Detroit council hears Port Authority budget pitch; several port items moved to executive session

The Detroit Wayne County Port Authority presented its FY2027 budget request to the City Council’s expanded Budget, Finance and Audit Committee on March 11, outlining electrification projects, hydrogen planning and a proposal for a new Detroit Wayne Mobility Innovation Terminal.

Mark Schrupp, executive director of the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, told the committee the authority received two EPA clean ports grants in 2024 to replace diesel port equipment with battery-electric alternatives and to plan hydrogen fuel conversions. "We just ordered two electric boats — one for the Detroit Harbour Master and one for the Wayne County Sheriff," Schrupp said, and he described plans to convert vessels and heavy equipment to hydrogen fuel cells as part of a longer-term decarbonization strategy.

The Port Authority asked the council to continue a $300,000 annual operational appropriation, which Travis Jackson, the port’s finance director, described as level-funded and intended to support a six-person staff and ongoing building maintenance. "Our ask today is for $300,000, which is on par with previous years," Jackson said. He also provided a revenue profile showing non‑governmental revenue from events and dock fees (about $615,000) and total revenues rising from approximately $1.4 million several years ago to a little over $2 million now.

Schrupp outlined a capital agenda that includes a proposed Detroit Wayne Mobility Innovation Terminal, a feasibility study and an estimated $25 million restoration of a former cargo terminal. He said the team has raised $2.5 million from the state and is seeking $1.5 million each from the city and Wayne County, with about $500,000 of port retained funds also planned.

Council members pressed port leaders on several fronts. Councilmember Angela Whitfield Callaway criticized the presentation for not referencing a 2023 ferry feasibility study funded with $100,000 and asked that the study be re‑circulated to the full council. "You surveyed over 800 residents who support the ferry," Callaway said, and she asked why the report was not highlighted. Port staff said the ferry study was completed in FY2025 and remains under continuing review, and Captain Schrupp said the authority has not yet identified an operator willing to run a regular commuter service without a subsidy.

On governance and contracts, Schrupp discussed a 2005, 100‑year agreement with Ambassador Port Company (associated with Ambassador Bridge interests) that he said has limited the Port Authority’s ability to generate net revenue from a former city cargo dock. "In the last 20 years under that agreement we've generated no positive revenue," Schrupp said, adding that board leadership is pursuing ways to terminate or renegotiate the arrangement so the authority can pursue new cargo arrangements.

Councilmembers also asked about job and economic impacts. Schrupp estimated roughly $2 million in direct local economic return from cruise activity in a season that included 69 dockings and more than 220,000 passenger visits last summer; he said the Port Authority directly employs seven staff and that roughly 6,000 private‑sector jobs in the metro area are tied to cargo movement.

On environmental monitoring and safety, Schrupp described rooftop solar arrays that reduce the authority’s electricity usage by about 18%, a biodiesel transition pilot and a monitoring partnership with Just Air that places 10 sensors around port facilities; residents can sign up for text alerts from those monitors. He also said the authority has begun sponsoring Aqua Action, an initiative focused on water-quality solutions.

During the hearing the committee moved several port-related items into executive session for further consideration, each by voice consent with no recorded objections. Those referrals included a request to develop an executive‑session tracking mechanism to measure career-expo outcomes, discussion of a requested $1.5 million city investment in the Mobility Innovation Terminal and further review of the ferry feasibility work and a master concession agreement.

The Port Authority also promoted a youth career expo on April 10 and encouraged council members to connect schools and local employers with the event. Schrupp said organizers have registered more than 200 students to date and offer bus transportation to facilitate school group attendance.

The committee will expect written follow-up on outstanding questions, including details on the Ambassador Port Company agreement, ferry feasibility and metrics for workforce outcomes. The Port Authority moved on to its next set of presenters after the hearing.