St. Clair Shores City Council reviews capital improvement plan

ST. CLAIR SHORES — The St. Clair Shores City Council reviewed the city’s capital improvement plan at their meeting on Jan. 21 and approved it in a 6-0 vote.

Councilman John Caron was excused from the meeting.

The plan is for fiscal years 2026 through 2028. In December, the draft was brought forward to council, approved and sent back with edits.

In the new document St. Clair Shores City Planner Liz Koto said changes were made accordingly after meeting with each of the department heads.

“This is the three-year projection for each department,” Koto said. “So this is not a five-year plan.”

Councilwoman Candice Rusie said previously they had the justification sheets describing more of what the project is about and right now it is only a line item.

“So if this gets passed, this is a proposal only. It’s reflective only of that and we will be discussing these items more in depth and maybe striking some out or adding some as we go through not only the budget creation season but the fiscal years following, correct?” Rusie asked.

Koto confirmed that was the case, with St. Clair Shores City Manager Dustin Lent adding that the plan can be changed and updated on a yearly basis.

“This will be part of our budget process that will be coming up in March and April and this can be modified, adapted,” Lent said. “And for this year’s coming up budget, they’ll also have the justification forms as well.”

Rusie also asked about a forfeiture in relation to the new police boat. She believed the grant money wasn’t going to be run through the forfeiture accounts.

“That segment that is coming from the grant probably should be put under the police budget as a funded, you know, source of funds grant, but not under forfeiture because we’re not running the funding we’re receiving through the forfeiture,” Rusie said.

Lent said the money will actually be put through the motor pool.

Rusie also said she thought that the city has issues making budgets with the forfeiture accounting for legal purposes.

“Because we don’t know how much money we’re going to be taking in via forfeiture,” Rusie said.

Lent said Rusie is correct and that for fiscal year 2026, a lot of items will come to the City Council.

“But we do have a fund balance even with that being in there,” Lent said.

Lent went on to say they are hoping money comes in, but they’re only projecting out.

Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dave Rubello wanted to reiterate that the document can change.

“This is hit or miss,” Rubello said. “And because the situation, the times, they (the projections) could change.”