The other ordinance — 1232 — rezoned the Pinecrest Neighborhood to a R-O-2 designation, allowing current owners to apply for rental licenses. Future homebuyers would not be eligible to rent their homes.

Public comment brought some tensions to the surface. Tempers flared in the back of the meeting room on more than one occasion, but for the most part, conversations at the proceedings were subdued.

Those arguing in favor of the ordinances cited concerns about property values, inadequate care of rental properties and potential student tenants.

Those against the ordinances brought up issues of socioeconomic discrimination, prejudice against students and misconceptions about renters.

After all was said and done, council members said they were obligated to vote in favor of the ordinances because city code required them to do so.

“We could have tabled it, deferred, denied or conditioned it,” Mayor Vic Loomis said. “From my standpoint, it was pretty specific the way the ordinance was drafted and approved. When the petitioners comply with standards, we are obligated to approve it.”

Council members cited ordinance 1035C as their standard for approving the overlays.

“Each member has taken an oath to uphold the codes of the city,” Councilmember Nathan Triplett said. “We have to abide by the law … by the code of the city of East Lansing. (The petitions) meet requirements of 1035C.”

In lay terms, the council was bound by its duty to the city to approve each ordinance as brought by the petitioners for their respective districts.