OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Erie City Council Meeting July 1, 2026: Rentals, Housing, and Police Accountability Debates

City Council — Wednesday, July 1, 2026
BodyErie, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:39:26

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

So let's start it if anybody has any questions on anything that we're going to be doing for for the final passage.

0:16

We have those we have three items for final passage.

0:20

Yes.

0:32

I've got a couple coming, right?

0:34

So you have to what I would like to go back and um draw everyone's attention to because we did have some changes, and I wanted to do some clarification, is uh item number two for final passage, and that's the landlord and rental, uh Article 330.

0:52

Um it was sent out by our solicitor just uh the updates, but if you wouldn't mind uh mayor and I'm gonna put you on the spot here, or or solicitor check, uh just to kind of go over some of those updates.

1:07

Thank you, Dr.

1:08

Titus.

1:09

Uh council, you'll recall we had the first reading um on the landlord and rental ordinance um at our la at your last meeting.

1:17

Uh you'll recall that there were some questions from particularly the apartment association.

1:22

And so we did meet with them, had a a long meeting with them, I think um between the meetings, so last week, and we talked about their concerns.

1:30

Um, one of the concerns we heard from them was the frequency of the inspections.

1:34

You might recall that we were um proposing that we change the frequency.

1:39

Everyone would be inspected every year, and then if you passed, you could get on a two-year cycle.

1:45

Um the landlords uh really talked about how they felt a four keeping the old, which was you could get on a four-year cycle if you had two successful inspections, that they really wanted to go to that.

1:57

I expressed to them that I felt four years was too long to go without an inspection, but then we discussed and kind of the negotiation we came to was we would we would consider the four-year if when a property changed hands, the cycle started over.

2:14

So what we had been talking about was that we would treat rental registration like car registration.

2:19

You know, you register, but then your inspection holds even when you buy a car.

2:23

But they were uh in agreement that when a property changed hands, everything would restart and the registration and inspection cycle would start over.

2:32

So with that concession, I felt more comfortable about keeping the four-year cycle.

2:38

That's if you pass two good inspections and we agreed they would be clean on the first time.

2:44

So it's not you come and you have some violations and we come back, two fully clean inspections, we would consider keeping that four-year cycle.

2:53

So we have changed that in the ordinance today, certainly open to your comments, but I just wanted to give you the the reasoning why we got there.

3:02

We also have some thoughts that while we bring this program in-house, you know, giving us a four-year cycle on some properties would keep the workload down a bit and give us a little chance to get ourselves going.

3:14

So we did that is an a change you'll see today.

3:17

The other change that they asked for was to give them a little more time on the payment of fees.

3:23

Um they raised a good point that our fees for registration are due around the same time that taxes are due, and that that felt a lot.

3:30

And so they asked whether we could push it out a bit, and so we are proposing that we push the first payment, I think till the end of July, so that it's not hitting the same time as taxes and just giving them a little more time.

3:44

So we did make those we we are proposing those changes in your ordinance today.

3:52

Go ahead.

3:54

Uh the solicitors sent those out.

3:56

I kind of looked got the some thank you.

3:59

I appreciate that.

4:01

Um, and although we did uh settle on for have some consensus on it in its past form or current form, be that as it may, uh I think that in a good deal everybody gets something.

4:16

And uh I I like the compromise.

4:19

So thank you and the and the association both uh for working diligently to you know come to some understanding.

4:27

I agree.

4:28

Um thank you for for meeting with them and then working through because I think this is this is a great this is a great end product here.

4:35

So thank you.

4:36

Any other questions on this particular one before we go to another topic?

4:46

Yes.

4:48

Council members, some of these we're trying to save paper now, so some of them have the six pages resolutions, and some are just a page, so it's a little confusing at first.

5:00

So I might keep passing some back to you to sign.

5:02

That's it.

5:05

Thank you, Mayor Daria.

5:07

And so you felt everything was good with the changes.

5:14

I did.

5:14

And and you know, in the meeting, they said, Will you, you know, can we talk about perhaps not moving the program, you know, in-house and keeping it with BIU.

5:24

And I basically said to them, no, we're not, we're we're not still considering that.

5:29

I think council is in favor of the move.

5:31

I feel good about it, but we're willing to work with you on some details.

5:35

And to counselor Horton's point, I think that was the general feeling.

