Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

Regular Meeting

Lansing, MI · April 9, 2025

Minutes

Minutes Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Wednesday, April 9, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m. City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Council Member Jackson called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. PRESENT Council Member Jackson, Chair Council Member Spadafore, Vice-Chair Council Member Carter, Member OTHERS PRESENT Sherie Boak, Council Office Manager Greg Venker, OCA MINUTES MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPADAFORE TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM MARCH 12, 2025, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. DISCUSSION/ACTION ORDINANCE - Repeal Chapter 684 Section 684.04 Council Member Jackson noted this is to repeal the current criminal law that a person could go to jail if using the wrong restroom. Monday at the hearing there was a lot of comments, overwhelming to in favor, and one in opposition. Council Member Carter, based on public comment, asked OCA about conversation with “not feeling safe”, if there have already been a tremendous amount of communications on that. Mr. Venker stated they looked at it a few years ago and so no record of it ever being enforced. There are digital records now going back 15 years, and have found nothing. There have been situations where people are breaking other laws in bathrooms but not this. Council Member Carter asked OCA, so to continue on making this more inclusive, example a female minor in restroom, then male enters at same time and then indecent exposure. Mr. Venker, indecent exposure is a stand-alone crime. A lot of the public concerns would be considered criminal whether in or out of the bathroom. Mr. Venker stated it is hard to concoct a scenario; hard to imagine unless they are committing the crime already of indecent exposure. Council Member Spadafore stated that they have heard over whelming support and one in opposition was something that is covered by other crimes. Council Member Jackson noted that the opposition resident did suggest put language in to address the exception; working on bathroom, maintenance, employees, and add “trans” and “non-binary”, but wouldn’t that be unconstitutional. Mr. Venker noted that is one problem with that then the City would have to define “trans” and “non-binary”, and that concept is that doesn’t neatly fit into the concept. Council Member Spadafore recapped the last meeting where it was a thought to consider looking at a public restroom policy. Council Member Jackson concurred that the discussions have been done. MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPADAFORE TO APPROVE THE ORDINANCE TO REPEAL SECTION 684.04 RESTROOM USE. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. DISCUSSION – Public Comment at Meetings Council Member Jackson began the discussion on if the Committee wants to speak on public comment. Currently the public can register 4 hours before the meeting to speak in virtual public comment. In Committee of the Whole there has not been any registered speakers, and a minimal at Council. Council Member Spadafore stated that in his conversations with the City Clerk they believe 30 minutes before posted start time is sufficient. To proceed with this, the Committee would need to recommend the changes to the Committee on City Operations. The change should be “30 minutes prior to the start of the scheduled meeting”. MOTION TO CHANGE RESOLUTION 2024-037 RULE CHANGE 48 TO CHANGE FROM 4 HOURS TO 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING. MOTION CARRIED 3- 0. Other Council Member Jackson asked about any updates with Federal EDI changes. Mr. Venker stated that presently nothing has changed in Executive Orders with the City in how the City uses their funds. The City uses general funds, and federal fund usage is for grants that would require it to be used. Most grants were related to ARPA and those funds have been used. Currently status quo. Council Member Carter noted there were some title changes, and Mr. Venker stated they will continue to monitor it. Council Member Spadafore clarified that difference between school and agencies are that the City funds are not funded by federal, they are funded by tax dollars. Biggest amounts come through CDBG, and very little has to do with justice and equity work, targeting economically disadvantaged. The administration does not anticipate any challenges from the federal level and not impact the City in the short or long term. Mr. Venker noted that he expects the regulations to change for HUD dollars, but it is hard to predict by now. Adjourn Adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Submitted, Sherrie Boak Recording Secretary, Lansing City Council Approved by the Committee on May 14, 2025

