Pier fees approved for nonresidents

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The St. Clair Shores City Council approved new fees for nonresidents using the Blossom Heath Activity Pier in a 6-1 vote at their meeting on Sept. 16.

Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Candice Rusie cast the opposing vote.

The item was presented by Parks and Recreation Director Rob Spinazzola.

According to items attached to the meeting’s agenda, the item was discussed at a study session on Aug. 26. Spinazzola said during the meeting they might have underestimated how frequently residents and nonresidents would use the pier.

“The fees collected could help to offset additional staffing, cleaning, and maintenance of the pier,” the attached material stated.

According to the fee schedule:

• Residents with a park pass get in free and are allowed to park beyond the entry gate.

• Residents without a park pass get in free but must show proof of residence with a driver’s license to gain entrance to the pier. They must park before the entry gate and walk.

• Nonresidents have a $5 daily entry fee per person, with children 3 and under admitted at no charge. They must park before the entry gate and walk.

• An annual pass for nonresidents is $100 per person, which allows one year of access to the pier from time of purchase. They must park before the entry gate and walk.

• These fees will not affect special events.

Spinazzola said nonresidents who come with a resident who has a park pass do not have to pay. They’d be counted as guests of the passholder.

Councilman Ronald Frederick said he thinks the new fees are great but did raise concerns about how they handle people who trash the park and continue to do so. He asked if there are any violations for repeat offenders.

Spinazzola said park guards cannot issue violations.

“But anybody who’s a repeat offender, they’ll try to take note of that person,” Spinazzola said. “Especially now, if they have a park pass, we have a record of who that person is coming in and out.”

Spinazzola continued to say that this information will be passed onto the needed office and that individual or multiple people will not gain access to the park.

Frederick continued to ask if there is “retribution” to change the behavior.

St. Clair Shores City Manager Dustin Lent said they can print rules and regulations on the annual pass.

“And if any of these rules and regulations are repeatedly violated, whether it’s loud music, whether it’s littering, whether it’s destruction, that the pass would be forfeited at that time,” Lent said.

Lent also said they already call the police for any disturbances or destruction.

Spinazzola said there will be signs at the park showing the new prices and regulations.

Rusie said it’s a lot of money.

“That’s an expensive outing to walk a straight line down to the lake for something that is normally, traditionally, has been free,” Rusie said.

Rusie compared the fee to a metropark, which has a daily fee of $10 per vehicle and $40 for an annual pass.

“But we’re saying per person (it) is $100,” Rusie said.

Rusie also asked if the city asked the Tax Increment Finance Authority board members for an opinion on the fees because the TIFA put around $6.4 million into the pier. Mayor Kip Walby said they have not asked.

Councilman John Caron said he is in favor of a lesser fee to generate statistics about who is using the pier.

Councilman Chris Vitale suggested having a police presence at the beginning of the 2025 season. He said he wants the guards to have support.

“I imagine there’s going to be people who take this personally and put up quite a stink,” Vitale said. “And I think just honestly the presence of a marked vehicle or something like that would probably tone a lot of that down.”