The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from May 7, 2025

Following notes taken during the City Council meeting held on May 7 at 9 a.m.

The City Council chambers on May 7 were full at 9 a.m. Many constituents came to witness and speak on the ordinance amending and supplementing Article 354, Rental Housing. This amendment would shorten the length of the Tenant Bill of Rights document required to be given during lease signings. Representatives of rental agencies and landlords expressed their concerns and requested more amendments. 

Constituents and council members alike also discussed potential future funding for the Erie Zoo. The CEO of Erie Zoo Roo Kojancie introduced the possibility of transferring ownership of the zoo from the City of Erie to Erie Events. "A partnership with an organization equipped with broader resources and operational capacity can help us go further," explained Kojancie. The meeting centered around the following ordinances:  

• An ordinance for the sum of $442,377.30 for expenditure from the Sewer Fund balance was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $137,600 for the purchase of two traffic investigation vehicles and related equipment through the PA Department of Community & Economic Development Grant was passed unanimously.
• An ordinance for the sum of $355,300 from the Unappropriated Fund balance in the Risk fund to be used to cover unexpected expenses was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending the Codified Ordinance of the City of Erie Part One — Administrative Code, Title Seven — Employment Provisions; Pensions, Article 149. Firefighters' Pension Fund, by amending various provisions to comply with a recent Act 111 Award was passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending and supplementing Article 354, Rental Housing, specifically to amend section 354.05 that established the rights and obligations of the owners and occupants of rental housing in the City of Erie; in particular the rights under federal, state, and local laws that apply to the landlord-tenant relationship was passed unanimously. Representatives of rental agencies and landlords requested more amendments to the Article and tenant education. President of the Apartment Association of NWPA Brandon Penn thanked council for the amendment and added that amendments concerning the legal process required to withholding rent and return of application fee also be included in the Tenant Bill of Rights. Council member Tyler Titus explained in their committee report that, "There's going to be another amendment that's coming forward with a lot of the suggestions that were made." The only amendment voted on and passed during this meeting concerned shortening the Tenant Bill of Rights document for lease signings. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $10,500.00 for the Penelec Generator Revenue was adopted on first reading.
• An ordinance for the sum of $500,000.00 for upgrades to the Erie Zoo Otter Exhibit to be completed as a sub-grantee was adopted on first reading.
• An ordinance for the sum of $55,000.00 from PennDOT through the 2023 Automated Red Light Enforcement (ARLE) Funding Program to be used to carry out the City of Erie LED Street Light Upgrade Project was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $40,000.00 for signage at the South Central Fire Station using grant proceeds from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $51,000.00 from unappropriated and unanticipated revenue for the expenditure thereof for using grant proceeds from the PA Department of Community & Economic Development CEAP Contract No. C000093603 was adopted on first reading. 
• An ordinance for the sum of $1,189,944.00 for the Capital fund was adopted on first reading. 
• A resolution authorizing and directing the Proper City Officials to execute an Easement Agreement for the installation of two signs projecting into the right of ways of Peach and W. 9th Streets, in compliance with the attached City Engineer's metes and bounds description and drawings was tabled 5-2. Council Members Ed Brzezinski and Kathy Schaaf voted no.