Port Huron City Council Meeting – June 22, 2026

The Port Huron City Council met on June 22, 2026, at 7:00 PM to discuss a variety of agenda items including proclamations, public hearings on downtown special assessment districts, numerous resolutions, and public comments on city issues. The meeting included presentations to recognize Pride Month and honor Deputy City Manager Cynthia Bloomfield, public hearings on streetscape maintenance assessments, and council action on several financial and development items. A notable procedural dispute occurred when Mayor Ashford attempted to change the agenda to present a plaque herself, but the motion failed.

Presentations & Proclamations

• LGBTQIA+ Pride Month Proclamation: Mayor Ashford proclaimed June 2026 as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month in Port Huron. A representative from Blue Water Allies accepted the proclamation, highlighted the center’s inclusive services, and invited the community to Pride Fest on June 28, 2026.
• Honorary Plaque for Deputy City Manager Cynthia Bloomfield: City Manager James Freed presented a plaque to Bloomfield in recognition of her eight years of dedicated service. Bloomfield thanked the council, staff, and community, noting her passion for local public service.

Public Hearings

• Public Hearing #1 – Huron Avenue Streetscape Special Assessment District: One downtown business owner expressed concern that she receives no benefits from the assessment despite paying taxes. Another resident, Susan Kuhn, supported the assessment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining downtown appearance. Councilmember Archibald asked staff to follow up with the concerned property owner. The resolution to continue the district was adopted unanimously (7-0).
• Public Hearing #2 – Military Street Streetscape Special Assessment District: No public comments were received. The resolution was adopted unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Astra: Urged the city to create a local human rights commission to address discrimination and violence against LGBTQIA+ individuals, citing systemic barriers in housing, employment, and safety.
• Lori: Asked for an inspection of drains on the beach that cause ponding and potential pollution, noting that Holland Beach is closed due to contamination.
• Donna Drake: Requested an update on the sale of the Dunn Paper Company property, expressing neighborhood concerns about demolition and contamination.
• Alan Lewandowski: Announced his candidacy for mayor, criticizing the current council’s lack of cooperation and promising to restore forward momentum for the city.
• TJ Rudesilli Jr. : Spoke about unionization efforts at McLaren Port Huron, detailing management’s opposition and delays in recognizing the union. He called for improved patient safety and staffing.
• Marcy Dombacher: Expressed support for Blue Water Allies and urged the council to focus on safety and inclusivity to attract families.
• Danielle: Reported excessive trash on Lakeside Beach before July 4th and ongoing parking issues near fire hydrants on Conger Street.
• Trash the Clown: Read a prepared statement advocating for the art crosswalk initiative, citing a Bloomberg study showing a 50% reduction in pedestrian crashes at such crossings.
• Rachel Farquhar: Thanked the city manager for participating in community trash pickup activities and urged residents to sign her chicken-related petition.
• Julian Ruck (non-resident): Announced he is moving back to Port Huron and plans to walk from Mayfield, Kentucky to protest the development of South Side property. He claimed the community’s population has been declining since 1965.
• Sandy Schultz (non-resident): Asked for a public update on enforcement of the Joshua Conant ordinance (passed April 2025), which requires fingerprinting, training, and safety protocols at establishments with security personnel. City Manager Freed promised a comprehensive report before the next meeting.
• Katie Markhardt (non-resident): Described unfair labor practices at McLaren Port Huron, including withholding raises and failing to release stewards for negotiations, affecting over 120 healthcare workers.

Discussion Items

• City Manager’s Report: Manager Freed reported that the Dunn Paper property has sold and a demolition permit is authorized; the city will work with new owners. Regarding beach drains, he explained that outfalls are permitted at specific elevations by the state, making relocation costly and unlikely. He committed to sending workers to clean Lakeside Beach.
• Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (7-0) after a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Archibald, seconded by Councilmember Pemberton. Items included clerical budget corrections, delegate certification for the municipal employees retirement system, reappointment of board members, and single lot assessments for brush pickup.
• Resolution #1 – South Water Tower Control Valve Replacement: Approved a bid of $457,855 from Raymond Excavating Company (unanimous).
• Resolution #2 – 2025-2026 Budget Amendments: Approved end-of-year adjustments (unanimous).
• Resolution #3 – 24th Street and Elmwood Area Resurfacing: Approved an agreement with BMJ Engineers for design and construction engineering services (unanimous).
• Resolution #4 – Sewage Disposal System Revenue Bonds: Authorized bond issuance; Manager Freed stated this would inoculate residents from rate increases and fund capital projects (unanimous).
• Resolution #5 – Lease for Discovery City Children’s Museum: Approved a lease agreement with the Community Foundation of St. Clair County for space at 310 Huron Avenue. Recreation Director Katie reported over 47,000 visits and 1,428 memberships since opening in October 2024. The museum will temporarily close for a few months to move to the new location.
• Ordinance – Virtual Currency Machines: Approved an ordinance amending Chapter 12 to establish licensing and regulations for virtual currency machines (unanimous).

Key Outcomes

• Votes: All resolutions and ordinances passed unanimously (7-0). The motion to change the agenda (to allow Mayor Ashford to present the plaque) failed (no roll call provided but implied defeat).
• Directives: City Manager Freed will follow up with the property owner concerned about the Huron Avenue assessment. He will also provide a comprehensive report on the Joshua Conant ordinance enforcement before the next meeting.
• Next Steps: The children's museum will pause operations to transition to its new Main Street location. The city will continue monitoring the Dunn Paper demolition. Council expressed support for the union efforts at McLaren Port Huron, pledging to use “soft power” to assist.