TRAVERSE CITY — The City of Traverse City will host the “City Strategy in Motion” and “Team Traverse City Celebration” on Feb. 19, 2026, at the City Opera House. The event will showcase municipal progress made during 2025 and outline strategic goals for the upcoming year.
The evening will focus on the implementation of the city’s first Strategic Action Plan, which the City Commission adopted unanimously on June 2, 2025. Developed over nine months with input from more than 1,500 residents, the plan established six strategic pillars to guide policy and investments for the next five years.
Infrastructure improvements remain a primary focus for the city, including a $35.5 million investment to modernize the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The project is designed to strengthen long-term system resilience. Municipal leaders are also implementing transportation and mobility upgrades guided by the Mobility Action Plan and a newly adopted Complete Streets Policy.
The city recently opened a $10 million fully electric Senior Center, which is the first facility of its kind in Michigan. Environmental efforts also include the FishPass project, which reached a milestone in early 2026. The in-stream components of the project are currently 50% complete.
City officials are also prioritizing strategic investments in public safety, housing, parks and environmental sustainability. These initiatives are managed through Commission-adopted Objectives and Key Results, known as OKRs, which are used to track progress and departmental work plans.
City Manager Benjamin Marentette credited community engagement for the current strategic alignment. Marentette has served as city manager during the nine-month development of the Strategic Action Plan.
“2025 was a year of alignment—where community voice and strategic direction came together, laying the foundation for the measurable outcomes we are committed to delivering in the years ahead,” Marentette said. “With the adoption of our first Strategic Action Plan and the recent adoption of the City Commission’s OKRs, we are moving from vision to execution.”
The celebration will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, 2026, at the City Opera House. The formal program is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. Community members who wish to attend are asked to RSVP by Feb. 12.