HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS TASK FORCE

CITY COMMISSION AND GRAND TRAVESE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS UPDATE

On Monday, June 22, 2026, the City Commission will join the Grand Traverse County Board of Commissioners for a joint meeting focused on housing and homelessness in our community.

Housing and homelessness remain among the region’s most complex challenges, requiring collaboration among local governments, service providers, community organizations, housing professionals, and residents. Recognizing that no single agency or municipality can address these issues alone, the meeting will provide an opportunity for shared discussion and regional collaboration.

The joint session will feature a presentation from Ashley Halladay-Schmandt, Director of the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness, along with facilitator Richard Bellingham. Together, they will provide an overview of the work of the Housing and Homelessness Task Force and guide both governing bodies through a facilitated discussion focused on challenges, opportunities, and potential areas for continued partnership.

BE MOBILE WITH US 

YOUR INPUT - BETTER CONNECTIONS

The City recently established a Complete Streets Committee to help identify opportunities to improve mobility, accessibility, and safety for all users of our transportation network, whether walking, biking, rolling, taking transit, or driving.

As part of this effort, the City has dedicated a 1% allocation of transportation funding toward Complete Streets initiatives. While some of these dollars may be used to leverage larger infrastructure projects, the Committee is also interested in identifying smaller, low-cost improvements that can make a meaningful difference for residents and visitors.

With peak walking and biking season underway, now is the perfect time to hear from those who use our streets, sidewalks, trails, and crossings every day. Have you noticed a missing sidewalk connection, visibility concern, bicycle parking need, crosswalk issue, accessibility barrier, or another opportunity for improvement within the City limits? Tell us about it.

Your feedback will help the Complete Streets Committee identify potential "easy wins" that can improve mobility, safety, and connectivity throughout the community.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF JUNE 22

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 May 2026 and is anticipated to be completed by fall 2026.

Week of June 22 Locations

The week of June 22, 2026, work will be conducted on the 600 and 800 blocks of Webster, and the 400 block of Franklin. This work will cause lane closures and lane shifts. Additionally, the work will cause sidewalk closures.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF STAFF AND COMMAND
CONGRATULATIONS DETECTIVE SERGEANT KYLE HOMUTH

The City congratulates Detective Sergeant Kyle Homuth of the Traverse City Police Department on his recent graduation from Michigan State University’s School of Staff and Command.

The nationally recognized program provides law enforcement professionals with 400 hours of advanced leadership and management training through a problem-based learning model. Participants work collaboratively in facilitated teams to address complex public safety challenges through critical thinking, discussion, and practical problem-solving.

The School of Staff and Command is designed to strengthen leadership skills and prepare law enforcement professionals to effectively navigate the evolving demands of modern policing. The program emphasizes officer safety, critical thinking, problem-solving, and building strong partnerships with community members to address crime and improve public safety outcomes.



The City is grateful for Detective Sergeant Homuth’s accomplishment that reflects his commitment to professional development and continued service to the community.

Pictured from left to right, are Community Affairs Sergeant Reed Shea, Detective Sergeant Kyle Homuth, Chief Matt Richmond, and Investigative Services Captain Pete Simerson.