City Council Meeting Summary - February 4, 2026
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City Council Meeting Summary - February 4, 2026
The City Council of Erie convened on February 4, 2026, beginning with a moment of silence for the late Dale Peelman, a former Public Works supervisor, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting featured a public comment period regarding pedestrian safety and snow clearance, the final passage of eleven ordinances covering building codes, bond authorizations, and budget appropriations, and the first reading of seven additional ordinances including historic designations and rule amendments. A significant public hearing was held to consider designating the Erie Cemetery as a historic site, followed by new business including a street name dedication, a conditional use variance for a waterfront hotel, and the approval of repository land sales.
Consent Calendar
- Approvals: The minutes from the January 12th meeting and bills for payment for February 6th and 13th were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Freda Teffer: Expressed severe concern regarding blocked sidewalks in commercial areas due to snow clearing practices by businesses, noting that piles of snow often reach 10 feet high and obstruct pedestrian access. She criticized the city for utilizing quality-of-life funds to inspect residential properties (e.g., grass height) while lacking sufficient resources to address commercial snow clearance. She advocated for a dedicated sidewalk clearing program for non-residential areas, citing Anchorage as a model.
- Becky Weiser (Erie Cemetery Association): Expressed support for the historic site designation, stating the initiative is intended to secure grants for preserving historic structures like mausoleums, not for routine maintenance like mowing. She noted the association's inclusive tour programs and partnership with the Little Italy neighborhood for tulip planting.
- Dr. Titus: Expressed initial concern regarding the allocation of grant money for basic maintenance (grass cutting) for living residents' benefit, but ultimately stated full support for the historic designation after clarification that the grants target structural preservation. He inquired about youth engagement and the inclusion of diverse historical narratives, expressing zero interest in preserving sites associated with slavery if any were found (none were identified). He supported the inclusion of African American history, specifically Harry Burley.
- Councilmember Pole: Expressed full support for the cemetery designation, applauding the association's community engagement and noting her personal history in the Little Italy neighborhood. She distinguished the Erie Cemetery (public/association) from a privately owned cemetery on the east side that she noted has maintenance issues.
- David Rinderley (Erie Cemetery Association Executive Director): Provided context on the association's potential acquisition of the adjacent Lakeside Cemetery, emphasizing its status as a community asset currently in disrepair.
- Unnamed Resident (Proponent): Expressed support for the historic designation and the return of tulips to the cemetery, noting the beauty of the space.
- Freda Teffer (Rebuttal): Expressed concern that the planting of 500 tulips might not align with native vegetation principles, suggesting a future focus on native landscaping to better reflect the natural environment of North America.
- Councilmember Horton: Expressed support for the cemetery designation but requested a commitment to inclusive preservation efforts that tell the "whole truth" of the city's diverse history, ensuring no historical narratives are elevated at the expense of others who may have caused harm.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance 16583 (2026 Building Codes): Discussed the adoption of the 2021 Uniform Construction Code and international building/plumbing/swimming pool codes adopted by Pennsylvania. Councilmember Flores sponsored; Councilmember Schoff seconded.
- Ordinance 16584 (Water Bonds): Discussed the authorization of $370,884 in debt for the Erie City Water Authority for galvanized service line replacement (Phase 4). Councilmember Schoff sponsored; Councilmember Troop seconded.
- Rule of Council Amendments (16585 & 16595): Discussed amendments to Article 112 to improve legislative efficiency. Councilmember Titus explained that the codified rules address scheduling changes (caucus starting at 5:30 PM) and ensure ADA compliance for all meeting spaces. Councilmember Titus sponsored; Councilmember Schoff seconded.
- Budget Appropriations (16586-16590): Discussed appropriations of $140,000 for the Commodore Fund, $25,000 for Police Capital Improvements, $15,000 from Mercy Terrace Apartments for police/fire equipment, $389,218.37 for Police Capital Improvements, and the repeal of Ordinance 58-2025. Councilmembers Schaft, Troop, and Titus were primary sponsors/seconders.
