Traverse City commissioners will consider approving $508,000 for repairs at Clinch Park at their 7pm meeting tonight (Monday) at the Governmental Center.

The city recently bid out planned improvements at Clinch Park, which will include four major project areas: shoreline improvements and stabilization, repairs to address flooding in the pedestrian tunnel under Grandview Parkway, splash pad stormwater overflow improvements and the installation of seating areas and landscaping around the splash pad. While the city’s engineering department estimated the repairs would cost roughly $407,000, the only bid received – from Elmer’s Crane and Dozer – was more than $100,000 higher than that.

Commissioners have already set aside $250,000 for Clinch Park repairs, but tonight will need to consider “two options for funding the difference,” according to City Manager Marty Colburn. “One option is to use the stormwater fund, which is relatable because the work would include stabilization for shoreline control (water quality), repair and installation of stormwater infrastructure and measures to reduce debris in the stormwater and (splash pad) systems of the park,” Colburn says. “The other option is to draw down on the general fund balance.”

Commissioners tonight will also review a special land use permit (SLUP) request for the proposed nine-story Pine Street development at the corner of Pine and Front streets. Planning commissioners voted 7-2 at their November 3 meeting to recommend the project to city commissioners for approval. Commissioners will not vote on the SLUP request itself tonight, but instead will consider scheduling a public hearing for December 7 on the project.

Commissioners will also consider approving an agreement with the Great Lakes Children’s Museum and Northern Michigan Railroad Club to use the city-owned Carnegie Building for the 2015 Festival of Trains. While the History Center of Traverse City has traditionally managed the festival, Assistant City Manager Penny Hill noted in a memo to commissioners that the Great Lakes Children’s Museum came forward and offered to manage the event this year, providing the necessary volunteers and staff and offering to split profits from the event with the city.

According to Hill, the History Center indicated it would need to hire additional workers in order to meet the staffing needs of the event, and also told the city it would retain 100 percent of the profits, which have averaged $24,000 in past years. For both staffing and revenue reasons, Hill recommended the city contract with the Children’s Museum instead of the History Center this year.

Also on tonight’s agenda: a presentation from the city’s department of public services on snow removal procedures and priorities for the upcoming winter season, and potential appointments to city boards. Recommended appointments including Commissioner Brian Haas to the Traverse City Housing Commission, and an at-large appointment to the Traverse City Planning Commission by Mayor Jim Carruthers of Camille Weatherholt. Weatherholt is recommended to take the seat currently held by Jody Bergman. Carruthers previously tried to appoint Weatherholt and city resident Elizabeth Whelan to the planning commission at the city’s November 9 organizational meeting, but failed to get support from fellow commissioners for the appointments.