TRAVERSE CITY — Plans to build a monument to peacemakers on Traverse City parkland need city commissioners’ vote to move forward.
Veterans for Peace Chapter 50 will ask commissioners on Tuesday to consider waiving parts of the city’s monument policy so the organization can build a Peace monument.
In a letter from the chapter, the organization asked to override the policy’s size limitation of 3-feet-by-4-feet, and limiting any names to those dead for two years or more.
That would allow the group to build a 13-foot-high sculpture with a 10-foot-diameter base honoring the works of peacemakers both locally and globally, living or dead, according to drawings submitted to the city.
Michelle Hunt, the city’s parks and recreation superintendent, said in a memo that commissioners’ decision Tuesday would be in concept only, and they would have final say on the design and location.
City Parks and Recreation commissioners already approved the monument in concept, which stems from Traverse City’s International City of Peace.
Block grants
Commissioners on Tuesday will also revisit requests to divide $295,453 in federal Community Development Block Grants between two homeless shelter operators, a church that’s part of a network providing services to people without homes and a supportive housing nonprofit.
Specifically, they’ll consider giving:
— $69,725 to Goodwill Northern Michigan for heating, ventilation and air conditioning and bike racks at East Bay Flats;
— $65,787 to Northwest Michigan Supportive Housing for boiler, water heater and roof replacements at its Three Mile Road four-plex;
— $50,000 to Central United Methodist Church Outreach Program for director, kitchen, janitorial and security staffing; and
— $100,000 to Safe Harbor for parking lot paving and other improvements, including a generator.
The funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and are the first yearly grant the city received after joining a metropolitan planning organization.
A short-handed commission tabled the requests on Jan. 6 to avoid a failed vote amid their requests for more information.
Other business
Along with hearing an update to the city’s strategic planning process — set to enter its second phase — commissioners on Tuesday will consider the annual performance review processes for city Attorney Lauren Trible-Laucht and city Manager Liz Vogel. If approved, the city would hire a facilitator to help conduct the reviews, and wrap them no later than June 30, according to the process outline.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct wrong information provided to the Record-Eagle about the design and dimensions of the monument proposed by Veterans for Peace Chapter 50, as well as the authorship of a letter included in city meeting materials. The monument proposed is a spire-like sculpture 13 feet in height on a 10-foot-diameter base. Chapter President Tim Keenan said he did not write a letter on chapter letterhead included with city meeting materials describing a different monument. Jan. 20, 2025