TRAVERSE CITY — The City Commission reviewed draft Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) on Jan. 12, which are set to guide the city’s decision-making and resource allocation over the next few years. David Beurle of Future iQ presented revised OKRs that will be considered for adoption during the upcoming Tuesday, Jan. 20 meeting.
The revised OKRs aim to translate the Strategic Action Plan into measurable outcomes that will enhance organizational performance and align with community priorities. This session builds on previous Commission discussions, highlighting the importance of ensuring that the strategic vision is effectively implemented.
In his revisions, Beurle adjusted the timeline for the OKRs from 1-2 years to a more feasible 1-3 years, allowing more time for the tasks ahead. This change is designed to assist in prioritizing the objectives and ensuring a thorough implementation process. The recommendation from the meeting is for the City Commission to concur with the OKRs and direct the City Manager to develop budget recommendations to achieve these objectives. This collaboration will further assess feasibility, timelines and alignment for each objective across city departments, ensuring comprehensive planning and execution. The City Commission expects the OKRs, once they are adopted, to facilitate clear guidelines for city operations, making resource allocation more strategic. By working collaboratively, city departments can ensure that their efforts reflect community engagement and priorities.
Following the meeting on Tuesday evening, the City Manager will begin developing budget recommendations in conjunction with the adopted OKRs. An update on this status is anticipated by the end of February 2026.
Here are the key pillars of the Traverse City Strategic Action Plan:
- Pillar 1: Proactively manage urban design to protect local character and community feel. That would include collaborating with the county and surrounding townships for planning and development of ‘entry’ corridors and highlight a broad mix of housing options.
- Pillar 2: Strengthening the character of downtown and neighborhoods. That includes developing programs to create more and enhance existing social gathering spaces, with additional projects for ‘tactical urbanism.’ This would also include developing a fund to support community-driven initiatives and working with the Downtown Development Authority to reframe support for downtown businesses and infrastructure and help encourage a live/work environment.
- Pillar 3: Foster a regional collaborative approach to manage resources, utilities and climate adaptation by actively soliciting opportunities to take part on other key groups (such as the airport board). This pillar would also aim to build a mindset of collaboration rather than competition. They would achieve this by convening or helping to convene leadership groups to address regional issues like the housing crisis, childcare and long-term environmental sustainability,
- Pillar 4: Creating a complete community that has demographic balance by establishing a policy to encourage more full-time residents in core neighborhoods and understand the limits of existing policy tools. It would also re-establish the summer camp at Hickory Hills in 2026 and offer pilot programs for new childcare options.
- Pillar 5: Supporting environmental sustainability by adapting to a changing world and supporting a thriving ecosystem. It would encourage businesses, tourism and local organizations to adapt to more sustainable practices.
- Pillar 6: Building a thriving year-round economy by expanding business diversity and innovation capacity. The city would aim to work with Traverse City Tourism and other such entities to explore future tourism models and approaches that could reduce negative local impacts and enhance positive local impacts of the visitation economy. It would also strive to deepen the partnership with groups like Traverse Connect and Michigan Works to support ways to diversify the economy and elevate local jobs and wages.
The next City Commission meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 7:00 p.m., in the Commission Chambers of the Governmental Center, 400 Boardman Avenue, Traverse City.