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Commission approves multiple contracts, event permits and roadway actions; irrigation amendment fails
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Summary
At its April 20 meeting the commission approved the Food & Wine Festival permit, a Garfield Avenue sidewalk contract, North Union Street rehabilitation with DDA funding, and a snow-hauling contract amendment; it also permanently adopted a specific traffic control order. A proposed irrigation amendment for Grandview Parkway center medians failed.
The city commission handled a suite of consent and contract items on April 20, approving event permits, street and sidewalk contracts, and emergency purchases tied to last winter's and recent flooding events. Key actions are summarized below.
Food & Wine Festival (Item 11): The commission approved an extended permit for the Traverse City Food & Wine Festival, including multi-day setup/teardown (application covers Aug. 16'Aug. 24) and service of spirit tastings in the open space. Staff said permit fees and the Parks & Rec review cover setup and teardown days, and the Parks and Recreation recommendations will continue to inform future rate structure updates.
Garfield Avenue sidewalk (Item 13): The commission approved authorizing the mayor and city clerk to execute a contract with AJ's Excavating LLC (Honor, MI) for sidewalk construction on Garfield Avenue, not to exceed $127,370.60 with a 15% contingency ($19,105.59), for a total not to exceed $146,476.19, funded from the Street Capital Projects Fund (fund 447).
North Union Street rehabilitation: The commission authorized a contract with Grand River Construction Inc. not to exceed $947,265 (including contingency) for the North Union Street/Bridal rehabilitation project, and approved a $150,000 funding agreement with the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority toward the project.
Snow-hauling contract amendment (Item 9): Due to additional winter and storm response demands, the commission approved an amended purchase order to Mullan Excavating of Traverse City for an additional not-to-exceed $100,000 and a corresponding budget amendment to use fund balance to cover authorized expenditures from streets and parking funds.
Traffic control order (TCO 745): The commission permanently adopted Traffic Control Order 745 (always stop signage at the southwest corner of Front Street eastbound at Pine Street) after staff advised the sign is needed irrespective of State Street configuration; roll call reflected the required approval.
Grandview Parkway center median irrigation: Parks staff proposed amending the existing irrigation contract to add irrigation in the center median (Division Street to the roundabout at M-72/M-22) so the city could plant trees and landscape the medians. Commissioners debated water usage, sight lines and prior policy preferences for rock or native roadside seed mixes; the motion to authorize the amendment failed on roll call.
Why it matters: These items continue ongoing infrastructure maintenance and event permitting while responding to recent weather events and maintenance needs. The failed irrigation amendment signals continuing debate about long-term maintenance costs, water use and streetscape design.
