NEW LEAF PICK UP PROGRESS MAP LAUNCHES

LEAF PICK UP BEGINS OCTOBER 28TH

The City is launching a new map to streamline its annual leaf pickup program, dividing the city into six zones for efficient service. Leaf collection will begin on the west side in Zone 1 and progress eastward through all zones. Residents can view the map to identify their zone and prepare for leaf pickup accordingly. Due to weather conditions and the unpredictability of leaf fall, exact dates for each zone's pickup will not be provided. The City encourages residents to be ready by having their leaves gathered before collection starts in their zone.

Progress updates will be announced via social media and will also be available on the interactive map on the City's Leaf Pickup webpage. While crews may clean streets outside of the scheduled zone to finish up the day, if they are not officially picking up in that zone, they will return at the appropriate time. This zoned approach will help ensure timely and effective leaf removal across the City.

The Fall Loose Leaf Pick Up will begin Monday, October 28th in City neighborhoods beginning on the west side and moving eastward, over a period of 5 to 7 weekdays. Crews will then will return to the west side to repeat the process.

• Please keep leaves off of the street until Thursday, October 24th
• Do not use plastic bags - only loose leaves and biodegradable bags
• No brush or sticks - loose leaves only
• Always avoid covering catch basins when raking

HISTORIC BARNS PARK

GROUNDBREAKING FOR BARN RENOVATION

The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park and the Rec Authority of the City and Garfield Township will host a groundbreaking ceremony on Friday, October 25 at 10 am, marking the next phase of park redevelopment. This project will transform Barn 206, also known as the Historic Barn, into the Debra J. Edson Family Education Center, which will include classrooms, event space, a demonstration kitchen, and more.

Additionally, a two-story connector will be built between the Historic Barn and Cathedral Barn (Barn 204), providing shared lobbies and universal elevator access. The $5 million project, funded through a partnership between the Rec Authority and the Botanic Garden, will also include new roofs for both barns and additional storage in the Cathedral Barn.

Construction begins this fall, with completion anticipated by fall 2025. The project is funded through a capital campaign and contributions from local and state foundations, along with support from individuals and a Michigan Community Center Grant.

HALLOWEEN

OPEN HOUSE

Get into the Halloween spirit at the City and Grand Traverse County's family-friendly Halloween Open House! Join the fun on Friday, October 25, 2024, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue.

This community-favorite event offers trick-or-treating, festive activities, and a chance to meet local government staff in a fun, welcoming environment. Kids can explore fire trucks, police vehicles, and Department of Public Services equipment while meeting local heroes who help keep our community safe. Come in costume and bring the whole family for Halloween fun!

Gourdoween: October 22nd-31st

A brand-new tradition is set to debut this year—Gourdoween! Get ready for a spooktacular showdown as City and Grand Traverse County departments face off in a creative challenge to craft the ultimate gourd diorama. These eerie or quirky displays will be on view at the Governmental Center, where the public will get the chance to cast their vote for their favorite between October 22nd and October 31st. Which department will win the coveted Gourdoween title? Only your vote can decide!

PUMPKIN SMASHING EXTRAVAGANZA

The City is excited to team up with Carter’s Compost and SEEDS to announce the Pumpkin Smashing Extravaganza, a community event focused on sustainability and fun, happening on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the City’s in-vessel composting unit, located at 143 Beitner. This free event will welcome the public to smash their pumpkins at various activity stations. In addition, pumpkin drop-off will be allowed from November 1st, and will continue until 1:00 pm on November 9th. Pumpkins should be free of any decorations and paint.

The new 20-yard in-vessel composting unit is a key part of the City’s Compost and Food Waste Reduction project. This fully enclosed system, ideal for urban settings, can process approximately 150 tons of food waste annually.

The City aims to divert 1 ton of pumpkins from landfills. With 1.3 billion pounds of pumpkins produced annually in the U.S., many end up in landfills, contributing to methane emissions—landfills account for 20% of the U.S.’s methane output. Composting pumpkins helps reduce greenhouse gases, diverts waste, and returns nutrients to the soil, improving environmental health. This event is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and educate the public on how they can make incremental steps toward food waste reduction.

BROWN BRIDGE QUIET AREA

LAND ACQUISITION AGREEMENT

At their October 21, 2024, meeting, the City Commission will consider authorizing the agreement to execute the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Land Acquisition Project for the 528-acre land acquisition to expand the Brown Bridge Quiet Area to a total of 1,838 acres.

In 2023, the City was offered the opportunity to purchase the adjacent land for $3,098,445. To fund the acquisition, the City was awarded a $2,352,200 grant from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund. Additionally, over 80% of city voters in the November 2023 election approved using up to $746,245 from the Brown Bridge Trust Fund to match the grant.

