HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Lansing Annual Report 2021 Version3 2021
ANNUAL REPOR
CITY OF LANSING
N
Last Updated:January 20, 2022
TABLE OF •
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FROM THE MAYOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
ASSESSING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
FINANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICES 49
HUMAN RESOURCES 56
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 61
NEIGHBORHOOODS & CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT 64
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY 75
PARKS & RECREATION 78
POLICE 90
PUBLIC SERVICE 106
TREASURY & INCOME TAX 111
DOWNTOWN LANSING INC (DLI) 115
LANSING ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP (LEAP) 119
LANSING ENTERTAINMENT & PUBLIC FACILITIES AUTHORITY (LEPFA) 121
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 12
FROM THE
•
FROM THE MAYOR
Serving as Mayor of the City of Lansing is an incredible honor and privilege. I am proud of the work we have
done over the last four years to ensure Lansing continues to grow and thrive, even in the face of challenges.
Once again, we asked people to come together to ensure everyone, especially those in need, would not be
forgotten or left behind. City employees, leaders, groups, and residents stepped up for the second year of
COVID, and I couldn't be prouder of our community.
The City of Lansing, along with cities across the nation, continued to face these extraordinary challenges
during COVID, while still providing critical services to residents. Like last year, we were faced with the same
questions as the rest of the country: how to continue to run a city while protecting our employees and our
residents? I am proud that the City of Lansing continued to serve residents with integrity and professionalism,
and that we have been able to provide needs and wants with equity to grow our city.
Essential workers & first responders - our police officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMT's - responded to
tens of thousands of calls each for service to aid our residents, workers, and visitors and keep them safe.
The Public Service Department completed 50 street improvement projects, including Forest Rd and Collins Rd
improvements near the future McLaren Health campus, and nearly a dozen pedestrian improvements
throughout the city.
Lansing's Parks & Recreation Department continues to serve resident by offering safe programming options
and incredible improvements to our parks and trails. We expanded the Lansing River Trail, improved Beacon
Park with a new entrance arch, sidewalk and ADA wheelchair swing installed, Fitness Court installation at
Maguire Park, new playground equipment at Fulton Park, and so much more.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 13
FROM THE O.
Economic development remains a top priority for Lansing. We saw several new developments and investments
in our city over the past year. I am proud of the work we are doing to attract businesses, new jobs, create
housing for all income levels, and grow Lansing with an eye to the future.
The Department of Neighborhoods & Citizen Engagement has been navigating the challenges of the pandemic
by continuing to provide services through the Office of Financial Empowerment, neighborhood cleanups, and
funding almost $11,000 through Community Youth Grants and nearly $60,000 through the Neighborhood
Grant Program.
Human Relations & Community Services department stepped up to provide direct assistance to our residents.
They administered over $46 million in federal Emergency Rental and utility assistance. They also coordinated
programs like the mobile food pantry and the `Let's Share the Warmth' coat drive, collecting over 350 coats and
jackets to be distributed to those in great need. And of course, HRCS began the important task of implementing
several recommendations from the Mayor's Racial Justice & Equity Alliance Report, including internal diversity
training and the development of the Equity Matrix and Workforce Diversity Dashboard.
The City of Lansing remains resilient. I thank our city employees, community partners and residents for all of
the important work they continue to do. The coming year may continue to be tough again, but we have proven
we can face the challenge head-on and come out stronger. I hope that very soon we are able to move past
these pandemic challenges and continue the incredible growth of the City of Lansing!
Andy Schor, Mayor
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 14
ASSESSING
SHARON FRISCHMAN, MMAO, DIRECTOR
The Assessing Department is responsible for the annual valuation and assessment of all real and personal
property located within the City of Lansing. Each year, the Assessing Department prepares and certifies the ad
valorem (according to value) assessment roll and the special acts (incentives) assessment rolls in accordance
with the Compiled Laws of the State of Michigan.
The City of Lansing has 40,028 real property parcels, 2,253 exempt properties, and 3,047 personal property
parcels on the 2020 assessment roll. The total parcel count is 45,328.
The composition of ad valorem property count is: City of Lansing Parcel Type
• Agricultural Less than 1% (1 Parcel) Percentages
• Commercial 6% �' ■Agricultural
1' ■Commercial
• Industrial 1% ■Industrial
• Residential 82% Residential
■Commercial Personal
• Personal Property 6% industrial Personal
• Exempt Property 5% ■Utility Personal
■Exempt
Industrial Facilities certificates, Neighborhood Enterprise Zone certificates and OPRA certificates are valued
and tracked. The Assessing Department is responsible for creating invoices for Payment in Lieu of Taxes
(PILOT) holders; track the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA), Brownfield developments. OPRA accounts
and provides data for the invoices for the Principal Shopping District. This group also completes Industrial
Facilities Act, Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA) reports for State of Michigan compliance.
There are 588 parcels on the special acts roll, the composition of the parcel count is as follows:
• 374 County land bank sale properties
• 15 County land bank sale brownfield properties
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 15
• 17 P.A. 328 accounts
• 180 Neighborhood Enterprise Zone properties
• 19 Obsolete Property Rehab properties
• 18 Industrial Facilities exemptions
• 5 Renaissance Zone properties
• 48 P I LOTS
The department also tracks 41 Tax Capture districts (33 Brownfields a Smartzone, 5 TIFAs and 3 Principal
Shopping Districts.
The total assessed value of the ad valorem (according to value) and special acts (tax incentives) rolls was
$3,092,879,300. The total combined taxable value of the ad valorem and special acts parcels was
$2,526,407,199 for tax year 2021. The total 2021 taxable value (ad valorem and special acts) increased
approximately 7% from 2020.
The composition of total assessed value of the City of Lansing Percentage of
ad valorem properties is as follows: Assessed Value by Property Type
• Agricultural Less than 1%
• Commercial 34%
■Seriesl
• Industrial 6% 0SeHes8
• Residential 54%
• Personal Property 6%
There was no change in the percentage of total assessed value from 2020.
A brief history of assessed and taxable values are presented below. Growth in both assessed and taxable
values are nearing pre-recession (2007, 2008) values.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 16
City of Lansing Historic SEV and TV 2001 thru 2021
3,300,000,000
3,100,000,000
2,900,Ofl0,000
2,700,000,000
2,500,fl00,000
2,300,fl00,000
2,100,0D0,000
1,900,000,000
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 B 16 17 'S 19 2,j 21
Year — 5FV Iv
The Assessing Department is responsible for listing the legal descriptions for almost 45,000 properties. The
department must determine the value of more than 45,000 real and personal property parcels as well as
determine the correct capped and taxable value for these properties for the annual tax rolls. Property
information must be confirmed and updated. Building permits must be monitored and properties must be
inspected for new construction or demolition. We added almost 114 million in new construction value on the
2020 roll.
• The Assessor's office visited approximately 2,500 properties during 2021. The purpose of the visits were to
follow up on building permits and/or update property information.
• Approximately 180 million dollars of new construction was added to the 2021 assessment/tax roll.
This exceeds 2020 by more than 65 million.
The Department must maintain ownership information, track transfers of ownership, principal residence
information, veterans' exemptions, general property tax exemptions and personal property exemptions.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 17
• Over 5,000 ownership documents were entered and analyzed for transfer of ownership. Approximately 2,100
transfers of ownership will be processed in 2021. Principal residence exemption requests were also
processed with these transfers.
Sales volume as well as sales prices have steadily increased in recent years.
Conventfonal Sales
Number of
Year Sales Avers a Sale Price Median Sale Price
2016 1147 $ 92,475 $ 83,000
2017 1474 $ 94,352 $ 86,000
2018 1434 $ 98,482 $ 89,000
2019 1815 $ 103,260 $ 93,500
2020 1838 $ 112,313 $ 102,000
2021 1 2100 1 $ 119,200 1 $ 114,000
2021 data is only through the end of September. The number of sales is projected.
City of Lansing Average Residential Sale Price
2200 $125,000
r
2000 $120,000
1800
1600 $110,o00
1400 $105,000
1200 $100,000
1000 $95,000
SOD $90,000
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
—•—N umber ofSales Average Sale Price
Land Contact sales are excluded from this data.
The Assessing Department handles all Michigan Tax Tribunal appeals until they reach the point of a full
tribunal trial. We have approximately 35 full tribunal appeals currently.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 8
Accomplishments from 2020-2021
• The department continues to refine and document uniform operating procedures.
• Verification of property information is a high priority for the department. During 2019, a summer college
intern began collecting and verifying property data. We will continue this process annually to establish a
system of visiting property on a rotating schedule at least every 10 years. We have not sent anyone out to
verify data during 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic, however, we hope to continue in 2022.
• A partnership with the University of Michigan yielded some great ideas to engage taxpayers.
We look forward to implementing these ideas next year.
• The City Assessor has started reviewing existing property tax exemptions to ensure that the owner
continues to qualify and to better document the existing exemptions. We have also removed a little over
700 exempt records from the main database that were simply road right of way parcels. The exempt parcel
count is more accurate now.
• The department has struggled with retirements. Open positions have been difficult to fill. We are currently
staffed with a combination of contract and full time employees with three vacant positions (out of 11).
Training for new and existing staff is on-going.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 19
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT I PLANNING
BRIAN MCGUIN, DIRECTOR
Department Description
The primary objective of the Department of Economic Development and Planning (EDP) has been to stabilize
the City's economic base and, through continued planned and directed development, "grow" that base to a
level capable of providing continuous support for the City's services and infrastructure. The Department
consists of six separate divisions:
• Administration
• Building Safety Office '
• Code Enforcement Office
• Parking Services Office
• Planning Office
• Development Office
Additionally, Downtown Lansing Inc (DLI), the City's Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and affiliated
bodies, and the Lansing Entertainment and Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) report indirectly through EDP.
The Building Safety Office is operated as a Special Revenue Fund, per state law. Building Safety is responsible
for all structures in the city and ensures the safety of such structures, whether they be new, existing, or at the
end of their useful life.
The Code Enforcement Office serves to protect the health, safety, and welfare of Lansing residents through
the preservation and improvement of the housing stock by assuring safe, decent, and sanitary housing while
preserving the integrity of Lansing neighborhoods.
The Parking Services Office encompasses the operation of the municipal fee-based parking system. Parking
Services Office provides economical parking options for downtown workers and visitors.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 110
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
The Planning Office has a broad role in facilitating orderly development and growth across the city. This
division oversees development, implementation, and review of the City's Master Plan. Planning functions
include comprehensive planning, site plan review, flood plain review, zoning review, historic preservation,
public infrastructure, and review of economic development projects.
Coordination of housing and neighborhood improvement activities are primarily handled under the City's
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and various other federal and state housing assistance programs.
The traditional allocation of CDBG, HOME, and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program are federally
funded programs, administered by the Development Office. In addition to these programs, the Development
Office administers various grants, such as Floodplain Abatement (through FEMA) and Lead Based Paint
Abatement.
Overall, the Department supports the following boards and commissions:
• Planning Board
• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Historic District Commission
• Demolition Board
• Plumbing Board, Mechanical Board, and Electrical Board
• Building Board of Appeals
The Department has worked closely with additional agencies to facilitate development in the city, such as:
• Ingham County Land Bank Fast Track Authority
• Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP)
• Tri-County Regional Planning Commission (TCRPC)
• Neighborhood-based nonprofits
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 11
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Additionally, our director serves a policy development and leadership role in connection with the Mayor's
office when it comes to issues of economic development, community development, and beyond. This includes
oversight of special projects as-needed, and serving in a proactive role when it comes to bringing new
opportunities to the city and supporting and growing existing opportunities.
We are pleased to share with you information from each division of the department of EDP at this time.
Building Safety
The staff of the Building Safety ,
Office (BSO) are responsible for
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enforcement of the Stille-Derossett- low 00 ow
Hale Single State Construction Code 0010 1 �
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Act, Act 230 of 1972, known as the -
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Michigan Building Code 2015, which #
includes reviewing construction y
documents, the issuance of ` - ~
electrical, mechanical, plumbing,
and building permits, and
performing all required inspections.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 112
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTi PLANNING
The purpose of the Building Code is to establish the minimum requirements to safeguard the public health,
safety, and general welfare by ensuring the structural strength, means of egress facilities, stability, sanitation,
adequate light and ventilation, energy conservation, and safety to life and property from fire and other hazards
attributed to the built environment, and to provide a reasonable level of safety to fire fighters and emergency
responders during emergency operations.
The BSO utilizes online permit applications for the majority of permits along with requests for inspections and
electronic plan reviews. This process is intended to better serve the public, contractors, and design
professionals through the City's AccessMyGov web portal.
Accomplishments for 2021 include:
Permits Applied For:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Electrical 1,847 1 ,555 1,846 1 ,701 1,522
Mechanical 2,449 2,044 2,210 2,292 2,029
Plumbing 1,361 1 ,298 1,873 1 ,626 1,422
Building 1,857 1 ,847 2,236 1 ,051 1,973
Total Permits 7,514 6,744 8,165 7,670 6,946
Project Reviews Completed:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Comm. Electrical 334 306 229 210 20
Comm. Mechanical 244 319 239 198 2 0�
Comm. Plumbing 231 306 234 197 230
Comm. Building 246 322 266 233 268
Res. Building 536 742 1,165 1 ,160 1,139
Tonal Plan Reviews 1,591 1,995 2,133 1,198 2,063
Inspections Conducted:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Electrical 2,669 2,266 2,722 2,668 2,372
Mechanical 2,679 2,516 2,725 2,747 2,505
Plumbing 2,231 1,840 2,972 2,598 2,359
Building 5,195 4,395 4,899 4,387 4,654
Total Inspections 12,774 11,017 13,381 12,400 11,890
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 113
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Demolition Permit Issued:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
57 50 67 124 100
Site Plans Reviewed:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
27 26 33 31 27
Construction Value:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
$104.5M $265,8M $299.7M $84M $100,6M
Projects over $1,000,000:
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
19 31 25 8 15
"Numbers presented are through approximately the first week of November 2021.
Other Activities of the Building Safety Office include:
• Reconstruction meetings with developers, design professionals, and contractors.
• Staff participation on committees and other organizations that further the education in the trades of our
staff.
• The Building Official, Field Inspectors and Plan Review staff continue to attend educational seminars to
earn State of Michigan ACT 407 credits that are required to maintain their registration as inspectors.
• The BSO supports the State of Michigan by providing investigative services in regard to licensing
complaints and inspection services for liquor license transfers.
• The BSO staff provides technical expertise and supports the Building Board of Appeals, Electrical Board of
Appeals, Mechanical Board of Appeals, and Plumbing Board of Appeals.
Assistance to Other Departments:
• The BSO supports the City Attorney by providing expert witness services and Freedom of Information Act
document search, retrieval, and reproduction.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 114
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ PLANNING
• The BSO provides inspection services and technical expertise and assistance to the Development Office.
• The BSO provides permitting and inspection services for the Planning Office in the administration of the
Lansing Sign Code.
• The BSO assists the Fire Marshal's Office with plan review, occupancy classification, and the setting of
maximum occupant load in assembly occupancies. The BSO provides inspection services in conjunction
with the testing and operation of automatic fire suppression and fire alarm systems.
• The BSO supports the Lansing City Clerk by providing inspection services for Cabaret License issuance and
renewals as well as liquor license transfers.
The BSO has also provided many man-hours and conducted hundreds of inspections that are not reflected in
the above data to support other departments of the City and to support development projects that would
benefit the city.
Code Enforcement
The mission of the Code Enforcement Office is clear: "To protect the health, safety, and welfare of Lansing
residents through the preservation and improvement of the housing stock by assuring safe, decent, and
sanitary housing while preserving the integrity of Lansing neighborhoods." It is through the dedicated efforts
of the eighteen full-time staff members, working in conjunction with neighborhood organizations and in
cooperation with numerous other agencies, that we are able to accomplish our objectives and work to
strengthen our neighborhoods.
Our 2021 accomplishments include:
Assuring Quality Housing
Through the enforcement of the International Property Maintenance Code, our ten Code Enforcement Officers
and four Premise Officers, under the direction of the Manager of Code Enforcement, continue to accomplish
the multifaceted tasks of rental housing, safety, exterior, and premises inspections for all residential properties
in the City. Our officers conducted 5,128 rental certification inspections representing more than 13,000
dwelling units with a 94% compliance rate. As part of our routine inspections over 20,000 residential smoke
alarms were tested to assure the proper operation of this life saving device.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 115
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
In addition, 718 safety inspections of both rental and owner-occupied dwellings were conducted; 144
correction notices were issued for exterior violations. Our office also issued 1,871 Failure to Register letters
and 1,581 Failure to Comply letters this year. In total, the Code Enforcement Office issued 27,107 violation and
inspection notices this year.
Enhancing the Visual Environment
During 2021, the Neighborhood Enhancement Action Team (N.E.A.T. Team) continued to actively monitor and
process more than 440 unsafe, substandard, and vacant properties, requiring 5,280 exterior inspections. In
addition, Code Enforcement and Premise Officers secured 367 open and accessible structures, thus assuring
the public's safety and preservation of property.
r The City of Lansing Housing & Premises Code also addresses
what are commonly referred to as "Premise Violations." Our
ongoing effort during this past year accounted for 6,942 tall
grass and weed inspections and the issuance of 772
ti
abatement notices; 6,036 inspections for trash and debris
and the issuance of 675 abatement notices; 681 inspections
��. for disabled or abandoned motor vehicles with the issuance
of 55 abatement notices. Our staff takes great pride in
- maintaining the visual aesthetics of our community.
Another essential tool in this area of accomplishment has been the utilization of the City of Lansing
Demolition Board and the expert opinions of the Code Enforcement Officers and the Building Safety Office.
The activities of the Make Safe or Demolish process for 2021 included goals of reducing blight, protecting the
public safety, and enhancing the property values throughout the city. In the 2021 calendar year the Code
Enforcement Office put 10 houses through the Demolition Board.
Protecting Neighborhood Character
Additionally, the Code Enforcement Office is also responsible for the enforcement of the City of Lansing Zoning
Code.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 116
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Throughout the year our staff, working in cooperation with the Planning Office, resolved a wide variety of
neighborhood issues such as illegal home occupations, vision obstructions along our public right-of-ways,
temporary storage unit installations, and improper use of parcels, to name just a few.
Facilitate Cooperative Collaboration
Weekly, our activities involve the cooperation of numerous agencies including the Lansing Fire & Police
Departments, Ingham County Animal Control, Ingham County Land Bank, Ingham County Health Department,
Community Mental Health, Adult and Child Protective Services, and the Humane Society. It is through these
valuable partnerships that we are able to meet the challenges we encounter.
Community Outreach
Throughout the year our staff actively attended and participated in the meetings of our community
neighborhood groups. Staff was in attendance and provided presentations to several neighborhood groups, and
once again participated in the Lansing Citizens Academy. The feedback we receive from these organizations
and activities assists us responding to the needs and priorities of our community.
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Courteous and Helpful Customer Service
Our administrative and clerical staff strive to make quality customer service a priority. It is a well-known fact
that the Code Enforcement staff, whether in the office or in the field, are public relations ambassadors for the
City, consistently and actively working to bring neighbors, tenants, and property owners together to solve
problems and gain compliance.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 117
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ PLANNING
We will continue our efforts to improve both customer service and accessibility in the future.
Boards and Committees
The Code Enforcement Manager also sat on several Boards and Ad-Hoc committees to look at ways to improve
residential neighborhoods. Staff from the Code Enforcement Office and the Law Department made strong
headway throughout the year. Several tickets were written and compliance was obtained in several difficult
cases.
This annual report would be incomplete without mentioning the challenges that face our city. The ongoing
number of vacant and foreclosed properties continues to impact our neighborhoods. Vacant structures demand
additional time and attention from the entire Code Enforcement staff. We continue to take a proactive
approach to assure that vacant premises are maintained and the structures secure. On a daily basis, we
communicate with property owners and financial institutions to raise awareness of their responsibilities for
maintaining these properties.
There is still much work that needs to be accomplished. Our mission and objectives are clear as we meet the
challenges for the coming year. Our partnerships with our neighborhoods are strong and we look forward to
continuing our work in strengthening our community.
Parking Services
In 2018 a vision was formed to transform the Parking Services Office. This vision included completely changing
almost every facet of our service delivery platform. We started out with the following major objectives:
• Realign our internal and external databases and software
platforms to support external operations and internal parking }
management business operations to bring us into the 21st century.
• Re-brand our entire office and service delivery assets into a safe,
colorful, warm, welcoming, and recognizable City service arm to
the businesses, residents, and workers that we have the privilege
of partnering with.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 118
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTi PLANNING
• Transform the presentation of parking payment options to our customers that represents the manner in
which people communicate and exchange money for services in this smartp hone-based world that we live
in.
• Streamline operations, maintenance, and office functions that leverage technology and software and
internal partnerships to make the receiving of revenues, management of events, and tracking of permits
and citations streamlined and cost effective.
• Extreme Makeover of our assets that were long overdue and much needed.
• Creative placemaking and artistic infusion into the footprint and facades of our facilities.
This very large and massively challenging list of tasks were all substantially completed this year. This
accomplishment also realizes one of our core missions, that is: "To create the very best parking experience for
our customers of what is typically the first and last facility that they will see in the Capital City."
Detailed below are the highlights of how we were able to work through the challenges of COVID-19 to deliver
on all our objectives:
• Realign
o Partnered with 54-A District Court and their collections company to begin collection of delinquent
accounts.
• Re-Brand
o This year saw the extension of forward-leaning and creative ways to interact and communicate with
our customers. We were blessed to have the assistance of our social media intern for six months, who
was able to place fun and interactive messages on our ramp entryway totems and assist in making
changes and updates to our website.
• Transform
o Lot 56 in Old Town converted to a paid lot with an extended maximum time limit. This was part of the
extensive parking modifications that were made throughout Old Town over the last two years. This is a
Long-needed change to address complaints from retail business and parking parity issues in this area.
