Saco council OKs $46,000 to start local beach management plan after storm concerns

The Saco City Council on Aug. 25 approved the first reading of a $46,000 budget amendment to fund an inventory analysis and initial outreach step for a local comprehensive beach management plan.

Councilor Michael Berman moved the order to approve the $46,000 from the city’s unassigned fund balance; Councilor Gunn seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, 7-0, and the council scheduled the final reading for Sept. 8, 2025.

Supporters told the council the step is needed now that recent storms and planned federal work have increased pressure on the city’s beaches. “We’ve had back-to-back storms,” Councilor Berman said, urging the council to assemble a single strategic document that coordinates city, county, state and federal partners. Kevin Roche, speaking for SOS Saco Bay and identifying himself as a school board member, told the council the effort need not be elaborate and pointed to prior planning efforts dating to 2015–2018 as useful background. David Plavin, chairman of the City of Saco Shoreline Commission and vice president of Save Our Shore Saco Bay, said recent weekend erosion underscored urgency and thanked public works for its quick response.

City staff described the $46,000 step as the initial outreach and inventory phase of a larger effort estimated at $141,000. Staff said they plan to apply for a Community Resilience Partnership community action grant to offset overall costs and will report back to council with grant status and next steps.

Some councilors pressed for care about funding sources. Councilor Johnston said he supports a beach management plan in concept but urged the council not to draw from the unassigned fund balance until the city’s FY2024 audit is accepted and the status of undesignated reserves is confirmed. “We still do not have those audited financials,” Johnston said, adding that the city’s charter and local code set rules for appropriating unassigned funds. Councilor Berman and others responded that the city’s undesignated fund balance is likely within allowable ranges and that the $46,000 request would leave the city within policy thresholds, but they acknowledged the audit issue would need resolution for longer-term spending decisions.

The inventory-analysis step would create a consolidated document advising short- and long-term strategies to maintain coastal shoreline and to coordinate operations with private property owners and other agencies, staff said. If the council approves the final reading on Sept. 8, the consultant-led outreach and inventory phase would move forward while staff pursues grant funding for the remainder of the plan.

The action item was recorded as a first reading; a final vote is set for the council’s Sept. 8 meeting.