Transparency

June 17, 2016

Transparency….it’s the latest media buzzword when chastising elected officials for not transacting all discussion and deliberations in public. Many local cities, counties, and school boards have been either chastised or burned recently by being — or not being — “transparent.” I find this ironic, given that the premise behind a representative democracy revolves around electing a board member or president and then allowing those representatives to discuss, debate, and ultimately decide on issues that affect their citizens. If we disagree with those decisions, we then have every right to vote those officials from office. We also have every right to weigh in with our opinions on the issues. What we should not expect is that every issue before an elected body not only be debated but resolved in public.

We also have every right to weigh in with our opinions on the issues. What we should not expect is that every issue before an elected body not only be debated but resolved in public.

Nowhere does this come to light any more clearly than when discussing local developments in Traverse City. A recent editorial in a local media outlet chastised Traverse City Area Public Schools (TCAPS) for “proposing” to construct a new administration building directly on the heels of closing three elementary schools. Though seemingly an innocent flip of a phrase, that reporting and the subsequent editorial distorted what was really taking place in discussions between TCAPS, Grand Traverse County, and the City of TC. In an effort to be “transparent,” this group openly discussed options that could:

• Save the district from investing as much as $1.0 million dollars in an antiquated, existing Boardman Street building.

• Save TCAPS from spending needless and inefficient energy dollars to operate twice the amount of space they actually need.

• Save on construction costs for Glenn Loomis Montessori that has been on the reconstruction schedule for three years by combining the two projects into one and placing the current Glenn Loomis for sale.

• Benefit the taxpayers by putting the Boardman admin building on the tax rolls and spurring potential investment on the 14th Street corridor, which is a priority for the city.

• Potentially free up TCAPS’ 13th street property for sale and reuse as workforce housing as that property might no longer be needed.

• Explore if retrofitting any of TCAPS’ other facilities (Sabin, Bertha Voss, Interlochen, etc.) could work for administrative use.

That “transparent” discussion also looked at today’s market for housing within the city limits. Is it fiscally responsible to consider selling the Boardman property while its value may be at its highest and while there are incentives (Brownfield, TIF, etc.) available for a new developer? Both the city and the county have been gracious with their time and ideas to help TCAPS discuss how this portion of the 8th street corridor could develop.

The same general concern exists with the discussion of “tall buildings” on Front Street. The lack of transparency by critics Grant Parsons and Al Quick cast doubt on their objectivity. (Note: In one more concession to transparency, I disclose that I serve with developer Erik Falconer on the TCAPS School Board and I know developer Joe Sarafa.)

Mr. Quick, whose wife, Brenda, is the organizer of a petition drive to end “tall” buildings in TC, wants us to revise the Special Land Use Permit (SLUP) process to allow for more intervention by the public. He has accused the planning and city commissions of ignoring or stifling public comment. But those I have met and discussed this issue with are neither frustrated nor have they lost confidence in our elected, or appointed, officials. If they do lose confidence in those officials, the time to deal with them is at the next election.

And there is not one shred of empirical evidence to support Grant Parsons’ claim that school operations suffer when developers use taxpayer funded incentives. In fact, school operations are funded through a foundation allowance from the School Aid Fund of slightly over $7,000 per student in public school classrooms. The vast majority of school operations depend on this student head count, which is declining. One major reason for the decline is young northern Michigan families moving away because they cannot find find affordable/workforce housing, the same proposed affordable housing that Mr. Parsons opposes because it lacks “small town character.”

Let’s do young families in Traverse City a favor: Provide workforce housing. Let’s do taxpayers in Traverse City a favor: Encourage density in development. Let’s do developers a favor: Provide tangible rules and objectives we will adhere to. Let’s also do our elected officials a favor: Let them explore options without criticizing the fact they are discussing them.

Scott Hardy is a current TCAPS board member as well as a member of the Grand Traverse County Planning Commission. He is a lifelong Traverse City resident and a past member of the Traverse City Commission, Downtown Development Authority, and City Planning Commission.