The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from July 1, 2026

City Council passed a resolution allocating $65,000 for the new ECRSSA program. “We are not guaranteeing future funding. We are not guaranteeing what this program can and cannot be in the future,” Titus said. “There's many more conversations that should be and need to be had.”

I attended the City Council meeting on July 1 at 9 a.m. Councilman Brzezinski was absent. The meeting began with a presentation led by Executive Director of Bayfront East Side Taskforce (BEST) Marcia Farrell. Farrell proposed  projects with Infinite Erie to both develop green space and the area along the lower blocks of Parade St., building affordable housing and single family homes for ownership. Councilwoman Flores, who grew up in the area, spoke positively about homes being rebuilt there: "That neighborhood needs to have neighbors, we need to have community members. So, I'm happy to see that something's going to be built." Councilman Horton added that making changes to zoning could help create more homes in Erie. 

Following the presentation and a private executive session, public comments addressed a variety of recent issues. Corporate News Director for Lilly Broadcasting and Erie News Now Scott MacDowell spoke about an inappropriate comment Brzezinski made towards one of the station's female reporters after the last City Council meeting. "These aren't little girls. They're polished professionals that come here to do their job," he said. Other constituents discussed a video of the recent arrest of Keven Sparks, who was hit by a police car while riding an E-Bike and was arrested on the ground after being punched by the officer repeatedly. "We have to find a better way to police the inner city. We would not see that happen anywhere above 38th St." said Constituent Malcolm Pullium. "I'm willing to work with any police officer to help bridge this gap because a regular diversity program is not gonna help." 

The meeting addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance appropriating $4,237.21 of program income generated through the Community Development Block Grant for two projects passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending and supplementing Article 330, Landlord and Rental, by amending existing sections, adding new provisions, and updating rental registration requirements, procedures, and related regulations applicable within the city passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending and supplementing Article 1503.5, Enforcement of Noncompliance, specifically to amend and/or add sections that update the policies and/or procedures of rental housing in Erie; in particular the rights under Federal, State and Local laws that apply to the landlord-tenant relationship passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $189,868.00 from 2026 Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority Grant had its first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $405,899.00 from the 2026-2027 Auto Theft Prevention Authority Grant had its first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $500,000.00 for upgrades to the Erie Center for Arts and Technology (ECAT) to be completed as a sub-grantee, pass-through funding is provided from the PA Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grant. The ordinance had its first reading. 
• A resolution of the City Council of The City of Erie commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and recognizing Erie's role in the nation's history passed 3-1 with Titus voting no. Horton expressed that he was not planning on supporting the ordinance but did not want to see it fail. 
• A resolution to execute an agreement between the City of Erie and Erie County Re-Entry Support Services Agency (ECRSSA) whereby the City will make available Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) $65,000 of funding to carry out the designated activity outlined in the amended FY24 CDBG plan. Titus explained that this money was already allocated in 2024 and now in 2026 there is a risk of the funding being sent back. "We are not guaranteeing future funding. We are not guaranteeing what this program can and cannot be in the future," Titus said. "There's many more conversations that should be and need to be had." 
•  A resolution to designate the Former William & Mary Spencer House, located at 519 W. 6th St. Erie, PA 16507 as a Historic Building was unanimously tabled until more information about the background of the Spencer family was gathered.