Hello again and thanks for reading.  This week the City approved a new manager for the city opera house and the first steps toward the waterfront plan and a parks fund.  The new Question of the Week is about biomass.   Check back later this week for info on next Monday’s meeting.

1. City Opera House. Two weeks ago over 90 people attend the city commission meeting to be heard about the proposed agreement to in which Michigan State University’s Wharton Center for the Performing Arts would run the Traverse City Opera House:  http://www.upnorthmedia.org/govtprogram.asp?mid=1077#vid.  The City Commission referred the matter to City Manager Ben Bifoss to negotiate community access guarantees with the Wharton Center. 

The new agreement is at:  http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/agendas/packet20091207.pdf, starting on page 68 of the pdf.  The part of the agreement about community access has been modified to say that local access for local providers will be maintained at least at historic levels, and if not the agreement can be canceled early.  The operating agreement (the contract the city is involved in) has also been changed so that the city can ensure that the access requirements are met.   The agreement has also been changed so that the city has access to the financials of the opera house’s operation.  You can read updated stories on the opera house at http://www.northernexpress.com/ and http://www.record-eagle.com/local/local_story_341235110.html

Thank you to everyone who emailed, commented, and attended city meetings on this important topic.  I believe and hope we reached a better outcome with your help.  (For more background on this issue, see last week’s update in the post archive.)

2. Waterfront and Parks. The city commission also approved the first steps toward implementing the bayfront plan, and perhaps creating a sustainable parks fund for the entire city, using Brown Bridge Trust Fund money as well as grants and other financial sources.  

Key feedback we have received included (a) the importance of safe crossings over Grandview Parkway, (b) leaving the Open Space views unobstructed, (c) more amenities on the zoo property, like a playground and “boat stable,” (d) fixing up west end beach west of Division Street, (e) addressing other city parks as well as the waterfront.

You can view a collection of the comments received here:  http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/agendas/packet20091130.pdf

See this Record Eagle editorial from yesterday:  http://www.record-eagle.com/opinion/local_story_339233225.html

You can view a more readable version of the Bayfront Plan here:  http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/departments/planning/waterfrontplanfinal.pdf

The City Commission approved these steps:

1.  Making the city parks commission the lead agent to work on the bayfront plan, with help from the city commission, planning commission, and DDA. 

2.  Hiring an engineer to do preliminary engineering, cost estimates, and design.

3.  Asking the DDA to pay for the engineering work.

4.  Seeking money from Rotary to hire a grant expert to help us locate all possible funding.

5.  Putting in a grant for $500,00 to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to help with this project.

Other info on the waterfront/parks proposal can be found in this 7&4 story:
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/video.aspx?id=377874.  Please continue to give your feedback, here, on Facebook, and at the Parks Commission meetings on this topic.  Stay tuned for more info.

3.  Biomass.  This week we are asking what you think about Traverse City Light & Power’s biomass plans on the Question of the Week.  Click on Question of the Week, above, for details and please, let us know what you think!

Advertisement