Erie City Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearings - May 23, 2026
Erie City Council Regular Meeting and Public Hearings - May 23, 2026
The Erie City Council met on May 23, 2026, for a regular meeting that included public hearings, discussion of waterfront conditional use, appropriations for street paving and traffic signals, and consideration of city guarantees for water authority bonds. The meeting featured extensive public comment on budget concerns, policing, re-entry programs, and community benefits. Key votes included the failure of a resolution approving a waterfront conditional use for the Market House (2-4) and the passage of several ordinances and resolutions.
Consent Calendar
- Motion to accept minutes from the May 6, 2026 City Council meeting and bills for payment on May 22 and 29, 2026. Passed unanimously (6-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Aaron Sorwide (Erie resident) reported a delayed police response to an assault and a subsequent shooting at Bayview Park, expressing feelings of abandonment by the city.
- Bob Strasser (Erie Lower East Side advocate) highlighted a positive town hall on the Nine Ships Company project at the former International Paper site, noting the company plans to add 80-100 jobs. He also proposed a tiered PILOT strategy for nonprofits, modeled on Boston's program.
- Maria Chilevich (Erie resident) raised concerns about data centers, water contamination (forever chemicals), safety on 12th Street, and code enforcement issues.
- Elizabeth Stanton (Harbor Creek) recited “Imagine” and suggested voluntary pay cuts for the mayor and top administrators to demonstrate shared sacrifice.
- Michael Milk (Little Italy) supported school gardening programs but opposed the proposed dress code and the housing authority's gardening ban.
- Freda Teffer (Erie resident) criticized the Market House's 50-foot backlit signage, ADA compliance of benches, non-native plants, and the piecemeal development of the waterfront. She also raised issues about parking on State Street.
- Rich Gorski (Erie resident) argued the city has a spending problem, not a revenue problem, and warned against tax increases, especially with an upcoming reassessment.
- Martha Watchu (Erie resident) called for more aggressive state advocacy to tax wealthy nonprofits and corporations, and highlighted the need for direct community investment in housing and wages.
- Cindy Triver (Erie resident) questioned the transparency of moving re-entry program funding from the YMCA to the county, citing lack of an RFP or public process, and asked whether city council was complicit.
- Deontay Quilly (Erie resident) expressed frustration that the city council and mayor do not attend community events in Black neighborhoods, and urged more direct engagement with grassroots organizers.
- Ed Kilsall (Erie resident) requested an amendment to the Market House conditions requiring all public amenities to be completed before occupancy, and suggested this be considered for all future developments.
- Henry (Erie resident) pressed the city to demand more from state partners on taxing the wealthy and to prioritize working-class residents over developers.
- Eric Peterson (Mill Creek) criticized Erie Day in Harrisburg as a corporate lobbying event and urged the council to focus on affordable housing and services for the poor.
- Cole Shenley (Erie resident) warned against austerity cuts and urged the council to fight for the poorest residents, noting state senator Dan Laughlin's call to cut firefighter positions.
Discussion Items
- Water Authority Bond Guarantees: The Erie City Water Authority solicitor presented two PenVest loans: $8 million for West 12th Street maintenance facility renovation (30-year loan, no grant) and $10 million for lead piping replacement ($2.7 million loan, remainder grant). The city would act as guarantor. Council discussed the impact on the city's credit and liability. The city's solicitor noted that the water authority has never missed a payment. Ordinances for first reading passed unanimously (6-0).
- Waterfront Conditional Use – Market House: Council debated a resolution approving the Market House with conditions (public benches, open space, bird-safe measures, etc.). Councilor Horton delivered a lengthy statement opposing the project, arguing that nonprofits like Erie Events do not pay fair share of taxes and that the city does not get a return on investment. He cited past COVID-era payments to Erie Events ($7 million). Councilor Schoff also opposed, citing piecemeal waterfront development. The resolution failed 2-4 (Yes: Brzezinski, Shaw; No: Flores, Horton, Poll, Titus).
- Re-entry Program Funding: Deb Smith presented the CDBG/HOME/ESG annual plan. Questions arose about the re-entry program, which was moved from the YMCA to the county. Mayor Devlin clarified that the YMCA withdrew its application after the program was moved, and the county applied for CDBG funds, which will be considered as part of the reprogramming in July. Councilor Titus requested a full presentation at the next meeting. The public comment included concerns about lack of an RFP and transparency.
- Mayor's Literacy Program: Mayor Devlin proposed using CDBG funds to hire a coordinator but noted the budget crisis and suggested a contract or intern instead. Council agreed to revisit with a lower-cost proposal.
