The Reader Beat: City Council Notes February 19, 2025

The following are our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m.

I attended the City Council meeting on Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting was sparsely attended by the public, perhaps due to icy conditions and below freezing temperatures. City Council member Tyler Titus was absent due to illness. During the meeting, council members discussed the following ordinances. 

• An ordinance for the sum of $40,000 from Erie Insurance to be used by the Bureau of Police was passed 6-0. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $127,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by the Department of Community and Economic Development for a Police Crisis Communication Vehicle was passed 6-0. 
• An ordinance approving the editing and inclusion of certain ordinances was passed 6-0. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $50,000 from a Community Partnerships Program Grant by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources was passed 6-0. 

During committee reports, City Council Members Kathy Schaaf and Jasmine Flores discussed the need for another community center for unhoused people during the winter. "Blasco Library is an asset for us," Flores said. "On the days they're closed for holidays like this past Monday, I wonder where people go and sit to be warm during the day." City Council Member Chuck Nelson announced that the water reserve fund that allows the city to invest in equities and the stock market has doubled in the last three years, providing more funding for capital expenses when withdrawn. "When we run out of money from other surpluses and we have to start addressing capital from this fund again, we'll be at a spot where, hopefully, it will be at one million dollars as long as the stock market doesn't take a dip." Nelson said.