street for the purchase of a former superintendent building. Council Staff
confirmed that it was tabled at the Committee meeting on 8/6/2018 waiting on further
information, and will be taken back up on 8/20/2018.
Mr. Tennis asked the Committee members to continue to pursue work and funding on
the roads, and he was specific to Miller Road. Mr. Miller also added that during his
campaigning on the south side he heard a lot of issues with crime and concerns on
enforcement.
Council Member Spadafore left the meeting, but before he did he acknowledged the
County Commissioners on their continued discussions on a future lock up site, and
discussions on if that would translate into the reduction of cost of running two lock up’s
and therefore utilizing those funds for more officers. The group briefly discussed the
concerns with filling positions due to the lack of applications and those meeting the
qualifications.
Mr. Crenshaw updated the Committee on the position of the Director of Animal Control.
He confirmed there is an Interim Director, and they have started the process on hiring a
permanent Director. He added that they have also decided to eliminate their Sunday
hours, and extend their weekday hours on certain days, which was all done because of
a cost analysis.
The group continued its discussion on recruiting officers and the difficulty in hiring which
they believed had to do with the pay packages and benefits not being adequate.
Council Member Dunbar added that her understanding was with the City it was more
the issue of not getting the number of qualified candidates.
The members present all agreed to meet again on November 21, 2018 to follow up on
the items discussed, the election that will be held November 6, 2018 and plans for 2019.
Adjourned at 9:14 a.m.
Submitted by,
Sherrie Boak, Recording Secretary,
Lansing City Council
Approved by the Committee on_________________