The final modification will be the proposed placement of parking pay stations on Turner St. just north
of Cesar Chavez that has been talked about for over 20 years.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 119
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTi PLANNING
The changes to Lot #56 and to Turner St. were all done in collaboration and support of the Old Town
Commercial Association and the vast majority of the businesses who call Old Town home.
o Parking Enforcement is helping clean up the neighborhoods in concert with the Code Enforcement
Office. This clean-up is ticketing vehicles that are in violation of the City's front yard parking ordinance
and ticketing improperly parked vehicles that block intersections, sidewalks, and fire hydrant access.
o The third and final large phase installation of Parkeon pay stations was completed. Additional stations
were tactically installed to "box-out" and create a logical grid of pay station deployments in the
downtown that accept coins and credit cards for payments of parking sessions.
• Streamline
o We have started to accept credit card payments in the surface lots for Lansing Lugnuts games and
other Lansing Center events.
• Extreme Makeover
o This was the fourth and final year of the transformation of all three of our parking ramps. The total
expenditures towards one of the largest capital projects in over 15 years in the parking fund totaled
more than $12 million. North Grand Ramp was completed in early 2019 and North Capitol and South
Capitol ramps were both substantially completed this year.
o Major components that were completely re-constructed
and or installed were: painting of almost all non-driving
p 9 9 _.
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surfaces of the ramps, new elevator cabs, controllers and "
drives, and interiors finish, installation of over 80 CCTV
cameras, coating of all non-at grade driving surfaces, e ,
and many more improvements. .d
o Closed our 2020 Parking Lot Improvement Project that
restriped, cracked sealed, slurry sealed or reconstructed -.
all of our parking lots.
• Creative Placemaking
.ti
o The NCR lighting project has commenced as of
November 1, 2021.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 20
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ PLANNING
This facet of the Extreme Makeover Project created a partnership with the Arts Council of Greater
Lansing in the form of a creative design competition. This ramp was chosen to have creative floor icons
like all other ramps. The theme for this ramp was the four earth elements: earth, wind, fire, and water.
The architectural lighting and aluminum backing plate design was the artist's representation of the
expression of all of these elements in forms and shapes they may take.
o Partnered with the artists from Carnival of Creatives to have s
their event in the South Capitol Ramp (SCR). This event r
4 ,
presents artistic expressions in the form of dance, song and
theater at several different performance areas sprinkled
.
throughout the ramp.
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o Worked to design a 16 foot by 60 foot high definition media
board that will be installed on the southern facade of the east
stairwell of the SCR. This board will be in a prominent position
as Capitol Avenue is set to be two-way before the end of 2022
1.
and this will provide a creative gateway treatment that can be ,
used for a plethora of things in the years to come.
o New creative and colorful signage and bollard covers with stickers were installed at Jackson Field in
Lot 52 & 53. The designs and colors were coordinated with the Lansing Lugnuts marketing staff in
cooperation with Edge Partnerships.
Other activities undertaken by the Parking Office this year included:
• Partnered with DLI and sponsored/provided parking options for the Afterglow events at the Market/Rotary
Park.
• The long vacant position of Lead Maintenance Technician was filled internally by Jeremiah Lane who had
been performing this position out of class for almost two years.
• We partnered with Lansing Community College (LCC) to provide parking for over 850 staff and students
during the demolition and reconstruction of the Gannon Parking Facility. This parking demand was solved
by reserving parking spaces within the North Capitol Parking ramp and hundreds of on-street parking
spaces. The on-street parking spaces were designated by signs that were designed and placed by LCC.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 121
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
• Noting the completion of the installation of the Parkeon Pay Stations, we had to develop a new way of
"bagging meters" as there were no meters to bag. Therefore staff worked to design and deploy our new
"parking space reservation program." Due to COVID this program was not begun until mid-2021.
• Our Parking Manager, Chad Gamble, retired after 25 years of service to the City.
With the ever-changing tech world, blended with the changing use of vehicles,
parking has never been so interesting and exciting as it has been over the past five
years and will be over the foreseeable future. We were able to overcome countless "`
challenges as a direct result of the hard work and dedication of many firms,
consultants, and most of all our hard-working City employees. We have found a �. f
way to serve our customers in new and exciting ways that instill a sense of pride
and ownership of our responsibilities as the Parking Services Office. We are excited
about our accomplishments, but we also know that we have much yet to do. -
Planning
The Planning Office provides comprehensive, long- and short-range planning services to residents,
neighborhoods, businesses, and industry. Under state law, local ordinance, and the City charter, the Planning
Office is responsible for processing, analyzing, and providing recommendations to the Planning Board, Board
of Zoning Appeals, Historic District Commission, City Council and various other City boards & committees
regarding land use control and capital improvement projects. The Planning Office also provides zoning, land
use, flood plain, historic preservation, and other types of information to the general public, approves building
permits, demolition permits, sign permits, a variety of business licenses, and coordinates the City's site plan
review and approval process.
Planning Office accomplishments in 2021 include:
Form-Based Zoning Code (FBC)
The Form-Based Zoning Code, which replaced the 1983 Zoning Ordinance in its entirety, was adopted on
March 8, 2021, and went into effect on May 1, 2021. The FBC is the primary and most effective means of
implementing the land use and urban design recommendations of the Design Lansing Comprehensive Plan.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 122
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
The recommendations were developed based upon priorities C4orLBMS, pRrm- es"CodezonIn hla�
established by Lansing residents and business owners during the
preparation of the Comprehensive Plan and include the preservation of
residential neighborhoods and transformational change to the City ofoF
Lansing's struggling commercial corridors and business districts. ,. 4+�� r;_ �,�4
The Planning Office held nine meetings in 2021 leading up to the
adoption of the Form-Based Zoning Code to present the proposed 1 J�°# i .•
ordinance and receive input from neighborhood groups, other
stakeholders, and the general public. The Planning Office also h -
provided an overview of the proposed Code in a video presentation _
4
that was available on the City's website. IL
The Planning Office is in the process of seeking the City Council's approval of several amendments to the Form-
Based Zoning Code. These involve revising the zoning map, clarifying language to make the document easier to
understand and enforce, and eliminating some provisions that were found to be impractical as the Planning
Office began administering the new Code and applying it to new development proposals.
Redevelopment Ready Communities (RRC)
The Planning Office coordinated the process of recertifying the City of Lansing as a Redevelopment Ready
Community with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation's Redevelopment Ready Communities
program. The City has a few properties showcased as redevelopment ready sites on the "MIPLace" website
https://www.mipLace.org/redevelopment-ready-sites/Lansing.
Site Plan, Permit, and License Review
The Planning Office coordinates the site plan review and approval process for the City. This involves providing
plans for new construction projects to the Public Service Engineering, Transportation and Forestry Divisions,
the Fire Marshal's Office, the Building Safety Office, and the Board of Water & Light. The plans are reviewed
for compliance with the requirements of the respective divisions/offices and are also reviewed by the Planning
Office for compliance with the applicable zoning ordinance provisions.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 123
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Planning Office staff works with the applicant to address the issues
raised in the reviews until the site plan has been approved by all City _
departments/divisions and the Board of Water & Light. The Planning r lE
Office processes approximately 30 site plans each year.
Planning Office approval is required prior to issuance of all sign, -
demolition, and building permits (approximately 2,000 annually).The
r
Planning Office works with the Building Safety Office to provide the
public with the most expeditious and efficient procedures for
processing permits.
In 2021, Planning Office staff responded to hundreds of inquiries for zoning information, many of which
involved potential locations for medical marijuana facilities. Staff reviewed all marijuana facility license
applications for compliance with the standards of Marijuana Ordinance, Chapter 1300.
In 2021, the Planning Office staff processed the following applications:
• Variances/Administrative Appeals — 8
• Special Land Use Permits — 1
• Act 33 Reviews — 8
• Lot Splits — 10
• Lot Combinations — 23
• Site Plan Reviews — 27
Applications for liquor licenses, cabaret licenses, second-hand dealer licenses, wrecker licenses, licenses for all
medical marijuana facilities, and vehicle dealer licenses must be approved by the Planning Office before they
can be issued by the City Council and/or City Clerk's Office. The Planning Office staff reviews approximately
250 licenses annually.
All rental registration applications must be approved by the Planning Office for compliance with the Zoning
Ordinance before they can be issued by the Code Enforcement Office. The Planning Office staff reviews
approximately 2,000 rental registrations annually.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 124
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ PLANNING
Board, Committee, and Workgroup Meetings
The Planning Office provides staff support to the Planning Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, and Historic District
Commission. In 2021, the Planning Board held six meetings, the BZA held six meetings, and the HDC held
seven meetings. The Planning Office also provided staff support to the City Council Committee on Development
& Planning regarding planning and zoning matters.
Planning Office staff participate in numerous staff level workgroups including the Data Governance Team,
Flood Prevention, Sustainability group, Mayor's Racial Justice and Equity Alliance, and the History of Lansing
workgroup. Planning Office staff also regularly participate in the various corridor improvement authority
meetings and occasionally attends the Lansing Downtown Inc. meetings.
Code Enforcement
Planning Office staff resolved or assisted the Code Enforcement Office with resolving more than 500 zoning
and sign code violations throughout the City in 2021. This involved writing violation letters, working with
property owners/tenants to find solutions to the problems, and working with the Code Enforcement Officers
and the City Attorney's Office to prepare citations and court cases as needed.The creation of the City's
Commercial Corridor Specialist position has resulted in numerous violations (illegal signs, deteriorated parking
Lots, illegal parking, etc.) being resolved which has had a significant impact on improving the appearance of the
City's commercial corridors.
lil-
M11'' y i1.
901
u � _
r , .
'2021 ANNUAL REPORT 125
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ♦ PLANNING
Other
The Planning Office managed a practicum team from Michigan State University that was convened to study the
conditions of the area along the core intersections of Cedar, Larch, Oakland, and Saginaw for potential
redevelopment under the Form-Based Zoning Code. The students studied the impediments of the former
industrial zoning on redevelopment, the number of vacant land/buildings and the effects that the one-way
street systems have had on the safety and vitality of the study area. The recommendations that resulted include
the importance of connecting the study area to the more active and vibrant areas of the City such as
Downtown, Old Town, the Stadium District, and E. Michigan Avenue, redesigning the street system to make the
area safer and more development-friendly, reviewing options for other improvements in the area and
advertising the redevelopment opportunities available under the new Form-Based Zoning Code.
13
Planning office staff continues to work with other City staff to create zoning and sign code violation notice
templates in the BS&A software system to make the process of generating the notices and tracking the status
of the violations more efficient.
The Planning Office redesigned the website to provide more information on historic preservation and a greater
Level of detail on historic sites within the City. The Planning Office has applied for a Certified Local Government
program grant through the State Historic Preservation Office to conduct a survey of certain areas in the
Westside Neighborhood. The City will be notified in the Spring of 2022 as to whether the grant has been
awarded.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 126
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Development Office
The Development Office is responsible for managing federal community development entitlement funds on the
Local level.The Office promotes safe, healthy, energy efficient affordable housing opportunities for all Lansing
residents, plans and manages programs that benefit families with low and moderate income, fosters economic
development, and supports citizen led initiatives that create and sustain safe, attractive neighborhoods.
Our accomplishments for 2021 include:
Entitlement Programs
In FY 2021, the Office continued to administer programs using federal entitlement dollars (CDBG and HOME) to
help income eligible residents (usually with incomes up to 80% of Area Median Income, or "AMI") improve their
Lives, including:
• Down Payment Assistance: Income eligible homebuyers
may receive down payment assistance to help make
housing more affordable.
• Homeowner Rehabilitation: Income eligible home-owner
t SO
IrD
occupants may qualify for rehabilitation loans to bring a
home into compliance with code and weatherization.
• Emergency Housing Repairs: Income eligible home-owner Nil:
-��
occupants may qualify for assistance to address a housing
S� D
emergency that threatens the safety of the occupants or
will cause immediate damage to the property. -` Congratulations!
• New Construction and Rehabilitation: The Office is responsible for constructing or rehabilitating housing
units, sometimes in conjunction with our non-profit partners, with a goal of providing homes to eligible
homebuyers. The City partnered with Capitol Area Housing Partnership and the Eastside Community Action
Center.
• Knapp's Building: The Knapp's project is the renovation and adaptive reuse of an historic 5-story art-deco
downtown structure. It is a mixed-use development including retail, office, and market rate condominiums.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 127
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTi PLANNING
The City has used, and will continue to use, loan proceeds from the Developer to pay back the Section 108
Loan over its 20-year life. While the funds were disbursed many years ago, the City continues to monitor
progress toward meeting the national objective. The project has exceeded its original job creation
objectives.
• Other CDBG funded activities: In coordination with our non-profit partners, we provided financial
counseling and education, neighborhood clean-ups, Parks and Recreation Department programs, home
repair classes, a mobile tool lending program, safety programming for the elderly and disabled, and
assistance to Microenterprises.
• CDBG-CV funded activities: HUD provided entitlement communities with allocations of CDBG-CV funding to
fund certain programs and activities that assist business and households that can establish need and can
demonstrate they have been affected negatively by COVID-19. Activities utilizing this funding include the
Lansing CARES Homelessness Prevention Program, the Lansing CARES Microenterprise Development
Program, and the Lansing CARES Small Business Assistance Program.
Lead Safe Lansing
The City commenced its fourth Lead Safe Lansing grant in December of 2020 after great success with the first
three grants. The Lead Safe Lansing Program uses funding made available through the Department of Housing
& Urban Development (HUD) to make housing units lead safe for both owner-occupied and rental units within
the City limits. Under the program, 210 units will be tested for the presence of lead-based paint hazards, and
189 units will be enrolled and remediated. Hazard control strategy will be focused on abatement of lead paint
hazards on windows, porches, and siding, with interim controls used on interior surfaces. Focus housing will be
single family residences of 1-4 units. The grant period extends until July 3, 2024. The grant amount is
$4,589,940.00. The City supplements this with CDBG funds. This program also offers qualifying contractors free
Lead Abatement Supervisor Training and State of Michigan Certification.
Community Engagement
The Development Office was an active participant in important community-based committees, including the
Greater Lansing Homeless Resolution Network (the "Continuum of Care" for Greater Lansing), the Power of We,
and the Community Economic Development Network.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 128
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Through these networks we are able to inform other impactful organizations of, and stay informed on,
important development and community needs. --
The Development Office sought community input
regarding funding priorities for CDBG, HOME and ESG I i r` }
funds during the development of the annual Action
Plan and 5-year Consolidated Plan. Residents are
1
notified of these opportunities via Public Notice.
Development Office staff attended community events
Y ti
to directly engage citizens and promote programs
including the Emergency Repair Program and the
Lead Safe Lansing program.
Impact of COVID-19
COVID-19 continues to impact the activities of the Development Office and grantees. Construction related
activities have been significantly impacted by shut-downs, supply chain issues, skyrocketing prices, and a severe
shortage of available contractors available to bid and complete work. These issues have impacted the capacity
of the Development Office and prompted a suspension of the Housing Rehabilitation Program and a refocusing
of capacity and resources to the Emergency Repair Program and the Lead Safe Lansing Program.
DeveIo ment Office Accorn pi1shments FY21
Program applications received 80 applications received
Ov ner-c ccu i ed rehabilitation units completed 26 units
Nevi construction homes developed and sold 7 nevi single-family h o mos
built and sold
Single-family homes rehabilitated and sold 0
(HOME
Single -family homes rehabilitated and sold 0
(CDEO
Dov n Payment Assistance (DPA) provided 18 households received
DPA
Homeless shelters assisted 6 Shelters Assisted
Total households assisted with HOME, CDBG 1840 total households
and EO assisted
Contractor disbursements on projects completed $2.343,972.68
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 129
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTPLANNING
Non-profit payments (non-construction) CD B O $308 313.67
Sub-recipient payments CDB OV $672,092.32
Lead Safe Lansing units completed 22 housing units made lead-
safe
Lead-based paint risk assessments completed 17 LBP risk assessments
com I eted
HERO home maintenance classes held 6 classes hold
H E RO M obi le Tool Library trans action s 415 people utilized the
HERO Mobile Tool Library
Tuesday Toolmen assisted households (seniors 37 elderlylseverely disabled
and severely disabled) households assisted
People assisted th roug h th e m icreenterpris a 132 people assisted
s upport
Kids Camp 320 children participated
FEM A propertyacquisifion 0
Financial counseling provided 331 people utilized
Financial Counseling
Blighted ro erdes demolished 0
Public facilities assisted 1 Tovrn Square completed
Lansing CARES economic development 127 businesses affected by
OOVI D-19 provided w i!h
disaster planning training
AND
16 small businesses
affected by OOVID-19
received loans
Lansing CARES Homeless Prevention Program 147 households affected by
OOVID-19 assisted with
rent and mortgage
payments
Lansing CARE assistance to mi croente rp rises 11 people assisted
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 30
DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE
JAKE BROWER, INTERIM DIRECTOR
Department Description
The Finance Department provides administrative support to a City government: accounting for the City's various
funds and grants, preparation of the annual financial report, preparation and monitoring of the budget, financial
analysis and forecasting, purchase of goods and supplies, payments to vendors, and administration of the
retirement system are among core functions.
The Finance Department strives to provide excellent service to its internal and external customers. External
customers include those who pay property and income taxes; those with an interest in properties located within
the City; and those who wish to do business with the City. Internal customers include City departments, who
rely on the department for the procurement of goods and services, financial reporting, and other financial
resources, and employees and retirees regarding pensions. They also include the Mayor, Council, and others
charged with developing, adopting, and monitoring the City's budget.
The City of Lansing has weathered the negative financial impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency
delivering a balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2021-22. The City's General Fund Budget projected to end the
fiscal year on June 30, 2021 with $14.1 million in reserves, inclusive of the Budget Stabilization Fund, a $4.0
million increase from fiscal year 2020-21. As a percent of expenditures, General Fund reserves is projected to
have increased to 10.3% of expenditures for fiscal year 2021, getting closer to restoring fund balance to the
12% - 15% target. However, significant challenges remain in the long-term. State-imposed limitations on
municipal revenues, most notably those on property tax growth, will continue to constrain resources, which in
context of projected increases in pension, healthcare, and infrastructure needs, will present significant
budgetary challenges. The current year budget relies strongly on federal dollars, particularly for general fund
and parking operations. The Finance Office continues to respond to these challenges and will continue these
efforts into the next year.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 131
Appreciation
The efforts of Jeff Scharnowske, Accounting Manager; Desiree Kirkland, City Treasurer and Sharon Frischman,
City Assessor are greatly appreciated. All the employees in the Finance Department and our partners in the
Treasury and Assessing Departments are to be commended for their accomplishments in 2021 and for their
commitment to continue improving the delivery of services in the future. Thanks to their dedication, the
residents, businesses, and visitors to the City of Lansing are well-served by these efforts.
Accomplishments in 2021
• Issued non-revolving grant anticipation note (GAN) facilitating successful and expedient distribution of $46
million Coronavirus Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) grant.
• Received first tranche of $24.9M of American Rescue Plan Act Funds to be used to respond to negative
health and economic impacts of COVID-19; support government services to the extent of revenue loss;
make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure; or provide premium pay to
eligible workers.
• Worked with the Unemployment Insurance Agency (UTA) for a second round of participation in the UTA's
Workshare Program, saving the City 20% in Payroll and Fringe Benefit costs during the program with
participating employees receiving enhanced unemployment benefits of $300/week.
o City Wide Savings: $500,000
o Employee Net Benefits: $250,000
• Implemented retirement healthcare changes reducing combined Actuarial Accrued Liability (AAL) from
$546.9M to $349.OM (36.2% reduction) with minimal impact to retiree benefits and care.
• Financed $12.5M Johnson Controls Installment Purchase Agreement at interest rate of 1.814% to be funded
through improvements to energy efficiency.
• Financed $10.5M Restructure of 2015 Stadium Installment Purchase Agreement and New Money at interest
rate of 2.140% providing improvements to the Baseball Stadium in accordance with Major League Baseball
requirements.
• Financed 4.5M Capital Improvement Bonds for Improvements to the City's Buildings and Infrastructure at
interest rate of 2.150%.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 132
• Awarded $130K fiscally distressed local government grants, projected to save the City of Lansing $1.2M
over five years.
• Adopted Fiscal Year 2022 Budget adding $700,000 to fund balance while responding to the various impacts
of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 133
FIRE DEPARTMENT
GREG K. MARTIN, FIRE CHIEF
"The Lansing Fire Department is committed to serving the
lop
Lansing area community with the highest levels of life &
property protection. We will achieve this by providingexcellent and compassionate service in an atmosphere
., that encourages innovation, professional development and GrtgMartin,Chief
diversity."
What We Do
Emergency Services
• Emergency Medical Services • High Angle Rescue • Ice Rescue
• Fire Suppression • Tower Rescue • TEMS Paramedics
• Hazardous Materials Response • Structural Collapse • Active Violence Response
• Confined Space Rescue • Water Rescue
Support Services
• Fire Prevention • Plan Review • Disaster Preparedness
• Community Education • Training • Disaster Response
• Fire Inspections • Logistics • Grant Management
• Arson Investigation • Emergency Management
Lansing Board of Fire Commissioners
The Lansing Board of Fire Commissioners is established by the Lansing City Charter and functions as an
advisory board with additional responsibilities defined by the Charter. The Board meets monthly on the second
Wednesday at 5:30 pm. See the department's website or Board Meeting Notices for more details.
lansingmi.gov. The eight Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council with
one member representing each ward and four members appointed at-large.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 134
r
r _
A
Barbara Lawrence
i-
. t
t
Board Responsibilities
• Approve rules and regulations governing conduct of department members.
• Review complaints concerning the department and ensure resolution.
• Review and approve the Department's annual budget submission.
• Act as an advisory board to the Mayor and the Fire Chief in support of the department.
Thank you Lansing Fire Commission for your support and dedication to the Lansing Fire Department and the
citizens of Lansing, MI.
