Traverse City commissioners will reconsider their previous rejection of a half-million dollar project to reconstruct a downtown parking lot and boat launch at their 7pm meeting tonight (Monday) at the Governmental Center.

A 4-3 commission vote to approve the project September 19 fell one vote shy of the five affirmative votes required to pass. The project calls for both parking Lot D – located along Grandview Parkway next to the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce – and the lot's Boardman River boat launch to be reconstructed. Commissioners Tim Werner, Richard Lewis and Gary Howe opposed the project during its first go-round, citing their dissatisfaction with the plan’s lack of green space and park amenities.

In response to the commission's input, city staff retooled the design to feature more greenspace along Grandview Parkway, the replacement of four parking spaces in the middle of the lot with a bump-out island with reclaimed brick surface and two benches with a shade structure, and another bump-out island near the boat ramp at the east end of the lot. The revisions would reduce auto parking spaces in the lot from 52 to 43, with the amount of trailer parking spaces - 6 - remaining the same. The project plans also for the creation of a new universal kayak launch at the site.

Also on the city commission's agenda tonight:
> A recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission to authorize a $4,500 match from the Brown Bridge Trust Parks Improvement Fund for improvements to Wags West Dog Park, including irrigation, grass seeding and a water bottle filling station/dog and human drinking fountain
> A resolution to recognize Midtown Condominium Association as a City Neighborhood Association
> A resolution to change the name of Triangle Park to Jupiter Gardens, with support from the Parks and Recreation Commission and North Traverse Heights Neighborhood Association
> Consideration of an agreement with Elmwood Township to assume ownership of sewer lines owned by the township but used by city residents in the annexed part of Traverse City in Elmwood Township
> Consideration of recognizing October 5 as Traverse City Walks To School Day