Traverse City commissioners Monday night refined the definition of “matching funds” for city park projects that will use Brown Bridge Trust Fund (BBTF) dollars, but otherwise left the selection and execution process surrounding such projects in the hands of the city planning and parks and recreation commissions.

At the advice of City Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht, commissioners agreed to use a “one-to-one” definition for matching funds, meaning any city park projects using BBTF dollars will require an equal match of non-city funds. In-kind labor will not be considered eligible for a match, though materials or property – if assigned a clear market value – would qualify. Some commissioners questioned whether a one-to-one match was too restrictive a policy, but Trible-Laucht said the definition was the “clearest” reflection of the ballot language approved by voters in November when they agreed to tap the BBTF for city park improvements.

Commissioners also discussed potential budget priorities Monday night for fiscal year 2015-16. A recommendation by City Manager Jered Ottenwess to cut the city’s street repair and maintenance by $300,000 this year to free up flexibility for other capital spending was met with mixed reaction by commissioners, who asked Ottenwess to provide more data on anticipated repair needs and to offer two budget scenarios with and without the $300,000 cut. Commissioners also expressed support for allocating funding for the city’s new Public Arts Trust and potential repairs at Clinch Park, though Commissioner Jeanine Easterday noted the city needed to be cautious with spending dollars at Clinch while it proceeds with legal action against splash pad designer Hamilton Anderson Associates.

Ottenwess will bring a 2015-16 draft budget to commissioners for further discussion in April.