Organizational
L=
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 135
Administration Division
Fire Chief Assistant Fire Chief Assistant Fire Chief Administrative Chief officer
Teresa Robinson David Odom
PN
EMS Operations Chief Dept.Financial Officer 14drnini5tr cialist EMS Secretary
i .
LFD Budget Overview
The Fire Department's FY 2020/2021 annual budget is divided into five major programs, which combined are
designed to protect our citizens and visitors by enabling the department to respond to all types of
emergencies.
Listed are the individual programs and the respective funding levels for FY 2020/2021 along with
miscellaneous funding divisions. Note that IT and Fleet Services are usually considered part of Fire
Administration, but are broken out here for the sake of identifying cross-departmental allocations.
Note that IT and Fleet Services are usually considered part of Fire Administration, but are broken out here for
the sake of identifying cross-departmental allocations.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 136
FY 20121 Budget
Fire Administration $2,279,000
Information Technology $1,094,412
Fleet Services $1,950,000
Suppression Division $27,864,570
Prevention Division $773,620
Training Division $839,195
Emergency Management Division $700,028
Maintenance and Alarm Division $1,046,456
Misc. Ambulance Services $244,000
Miscellaneous:
Radio Lab $18,000
Hazardous Materials $16,000
Technical Rescue $15,000
Total Expenditures $33,631,021
Logistics Division
Responsibilities
• Attend to and resolve submitted work orders
ZL • Partner with COL Property Management and IT
Logistics Chief Captain Department to resolve reported issues and needs
• Provide the logistical support for EMS operations
• Maintain and repair department tools and
equipment
• Provide general office and cleaning supplies to all
divisions
Captain Secretary
KVe Lockhart
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 137
• Facilitate property upkeep such as snow plowing, lawn services and pest control
• Annual compliance testing of equipment: SCBA's, fire hoses and ladders
• On Call duties to provide after-hours logistical support at large scale and extended incidents
• Refilling of SCBA bottles, replacement of tools and equipment, water and/or food
Division Yearly Goal
To efficiently and effectively serve all the Lansing Fire Department's logistical needs including servicing the
maintenance needs of all fire department divisions and the station alerting systems.
Current Projects
• Continuing buildout and implementation of the Checklt platform for logistics management and records.
Target Solutions Checklt being utilized for the following:
o Work Orders: EMS Supplies and Linen Requests, Inventory Management
0 43 New Scott Pak's purchased
• Facilitate annual compliance testing of house and ladders with third party vendor:
o Hose Testing Conducted:
1.75" at 10/50ft
2.50" at 10/50ft
5.00" at 25/50/100ft
o Ladders Extension:
10/14/24/28/35/40ft
Folding 10/12/14/15ft
Roof 14/16/20ft
Training Division
Training Chief Kevin Christiansen, Captain David Rivet and Captain Greg Smith serve as multi-faceted trainers
and educators. Secretary Michelle Greko supports them. A cadre of specialty adjunct instructors also supports
the division. These men and women are trained professionals with specialized instructor credentials from
across the Divisions and ranks of LFD.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 138
i
[Trainingihief Captain Captain Secretary
KEVIN DAVID RIVET GREG SMITH MICHELLE GREKO
CHRISTIANSEN
Division Activity
• EMS Continuing Education classes
• Heartsaver Cardiac Life Support courses
• Basic Cardiac Life Support courses
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support courses
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support courses
• Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support courses
• Hosted EMS CE's with Dr. Perry and McLaren Hospital
• TCEMCA Renewal classes with MI-MEDIC classes
• Conducted and Assisted with the Lansing School District Fire Science Course
• Pump Apparatus Driver Operator course
• Fire Ground Survival Course
• Assisted with the MDA Fill the Boot
• Rapid Intervention Training / Rapid Intervention Crew Training
• Water Rescue Training
• Ice Water Rescue Training
• Assisted with Technical Rescue Training
• HAZMAT Refresher Courses
• Officer Development Classes
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 139
• Scene Size Up Classes
• In-Service on new ladder truck and new engine with road test for new ladder truck
• New SCBA in-service & new RIT pack in-service
• Conducted Recruit Academy
• Conducted New Radio in-service
• Conducted the State Firefighter 1 & 2 Exams
• Forcible Entry Training
Training Type Hours
EMS 4168.75
u) HAZ-MAT 2589
of
O
OFFICER '1921 5
2
t7 RECRUIT 0
z
Z SPECIALTY 441
COMPANY & OTHER 9466.94
DRIVER OPERATOR 555
TOTAL CONTACT FOURS 19142.19
Cot Training Ladder Training Rope Training Tower Training
A. o it
Confined Space Rapes & Knots High Angle
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 40
Fire Prevention Division
4
Mauriolo Barrens Sheila Platne r(retired) Tony Phillips(retired} Mark Burger
L -
James HBrringxGn(retlredl Kerwin Norwood David Barber I Ambrocio Mendez
• Inspector/Investigator -
Inspection Totals
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic we were limited on the ability to conduct annual inspections.
• Life Safety Inspections
0 764 @ 2 hours average each per inspector
0 3 per day average
0 2292 total hours
• Plan Review
0 154 @ 3 hours average each
0 462 total hours
• Fire Investigations
0 65 @ 12.5 hours average each
0 812 total hours
• Arson Investigations
0 23 @ 15-25 hours average each
0 575 total hours
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 141
Community Presentations
Community contact has been limited due to the shutdown for business safety presentations and school fire
safety presentations.
• Community Safety Presentations: We conducted 18 presentations reaching approximately 1590 people.
• School Fire Safety Presentations: We conducted fire safety presentations to six elementary schools this
year reaching approximately 1200 students.
• WILX News 10 Monthly Fire Safety Videos: We have partnered with WILX News 10 to provide monthly fire
safety videos for their viewing area. Eight videos have been created.
Fire Prevention News Updates
• Three new fire inspectors have been promoted. They have completed fire arson investigation and life
safety inspection training.
• We are working with area fire departments to develop training opportunities for arson investigators.
• Three new permits have been developed and recently implemented:
o Tent Permit - 13 permits issued @ $110 each
o Hot Works Permit - 3 permits issued @ $125 each
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 142
Emergency Management Division
William Engelter Jason Stevens Ronda Oberlin
Emergency Hazard Mitigation
Management Chief specia�ist
�f
Raynika Battle Colby Winter
Planner .. I Thing
Coordinator
Ronda Oberlin retired from the Emergency Management Division after almost 30 years of service to the city.
Ronda was present at the inception of the Emergency Management Division and she was involved in every
function in the growth and development of the program. Her many hazard mitigation projects saved the
citizens of Lansing millions of dollars.
COVID-19 Pandemic Response
Work continued on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. EMD worked closely with the Ingham County
Health Department to establish vaccine clinics, vaccine strike teams and to vaccinate at homeless
encampments. Continued with distribution of personal protective equipment.
Special Event Response
The division worked closely with many federal, state and local agencies to coordinate a successful presidential
visit at the Capital City Regional Airport.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 143
Other events included:
• Peaceful Protest Activation do ott t '
• Health Care Strike Team - dispatched to vaccinate a homeless encampment ua&U Meps toward being
emergency
• DolThing - Launched a new website, www.dolthing.com
Operations Division
The Stations
STATION 41 1 120 E SHIAWASSEE ST
1 Battalion Command
,. 1 Engine
1 Trrlck
2 Medic Units
Brush Truck with Water Rescue
2 ATV's
Operations &Administration Offices
STATION 42 12114 N. GRAND RIVER
A-� w
1 Engine
Jaws of Life Extraction Equipment
Water Rescue Equipment
STATION 4411435 E MILLER RD
1 Engine
1 ATV; Alater Rescue
--' 1 CERTTrailer
1 Mass Casualty Trailer
Hazmat Squad- responds to all Hazmat incidents in
the metro area.
STATION 4615135 PLEASANT GROVE RD
1 Engine
1 Truck
1 Medic Unit
STATION 481815 MARSHALL ST
1 Engine
1 Technical Rescue Truck &Trailer
Equipment for confined space rescue: building
collapse rescue: trench rescue and high angle rope
rescue
STATION 49 1 528 GLEN DALE AVE
1 Engine
2 Medic Units
Jaws of Life
1 Brush truck with water rescue boat
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 44
Operations Division - EMS
The Lansing Fire Department staffs five Advanced
Life Support Ambulances 24 hours a day 365 days
a year. Each ambulance has two personnel Then
assigned. Either two Paramedics or one
Paramedic and one Emergency Medical
Technician.
Additional personnel from a fire truck augment
have been hired. These two-person crews are for
- + -
incidents which are severe or have the potential Now
to become severe in nature. Examples would be
L
heart attacks, motor vehicle collisions, childbirth, L.
or difficulty breathing.
Having additional resources on scene allows the Lansing Fire Department to mitigate complex incidents such
as responding to a multi-story residence in a safer manner.
EMS Response FY 2021
M 491
2000 19
:11
•II 6`
II 4
11
1000
BOB hi 49
Mal
600 411
21%
II
II
I {,CCC
FebJan Apr AugSeptONovI' •46
20%
IncidenI Type • ■ R ■ ■
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 145
Operations Division - Statistics
EMS and Fire Incidents Per Station
Incidents per Station far Oahe Time Range for Station
Start Time-00-00 1 End Time- 23.00 1 Incident 7ype(s):All Incident Types I Station:All Stations I Start Date: 0710112020 1 End
Date:Ot3=2021
8000
soon
4000
2000
0
41 -Station 1 44-Station 4 48-station 8 TRA-Training Facility
42 - Station 2 46- Station 5 49-Station 9
STATION GOUIT
41 •Station 1 7062
42-Station 2 1079
44-Station 4 1647
46-Station 6 4631
48-Station 8 1165
49-Station 9 6059
TRA-Training Facility 2
TOTAL: 21655
Aid Given and Received
AID TYPE jMTOTAL
Mutual aid received 0. %
Automatic yid received 70 C
Mutual aid given 93 0.4
Automatic aid given 73 0.3
Other aid given 5 0.0
None 21377 98.7
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 146
Ne rardaee Conddron INo Fuel
t,55%
Srrvlca Cell
4,25%
Good xrnnt Cef
3A2%
Falu Alarm i Frlu Cell
S.Sax
Revere wedewr i Natural...
oAt%
Re SCW A Emergency-.--41
S"CIOI WK Went Type
94.9% OA3%
Frame
7.64%
are•ur.erur.:upur...apoalon....
9.ot x
RIAJM 16CEEMT TYPE 0 MOB TS X pR TOTAL
Fires 399 1.84%
Overpressure rupture,explosion,overheat-no fire 3 0.01%
Rescue&Emergency Medical Service 18385 84.9%
Hazardous Condition(No Fire) 336 1.55%
Service Call 921 4.25%
Good Imenl cell 783 3.62%
Falser Alarm 9 False Call 733 3.38%
Severe Weather&Natural Disaster 2 0.01%
Special lncidarlt Type 93 0.43%
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2021 ANNUAL REPORT 147
FIRE
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HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY
HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICES
KIM COLEMAN, DIRECTOR
Departmental Mission
The City of Lansing Human Relations and Community Services (HRCS) Department's mission is to foster a
robust, connected community through coordinating local human services, providing dispute mediation and
reconciliation services, complaint investigations, conducting community needs assessments, and pursuing
funding to support City initiatives. Staff provides grants management, contract development, and community-
wide services planning as Recipient of Federal, State, and Local homeless grants, maintaining monitoring,
oversight, and data collection systems and serving as Lead Agency for the Homeless Management Information
System (HMIS). HRCS outreach events bring basic needs items directly to Lansing citizens, especially those
who are under-served, leading to greater family stability. As community needs evolve, HRCS stands ready to
assist the human services system in creating innovative solutions.
HRCS and local agencies faced many challenges in due to the pandemic; requirements included changes in
service delivery systems overnight to prevent the spread of COVID and maintain staff and clients' health and
safety. Urgent or vital services continued with modifications, although some social or recreational group
programs, especially for youth and seniors, were reduced or shutdown as per State and local orders. Some
annual HRCS outreach events that required direct contact or interaction with the public were modified or
canceled as necessary.
COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA)
The HRCS of the City of Lansing serves as the fiduciary for $46,039,243 of COVID Emergency Rental Assistance
funds allocated to support the needs of Ingham County residents. The funding is a grant from the Michigan
State Housing Development Authority.
• The initial award was effective January 1, 2021, in the amount of $14,317,380.
• Effective July 14, 2021, the funds increased to $30,039,243.
• Effective October 20, 2021, the fund increased to $46,039,243, due to the exceptional efforts of the
Ingham County partners.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 149
HUMAN RELATIONS ♦ COMMUNITY SERVICES
• As of November 19, 2021, about $31,942,000 has been spent to assist Ingham County residents.
• As of November 19, 2021, about 8,700 cases have been closed in Ingham County.
HRCS will serve as fiduciary of a new second Emergency Rental Assistance award that will have an effective
date of January 1, 2022, once the funding has been allocated by the state legislature. The amount has not been
disclosed.
Commission Investigator
Commission Investigator (CI) began her tenure on April 19, 2021, with a priority to address and independently
investigate citizen complaints. The goal of police oversight and specifically this position is to provide a fair,
efficient, timely avenue to conduct investigations into complaints of police misconduct concerning sworn and
civilian members of the Lansing Police Department (LPD). This office will assist in improving and maintaining
civilian confidence and trust in the LPD and civilian oversight. The CI will ensure that all incidents of police
misconduct are properly addressed.
The CI has been revitalizing, streamlining the process, and updating the Commission Investigator office to
operate utilizing the best practices in the field.
The CI has been actively investigating police misconduct cases. To date, the CI currently has a caseload of 7.
The CI has been and will continue to thoroughly review all investigations completed by Internal Affairs. The
Commission Investigator provides a monthly summary of complaints to the Citizen Review Committee of the
Board of Police Commissioners. Although the Commission Investigator arrived in April, she completed a
Summary of the complaints closed in 2021, prior to her arrival.
The CI has updated and revamped the Commission Investigator portion of the City's website. The CI has
simplified the process of filing a complaint, citizens can now file a complaint online and it is routed directly to
the CI to commence an investigation.
The CI is committed to developing relationships with the community and has attended several community
events to introduce herself and help bridge the gap between the community and the police.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 150
HUMAN RELATIONS ♦ COMMUNITY SERVICES
The Commission Investigator has done ride-a-longs and visited various departments within the LPD. The CI
also investigates Human Rights violations, workplace discrimination, sensitive departmental complaints and
conducts mediations.
As mentioned in the 2021 Independent Auditor's Report, the CI will continue to work to obtain the
community's trust. The CI plans to continue to develop community relationships by remaining accessible and
visible in the community. The CI will participate in upcoming LPD trainings and continue to learn the day-to-
day responsibilities of all members of the LPD at every level. Additionally, the CI ensures that fair and impartial
investigations are conducted and working on transparency. Lastly, the Commission Investigator is assisting
with the Criminal Justice portion of the MRJEA Report.
One of the greatest challenges in this position is the access to information, which is a challenge that many
oversight agencies are facing; we are currently working on this challenge. Another challenge is that the CI is
not involved in the IA investigations until they are completed, which defeats the purpose of her review. The CI
has established a respectable working relationship with the interim Chief of Police. The CI would like to
continue to work with the Chief of Police to move forward in a way that is effective and efficient for both
Internal Affairs and the Commission Investigator, as we service the citizens and increase the integrity of the
entire citizen complaint review process.
A membership was established with the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement and
ALPACT (Advocates and Leaders for Police and Community Trust). As a member, the Commission Investigator
participated in a series of virtual learning and informative workshops.
Tenant-Landlord Engagement Housing
Rent Smart
The HRCS Housing Ombudsman oversees this unique renter education workshop series. The four-week
intensive and interactive class is designed to better equip participants to find and keep housing. The highly
successful in-person classes were paused during the pandemic. Virtual courses have been introduced; however,
they have proved to not be as promising in attracting participants as technology and other barriers can impede
normal, robust enrollment and instruction.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 151
HUMAN RELATIONS ♦ COMMUNITY SERVICES
Individuals impacted by the pandemic have increased the need to help people find and maintain affordable
and quality housing. To meet this need and assist Lansing residents struggling to overcome barriers such as
poor credit, past evictions, or a lack of rental experience, HRCS anticipates resuming in-person classes in early
2022.
Renter-Landlord Relations
The HRCS Department works to improve the relationships between tenants and landlords. The Housing
Ombudsman responded to countless inquiries for assistance with tenant-landlord questions or disputes. In
addition to streamlining and updating the housing complaint process, HRCS continues to engage landlords to
promote responsible rental practices and positive relationships with City departments. Throughout the
pandemic, HRCS established ongoing communication with Lansing landlords to keep them apprised of COVID
emergency rental assistance and other programs to help them and their tenants avoid evictions. Two HRCS
employees participated in virtual training for the HUD Housing Counselor Exam passing the exam. The next
step is for them to apply for their Housing Counselor Certifications, which would qualify them to be HUD
Certified Housing Counselors. The certification will allow them to address City of Lansing matters and work
with residents and landlords.
Mayor's Racial Justice and Equity Alliance (MRJEA)
The HRCS director and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer took the lead and were extremely instrumental in
the Mayor's Racial Justice and Equity Alliance initiative. Many hours were directed to its coordination and
implementation through focus and work groups. The MRJEA findings were presented in a report on Racial
Justice and Equity, which was released in August 2020. The report set the foundation for the internal and
external actions needed to overcome identified key issues in the Lansing community. Prior to the release of the
report, MRJEA members held two community update events in the months of February and April. During these
events, different workgroups presented and answered questions and listened to feedback from participants.
The Equity Executive Team, made up of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer, HRCS Director, Human
Resources Director, HRCS Consultant, Mr. Willard Walker, and Attorney Teresa Bingman, have been working
with the Mayor, City Leadership, and Community and National partners to operationalize and implement the
action items identified in the report.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 152
HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY
The Mayor, City Leaders, and the Equity Executive Team were able to participate in two trainings provided by
the National League of Cities' Race, Equity, And Leadership (REAL) program, REAL 100: Normalizing Racial
Equity in Local Government (6 hours) and REAL 200: Operationalizing Racial Equity in Local Government (8
hours).
HRCS Director and DEI Officer earned the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate through
the University of South Florida Muma College of Business in May.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
HRCS' DEI Officer reviewed 28 construction projects for Prevailing Wage compliance — one of the prevailing
wages projects closed this year resulted in a contractor providing restitution of $54.20 total to their
employees.
The DEI Officer also coordinated the virtual 41st Annual Memorial Observance of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr., in collaboration with the brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. — Kappa Delta Lambda Chapter and the
Ingham County Bar Association and Foundation. This year's theme was "Out of a mountain of despair, a stone
of hope."
The HRCS ordinance (#1272) was amended to address root causes of racism and/or promote racial equity in
Lansing. 1.35% of general funds will be directed annually for distribution to agencies. In response to the
ordinance, Four HRCS employees had the opportunity to participate in the Government Performance Lab of
Harvard Kennedy School for the purpose of formulating the HRCS Racial Equity Program Grant RFOP. The
RFOP was distributed through the Michigan Inter-Governmental Trade Network (MITN) and the City of Lansing
Purchasing Office. HRCS conducted two virtual informational sessions for agencies to ask questions regarding
the RFOP. The HRCS Advisory Board scored the four RFOPs submitted and conducted interviews. The two top
scoring agencies will receive $67,500 each to implement their Scope of Work within Lansing Wards to address
root causes of racism and/or promote racial equity in Lansing.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 153
HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY
HRCS Internal Personnel
Due to the high demand of HRCS contract services, city general funds, state and federal funding and reporting,
there were internal personnel changes within HRCS. A contract manager was promoted to Contract
Management Administrator, the Contract Technician position was promoted to a contract manager and an
additional full-time contract manager was added to the staff.
In June, the Policy Group for Persons who are Unsheltered Ad Hoc Committee, administered by a HRCS
Contract Manager, held its first meeting. The initial purpose of the Ad Hoc Committee is to develop a "City of
Lansing Policy for Persons who are Unsheltered" for mayoral review. The group focus is to create long-term
solutions to prevent the need for encampments, and determine how to assist unsheltered persons in
encampments, if, and/or when, they appear. Approximately nineteen persons consisting of individuals who
work with homeless persons and shelters, in addition to HRCS Advisory Board members, make up the Ad Hoc
Committee.
Citizen Assistance and Outreach — Bringing Services to the People
Mobile Food Pantry
More than 158 tons of food were distributed to approximately 2,724 households consisting of 9,054
individuals through the Mobile Food Pantry (MFP) from December 2020 through October 2021. The MFP
addresses food insecurity through a contract with the Greater Lansing Food Bank, in cooperation with local
churches and a host of volunteers. MFP operates on the third Saturday of each month at pre-arranged sites in
Lansing. Volunteers deliver food directly to seniors and subsidized housing sites. In March 2020, due to the
pandemic, the program was modified as a "drive-through" or "walk-up" service.
