Traverse City Commission approves social-district license, EMS equipment purchases, funding for addiction transitional beds and emergency salt order; asks MDOT

The Traverse City Commission on Feb. 3 approved a series of permits, purchases and a local memorandum of understanding and directed the city attorney to request a design change from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the Grandview Parkway median.

Key votes at the meeting included a social-district registration for Common Good Hospitality Inc.; a three-year participation agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the city’s marina reservations; purchases of a Lifepak 15 monitor and Lucas CPR compression device and the buyout of two John Deere loaders; a memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing up to $100,000 to Addiction Treatment Services (ATS) to fund two transitional beds; and an emergency purchase order for 500 tons of road salt to replenish winter supplies. The commission also directed the city attorney to request a change order from MDOT asking that the Grandview Parkway median between Division Street and M-22 be narrowed to about 6 feet.

Commissioners and staff framed most votes as routine procurement or operational decisions but several items drew extended discussion. Commissioner Jackie Anderson asked repeatedly for measurable outcomes and financial reconciliations on the social-district pilot before approving expanded participation for businesses. City staff and other commissioners said planning staff will bring a report and that the commission can rescind the social district if it chooses.

Addiction Treatment Services CEO Paula Lipinski described the requested $100,000 as funding to operate two “transitional” beds serving people who fall between levels of clinical eligibility or who may have short gaps in care after jail release or other transitions. Lipinski said the $50,000-per-bed figure covers staffing, 24-hour supervision, food, security and service navigation for a year: “those $50,000 beds allow for all of that staffing on top of just all the general food, comfort, bed, security, all of those things,” she told the commission.

City staff explained the marina reservation agreement is with the state’s central reservation system and that all reservations would flow through that platform; staff agreed to follow up with the state on payment-security questions and to provide the city’s October 31, 2024 financial reconciliation when available.

Fire Chief Jim Teller told the commission the vendor Stryker supplies equipment compatible with the city’s existing Lifepak 15 monitors and explained the no-bid waiver reflects equipment standardization and a package pricing arrangement; the Lifepak 15 and Lucas device purchase was authorized not to exceed $66,820.02. The commission also approved a buyout of two John Deere 524L loaders from Deere Credit in an amount of $229,065.70.

On road salt, staff reported unexpectedly low reserves and presented an offer from Detroit Salt Company for 500 tons at a price that would allow the city to get through the season; the commission authorized the purchase and added direction that staff report back on options to reduce salt use and to update the commission before the next off-season ordering window.

Separately, the commission voted to ask MDOT to consider a change order reducing the planned 12-foot median on Grandview Parkway to approximately 6 feet between Division Street and M-22, a request intended to retain more useable green space on the lakeside of that corridor while also discussing pedestrian crossing design. The city attorney advised that MDOT holds the right-of-way for that area and that the request is therefore a design-change request to MDOT rather than a city parkland disposition issue.

Votes at a glance

- Common Good Hospitality Inc. social-district permit (1115 E. Eighth St.): Approved (motion to approve and authorize city clerk to issue updated registration). Vote: motion passed. (Discussion: Commissioner Anderson requested post-pilot metrics and confirmation of original pilot dates; staff said planning staff will report back in an April study session and that the commission can rescind the district if it desires.)

- Agreement with Michigan Department of Natural Resources for central reservation system (Duncan L. Clinch Marina): Approved (3-year agreement; mayor and city clerk authorized to sign). Vote: approved by voice vote; staff to follow up on payment-security and provide October 31 reconciliation when available.

- Waiver of competitive bidding and purchase (Lifepak 15 monitor and Lucas CPR compression device to Stryker): Approved (purchase order not to exceed $66,820.02 from capital equipment fund). Vote: approved by voice vote. (Chief Teller explained vendor compatibility and package pricing.)

- Purchase order to Deere Credit Inc. (buyout of two John Deere 524L wheel loaders): Approved (purchase order $229,065.70; funds from garage fund). Vote: approved by voice vote.

- Memorandum of understanding with Addiction Treatment Services (2 transitional beds): Approved (MOU up to $100,000; funds from police department budget). Vote: 5–2; yes: Shaw, Stanley, Treadwell, Mayor Pro Tem Wilson, Mayor Shamro; no: Werner, Anderson. (Discussion: ATS CEO described the beds, eligibility gaps they fill and that beds are intended for short-term transitional support tied to the city’s Quick Response Team referrals.)

- Emergency purchase of road salt (Detroit Salt Company): Approved (purchase order for 500 tons, not to exceed $38,815; funds from various street budgets). Vote: 5–2; yes: Stanley, Treadwell, Shaw, Mayor Pro Tem Wilson, Mayor Shamro; no: Werner, Anderson. (Direction: city manager to report back with options and proposed reduced-use plans before the next salt ordering window.)

- Request to MDOT for Grandview Parkway median change (task for city attorney): Approved (direction that city attorney send a request for a change order to MDOT asking that the median be reduced to about 6 feet between Division Street and M-22). Vote: passed (6–1); no: Treadwell. (City attorney advised MDOT holds the right-of-way; the item is a formal design request to MDOT.)

What’s next

- Planning staff will report back on the social-district pilot results and potential changes at a study session in April, including business outreach and economic indicators requested by commissioners. The commission asked the planning director to provide specifics about which businesses were contacted and what metrics will be used to judge success.

- City staff will follow up with the Michigan DNR on security and data-use questions about the central reservation system and will provide the October 31, 2024 financial reconciliation to commissioners when available.

- The city manager was directed to bring a report on options to reduce road-salt use and to update the commission by the time staff prepares the next routine salt-order recommendation (the order window typically occurs in late spring). The commission unanimously agreed the report should include progress on the liquid application pilot trucks the city has taken delivery of and any pilot timeline.

- The city attorney will forward the commission’s change-order request to MDOT and report back on MDOT’s response.

Ending

The Feb. 3 meeting combined routine procurement and operational decisions with several policy-level requests from commissioners asking for more data or design reconsideration (social-district metrics, salt-use strategy and MDOT median design). Several votes were close, demonstrating differing priorities among commissioners on budget, public safety and environmental stewardship.

The commission also completed several committee appointments and reestablished ad hoc committees; planning staff and others will return with follow-up reports on the items noted above.