New officials share plans for TC

Election 2011

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Michael Estes
Jeanine Easterday
Maryann Moore

November 10, 2011

Bayfront park renovations top most of their lists

By Vanessa McCray vmccray@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Thu Nov 10, 2011, 07:13 AM EST

TRAVERSE CITY — Emerging priorities for the new city commission include pushing the city's bayfront plan forward and addressing infrastructure improvements and legacy costs.

Incoming Traverse City Mayor Michael Estes and three newly elected city commissioners take office at an 8 p.m. Monday meeting. Voters this week named Estes mayor, returned incumbents Jim Carruthers and Barbara Budros to the commission, and elected newcomer Jeanine Easterday.

Those four join commissioners Mary Ann Moore, Mike Gillman and Jody Bergman on the seven-member board.

Estes wants to establish commission priorities early in his two-year term. A handful of commissioners on Wednesday shared topics they hope the board will tackle, including several priorities they held in common.

Bayfront park renovations, city road and sidewalk upgrades, and the financial strain of pension costs were frequently mentioned talking points.

"I think it's important that we move ahead in the areas that we can with the bayfront plan," said Easterday.

Bergman, in office since 2005, agrees. She said plans to revamp the bayfront "kind of stalled" as debate swirled about placement of a miniature passenger train. City commissioners earlier this year expressed support for keeping the train at the bayfront, and consultants worked on designs that maintain the train there.

The bayfront project's first phase includes a play area, canoe launch and restrooms, but requires a final decision on the train location before work can begin. A state grant will fund about $450,000 of the estimated $1.7 million first phase cost, but construction needs to begin by fall 2012 to meet the grant deadline, said city Planner Russ Soyring.

The city also needs to raise several hundred thousand more dollars to meet the estimated project cost.

"The commission needs to weigh in officially on the train, and either it's in or it's not in, and then move that phase one forward so that we don't lose grant money that we have already attained," Bergman said.

Carruthers said the city has talked for years about bayfront plans, and it's time to "get something done."

"Clinch Park is sort of that front door to Traverse City," he said. "Let's move forward and stop spinning on our wheels."

Estes urged a look at city finances, including pension and legacy costs. More work on neighborhood streets and sidewalks also is on his and other commissioners' agendas.

"I think infrastructure is very important, not only to the people who live in this city, but also for businesses and economic development that makes sense," Easterday said.

Commissioners are partial to a number of other projects. Moore wants to discuss Hickory Hills Ski Area and the senior center. Carruthers is keen to talk about tax increment financing and city power generation. Bergman wants to keep working on a project to study and improve major city corridors such as Garfield Avenue and Front, Eighth and 14th streets.