The City of East Lansing

Consumers Energy Construction Project Updates:

Phase 7 – All gas construction and associated restoration has been completed.

Phase 8 – Gas construction work continues within Phase 8. Blue Team has completed installing all gas mains in the alley. They are finalizing remaining services in the alley and final retirement by the end of the week. Orange Team is working on a small gas main segment at Linden and Division streets and then completing final retirements. Restoration is ongoing in the area with hard and soft surfaces with a targeted completion of all restoration in Phase 8 by mid-August.

Phase 9 – Gas services are in process within the Flowerpot Area west of Harrison Road, specifically along Lilac and Marigold avenues. Restoration is starting within the neighborhood. Crews plan to mobilize the week of Aug. 5 to the Cedar Village area.

Phase 10 – All gas construction and associated restoration is complete.

Community members who have questions about this project are encouraged to reach out to Consumers Energy directly at (517) 374-2375.

🗳 The Early Voting Center (EVC) for the statewide primary will open at 405 Grove St. on Saturday, July 27 and run through Sunday, Aug. 4. The EVC will be open each day from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Free parking is available behind the EVC in the East Lot on Park Lane and Linden Street. Disability-accessible parking is located in the front of the EVC along Grove Street.

Additionally, voters who wish to tabulate their absentee ballots can do so at the Early Voting Center.

More information about voting can be found at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/192/Election-Info

The City Council will meet tonight for a special regular meeting, so called because it is the meeting that replaces the one canceled on July 9 due to inclement weather conditions. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road.

On the agenda for tonight's meeting are the following items:

👮introduction of a new East Lansing Police Department police officer
🗳 a special presentation on upcoming elections from the East Lansing City Clerk
🎤Three public hearings, further discussion of the City's Charter Review Committee and much more!

View the full agenda for tonight's meeting here: https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=8679 including instructions for how to participate in the meeting remotely.

📨To receive a recap of Council meetings in your email inbox, sign up here:
https://cityofeastlansing.com/1865/Sign-Up-for-the-Dialog-E-Newsletter

🐸💦The East Lansing Family Aquatic Center (ELFAC), 6400 Abbot Road will host its annual Summer Splash from noon-6 p.m. TODAY (Tuesday, July 23).

Summer Splash features fun activities for all ages! This includes the return of the famous belly flop and biggest splash contests, children’s games, relay races, sidewalk art contest and hourly prizes. Local DJ Sound Diversions will provide music from 3-6 p.m.

Regular daily admission rates will apply for this event. 🌞

Read more at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2147

Check out City of meetings and events for this week! Meeting agendas can be found here https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/
Visit https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/ for information about events. Hope to see you there!

🎼🎤 The Christopher Minami Quartet will take the stage at Ann Street Plaza tonight (Friday, July 19) from 6-8 p.m. as part of the Summer Concert Series!

Get all the details about the summer events lineup here:
https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2146
and check out these photos from 2014!💜

🌈Happiness is yelling "Bingo!"

Community members are invited to celebrate Parks, Recreation and Arts Day at the East Lansing Farmers Market on Sunday, July 21. Check out the bingo card to Explore, Engage & Enjoy parks, recreation and arts activities in the City of this month and throughout the year!

Parks, Recreation and Arts Day coincides with the national recognition of Parks and Recreation Month, celebrated annually during the month of July since 1985. This year’s theme is “Where You Belong.” 🩷🧡🩵💚

Learn more here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2145

🍍🍍🍍Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?! 🍍🍍🍍

All-of-us Express Children's Theatre will perform "The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition" over two weekends beginning next Friday, July 26. TODAY (Thursday, July 18) the cast will be part of a special fun event at the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center from noon-4 p.m. for SpongeBob Splash!

