Former Lansing Mayor Hollister suggests two City Charter changes

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 8 — Former Lansing Mayor David Hollister's lifetime of public service made him a key resource in the minds of many of the city's charter commissioners.

For months, members have floated the idea of having him present his ideas for changes to the city's primary governing document. Their inquiries led Hollister to attend last night's Charter Commission meeting to outline some of his ideas.

Hollister was elected mayor three times, serving from 1993 to 2003, when he stepped down to accept a Cabinet position in Gov. Jennifer Granholm's administration. Before becoming mayor, he was Lansing's state House representative.

At 82, the effects of Parkinson's, which he was diagnosed with around 2000, were evident in his virtual appearance. Still, his mind was sharp as he delivered his advice to the commission, which is charged with reviewing the city charter and recommending reforms.

Hollister thanked the commission for recommending keeping the strong mayor system, which he said is paramount to fostering continued forward-thinking leadership.

Referring to his signature victory, he said, "I doubt that as mayor, we could have kept GM in our region with a weak mayor, given the disruptive effects that are impacting our cities, the pandemic's impact on social and economic conditions, ongoing economic uncertainty, the housing crisis, climate challenge, artificial intelligence, population shifts and political polarization.

He related that to a proposed charter change requiring the mayor to develop a strategic plan and make it public.

"It's more critical than ever that we have a comprehensive plan for how we are going to address these 21st century challenges," Hollister said.

Under Hollister's recommendation, a change to Article 4, Section 102, would require each mayor to present the plan within one year of being sworn into office. The plan would include "comprehensive data on and analysis of the city's current situation," "active involvement" of citizens, community organizations, local businesses, area government agencies, and other stakeholders, "detailed strategies and action plans," and mechanisms to track and review the progress made in achieving those goals.

He urged the commissioners, future city leaders and mayors to use his extensive archives at Michigan State University to help guide them in revising the charter and crafting comprehensive plans.

"You've got to articulate your own vision. That's what the mayor does, and that's what the initiative I'm going for guarantees. If you've got your plan, you've articulated your plan and your values, then you can have confidence that the work can go on while the politics play itself out," he said.

He noted that Michigan State University and Madison, Wisconsin's state capital, have robust, comprehensive plans that could guide Lansing mayors in implementing their versions.

"It's incredibly important that someone be held accountable and ultimately married to his team. Don't do it by yourself. You can't do that without public support," he said.

Commissioner Liz Boyd asked if this was his most important suggestion for the commission to implement. He replied with a succinct "yes."

Hollister also came equipped with a second firm proposal to establish a preamble to the charter.

The preamble, formulated in writing by Hollister with two former advisers, David Wiener and Bob Swanson, positions the document to address goals toward a "transparent, accountable and efficient Mayor-Council government."

It goes on to note that the charter aims to promote the shared goals of "economic vitality, diversity and inclusiveness, justice, transparency, equality, equity, efficiency, quality service, public participation, environmental stewardship and regional collaboration."

Hollister explained that the purpose of this preamble would be "to make clear to all of our city's many stakeholders what our city's vision and values are."

Commissioners expressed openness to both changes.

Hollister said the process as a whole — eventually leading to the nine-member elected body sending a fully revised charter document to the Governor's Office for approval, after which it would be returned to the voters at the ballot box for a final vote —was an essential step in moving the city forward.

Throughout his appearance, Hollister stressed the importance of regional collaboration, which he said was the key to ensuring the charter would function smoothly for decades. He added that agencies like CATA, the Lansing School District, the Capital Region International Airport, and other stakeholders should be invited to participate whenever possible to promote greater transparency.

"My viewpoint is based on 50 years of public service in the Lansing area. In the past, a periodic tweaking of the charter may have been sufficient. But today, in part due to the pandemic, local policymakers are faced with complex, accelerating, high stakes, social, political and economic challenges. I believe the times fall for a bold, visionary, strategic, regional and creative approach," Hollister said.

"I wanted to personally thank each one of you for the time and energy that you have put into this endeavor. The task that you have taken might seem trivial and inconsequential at times, but I can assure you that this is an opportunity of a lifetime. Your decisions and recommendations will have a profound impact for years to come," he added.