Utility Assistance and Eviction Diversion Prevention
St. Vincent De Paul, Lansing Board of Water and Light (LBWL), and the Continuum of Care pool funds to
address people at risk of homelessness due to rental arrears, overdue fees, or delinquent utility bills. With the
establishment of CERA, HRCS direct assistance for rental and utility assistance was very limited.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 154
HUMAN RELATIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Let's Share the Warmth Coat Drive and Community Connect
HRCS spearheaded the "Let's Share the Warmth Coat Drive," which was held from October 10th through
November 10th, 2021. The community donated approximately 350 coats in addition to gloves, hats and
scarves. Donated items, in addition to personal needs, socks, a boxed lunch and bottled water were
distributed to homeless and underserved men and women at Lansing's Community Connect: Hunger &
Homelessness Awareness outreach. Eighteen agencies were on hand to share resources, blankets and other
items. Several Lansing Area businesses donated services or provided them at a reduced cost. Undistributed
Lunches were delivered to area shelters and outerwear was taken to Advent House as a centralized location
for persons to receive outerwear.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 155
HUMAN RESOURCES
HUMAN RESOURCES
LINDA SANCHEZ-GAZELLA, DIRECTOR
Hiring
Hired 105 new hires -16% reported as undefined
By department -
Assessor 1 0% Minority
OCA 2 0% Minority
City Clerk 3 33% Minority
EDP 2 0% Minority
Finance 1 0% Minority
HRCS 2 100% Minority
HR 2 100% Minority
Fire 19 47% Minority
Mayor 6 50% Minority
DNCE 1 0% Minority
Parks 15 13% Minority
Police 25 28% Minority
PS 11 27% Minority
Treasury 3 33% Minority
District Court 12 0% Minority
Health and Safety
Safety Trainings
• Fleet Service Garage
• Ergo and Lifting Training
• Emergency Response Plan review and training
• Hazcom Review
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 156
HUMAN RESOURCES
• Bloodborne Pathogen Review
• LOTO, Energy Isolation Review and hands on demonstration
0&M
• First Aid training
• Bloodborne Pathogen
• Emergency Response Review
• Incident Investigation and Report Training
• EE Level and Supervisor level
• Ergo and Lifting Training
• Skid Steer Training, Forklift Training, and Aerial Lift training.
• Silica Awareness and Respirator Training
• Trenching Safety (MIOSHA)
WWTP
• LOTO, Energy Isolation Review and hands on training
• Confined Space Entry (with a touch on fall protection)
• First aid training
• Bloodborne Pathogen Review
• PPE training
• Forklift, skid steer, aerial lift, and bobcat training
Parking Services
• Emergency Response Review
• Bloodborne Pathogen
• Hazcom Review
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 157
HUMAN RESOURCES
Parks and Recreation
• Emergency Response Review
Safety Concerns
• Mitigated Mold Concern at City Hall
• Investigated Rock Climbing Wall at Gier Community Center
• Audited Ice Skating Rink at City Hall
• Investigated Odor Concern at WWTP
• Mitigated Fall Hazard at WWTP
The Safety Prescriptions Glasses Program
• Rolled out a new Lab and added vendors
• Set up Safety Committee at WWTP
Safety Audits at Fire Stations
• Station 41
• Station 42
• Station 48
• Training Tower
Worker Compensation
• 170 Injury Reports Processed
• 4 Settlements/VP
FMLA
• Process 88 requests
DOT Regulations
• Training on DOT Clearinghouse Driver Registration
• Signed Consent Forms obtain from all DOT Drivers
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 158
HUMAN
RESOURCES
Vehicle Accident
• 45 Vehicle Accidents Reports Processed
Short Term Disabilities Claims
• 24 Claims Processed
Payroll and Benefits
• Orientations in 2021 (88)
• Employment verifications verbal and written (163)
• Direct Deposit changes for Active and Retiree (560)
• Processed payrolls (125+)
• Completed Open Enrollment for all Active and Retiree for Month of May
• Transferred Retirees off Regular Health care to Humana (75)
• Moved all Retirees from United American to Humana (2704)
• Converted Aflac to monthly billing, to make reconciliation and tracking of differences much easier.
• Tax changes for Active and retired employees (500+)
• Eliminated printing and mailing check stubs for retirees
• Set up Retirees with Employee Online, to make address changes, view check stubs, etc.
• Implemented NeoGov Onboarding process with Checklists for new hires to complete onboarding
paperwork electronically
• Calculated and process retirement:through October 31, 2021 (56)
Retirement Office
• 19 beneficiaries, 32 regular retirements, 2 disabilities, 3 edro
• Processed 48 deaths, 10 refunds and 16 life insurance claims.
• Held retirement-related meetings (Zoom and in person) that included Retirement Board, Deferred, Defined
• Held 70 employee/retiree meetings (Zoom, In Person, Phone)
• Assisted with providing demographic and investment Data for the Actuarial reports for the Finance
Department
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 159
HUMAN
RESOURCES
• Working with Tegrit to update Retirement Software (Ongoing)
• Assisted with the conversion of Defined Contribution from Wells Fargo to the Principal
• Assisted with the development and implementation of new retirement board policies (Intervening Military
service, service retirement, deferred retirement, disability forms, vendor review)
• Held election for Employees Retirement System trustee and Police and Fire Retirement System Board
trustee
• Amended Defined Contribution election rules
• Participated in Davenport Emotional Intelligence and Difficult Conversation Training
• Participated in The Principal Conversion webinars
• Assisted in the update and recodification of the Employees' Retirement System Ordinance and the Police
and Fire Retirement System Ordinances (ongoing).
• Calculated increase in benefits adjustments
• Processed and mailed tax exclusion letters
• Calculated disability conversions to age and service, processed income verification, and arranged medical
evaluations
• Process quarterly cash flow withdrawals from Board's investment portfolio to retirement accounts for
retiree payments.
• Travel arrangements and reimbursements for trustee travel
• File audit (Ongoing)
Labor Relations
• 214 Contact was ratified
• 243 Supervisory and CTP Contracts were ratified
• IAFF contract was ratified
• Sexual Harassment/Non-discrimination training for a few departments
• Conducted Supervisory training through Davenport for many public service supervisors and a few other
departments
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 160
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CHRISTOPHER MUMBY, DIRECTOR
The Information Technology Department is charged with using technology to enable city departments to
provide effective and efficient service to our citizens. Our staff operates and maintains city run and hosted
software applications, technology infrastructure, helpdesk support for city staff working onsite and remote, city
telecommunications (mobile & internet), and security for software, hardware, and infrastructure. 2021 has
proved to be another challenging year but the Information Technology rose to the occasion.
As we adjusted to a new normal in 2021, we were able to maintain excellent staff support and at the same
time make great strides in enhancing employee and citizen engagement. Our Project Management team, along
with Applications, Helpdesk, Infrastructure, and Security teams were able to support and implement several
enterprise projects across the city. One example is the content audit and redesign of our entire city website.
Focus groups made up of residents were created to provide recommendations on how to make our website
easier to navigate and retrieve information quicker. The website has a new modern look and improved
navigation. We have had over 266,000+ visits to the city website since going live in June. Along with the new
website we implemented a new intranet for our employees. We also worked with our City Council and Clerk
offices to implement an electronic meeting minutes and agenda management platform with a Board & Citizen
Portal. The final piece of this Civic Clerk project includes electronic voting at council meetings which will
begin in January of 2022. Another project was with our Human Resource (HR) department to implement a
streamlined and more automated pre-boarding/on board ing system for new employees. New employees can fill
out electronic forms, watch city safety videos and complete training prior to their first day on the job. This
reduces the amount of time spent the first day filling out paperwork. Our City IT is making great strides to
assist in making a seamless transition for new and current employees.
Our IT Applications team continues to move the City of Lansing forward as technology and business
requirements continually change with updating our software to meet industry standards. We have updated our
enterprise wide Cityworks software to better integrate with other software and improve stability. We continue
to make improvements to the Cityworks portal, which allows the public to submit permit requests remotely.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 161
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Finally, we are in the process of re-working the cemetery burial workflow to eliminate paper and waste that is
generated in the current process.
There have been significant upgrades to our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to improve security,
stability, and take advantage of new capabilities as we transition to a new updated ArcGIS Pro platform. For
2021, GIS projects include our continuing support for the marijuana facilities license map, as well as expanding
the data viewable on the parcel viewer, adding in the new form-based code system approved by Council, and
adding in experimental new flood zone data from the United States Geographic Survey (USGS) for Emergency
Management. Current projects that will be done this year include a new set of snowplow maps, updating the
River Trail map for the Parks Department, and a racial equity matrix for the Mayor's Racial Justice and Equity
Alliance.
We continued to leverage our records management system, Laserfiche in 2021. In the beginning of the year,
we implemented electronic tax filing for the 1040EZ form. This digital workflow processed 692 returns this
year. Working closely with the City Clerk, we implemented our document retention policy in Laserfiche.
Contracts and Business License Applications are now in Laserfiche with the ability for us to expunge them from
our records once the statutory retention period expires. Additionally, IT continues to work with departments to
integrate their operations with Laserfiche to reduce the need to print and store paper. We are currently
working with numerous departments to assist in scanning essential paper records into Laserfiche. This process
includes department review of current retention practices, helps clear up storage space and reduces storage
cost. In June we worked with HR to create a Contract Employee process that reduces the amount of time to hire
contract employees. Over 80+ contract employees were processed this year. IT is working with Parks and HR to
build a similar workflow for hiring TEA employees and Independent Contractors.
Our most recent and successful project was implementing an electronic Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
request portal. Our electronic FOIA application, which went live on July 19, 2021, has greatly improved the
workflow and efficiency for not only the City Attorney staff, Lansing Police, but across city departments as well.
It has also improved how our citizens can request, view, and pay for FOIA. We have processed over 1,400 FOIA
request since going live.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 162
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
We are seeing that 86% of all FOIA's we receive are processed by Lansing Police. The next phase of this project
is to implement this type of solution for Lansing Fire Department by the end of the year.
In 2021 our Infrastructure team replaced the monitoring, network change management, and firewall solution
to enhance the security and integrity of data protection. Infrastructure staff also worked hand in hand with our
helpdesk team to provide virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) during COVID to provide working at home
solutions for city workers. Our team also continues to assess, enhance, and harden the environment as part of
the ongoing management of the enterprise infrastructure. The team also regularly works directly with the
other IT teams (Helpdesk and Applications) on other deployment projects, Legacy system replacements, and
much more.
Our helpdesk team has continued to assist our city employees with their technology needs despite the
additional challenges of working during a pandemic. We have assisted departments with physical technology
moves and computer set up for new employees. Throughout the year, we were able to complete a physical
technology inventory across the city, along with updating applications to make sure our technology is secure
and current. We pride ourselves with being able to troubleshoot and brainstorm technology solutions for all
departments. Our helpdesk team remains dedicated and focused on our city employees and their technology
needs.
In 2021, we engaged in a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment to find future areas of focus. We
implemented more security controls in our cloud collaboration solutions to help prevent data Leaks. Core office
software that we use was upgraded this year to allow for more secure communications internally and
externally. Together with the infrastructure and helpdesk teams, we mitigated more than a third of the internal
risk from vulnerabilities on our backlog. We also continued to maintain our security baseline by removing
Legacy systems and updating software on a regular basis. Our monthly security awareness training program
continues to be successful - we have maintained a completion rate over 98%, ensuring that all our employees
can be a front Line of defense against cyber-attacks. The City of Lansing IT Department looks forward to
wrapping up another successful project filled year, while continuing to serve our departments and citizens. We
pride ourselves in the successes derived by those we serve, our departments, and our citizens.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 163
NEIGHBORHOODS
NEIGHBORHOODS I CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
DELISA FOUNTAIN, DIRECTOR
Department Description
The Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement was created in 2018 to Engage Citizens, Advance
People, and Build Neighborhoods. It provides support to neighborhood organizations and operates the Office
of Financial Empowerment.
Staff
• DNCE Director: DeLisa Fountain
o Neighborhood Resource Coordinator: Robin Anderson-King
0 311 Call Center Manager: Augustine Martinez
• Office of Financial Empowerment Director: Amber Paxton
o Operations Specialist, OFE: Zach Etzin
o Community Coordinator, Offender Success, OFE: Charles Roltsch
o Program Manager, OFE: Velma Kyser
Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement
Building Neighborhoods
Community Youth Programming Grants
These funds are part of the budget carry-forward plan that was announced recently to support Lansing-based,
youth-focused organizations throughout the City of Lansing. Mayor Andy Schor's proposal to carry forward
funds from Fiscal Year 2020-2021 to support activities for youth in the City of Lansing was approved by City
Council during their meeting on Monday, August 9, 2021. The application window opened on Wednesday,
August 25, 2021, and will remain open until funds are depleted. Volunteers from the Neighborhood Advisory
Board will review, score and award grantees, similar to the existing Neighborhood Advisory Board Grant
Program.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 164
NEIGHBORHOODS & CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
** Indicates project located in a Neighborhood of Focus)
Organization Project Amount
Funded
Breeze Foundation Sporting Equipment and Mentorship ** $1520.00
Touching Every Shoes, Clothing and Holiday Gifts for $1440.00
Sole Youth *'k
Touching Every Shoes for Children in need ** $2000.00
Sole
Basketball United Training for Youth to increase $1000.00
basketball skills
Allen Neighborhood Providing Positive Youth Programming $2000.00
Center
Michigan Titans Titans Skills Cam $2000.00
The Fledge Art Glasses $900.00
Neighborhood Grants Program
Administering the Neighborhood Grants program and providing administrative support for the Mayor's
Neighborhood Advisory Board. Also, sourcing and writing grants for the Department of Neighborhoods &
Citizen Engagement and partner organizations.
2021 Neighborhood Grant Program:
The Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement provides the staff support and administrative
oversight for the Neighborhood Grant Program. Funding decisions for the Neighborhood Grants are made
through the citizen Mayor's Neighborhood Advisory Board. The board reviews all applications and through
several rounds of deliberation presents a funding recommendation to the mayor. The DNCE administers the
entire process of applications and funds accounting.
• $59,392.59 were funded to 55 different projects designed and executed by civic organizations.
Applications Received Funds Requested
Mini Grants $200 27 $5,600
Neighborhood Grants 55 $80,238.97
(up to $5,000
Total: 82 $85,638.97
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 165
NEIGHBORHOODS
Examples of Funded Projects
Ward 1:
• Frog Holler Association: Hammock & Volleyball Poles Installation: $728.46
• Potter Walsh Neighborhood Association: Dakin Street Senior & Disabled Community Garden $1236.05
Ward 2:
• Neighbors of Scott Woods: Neighborhood Banner $120.00
• RSVP & CedarBrook NW 330: Cedarbrook Neighborhood Sign $1721.50
Ward 3:
• Lansing Eaton Neighborhood Organization (LEND): LENO Neighborhood Park Placemaking Project
$4998.00
• South Lansing Community Development Association: South Lansing Urban Gardens $3079.00
Ward 4:
• Downtown Apartment Dwellers: Community Chalk Boards $200
• Saginaw Street Corridor Improvement Authority: Saginaw Street
Engaging Citizens
Events and forums designed by the department and delivered in the community to increase community
involvement and communicate with citizens. Examples include LOVE Lansing, Walking Wednesdays, Housing
and Neighborhood Resource Summits, Neighborhood Roundtables, and the Citizens Academy.
Winter Activities
DNCE worked to created winter activities designed to increase outdoor activities as residents were coping with
the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 166
NEIGHBORHOODS
Winter in Lansing Photo Contest
Residents were encouraged to take a winter themed photo and upload it to their social media accounts using
the hashtag #WinterinLansing. The resident with the most likes received a winter City of Lansing Swag gift.
Snowtubing at Hawk Island
Partnership with Ingham County Parks, City of Lansing Parks and Recreation and DNCE provided free snow
tubing for 150 City of Lansing residents. Residents utilized the parks website to register in advance and a hoot
chocolate bar featuring local business Everything is Cheesecake.
Snowman Building Competition
The department also worked with Parks and Recreation and the Letts Advisory Board for a snowman building
competition. 20 residents participated in the activity.
COVID Vaccine PR Campaign
DNCE along with internal partners worked with CITY TV and Redhead Design on a diversity focused social
media campaign to encourage residents to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Walking Wednesdays
Events held in neighborhoods to bring city leadership and partners together with neighbors to discuss assets
and opportunities in Lansing neighborhoods. 6 Neighborhoods applied to participate in Walking Wednesdays
for Spring 2021. Walking Wednesdays, filmed Summer 2021 began airing Fall 2021. Four Walking Wednesdays
were filmed May through July by City TV hosted by neighborhood leaders.
2021 Lansing Citizens Academy
A 12-week, civic-minded course designed to help residents better understand the functions of city government,
budgetary operations, and decision-making processes. This immersive program provides residents with
opportunities to meet with City leaders and participate in their local government.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 167
NEIGHBORHOODS
In 2021, 24 participants were chosen and 22 completed the Citizens Academy. Departments such as Parks &
Recreation, Public Service and City Clerk's Office/Elections Unit gave limited tours of facilities, ensuring
participants experienced as much as possible amid COVID-19.
Three alumni of Citizens Academy have joined a City of Lansing Board or Commission. Four Alumni have run
for a City of Lansing elected office. One Alumni was elected to City Council Fall 2021.
City of Lansing Newsletter/Webpage
Every Friday, the Neighborhood News was sent to 1,740 subscribers, providing them with detailed
neighborhood updates. Relevant information and updates are curated weekly from City of Lansing leadership,
departments, and community partners. The Neighborhood News is compiled into formats that are easily shared
on several different platforms, including Neighborhood Facebook pages, NextDoor, email, and text message.
When the website update happened, the newsletter format was removed turning the Neighborhood News into
a webpage that is updated weekly. Staff continues to explore options for a new newsletter format including
the idea of a department Social Media presence to share information in a manner that allows neighborhoods to
share as well.
Trunk-or-Treat Engagements
Created 2,000 treat bags that included Lansing SAVE, Kroger Rewards, and Financial Empowerment
information. Staff participated in two trunk or treat events hosted by the City of Lansing (Parks and Recreation
and City Clerk).
Neighborhood Beautification and SERVE Lansing
Programs to cleanup, beautify, and enhance neighborhoods through citizen designed projects.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 168
NEIGHBORHOODS
Neighborhoods in Bloom
Civic Organizations applied for, and were awarded, flower kits that included two bags of mulch and assorted
annual and perennial flowers. If needed, organizations were able to apply for multiple kits. Civic Organizations
oversaw the care and upkeep of the flowers through the Summer. This year, all Neighborhoods in Bloom
flowers and materials were delivered to each neighborhood, rather than picked up at distribution locations.
• 300 Bloom Kits assembled by volunteers and delivered to 31 Civic Organizations in partnership with the
Ingham County Land Bank
• 7,200 square feet of greenspace planted
Neighborhood Clean Ups
• Foster Farm
• Walnut Neighborhood Organization
• Prospect PLACE
• Westside Neighborhood Association
• Churchill Downs Community Association
• Letts Advisory Board
• Armory Alliance Neighborhood Watch
• Colonial Townhouses Cooperative
• Potter/Walsh
• Old Town Neighborhood Association
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, large group gatherings were not allowed. Instead, DNCE worked with Granger to
supply a truck to drive through the neighborhoods listed above. Through neighborhood social networks, the
clean ups were widely promoted, and neighbors placed bulk trash at designated locations the night before
Granger trucks came through. These partnership events allowed DNCE to help neighborhoods dispose of over
240 cubic yards of trash free of charge to the residents.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 169
NEIGHBORHOODS
Additionally, DNCE supplied individual neighbors and small groups with supplies needed to complete clean
ups that ranged from drain/basin clearing to a neighborhood led cleanup effort.
• Old Town Commercial Association - partnership with Public Service to provide a dumpster for a weekend
cleanup effort as well as trash bags, gloves, and leaf bags.
• Pick up Lansing Events - DNCE supplied trash bags and gloves to several events that took place across
downtown Lansing.
• Baker Neighborhood storm Drain and Bulk Trash Clean Up- partnership with volunteers from COGL (Church
of Greater Lansing), CAHP (Capital Area Housing Partnership), and Everett High School to clear the storm
drains in the Baker Neighborhood. The following week NCE scheduled a Granger Truck to drive through the
neighborhood to remove bulk trash set out by residents.
• 50 Lawn and Leaf Bags and 25 SERVE Lansing t-shirts supplied to J W Sexton High School student
volunteers for a Fall Wake and Rake (November 2021).
City of Lansing "Day of Service"
20 City of Lansing Employees worked in 4 designated locations across the City on May 15, 2021.NCE supplied
the locations, supplies (trash bags, trash pickers and gloves), SERVE Lansing T Shirts and trash removal
services. Signage created to deter littering was placed in each location after the cleanup.
Resident Small Clean Ups
The Department of Neighborhoods and Citizen Engagement worked with volunteer groups and provided
supplies to residents interested in holding a small-scale cleanup. These small cleanups led up to the LOVE
(Local Organization and Volunteer Excellence) Lansing Weekend, May 15-16, 2021. DNCE partnered with 17
small groups of citizens as well as Granger and provided trash bags, work gloves, pickers and 5 donated
dumpsters for local "Adopt a Spot" cleanups. These cleanups were led and staffed by over 300 citizen
volunteers.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 170
NEIGHBORHOODS
3-1-1 (One Call to City Hall)
In early 2021, it was decided the new 311 initiative would be housed within the Department of Neighborhood
and Citizen Engagement. A 311 Center would create a one call location for citizens who have non-emergent
needs within the city. We have worked out a location for the office and partnered with Dewpoint and Five9 to
flesh out the technology needs of this "One Call To City Hall" initiative. 311 is set to soft launch by the end of
the 2021 year and progressively bring on departments as they are ready. As of Nov. 17, Six (6) Call Center
Agents have been offered the position with a start date in early December 2021.
Office of Financial Empowerment
Financial Education and Counseling
FREE 1:1 financial counseling to increase savings, decrease debt, and stabilize and advance household
finances. In its 8 years of operation, the clients in the program have reduced nonmortgage household debt by
$12.9M and increased savings by $1.1M. In 2021, as of 11/10, 246 clients have received 558 financial
counseling sessions. $678,236 in non-mortgage debt reduction was achieved this year, and $131,973 in
savings increase. 57 clients increased their credit score by 35+ points, and 46 clients reduced their non-
mortgage debt by 10% or more in 12 months. 94 clients reduced the number of delinquent accounts on their
credit report. Since beginning this program 8 years ago, the City of Lansing Financial Empowerment Center has
worked with 5,118 clients for a total of 15,406 sessions. Through this work, clients have reduced their
cumulative non-mortgage debt by $12.9 million and increased their total savings by $1.1M.
Lansing SAVE
Children's Saving Account for post-secondary school administered in partnership with MSUFCU, Capital Area
United Way, and the Lansing School District. Children in the Lansing School District are automatically enrolled
in the program in kindergarten and receive financial education in their classrooms throughout the year.