- Historic Designations: Two public hearings were held for the former South Erie Ironworks (1919 Peach St.) and the former Erie Labor Temple (1701-1707 State St.). Both were recommended by the Historic Review Commission and Planning Commission. The owners and tenants spoke in support. Resolutions designating them as city historic landmarks passed unanimously (6-0).
Key Outcomes
- Final Passage of Ordinances:
- Ordinance 26-2026: Appropriating $500,000 from unappropriated fund balance for 2026 street paving. Passed 6-0.
- Ordinance 27-2026: Appropriating $1 million from liquid fuels fund for street paving and lighting. Passed 6-0.
- Ordinance 28-2026: Appropriating $746,320.44 for Green Light Go signal upgrades at West 12th and Pittsburgh Avenue. Passed 6-0.
- Ordinance 29-2026: Appropriating $205,474 from DCED local share account for a screener machine for the Bureau of Streets. Passed 6-0.
- First Reading of Ordinances:
- Ordinance 16609: Installing stop signs at three intersections. Passed 6-0.
- Ordinance 16610: Guaranteeing $2,784,063 in water authority bonds for galvanized service line replacement. Passed 6-0.
- Ordinance 16611: Guaranteeing $8 million in water authority bonds for 12th Street facility renovation. Passed 6-0.
- Old Business:
- Resolution designating the former Erie Manicor Club as a historic building passed 6-0.
- Resolution approving waterfront conditional use for the Market House failed 2-4.
- New Business:
- Resolution in support of state arts funding passed 6-0.
- Resolution appointing Alan W. Clark as emergency management coordinator passed 6-0.
- Resolution to enter into a three-year contract with Amguard Inc. for City Hall security services was tabled (6-0) for further discussion.
- Next Steps: A study session with the parking authority is scheduled for May 28, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. The re-entry program will be presented at the July 1 meeting. The literacy program proposal will be revised. The city will continue budget discussions with a financial advisory committee.
Meeting Transcript
So I want to thank you everybody for attending tonight. We have we have a very full agenda this evening, so I want to give us plenty of time to go through as council. So I would like to start uh by asking if we have any questions on the ordinances that are up for final passage this evening so that we can talk about those first and then we'll go into some of the other things that we have on the agenda this evening. But any of these items that are on for final passage. One of the things I'll call note to council um with and also the public. So as we're looking at the layout of the agenda, one of the things that we're trying to do is make it easier for the public to be able to read and see where the money is coming from and where the money is going. And so it's a little confusing yet, so we're still ironing out the process, but we'll get it. But when you start to look at these ordinances, you'll see now instead of it being uh just in the memos, we're also now putting under each of these ordinances where what balance it like where the account is and where it's going to. So that it's just a little bit easier for everyone to follow. Um so each one of these has an alignment, and we'll start pulling from the memo and and making it a little bit more clear on which account it's coming from or which is going to. So if there's any questions on any of this, um please let me know. And if it's if it's still a little bit difficult for anyone to kind of understand a follow, so please let us know. Any questions on on this? If not, we can go ahead and move to the ordinances for first reading. Okay. Dr. Tyson. Yes. Um, I was wondering do we know like if there's a city street like a block long and it's in average condition and we need to have it repaired, the average cost to repair, like do we have that? Do we know that at all? Or what would it be? I mean, like if you know if you have a city block and it's average or whatever with potato uh do you know, do we uh know I I'm I can't see Mr. Sayers, but I'm I'm wondering if he knows like per like do you know the average how much it costs, Jason, like per mile or yard or some sort of measurement in terms of paving. What is the cost? Yes, I absolutely not for a space. Yeah, like if there was a city block, those in like an average condition. What would what would the what's the usual cost for repairing something like that? Okay. Could you can I still need to come up to the mic? Sorry. No, you're okay. What I'll do is I'll I'll just cost it out for you both ways. Um because there's definitely a difference whether we do it with it or an and how streets crew. Okay. Oh, it's a contract job. So it's not uh just a number, but I can I get that for you. It's uh just a couple quick numbers and I'll have them both to you. All right, thank you. Sure. Oh, she's not a money. No, you're good. What we do have, um, and I believe we we also have the the solicitor here, um, not just our solicitor, but the solicitor from the Erie City Water Authority. We have two um bonds that are being asked of us to be the guaranteers on. And so I think that as we're looking at, you know, we got the information from PFM. We're starting to kind of analyze just our own financial status. Want to make sure that the if we have questions that we fully understand um just the impact um and what's being asked asked of us as the city and ultimately as the residents um when when we have ordinances like this on place. So just want to call council's attention to here and would also uh love to hear from just this solicitor from the the water authority if there's questions there. So attorney Walker couldn't be here from the water authority tonight, but attorney Campbell is here. So if she's willing to come up to the mic here and just give us an overview. Thanks evening, everyone.
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