- Historic Designations (16591-16592): Discussed amending the zoning ordinance to designate properties at 411 State Street and 1372 West 6th Street as historic structures. Councilmember Schoff sponsored; Councilmember Flores seconded.
- Budget Appropriation (16594): Discussed appropriating $1,050,000 from the Business Development Revolving Loan Fund for the Urban Corps Economic Recovery Revolving Loan Fund. Councilmember Schaft sponsored; Councilmember Poll seconded.
- Erie Cemetery Historic Site: A detailed discussion occurred regarding the nomination of the Erie Cemetery (2116 Chestnut Street). The City's Historic Preservation Planner presented findings that the site met criteria B (association with Emma Hay, first female superintendent of a major American cemetery), C (rural cemetery movement design), and F (prominent visual feature). Testimony confirmed the site's significance, including its 55,000 burials, the Scott Mausoleum, and its role as a registered arboretum. Councilmember Titus raised questions about grants for day-to-day maintenance, which were clarified as not applicable. Councilmember Horton raised concerns about inclusive historical narratives, which the Association addressed by noting a shift away from solely highlighting wealthy white men on tours.
- Tamika Thurston Craig Way (16589): Discussed designating East 7th at East Avenue as "Tamika Thurston Craig Way." Councilmember Titus, Councilmember Troop, and Councilmember Flores offered tributes, describing Ms. Craig as a figure of genuine love, compassion, and community service, noting her role at ECAT and her personal impact on their families.
- Scott Enterprises Hotel (16593): A conditional use hearing for an eight-story hotel at East Front Street. Councilmember Poll expressed concern that waterfront development is obstructing views and questioned the community benefits, advocating for community vision over developer convenience. Councilmember Titus spoke passionately from a labor perspective, noting the lack of diversity in the workforce on recent bayfront projects and the need for community benefit agreements. He expressed full support for rescheduling the hearing to the evening to allow for civic participation. A friendly amendment was passed to reschedule the hearing to a future evening session.
- Repository Sales: Discussed nine repository sales. Initially, a motion was made to vote on items six through fourteen collectively. However, during the vote, Councilmembers Horton, Poll, Schaft, Troop, and Titus expressed doubt regarding the bidders' ability to clear liens and titles, noting a lack of follow-up information. Consequently, the motion to approve the repository sales failed.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance 16583 (2026 Building Codes): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16584 (Water Bonds): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16585 (Rules of Council - Efficiency): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16586 (Commodore Fund): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16587 (Police Capital Improvement Fund): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16588 (Police/Fire Equipment): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16589 (Police Capital Improvement Fund): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16590 (Repeal Ordinance 58-2025): PAsSED (6-0). Adopted final passage.
- Ordinance 16591 (Historic Designation 411 State): ADOPTED on FIRST READING (6-0).
- Ordinance 16592 (Historic Designation 1372 West 6th): ADOPTED on FIRST READING (6-0).
- Ordinance 16593 (Rules of Council - ADA Compliance): ADOPTED on FIRST READING (6-0) [Note: Transcript contains slight number discrepancy for File #16593 vs 16595, but action taken on first reading for efficiency rules].
- Ordinance 16594 (Urban Corps Fund): ADOPTED on FIRST READING (6-0).
- Ordinance 16595 (Rules of Council - ADA/CAucus): ADOPTED on FIRST READING (6-0).
- Resolution: Tamika Thurston Craig Way: PAsSED (6-0). East 7th at East Avenue designated in her honor.
- Resolution: Scott Enterprises Hotel Hearing Status: PAsSED (6-0) as AMENDED. The hearing for the waterfront hotel is rescheduled to a future evening meeting to ensure broader civic engagement.
- Vote on Repository Sales (Items 6-14): FAILED (0-6). The council voted against the sale of nine properties due to concerns regarding the bidders' financial ability to clear liens and lack of follow-up data.