Get all the details here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2144

The following City of East Lansing offices will close at noon on Friday, July 19 for an employee enrichment event:

💚East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road
💚Department of Public Works, 1800 E. State Road
💚Prime Time Seniors Program, 819 Abbot Road
💚East Lansing City Clerk’s window at City Hall

**Voters may drop off their absentee ballots in any of the drop boxes located throughout the City, including the voter drop box in the north parking lot at City Hall during this closure.**

For more information, visit https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2143

The East Lansing Arts Commission is currently accepting applications for its Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Cultural Arts Grant program.

“This is a great opportunity for groups, organizations, businesses or individuals to apply for grant funding to support events or projects that encourage artistic awareness, public participation and cultural arts appreciation in our East Lansing community,” said East Lansing Art Festival and Arts Initiative Coordinator Heather Majano.

Learn more at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2142

[Photos of previous grantees, clockwise, L-R: All-of-us Express Children's Theater production of The Addams Family; the SiP Duo (which stands for Saxophones in Progress); the Pumpstock Festival of American Roots Music; and a weaving project done in collaboration between East Lansing High School students and pupils from Stepping Stones Montessori School]

Join us tonight at Valley Court Park, 280 Valley Court for the summer's first Play in the Park with Impression 5 Science Center! The event starts at 7 p.m. It's FREE! https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/450/Play-in-the-Park

Consumers Energy Project Updates:

Phase 7 – All gas construction and associated restoration has been completed.

Phase 8 – Gas construction work continues within Phase 8. Blue Team is installing a gas main in the alley from Durand to Gunson streets. Orange Team is working on final retirements along Division Street. Restoration is ongoing in the area with hard and soft surfaces.

Phase 9 – Gas services are in process within the Flowerpot Area west of Harrison Road, specifically along Lilac and Marigold avenues. Restoration is starting within the neighborhood.

Phase 10 – All gas construction and associated restoration is complete.

Community members who have questions about this project are encouraged to reach out to Consumers Energy directly at (517) 374-2375.

The City of East Lansing’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) will host “The Impact of Food Insecurity in Our Community” at the East Lansing Farmers Market, 280 Valley Court on Sunday, July 21 from noon-2 p.m. Learn more here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2141

{Photos from a Coffee & Conversation held at the ELFM last summer}

🎉Calling all graphic designers, artists and/or design firms! The City has released a Request for Qualifications today for those interested in designing the poster and other deliverables for next year’s East Lansing Art Festival. Get all the details at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2140

Check out what's happening in this week! Visit https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/calendar.aspx for more information.

🎨Community members are invited to Downtown East Lansing on Wednesday, July 17 from 5-7 p.m. for the fourth annual Chalk Walk, an opportunity for community members of all ages to come together outdoors to help make a mosaic art piece with chalk! The City will provide all of the chalk that is needed for this event and anyone who would like to create art is invited to participate. Plus, there will be a small petting zoo 🐰🐥 and coupons from Rocket Fizz! Read more here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2139

There is still A LOT of summer left, but for MacDonald Middle School students who are interested in volleyball or cross country, please see the information about youth sports below and mark your calendars!

🏐Tryouts for MacDonald Middle School girls seventh and eighth grade volleyball are tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 28 and Thursday, Aug. 29. Times to be determined. Registration link will go live after tryouts. https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/902/Sports-Youth

A 10-game schedule will begin in mid-September and go through the end of October. All participants of Middle School sports must have a physical on file (from after April 15, 2024) at the school office prior to competing. Program cost is $225.

👣MacDonald Middle School cross country practice for girls and boys in sixth through eighth grade will begin Wednesday, Aug. 28. Practices will be from 3:15-5 p.m. each day (subject to change). Runners should bring water. Registration link will go live in August. https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/902/Sports-Youth

Meets will begin in September and go through mid-October. Program cost is $175. Please note that all participants of middle school sports must have a physical on file (from after April 15, 2024) at the school office prior to competing.
For information about scholarships, visit https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1974

As part of the City of East Lansing’s comprehensive plan update, the Planning and Zoning Department will host three sessions on Monday, July 15 focusing on how public health affects a community's overall quality of life.

