Council approves multiple procurement awards, hires municipal finance adviser; measure to hire adviser passes 5-2

St. Clair Shores City Council on Monday approved multiple procurement awards, contracts and engineering projects and authorized hiring a municipal financial adviser to assist with planned police and fire capital bond issuance.

Council approved procurement and contract items on the consent and regular agendas including: a sealed bid award for Pulsar chlorine tablets for pools; a three-year police vehicle upfit contract and blanket purchase orders for vehicle build-ups; pavement repair materials and multiple DPW blanket purchase orders; tree-removal and stump‑grinding contracts (with conditions discussed on contractor selection and an out clause); motor-pool tire and parts contracts split across vendors; and an auto-parts and battery supplier award. The council also approved a new garbage truck purchase under a Sourcewell cooperative purchase for $260,700 and awarded the Civic Center West parking lot reconstruction to Best Asphalt with a concrete-option low bid and a 10% contingency.

Parks and Recreation received approval to switch to CivicRec point-of-sale and recreation software; Parks Director Robert Spinazzola said initial implementation and training will push the first-year cost to about $32,048, above the department’s $25,000 line item in the budget; council approved the purchase order and said staff would track any required budget amendment. The council also approved the golf course carriage-house roof contract and various DPW supply agreements.

On municipal-finance support, administration presented the results of an RFP and recommended Municipal Financial Consultants, Inc. (MFCI). Councilmember Rubello moved to approve MFCI as municipal financial adviser and authorized the city manager to execute the agreement. Councilmember Karen said she would vote no because she opposed taking on debt backed by the general fund; another councilmember indicated the same position. The clerk announced the motion passed 5-2.

Several items prompted discussion: tree-stump and stump-removal contracts drew debate about past contractor performance and a request that city legal staff include a termination/out clause favorable to the city if the low bidder fails to perform. The garbage-truck purchase prompted questions about how the city will use the truck (not as a replacement for residential collection but for special events, social-district support and emergency use) and whether the old unit will be sold. The Civic Center West lot reconstruction drew a discussion about concrete versus asphalt and construction timing to minimize impact on ice-hockey and rec schedules; the council accepted a concrete bid with contingency and said work would begin after July 4.

Votes at a glance

- Municipal financial adviser (MFCI) — motion approved 5-2; Councilmember Karen announced she would vote no. - Chlorine tablets (Aquatic Source) — award approved per bid, unit price $165 per 50‑lb bucket ($33,960 per pallet), single bidder received. - Police vehicle changeover contract (ABS Storage Solutions) — awarded; council approved blanket purchase order with procurement language adjusted to omit a fixed vehicle count. - Tree removal contract (Wansy Tree Service) — awarded; stump removal awarded to Limb Walkers following motion to select lowest bidder with city attorney to add an out clause; vote 5-2 on stump contractor selection after debate. - Garbage truck purchase (McNeilus via Sourcewell / McQueen Group) — approved, $260,700; funded from the rubbish fund; council directed sale/auction of the old unit. - Civic Center West parking lot reconstruction (Best Asphalt Inc.) — awarded for concrete option with 10% contingency, total estimated $866,759. - Parks POS software (CivicRec) — approved, first-year cost $32,048.12 with subsequent-year lower fees; purchase order approved.

Administration said staff will finalize contracts, add required out clauses, and return final contract documents and purchase orders for the council’s records and receiving-file items where appropriate.