PAVEMENT PRESERVATION PROJECT CONTINUES

EASTERN AVENUE RESURFACING LOCATIONS

The City's Pavement Preservation Project continues with resurfacing of Eastern Avenue beginning July 29, 2024 between Peninsula Drive/M-37 intersection to the Eastern Terminus of Eastern Avenue (City Water Plant, Low Pump Station). The work is anticipated to be completed August 9, 2024, weather permitting.

The contractor will mill the existing pavement, adjusting manhole covers and storm catch basins,

and overlay the milled surface with asphalt.

Eastern Avenue will remain open to two way traffic, however during daytime hours when workers

are present, segments of the street will be reduced to one lane under flagger control. Access to driveways and adjacent side streets will be maintained as much as possible. However, during certain tasks access may be restricted. Proper barricades and signage will be in place.

The Eastern Avenue resurfacing is part of the 2023-2024 Pavement Preservation Project. Completed projects include the Union and Eighth Street and the Cass and Eighth Street intersections, and resurfacing of Maple Street. 

ELECTION UPDATES

EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING BEGINS JULY 27, 2024

Election season is underway, marked by the upcoming Primary Election scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, 2024.

Early In-Person Voting

Early In-Person Voting will begin on Saturday, July 27, 2024, and will run through Sunday, August 4, 2024, from 9 am to 5 pm. The Early Voting Site for voters in the City of Traverse City is at the Governmental Center, Lower Level, 400 Boardman Avenue.

Absentee Voting

For those who are enrolled in the Permanent Ballot List, or who have completed an Absentee Ballot Application, the initial mailing of ballots took place on Friday, June 28, 2024. Absentee ballots continue to be mailed as applications are received.

A voter may run their absentee ballot through a tabulator during Early In-Person Voting or at their precinct on election day (and of course, you may still return the ballot to the City Clerk's Office by 8 pm on election day to have it tabulated by the Absent Voter Counting Board).

Ballot Marking Instructions for Primary Election

In the August primary election, voters will choose the candidates they prefer for a political party to nominate in the general election in November.

You may vote in one party section ONLY.

You cannot “split your ticket.” If you vote in more than one party section, your partisan ballot will be rejected.

Voters can request a replacement ballot from the Clerk's Office if they do split their ticket on the ballot.

Precinct 9 Building Change at NMC

Precinct 9 was previously located at NMC's Health & Science Building and will now be at NMC's Innovation Center. The relocation will be effective for the August 6, 2024 election.

Voting Precincts 7 & 10 Relocation Reminder

The relocation of two polling places (used for in-person, election day voting) became effective with this year. Voting Precinct 7, formerly at Traverse Heights Elementary, and Precinct 10, formerly at Glenn Loomis Elementary, have moved locations.

Voting Precinct 7

Traverse City Area District Library Main Branch

McGuire Room

610 Woodmere Avenue

Traverse City, MI 49686

Voting Precinct 10

The Carnegie Building

322 Sixth Street

Traverse City, MI 49684

Third Party Voting Advocates

During election season, third party organizations that advocate for voter participation may send you text messages, emails, and absentee ballot applications (even if you are already registered, have completed a form, etc.)

Have a question on the status of your voter registration, absentee ballot, or more?

Call your local Clerk. We are happy to help! Or visit, michigan.gov/vote to check the status of your registration, absentee ballot, and more.

SEEKING INPUT THROUGH DRAFT MASTER PLAN SURVEY

Both the Master Plan and Mobility Action Plan have been drafted. The Master Plan is a guiding document for land use decisions within the City, while the Mobility Action Plan will help to guide transportation decisions. Take the survey and provide your input!

Take the Survey

SCAN & PAY LAUNCHED FOR PARKING VIOLATIONS

Traverse City Parking Services has introduced a new Scan-and-Pay option for parking violations. A QR code will now display on parking violations that offers an efficient and fast method allows you to avoid late fees by quickly settling your ticket on the spot with just a small convenience fee.

TCLP COMMUNITY INVESTMENT FUND APPLICATIONS

Traverse City Light and Power (TCLP) is accepting Community Investment Fund Grant Applications for the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year. Applications are still being accepted until July 31, 2024.

As a public power utility, TCLP is committed to investing in the community they serve. The vision of the Community Investment Fund is to enhance the quality of life in the Traverse City area with charitable contributions focused on projects and programs in three key areas: Community Development, Energy-Related Education, and Natural Resources/Environmental.

Are you a non-profit organization operating in the Traverse City service area that has a program or project that can benefit the Traverse City community? Does your project aim to promote energy-related education, improve the quality of the natural resources of Traverse City, and support a sustainable environment?

If your answer is yes to the above questions, apply for TCLP's Community Investment Fund. Grant applications are accepted two times per year from May 1 – July 31 and from November 1 – January 31.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPEN HOUSE

Join the City and Jacobs Engineering for a public open house at the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility on Friday, August 2nd, from 10 am to 2 pm.  

