From the 2/22/25 WLHS Newsletter
Let’s set the record straight
“I just want to add that if we allow misperceptions to guide what we do, then I don’t know it will bode well in the long run for other things we do in the city.” Victor Sinadinoski, Harbor Springs City Manager, February 17, 2025, City Council meeting
Misperception: A belief or opinion about something that is wrong or not accurate.
The City Council exited because their belief, their perception, was that we couldn’t move forward with the RRC in place. This is not a misperception.
We have spent 5 years working on the RRC, but little on engaging the community. We have discussed housing affordability but have seen no results. We discussed how the RRC would bring good government but have more angry citizens. Our misperception is that a checklist for good government will bring good government.
For generations, Harbor Springs’ residents didn’t need to pay close attention to local politics because things ran smoothly. Free of major controversies. When there was, they were resolved amicably through mutual respect and discussion.
Over the past five years, that changed. Bureaucracy weighed us down. Agendas grew longer. And longer. Council meetings took forever. COVID did not help. People disengaged. As more and more issues began to surface—particularly around zoning and development—people started asking, What’s going on here?
A small group of concerned locals formed a 501(c)(4) nonprofit and turned to the community for support. By then, more and more people had started to notice the growing disconnect between the city government and the residents. They recognized a breakdown in communication and felt compelled to get involved.
Hundreds of residents donated money. Every donor was individually linked to an intent to preserve the best of Harbor Springs. WLHS represented them at meetings and said, “No, we’re watching now. This stops here.”
To get back on track, we had to get everyone’s attention fast. This required money to hire a public relations firm to send splashy cards and scheduled texts. For the election, we hired a local Traverse City based grassroots political action firm to help us with signs and door knockers.
Since November’s election win for Vote YES, we have had no hired professionals as staff, as some in the community believe. Through volunteer work, our outreach now far exceeds the local newspaper and the City email distribution. Our first on-line Change Petition reached 1200 people in the very first month. These results are not accidental. At the first meeting February 8, 2024 several on-lookers spoke together and said there was a “communication problem” happening in Harbor Springs. We are trying hard to fix that problem and work on the zoning.
Over the past year:
- We have attended every City Council, Planning Commission, DDA, RRC meeting.
- We read in entirety the Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC) certified-status criteria for Harbor Springs called the Baseline Report.
- We read the agreement between City Council and the Michigan Economic Development Corporations (MEDC) reaffirming the city’s agreement to annually develop and market city properties once certified.
- We read the grant contract between the City of Harbor Springs, the MEDC, and Beckett & Raeder.
- We read about zoning requirements for ‘by-right’ infill housing options.
- We read in the Baseline Report how our 50-year-old tradition of notifying our neighbors of changes was threatened.
- We read and watched as the MEDC and the outside City Planner directed and reviewed our process for a $25,000 grant.
- We read that a Master Plan and Capital Improvement Plan are state requirements, not RRC requirements, as are Open Meetings Acts.
- We are aware that the RRC is a step-by-step management process that requires public participation, which is a good thing, but only offered access to further Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) grants, with no guarantees.
- We have spoken to our neighbors.
- We networked with other Northern Michigan communities and leaders.
- We have put in the work and are informed.