Following a half hour of closed-door deliberations Monday, Traverse City commissioners voted unanimously to accept a $300,000 settlement agreement with Hamilton Anderson Associates, the design firm that oversaw the nearly $3 million renovation of Clinch Park.

Commissioners hired outside counsel in 2014 to represent the city in ongoing arbitration with the company after an audit revealed numerous design flaws in the park. Those flaws caused raw sewage to splash on children when the water feature first opened in 2013, and have since resulted in tunnel flooding under Grandview Parkway and challenges with the park's breakwall and kayak launch. In November, the city hired Elmer's Crane and Dozer to oversee $508,000 in repairs at the park, a project that remains ongoing.

Commissioners did not discuss the settlement offer after coming out of closed session, instead moving directly into making a motion and voting to accept the agreement terms. The offer was approved 6-0, with Commissioner Tim Werner absent. City Manager Marty Colburn deferred all questions about the settlement to the city attorney’s office, with several commissioners declining to discuss the offer terms or deliberation process behind the agreement.