The Brown Bridge Quiet Area, currently 1,310 acres, is located 11 miles southeast of Traverse City within the Boardman/Ottaway River Watershed. The expansion will add 9,000 feet of frontage on Spring Lake and nearly 4 miles of trails, linking to the Boardman River Trail, North Country Trail, and Muncie Lakes Pathway. Once finalized, the expanded area will offer hiking, cross-country skiing, and hunting (on designated portions of land allowed under the grant), with potential for future recreational activities such as mountain biking.

The City's Parks and Recreation Division plans to integrate the Brown Bridge Quiet Area and the expansion into a new Master Plan, slated to begin development in early 2025. Public access to the newly acquired land will remain restricted until the property closing is completed.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT - COMING TO CLOSE

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.

Work activiites are anticipated to be completed along the 700 and 800 block of E. Eighth Street early in the week of October 21st. Remediation work will follow through the remainder of the week. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures, and lane shifting.

NEW Q&A

PLATFORM

ASK THE CITY

This week, the City introduced a new and innovative way for residents to connect directly with City staff, improve transparency, and increase accessibility to local government. The new program, titled “Ask the City,” allows residents to submit questions to City staff and receive personalized video responses.

Once a resident’s question is answered, they will be notified via email, ensuring quick and clear communication. This platform gives every community member a direct line to City employees, creating an open forum for dialogue and making it easier than ever to engage with the City.

This program will be implemented as a three-month pilot project, after which its effectiveness will be evaluated to determine its continuation based on community interest.

Residents are encouraged to take part in the conversation and explore the new platform. Additionally, a button labeled “Ask the City” on the City’s homepage will link directly to the platform. 

CRACK SEALING PROJECT

BEGINS OCTOBER 19TH

The annual crack sealing maintenance project will kick off this Saturday, October 19, 2024. Crack sealing is the process of placing an adhesive sealant into cracks on the pavement surface to prevent the infiltration of moisture and non-compressible materials into the pavement. The process preserves the lifespan of pavement and reduces the chances of creating larger more costly issues.

The project is being conducted as a moving operation that will take place city-wide, with temporary closures to allow the sealant to cool. This work may cause disruptions to pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic. Appropriate signage will be in place, and access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times. If possible, use alternate routes and avoid project areas to help reduce congestion, delays, and promote worker safety. Please abide by any signage and temporary closures to avoid driving through the fresh crack sealant.

SEASONAL

ROAD SURVEYING

The City would like to inform the public that road surveys will be taking place in several areas of the City between now and spring of 2025. These surveys are essential for assessing the condition of our roads and planning for future improvements.

Please be aware of survey crews that may be working on the following streets, and potentially other streets or public areas. Surveying staff may need to enter private property to collect data. This work will not involve digging or disturbance to property, and is permissible per Michigan State Law. 

N. UNION STREET BRIDGE LANE CLOSURES

Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians should be aware that the City will be closing the outside lanes and sidewalks intermittently on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, to facilitate a bridge inspection. Two-way traffic will be maintained and at least one sidewalk on the bridge maintained for pedestrian access.

City staff will be onsite to facilitate these closures. The work is anticipated to be completed by the end of the day.

ELECTION UPDATES

NOVEMBER 2024 ELECTION

Election season is underway!

Absentee Voting

As of Thursday, September 26, 2024, Absentee Ballots are available at your City Clerk's Office. For those who are enrolled in the Permanent Ballot List, or who have completed an Absentee Ballot Application, ballots have been mailed.

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).

Electronic Notification System Now Live!

Proposal 2022-2 amended the Michigan Constitution to include a voter’s right to receive updates on the status of their absent voter (AV) ballot applications and ballots, including by electronic notification. 

Voters can now subscribe to receive electronic notifications at Michigan.gov/Vote directly, when registering to vote, or when submitting an online AV application.

Once subscribed, voters will be notified of all the following: 

• When their AV ballot or application has been received by their local clerk,  
• When their AV ballot has been sent by their local clerk, 
• If their AV ballot or application has been rejected for any deficiency, 
• Instructions for how to cure any deficiency to have their AV ballot or application accepted.  

Early In-Person Voting

Early In-Person Voting will begin on Saturday, October 26, 2024, and will run through Sunday, November 3, 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.

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.

IN THE COMMUNITY

THANKS FOR THE VISIT, COMPASS JUNIOR HIGH

The future looks good! Compass Junior High students visited the City of Traverse City this week to explore how local government and elections work. City Clerk Benjamin Marentette led an engaging discussion and facilitated a mock City Commission meeting, where students participated in a simulated budget appropriation process. We love connecting with local youth and are always excited for opportunities like this!