City Hall to be Moved?
City hall could be moved from its longtime location on Abbot Road, after a potential move was discussed at the Tuesday, Jan. 14 discussion-only City Council meeting.
City Manager Robert Belleman introduced the topic, highlighting several issues with the current building. Among them is the need for more space to hold large meetings, the narrow hallways in the building that become congested during large events like Election Day, the lack of natural sunlight in parts of the building and the cost of maintaining the building.

City hall was built in 1965.
Belleman will send out a Request For Proposal (RFP) for architectural and engineering firms to respond to. Responses could include proposed buildings for city hall to be moved to, locations for a new city hall to be constructed or for renovations to improve the current site.
In recent years, the city has moved most of its meetings, including City Council meetings, to be held in the Hannah Community Center. Some city offices, like the clerk’s office and finance office, are still located in city hall. The building also hosts the 54B District Court.
The agenda report said Belleman and Councilmember Mark Meadows have already “toured several existing facilities that could potentially be a site for city hall.”
Meadows expressed support for hearing options for a new location. .
“I don’t have any problem with an RFP, it doesn’t mean we have to make any change whatsoever, but at least it lets us know the facts that are necessary to actually make a decision going forward,” Meadows said. “I’m all for it.”

It is unclear how much the relocation or renovations would cost, as there is a wide range of possible proposals. Council will hear responses to the RFP at a later meeting.
Council shows interest in lobbying for East Lansing BWL representation.
Also during the unusually short Jan. 14 meeting, a couple council members expressed interest in East Lansing being represented on the Lansing Board of Water and Light (BWL).
During council communications, Councilmember Erik Altmann said he believes city officials should meet with the Lansing Charter Commission about amending the Lansing city charter to allow an East Lansing BWL representative.
“The charter commission is taking, I think, a pretty broad view of possible revisions,” Altmann said. “I would like to ask that at our next discussion-only meeting, we have an agenda item to discuss the possibility of approaching the Lansing charter review commission concerning this issue.”
Mayor George Brookover said he will add the item to the next discussion-only meeting agenda, which is scheduled for Feb. 11.
Meadows followed up Altmann’s comments by noting that he agrees it is a “worthwhile discussion.”
In September 2024, Meadows criticized BWL rate increases that went into effect in October. The utility provider has also been condemned by some local environmental groups for its plans to add a fossil fuel powered plant.
BWL later sent representatives to a discussion-only City Council meeting. There, the representatives explained the rate increases, why the gas-powered plant is being added and claimed BWL is on track to meet its 2030 renewable energy goals.
Currently, East Lansing has a non-voting advisory BWL representative.