Traverse City presents draft strategic action plan after community summit

Consultant David Burrell of FutureIQ presented a draft strategic action plan to the Traverse City City Commission on May 19, summarizing a community engagement process that included a community summit held earlier that day.

Burrell said the process produced “over 1,500 high-quality data points,” drawn from workshops, focus groups and surveys, and that the plan organizes community priorities into six strategic pillars including proactive urban design, place-making and neighborhood character, environmental sustainability and supporting a year‑round economy. He told the commission the prioritization survey highlighted childcare as an urgent, high‑impact need and called housing that supports more full‑time residents in core neighborhoods a major community concern.

The plan presents 24 draft actions across the pillars and asks the commission to use the results as a framework for future budgeting and policy decisions. Burrell said the process is “community driven” and recommended checking progress at regular intervals rather than treating the plan as a one‑time document.

Commissioners praised the engagement and suggested adjustments to language and emphasis. Commissioner Heather (last name not specified in transcript) urged replacing jargon in one pillar with the phrase “building a complete community” to make the work more accessible. Commissioner Jackie (last name not specified in transcript) said the process exceeded her expectations and called the document “tools … to set priorities.”

The commission did not take action on the plan on May 19; staff said it will return with updates including complete prioritization survey data and a proposed schedule for follow‑up and implementation. Public comment during the hearing included encouragement for covered market pavilions and other place‑making investments that tie into the plan’s placemaking recommendations.

The consultant and staff said they will provide a revised draft after closing the prioritization survey and will return to the commission with opportunities for additional public input before the plan is finalized.