Mount Pleasant City Commission adopts 2027 goals and economic development plan; staff lays out $72M CIP

The Mount Pleasant City Commission on April 27 adopted the city’s 2027 goals and objectives and accepted a new economic development plan, while staff outlined a draft 2027–2032 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) that rises to about $72 million over six years.

Manager Desens summarized how staff developed the 2027 goals, saying they condensed more than 200 pages of input from about 120 full‑time employees into focus areas: strengthening workforce resilience; accelerating technology and operational efficiency; ensuring financial sustainability; advancing infrastructure investment and asset management; and enhancing community connection and engagement. "Staff would then use the goals and objectives to then build the budget for fiscal year 2027 based on these directives," Desens said.

Vice Mayor Eke moved to adopt the goals and objectives; the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor. Eke praised the work, calling the package “robust” and urging continued emphasis on timely communication to residents about construction and service changes.

Desens then presented a condensed economic development plan (the full packet included appendices). Key goals in the plan include supporting existing businesses with incentives such as TIF programs, expanding administrative pre‑application meetings for developers, downtown revitalization and placemaking, entrepreneurship and small‑business supports tied to Central Michigan University and the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, and talent attraction strategies aimed at retaining graduates. "These administrative meetings we bring in the developer. We bring in all the relevant departments," Desens said, describing efforts to remove surprises for applicants.

The commission approved acceptance of the economic development plan after discussion about leveraging incentives beyond downtown and exploring development corridors outside the core. Manager Desens said some opportunities may include collaboration with Union Township for industrial development.

During public comment resident Margie Notestein urged the commission to prioritize housing and questioned recommendations to remove land from the tax base, telling commissioners: "You commissioners are being asked to give land away, and staff has recommended removal of land from the tax base, which I say is detrimental." There was no direct staff response to that specific characterization during the meeting.

Dean O'Rourke, president and CEO of the Middle Michigan Development Corporation, invited commissioners to the corporation’s annual meeting on May 8 and noted a May 26 lunch‑and‑learn on housing/TIF for municipal partners; he also reported five façade‑improvement matching grants awarded to Mount Pleasant businesses.

After a brief recess to address microphone problems, Director Pavlowski led the CIP work session. Notable 2027 projects and cost estimates presented by staff included: a $27,600,000 water plant project (bonding phase 2 anticipated later), airport runway rehabilitation at $3,200,000, a $2,790,000 Island Park Pavilion (grant‑funded), a $2,600,000 Mission Street shared‑use pathway, $3,200,000 in parks projects overall, downtown alley and streetscape projects totaling about $2,800,000, and local and major street resurfacing and reconstruction items. Pavlowski explained that some projects rely on grant matches (typical airport grants: 90% federal, 5% state, 5% local) and that increased state road funding added roughly $5 million into the CIP compared with prior years.

Commissioners pressed staff on the CIP’s increase from prior six‑year totals (previous plans averaged about $34–38 million) and were told the two main drivers were additional road funding and including the large water facility project. Pavlowski agreed to double‑check and correct any cash‑flow or balance figures staff had not yet updated in the packet.

The commission also approved several routine consent items and appointments: a valve replacement contract to Isabella Corporation ($64,545) with a $5,000 budget amendment; a sole‑source pump purchase from Kennedy Industries ($43,407) with a $3,500 amendment; and awarding a $1,517,719 construction contract for a food waste receiving station and waste gas burner with related reserve transfers. The appointments committee recommendations approved were: George Doran (planning commission, partial term to 12/31/2027), Seth Trezenberg (Downtown TIF partial term to 12/31/2028) and Garrett Seloff (ZBA alternate partial term to 12/31/2027).

Next steps noted by staff: the CIP presentation will go to the planning commission on May 7, the city may hold a second work session May 11 if needed, a public hearing on the CIP is scheduled for May 26, and the charter requires adoption of the CIP by June 8 so staff can incorporate it into the 2027 operating budget. The city will continue to refine CIP cash‑flow numbers and project pages in the packet.

The meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.