NOMINATION PACKETS AVAILABLE FOR OFFICE OF MAYOR & CITY COMMISSION

NOVEMBER 2025 ELECTION

Nominating packets for those who wish to run for the Office of Mayor or Office of City Commissioner are available from the City Clerk’s Office, first floor, Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City, Michigan. 

Offices Available



• Mayor, two-year term ending November 8, 2027
• 3 City Commissioners, four-year term ending November 12, 2029

Filing Deadline

Candidates must file nominating petitions and other required documentation with the City Clerk by July 22, 2025, at 4 p.m.

City Commission Functions

The City Commission is the legislative body of the City of Traverse City, essentially functioning as the city's "board of directors."

The following is the mission statement for the City Commission:

The mission of the Traverse City City Commission is to guide the preservation and development of the City’s infrastructure, services, and planning based on extensive participation by its citizens coupled with the expertise of the city’s staff. The Commission will both lead and serve Traverse City in developing a vision for sustainability and the future that is rooted in the hopes and input of its citizens and organizations, as well as cooperation from surrounding units of government.

Very broadly speaking, the functions of the City Commission for the City of Traverse City are to:

• Set public policy for the city through ordinances and other official actions
• Allocate public funds under the city's control and responsibility, including adoption of the City Budget
• Exercise policy oversight of the city's resources
• Appoint the City Manager and City Attorney; and in order to maintain a system of checks and balances, to provide for appropriate separation of duties and autonomy in conducting and performing official and corporate functions, the City Commission approves the City Manager's indefinite appointment and removal of the City Clerk and the City Treasurer
• Appoint individuals to various board and commissions.
• Exercise other authority and powers granted to it by the Michigan Constitution, Michigan Law, Michigan Promulgated Rules, the City Charter and other authorities 

Candidates elected at the November 4, 2025, election, will be sworn in by City Clerk Benjamin Marentette and take office at 7 pm on November 10, 2025.

STRATEGIC PLANNING UPDATE

COMMUNITY SURVEY OPEN

Following months of community input, exploring the future of the City, the six strategic focus areas (Strategic Pillars) have been identified, and a series of proposed Strategic Actions under each Pillar. The Strategic Action Plan's final survey has launched and will focus on prioritizing the six Strategic Pillars and the 24 proposed Strategic Actions.

PLEASE NOTE: This survey is asking a series of a series of in-depth questions, and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey will time-out if you leave it open (and incomplete). You cannot save a partial survey and come back to it later. We recommend you find a comfortable place; allow some uninterrupted time and share your thoughts and views for the City's future.

Save the Date

A Community Summit will take place on Monday, May 19th from 4:30 - 6 pm, at the Senior Center, 801 E. Front Street.



Registration for the Community Summit is encouraged, but not required.

Registration Link

WATER SERVICE LINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

2025 PROJECT KICKS OFF WEEK OF MAY 5

Michigan's 2017 Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) declares that a galvanized water service is a lead service line if it "is or ever was" connected to a lead gooseneck, and requires the water utility to pay for replacing private water services from the curb stop near the right of way into the building or home. A lead gooseneck is a 3-foot-long piece of lead pipe used as a transition between the brass connection to the water main and a threaded galvanized pipe. These were installed prior to the mid-1940's. Since then, the City has been installing copper services for the City-owned portion between the water main and the curb stop. The City has no known fully lead services (lead pipes). Not all private galvanized water service lines need to be replaced. For example, if a private galvanized service line was originally connected to a City-owned copper service from the water main, it was never connected to a lead gooseneck, so it doesn't need to be replaced.  

The City received a $3,510,500 DWSRF loan and a $1,504,500 DWI grant in 2022 (totaling $5,015,000) to fund a three-year project to replace approximately 300 private galvanized water service lines previously connected to lead goosenecks. Additionally, the City was awarded a $2 million grant from the Michigan Department of Great Lakes and Energy to support further replacements under the Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) criteria.

In 2023 (Year 1), 116 service lines were replaced. In 2024 (Year 2), 217 replacements were completed. In 2025 (Year 3), 130 replacements are planned, bringing the total to 463 replacements over three years. An estimated 320 additional service lines still require replacement.

The 2025 project will kick off the week of May 5, 2025 on the 700, 800, and 900 block of W. Front Street. The work will cause sidewalk and intermittent street closures.

COMPOST AWARENESS WEEK

MAY 4TH - 10TH

The City is proud to join communities around the world in celebrating International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) from May 4 to May 10, 2025. This year’s theme, “Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost!” highlights how composting builds healthier soil, reduces waste, and supports a more sustainable future.

In 2024, the City expanded its sustainability efforts by launching the Compost & Food Waste Reduction Project with the arrival of a new in-vessel composting unit. This project built on the City’s existing composting programs, which include seasonal curbside leaf collection that is processed for composting at the Keystone facility.

Through a partnership with SEEDS, and Carter’s Compost as the hauling contractor, residents now have the opportunity to participate in a food waste pickup through a subscription service. The compost produced will be used to enrich the City’s parks, public lands, and green spaces, with surplus compost shared with community gardens.

Each small step—whether composting kitchen scraps, or reducing landfill waste—helps create a healthier, greener community. Together, our collective actions can make a big impact on building a more sustainable future.

SPECIAL LAND USE PERMIT AMENDMENT CONSIDERED

At their May 5, 2025 meeting, a public hearing is scheduled, and the City Commission will consider amending the Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) to allow Safe Harbor of Grand Traverse to operate year-round.

The proposal would transition Safe Harbor’s emergency shelter at 517 Wellington Street from a seasonal facility to a year-round operation. No increase in capacity is proposed—maintaining the 90-bed limit—but the shift aims to meet the ongoing need for shelter services beyond the traditional winter season. The plan also includes site improvements such as a new parking lot and pedestrian connectivity, supported in part by federal grant funding.

SHORT TERM RENTAL PUBLIC HEARING AT PLANNING COMMISSION

At their May 6, 2025 meeting, a public hearing is scheduled for proposed Short Term Rental zoning changes. The Planning Commission will also consider approving a recommendation for City Commission approval.

Restrictions are currently in place at 25% for C-1, C-2, and D-2. Proposed adjustments are in the C-3 (35%), C-4a (50%), C-4b (50%), C-4c (25%), D-1 (25%), D-3 (25%) , and I (0%) districts.

After the close of the public hearing and deliberation, the Planning Commission is not required to take action. However, if the Planning Commission chooses, they may approve recommendations to the City Commission.

IN THE COMMUNITY

SENIOR CENTER & PARK GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION

Thank you for joining the City and Grand Traverse County in celebrating the Grand Opening of our Senior Center and Park. Your presence helped make this day truly special. We are proud of this beautiful new clean energy building that will serve our community for years to come. Together, we shared more than 400 tree seedlings with neighbors to help grow a greener future.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who came out to mark this milestone. This new space is dedicated to gathering, growing, and building community—and we look forward to creating many more memories together.