CITY APPROVES PILOT FOR EAST BAY FLATS

AFFORDABLE HOUSING & PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

At their November 20, 2023 meeting, the City Commission approved a 4% Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) arrangement for East Bay Flats, located at 440 Munson Avenue, from Goodwill Northern Michigan. The project consists of 67 affordable housing units, 51 single bedroom units, and 16 efficiency units for permanent supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness, and affordable housing for those earning less than 60% of area median income.

In 2022, Michigan introduced legislation allowing local governments to establish PILOT policies and form agreements with developers involved in the construction or rehabilitation of workforce housing units. The legislation liberated cities from the previous requirement of obtaining state or federal tax credits. As a result, the City now has a more flexible approach to moving initiatives for affordable housing forward. Since 2019, the City has approved the following PILOT arrangements.

• Ruth Park, 520 Wellington Street
• Annika Place, 947 South Garfield Avenue
• Annika Place II, 1020 Hastings Street
• HomeStretch, 1028 Carver Street
• Housing Commission, 1223 East Eighth Street
• Bradley Commons, 1024, 1026, 1028 & 1040 E Front Street
• Innovo, 125/145 Hall Street
• Innovo, 155 Garland Street
• East Bay Flats, 440 Munson Avenue

GT COUNTY FACILITIES SURVEY

Grand Traverse County is seeking feedback from the public as a Facilities Master Plan is in development to help understand the impact of regional growth on County services and existing infrastructure. The survey is being conducted to better understand the community’s perception of existing facilities as future renovations and improvements are explored.

The survey will be open through Friday, December 1, 2023.

LAST PASS FOR LEAF PICK UP

The last pass for leaf pick up is underway. Leaves in street as of November 26, 2023 will be picked up as weather permits. Operators for leaf pick up are also the operators for winter maintenance, crews and equipment. If the snow melts, do not place anymore leaves in the street. 

The process could take up to two or more weeks to complete depending on future snowfall. Please be patient while our crews are completing the leaf pickup.

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

ULTRA VIOLET DISINFECTION IMPROVEMENTS

In July 2023, the City Commission approved awarding of the preliminary design stage contract for the Progressive Design-Build of the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Preliminary Treatment and Ultra-Violet (UV) Disinfection Improvements. This is a substantially large-scale project that will upgrade the front half of the treatment processes and the final treatment stage, UV disinfection The anticipated expenditure for this upgrade falls within the range of $23.5 million to $29 million. A loan request has been made through EGLE's CWSRF program for 2024 funds. The last comparable project of this scale at the WWTP plant dates back to 2002 when the bioreactor membrane treatment trains were introduced, following a design-build approach that totaled over $31 million. Funding for that previous project relied on municipal bonds, which were successfully paid off this past year.

At the December 4, 0223 meeting, the City Commission will consider entering into a consultant agreement with Hubble Roth and Clark (HRC) to oversee the preliminary design phase, which is planned for a duration of one year. The City has worked with HRC on a number of projects such as the Preliminary and Primary Treatment Headworks Study in 2021. HRC assisted the City with developing the Progressive Design-Build documents for the qualifications-based award of the project design and negotiated the procurement of the contract.

As the City continues to focus on the improvement of water systems, five year project plans for drinking water and clean water (wastewater) have been developed that prioritize project investments of approximately $48 million. 

IN THE COMMUNITY

LIGHT PARADE

Thank you to members of the City Commission, Traverse City Light & Power, the Traverse City Police Department, and the Traverse City Fire Department for helping to kick off the season by participating in the annual Light Parade in Downtown TC!