The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from July 2, 2025

Following our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on July 2 at 9 a.m.

The City Council meeting began at 9 a.m. on July 2. Council Member Ed Brzezinski was absent. Public comments addressed the recent heat wave in the Erie area, calling for the city government to get involved in providing resources to protect citizens from heat-related illnesses and dehydration. Constituent Nathan George suggested that the city create more permanent cooling structures and shelters. "We have to continue to adapt as a species and as a city if we as unhoused, poor, working, disabled, elderly, and disenfranchised people hope to survive the unfolding climate crisis," George said. 

Ordinances for Final Passage: 

• An ordinance appropriating $261,142 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant projects was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $2,775,245 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and $5,000 program income for a total of $2,780,245 for the Community Development Block Grant projects was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $805,148.06 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the HOME projects was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance determining to incur lease rental debt; evidenced by the guaranteed revenue note in the maximum principal amount of $414,900.00 to be authorized and issued by Erie City Water Authority in connection with the construction, alteration and improvements to the public water distribution facilities in and about this city; and providing for the repeal of all inconsistent ordinances or parts of ordinances was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $79,898.60 from ARP Revenue Replacement Funds was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $161,522 from the 2025 Auto Theft Prevention Authority was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $190,961 from the 2025 Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,097,563 from the City of Erie Capital Fund to be used for Capital expenditures was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $143,520.30 from the Stormwater Fund balance. The funds were appropriated in 2024 for the Kahkwa Bridge project and have been re-appropriated in 2025. The ordinance was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending Article 1129, Quality of Life Violations, to amend and/or update the Illegal Burning subsection to clarify and simplify the rules and responsibilities of residents with regard to fires and open burning was passed unanimously. 

Ordinances for First Reading: 

• An ordinance amending and supplementing the Codified Ordinances of the City of Erie, which defines the duties and structure of the Historic Review Commission, streamlines the review process for historic preservation applications, revises the nomination process, explains the certificate of appropriateness process, and promotes the preservation of the City's historic structures, objects and/or resources was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $11,000.00 for the Penelec Generator Revenue was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $16,322.02 for a Fire Company & Emergency Medical Services (FCEMS) grant from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner to purchase a Battery-Operated Rescue Tool was adopted on first reading. 

New Business: 

• A resolution authorizing and directing City Council and City Officials to make a loan for $1,000,000 available to Gannon University through the City of Erie Enterprise Zone Revolving Loan Fund to be used for the First Ascent Biomedical project for Institute for Health and Cyber Knowledge. During public comments, Constituent Freda Tepfer expressed concern about this resolution, particularly about loaning a large sum to a private nonprofit entity and long-term sidewalk closures during construction. Vice President Tyler Titus called on the university to address sidewalk closures during construction and affirmed the value of the project. "I'm asking Gannon to come up with some better resolutions and a better plan and present that for us so we can vote on this with confidence," Titus said. "It's invaluable and will be lifesaving with what this project can accomplish, but I am incredibly concerned about what that means in the meantime for city residents who are disabled."