Students can make deposits in their accounts at school or at an MSUFCU branch. Community partners have
begun adopting these accounts and raising money for students in Lansing.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 171
ActiveNEIGHBORHOODS & CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
Fiscal Year DepositsTotal Dep ! Sludents in
Savings ! Amount !!
Raie School District) Deposited
2015 2% 6 6 $355 351
2016 7% 139 93 $692 1,351
2017 11% 227 189 $1,434 1,674
2018 29% 893 713 $7,899 2,457
2019 22% 1,029 940 $6.848 4,266
2020 26% 703 1,336 $3,938 5,160
2021 25% 157 1,743 $19,885 6,856
• Kroger Community Rewards program established where students can earn a 1% cash back for their Lansing
SAVE accounts. Partnership funded by U.S. Conference of Mayors grant. This program has raised $781 since
its inception, through 59 linked cards.
• 3 Community Champions established - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Faith Fellowship Baptist Church, and
Plymouth Congregational which have adopted all of the Lansing SAVE students in their neighborhood and
are raising funds that go directly into those students' accounts. Community Champions have raised over
$14,550 for SAVE students in their neighborhoods.
• 6,856 SAVE accounts. 25% participation rate (percentage of families who have made a deposit to their
accounts)
Offender Success
Offender Success Reentry citizen support program administered with the Michigan Department of Corrections.
Serving Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties. This program supports reentry citizens with assistance to
establish their identification, find housing, find a job, and develop life skills for success.
• Job Placement Enrollments - 60
• Job Placements - 46
• 12-Month Job Retention Rate - 64%
• Housing Enrollments - 35
• Average Length of Stay in Housing - 128 days
• Days of Homelessness Prevented — 5,138
*This contract is on a 10/1 — 9/30 FY, so these numbers are reflective of January — September 2021
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 172
NEIGHBORHOODS
UM Data Project with Students
The Office of Financial Empowerment has partnered with a team of 5 University of Michigan School of
Information students to evaluate data from the Office of Economic Development and Planning on code
compliance violations. The purpose of this data analysis is to identify addresses with frequent violations and
attempt to learn the reason the home is incurring repeated fines - for instance, whether the issue is ability to
pay, or a physical disability preventing the necessary repairs.
OFE 2020-2021 Grant Funded Projects
325,000+ awarded in total + awarded in total
Consumer Financial Protection Initiative
Amount: $10,000
Funder: Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE Fund)
The City of Lansing was selected to participate in the CFE Fund's Consumer Financial
Protection Initiative, a $10,000 grant project to support the creation of a
strategic plan for consumer protection work in Lansing.
COVID-19 FEC Expansion Grant
Amount- $90,000
Funder: GFE Fund
The Financial Empowerment Center at Cristo Rey Community Center was awarded a
$90,000 grant to fund one additional counseling position during the pandemic. The grant
allowed the FEC to operate with three financial counselors (previously two).
Eviction Prevention Boost
Amount: $ 0,000
Funder: Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The City of Lansing, in partnership with Cristo Rey Community Center and Capital Area
Housing Partnership, was awarded a planning grant of$20,000 and implementation
grant of$70,000 to combine efforts and offer free financial counseling with
direct financial assistance to prevent evictions that may result from COVID related
financial constraints and improve household financial health.
Small Business Boost
Amount: $90,000
Funder: Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund)
The City of Lansing, in partnership with LEAP's One and All program and the Financial
Empowerment Center, were awarded $90,000 to offer tailored free financial counseling
to current or aspiring small business owners. The goal of the program is to increase
business stability and access to capital, while offering advice on how small business
owners can keep their personal finances separate from business expenses.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 173
NEIGHBORHOODS
City Innovation Ecosystems: Inclusive Procurement and Contracting
Amount: $15,000
Funder: National League of Cities (NLC)
The City of Lansing was awarded $15,000 from NLC to review its contracting and
procurement practices. The purpose of the project is to expand and diversify the City's
contracting, ensuring that small businesses, especially those that are women
and BIPOC owned, have the opportunity to hid on City contracts.
Cities Addressing Fines + Fees Equitably (GAFFE)
ArnounV $40,000
Funder: National League of Cities {NLC}
City of Lansing received a $40,000 grant from the National League of Cities to choose a
fine or fee to study for equity and impact. 1e began by investigating the impact of
various types of municipal debt and decided on 54--A District Court past due debt for
driving while license suspended, because it had a great deal of data available, including
race and gender. Also, there was an average past-due debt amounts that were in the
range we wished to focus on (over $100, under $1,000).
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 174
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY [OCA
JIM SMIERTKA, CITY ATTORNEY
Because OCA provides a service through lawsuits defense, contract review, legal document preparation and
review to the City and not a tangible product, it is often difficult to quantify our accomplishments. The OCA
attends all City Council and City Council Committee and miscellaneous Board meetings and provides legal
advice to Council and the Administration. We continue the stabilization of the OCA with expertise and
teamwork and we have been able to reach the following accomplishments:
Claims
• Continued to perfect the claims review process thru coordination among contractors, Code Compliance and
OCA
• Continue to give complainants the option to attend the claims review meetings via Zoom or in person
• Processed 3 Personal Injury, 23 Property Damage and 53 Special Assessment Claims
Contracts
• Processed 161 contracts manually; 165 employee contracts/recommendation letters/license applications
in Laserfiche; 287 contracts and 296 resolutions through Laserfiche
F01A
• Received and processed 571 FOIA requests, 27 subpoenas, and 526 requests for video
Neighborhood Complaints
• Streamlined complaints to Mark Lawrence, point person and Citizens Advocate in the Mayor's office
• Due to COVID-19 and the shutdown of City Hall, meetings with property owner, neighborhood police
officer and the City Attorney have been limited, but continue to be beneficial
• Continue working with the Housing Code Enforcement Team, a multi-departmental task force working to
address properties with code compliance issues
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 175
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
District Court
• Prosecution of 51 court-ordered compliance cases on behalf of the Code Enforcement, Building Office, and
Fire Department.
• Implement significant state law change and advise Police and relevant departments on legal effects,
including the mandate of discovery in district court and broad change to appearance tickets and summons
in lieu of arrest and warrants
• Adapt and develop remote criminal prosecution
• Developed remote process for reviewing not-in-custody incident reports to determine criminal charges
• Continue to communicate with victims of property damage, harassment and assault and battery by way of
Criminal Victims' Rights letters
• Tracked nuisance neighborhood areas and prosecute with zero tolerance e.g.
o Pleasant Grove and Holmes
0 321 N. Butler
• Assistant City Attorneys continue to hold meetings, when appropriate, with Defendants who have defaulted
on the Diversion Program agreement as allowed via Zoom
• Maintained communication between OCA, District Court, Treasury and other critical departments/agencies
Litigation
• The OCA has worked on and closed two Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, four Federal, three MI Court of
Appeals, three Circuit Court, and three District Court cases since the beginning of the year
• Filed a lawsuit and is participating in Nationwide Opioid litigation pending in Federal Court
• Supervising outside counsel on ten open cases
• Currently have 15 open cases being handled in-house, including one Sixth Circuit Appeal, four Federal
cases, and nine Circuit Court cases.
• Currently processing one open Civil Rights Complaint
• OCA has assisted the Assessor's office on several MTT cases, including the Michigan Court of Appeals
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 176
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Development
• Performing ongoing legal services related to the following projects:
o Capital City Market Lease with Lansing Shuffleboard Club
o Red Cedar Development Financing
• Assisted with advice and drafting of documents related to multiple Brownfield plans in connection with
Economic Development
• Assisted departments throughout the year on planning and zoning for related matters
• Drafted and reviewed 425 Agreements with DeWitt Township related to development opportunities
• Drafted and reviewed all PILOT Agreements submitted by the Department of Development and Planning
Arbitration
• Have assisted Human Resources and the Chief Labor Negotiator at the arbitration level
• OCA has resolved 1 arbitration case
City Council
• Staffed all City Council and City Council committees
• Drafted and processed numerous ordinances and resolutions at Council's request
• Continue to provide Deputy City Attorney - City Council Liaison to serve in the role of City Council
Research Assistant
Interns
• Employed a regular staff of interns throughout the year to assist in research and gain knowledge of
municipal law
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 177
PARKS
: RECREATION
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS I RECREATION
BRETT KASCHINSKE, DIRECTOR
The Department of Parks and Recreation creates community through people, parks and programs. The mission
of the Parks and Recreation department is to enhance lifestyle opportunities for the citizens of the Lansing
through the provision of leisure time activities and the preservation and maintenance of parklands and special
recreation facilities. The Department accomplishes this mission in the following ways:
• Organization of youth, adult and senior citizen recreational programming in parks, four community centers,
swimming pools, and a historic home
• Regular maintenance of all parks and natural areas owned by the City of Lansing, including maintenance of
Lansing's urban forest areas through regular cycles of tree planting, fertilization and trimming
• Providing burial services and cemetery maintenance at the City's three municipal cemeteries
• Providing public golfing opportunities at Groesbeck Golf Course which supports recreational and league
play in the area
• Provision of special recreation facilities such as Ranney Skate Park, Soldan Dog Park, Gier Park BMX Bicycle
Track, Cooley Gardens, Frances Park Rose Garden and the Lansing River Trail linear park; Fenner Nature
Center; Beacon Field; National Fitness Campaign Fitness Court and AARP FitLot
• Sustained working partnerships with the Lansing School District, Fenner Conservancy, Ingham County
Parks, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, Michigan
Department of Transportation, Lansing Community College, Capital Region Community Foundation,
Michigan State University, YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing and various community organizations.
The Department receives advisory support from the citizens of Lansing by encouraging their involvement in
the following citizen groups: City of Lansing Parks Board, Friends of Turner-Dodge, Fenner Conservancy, the
individual Community Center advisory boards and their youth advisory boards, the Baseball and Softball
advisory boards and multiple park "Friends" groups. The Department provides support in policy decisions
regarding recreational options and facilities to the Mayor and City Council.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 178
PARKS & RECREATION
2021 Accomplishments
Administration
• Fitness Court installation at Maguire Park through a grant from Priority Health and local businesses
• Installation of Fulton Park playground equipment replacing deteriorated equipment
• Cambridge to France River Trail extension started with anticipated completion by Memorial Day 2022
• Entrance arch and sidewalk installed at Beacon Park creating an entrance on Pleasant Grove Road; project
was funded through a grant to South Side Community Coalition
• ADA wheelchair swing installed at Beacon Park, a gift from Peckham Advocacy Group
• Broke ground at Riverfront Park for a universally accessible playground with completion Summer 2022
• Installation of new pavers at Turner Mini Park eliminating trip hazards, new concrete ADA sidewalk, and
ADA picnic tables
• Over 150 trees replaced throughout the park system by volunteer, John Krohn
• New agreement with Fenner to expand nature studies for pre-school at Sycamore Creek Driving Range
• Assisted with Art installation at Town Square Southwest at corner of Pleasant Grove and Holmes Roads
• Provided Gier Community Center on two separate occasions as a homeless shelter during COVID-19 in
cooperation with Holy Cross
• Youth mentor and sports programs at Letts Center in cooperation with Lansing Football League and KAPPA
Express
• Agreement with Capital Area District Library to facilitate computer programs at Foster Center with grand
opening January 2022
• Replacement flooring in Room 203 at Gier Community Center
• Transitioned Department of Neighborhood and Citizen Engagement from Foster Center to Letts Center
with recreation programming still planned by the Parks and Recreation Department in the evening
• Lansing State Journal opinion article published "Using the River Trail in Downtown Lansing"
• New safety engineered wood fiber installed at 25 park playgrounds
• Installation of entrance gates at Moores and Hunters Ridge Parks with neighbors opening and closing
• Negotiated contract with Lansing Community College for baseball and softball field use
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 179
PARKS
: RECREATION
• Red Cedar development connector to River Trail construction has begun
• Ranney Park development project in cooperation with Ingham County Drain Commission has begun
• Filled several staff vacancies in Administration and Leisure Services Division
• Two outdoor movies at Foster Center in cooperation with Capital Area District Library
• Installed and opened a 3,000 square foot synthetic surface skating rink with lights at City Hall Plaza
purchased by Our Community Foundation
• Coordinated new city-wide special events — Cannabis420; Three Stacks Music Festival; Winterfest; Rose All
Day; Hot Cider Hustle; and Eastside Summer Fest
Park Design and Development Section
• Moores Park Pavilion was stabilized using MDOT riprap placed on the slope for restoration due to damage
from storm water runoff
• Outdoor tennis court crack seal at Letts Community Center
• Parking lot crack seal at Foster Community Center, Foster Park, Crego Park, Evergreen and Mt. Hope
Cemeteries
• Tuckpointing and brick repair of Little Arlington at Evergreen Cemetery
• Red Cedar log jam and debris removal between Aurelius Road and Cedar Street to improve flow is funded
by Ingham County
• Moore Pool Renovation Plans were completed by WTA and their sub-consultants in January 2021
Landscape and Grounds
• Purchased new carry all truckster to reduce vehicle use in the parks
• Thinning of the brush area East of Scott Sunken Garden to improve entrance to Cooley Garden
• Purchased a garden statue for placement in the Scott Sunken Garden Niche
• Treated turf for crab grass and other pests at Cooley Gardens and Scott Park
• Added Hibiscus plants at Scott Park to complimenting the existing border plants
• Clear-cut over growth around handicap ramp to overlook at Frances Park
• Installed grass over unused shuffleboard area at Frances Park
• Moved corn toss game to newly poured cement pads west of Frances Park pavilion
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 180
PARKS
: RECREATION
• Mowed and maintained three (3) new rental soccer fields at Frances Park for Greater Lansing Outdoor
Soccer League
• Landscaped entrance at Gier, repaired circle drive and seeded former staff parking area
• Sprayed Moores Park dam rock area for weeds to improve visibility to rivers edge
• Planted Park Board approved memorial tree at the Brenke Fish Ladder
• Removal of trees in Rose Garden to permit additional sunlight
• Removal of non-working concrete fountain at Riverfront Park
Leisure Services
• Offered Girls on the Run programming at Foster Community Center as an 8 week after school program with
14 girls enrolled
• Offered two Girls on the Run Camps — the first year this program was offered in the State; a one-week
camp at Gier Community Center (15 enrolled) and one two-week camp at Letts Community Center (11
enrolled). Free to the public thanks to our partnership with Girls on the Run
• Provided swimming lessons to 16 students in the Lansing School District Bilingual Program
• Delivered a swim program at Gardner Middle School for 50 students
• Relocated staff to increase efficiencies of services
• Hired:
o PT Community Center Programmer — Stephanie Riley (Dec 20)
o PT Community Center Programmer — Kenny Mans (Dec 20)
o FT Community Center Programmer — Marcus Wells (August 21)
o FT Youth Sports Coordinator — Mark Sanford (August 21)
o PT Clerk — Kathryn McNichol (Nov 15)
o PT Community Center Programmer — in process
• Emily Stevens completed term as the mParks President for 2020-21
• Offered Virtual classes: Belly Dance, painting, voice overs, and cooking
• Offered 8 outdoor concerts successfully with no incidents of COVID outbreaks
• Provided 8 weeks of in person camp at two sites with no incidents of COVID outbreaks
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 81
PARKS
: RECREATION
• Ran 4 free fitness classes at the Rotary Park FitLot
• Schmidt Community Center opened in January of 2021 to provide access to indoor walking and free lap
swimming.
• Gier and Foster Centers opened to the public for programming beginning in June 2021.
• Added 400 Facebook Likes and reached an average of 1,200 people per Facebook post
• Reached 71,000 people over the course of the year on Facebook
• December 2021 held the first annual "Holiday Night of Lights" drive-thru 13-day event at Frances Park on
weekends in December (Fri-Sun). Free to the community as a safe activity during COVID. Event had 4,120
visiting vehicles during hours of operation with at least 2 people per vehicle
• Ten dance programs successfully returned to on-site classes: Latino, Hustle (2), Ballroom, Belly Dance (4),
Barre Workout, Line Dance. Belly Dance instructor continued to offer a virtual option
• Homeschool program returned (after missing the COVID year) with full schedule of classes
• Continued partnership with the YMCA offering gym space for their grant program: Enhanced
Fitness/Walking for Seniors
• Continued partnership with Michigan Works providing work experiences for high school students
• 20% increase teams in Men's 40+ baseball teams
• New Fall baseball league offered and completed: Men's 50+; 4 teams
• New Fall softball division offered: Tuesday Women's — 6 teams (Women's has never played in the Fall in
the past)
• 30% increase in Fall men's tennis participants
• Indoor Women's Adult volleyball successfully returned to play in January of 2021 with COVID protocols and
return to play guidelines in place. Six teams competed in the women's upper division
• All Spring/Summer/Fall youth sports leagues and programs returned to play in 2021 including Spring/Fall
soccer, Little Kickers, Little Sluggers, Wildcat Baseball/Softball, and NFL Flag Football
• Ambush youth baseball event in conjunction with the Lansing Lugnuts. In mid-July, the Lugnuts ambushed
a scheduled game in the 9-10 year old division. The two teams traveled by bus and played their game at
Jackson Field
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 182
PARKS
: RECREATION
• Avoided a complete cancellation of the Girls High School Summer Fast Pitch program by working closely
with coaches and offering a creative, condensed schedule to 6 teams. The impact of COVID on high
Lansing parks school sports pushed their regular seasons and districts out to mid to late June, putting our
Summer league in jeopardy of not playing because of the late start and needing to finish by the end of July
• Following a several year absence, Kircher was the host site for the Boys High School Baseball Classic semi-
finals and championship games
• Implemented "click here to view our program guide" link as part of our closing email salutations as a more
Lansing parks visible link than the website link
• Letts Community Center Advisory Board and City of Lansing Neighborhood and Citizen Engagement held a
snowman-building contest with sledding. KONA Ice Truck provided hot chocolate to the participants
• Hosted weekly free basketball clinics at Gier Community Center for over 100 kids
• Hosted Friday night basketball league for adults
• Significant increase in enrollment for Boxing Fitness Training Class for both children and adults
• Open basketball and partnership with City Life with up to 75 people attending every Thursday
• Four new pickleball courts laid in the gym by the Delta Mills Pickleball players hosting up to 30 players
twice a week
• Open volleyball is successful with up to 35 people attending every Monday
• Senior Picnic hosted 69 seniors, thanks to partnerships with Tri-County Agency on Aging and RSVP
• Pool Shark Tournament brought in 12 seniors who played for the title of top shark
• Throughout the pandemic, the senior program helped serve Meals on Wheels through Tri-County Agency
on Aging and included spring baskets and activity books for about 50 seniors. Meals began in person again
in October and the program has been slowing gathering new and returning seniors
• Scavenger Hunt hosted 18 teams, including two senior teams. Event had 13 sponsors and executed a
guerilla marketing campaign that ended up in local news reporting on mysterious graffiti and alien
Landings
• Schmidt Advisory Board hosted Family Fun Run from Schmidt Community Center to and through Davis Park
• Schmidt Community Center Refurbished game room featuring an original mural designed by Emily Farrell
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 183
PARKS
: RECREATION
Turner Dodge
• The Turner-Dodge House has been surrounded by water/ sewer system construction on all sides since the
Spring of this year making access to Turner Dodge very difficult
• In May, received an Intern from CMU's Museum Studies Department. The Friends of Turner-Dodge Board
paid a $1200 stipend for this internship
• In July, we collaborated with Jerry Jodloski of "How-to-Halloween" to put on another large festival called
"Frankenfest" featuring artists, food trucks, podcasts, entertainment and displays on the grounds with an
estimated 3,000 in attendance.
• In September, hosted the Ingham County Historical Commission (ICHC) traveling pop-up exhibition on
Ingham County One Room Schools.
• Due to construction the Victorian Halloween display attendance was low, however, the "Candlelight Tour"
held Friday, October 29th had good attendance
• Collaborated with Jerry Jodloski on the Victorian Halloween event , "A Ghostly Night at Turner-Dodge"
featuring storytelling and ghost "investigations"
• Friends of Turner-Dodge are creating a new event, The Turner-Dodge Holiday Open House with businesses
and other members of the community helping to decorate
• In collaboration with Opportunity Arts & Mike Marriot, ABC channel 53 (WLAJ) will be filming a Holiday
concert before a live audience in the Ballroom
Volunteers
• Friends of Cooley Gardens hosted 20 Wednesday evening sessions (plus a few morning sessions) with 13
different people helping. A core group of 7 experienced gardeners helped us reach a total of about 200
volunteer hours
• MSU volunteers at the cemeteries placing markers for flag placement
• MSU volunteers performed trail maintenance at Hunters Ridge Park
Grants/Awards
• Concrete chess table installed at Moores Park with Moores Park Neighborhood Association neighborhood
grant
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 184
PARKS & RECREATION
• Installation of hammock poles and volleyball court at Foster Park with Frogholler Neighborhood
Association neighborhood grant
• Received Community Landscape Beautification Award for Scott Sunken Gardens Michigan Nursery and
Landscape Association
• Received approval from State of Michigan for the Land and Water Conservation Fund Outdoor Recreation
Legacy Partnership Program for Burchard Park Dam Project; awaiting Federal approval
• MDNR grants submitted for Adado Riverfront playground, Frances Rose Garden, Fenner and Corporate
Research Park River Trail extensions
• Fratcher Memorial Grant Fund for the Mount Hope Columbarium final payment for wall three
• Purchased new bike repair station for Fulton Park with Lansing Eaton Neighborhood Organization
neighborhood grant
• Received mParks Innovative Programming awards for Drive Thru Halloween, Park Madness and Learning
Labs
• Letts Community Center Advisory Board was awarded a grant to beautify Letts Community Center garden
River Trail Grants — Ingham County Parks and Trails Millage
• The Lansing River Trail was extended by 1.4 miles thru Bear Lake to Forest Road. This brings the total
connected River Trail to over 17 miles
• At Washington Avenue the scouring that took place at the bridge was repaired and the trail was repaved
from the bridge south to Hazel Street
• Bridge 9 by Moores Park Pool received repairs to the abutments and approaches
• Bridges 13, 14 and 15 from the entrance to Potter Park Zoo to the West all received repairs to the support
system and to stabilize the bank from failure
• Bridge 31 under Cesar Chavez is substantially complete with the span under Chavez coming in the spring
of 2022 and will be installed in under two weeks
• Bridge 18, the first trail bridge east of Aurelius, is substantially complete and will have final paving in the
spring of 2022
• River Trail extension on the west side of the river along Grand Avenue from Saginaw to Oakland Ave
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 185
PARKS & RECREATION
Lansing School District Learning Lab Facilitator
When the Lansing School District announced they were going to be 100% online, Lansing Parks and Recreation
knew there would be children in need of supervision and assistance. We reached out to the Lansing School
District and offered to create a Learning Lab for the students. The Lab ran from 7:15 am - 6:00 pm, offering
breakfast, lunch, snack, supervision and guidance during the school day and after school programming all at no
cost to the children. Although the Learning Lab is a bit different from traditional recreation offerings, we found
ways to weave in fun with the learning. Utilizing our full time and part time staff, we served up to 70 children
with a safe place to learn and recreate. We also brought in several of our partners to add in extracurricular
activities that offered a well-rounded experience for the children.