Agenda

Packet

AGENDA Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion April 9, 2025 at 4:30 PM Lansing City Hall, City Council Conference Room 124 W. Michigan Avenue, 10th Floor To provide input or ask questions on any item that is listed on the agenda, members of the public may contact the City Council at city.council@lansingmi.gov or (517) 483-4177 prior to the meeting. To view the meeting live and participate in virtual public comment: https://www.lansingmi.gov/1212/Council-Committee-Meetings Council Member Jackson, Chairperson Council Member Spadafore, Vice Chairperson Council Member Carter, Member 1. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Minutes A. March 12, 2025 4. Public Comment on Agenda Items (Up to 3 Minutes) 5. Discussion/Action: B. ORDINANCE - Repeal Section 684.04 Restroom Use C. DISCUSSION -Public Comment at Meetings 6. Other 7. Adjourn Persons with disabilities who need an accommodation to fully participate in these meetings should contact the City Council Office at 517-483-4177 (TTY 711) 24 hour notice may be needed for certain accommodations. An attempt will be made to grant all reasonable accommodation requests. Page 1 of 16 Minutes Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Wednesday, March 12, 2025 @ 4:30 p.m. City Council Conference Room CALL TO ORDER Council Member Jackson called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. PRESENT Council Member Jackson, Chair Council Member Spadafore, Vice-Chair Council Member Carter, Member OTHERS PRESENT Sherie Boak, Council Office Manager Matt Staples, OCA MINUTES MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER CARTER TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 12, 2025, AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. DISCUSSION/ACTION DISCUSSION – Ordinance Amendment/Repeal Chapter 684 Section 684.04 Council Member Jackson noted this is a follow up discussion from the last meeting, to consider as an amendment or repeal. He then read the 684.04 into the record, noting this is a crime if you enter a restroom of the opposite sex. It was brought to Committee attention, and at the last meeting it was asked for options. In the packet today is a draft ordinance to repeal, so the Committee can discuss repealing, amending or doing nothing. Council Member Jackson noted his interest in considering repealing all together without replacement. He cited examples of action that could be grounds to be criminally charged or removed from the building. He supported that anyone coming in to the building should be comfortable with their own bodies and own skin. Council Member Spadafore stated he had no problem with the rationale, but would be interested in what the County has in their experience with this. This is a good attempt, without looking at other sources of guidance, but it is a conversation with merit for comparison to see other facilities in the County and East Lansing. Also to look at the way to write affirmative language. Council Member Jackson inquired into what could be affirmative instead of stigmatize, noting he is open to comparing and contrasting. The sooner off the books better, but what is a couple more weeks. Page 2 of 16 Council Member Spadafore noted in 2019 Ingham County adopted an gender inclusive bathroom policy, looking at that might be a more means to be more inclusive. Council Member Carter concurred with moving forward, but was also interested in doing the due diligence and doing comparisons across the board. Council Member Jackson recalled discussions on council with discussions on having a “family bathroom” in the building. Mr. Staples stated the reason OCA recommended the repeal compared to anything else is because the 684.04 is a criminal prohibition against anyone using a restroom in the City, public or private, that has a sign indicating is for use of opposite sex. OCA looked at it, no way to make inclusive without repealing the criminal aspect. This is just part of the criminal code, and best way to do that is to repeal, then there is no criminal position on using the opposite sex bathroom. Council Member Spadafore stated that after hearing the reasoning from OCA, he has no problem repealing now. Council Member Jackson asked if the Committee is interested in exploring something inclusive like the County did. Council Member Spadafore stated that would be another aspect of the law, so his earlier statement is a separate track. Council Member Jackson noted it is the Mayor’s and Councils role to look at this. Council Member Jackson noted this will then be introduced March 24th with setting the hearing for April 7th. Council Member Jackson noted a policy falls into the administration. Council Member Spadafore asked OCA to look into the Ingham County policy and see if there is something the City of Lansing can do in an ordinance. Mr. Staples MOTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER SPADAFORE TO INTRODUCE AND SET THE PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 7TH, 2025 FOR REPEALING CHAPTER 684, SECTION 684.04. MOTION CARRIED 3-0. Other Council Member Jackson asked about dropping the time limit from 4 hours to participate remotely. Ms. Boak stated she would speak to the Clerk’s office on the Charter Commission sign up and to see if there were any interested parties that missed the timeline. Adjourn Adjourned at 4:48 p.m. Submitted, Sherrie Boak Recording Secretary, Lansing City Council Approved by the Committee on April 9, 2025 Page 3 of 16 DRAFT 2 03/07/2025 1 ORDINANCE NO. ___________ 2 An Ordinance of the City of Lansing, Michigan, to repeal Chapter 684, Section 3 684.04 - Use of restrooms intended for opposite sex. 4 The City of Lansing Ordains: 5 Section 1. That Chapter 684, Section 684.04, of the Codified Ordinances of the City of 6 Lansing, Michigan, be and is hereby repealed in its entirety and shall be null and void of no 7 effect. 8 Section 2. All ordinances, resolutions or rules, parts of ordinances, resolutions or rules 9 inconsistent with the provisions hereof are hereby repealed in their entirety and shall be null and 10 void and of no effect. 11 Section 3. Should any section, clause or phrase of this ordinance be declared to be 12 invalid, the same shall not affect the validity of the ordinance as a whole, or any part thereof 13 other than the part so declared to be invalid. 14 Section 4. This ordinance repeal shall take effect on the 30th day after enactment, unless 15 given immediate effect by City Council. 