Utica council adopts bonds to fund harbor improvements and pedestrian-bridge design

The Utica Common Council voted on May 21, 2025 to adopt bond ordinances authorizing $2 million for harbor improvements and $2.5 million for design of a pedestrian bridge around Utica Harbor, city officials said.

City Engineer Nick Bridal told the council the $2 million award comes through a Canal Corporation grant and New York Power Authority agreements and is “a 100% reimbursable grant.” He said the Harbor package covers three primary components: two trails (one on either side of the harbor) that will connect to a future pedestrian bridge; a small boat launch for fishing boats; and a 300‑to‑400‑car parking lot in the former Jones Chemical area that will serve the marina’s event center.

The pedestrian bridge funding is federal highway aid provided as a member item totaling $2.5 million; Bridal said $2 million is federal with a $500,000 match coming from the Canal Corporation. Bridal described the financing as short‑term bond anticipation notes that will be billed against the grants and later reimbursed. “They’re gonna set up milestone[s],” he said, describing the reimbursement schedule the city will follow.

Council members asked for an itemized list of the capital pieces and how the bonds will affect the city’s debt schedule; Bridal and staff said they would provide further figures and debt‑service scheduling. Bridal also noted ancillary items included in the Canal Corporation grant: trail connections, the parking area, restoration of a historic steam crane and new permanent signage for the harbor.

The council adopted the harbor bond ordinance and the pedestrian‑bridge ordinance by voice vote. Roll call listed the council members present as Aiello, Burmaster, Bitar, Carcone, Urban, Beatrice, Williamson, Classimo Testa, LaMedico and Jeruzzi; the minutes record nine affirmative votes on the ordinances.

Why it matters: the projects are intended to expand public access and support events at the marina and Harbor Point, and the grants reduce the city’s long‑term out‑of‑pocket costs. City staff emphasized that the harbor work will be reimbursed under grant milestones and that paving the large parking lot may require a future grant authorization.

Council action on the harbor items will be followed by submittal of reimbursement requisitions and the usual design and permitting steps before construction can proceed, Bridal said. He also confirmed that several components (trail segments, boat launch, parking subbase and later paving) are being staged so the city can begin work while seeking reimbursement.