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Traverse City weighs three winter sidewalk options as staffing and costs tighten
Summary
City staff outlined three approaches to winter sidewalk clearing — premium, status quo, and returning responsibility to property owners — with trade-offs in accessibility, enforcement and costs; premium service would require about five additional full-time staff and roughly $800,000 in first-year costs.
Chris Webber, Director of Mobility Infrastructure (speaker 8), told the commission the city’s winter sidewalk program has evolved into a citywide expectation though the city ordinance places initial responsibility with adjacent property owners. He outlined the current system (seven routes; six maintained by city staff; downtown route contracted and triggered at 2 inches) and noted recruitment and retention challenges for seasonal operators.
"We currently have 7 dedicated sidewalk routes, 6 being maintained by city staff and the 1 downtown being maintained by a contractor," Webber said, describing operational realities and specialized equipment needs.
Staff presented three options for council consideration: a premium (high-service) option with five additional full-time staff and roughly $600,000 in salary/benefits plus about $200,000 in equipment; a status-quo option costing about $188,000–$200,000 per winter; and a fallback option that relies on the existing ordinance and would reduce city-provided clearing to city-owned sidewalks and trails while increasing enforcement and uneven conditions across neighborhoods.
Commissioners discussed equity (second-home neighborhoods vs. year-round residents), targeted enforcement downtown (funded by TIF now), partnerships with TART for trail maintenance, recruitment incentives for seasonal workers and alternatives to full-time hires (retention bonuses, blended seasonal-to-permanent staffing). Several commissioners suggested staging any FTE additions across multiple budget years rather than adding all positions at once; the city manager said staffing changes would need to be evaluated against the multi-year budget and fund balance.
The presentation emphasized trade-offs: a higher, more consistent citywide standard improves accessibility for older residents and people with disabilities but carries legacy personnel costs; the status quo minimizes new recurring costs while leaving vulnerabilities during large storms; and returning responsibility to property owners would also require increased enforcement and could reduce accessibility.
Next steps: staff will return in August with creative budget options and retention proposals (e.g., bonuses or pay adjustments), and the commission instructed staff to explore middle-ground approaches to maintain high service where needed without immediate large-scale FTE additions.
