The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from October 15, 2025

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span style="font-weight: 400;">I attended the City Council meeting on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting began with Ed Brzezinski presenting an honor to Bobby Sulecki, a local historian whose exhibit The Story of Us, Erie Polonia: Churches and Neighborhoods, is on display at the Hagen History Center's Erie campus. City Council acknowledged Sulecki's research and dedication to Erie's Polish American community.  Some public comments advocated for a community advisory board in light of the death of Marchello Woodard. "It breeds open dialogue and discussion. It gives people the opportunity not only to build trust with the law enforcement officers in their community, but their elected city officials as well," Constituent Tina Hiotis said. The meeting addressed the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• An ordinance to repeal Ordinance 51-2025 passed and approved by City Council on July 2, 2025, as it was a duplication of Ordinance 66-2025 passed and approved by City Council September 3, 2025 passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $100,000.00 from the Paving & Sewer Revenue fund to be used for the 2025 streets improvement program passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $365,935.52 from FEMA FY2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant for training firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $25,000 from a Community Partnerships Program Grant administered by the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) had its first reading. 
• A resolution following the public hearing at the request of the Planning Department and Planning Commission to present the request for Waterfront Conditional Use submitted by Buehler & Associates on behalf of the Erie County Convention Center Authority for construction of a two-story addition to an existing parking ramp located at 30 Sassafras Pier in a Waterfront commercial zoning district is hereby approved, passing unanimously. 
• A resolution following the public hearing at the request of the Planning Department and Planning Commission for Waterfront Conditional Use submitted by Arctaris Impact Investors for the construction of multiple-family dwellings consisting of fourplex and townhouse buildings totaling 61 units located on vacant parcels in a Waterfront residential zoning district is hereby approved, passing 5-2 with Flores and Titus voting no. Flores explained that during the public hearing, the investors said they only went to the local church and neighborhood watch to discuss the construction. "Unless you're going door to door with the neighbors that are there, I have a hard time believing everybody is in favor," Flores said. City Clerk Laurie Watson mentioned that the zoning office posts the property prior to the public hearing. Flores responded saying that the community opinion forum comes before the zoning process. "If we're going to be trying to come into neighborhoods, can we please do our part and make sure those neighbors are going to be welcoming?" Flores said.