City of Petoskey

1. Insure Sustainable City Finances 

• Develop cost of service data to link more explicitly services and costs for residents and to establish and periodically update user fees used to finance certain city services
• Seek service partnerships with public, nonprofit and private sector entities where appropriate and cost effective
• Continue to aggressively identify and pursue external funding sources to support ongoing operations and capital improvements

2. Address City Infrastructure Issues 

• Continue to update the capital improvement program (CIP) and provide more detail on out-year projects, costs and potential funding, indicating to the extent possible what must be done and what might be done if funding were available
• Periodically schedule work sessions and public meetings as appropriate to insure understanding of the issues and challenges associated with CIP and funding 
• Continue to aggressively identify and pursue external funding sources to support capital improvements
• Develop a plan, with costs estimates, for implementing a Geographic Information System for use in a variety of city service applications

3. Protect and Enhance the Quality of Life of Petoskey Neighborhoods 

• Monitor and report on implementation of the IPMC adopted by council during the past year as one means for addressing nuisance issues in residential neighborhoods
• Identify potential tools and incentives for improving the housing stock as a continuation of and complement to the enforcement strategies undertaken under the IPMC
• Develop and implement strategies to improve and enhance commercial nodes throughout the city
• Develop and implement strategies for slowing traffic in residential neighborhoods, especially on connecting streets.

4.  Strengthen the Petoskey Economy 

• Address a broad range of economic development policies and options that include:  a City policy on abatements, considering best practices and what other local units employ; explore potential application of other economic development tools, especially those recently approved by the State legislature, including a Corridor Improvement Authority
• Consider purchase of property as a proactive development tool, especially in light of the availability of key properties that might be purchased at relatively low cost
• Preserve and enhance the downtown that include: considering advantages/disadvantages of expanding the areas included in the downtown TIF; improved signage for entry points to the City and the downtown area; develop policy on cost allocation between the City and DDA/DMB for downtown improvements; insure public understanding of the situation surrounding the Petoskey Pointe development; and revisit creating a Local Historic District, perhaps hosting a public forum to secure input on whether the City should establish a local study commission.

5.  Address Bay Harbor Service Issues 

• Continue to meet with representatives of residents of Bay Harbor and with Bay Harbor company officials to identify key municipal service delivery issues and to insure understanding of the extent of city authority
• Monitor the impact of the new public safety facility on service delivery and keep both the Bay Harbor and the larger community updated on efforts to improve safety services
• Consider seeking ways to provide a broad range of municipal services to the Bay Harbor community.