Impact:
• A total of 114 children were enrolled in the Learning Lab over the school year.
• A mother came to us stating she had three children that were currently failing. At a parent teacher
conference with one of the children, the teacher stated. "The Learning Lab is the best thing you could have
done for her." This child went from completing one or two assignments a day to 5-10 a day. Staff had
observed her confidence in her abilities and her wiliness to ask for and accept help had increased
dramatically.
Staff and Community Involvement
• With many of our traditional programs canceled and community centers closed, we utilized our full time
and part time staff to work in the Learning Labs. That consisted of recreation and sports programmers,
clerks, interns, and even our Manager and Director of the department. This allowed us to avoid layoffs and
delivered a needed resource to the community.
• We called on our community partners to help and received overwhelming support:
o REACH Art Studio — ran daily art lessons after school
o Girl Scouts — provided weekly activities during after school
o Capital Area District Library — Delivered customized boxes of books for each class weekly and STEM
projects from their Library of Things program.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 186
PARKS
: RECREATION
o Potter Park Zoo - offered weekly activities during after school
o Todd Martin Youth Leadership - provided lunch time and after school tennis daily and provided
support staff during the school day
o First Tee Golf - ran twice a week sports activities during after school
o Case Credit Union - provided financial literacy activities weekly during after school
o Retired Senior Volunteer Program - Provided a volunteer "grandparent" to assist in each classroom
during the day
o Lansing School District - was responsible for funding, tech support, breakfast, lunch and snacks
Degree of Innovation
Staff work to incorporate recreation programming into the Learning Labs in several ways:
• Before school games led by the Director of the Department
• "Masked Majesties" was developed to reward children who wore their mask correctly and with little
reminders. Their picture was taken and posted on the wall with a crown. They were the "royalty" for the
week - able to choose games, receive a prize bag and extra attention from the staff
• Holiday celebrations - Children brought their costumes to school for Halloween. We had a parade, played
BINGO, had a dance and ended with a treat bag to go
• Classrooms were equipped with board and card games for those children that had completed their work
• Afterschool programming exposed children to several other recreational opportunities
• Staff were keenly aware of the need for the kids to move their bodies and use their expertise to ensure
youth received opportunities for physical movement that are fun, safe and effective
Revenue/Budget Savings
• The Lansing School District pays Lansing Parks and Recreation $135 per child, per week. Our first bill to
the District was $45,000. This does not replace all the revenue we would have made with traditional
programming; however, it is much more than we could have made during this time
• By utilizing staff that are already working, we did not have to increase our budget and we were able to
avoid layoffs of staff whose traditional programming was not running
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 187
PARKS : 1 •
Donations
We received several in kind donations:
• Bags with school supplies from a local news station
• Cloth masks from several individual donors
• Backpacks with school supplies
• Knitted hats and scarves from the Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Promotion
• The Lansing School District handled most of the promotion as they had access to all the students. We did
post on Facebook as well, but the program did not need much boosting. We would sign up new children
weekly
• Several Lansing School District staff complimented our Learning Lab program and were recommending
Foster to several of their students
Management Practices
• This was not an easy sell to all staff, many of our Clerks had not worked directly with children this way and
many of our programmers had been removed from day to day activity leading for some time. Staff was also
concerned about COVID and how safe it would be each day. We brought the staff together to talk about
safety precautions, classroom management, and training on Google Classroom. As this was new to
everyone, we wanted to make staff feel empowered to make suggestions and decisions - this was the only
way we could all succeed. We also led by example, the Manager of Leisure Services had an assigned
classroom and the Director of the Department led before school activities daily and was involved
throughout the day when needed.
• As we had been working with these children daily, staff began to see and understand the population we
serve in Lansing. This opportunity has allowed us to understand Lansing at a much more intimate level
than before. Staff were observed to have more empathy, compassion and understanding of our families
that we believe will allow us to better serve our community moving forward.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 188
PARKS & . •
2021 Reservation
Report
,January 1. 2021 - December 31, 2021
Pavilion and Wedding Sites
Monthly Revenue
F ranoes Park Pavilion May June Jul r August Septernbe Octobe Total
r r
Whole $2,075_ $3,615_ $2,9 _ $2,520_ $2,400_00 $565.0 $14,160.
00 00 00 00 0 00
Haff 1 9330.0 $430.0 $960.0 5610.0 $290.00 $150.0 $2,770.0
0 0 0 0 0 0
Puff 2 $570.0 $760.0 $620.0 $760.0 1 $300.00 1 $240.0 $3.250.0
0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 2,975_ ,305_ r4,56 _ 3,890_ 2,990.00 $955.0 $20,180.
00 00 00 00 0 00
Moores 7181 � alit •e $0.00 S0.00 S0.00 S0.00 sa oo S0.00 $0.00
PPavill:D11
+'.'asliingt-:,n ::ark =11t `e =0 0'0 S0.00 GO 0'0 =0 0'7 �G.cj =3 0 $0.00
Herter Park Entire 5a.00 S,0.00 30.00 =0 04j $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Frarces Park
Ove-look S675.00 5125.00 5760.00 5375.00 $625.00 $135.00 $2,395.00
R.sse S3T5.00 5T00.00 S635.00 5 00.00 30.01) $0.00 $2,210.00
5d.00 .00 $0.00 S10.00 $0.01) $).00 $0.00
Total 3750.00 $925.00 31,395.0 $875.00 $625.00 $135.00 $4,605.00
0
Cco,ey:Pa'V don I S450.001 $125.00 $125.00 1 $385.00 1 $10.00 1 S250.00 $1,345.00
Sunken Garden $0.001 $135.001 3125.00 1 $260.00 1 $50a.01) 1 $135.001 $1,156.00
Totals $4.175.CO 1 $5,860.00 1 $0,210.0a 1 : 5.410.CO I �4,125.00 1 $1.475.00 1 $27,285.00
'Moores Park, Hunter Park and Washington Park pavilions are free to the public on a
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 89
POLICE
ELLERY SOSEBEE, INTERIM CHIEF
The Lansing Police Department (LPD) maintains order, enforces and upholds local laws, patrols, investigates,
preserves public safety and fosters a better quality of life for the residents of Lansing. There are four divisions
of the Lansing Police Department: Administrative Division, Staff Services Division, Patrol Division, and the
Investigations Division.
2021 Accomplishments
Investigation Division
The Investigations Division report for year-to-date accomplishments include the Investigations Section, Special
Operations Section and the Violent Crime Impact Team. These units have many partnerships outside of the
Lansing Police Department with local, state and federal law enforcement. The ability to leverage these
relationships has led to a successful year for our team.
Special Operations Section
The Special Operations Section is comprised of the Violent Crime Team and the Special Operations undercover
narcotics section (SOS). The narcotic team works to identify and investigate individuals bringing drugs into our
community and addresses other quality of life and regulatory complaints in Lansing. At the conclusion of the
investigations, local charges are sought through the City Attorney or Prosecutor's office or federally through
the US Attorney's office. To date, Special Operations has seized a total of 882 grams of cocaine, 107 grams of
crack-cocaine, 1,118 grams of heroin, 10,768 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 1,084 grams of fentanyl and
nearly 50 firearms. Additionally, over 30 search warrant executions resulted in the arrest and prosecution of 35
felony charges.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 190
• In the first week of August, LPD SOS along with our federal partners, closed out a yearlong investigation
with the execution of 15 search warrants. At the conclusion of the operation, 16 arrests were made along
with the following seizures: $67,000 in US Currency, $100,000 worth of property, 10 vehicles, 2 kilograms
marijuana, 10.6 kilograms crystal methamphetamine, 1 pound fentanyl, 3/4 kilogram heroin, 651 grams
cocaine and 60 hydrocodone pills and 23 firearms. All subjects arrested were charged through the U.S.
Attorney's Office in the Western District of Michigan. LPD SOS worked tirelessly on this investigation and
dedicated hundreds of hours in physical surveillance to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion.
• SOS Investigators authored a drug search warrant for a case involving two suspects in the 500 block of W.
Maple. The narcotics and interview from this location led to a secondary drug search warrant at a storage
business. In total, 146 grams of Fentanyl, 25.15 grams of Cocaine, 6 grams of Crack-Cocaine, one S&W 380
handgun, one semi-automatic pistol (Draco) 7.62x39, one Highpoint 9mm rifle, several live rounds for each
and digital scales/packaging.
• SOS Investigator authored a drug search warrant in the 500 block of West Maple for convicted felon/heroin
dealer. START with assistance of VCl/SCP served the warrant. Two subjects were secured during a traffic
stop and another two were secured in the residence. Two AR style 7.62x39 caliber rifles with large capacity
30 round magazines were seized. One subject was lodged on a warrant out of LPD, and charges are being
sought for Felon in Possession of a Firearm on two subjects who are both convicted felons.
• SOS Investigator authored two drug search warrants for the same investigation: one in the 300 block of N.
Pennsylvania and the other in the 1100 block of W. Kalamazoo. These search warrants were in conjunction
with two suspects trafficking narcotics from the Detroit area. One adult male and one adult female were
secured within N. Pennsylvania and one male adult was secured within W. Kalamazoo. A search of both
residences led to the following: 35.95 grams cocaine, 36.59 grams heroin, narcotic packaging, digital
scales, 2 shotgun and 1 AK rifle, ammunition, one piece of equipment believed to be used for fraud
(possible skimmer), over 40 pieces of fraudulent activity to include fictitious Michigan IDs, passports, social
security cards, unemployment paperwork and checkbooks. Pending charges include trafficking Cocaine and
Heroin, Charges of Felon in Possession of Firearm, Felony Firearm, Felon in Possession of Ammunition and
we believe additional fraud charges will likely come from further investigation.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 191
Violent Crime Impact Team
The Lansing Police Violent Crime Impact Team is part of the Capital Area Violent Crime initiative. This
initiative involves combining resources from local, state and federal law enforcement to reduce violent crime
in our area. This year, VCI seized over 240 guns. Much of this work has been in conjunction with our embedded
Michigan State Police Secure City Partnership troopers. This team has provided assistance with fugitive
apprehensions, case assistance and search warrant support in addition to proactively focusing on the most
violent offenders within our community. VCI has over 200 felony arrests, 3,000 hours of case related
surveillance, 62 Michigan Department of Corrections home visits and nearly 600 hours of dedicated patrol in
hot spot areas. In addition, this unit has become our department's experts with cellular support for cases by
assisting on many follow-ups warrants and reviews. This group is the uniformed side of our detective bureau
and regularly works on all major cases.
• Concealed Weapon by a Felon/Fugitive Arrest - VCl/SCP/MSP Fugitive Team worked collaboratively to
Locate and arrest a violent and dangerous fugitive. The subject had made numerous statements that he was
going to shoot the police if they tried to stop him. The subject was known to be under the influence of
meth and carrying a firearm. Information on the subject's location was obtained and officers worked
efficiently to locate him. During surveillance as officers were positioning themselves to take the subject
into custody the subject became aware of the officers' presence and collided with an MSP patrol car before
fleeing on foot. While the subject was fleeing, he pulled a handgun from his waistband and threw it after
jumping a fence. Officers took the subject into custody after a brief physical encounter and secured the
firearm. The subject was lodged at LPD under charges through ICPO. ATF TFO Erk was able to complete a
Lengthy report the same afternoon and have a federal indictment issued. The subject was transported and
Lodged with the US Marshalls the following day and is facing 15 years.
• Homicide - VCl/SCP were requested to assist Investigations with locating the suspect in a shooting where
the victim was not expected to survive. Through surveillance, undercover officers were able to locate a
residence the accused was believed to be located at. After continued surveillance, undercover officers
observed the accused. Officers contacted three subjects within a vehicle in the driveway of the residence.
All three subjects, which included the accused, were secured. The vehicle was later searched by CSI and
two firearms involved in the shooting were located.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 192
• Concealed Weapon - LPD Detectives signed a multiple count felony warrant for a subject that has been
causing the community problems for a long time. This subject is also known for weapons and making
violent threats against Law Enforcement. The subject was observed leaving his residence and getting into
a vehicle. The vehicle was followed for a short distance and stopped by VCI / SCP. The subject was arrested
without incident and found to be in possession of a handgun in his pocket. The firearm matched what was
observed in one of the burglaries.
• Concealed Weapon/Cocaine/Wanted Felon — Officers were tasked with locating and arresting a subject
wanted by the ATF in reference to previous drug and weapon crimes. The accused was out on bond for the
previous case and prohibited from possessing weapons. The subject was observed at his residence in
Clinton County. Officers arrested the accused in the street in front of his house and found him to be in
possession of a handgun and individually packaged narcotics. VCl/SCP executed a search warrant on his
residence and seized 12 firearms, over 230g of cocaine, over 3000 rounds of ammunition and various parts
to additional firearms. The subject was lodged by the US Marshals.
• Concealed Weapon (2) — Detectives obtained search warrants to obtain DNA from two known offenders in
reference to a recent homicide. VCl/SCP established surveillance in an area they are known to frequent.
Both subjects are observed getting into a vehicle which left the area. A traffic stop was conducted on the
vehicle and the driver was removed. The driver was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. The
remaining occupants of the vehicle were removed from the vehicle with one of the subjects fighting with
police. That subject was taken into custody and found to be in possession of a loaded firearm. Both
subjects were lodged, and DNA was collected to further the homicide investigation. Each of the firearms
Later came back connected to the homicide.
Focused Engagements
At least once per month, members of VCl/MSP and local law enforcement conducted hotspot policing and
priority offender efforts. The efforts were concentrated in our most high crime areas and locations. Specific
efforts were directed toward individuals associated to violent crime investigations. The majority of which
involved the illegal use of firearms. This year, in the days following the group's proactive efforts, a
neighborhood engagement event was planned at different hot spot areas around the city. The neighborhood
engagement events included personnel from the Michigan State Police as well.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 193
Detective Bureau
The Investigations Section consists of 24 Lansing Detectives, 4 MSP Detectives, 2 supervising Sergeants and a
Lieutenant. Most of 2021 was overseen by Lt. Chris Baldwin with Sgt. Beth Frazier filling his role on an interim
basis. There were several changes this year which included assigning the Cold Case Detective to our
headquarters building to work exclusively on open cases. Our Domestic Violence team added an additional
detective through a grant. The grant coordinates with the Prosecutor's office and the 54-A District Court to
prioritize cases based on the seriousness of the charge and the offender. The homicide rate is currently the
highest on record with the majority of those being a result of gun violence. The Michigan State Police added
an additional investigator to the department through the Secure City Partnership. All of the MSP investigators
are assigned to violent crime.
Grants
2021 saw the additional of several new community-oriented grants. A new effort through the MSP Justice
Assistance Grant (JAG) awarded the Capital Area Response Effort (CARE) funding for an additional advocate
position and also focused on funding short term housing and home security improvements for survivors of
domestic violence. The MSP JAG funding also provided additional equipment and supplies to the Mikey23
Foundation. The Mikey23 Foundation is an active anti-violence effort within Lansing which targets youth for its
programming. Additional grants included State of Michigan funding for a detective and analyst to support new
Domestic Violence efforts, funding for increased traffic enforcement, funding for Cold Case assistance as well
as Capitol area security improvements. The department has also allocated its annual federal JAG allotment
towards addressing the traffic safety issues identified over the past year.
Technology
• Power-DMS is a policy, procedure, and training management system that allows for agency employees to
have direct access to implemented resources and also serves to helping the agencies accreditation process.
• GovOA, a FOIA software platform, was purchased and implemented. This system allows better efficiency;
documents are shared electronically through city departments and the public as well.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 194
• Axon Fleet-Purchased and began installation of Axon Fleet by the Radio Lab in conjunction with IT
department. This system is the same as the body cameras, so the officers are only wearing one device.
This system will replace the L3 in car cameras used in Police Vehicles.
• Axon replaced cameras and audio/video equipment in the interview rooms at the Operations Center and
Detention.
• NC4-Purchase and began implementation of the NC4 system. This technology tool gives officers access to
real time crime data while on patrol. This tool enables officers to share relevant, structured and
unstructured information through situation-based bulletins and police blogs.
• Tablets for Motorcycle Officer — Officers are able to write tickets and accident reports electronically from
their motorcycles. This improves productivity and efficiency with the Officers, Central Records and the
Court.
• Tablets for FTO-Officers are able to use the tablets to complete daily evaluations to be typed and scored
electronically on Officers in training. This can be done in their vehicles without having to wait until the
end of shift.
• Central records is working with IT in the final process for new FOIA system.
• New tow file was implemented through city works system.
• LPD mobile application is in the process of being upgraded
• LPD Intranet transferred to the HUB. All documents were transferred, information updated.
• Implementation of File on 0 START database to replace old system. This system provides tracking of
START incidents.
• SCRAM program set up and implemented. SCRAM stands for security camera, registry and mapping.
Business and residents can register their security cameras with the Lansing Police Department This
program is on-going. This program promotes public safety through public security cameras.
Community Outreach
Year after year our department rises to increase our community outreach and engagement by building and
fostering relationships and partnerships with a diverse range of community organizations and agencies. With
the implementation of the Community Services Unit our department strives to focus on what our citizens need
from their police Department.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 195
Without the support of the Lansing community, law enforcement partners, City officials, and Community
Services Unit none of this would be possible. The Community Services (CSU) includes Lieutenant Ryan Wilcox,
Sergeant David Burke, Community Services Officer Anthony VandeVoorde and 12 Community Police Officers
that work to fulfill our mission of improving the lives of those that live, work, and visit the City of Lansing. CSU
is responsible for 68 neighborhood watches and 128 business watches and attend over 100 community events
this year.
• Coat Bank @a St. Luke • Food Giveaway W/ Greater Lansing Food Bank
• S Holmes Neighborhood Engagement • Mikey 23 Stop the Violence March
• Citizens Police Academy • One Faith Community Event
• Churchills Downs Neighborhood Engagement • NWAB Advisory Board Dinner
• W Holmes/Palmer Neighborhood Engagement • Sparrow Child Care/Officer Friendly Event
• West Side Assoc Crime & Safety • PAL Basketball Clinic
• Scott Woods Assoc Crime & Safety • Risdale Youth Football
• Lansing Winter Festival • Kroger's First Responders Food Drive
• Board of Police Commissioners Meeting • National Night Out
• Kensington Meadows Manager Meeting • Power 96.5 Backpack Giveaway
• Mid-Michigan Leadership Academy Book • Schmidt Community Center Movie Night
Reading • Logan Square Public Safety Meeting
• RBM (Rising Black Men) Zoom Conference • Downtown Bars Meeting
• Natures 92 Easter Egg Hunt • Mickey 23 Michigan Adventures Youth Trip
• Comstock Park Neighborhood Engagement • Downtown Business Crime and Safety
• CARE Donation Drive Meeting
• Pioneer Civitan • Shiloah Baptist Church Stop the Violence
• Immanuel Church Bike Safety Event Rally
• Ride of Silence • Faith and Blue Weekend Events
• Salvation Army Block Party • LPD Trunk or Treat Event
• Operation Capital City • Texas Roadhouse Veterans Day Event
• 28th Annual Juneteenth Celebration • No Seniors Without Christmas
• Baker/Donora Neighborhood Engagement • Shop With a Cop
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 196
• LPD/LFD Toy Giveaway
• LPD Gift and Groceries Family Sponsorship
• Peckham Youth Summit Meeting
• NWAB Silverbells Float
• Sparrow Hospital Pediatric Toy Event
• Common Ground
• Neighborhood Watch Meetings
Partnerships
Our Department is staffed by dedicated men and women who adhere to the value of working in partnership
with the community all while striving for excellence and accountability. Working in partnership with our
community to identify and address public safety and other quality of living issues while embracing the
diversity of our neighborhood organizations, schools, PTO's, business associations, service clubs, and religious
and educational institutions.
• Business Watch • Beverly Hills Apartments
• Lansing Public Safety Youth Leadership Academy • Mutual Aid Agreements with Capital Region
• Gridiron Football Camp Airport Authority, Clinton County, DeWitt
• Human Trafficking Workgroup Township, Eaton County, Ingham County,
• Tri-County TRIAD East Lansing, Michigan State University,
• Tri-County Crisis Intervention Board Meridian Township, Lansing Township,
• Lansing School Resource Officers Williamston, Stockbridge, Mason, Leslie,
• Downtown Business Association Emergent Biodefense, Lansing Community
• Mid-Michigan Police Academy College, Capital Region Security Network,
• Rejuvenating South Lansing Davenport University, and Capital Region
• Michigan State University School of Planning, Security Network and Office of Highway
Design & Construction Safety & Planning.
