Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

AGENDA Committee on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion May 14, 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. April 9, 2025 4. Public Comment on Agenda Items (Up to 3 Minutes) 5. Presentations: B. Sister Cities - Dr. Maxine Cain 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 3  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. Page 2 of 3 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 Page 3 of 3