Traverse City to place charter amendment on November ballot to allow city ethics ordinance

The Traverse City Commission voted to amend Section 31 of the city charter to permit the commission to adopt a local ethics ordinance and to place that charter amendment on the November ballot for voters.

Why it matters: the charter change is procedural — it would allow the city to adopt an ordinance that defines conflicts, disclosure requirements and enforcement mechanisms for elected officials, appointed officials, employees and volunteers. Commissioners said the amendment is a first step; enforcement mechanisms and specific rules will be developed in a separate ordinance drafted by the ad hoc ethics committee.

Process and context: Commissioner Anderson (chair of the ad hoc committee) summarized the committee’s work since February and said transparency and fairness were guiding principles. Commissioner Shaw moved the resolution to place the charter amendment on the ballot; Commissioner Treadwell seconded. Public comment included a resident who said he had filed a complaint alleging a charter violation by a commissioner and urged enforcement. Commissioners clarified that the charter amendment itself permits an ordinance to exist but that the ordinance will set enforcement procedures.

Vote and next steps: commissioners approved the resolution to put the charter amendment on the ballot. The ad hoc committee is preparing a draft ordinance that will address definitions, reporting, disclosure and enforcement; that ordinance will return to the commission for consideration before implementation.