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Commission approves West End Beach parking-lot contract after debate over size, access and shoreline resilience
Summary
After extended debate about reducing parking, ADA access and shoreline resilience, the commission approved a $387,788.78 contract with POP Excavating to repair the West End Beach parking lot and prepare two restroom sites, using MDNR grant funds and capital outlay money.
The Traverse City City Commission voted March 17 to award a contract to POP Excavating not to exceed $387,788.78 for reconstruction of the West End Beach parking lot and site preparation for two restroom units, including a 10% contingency.
The vote followed more than an hour of presentation and debate about the project’s scope, how much paved area should be removed, whether the design is “sacrificial” against high water events and how to maximize ADA access. City Engineer Anne Pagano reviewed the project history and noted the design reduces parking from 25 spaces pre-damage to 14 spaces while adding four ADA spaces; Parks and Recreation Superintendent Michelle Hunt said two prefabricated restroom units funded by a Department of Natural Resources trust fund grant are nearly complete and will be craned into place.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed staff about several topics: whether the commission’s December 2023 motion directing a roughly 50% reduction in parking referenced square footage or number of spaces; how the proposed dune-vegetation and riprap slope would fare in future high-water events; whether the Trail (TART) alignment would force trail users to pass through the parking area; and how the project budget was accounted for between parking-lot work and restroom site preparation.
After discussion the motion to authorize the POP Excavating contract passed on roll call: Commissioners Anderson, Shaw, Stanley (via written note), Treadwell, Mayor Pro Tem Wilson and Mayor Shamro voted yes; Commissioner Werner voted no.
Staff said work will be funded from the city’s capital outlay fund together with the MDNR Trust Fund grant that covers the restroom units, and that the contract includes the required use of native plantings and natural stone while avoiding synthetic geotextiles per commission direction.
