EAST LANSING, Mich. — At East Lansing City Council’s meeting this past Tuesday, March 23, City Council approved a policy resolution to continue holding electronic public meetings during the City State of Emergency declared by East Lansing Mayor Aaron Stephens.
With the approval of this resolution, public meetings of the East Lansing City Council and public meetings of the City of East Lansing’s boards, commissions and committees will continue to be held electronically in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act, Public Act 267 of 1976, as long as the City State of Emergency remains in effect. Currently, the City State of Emergency remains in effect through May 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.
Section 3a of the Michigan Open Meetings Act allows a public body to hold an electronic meeting if the meeting is held in an area affected by a local state of emergency or state of disaster, and, per the East Lansing City Code, East Lansing’s mayor is empowered to declare a City State of Emergency and issue orders, rules and regulations regarding the use of public property to protect life and property during the declared emergency. Community members can find public meeting notices and agendas for upcoming electronic meetings on the City of East Lansing’s Electronic Public Meeting Notices webpage, www.cityofeastlansing.com/electronicmeetings.