Utica council amends FY2026 budget to pay Plante Moran $18,000 for downtown feasibility study

The Utica City Council voted Dec. 9 to amend the fiscal year 2026 general fund to add $18,000 (GL account 101261810001) to pay Plante Moran for a downtown facilities relocation feasibility study the council authorized at a prior meeting.

Mayor Gus Calandrino reminded members that last month the council voted to engage Plante Moran to evaluate relocating city facilities and report on feasibility; because the study was not included in the FY2026 budget, staff sought a one-time $18,000 amendment to the consultants/special-projects account.

Councilmember Torenzi said she would vote no because she had not been at last month’s meeting and preferred waiting to include the study in next year’s budget; she noted the city had roughly $61,912 in unassigned funds but recent necessary costs reduced that balance. Other members said the contract had already been signed based on the prior vote and that it would be difficult not to pay Plante Moran now. The deputy clerk recorded Torenzi voting No and O’Donnell, Dionne, Backus, Weaver, DeVrent and Mayor Calandrino voting Yes; the motion carried.

Council and staff discussed a prior 2018–19 study that stalled after the DDA was dissolved and the city lacked resources to implement a large road reconfiguration previously considered. No additional funding for implementation was approved at the meeting; this action pays for the consultant report only.