STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

2030 PLAN ADOPTED

Thank you to the over 1,500 members of the community who helped shape this important forward looking plan! This nine-month community-driven planning process was designed to identify priority focus areas and actions for the next five years. 

At their June 2, 2025 meeting the City Commission unanimously adopted the Strategic Action Plan.

“It's wonderful to see all of the input from the sessions, with a clear task list for us all to work from.”

Amy Shamroe, Mayor of Traverse City

“This was a truly valuable experience. The Strategic Plan is brilliant and it gives me the confidence that the intention of this process was to really and truly seek and fully quantify community feedback. This feedback was duly noted and included in the Plan. I attended many of the sessions and I can actually see the comments that I heard from people included in the Plan. It was a really wonderful, open and transparent process which resulted in a very useful and usable document.”

Heather Shaw, Traverse City Commissioner

What's Next

The findings from this planning process can be used to help inform future priorities for the City and the Commission. Over the coming years, this will help shape City goals and objectives and guide new investments and planning decisions. Some of the ways this planning framework can be used over the coming years will include: 

• Identifying new initiatives and focus areas for City staff and Commissioners attention and deliberation. 
• Informing future planning decisions and helping to refine planning priorities, guidelines and approaches. 
• Guiding future Commission goals, objectives, and informing investments and budget priorities. 
• Reframing the role the Commissioners and City leadership take in a regional context. 

Following the prioritization of the 24 Action Items, based entirely on community feedback gathered through a prioritization survey and aligned with the Plan's six Strategic Pillars, the City is developing a dashboard to reflect where things stand today. This tool will help guide future goal-setting and objective discussions with the City Commission.

Project Portal

ENDING CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

$1 MILLION FUNDING REQUEST



At their June 9, 2025 meeting, the City Commission will hear a presentation from the Northwest Michigan Coalition to End Homelessness (NWCEH) on the community’s progress and pressing needs in its mission to end chronic homelessness by 2028.

Chronic homelessness remains one of the most complex social issues facing the region, requiring coordinated efforts from local governments, service providers, and community stakeholders. In December 2024, the City adopted a resolution supporting the Coalition’s Housing First approach. NWCEH reports that progress has been made by collaborating with partners to house over 100 people experiencing chronic homelessness in the past two years and to open and secure funding for a year-round shelter. The recent closure of the Pines and the development of the Housing and Homelessness Task Force mark additional milestones. In 2023, 40 chronically unhoused individuals were successfully housed—a number that rose to 61 in 2024, reflecting significant progress in addressing long-term homelessness.

To accelerate solutions, NWCEH is formally requesting a $1 million line item in Traverse City’s FY 2025–26 budget for a Permanent Supportive Housing Fund. The fund is intended to enable Traverse City to act urgently while implementing the Housing & Homelessness Task Force plan.

• Gap financing for Permanent Supportive Housing development
• Incentives for landlords and property owners to participate in PSH
• Converting underutilized properties
• Securing affordable units
• Filling support service gaps

Beyond the City, the Coalition is also engaging Grand Traverse County, neighboring municipalities in five regional counties, and state and federal agencies to contribute to the broader funding strategy. This includes leveraging Community Development Block Grants, cannabis tax revenue, opioid settlement funds, and potential private or philanthropic investment.

WEST END BEACH & VOLLEYBALL COURTS RESTROOMS INSTALLED

OPENING TO BE ANNOUNCED



This week, the restrooms arrived and were installed at West End Beach and near the volleyball courts adjacent to parking lot RB. In 2022, the City was awarded a $200,500 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund grant to replace the existing restroom at West End Beach and construct a new facility near the volleyball courts. The grant required a 50% match from the City, bringing the total project investment to $401,000.

The new facilities are precast concrete structures fabricated off-site using high-strength materials designed to meet all local building codes. They are ADA-compliant and built to withstand harsh weather conditions, including heavy snow, high winds, and seismic activity. Their durable construction also helps resist vandalism and simplifies maintenance.

The City will announce when the restrooms are officially open to the public.

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT

WEEK OF JUNE 9TH

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 2025 and is anticipated to be completed in fall 2025.

Week of June 9th Locations

The week of June 9th, the project will be conducted on 300 block of S. Cedar, 800 and 900 blocks of Seventh, 300 block of S. Spruce, and the 700 block of Sixth. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

SSES SMOKE TESTING - DOWNTOWN TC ON JUNE 6TH

The field work portion of the Sanitary Sewer Evaluation Study (SSES) continues. This proactive study is designed to identify areas of inflow and infiltration (I&I) within the City’s sanitary sewer system, particularly on the west side of the City.

Crews from OHM Advisors will conduct smoke testing, along with other methods like dye testing and inspections. The smoke used is non-toxic, odorless, and safe—but may be visible coming from vent pipes or the ground. If smoke appears indoors, it could signal a dry or faulty drain. It is recommended to run about a gallon of water in all sinks, showers, bathtubs, etc., and pour a gallon of water into floor drains to prevent smoke from entering your business or living spaces.    

Please contact the City if someone in your household has respiratory issues and may need special consideration.

Downtown Traverse City Testing on June 6th

On Friday, June 6th, smoke testing will be conducted in Downtown Traverse City.  

Week of June 9th Locations

Beginning Tuesday, June 10th, the project will be conducted in portions of Boardman, Slabtown, and Kids Creek neighborhoods.

IN THE COMMUNITY

SMART COMMUTE WEEK

The City extends a heartfelt thank you to all staff who participated in Smart Commute Week this past week!

Greenspire High School Environmental Comic

A big thank you to Caleb, a senior from Greenspire High School, for creating the clever comic, Climate Cats! Your creativity and commitment to educating others about the climate crisis is inspiring and perfectly complements the spirit of Smart Commute Week.

ANNUAL CITY BBQ

OVER 30 YEAR TRADITION

Today, the City celebrated its annual staff BBQ, an over 30-year tradition that began under the leadership of former City Manager Richard Lewis. Each year, Richard returns to take his place as grillmaster, continuing the spirit of connection and tradition he helped establish. The event brings City staff together for good food, fun, and camaraderie. Custom-built grills at DPS and delicious dishes prepared by staff help kick off the busy summer season on a high note!