Tour-goers will follow the path of wastewater as it travels through the treatment process to remove pollutants, and protect the waterway. Attendees will learn how and what microorganisms remove organic matter, the role membrane filtration plays, how biogas produced during digestion is recycled as an energy source, what happens to the solids during and after treatment, and more.

Plant tours will be provided on the hour

• 10:00 am
• 11:00 am
• 12:00 pm
• 1:00 pm

Tour Requirements

• Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult
• All participants must wear close toed shoes
• Hard hats and safety glasses are required and will be provided
• For security purposes, photos are not permitted

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT CONTINUES

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) designates galvanized water services as lead service lines if they "are or ever were" connected to a lead gooseneck, requiring utilities to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop to the building. Lead goosenecks, installed before the mid-1940s, are 3-foot lead pipes used between the brass connection to the water main and a galvanized pipe.

The City has since installed copper services and has no known fully lead service lines. Not all private galvanized lines need replacement; those originally connected to City-owned copper services don't require replacement. The water service line replacement project started in April 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in October 2024.

The week of July 29th, the project will continue on the 300, 500, and 600 blocks of W. Eleventh Street, the 600 block of W. Twelfth Street, the 800 block of S. Division Street, the 800 block of Wadsworth Avenue, and the 800 block of S. Union Street. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

INPUT SOUGHT ON DRAFT CONSOLIDATED PLAN

The City recently became a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) entitlement community. To access annual funding, the City must develop a Five-Year Consolidated Plan. This plan is a process that recipients of grant funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)—such as states, local governments, and public housing agencies—undertake to identify priority needs and goals for housing and community development. Additionally, the plan will help identify at-risk populations in the City, the prevalence of low-to-moderate-income households, and will include an assessment of the community’s housing needs.

After a review with the City Commission, stakeholder meetings, and community feedback, a draft Consolidated Plan has been developed and is available for a 30-day public comment period. The City estimates funding of $365,323 for the first year.

For interested citizens who are unable to attend the public hearing on August 12, 2024, please submit input via email to lsickterman@traversecitymi.gov or to the Planning and Zoning Department, 400 Boardman Ave, Traverse City, MI 49684, ATTN: CDBG/PUBLIC

Are you interested in serving the City of Traverse City? Serving on a board or commission can be a rewarding experience that allows you to make a difference in our community. Boards and Commissions are responsible for making key decisions and providing direction to the City and City Commission.

Interested in Becoming Involved?

The City is seeking volunteers for the following Boards and Commissions. Please feel free to contact the City Clerk's Office with any questions at (231) 922-4480 or by email at tcclerk@traversecitymi.gov to learn more about the appointment process through the City Commission Policy on Appointments and Committees. The following Boards and Commissions are seeking applicants.

• Brown Bridge Advisory Committee
• Board of Zoning Appeals
• Coast Guard City Committee 
• Grand Traverse Commons Joint Planning
• Historic Districts Commission
• Human Rights Commission 
• Parks & Recreation Commission

Attend Meetings and/or Subscribe to Meeting Packets

Attending meetings or following the work of your fellow community members who sit on various Boards and Commissions is the best way to stay in the know on the policies and initiatives that are being developed to shape our future. 

Subscribe to Meeting Agendas

Watch Streamed Meetings

City Commission, Planning Commission, the Downtown Development Authority, and TC Light & Power meetings are all live streamed. Visit the link below to watch live or view the recordings at a later time.

Watch Streamed Meetings

SECOND CHARTER AMENDMENT

TO APPEAR ON BALLOT

NOVEMBER 2024

TC Taxpayers for Justice submitted a sufficient number of petition signatures, which were verified by the City Clerk, to place City Charter Amendments related to TIF on the ballot.

At their July 15, 2024 meeting, the City Commission approved ballot language for a second Charter Amendment to be placed on the November 2024 ballot related to Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Initially, City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht advised City Clerk Benjamin Marentette and City Commission that the second Charter Amendment proposal could not appear on the ballot until the Governor’s review was complete, even though a State statute exists which requires an initiated proposal to appear on a ballot regardless of the Governor’s objection. The City Clerk and City Attorney have held additional subsequent discussions, and the City Attorney has further researched case law on the matter. Both have concluded that the second Charter amendment proposal related to Tax Increment Financing should also be placed on the November 2024 ballot, regardless if the Governor has completed the required review prior to its submission to the County Clerk.

Litigation was filed against the City seeking to compel the City to place the proposal on the November 2024 ballot prior to the Governor’s review being complete; and by the City Clerk certifying the ballot proposal for the November 2024 election, the litigation is moot.

IN THE COMMUNITY

EMERGENCY RESPONDER SOFTBALL GAME

Both TCPD and TCFD will be serving up their best ball playing skills during the 2024 Emergency Responder Softball Game this Sunday, July 28th at Turtle Creek Stadium, from 1:30 to 3 pm.

For tickets, visit the Pit Spitters website. Use the promo code 911NWMI for tickets and $3 of each ticket will go back to our local Emergency Responders!

Ticket Information