Administration

Visit our administrative services page and find information pertaining to the city manager and city clerk.

1. City Manager

   The City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City, responsible to the City Commission for the administration of all matters placed in the City Manager’s charge by the City Commission or by the authority of the City Charter.

2. Deputy City Manager

   As Deputy City Manager, I oversee and coordinate inter-departmental operations and all activities related to Building Maintenance, Purchasing, Information Technology, Assessing, and Clerk’s Office.

Assessing

The Assessor's Office has the responsibility of appraising all real and personal property located within the city of Bay City.

1. Assessment Appeals Process

   Proposal A has not changed the right of taxpayers to appeal their assessments.

2. Buying a New Home

   In 1994, the voters of Michigan passed a referendum commonly known as Proposal A.

3. Forms

   Access forms from the Assessing Department to view and/or print.

4. Home Improvements

   One of the single greatest fears homeowners have when considering home improvements is how much the improvements made will directly affect their assessment, and thereby their taxes.

5. Property Assessment

   As a taxpayer in the City of Bay City, you are concerned about paying only your fair share of taxes for services received.

6. Receiving a Reduction

   You may receive a reduction in your assessment if it meets certain criteria.

7. Property Search

   Property Search

8. Annual Housing Report

Clerk

The Bay City Clerk is the ex-officio clerk of the City Commission who maintains a complete record of the proceedings of the commission.

1. License Applications and Clerk Forms

   View clerk forms and licensing applications.

2. Elections

   Learn about upcoming elections, polling locations, absentee ballots and more.

3. Michigan Voter Information

   As you may know, the Michigan Voter Information Center (MVIC) is now mobile.

4. Passport Information

   The Bay City Clerk's Office is a passport processing agent and is authorized to accept passport applications.

5. Schedules

   Find out when upcoming elections are.

Community Development

The primary aim of the City of Bay City Planning and Zoning Department is to maintain the long-term sustainability of our community, economy and environment with prompt, professional service and a philosophy that inspires creative solutions.

1. Building Department

   Learn about the responsibilities of the Building Department

2. Code Enforcement

   Learn about the responsibilities of the Code Enforcement department.

3. Economic Development

   We provide development assistance to developers, businesses, and neighborhoods in Bay City.

4. Grant Administration

   Responsible for the administration of the City's Community Development Block Grant, HOME Grant, and other City grant proposals.

5. Planning & Zoning

   The primary aim of the City of Bay City Planning and Zoning Department is to maintain the long-term sustainability of our community, economy and environment with prompt, professional service and a philosophy that inspires creative solutions.

6. Housing Strategies

   The City of Bay City is working diligently across departments to identify effective and efficient means to improve housing values and property conditions across our community. Beginning with the receipt and presentation of a comprehensive housing study in August 2016, the City has examined and analyzed relevant data and case studies to learn about potential actions and outcomes. This comprehensive housing improvement strategy continues to be developed and refined, with an expected implementation timeframe of 15 or more years.

7. Medical Marihuana and Adult-Use Marihuana

Electric

Bay City Electric Light and Power (BCELP) strives to offer value to our customers by providing economical and reliable service.

1. Budget Bill Planning

   While personal income does not vary much from season to season for most of our customers, utility costs do.

2. Commercial Service

   Though small in number, our commercial customers make up a large portion of our kWh and energy usage.

3. Energy Smart Program

   Bay City Electric Light and Power, with our Energy Smart Program, is dedicated to a portfolio of energy efficient programs designed to assist Residents and Businesses in reducing their energy usage.

4. History

   Our utility began in 1868 as the Bay City Gas Light Company.

5. Pay Your Bill

6. Rates & Regulations

   This section provides a more detailed list of our rates for all of our customer types.

7. Residential Service

   With almost 18,000 homes served by Bay City Electric, our residential customers are extremely important to us.

8. Vegetation Management

   Selecting a tree to plant is not a decision to be taken lightly, and is especially important around utility lines.

Fiscal Services

The purpose of the Accounting Department is to accurately present, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the results of the City of Bay City's financial operations and conditions in a timely manner to all interested parties.

1. Financial Reports

   Access various financial documents from Bay City such as adopted budgets, comprehensive annual financing reports, and more.

Human Resources

Learn more about the principle duties of the Human Resources Department.

Public Safety

The Bay City DPS was created in 2013 and is a fully consolidated Department of Public Safety providing 24-hour law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service.

1. Community Policing Unit

   The Bay City Department of Public Safety implemented the Community Officers Patrolling Streets (COPS) program in September of 1990.

2. Department Information

   See details about the Public Safety Department such as reports, FAQs and more.

