The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from September 2, 2026

Council unanimously adopted Erie Outside: City of Erie Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Plan as a shared vision and practical roadmap for maintaining, improving, and investing in Erie’s parks to better serve residents today while preparing for future needs.

I attended the City Council meeting on Sept. 2 at 9 a.m. Constituent David French expressed some concerns over e-bikes in the city not obeying traffic laws and using the sidewalks. Councilman Horton suggested that the city create an education campaign about e-bikes in the future. 

The council addressed the following ordinances and resolutions:

• An ordinance appropriating $10,000 from a Community Partnership Grant administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $25,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating $25,000 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission from the FFY2025 Certified Local Government Grant passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance appropriating an $88,823 grant from the Department of Justice FY25 JAG Program for local solicitation for police equipment had its first reading. 
• A resolution that city officials formally adopt Erie Outside: City of Erie Comprehensive Recreation, Parks, and Open Space Plan as a shared vision and practical roadmap for maintaining, improving, and investing in Erie's parks to better serve residents today while preparing for future needs passed unanimously. "It made me sad to see that even our playgrounds were run down and our kids really don't have much to look forward to so I really pushed to make sure that we're making our community spaces more representative of what we want to see in Erie," Flores said.