Port Huron City Council Regular Meeting - April 13, 2026

The Port Huron City Council held its regular meeting on April 13, 2026. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, a city manager’s report on the Black River Canal project, consent agenda approvals, an ordinance rezoning, and discussion of resident–non-resident participation rules. All council members were present.

Consent Calendar

• Resolution #1: Authorizing 18 payments.
• Resolution #2: Multi-year agreement with Professional Services Industries Inc. for construction material testing and inspection.
• Resolution #3: Authorizing levy of operating tax rate for Blue Water Area Transportation Commission.
• Resolution #4: Recognizing April 24, 2026 as Arbor Day.
• Resolution #5: Authorizing special liquor license application for Rocking the River event.
• Resolution #6: Confirming reappointments of Bruce Seymour and Jim Soto to the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.
• Resolution #7: Approving appointment of Caroline Jet to the Beautification Commission.
• Resolution #8: Approving reappointments of Jack Bellier and Mark Neal to the McMorran Place Commission.
• Resolution #9: Approving adjustment to boat launch fees (seasonal: $25 residents / $50 non-residents; daily: $10 residents / $20 non-residents).
• Resolution #10: Approving agreement with JCL Protection Safety Solutions for Lakeside Beach security services. All consent items were approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Aaron Kriner (109 Taylor St): Encouraged residents to request free trees from the city forestry department. Opposed the canal gate project; suggested a seawall and kayak portage as a cheaper alternative. Stated the gate would benefit a small number of boaters and that a user fee would not cover costs.
• Trash (self-described clown, name not given): Criticized the council’s recent rule change separating resident and non-resident speaking times, calling it ironic that the city now asks townships for canal funding. Argued the rule change sends a message of exclusion and undermines regional cooperation.
• Nick (homeless resident): Described his homeless experience and a recent encounter with sheriff’s deputies who requested identification. Asserted his Fourth Amendment rights and expressed concern about law enforcement practices. Stated he has not had issues with the city itself yet.
• Betty (resident): Commented on missing the prior meeting due to the sign-in deadline. Praised the city’s tourism video. Expressed frustration with delays on the canal project and the risk of losing grants. Criticized the speaker rule change and noted she was approached by young people collecting signatures for a recall petition targeting two council members; she suggested recalling all four who supported the change. Urged youth involvement.
• Kim (39114 Military St, cardiothoracic trauma nurse): Addressed continued sales of whippets (nitrous oxide) in the city. Commended the mayor for previous enforcement but reported that a store on 10th Street is still selling large quantities (50 cases per week). Described health risks and the owner’s defense that whippets are less harmful than other drugs. Urged the council to take action.
• Curtis Carl (Port Huron Township, non-resident taxpayer): Complained that pickleball court nets were not yet installed at Lakeside Beach. Accused City Manager James Freed of lying about a scheduled presentation at Port Huron Township on April 6; Freed stated he was never scheduled for that date. Criticized the management of the canal cofferdam and the overall project, alleging mismanagement.

Discussion Items

• Proclamation – Child Abuse Prevention Month: Mayor Ashford read a proclamation declaring April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, citing statistics: 4,502 children in poverty, 3,225 children in homes investigated for abuse/neglect, 429 confirmed victims in St. Clair County. Sherry (Prevention Education Board) and Lindsay Chalk (Prevention Education Coordinator) spoke about prevention programs, including the “Stewards of Children” curriculum, and presented pinwheels as symbols of childhood.
• Proclamation – Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports: Mayor Ashford presented a certificate of recognition to the Port Huron Parks and Recreation Department for endorsing the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, noting the department’s 2024 Project Play Summit recognition and leadership in inclusive recreation.
• Public Hearing – 2026 Annual Action Plan: Opened and closed with no public comment.
• City Manager’s Report – Black River Canal: James Freed provided an extensive update. He stated the canal has been closed for three years and that the project is a regional issue. He proposed a user-permit fee structure (estimated $150–175 per year) to fund a 30-year bond, reducing the borrowing cost from $4.7 million to $3.7 million. He announced he is personally raising $1 million from donors and is confident of success. He described meetings with Fort Gratiot and Port Huron Township supervisors, who are open to selling permits to their residents to recoup costs. The city would absorb an estimated $100,000–120,000 annual deficit. He rejected alternative seawall proposals by explaining the Great Lakes sand cycle and Army Corps of Engineers advice. He noted that the cofferdam performed as designed during spring flooding. He concluded by saying he is “running out of ideas” and urged community support.
• Ordinance – Rezone 2213 Bancroft St: First reading to change zoning from M1 (manufacturing) to R1 (residential) to match surrounding homes; approved unanimously.
• Councilmember Comment: Councilmember Pemberton stated that the city manager should state facts and educate the public but stop disrespecting residents, and that mutual respect is needed.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: All ten resolutions passed unanimously on roll call votes.
• Resolution #9 (Boat Launch Fees): Approved unanimously. New fees: $25 residents / $50 non-residents seasonal; $10 residents / $20 non-residents daily.
• Ordinance (Rezone): Approved on first reading unanimously.
• Canal Funding Plan: City manager will continue discussions with townships; bids expected in May. No council vote taken; the plan will be brought back for approval.
• Directive: No formal motion regarding public comment rules or whippet enforcement; matters were raised but not resolved.
• Adjournment: Motion carried after final public comment and council exchange.