Daily Archive

Three quick items:  

(1) a list of top priorities for the city from neighborhood association presidents;

(2) a national expert could be hired to fix Division St;

(3) a discussion of the city’s future on Interlochen Public Radio. 

The question of the week is about Traverse City Tomorrow.  http://planfortc.com/question-of-the-week/jan-24-31-tc-tomorrow/

(1)  The presidents of Traverse City’s 7 neighborhood associations got together and sent the city a list of 8 priorities they want us to focus on.  Here is the letter:

January 22, 2010

Dear Mayor Bzdok and Commissioners,

Neighborhood Presidents from Slabtown, Old Town, Central Neighborhood, Kid’s Creek, Oak Park, Boardman and North Traverse Heights met on January 14, 2010 to ascertain what concerns we may have in common, as neighbors in Traverse City. With shared focus on our particular neighborhoods and broader focus on the whole, we all agreed that the following eight points are currently important areas we would like examined by our city govenment.

Our purpose is to present issues from the neighborhoods and encourage study and action to improve and enhance the peace, safety and community spirit that is of such great value to the overall well-being of Traverse City.

Following are the topics:

* Traffic Through Neighborhoods

Division St. improvements

Speed enforcement

Slowing traffic implementation

Curb and pothole repairs

* Bicycles and Pedestrians

Education for the public on safety and rules

Bike paths delineated

Pedestrian and bicycle crossings including lights and timing of lights at key intersections

* Boats and Swimmers/Access to Bay

Wider protected areas for swimmers

Improve access to bay across Grand View Parkway

* City Parks

Improving and adding parks

* City Tax Millage versus outlying areas

Carrying too much tax burden for county-wide services and public facilities

Proposition “A” Property values up/home values down

* Cherry Festival and other festivals

Dialogue with neighborhoods regarding noise and traffic

* BATA

Smaller electric/biodiesel buses in neighborhoods

Signage and education in neighborhoods about usage

* Neighborhood Identities

Signs

Unattached areas included?

Show Traverse City as a community of neighborhoods

Develop symbol like puzzle pin/art piece

We are going to our neighbors for their feedback and each neighborhood is prioritizing their most pressing needs with the option of adding priorities as we move forward. You will receive emails from each of us with our individual lists and comments. We presidents are meeting next on February 4, 2010.

Thank you very much for asking us to list those priorities for the Traverse City Commission strategic study session. We want to be heard!

Sincerely,

Boardman – Liz Whelan

Central – Seamus Shinners

Kids Creek – Bill Fernandez

North Traverse Heights – Larry Gerschbacher

Oak Park – Vicky Springer

Old Towne – Mark Crane

Slab Town - Mike Gaines

More info on the neighborhood associations is at http://www.ci.traverse-city.mi.us/City_Departments/City_Manager/Neighborhood_Association/ 

(2) The city through URS is ready to bring national traffic calming expert Ian Glatting on board for the Division St re-design.  This guy looks like just what we need:  http://www.designforhealth.net/events/ianlockwood.html

(3) Good discussion of TC’s future and priorities, including Mike Jackson on the waterfront and Oak Park neighborhood president Vicky Springer, (and yours truly), on Points North.  You can listen here:   http://ipr.interlochen.org/points-north-live/episode/6214