HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes June 18thMinutes for the City of Lansing Charter Commission
Regular Meeting | June 18, 2024
Tony Benavides City Council Chambers
Lansing City Hall, 10th floor, 124 W. Michigan Ave.
Present: Commissioners Adams Simon, Anderson, Bauer, Boyd, Jeffries, Qawwee, Washington
Absent: Commissioners Dowd, Lopez (Excused)
Staff Present: Deputy Clerks Lemaster, Drever
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Chair Jeffries at 6:30 PM.
Deputy Clerk Lemaster called the roll of the Commission. A quorum was present.
Adopt the Agenda
Moved by Commissioner Bauer to adopt the agenda.
Moved by Chair Jeffries to amend the agenda to add Legal Counsel RFP as item d. under Unfinished
Business.
Motion carried.
Motion carried.
Public Comment
Nicklas Zande spoke about Stakeholders, the proposed Charter review process, and the composition of City
Council.
Julie VandenBoom spoke about Commissioners’ community engagement and suggested a list of community
stakeholders.
Heath Lowry spoke about the Community Meetings Plan.
Ryan Kost spoke about the structure and rules of Commission meetings.
Melissa Horste spoke about public participation.
Norma Bauer spoke about the Model City Charter.
Fred McLoughlin spoke about accessibility of meetings for members of the public.
Farhan Sheikh Omar spoke about transparency in City leadership.
Approval of Minutes
Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to approve the minutes of June 4th, 2024 as presented.
Motion Carried.
Officer Reports
Chair
Chair Jeffries spoke about the proposed rules change for public comment, which will be on the next agenda. He
also spoke about the process to submit items to the agenda.
Vice-Chair
Vice Chair Adams Simon spoke about respect and grace in the Commission’s work.
Clerk
Deputy Clerk Lemaster acknowledged the written communications included in the packet and asked
Commissioners to submit their headshot and bio for the website.
Unfinished Business
Community Meeting Plan
Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to adopt Plan A.
Amended by Commissioner Qawwee to move forward with plan A with scheduling adjustments as
necessary.
Motion Carried.
Motion Carried.
Proposed Charter Review Process
Moved by Commissioner Boyd to approve the Review Timeline.
Motion Carried.
Moved by Commissioner Bauer to approve the Article Discussion Plan.
Motion Carried.
Stakeholder Presentations Plan
Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to approve the draft as written.
Motion Carried.
Moved by Commissioner Boyd to approve the draft postcard. Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to table the
postcard to the next meeting.
Motion Carried.
Legal Counsel RFP
Moved by Commissioner Washington to hold a special Committee of the Whole meeting to review the Legal
Counsel RFP.
Motion carried.
New Business
Facebook Page
Moved by Commissioner Boyd to approve the policy.
Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to amend the policy to allow comments, and to inform members that
to get a response, they should email the Commission.
Motion carried.
Moved by Commissioner Qawwee to amend rule 4 to add “needed”.
Motion carried.
Motion carried.
Commissioner Remarks
Commissioner Washington explained that she is having a connectivity issue with technology.
Commissioner Boyd encouraged members of the public to speak about the changes to the public comment rules.
Vice-Chair Adams Simon encouraged everyone to email chartercommission@lansingmi.gov to get in touch
with all commissioners.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned by Chair Jeffries at 8:03 PM.