Loomis
Proposed improvements to older parking structures downtown and the city’s water infrastructure likely will be discussed by the East Lansing City Council at its 7 p.m. work session tonight at City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.
Potential parking structure improvements to be discussed would include extensive maintenance and structural repair work, a revamp of the stairwells in the structures and lighting and elevator replacement, East Lansing Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said.
Dempsey said the three parking structures under consideration for improvements are Lot 10, or the Division Street ramp, the University Place parking structure at 300 M.A.C. Ave. and the Grove Street ramp.
The project would cost an estimated $2 million, Dempsey said. He said the city is looking at selling more leases in the parking systems and gradual adjustments in parking rates to pay for the proposed improvements, and said the improvements are timely because preventative action now could save money in the long run.
“The time has come to make some larger investments on those facilities so we extend their life for another 20 to 40 years,” Dempsey said. “These facilities are in decent shape — to maintain that quality and maintain that lifespan, we need to take that action sooner rather than later.”
Proposed water infrastructure improvements in the city also are scheduled to be discussed.
Todd Sneathen, East Lansing’s director of public works, said city officials are looking into enlarging and revamping a water main on Harrison Avenue to improve the water pressure in the surrounding area.
“It’s more than regular maintenance — it’s a significant project,” Sneathen said. “(The water main) is older, and needs to be replaced.”
East Lansing Mayor Vic Loomis said looking at public works and public structure improvement projects such as those in discussion would give the city time to see what is a priority for the near future to save time and money in the long run.
“There’s always maintenance that’s needed in those areas,” Loomis said. “We’re also looking at preventative types of measures.”
Council also is scheduled to continue its discussion on medical marijuana in light of the extended moratorium passed last week.
Councilmember Nathan Triplett said there likely will be talk of specific conditions regarding the ordinance allowing medical marijuana dispensaries in certain parts of the city. He said he will bring up issues he has with the current proposed ordinance — including the requirement of surveillance cameras on the premises of dispensaries and the distance requirement between dispensaries — because requirements such as this appear in no other section of the city code.
“Medical marijuana is clearly a unique use, but we need to frame our ordinance in a way that’s enforceable with the rest of our code,” Triplett said.
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