The community survey was done to gauge the general attitude of people living in East Lansing, said Ted Staton, city manager for East Lansing.

“Attitudes about East Lansing as a place to live and a place to raise children … are overwhelmingly positive — much more positive than they were five years ago,” he said.

About 600 residents were surveyed via telephone. In addition, students were included in the sample, although as a minority, because the city only surveyed registered voters, and there are fewer students registered to vote in East Lansing than nonstudents, Staton said.

A professional survey firm will be at the work session to make observations about the survey results, he said.

Investment report

“We have to report to the council on a quarterly basis the status of the investments the city holds,” said Jill Martinez, assistant finance director for East Lansing.

The report covers the time period until Sept. 30, and will show the council where East Lansing’s idle funds are sitting, Martinez said.

“We are being a little more cautious in trying to make sure we have as much insurance as possible, and that we’re keeping taxpayer money safe,” she said.

Council also will discuss the current insurance policy of MERS, which holds the city’s employees noted benefit plans.

The council also will look to see that MERS is not investing in anything related to Sudan, Martinez said.

Nonmotorized transportation plan

The plan for a nonmotorized transportation plan for the city was generated by a request made by the council last fall, said Todd Sneathen, director of public works for East Lansing.

“The idea is that the existing street network would be evaluated,” he said.

A subcommittee, consisting of two members from four of the city’s commissions, came up with goals and objectives, which will be presented to council.

If there are no objections, the city will ask consulting firms about how they would develop a plan like this, Sneathen said.

“The group goal was to create a safe, usable nonmotorized system that serves as an option to (the roadway),” he said.