Traverse City commissioners this week unanimously approved an agreement to allow Paddle for Pints and Kayak Bike & Brew – both run by TC Ale Trail LLC – to operate in 2025. The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Preserve Hickory for the nonprofit to complete a comprehensive review of the snowmaking infrastructure at Hickory Hills. However, commissioners narrowly rejected a proposed ordinance amendment that would have allowed police officers to make trespass arrests in city parks.

Commissioners approved a one-year agreement with TC Ale Trail for the upcoming season to use city parks as launching/takeout spots for river tours, including Hull Park and American Legion Park. The agreement significantly reduces the maximum number of allowable participants this year compared to previous years: a total of 2,400 patrons across the two tours for the season versus 8,200 in the past. TC Ale Trail LLC owner Troy Daily previously told The Ticker he was only hitting a fraction of his maximum allowed number of participants anyway, with under 2,500 guests in 2024.

Daily's fees to the city – which have become a sticking point between the two parties – will be lowered from over $48,000 in 2024 to $30,000 for this year. Commissioners are expected to have a robust discussion with public input in the coming months on drafting a new policy that outlines desired usage and capacity for commercial operators in city parks along the Boardman – and what their fees should be if allowed.

Commissioners this week also approved a memorandum of understanding with Preserve Hickory for the nonprofit to complete a comprehensive review of the snowmaking infrastructure at the city’s Hickory Hills Ski Area. Preserve Hickory will fund the consulting project, while the city will provide data, labor, equipment, and materials (or else hire a contractor) to excavate snowmaking components to assess them for corrosion.  The goal is to “optimize the existing snowmaking infrastructure and identify improvements that leverage new technologies and automation opportunities, address changing weather patterns, and outline staffing needs and training,” the agreement states. Preserve Hickory will present a report by November 1 on its findings. The study is the first recommendation to come out of the city's newly established Hickory Hills Advisory Committee.

Finally, commissioners rejected a proposed amendment to the city's parks ordinance that would have allowed police officers to make trespassing arrests in city parks by a narrow 4-3 margin, with Mayor Pro Tem Mark Wilson and Commissioners Mitch Treadwell, Mi Stanley, and Tim Werner opposed to the amendment and Mayor Amy Shamroe and Commissioners Jackie Anderson and Heather Shaw in support. Traverse City Police Department Chief Matt Richmond said the current ordinance allows officers to give a warning and then issue a civil infraction if individuals violate the parks ordinance, but the new amendment would go a step further in allowing officers to then arrest individuals for trespassing if they continued to ignore directives to leave. The proposed amendment notably comes as the city is preparing to enforce its no-camping rules in city parks - including the homeless encampment at the Pines - starting May 6.

Multiple commissioners indicated they felt that the amendment was either an overreach or unncessary given other enforcement tools that are available. Treadwell pointed out many illegal activities that might occur in city parks - like being drunk and disorderly or committing an assault - would be covered by other laws under which officers could still make arrests. Richmond said that without the amendment, however, authorities would not be able to arrest individuals for the specific offense of trespassing in parks, as the local prosecutor would throw out those cases under the current ordinance. The amendment's rejection by commissioners means authorities can still issue warnings and tickets, but can't arrest individuals solely for the offense of trespassing in public parks. State law covers trespassing on private property and does allow for arrests in those cases.