The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from February 18, 2026

Following our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on February 18 at 6:30 p.m.

I attended the city council meeting on Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. Many constituents came to speak about the ordinance to maintain Erie's "Welcoming City" status as well as establishing a community policing board. Constituent Tina Hiotis called a community policing board "a safety measure for the public and police."  Constituent Deonte Cooley discussed investing in the east side of Erie and community centers. "Our cries for help have been for change. Not just to arrest an officer, not just to not have ICE here, but to give Black and Brown people opportunities on the side of town where we reside," Cooley said. Michael Woodard brought attention to "Enough Blood Official," a Facebook account started by Marchello Woodard's son Malakai to shed light on preventable deaths, including the death of Matthew Zaborowski, who was struck by a police car on Sept. 12. The officer received a $525 fine. "Is Matthew's life worth a citation?" asked Woodard. Executive Director of Erie Arts & Culture Susannah Faulkner argued the importance of investing in Erie's New American population and codifying the "Welcoming City" ordinance. "When we invest in welcoming policies like this ordinance, we're investing in Erie's long-term future," Faulkner said. Students from Erie High School held a presentation on the upcoming Sickle Cell Awareness Blood Drive on March 9th from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Booker T. Washington Center on 1720 Holland St, Erie, PA 16503. The meeting went on to address the following ordinances: 

• Ordinance amending the City of Erie Zoning Ordinance to designate the property located at 411 State St. and 1372 West Sixth St. as Historic Structures pursuant to Article 7 of the City of Erie Zoning Ordinances and to amend the Zoning Map to reflect such designation passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,250,000 for the City of Erie Wastewater Treatment Plant Chlorination Disinfection Reliability Project to be funded by a US EPA Grant passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,050,000 to be received from the Business Development Revolving Loan Fund and utilized in the Urban Core Economic Recovery Revolving Loan Fund passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending the Rules of Council Ordinance of the City of Erie under Article 112 to improve the efficiency in the legislative process for City Council passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending the Rules of Council Ordinance of the City of Erie under Article 112 entitled Seminar and Conference reports, to streamline and/or update the Rules of Council to reflect current practices had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance that the City of Erie hereby establishes Article 137, which outlines the City's goals to obtain and/or maintain the status as a "Welcoming City" under the Welcoming America guidelines and the City's rights and/or responsibilities as part of the "Welcoming City" under the Welcoming America program had its first reading with Brzezinski voting no. 
• A resolution that the request to designate the Erie Cemetery, located at 2116 Chestnut Street as a Historic Site be hereby approved, authorizing and directing the City Solicitor to prepare an ordinance to amend the Zoning Map to reflect such designation passed unanimously.