16 17 1 Page 4 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Jason Sherman-Brown and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because It is our duty to accommodate all the diverse people in our community. Thank you for your consideration. Jason Sherman-Brown Page 5 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Melina Brann and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because Gender affirming options saves lives Thank you for your consideration. Melina Brann Page 6 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Tai Heitzeg and I live in Lansing. I identify as Trans. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because I work for this city, I live in this city, I love and serve this city because this city has given me opportunities I would not be given in less accepting places. This law gives anyone in Lansing the opportunity to threaten me with the police simply for using the bathroom, any inappropriate behavior I could get up to in the bathroom is already against the law. This law helps no one and hurts people like me, please repeal it. Thank you for your consideration. Tai Heitzeg Page 7 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Alex Perez and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because It would be showing growth and acceptance within our city Thank you for your consideration. Alex Perez Page 8 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Alyssa Turcsak and I live in Lansing. I identify as Queer,. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because Accessible government is something we all deserve. When our trans and gender-expansive neighbors can't show up to city hall because there isn't a restroom for them to use, it feels like we could do better. And I know we will because we're Lansing. Thank you for your consideration. Alyssa Turcsak Page 9 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Carla Ahlschwede and I live in Lansing. I identify as Queer, Ally. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because We all need and deserve safe places to do essential human things… and we need public toilets to protect public health. Thank you to the council for working to enable basic human needs in a political environment that is hostile to human existence. Thank you for your consideration. Carla Ahlschwede Page 10 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Colton Hughes and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because trans people in bathrooms is a non issue. People need to mind their business while doing their business. Thank you for your consideration. Colton Hughes Page 11 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Corey Rivera and I live in Lansing. I identify as Queer. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because There's nothing protective about gendered bathrooms- signs only stop people who care about rules. Additionally, a lot of people have health issues regarding bathrooms or care for people of the opposite gender who need help. Deciding some bathrooms are o limits causes tra ic problems. Also, there's the problem of turning bathrooms into hostile places. Thank you for your consideration. Corey Rivera Page 12 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Emery and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+, Queer, Trans. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because It is important to take direct action to reduce harms against the trans community, in addition to expressing various forms of support like flying a pride flag during pride month. Also, gender and sex are so much more complicated than bathroom signage can comprehend. This bathroom entry fearmongering is outdated and we should spend our time and legislative energy on meaningful things. Thank you for your consideration. Emery Page 13 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Elizabeth Vickers and I live in Lansing. I identify as decline to answer. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because Repealing this law protects people who are dear to me. This law is rooted in fear and doesn't make any sense. Thank you for your consideration. Elizabeth Vickers Page 14 of 16 April 4, 2025 Hello Lansing City Councilors, My name is Frankie Shingleton and I live in Lansing. I identify as LGBTQ+, Queer, Trans. I am writing to you today about the importance of repealing ordinance 684.04. Repealing this ordinance is important to me because I am someone who is very much a man who would be forced into women’s restrooms and don’t wish to make myself or women feel unsafe by being in the wrong restroom. Thank you for your consideration. Frankie Shingleton Page 15 of 16 Resolution #2024-037 By the Committee on City Operations Resolved by the City Council of the City of Lansing WHEREAS, pursuant to Rule 41 of the Lansing City Council Rules, a proposed rule revision shall be place on the Council Agenda for Council receipt and review, but “shall not be considered for adoption sooner than the next council meeting;” THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby amends the City Council Rules to add Rule 48: LANSING CITY COUNCIL RULES Rule 48. Electronic Participation in Public Comment at Meetings of Council, Committees. Electronic participation by members of the public, for the purpose of making public comment on legislative matters (as that term is defined above), is permitted at Meetings of City Council, Committee of the Whole, and all other Committees of City Council. To register to speak electronically on legislative matters at a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the City Council or Committee of the Whole, a member of the public may send a request to the City Clerk no later than four (4) hours prior to the meeting in a form and manner determined by the City Clerk. Prior to the meeting, the City Clerk will email the member of the public instructions to participate. City Council office staff will post, with agendas of all other Committees of City Council, instructions on how members of the public may attend and speak electronically on legislative matters. The City Clerk will establish and maintain procedures and protocols for electronic participants, consistent with this rule and technologies being utilized for electronic participation. The procedures and protocols will be available for viewing by any person wishing to register for electronic participation. The Presiding Officer of City Council, Committee of the Whole, or any other Committee of City Council may reduce the amount of time allowed for each speaker if he or she has determined that the number of registered speakers is so numerous that the meeting cannot be timely concluded without a reduction in the time allocated for each speaker. The Rules of Decorum for Meetings, at Rule 18, apply to members of the public participating electronically. The Presiding Officer reserves the right to mute and end the comment of anyone who violates this rule. Page 16 of 16