- Upcoming Actions: A community-driven Bayfront Master Plan is being developed by a consultant. A study session on the Erie Parking Authority is scheduled. Public hearings on the Erie Cemetery historic designation will continue to the final ordinance approval.
Note: Councilmember Brzezinski was absent for the vote on the Tamika Thurston Craig Way resolution and the initial vote on the final passage of ordinances, though present for committee reports. The transcript lists 6 votes for final passage (Yay 6 Nay 0) and 6 votes for the resolution, implying a 6-member quorum was present for all key votes.
Meeting Transcript
Councilmember Brzezinski is um absent. We'll be moving into our silent meditation pledge. Sorry, it's in two different I got myself confused. Yes, that's that that is what we were doing. So we'll go ahead and stand for a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance. Dr. Titus, I would like to give my sympathies from our council and uh deepest sympathy on the passing of Dale Peelman who worked as a city employee in the maintenance supervising for 36 years in the Department of Public Works and Parks, and his beautiful wife, Sarah, is um his spouse. My deepest our sympathy to the Peelman family. Thank you. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America for which stands one under God into the visible with a justice for all. We have a motion to approve the minutes from the 1212th City Council meeting and bills for payment on February 6th and 13th. Members Flores, Horton, Pole, Schaff, Troop, and Titus. We have uh we we do not have a presentation this morning, correct? Okay. So we have no presentation this morning. We are from this point, um we'll go into the request for repository sales. Before we get there, though, I just want to remind everybody that we do have a public hearing at 9 30. So wherever we are, even if we are in that public comment uh part, we will have to pause so that we can do the public hearing as advertised, and then we can resume back into the public comment. So at this point, uh is there anyone here to speak on a repository sale? Is there anyone here to speak on a repository sale? I didn't. Is there anyone here to speak on a repository sale? Seeing none, this will move us into public comment. I would ask that when you come up that you state your name clearly for the record. The municipality know that you will have five minutes. Um, and that this is an opportunity again for public to to share and for for council to listen. My name is Freda Teffer, and I live in Erie, and I'm glad you're having the caucus here, but please make sure that you speak into the mic so that we can actually hear what you're saying. Um during the winter time, I focus my concerns on pedestrian access outside of the residential areas. I'm I'm not there's too much to worry about to focus on what residences do. But I'm I'm always horrified by what I see when businesses pay somebody to clear their parking lot and then they leave a huge berm across the sidewalk. Um I got a message from public works through Moss that that one of the ones I reported that they're going to require them to move the pile. I hope that happens right away. These are repeat offenders. Maybe the fact that the plow person got involved with the discussion with public works means that they get the message not just in that one location, but if somebody can pay somebody to plow their parking lot, they've got no business leaving the sidewalk unclear. Blocked with a pile, often 10 feet high, but certainly they they should also get their sidewalk cleared. I was driving west on West 26th Street around 5 o'clock the other day when it was hard enough to see with the snow in my with the sun in my eyes, and there when I was along where the tops used to be, where the crunch fitness is on the north side of West 26th Street. I suddenly saw a woman walking in the street, and I'm really glad I didn't hit her. But she shouldn't have been walking in the street. That sidewalk should have been cleared. I saw yesterday there was a tiny path cleared. I don't know was actually cleared or trodden down. But there is some kind of a membership sidewalk clearing device for downtown businesses. We need something for the other commercial areas. Or there should be the other part I'm really upset about is that we put our money into a quality of life program to go out and inspect residences for whether their grass is over 10 inches or they might have peeling paint or something. But there's not enough money in public works to respond to the many complaints about snow issues and sidewalk issues. And I'd already moted, and I have a feeling it was some grudge that somebody called it in. But really, this is a bigger problem that our commercial areas are our school areas, our nonprofit areas or church areas, that people block the sidewalk after they clear their parking lots. These businesses don't have enough consideration of the people of this city to clear sidewalks, that corners are blocked, that access to pedestrian push buttons is blocked. There needs to be a serious attempt at making sidewalks usable in the city and not just say too much snow, we couldn't do it. They do it in other cities.
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