The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from June 18, 2025

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

I attended the City Council meeting on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. Some public comments advocated for allocating more attention and resources to the East Side of Erie. Former Council Member Michael Keys spoke during public comments, addressing his concern about lack of funding going towards public parks. Council President Mel Witherspoon acknowledged his statements, "I think we ought to be concerned about what we are doing and what we aren't doing and make sure our parks become a park and not just plain green space," Witherspoon said.

Four resolutions acknowledging and honoring Juneteenth, LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, World Refugee Day, and the 250th anniversary of the United States were included in the agenda. Council Member Mo Troop, who sponsored the Juneteenth resolution, explained that the annual Juneteenth celebration has grown since it first began. "I'd like to thank the organizers," Troop began, "and especially the community. Events are only good when the community really comes out." Council Member Tyler Titus also addresses the LGBTQIA+ Pride Month resolution and the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the Tennessee law that bans gender affirming care for minors. "I just want to take a moment to acknowledge the young people. I hear you, I see you, I believe you, and there are many, many, many adults and community members and allies who are fighting for you," Titus said. The meeting centered around the following ordinances: 

• An ordinance for the sum of $1,097,563 from the City of Erie ARP Fund Interest to be used to fund the Capital Improvement Fund was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $18,417.06 of program income through the Community Development Block Grant for the following CDBG projects was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $261,142 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Emergency Solutions Grant projects was adopted on first reading.
• 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 adopted on first reading.
• An ordinance appropriating $805,148.06 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the HOME projects was adopted on first reading. 
• 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 adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $79,898.60 from ARP Revenue Replacement Funds was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $161,522 from the 2025 Auto Theft Prevention Authority was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $190,961 from the 2025 Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance appropriating $1,097,563 from the City of Erie Capital Fund to be used for Capital expenditures was adopted on first reading. 
• 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 adopted on first reading. 
• 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 adopted on first reading.