3. Fire Operations Division

   The function of the Bay City Department of Public Safety Fire Operations Division is to protect lives and property within the city from fires, natural or man-made disasters, medical emergencies, and entrapments.

4. Patrol Operations Division

   In the Patrol Operations Division, focus is on the protection of life, property and enforcing the law in a fair and impartial manner.

5. Support Operations Division

   The Support Operations Division consists of Public Safety Officers who are cross-trained employees, and acts as the Detective Bureau.

Public Works

The Public Works Department strives to offer value to our customers by providing the highest quality service from all of our individual departments.

1. Advanced Metering Infrastructure

   Through the collaboration of the Water, Electric, and Customer Service Departments, the City of Bay City is in progress of implementing a customer-wide meter upgrade.

2. Airport

   Parks, Buildings and Grounds Division staff oversees the maintenance, management and operation of James Clements Airport, a Class "B" General Aviation Airport, in compliance with State and Federal aviation laws, procedures and guidelines.

3. Bridge Division

   Bay City is home to four bascule draw bridges that are manned 24 hours a day during the shipping season, which runs from April 1st through December 31st.

4. Cemetery

   Parks, Buildings, and Grounds Division staff oversee the maintenance, management and operation of the 42-acre Oak Ridge Cemetery.

5. Engineering

   The City of Bay City Engineering Services (formerly known as the Engineering Department, Construction Engineering) provides support to contractors, utilities, other units of governments, developers and residents for their development projects.

6. Fleet

   The City of Bay City Fleet Department consists of more than 200 vehicles throughout various departments, including Sanitation, Streets, Sewer, Parks, Water, Police and Fire.

7. Marina

   Parks, Buildings and Grounds Division staff oversee the maintenance, management and operation of the 100-slip Liberty Harbor Marina.

8. Parks

   The City of Bay City Parks Division manages and maintains 238 Acres of parkland and related facilities.

9. Sanitation

   The City of Bay City Sanitation Department provides weekly trash, recycling, yard waste and brush collection for city residents and businesses, totaling nearly 15,000 weekly stops.

10. Sewer Maintenance

    The Sewer Department is responsible for maintaining approximately 350 miles of sanitary, storm, combined and 6600 catch basins.

11. Streets

    The City of Bay City Street Department is responsible for maintaining about 450 lane miles of roadway within the city limits, equaling about the same distance from Bay City to Sault Ste. Marie and back.

12. Water Distribution/Metering

    Water Distribution/Metering is the system of piping that delivers clean water from the Water Plant to homes and businesses. This department is also in charge metering water usage.

Purchasing

The Purchasing Department is responsible for providing the City of Bay City with proper unbiased procurement policies and procedures.

1. Bid Tabulations

   Review bid tabulation document from the Purchasing Department.

2. Purchasing Forms

   See a listing of forms from the Purchasing Department.

3. Purchasing Guidelines

   The Purchasing Agent must authorize the purchase of materials, supplies and services for and on behalf of the city.

4. Purchasing Policy

   The City of Bay City believes that its purchasing policies should encourage local vendors to provide goods and/or services to Bay City government, resulting in increased economic activity through more local jobs, tax revenues, and expenditures, and to entice businesses to relocate to the City.

5. Requests for Bids

   The City of Bay City has absolutely reserved the right and prerogative to reject any or all bids as well as to waive any irregularities and informalities.

Treasurer

The Bay City Treasurer collects, receipts and deposits all City of Bay City revenue.

1. Forms, Schedules & Information

   Read about the Principal Residence Exemption and more.

2. Methods of Payment

   Find out the different ways you can make payments to the Treasurer's Office.

3. Principal Residence Exemption

   This exemption is for homeowners that occupy their home.

4. Property Taxes, Utilities & Parking Tickets

   Among the many payments accepted by the City of Bay City Treasurer are those for property taxes, utilities and parking tickets.

Utility Customer Service

Utility Customer Service administers the City of Bay City's utility billing system, including meter reading, electric billing, water/sewer billing, and credit and collections.

1. Utility Customer Service Forms

   View various utility forms and other information.

2. Establishing Utility Service

3. Utility Assistance

   Find out what resources are available to assist you with your utilities.

4. Utility Bill Payments

5. Utility Liens & Budget Bills

   The Accounts Receivable Department handles customer records, billing, collections and checks for outstanding utility liens for water, sewer, electric utilities and refuse bills.

6. Utility Rates

   The current rate for electric, water and sewer.

7. Utility Portal

Wastewater

The Bay City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was initially built in 1952 with major modifications and additions constructed in 1969, 1977, 2003, and 2014.