The Lansing City Council is expected to vote on whether to start the process of selling the city’s only municipal golf course, convention center, and minor league baseball stadium. The proposal is likely to fail, as council member Peter Spadafore, who is proposing the resolution, won’t vote for it. The city funds these properties to drive tourism, business, and investment in Lansing, with a budget of about $2 million for the properties. However, other city officials, including Mayor Andy Schor and Council President Jeremy Garza, are opposed to selling these well-known city assets as they believe they are valuable for the community.
LEPFA, the management company hired by the city to operate these properties, did not respond to requests for comment. The council member Ryan Kost has criticized the city payments for the properties, suggesting that LEPFA’s management team needs to improve and stop asking for so much money from the city. While selling these assets may not be the right move, exploring other options like additional revenue sources or different management could be considered. Council members are now in the final stages of budget negotiations, with a vote on the city’s budget expected on Monday.
Spadafore’s resolution suggests selling the assets, but if council members don’t support the sale, other avenues like a bidding process for a new management team or bringing the management back under the city’s umbrella could be explored. The city’s budget will be balanced and will not dip into its reserves, according to council members, despite the ongoing discussion about the funding of LEPFA. The golf course, in particular, is considered a city gem and should be kept available for residents at cheaper rates compared to non-municipal courses.
City Attorney Greg Venker highlighted a complication for the Lansing Center, as its bonds are based on being a non-profit organization, and a sale to an organization without a similar tax exemption could result in the city having to pay tax differences. The city’s golf course is considered park land, requiring a vote by residents to approve a sale. Additionally, the ballfield is under contract with Major League Baseball through 2038, necessitating the league’s cooperation and approval for any sale. The council is scheduled to meet for a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday at 5 p.m. and a full council meeting at 7 p.m.
