The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from December 17, 2025

Following our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m.

I attended the city council meeting on Dec. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Councilwoman Schaaf began the meeting by congratulating Mayor Joe Schember for his service during his two terms. Chuck Nelson, Mel Witherspoon, and City Controller Teresa Stankiewicz were also acknowledged for their service during the meeting. Some constituents mentioned the transfer of the Erie Zoo from the city to Erie Events. Constituent Freda Tepfer requested that the J.C. Martin golf course not be destabilized and for trees to not be removed without a review process. "I know there's been talk about more acreage, but any removal of trees should be subject to scrutiny because those are precious trees," Tepfer said. Others discussed Marchello Woodard and his family's grief during the holiday season. Constituent Malcolm Pullium said that Woodard's youngest son Major's only wish for Christmas was to have his father back. Constituent Jerry Roberts added: "It's going to take us to protect him and guide him the right way," he said. "Let's work together and be a village." Council discussed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance amending the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie, Part Nine Utilities and Public Service increasing the quarterly garbage and refuse collection fee from $306.62 per year to $322.93 per year. The annual collection fee shall be assessed against each dwelling unit and billed on a quarterly basis passed 6-1 with Brzezinski voting no. 
• An ordinance appropriating $400,000.00 from an unappropriated fund balance in the Liquid Fuels Fund to be used for the 2025 street lighting and traffic signals passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating a $115,500.00 contribution from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Department of Community and Economic Development for the Strategic Management Program passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $20,507,447.17 from the City of Erie Capital Bond Fund to be used to fund capital expenditures associated with the Public Safety Complex passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance adopting the general fund and certain other budgets for the fiscal year beginning January 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026 passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance fixing the tax rate at 14.12 Mills for all city purposes for the Fiscal Year 2026 passed unanimously. 
• Amending the Traffic Code of the City of Erie by the installation of stop signs at six intersections. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized and directed to install appropriate stop signs at the following locations had its first reading: 

1.) W. 27th Street & Emerson Avenue – stopping W. 27th Street 

2.) W. 27th Street & Washington Avenue – stopping W. 27th Street 

3.) Maple Leaf Drive & Pebble Drive – stopping Pebble Drive 

4.) Cold Spring Drive & Washington Avenue – stopping Cold Spring Drive 

5.) Cold Spring Drive & Melrose Avenue – stopping Cold Spring Drive 

6.) W. 28th Street & Melrose Avenue – stopping W. 28th Street 

• An ordinance authorizing the transfer of 96 acres of land to the Erie County Convention Center Authority (ECCCA) to allow ECCCA to take over ownership and operations of the Erie Zoo; to approve a transfer agreement outlining the rights and responsibilities of the parties with regard to the transfer; and to authorize the city to enter into lease agreements with ECCCA to allow the City to continue to operate the picnic grounds and the golf course which surround the zoo complex had its first reading.
• An ordinance appropriating $742,429.00 from the City of Erie ARP Fund Interest to be used to fund the Capital Improvement Fund had its first reading. 
• An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Erie, by changing the classification and/or the rezoning of the property located at Hillcrest Avenue, which is adjacent to a property located at 4125 Peach Street had its first reading. The Hillcrest Avenue property will be rezoned from R-1 to C-2, which is the same classification and/or zoning of the adjacent property located at 4125 Peach Street.
• A resolution pursuant to a public hearing held Wednesday November 19, 2025 in City Council Chambers, 626 State Street, Erie, PA 16501, and with the recommendation from the City Planning Commission, the request for Waterfront Conditional Use submitted by McErie Partners LP, for construction of multiple-family dwellings, consisting of two three-story buildings totaling 30 units; located on nine consolidated vacant lots from Front Street to Short Street on Myrtle Street East on Short Street as 263 West Front Street, Erie, Pa. located in a W-R Waterfront Residential district was approved. 
• A resolution that the proposed repository sale of one property on E. 26th St. Erie, PA by the Erie County Tax Claim Bureau to J&M International Holding Group, LLC, 721 Burnt Tavern Rd., Suite C, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ  08742-4084, in the amount of $250.00 each property failed 0-7. 
• A resolution that the proposed repository sale of one property on Buffalo Rd. Erie, PA by the Erie County Tax Claim Bureau to J&M International Holding Group, LLC, 721 Burnt Tavern Rd., Suite C, Point Pleasant Beach, NJ  08742-4084, in the amount of $250.00 each property failed 0-7. Titus said that there was not sufficient evidence that the buyer met the standards set by city council. 
•  A resolution that Erie City Council member Mo Troop appoints Angela McNair of 2131 Linwood Street, Erie, PA 16510 to the Erie County Human Relations Advisory Board for a four-year term passed unanimously.
• A resolution that Erie City Council designates East 21st Street near German street as "Mother Mary Beth and Rev Charles Sr Kennedy Way" in honor after their passing, in recognition as international missionaries and as founders of Erie's Community of Caring, Community Shelter Services, and Community Country Day School passed unanimously. 
• A resolution authorizing and directing City Council and the proper City Officials to make available through the City of Erie Small Business Diversity Revolving Loan Fund and loan repayments that the approval of a 15-year loan of $1,000,000 with a fee of $5,000 be formally ratified. The resolution passed unanimously with Titus abstaining.