Tensions flared at last night’s City Commission meeting around the discussion of a new proposed prowling ordinance in response to safety concerns at Hull Park in Traverse City.
A review of Traverse City Police Department data IPR received through a Freedom of Information Act Request showed that incident reports and arrests at Hull Park have increased significantly beginning in May 2025.
That same month, the homeless encampment called "The Pines" was cleared of around seventy occupants by the TCPD.
The ordinance, which was introduced by Traverse City Police Chief Matt Richmond, would allow police to address nighttime lurking on property owned or leased by others.
It’s a charge that could land a person in jail for more than 90 days.
Along with prowling, the city included an amendment to trespassing penalties which would allow police officers to “require any person violating this chapter to leave any park for the balance of three (3) days.”
Richmond said that the prowling ordinance language was updated with feedback from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) from the earlier version considered in 2024.
Despite that, Richmond noted that the ACLU expressed “continued concerns about the current language as presented tonight” — though he also mentioned the city attorney considered the language defensible.
During public comment, critics argued the ordinance language was vague and subjective and said that implementing it would be criminalizing homelessness.
“I think you know it's pretty obvious what this ordinance is supposed to do, right?,” said a critic who did not give his name. “You all are saying like, ‘Oh, it could be used for anybody’... but we all know who it's gonna primarily be used against.”
Anger simmered as a number of critics cursed at the City Commission during their comment, but boiled over when one began yelling profanity from the podium.
After he was removed, the Commission took a two minute recess.
Supporters also spoke at the podium and said that conditions at the park were unsafe for children, especially at the nearby sailing school, and that the park could not be a place for open drinking, drug use, and violence.
“I am at Hall Park three nights a week. Please make what's happening in the park stop,” middle schooler Hunter Brutzman told commissioners. “It was scary to hear that people tried to hurt [our] coaches. You aren't doing anything to fix it. Think about my friends and sailors. Nobody should get hurt.”
That ordinance was passed five to one.
Traverse City Manager Benjamin Marentette said the ordinance will be reviewed for implementation.
See our earlier reporting:
Traverse City to consider 'prowling' ordinance with jail potential of more than 90 days