✅ A panel discussion from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center (ELHCC), 819 Abbot Road. Register at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/public-health-in-east-lansing-tickets-936661358337
✅ A session in partnership with the Prime Time Seniors Program from 1-2 p.m. in Room 142 at the ELHCC. To register for this session, call Prime Time at (517) 337-1113.
✅ An interactive workshop from 6-7:30 p.m. at Patriarche Park, 960 Alton Road in the pavilion. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bigger-picture-in-focus-public-health-workshop-tickets-900071838097

Learn more about all three sessions at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2138

The City of East Lansing wants to provide reassurance and assistance to those community members affected by the July 9 storm and resulting flood.

💚DPW will provide a special collection for water damaged items. Visit DPW at 1800 E. State Road before Wednesday, July 17 to schedule an extra pickup and receive a pickup voucher. Collections will take place on Friday, July 12, Monday, July 15, Wednesday, July 17 and Friday, July 19.

💚 The Wet Weather Resiliency Project survey has been reopened and can be taken here for community members to share their experience including photos: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/14208e6710024c5c9461f39dea4c2089

💚 Read everything we currently know about this storm as well as how we are reacting to it here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2137

The location for tonight's Planning Commission meeting and public hearing has been MOVED TO East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road. It will be held in Conference Room A on the second floor due to repairs taking place at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center. For the meeting agenda, visit https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=8502

The East Lansing Family Aquatic Center will be closed today (Wednesday, July 10) due to the inclement weather. The ELFAC will reopen Thursday, July 11, weather permitting.

The rain has stopped and streets are starting to drain, however, there is still standing water around the City including at intersections and on residential streets. Please do NOT drive through standing water.

‼️ In view of the inclement weather and in order to protect City employees and residents given the current road conditions, the City Manager and Mayor have consulted and agreed to cancel tonight’s City Council meeting. The City Council meeting will be rescheduled for a later date in July. ‼️

A new mural, commissioned by the City's Arts Commission, is going up in the alley near Beggar's Banquet in downtown East Lansing! Learn more about the artist, Jazz Benitez, at https://www.enjoylifejazzmynbenitez.com/

Join us tomorrow night (Wednesday, July 10) from 7-8:30 p.m. for Solarize East Lansing at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road.

Those who are interested in learning more about residential solar can hear first-hand experiences from local residents who have made the switch to solar energy, discover financial incentives including rebates, tax credits and financing options as well as have an opportunity to participate in group-buy discounts on solar installation. Learn more and register to attend at: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2135

Tonight's City Council meeting will start at 7 p.m. at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road. View the agenda online and learn how to attend remotely: https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx?Org=Cal&Id=3388

🌞Mark your calendars for the "Tupperware party" for solar energy to be held this week at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road. Learn more and register to attend this free event at https://tinyurl.com/ELSolar

Ever thought about going solar but didn’t know where to start? Join us for Solarize East Lansing – the "Tupperware Party" for solar energy on Wednesday, July 10 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road.

✨Learn from Neighbors: Hear firsthand experiences from local residents who have already switched to solar.
✨Discover Financial Incentives: Get the lowdown on all the rebates, tax credits and financing options available.
✨Bulk Purchase Savings: Team up with fellow East Lansing residents to secure group-buy discounts on solar installations.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get all your solar questions answered in a friendly, community setting. Let’s make a greener place together! 🌳

Check out what's happening in the City of this week!
Meeting agendas can be found at https://cityofeastlansing.civicweb.net/Portal/Default.aspx
and City events can be found here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/calendar.aspx

🚧🚦🚧Hagadorn Road between Grand River Avenue and the bridge near MSU's campus will be completely closed beginning Monday, July 8 for phase one of the Hagadorn Road Construction Project.

The City will host an informational meeting at 5 p.m. tomorrow (Monday, July 8th) at the East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road for community members to ask questions and learn more about this project.

Read more here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2134

New art has dropped, ! Community members are invited to visit downtown East Lansing to view the latest rotating art display, featuring images in collaboration with REACH Studio Art Center. Read more here: https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=2005