• Walnut Park Apartments • Capital Area District Library
• Lansing Youth Football League • Lansing Police Explorer
• Lansing School District • Department of Justice
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 197
• Lansing Promise and HOPE Program • Michigan State Police
• Jail Diversion and Community Mental Health • Federal Bureau of Investigation National
• Project Life Saver Academy Association
• Human Relations Advisory Board • Police Executive Research Forum Association
• Lansing Police Advisory Board • Senior Management Institute in Policing
• Project Lifesaver • International Association of Chiefs of Police
• Retired Senior Volunteer Program • Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police
• Handicap Enforcement Volunteers • Mayor's Camp
• School Watch Volunteers • Crime Prevention Seminars
• LPD Volunteers • Lansing School District Handle with Care
• GREAT Program - LSD Elementary Schools • Crime Stoppers
• Old Newsboys • Prescription Task Force
• Violent Crime Initiative • Keystone COPS Luncheon
• Peckham • Community Oriented Policing Association
• First Responders Children's Foundation • U.S. Marine Corp Reserves
• One Faith • U.S. Navy Reserves
• Sparrow Hospital • U.S. Army National Guard
• Power 96.5 Radio Station • City of Lansing Veterans Board
• Lansing Parks and Rec Department • Blue Courage
• Autumn Ridge Apartments • Governor Whitmer's Inauguration Committee
• Ingham Academy • Human Relations Board
• Business Watch
Business Retention
The Lansing Police Department works to attract new business and support established businesses by
participating in career preparation, school to work programs, and other strategies to develop a regional
workforce with Old Town, Reo Town, Downtown, Inc., Lansing School District, Lansing Community College,
Michigan State University, Davenport College, Cooley Law School, Capital Area Michigan Works, Chamber of
Commerce, Ingham County, General Motors, Trade Unions, Michigan Economic Development Corporation,
Michigan State Police and the Accident Fund. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 198
Downtown Lansing, Inc. Downtown Inc, Reo Town and Old Town continue to be high priorities for growth and
development. The Lansing Police Department continues to build partnerships and maintain those partnerships
to address homeless issues and protect the citizens and visitors who enjoy Lansing.
• Michigan State Police Secure Cities Partnership
• Blue Cross & Blue Shield
• Attend downtown business and resident community meetings
• Provide extra police presence at Lansing Center events, Cooley Law Stadium for Games, Common Ground,
Silver Bells, Trick or Treat on the Square, Blues Fest,Jazz Fest, October Fest, Festival of the Sun and Moon
along with bicycle patrol in Old Town during the summer months
• Lansing Marathon and many other races
• Veterans of America Board Meetings
• Attend Downtown Lansing Inc. Board Meetings
• Monthly business meetings with Downtown Lansing Inc.
• Assist Human Resources and Community Services and Holy Cross in identifying and assisting the homeless
obtain food, shelter, and other available resources
• The LPD is carrying out a Downtown Entertainment Safety Plan where they are working with local
businesses, cab companies, and patrons to provide residents, proprietors, and visitors to the downtown
business district with a safe environment while maintaining order
• Special Operations Section conducted alcohol enforcement stings of Lansing bars
• Assign community policing officers to various neighborhoods.
• Utilize the Public Video Safety Cameras to reduce crime & disorder
• Handicapped Parking and River Trail Enforcement
• Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) - reduction of gun crimes — Collaborate with ATF, U.S. Attorney's Office,
Prosecutor, and Tri-County law enforcement agencies to identify and pro-actively prevent crimes involving
guns within the Lansing area. Project Safe Neighborhoods and LPD is setting specific goals to reduce
violent crime involving guns in Lansing
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 199
• LPD partnership with the ATF. Three (3) ATF agents are now stationed or based at the Operations Center
• Michigan Prisoner Re-Entry Initiative (M.P.R.I.) was established in 2003 and has worked with ex-prisoners
on getting them placed back into the community and getting them jobs. The ultimate goal of M.P.R.I. is to
achieve successful long-term reintegration of the former prisoner to his/her community.
• ALPACT - Law Enforcement, businesses, faith based, community-based leaders, and dedicated citizens are
all major stakeholders in public safety.
• Business Watch
• Partner's In Crisis
• PA 416 Traffic Deputies
• 911 Advisory Board
• CATA Bus Station
• Capital City Airport Annual Review
• Community Summit Solutions Committee
• Lansing Concerned Citizens Committee
• School Watch Program
• What Works for Cities
• Black Lives Matter
• President's Task for 21st Century Policing
• Council on Law Enforcement and Reinvention
• Michigan-Citizen Emergency Response Coordinating Council
Training, Education and Information
The LPD participates, provides, and sponsors many trainings and educational programs. These training areas
and educational programs include officer skills and development, supervisory development, conflict resolution,
diversity appreciation, computer skills, hiring and promotional policies, and customer service. Department
employees attended approximately 30,000 hours of training in 2021.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 100
• Advanced Traffic Crash Investigation • Enhancing Investigations Through Genetic
• Al Regional Training Genealogy
• Al Training Day • Evidence Technician School
• Analytic Unit Supervisor Course • EVO — Skill Training
• Annual Accreditation Conference • Explosive Breacher Certification
• Annual Training Lecture • FBI Basic Sniper/Observer School
• Annual Training Range/DT Day • Female Enforcer and Emotional Survival
• Assisting People In Crisis • Fire Investigation 1
• At Scene Traffic Crash Investigation • First Line Supervisor
• Auto Theft Investigations • FOIA
• Axon Accelerate Conference • Force Science Certification
• Basis Bloodstain Pattern Analysis • FTO/Recruit Training Day
• Basic Sniper School • Gang Conference
• Bicycle Training • Homeland Security
• Child Death Investigation • Homicide Investigation
• CIT Scenario Day • Honor Guard School
• Courageous Leadership for Today's Public Safety • Hostage Negotiations & Crisis Intervention Phase
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design I & II
• CSI Tech School • Hunting the Ghost
• Defensive Tactics Training Day • IA Pro User Conference
• Detecting Misleading Behaviors • Input Ace Certified Examiner
• Dive Rescue 1 Training • Input Ace Certified Operator
• Dive Training Day • Interview and Interrogation
• Drug Interdiction & Conducting Complete Traffic • Investigating No Body Homicides
Stops • Investigating Non-Stranger Sexual Assault
• DT Instructor Certification Training
• DT Instructor Development • Jail/Corrections Intake Screening:Where Liability
• DT Instructor Interviews & Lawsuits Starts
• DT Instructor Recert
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 101
0
• K-9 New Handler Training • START Basic School
• K-9 Training Day • START Entry Day
• LASO Training • START Explosives Training
• Lead Homicide Investigations Training • START Perimeter & Marksmen
• LEIN Basic School • START Supervisor Development
• Less Lethal Instructor Course • START Marksman
• Less Lethal Training • Supervisor Development
• Managing Narcotics Informants • Tactical Encounters for Law Enforcement
• Managing Police Records • Taser "New Operator" Certification
• Mobile Field Force — CDU • TFO Orientation Training
• Negotiator Training • The Gun Game - Street Cop Training
• New Officer Development • Thin Blue Line Shoreline Ride
• New Radio System — Train the Trainer • Trace Evidence Collection
• New Radio Training • Traffic Crash Investigation 1
• Open Water Certification • Traffic Crash Reconstruction
• Patrol Rifle Instructor • UAS Pilot Training
• PEM — Public Information Officer • Use of Force Training Summit
• Police Executive & New Chiefs School • Shooting Incident Reconstruction
• Reid & Reid Interview & Interrogation • Motivating the Next Generation of Cops
• Role of the Undercover • CIT Training
• S.T.A.R.T. Testing • Crash Investigation 2
• Scenario Based K-9 Workshop • Reading People Body Language
• Scenario Tactics for the FTO • RTCC For Public Safety
• Senior Management Institute • Supervisor Development and Leadership
• Shooting Incident Reconstruction
• Special Photo Methods n Crime Scene Investigation
• Speed Measurement Instructor School
• START
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 101
2021 Training Unit Special Events Conducted
• LPD Explorers Self-Defense Seminar
• Citizen's Police Academy — Use of Force Lecture
• Citizen's Police Academy Scenario Day
• Dept of Economic Development and Planning - Active Violence Training
Range
• 81 Training Days for LPD Course of Fire/Training, approximately 200 employees each receiving one hour
per cycle
• 20 Training Days for LCC Firearms Academy, approximately 80 students
• 39 Training Days of New Hire, Post Academy and Specialized Unit Training
• 22 Training Events, Hosting Outside Agency Training
• 7 Training Days, Hosted a Shoot House Instructor School, hosting approximately 8 students
• 2 Training Days, Retired LEOSA Qualifications, approximately 80 personnel
START
• 48 Training Days
• 10 Training Instructional Events teaching Active Violent Incident Response to Civilians, approximately 200
civilian present
• 6 Training Days for Team Tryouts
• 5 START Displays
Central Records
Central Records personnel is comprised of the Central Records Supervisor, Angelica Lira, five full time Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) Analysts and four Police Cadets. Central Records personnel processes police reports,
accident reports, uniform citations, Freedom of Information requests, conduct background checks, notary
services and process ride-a-long applications. In 2021, FOIA Analyst began to utilize a software program called
GOVOA. This has made the analysts' job more effective and efficient.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 102
Additional services performed in Central Records are fingerprinting for backgrounds, and processing of
purchase permits and registrations for firearms. Staff Services also includes a Data System Administrator and
Fingerprint Technician. The Data System Administrator maintains and manages various critical core systems
within LPD including the records management system. The Fingerprint Technician examines, analyzes and
compares fingerprint evidence for criminal investigations. His expertise is critical to Lansing Police Department
investigations.
Recruiting and Hiring
Staff Services Sergeant Mandi Beasinger supervises the Police Cadets with additional responsibilities including
the LPD coordinator with the Mid Michigan Police Academy, scheduling of the New Hire Orientation and
Reception, and the annual Awards Ceremony. Our recruiting team, led by Lt. Matthew Kreft, attended over 25
events throughout the year. Lt. Kreft also tracks special assignments in the department, compiles the vacation
roster, and organizes the shift selections. The Staff Services Lieutenant and Sergeant also produce MCOLES
reports, supervise and assign the Internship Program, promotional process, department assignment transfers,
ride-a-longs and the yearly Awards Program. The command staff of the Staff Service Division work closely with
the City of Lansing Human Resources department in the application process, hiring, and on-boarding of new
Police Department Employees. In 2021 the LPD Awards Program was held virtually for the second year with
the assistance of City Media and Technology staff.
In 2021 the Lansing Police Department worked in collaboration with the City of Lansing Human Resources
Department in conducting several hiring selection processes. LPD restructured a presentation for trained
recruiters, created new material for Detention Unit recruiting, upgraded flyers and pamphlets for Police Recruit
and Police Officer positions, and created a new recruiting email address. The Staff Services Sergeant provides
recruiter embedded responsibilities and is responsible for day-to-day operations. LPD has limited the Ride-
Along Program during COVID-19 due to safety concerns, however allowances have been made for those in the
interview processes the opportunity to ride with patrol to keep interest engaged while in the hiring process. In
total, the City of Lansing hired thirteen (13) police officers, five (5) recruits were sponsored to the Mid-
Michigan Police Academy (January-May 2021), seven (7) recruits were sponsored for the Mid-Michigan Police
Academy (August-December), one (1) cadet, eighteen (18) interns, four (4) detention officers and five (5) civilian
personnel. 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 103
The Recruiting Team attended the following recruiting events throughout the year:
• 1/20/2021 Lansing Community College
• 1/21/2021 Northern Michigan College
• 1/25/2021 Kellogg Community College Police Academy
• 1/26/2021 MSU Diversity Career Fair
• 1/27/2021 Macomb Police Academy
• 1/27/2021 Grand Rapids CC Police Academy Afternoon Session
• 1/28/2021 Grand Rapids CC Police Academy Morning Session
• 2/18/2021 MSU CJ Career Fair
• 2/24/2021 Wayne State University Career Fair
• 2/27/2021 Lansing Winter Fest LPD Booth
• 3/18/2021 Grand Valley Career Fair
• 4/21/2021 Calvin College Internship Engagement
• 4/30/2021 Wainwright Community Engagement
• 5/12/2021 Grand Valley Police Academy
• 5/13/2021 Everett Career Fair
• 5/14/2021 Everett Career Fair
• 5/14/2021 Holmes Street Community Engagement
• 5/21/2021 Washtenaw Community College Police Academy
• 6/3/2021 South Nazarene Church Community Engagement
• 6/19/2021 Juneteenth Celebrations
• 6/28/2021 Donora Park Community Engagement
• 7/28/2021 LCC Greater Lansing Youth Leadership
• 8/19/2021 Oakland Community College Police Academy
• 8/25/2021 Lansing Community College
• 8/31/2021 Macomb Community College
• 9/10/2021 Ingham County RESA
• 9/10/2021 Ingham Career Center Career Day
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 104
• 10/5/2021 Wayne State University Career Fair
• 10/6/2021 Zoom Recruiting for Wayne State University
• 10/18/2021 Ferris State CJ Car
Employee Recognition
The Lansing Police Department appreciates and values its members and is focused on attracting, motivating,
and retaining employees. We recognize and honor their service to the community at many events throughout
the year such as:
• Officer of the Year Award • 100 Club Ceremony
• Challenge Coins • New Hire Swearing In of Sworn Officers
• Blue Light Players • Employee Exit Interviews
• Mid-MI Police Academy Graduation • Veterans' Day
• Student Internship Program • Sworn Officer Confirmation Certificate
• National Volunteer Week
• Administrative Assistant's Day
• National Police Week
• LPD Pistol Team Competition
• 20-30 Year Employee Recognition
• Ingham County Law Enforcement Memorial
• Annual LPD Awards Program
• Document awards through IA/PRO Blue Team
• Shift level recognitions and city departments
• Promotional and Retirement Ceremonies
• Retirees Annual Dinner in association with the
Lansing Police Benevolent Association (PBA)
• Recognition of Service to Specialized Units
• Chiefs Spotlights
• Employee Recognition Picnic
• New Hire Reception
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 105
PUBLIC SERVICE
PUBLIC SERVICE
ANDY KILPATRICK, P.E., DIRECTOR
2021 Achievements
Property Management
• Currently overseeing implementation of approximately $17 million in building and facility improvements
with JCI, which will be paid for primarily through energy and operational savings.
• In 2021, the Division completed 1,516 work orders for the year, which is down from last year
• All crews are available 24 hours for emergencies and are the first responders for many types of facility
emergencies like flooding, sewer backups, power outages, heating/cooling issues, vandalism repair and
storm damage cleanup
• Crews also provide support for special events such as facility planning and utility services such as power,
Lights, water, sewer, etc.
Operations and Maintenance (0&M)
• Forestry:
o In 2021, there was an increase in overall work order completions (12% or 216 more than last year)
0 913 trees were trimmed; of those trees, 647 were completely pruned and 266 were pruned for
clearance-purposes
• Grounds:
o Over 200 trash barrels were serviced weekly at City-maintained properties and facilities
o Over 170 picnic tables were maintained at City parks
o City parks were mowed approximately 27 to 30 times
o The Little Arlington Memorial Monument was repointed this fall (stones were reset, leveled and
caulked) - a Memorial Day Ceremony was hosted here in May
o Four dozen trees and shrubs were planted throughout Evergreen Cemetery
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 106
PUBLIC SERVICE
• Street and Sidewalk Maintenance:
0 0&M (separate of projects done through the Engineering Division) was able to complete 2.6 miles of
millage paving
o From January to November, crews completed 706 pothole requests (this doesn't include the potholes
that were filled just based on the pothole patrolling that crews do themselves)
0 444,331 feet of sanitary and storm mains were cleaned
0 222 manholes were vacuumed out
0 813 catch basins were dipped out
o Inspectors responded to over 13,000 MISS DIG stakeouts
0 128,861 feet of sewers were televised
o Over 415 of storm and sanitary were repaired
o Over 134 manholes and catch basins were repaired
o Crews responded to the two flooding issues that we had this year with bypass pumping
o Over 7,000 tons of salt and sand/salt mix were dispersed during the winter months
o Over 5,000 cubic yards of material were swept from streets
o Crews were able to machine grade the 63 gravel streets that are maintained by the City four times this
year, about 11 miles each time
o The sign shop completed nearly 800 work orders (over 350 of those were from signs being damaged
from traffic)
o Special event support such as traffic barricades and personnel were provided for the following local
events: Silver Bells in the City, Hawk Island Triathlon, Capital City River Run, Common Ground, 5K runs,
parades and more
o Graffiti is normally removed within hours of being reported
o Weekly trash collection is serviced to approximately 33% of single-family households in Lansing
o We continue to provide bi-weekly 32-gallon trash service for those who produced less trash and do not
want to pay for weekly service
o We also continue to provide a discounted rate for trash cart service for households with qualifying
income
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 107
PUBLIC SERVICE
o From January to September, over 21,512 cubic yards of refuse was collected
o From January to October, approximately 1,168 bulk trash items were picked up (numbers were doubled
this year likely due to the fact that this service was suspended during COVID)
o From April to October, approximately 9,607 cubic yards of yard waste was collected and processed
Locally at Granger or Hammond Farms
o From January to September, over 5,728 tons of recycling was collected and processed at our local MRF
o In early 2021, Lansing started sending recyclables to the local MRF that recently opened in partnership
with East Lansing
Fleet Services
• The City purchased 27 new vehicles in 2021 that included (but were not limited to): EV Bolts (electric cars),
dump trucks, street sweepers, service maintenance vehicles, etc.
• Fleet is continuing to look into expanding the City's fleet of electric vehicles in effort to reduce our carbon
footprint and maintenance costs as much as possible.
Engineering (streets, sidewalks, bridges, trails, CSO projects, construction, etc.)
• The City of Lansing's Engineering Division completed approximately 50 street improvements and
preventative maintenance projects. Of these projects, some of the most notable include:
o Miller Road: This project consisted of a culvert replacement from Executive Drive to Beechfield Drive.
o Forest/Collins Road: This project included repaving Forest Road and Collins Road right around the new
McLaren Hospital that's being built, and creating a traffic roundabout to make the area safer in
anticipation of an increase in traffic.
• They completed approximately 11 pedestrian projects, which include paths, trails and bike lanes. Of these
projects, some the most notable include:
o Bear Lake Pathway: This project added 1.4 miles to the Lansing River Trail north from Cavanaugh Road
to Forest Road and included new ADA ramps, signage, restoration and fencing. This project also
includes a more direct route to the River Trail for users and those who live in the Forest View
Neighborhood area.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 108
PUBLIC SERVICE
o Eastside Connector: This project included a 10-foot wide pathway that begins at Pennsylvania Avenue
and Shiawassee Street and connects existing bike lanes, sidewalks and other non-motorized facilities.
In partnership with the Lansing School District, a major purpose for this project was to create a safe
way for students to travel from the new Eastern High School to their athletic complex near the old
Eastern High School.
o Forest/Collins Road: In addition to the street improvements that this project included, it consisted of
creating pathways along Collins Road near the roundabout that connects to newly added bike lanes
and plans to construct a pathway that connects to the Bear Lake Pathway once MDOT is finished with
their 1-496/US 127 project.
• They completed approximately 8 bridge/storm sewer projects. Of these projects, some of the most notable
include:
o Aurelius Bridge: The old three-span bridge on Aurelius Road over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad
was demolished and replaced with a single-span bridge to make it safer and more efficient. The
sidewalk was also reconfigured to better accommodate the bike paths on each side of the road.
o Grand River Bridge: This bridge was rehabilitated as it is the last historical bridge remaining in Lansing
that once helped to name it as the "City of Arch Bridges." Rehabilitation efforts included removing and
replacing the deck, repairing the concrete arches, installing new railing and sidewalk, and placing new
approaches as well as riprap for scour protection.
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP)
• Started an evaluation of the plant's facilities and processes to determine if there are improvements that
could be self-funded using energy and operational savings through our contract with Johnson Controls.
• Hosted the Lansing Citizens Academy where we showed residents how the plant is run and how their water
is treated and made safe this was the 4th year for this and has traditionally been a highlight for the cohort
• The division did a great job with maintaining their normal responsibilities while dealing with the same
staffing challenges that other departments within the City and across the country are facing.
Other (including sustainability)
• The City of Lansing is partnering with Johnson and Johnson Controls to make City infrastructure more
sustainable (see Property Management). 2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 109
PUBLIC SERVICE
• The City of Lansing launched its first Climate Action Plan that outlines how the City plans to reduce its
carbon impact, increase energy efficiency, reduce waste, and investigate long-term operational savings all
while protecting the environment.
• Created an internal Employee Sustainability Committee as well as an external "Mayor's Advisory
Commission on Sustainability." The Mayor's Advisory Commission on Sustainability helps provide input on
Lansing's Climate Action Plan and other sustainability plans, and acts in an advisory capacity to the Mayor
and City sustainability staff.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 110
TREASURY & INCOME TAX
TREASURY & INCOME TAX
DESIREE A. KIRKLAND, CITY TREASURER AND INCOME TAX ADMINISTRATOR
Department Description
Treasury & Income Tax department are responsible for the administration of the city's property tax and income
tax programs. The responsibilities and duties are numerous and fall into specific areas.
The Treasury Division bills and collects the real, personal property, and delinquent personal property taxes.
Treasury is also responsible for the overall collection of the Lansing City department revenues and remittances
through the process of cash receipting, departmental daily deposits, as well as the safekeeping and investment
of City funds, monies, and non-pension related securities.
The Income Tax Division collects income taxes for Lansing residents and non-residents that work in Lansing.
Additionally, this division works with multiple Lansing-based and regional employers to complete accurate
employee withholding.
Treasury Division
• This division issued over 90,682 property tax bills in July and December.
• In addition to collecting these taxes for the City, Treasury collected and distributed real and personal
property taxes for Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties, seven area School Districts, Lansing Community
College, Capital Area District Library, Capital Area Transit Authority, the Airport Authority, and the 425
agreement partners, along with several other partner agreements.
