The East Lansing City Council will attempt to work out the kinks in another rental restriction district during its meeting at 7 p.m. today.

Through an ordinance approved by the council in April, residents have the power to create "overlay districts" with petitions. The districts freeze the amount of rental units in an area. The ordinance does not affect existing rentals.

Councilmember Vic Loomis previously asked that the requests for specific overlay districts go through a work session so the council could sort out the ordinances.

"It becomes a question more of how the boundary is set," Loomis said. "I just feel that from time to time, there are going to be instances where a property or two probably should be excluded or included."

Blighted property in the East Village area also is slated for discussion at the meeting, held at 410 Abbott Road in courtroom 2.

Properties qualify for blight designation after meeting criteria that includes physical deterioration of structures, impractical buildings and improper or inefficient arrangement spaces, according to a report to council from Tim Dempsey, East Lansing Community and Economic Development administrator.

The 35-acre area considered for redesignation includes Cedar Village and more than 700 rental units that might be converted to new housing and retail space as part of a proposed redevelopment. The area is bounded on the west and east by Bogue Street and Hagadorn Road, and on the north and south by Grand River Avenue and the Red Cedar River.

The city is now referring to the term "blighted" as an "area of community rehabilitation, revitalization and renewal" in response to concerns about the negative connotation of blighted property.