The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from August 6, 2025

Following our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on August 6 at 9 a.m.

I attended the city council meeting on Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. Chuck Nelson was absent. The council chambers were crowded – many constituents there to advocate for the Erie Zoo and share their opinions on the two resolutions council presented. Resolution 1 proposed that the city provide $500,000 to the zoo annually. Alternatively, Resolution 2 proposed that the city partner with Erie Events and relinquish financial control over the zoo. Following a myriad of public comments, city council decided to remove Resolution 1 from the agenda. 

Other public comments addressed the death of Marchello Woodard by a parole officer and the ongoing investigation. Deonte Cooley, a participant in the Justice for Chello Coalition, discussed city council's letter to the District Attorney on July 24 and the lack of transparency during the investigation. "Had this not been an officer of the law, the name would have been released," Cooley said, asking for continued support and advocacy from city council.

Borough Manager of Wesleyville Marcus Jacobs and Township Manager of Lawrence Park Spencer Cadden also came to speak about the new voting structure plan for the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and how the City of Erie and boroughs in the county will be losing votes under the new plan. Jacobs explained that the new plan was not a mandate from the state, and only focuses on miles travelled from personal cars and not public transportation, bikes, or pedestrians. The final vote for the changes is scheduled on September 10 at 10 a.m. during MPO's Coordinating Committee meeting. 

The meeting centered around the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance appropriating $447,791.20 to the Project with funding from the PennDOT Transportation Alternative Program Grant passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending Article 101, authorizing a referendum on the question of studying the existing form of government and considering the advisability of the adoption of an optional form of government or a home rule charter for the City of Erie was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $23,200 of program income through the HOME Program for HOME projects was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $950,000 was adopted on first reading. 
• Resolution 1, committing to an annual contribution of $500,000 by the City of Erie to the Erie Zoo, was pulled from the agenda. During public comments, Erie Zoo CEO Roo Kojancie discussed the proposed resolution before it was taken off the agenda. "We appreciate the $500,000 in funding from the city, however it is not a sustainable solution," Kojancie said. 
• A resolution accepting the proposal of Erie Events regarding operation of the Erie Zoo as described in the July 23, 2025 letter from Attorney James Walczak to City Solicitor Edward Betz and recommending the approval to the Mayor passed unanimously with an uproar of applause from the audience.  Discussion from council members and public comments from zoo employees, volunteers, and guests advocated for this plan. Peggy Seib, a teacher at the zoo, commended the zookeepers and spoke about the love for the animals from those working at the zoo to those visiting. "You don't know what you have until you don't have it," Seib said. Council member Ed Brzezinski said, "As much as we love the zoo, we shouldn't be running it. Let's give it to the pros," referring to Erie Events who run venues such as UPMC Park and the Warner Theatre. Members Jasmine Flores and Kathy Schaaf proposed that other municipalities in Erie county should also contribute resources and funding to the zoo.