• Treasury collects and distributes payments for Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) holders, SmartZone,
Principal Shopping District, PA 328 Property Tax Abatements, the Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA),
Brownfield developers, and the Economic Development Corporation.
• This division also completes Brownfield Authority, TIFA and Obsolete Property Rehabilitation Act (OPRA)
reports for compliance with the State of Michigan.
• Nuisance fees, code enforcement violations, false alarm fees, diversion program fees, and Industrial Facility
Taxes (IFT) are also collected by Treasury.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 111
TREASURY & INCOME TAX
• Treasury & Income Tax services and processes were presented and discussed in community meetings to
further inform our residents of who we are and what we do and demystify the stigma that is attached to
taxes and tax payment.
• Development of training manuals and mapping of processes.
Income Tax Division
• The Income Tax division reviewed and audited over 76,181 individual income tax returns: Corporate,
Partnership, S Corp, Fiduciary returns.
• Issued approximately 43,769 refunds when applicable.
• This year, the Income Tax team successfully issued refunds several weeks ahead of the statutory refund
deadline.
• The Employee Withholding Subgroup worked with approximately 5,247 employers to withhold wage taxes
from approximately 180,328 (58% non-residents 42% resident) employees.
• The withholding analyst implemented a new cross-referencing protocol to help identify employers and
employees that are not filing withholding or income tax returns with the City of Lansing.
• The Income Tax team performed a GAP analysis, which helped identify the system flaw that caused billing
delays by one year.
• Implemented a new program pathway change which cut the billing cycle time down by several months.
Reduced the number of court action filings for delinquent taxes by focusing on additional taxpayer
education, more effective collection techniques, and outreach efforts.
• Payment plans are down 1645 while 693 small claims cases proceeded to court.
• These actions resulted in a significant reduction of warrants previously issued for failure to file income
taxes.
• The income tax enforcement process has improved considerably in part due to Treasury's effective working
relationship with the City Attorney's office and District Court.
• The Collections Unit within Income Tax collects delinquent employee withholding, corporate taxes, and
individual income taxes.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 112
TREASURY & INCOME TAX
• This unit also works with the Income Tax Administrator to ensure that all license applicants and elected
official candidate's taxes are paid in full prior to receiving positions or licenses.
• Established and implemented employee professional development program to increase employee
productivity, job knowledge, confidence and capabilities. Examples - Collections Law training, Bankruptcy,
etc.
• Development and documentation of processes and procedures.
New Processes
• Created online 1040 EZ form for residents and 692 individuals utilized this process.
• Received grant funding for a large commercial scanner. This will help with digitization and paperless files,
saving the city roughly $125,000.00 a year.
Employee Development, Training and Team Building
• Regularly Scheduled Meetings - Allows team members to share and address any concerns they may have,
as well as share what they have been able to accomplish. Having the Treasury and Income tax division
come together has been critical to us assessing our processes and has created opportunities for us to build
more efficient ways of completing our work.
• Training- staff is encouraged to take professional development courses
• Team Building — on going team building activities are invigorating and growing support for the
department vision and mission to improve customer service and community view of the department.
Expressions of Appreciation
"Touching" moments from the incredible work we do every day. Stories from the people we serve:
"Good morning,
I'm writing to make you aware of the excellent customer service I recently received from ********. She helped
me resolve an issue with my refund promptly and efficiently. She was extremely helpful, friendly, and
knowledgeable. So often it seems folks only write to complain, and I just wanted to take a minute to thank her
for her help and to commend your office for being so customer focused."
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 113
TREASURY & INCOME TAX
• "Hi there,
I just wanted to give my words of gratitude for the great service and interaction that I had with ********* in the
Income Tax Office. I had a question about applying a misdirected payment to my city tax bill and she was able
to resolve everything quickly and easily!"
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 114
DOWNTOWN LANSING INC.
DOWNTOWN LANSING INC.
CATHLEEN EDGERLY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Rebuild. Reimagine. Reenergize.
In Downtown Lansing, we are not looking to get back to normal. Instead, we're collaboratively rebuilding a
downtown known for its culture, opportunities, and activity at all hours of the day and night— a downtown
where we are proud of the opportunities and accessibility that it offers to all who call our city home. It's not
going to be easy. It's not going to be fast. But with everybody working together, it is going
to happen! Are you down with Downtown?!
Downtown Lansing Inc. is Making a Real Difference
Downtown Lansing Inc. is a community connector, and solution creator—balancing the needs of our residents,
businesses and visitors in the midst of a year that brought with it a global health crisis.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 115
DOWNTOWN LANSING INC.
Together with our partners, we are proud to foster pride and a strong sense of place, all while promoting the
culture and sustainability of our city! We know Lansing will be stronger in future years as we come together to
Lift up our local community.
Downtown Lansing Inc.'s Goals
• Create small business support programming and funding to decrease vacancy rate from 30% to 10% in the
next 18 months.
• Pursue proactive policy changes at all levels of government to address development strategies that are
both efficient and effective that align with DLI's long-term vision for the downtown district.
• Create a physical environment that supports a welcoming and diverse sense of place.
Transforming Lansing's Downtown
Despite a nation-wide pandemic, five new businesses opened their doors and made downtown Lansing their
home. One beloved retailer even doubled their storefront and expanded their product line in 2021!
Downtown Lansing's 2021 Programming Highlights
• Rent/mortgage support grants
• Small business counseling partnership
• Match on Main Covid-19 grant programs
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 116
DOWNTOWN
• Pop-up spaces and programs Volunteer
• #LiftUpLocal campaign Connection
• "Lansing has Heart" crowdfunding 3v596
• Marketing & New Outdoor socially safe events la Volunteer hours in 2020- 1
• Opening of Middle Village Retail Innovation Center
• New Incentive Programs to support small businesses 16 1 �
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The AfterGlow Market created a cultural hub
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along Lansing's riverfront with local vendors,
food trucks, live music, and more to help the city
Following a tumultuous year for many businesses, Old glow through the night!
Town, REO Town and Downtown joined forces to
introduce social districts to the Lansing area. Social
districts encourage residents to sip, shop, and stroll
through their community year-round.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 117
DOWNTOWN LANSING INC.
Peal Impact. our ommunitle
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1,622 Program to date
143 MICHIGAN
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DEVELOBuilding Improvements CORPORATION
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2021 ANNUAL REPORT 118
LANSING ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP A.
LANSING ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP [LEAP
KRIS KLEIN, DIRECTOR
The LEAP Business Development Department's major 2021 accomplishments are as follows: Successfully
provided economic development services to the City of Lansing under the $520,000 annual contract between
LEAP the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC). Worked closely with several Lansing
manufacturing firms to assist them with major expansion plans. Administered and managed the LEDC plus the
Lansing Tax Increment Finance Authority (TIFA) and Lansing Brownfield Redevelopment Authority (LBRA). Each
of these three entities have boards, budgets, programs, monthly meetings and a variety of grants, incentives,
and financing options to assisted with economic development projects in Lansing. Successfully managed and
administered 32 active brownfield plans that generated $7 million in revenue in 2021 to reimburse brownfield
costs to brownfield projects representing more than $1 billion in private development investment.
Administered the LBRA Brownfield Revolving Fund to finance environmental assessment work and brownfield
related costs on brownfield development projects. Used the TIFA to generate $2.5 million to continue
financing public assets such as the Lansing Center and the City Parking system. Directed the issue and sale of
$40 million in LBRA bonds to finance the brownfield costs associated with the $250 million Red Cedar project.
Managed the City's Business Fagade Improvement Program and successfully secured $175,000 for the FY2022
Facade Improvement Program which is scheduled to open for applications in early 2022.
Managed four Commercial Corridor Improvement Authorities in Lansing: E. Michigan Ave., W Saginaw St., N.
Grand River, and S. MLK Junior Blvd. Managed LEDC Business Finance Assistance Program and helped
businesses with development liquor license requests. Created and implemented Lansing CARES to help award
20 businesses a total of $350,000 in forgivable loans and provide technical service to 127 businesses including
Disaster Planning Training. Assisted with the LEAP Regional Ingham County Sunrise small business grant
program. Gained local and state incentive approvals for 5 Lansing Development Projects totaling $11,017,486
in investment: Redevelopment of Clara's Depot Building - $5,948,214, 629 N. Butler Avenue - $20,594 Market
Place/City Market Pedway - $5,000,000, Leroy's Bar and Grill - $28,502 Sweet Encounters - $20,176.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 119
LANSING ECONOMIC AREA PARTNERSHIP A.
Furthermore, LEAP managed and administered 10 projects under construction or completed totaling over $1
billion of investment: Red Cedar $250,000,000, Temple Lofts $10,000,000, Volaris Lansing $52,000,000,
McLaren Hospital $602,000,000, The Louie $20,000,000, Holmes St. School $2,800,000, Capital City Market
$41,500,000, Metro Place Apts $25,000,000 Capital View Apts $14,700,000, Lake Trust 500 Block $32,000,000,
Allen Place $10,000,000, Michigan Realtors HO $9,000,000. The Capital City Market project in Lansing was
selected this year to receive two gold Economic Excellence Awards by the International Economic
Development Council: one for best Public/Private Partnership and other for best Real Estate Reuse
(Brownfield). The Capital City Market project joins the previous IEDC top award-winning projects of the Ottawa
Power Station (AF Group), Knapps Centre and The Outfield.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 120
LANSING ENTERTAINMENT & PUBLIC LR-wPFA
FACILITIES AUTHORITY [LEPFA] 1,an$tng15nr �';ijnmeat
SCOTT KEITH, PRESIDENT & CEO PUN it FacllkrieA Aurhorit�
The Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) is governmental agency of the City of Lansing,
providing professional management in the administration, operation, marketing and maintenance of the
Lansing Center, Jackson Field, Groesbeck Golf Course and other community/regional interest events and
activities.
Accomplishments in 2021
Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority (LEPFA) was significantly impacted in the FY21 year by
COVID-19. The Lansing Center has been restricted for business since 2020; with a nearly 80% loss and/or
displacement of revenue since the start of the pandemic. LEPFA has begun the process of bringing back laid off
employees and recruiting/hiring new employees. Jackson Field was impacted by Covid-19 during this past year
but not as significantly impacted due to outdoor activities. The stadium did have a Lugnuts season (though
slightly modified) and other special events were reduced in number, variety, and attendance. Groesbeck Golf
Course saw a slight increase in rounds of golf and saw an increase in the per cap spend per round of golf.
LEPFA continues to work to find regional funding support for the properties and events it manages. LEPFA
received an unmodified, clean audit for FY21.
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The Lansing Center (LC) held over 40+ events this past year with nearly 58 event days. Over 10,000 people
attended events at the LC throughout the year, and under 1500 directly attributable room nights.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 121
It may take another year for the meetings and events industry to return to pre-COVID levels. It is projected to
be a slow return both in size and scope of events; anticipation for at least a 10% increase in attendance and
incremental increases in spending by the events due to budget challenges and attendance over 2021/22.
Limited revenues and limited staffing create tests with the budget, but we continue to review and adjust.
Additionally, the costs associated with operating the LC at minimum standards with these events does not
allow for efficiency in the budget as it typically occurs with a convention center.
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The Lansing Lugnuts navigated the COVID-19 pandemic to complete their 25th anniversary season in Lansing.
The team played all 60 home games starting in early May with the last homestand wrapping up in Mid-
September. From May until June 1st, the stadium had a 20% capacity restriction, and restrictions for indoor
spaces such as suites and The Clubhouse remained so until July 1st.
Despite the challenges, the Lugnuts drew 198,798 fans during the season and averaged 3,429 per game. F&B
per cap was $21.85 and the retail per cap was $3.85. The team finished with an overall record of 58-62, good
for fourth place in their division. Highlights during the season include the Lugnuts inducting legendary Lansing
coach Javier Cavazos into the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame, along with the Page Fence Giants, a pioneering
black baseball team that played in Adrian, Michigan in the late 1890's. The Lugnuts wore special Page Fence
jerseys in their honor, and auctioned them off after the game with 100% of the proceeds going to the stadium
renovation in Hamtramck.
In the shuffling of Minor League Baseball, the Lugnuts remained as one of the 120 affiliate teams that get their
players from Major League Baseball. 2021 saw a positive shift in the league, as the Lugnuts were bumped up
from a Low-A affiliate to a High-A affiliate. This year also marked the first year as an affiliate of the Oakland
Athletics, who signed a 10-year agreement in Lansing.
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 122
2021 also saw the organizations most robust event schedule, as Jackson Field was used for a multitude of
outside events:
• Grand River Country Club: A self-contained 9-hole chipping course that opened for a week in April and sold
out every tee time.
• Comedy: Jackson Field host comedians Preacher Lawson and Fortune Feimster. The Feimster show drew
over 1,000 people in attendance.
• Festivals: The venue hosted the Taco & Tequila Festival and saw the return of Beerfest at the Ballpark in
October.
• Common Ground: The Lugnuts partnered with LEPFA and Mlentertainment for Common Ground Presents:
G-Eazy feat. Tee Grizzley
• Nitro Circus:Jackson Field hosted a capacity crowd on October 1st for the Nitro Circus "You Got This" Tour.
• Other: The stadium hosted numerous other events including the Lansing Chamber Annual Dinner, M3
Lansing Tailgate, Legends Celebrity Softball Game and private company movie nights.
On the philanthropic side, the Lugnuts partnered with LAFCU and Jackson to raise over $55,000 for local non-
profits for the stadiums first 50/50 raffle program during games and events, and donated over $105,000 in in-
kind donations to local youth teams, non-profits and community organizations. Working with LAFCU, Dean and
the City of Lansing, the Lugnuts hosted the 2nd Annual Ambush Baseball event where two local little league
teams were surprised by Big Lug and members of each organization. They were then bussed over to Jackson
Field to play their game under the lights.
Jackson Field is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2022 season. This includes completely
new LED lighting for the stadium, along with locker room renovations that will increase space and amenities
for players, while adding separate locker rooms for female coaches and staff.
C7LF COURSE IKS Wh
2021 ANNUAL REPORT 1 123
The 2021 season at Groesbeck Golf Course was an overall great success with increased traffic and revenue
numbers. During the 2020 season Groesbeck Golf Course hosted over 32,000 rounds of golf. This equates to an
increase in golf related revenue when compared to 2020. Groesbeck hosted 25 separate leagues this season,
up from 22 leagues last year. In addition to leagues, 17 outings occurred this season which doubled the
amount from last season.
Memberships were doubled this past year, tournaments more than doubled this year.
202012021 GOLF COMPARISON
YOY
Round Type 2020 2021 Variance
Season Pass 1825 1995 170
Public 13874 144G6 592
Junior/Senior 5203 4935 -268
Youth On Course Rounds 682 369 -313
Senior Special 899 1281 382
Michigan Golf Pass 384 311 -73
LEAGUES 7100 8275 1175
HIGH SCHOOL 154 400 246
SIMULTOR ROUNDS 465 219 -246
OTHER 716 540 -176
Total 31302 32791 1489
Improvements to the course/infrastructure include:
• Hole #2 pond expansion and drainage work
• A controlled burn was executed to help with retaining pond edges; this was coordinated with LFD
• Bridge repair work to #12
• Expansion of#5 green
• Drainage of#15 fairway reconstructed
• Added approximately 2+ acres of natural areas to the course
• Tees #3, #4, #7 were leveled and expanded (repaired)
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• Annual greens aerification
• Bunkers on #4 reshaped
• Maintenance barn repainted
Performance Measures/Financial/Economic Impact
Operating Revenues
Lansing Center Jackson Field Groesbeck Total
FY 20 $4,658,351 $ 1,476 $597,014 $5,256,841
FY 21 $1,061,078 $ 425 $871 ,254 $1,932.757
Difference $3,597,273 $ 1,051 $274,240 $3,324,084
Operating Expenses
Lansing C� Jackson Field Groesbeck Total
FY 20 $6,390,858 $370,118 $532,644 $7,293,620
FY 21 $1,869,513 $432,166 $755,462 $3,057,141
Difference $4,521,345 $ 62,048 $222,818 $44,235,479
Net Position Comparison
Lansing Center Jackson Field Groesbeck Total
FY 20 $ 238,615 $107,313 $410,688 $ 942,942
FY 21 $ 309,035 $105,072 $611,480 $1 ,025,587
Difference $ 70,420 $ 2,241 $200,792 $ 82,645
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Economic Impact
Lansing Center Jackson Field Other facilitieslevents
Total
FY 20 $44,284,687 $ 8,432,361 $ 8,445,182 $61,162,230
FY 21 Incomplete Incomplete Incomplete
--------- --------- -------- ---------
--------- --------- -------- ---------
Difference
Revenues at the Lansing Center in 2021 decreased from the 2019 revenues by more than 75% due to covid-19.
Occupancy, economic impact, and customer satisfaction measures were not available due to the limited
information accessible during the restrictions of the health crisis. Net position increased due to PPP funding
and a grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Cooley Law School Stadium saw a decrease in events and revenue in 2021 due to Covid-19 and changes to the
minor league baseball season and special events. Expenses increased by $62, 048 mostly due to inactivity and
deferred maintenance from the year prior. Net position remained virtually flat.
Groesbeck Golf Course saw an increase in overall revenues and expenses due to the higher volume of golf play
and increase in consumer spending per round.
36th Annual Silver BeLLs in the City
Silver Bells Home Edition, presented by the Lansing Board of Water and Light, aired on FOX 47 on Friday,
November 20 from 6-8 p.m. This special telecast was a spinoff of Silver Bells in the City and featured elements
of the traditional event like the state Christmas tree lighting, holiday singalongs, celebrity shout outs, diverse
holiday offerings and more.
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The program included several holiday singalongs with local, regional and national artists like Phil Denny and
Angela Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Runaway June, the Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Macy Kate and William
Crenshaw Jr. There were special performances by the MSU Alumni Band and Lansing Eastern High School All-
Star band. In addition, special celebrity shout outs were highlighted throughout the program and included
Drew Barrymore, Suzy Merchant, John Smoltz, Joshua Davis, Ronald McDonald, John Schreiber and Governor
Whitmer.
Santa joined us from the North Pole and shared holiday wishes of mid-Michigan children from letters
submitted to the show. The show was hosted by FOX 47's Morning Blend co-hosts Bob Hoffman and Deb Hart
along with Silver Bells Broadcast Chair, Mark Buzzitta. Silver Bells Home Edition was replayed on FOX 47 on
11/26, 11/27 and 11/29.
Silver Bells Home Edition Community Engagement
• Photo Submissions: People can submit photos of some of their favorite at-home traditions to the show like,
Ugly Sweaters, Classic Family Photos, Matching Pajamas, and Unique Ornaments.
• Letters to Santa: Boys and girls throughout mid-Michigan can submit their holiday wishes to the show.
Santa will be reading some letters he receives from children throughout the program.
• Jingle Bells Song Mash Up Contest: Send us a video of you and/or your family, friends, or co-workers
singing "Jingle Bells." Your entry could win up to $1,000 in a cash prize and be featured on Silver Bells
Home Edition. This contest was sponsored by the Lansing Board of Water and Light. Four families won
$250 each.
• Recipes: Through a partnership with the United Dairy Association of Michigan and Milk Means More, we
promoted three Facebook contests prior to the show air date, 11/20, with the following recipes to make
and enjoy while watching Silver Bells Home Edition, hot coco, gingerbread dip and Christmas tree
cheesecake brownies. Each winner received a $25 Visa gift card to purchase the ingredients courtesy of
Milk Means More. Recipes can be found on the Silver Bells Home Edition website too:
www.siLverbellshomeedition.org/recipes.
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2020 Silver Bells Commemorative Ornament
The 2020 Silver Bells Home Edition commemorative ornament was handcrafted by local Lansing artist and La
Fille Gallery Owner, Tiffany Marie. The 2020 heart shaped ornament was inspired by our community's
#Love Lansing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is a tribute to all frontline workers, first responders and
essential workers in our community. The red ornaments raining down the back are for all persons who have
and are still assisting in the pandemic. Each ornament is one-of-a-kind, hand-made and signed.
10th Annual Silver Bells 5K
The 10th Annual Silver Bells 5K Race took place on Friday, November 20, and through November 22.
Participants were able to run/walk the 3-mile race at-home or on the marked downtown course. The race was
presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network with support from AF Group and Dean
Trailways. All participants received a bib, finishers medal and commemorative buff. More than 250 people
participated in the Silver Bells 5K Virtual Race. A virtual costume contest was also held for participants and
prizes were awarded for the best holiday traditional costume and best pet costume.
Facility Improvements
• LEPFA U - postponed due to COVID-19
• Employee of the Year Award - cancelled due to COVID-19
• Grand Concert Series - cancelled due to COVID-19
• Margarita Fest - cancelled due to COVID-19
2022 Goals and Missions
• LEPFA continues to work on its mission to be an economic catalyst for downtown Lansing and the Lansing
region. We are committed to service excellence, providing outstanding experiences for our guests,
providing safe environments for all attending events, and developing strong relationships with our
customers, sponsors, and partners.
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• Groesbeck Golf Course is seeing an increase in participation and food & beverage sales with an emphasis
of attracting more golf outings, leagues, and players to enjoy the only public golf course in the City of
Lansing.
• LEPFA and the Lugnuts will continue the efforts of offering affordable fun entertainment as part of efforts
to be a community Jackson Field's focus on being a community asset.
• The Lansing Center will be working to continue the efforts of sustaining itself through the current health
and economic crisis with an emphasis on recovery in the year ahead. The team will be focused on seeking
out all funding that will enable the City to not add additional expenses and contributions to the Authority.
• Completion of the facility audit of Lansing Center and beginning to work on a plan to make necessary
improvements to the facility to keep it up to industry standards and maintain attractiveness to succeed in
the meeting and events business.
• An emphasis on working with other companies and organizations towards the development of new events
and entertainment offerings for the coming year will enable LEPFA to work on its mission as a catalyst to
enhance both local and regional economic growth.
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