5:38

No one's gonna get everything, but I think we left there feeling very good about where we were on both sides.

5:44

Thank you for meeting with them and everything.

5:46

Thank you.

5:47

This also brings to another point that was raised during public comment last time, and I just wanted to create some clarity on that.

5:52

There was uh discussion around that we would be hiring several more positions, um, and that is inaccurate, right?

5:59

Two of the positions will be moving, so that two are already here.

6:02

There would be one addition.

6:03

Correct.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety██████████████████████████26%
Racial Equity██████████████████████22%
Historic Preservation███████████11%
Procedural██████████10%
Affordable Housing███████7%
Community Engagement████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Personnel Matters███3%
Arts And Culture███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Erie City Council Meeting – July 1, 2026

The Erie City Council met on July 1, 2026, for a caucus and public meeting that included final passage of three ordinances, a presentation on workforce housing, public hearings on historic designations, and extensive public comment. The most charged topic was an incident of police violence against Kevin Sparks, with multiple speakers demanding systemic reforms, adoption of a national use‑of‑force policy, and creation of a civilian review board. Council also debated and passed a resolution commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, tabled a historic designation for the Spencer House pending additional historical context, and approved the reallocation of CDBG funds to the Erie County Re‑entry Support Services Agency.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes from June 17, 2026, and bills for payment on July 3 and July 10, 2026.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Nick Pilato: Asked council to draft a letter to federal representatives urging reopening of the South Erie Post Office and return of mail sorting to Erie. He cited the closure’s impact on elderly and veterans.
  • Scott McDowell (Erie News Now): Condemned the conduct of a council member who sexually harassed a reporter after the previous meeting, calling for a code of conduct and recording of interactions. He expressed disappointment that the council member was absent.
  • Michelle Dovishaw: Questioned the timing of CDBG funding for ECRSSA, noting the county had not decided where to place the program. She urged the public to hold officials accountable.
  • Multiple BIPOC speakers (Malcolm William, Bishop John Crosby, Deontay Courley, and others): Expressed outrage at the video of Kevin Sparks being struck by a police vehicle, tackled, and repeatedly punched while on the ground. They described the incident as attempted murder, called for the officer’s firing, and demanded policy changes, including a civilian review board and adoption of the Department of Justice use‑of‑force policy. Speakers highlighted a long history of racial profiling and policing as an occupying force in Black neighborhoods.
  • Susanna Faulkner: Urged the city to move from reactive to proactive climate planning, support the rental ordinance, address police violence via policy reform, and hold elected officials accountable for misconduct. She also called for greater engagement with impacted communities.
  • Aaron Meisner: Questioned the ECRSSA program’s sustainability after a recent interview showed funding uncertainty. He urged adoption of a model use‑of‑force policy and asked for transparency in housing inspections.
  • Danielle Randall (mother of three Black boys): Described teaching her sons how to stay safe from police and argued that the officers in the Sparks video abandoned their training and should face termination and charges.
  • Julia Jacobs: Emphasized intersectionality, noting the lack of queer community support for Black-led protests, and called for systemic reform to policing and housing.
  • Deona Chatfield (17‑year‑old wrestler): Condemned the council member’s comments toward the reporter, calling them part of a culture of disrespect that enables sexual assault.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation by BEST (Dr. Marcia Farrell & Rev. Stephen Simon): Proposed workforce housing at 6th and Parade (42 units) and 6th and Wallace (10‑12 units) on BEST‑owned land, with possible commercial space. Concept includes affordable and workforce units. Zoning changes needed. Council members expressed support, with Councilor Horton emphasizing responsible land ownership and transparency about the board’s composition. The mayor clarified that workforce housing is for lower‑wage workers, not luxury units.
  • Public Hearing – Foreman Block Historic Designation: Matthew Falcone presented the nomination for 1013–1015 State Street, noting HRC and Planning Commission support. No testimony from the public. Council had no questions.
  • Public Hearing – William & Mary Spencer House: Falcone presented the nomination for 519 West 6th Street. Council member Horton requested additional information about the Spencer family’s potential involvement in slavery before voting. Councilor Titus suggested tabling the related resolution to allow time for research. The public hearing was closed.
  • America 250 Resolution: Council debated the resolution commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Councilor Horton and Councilor Titus expressed opposition, citing the country’s history of racism and slavery, and noted they could not in good faith celebrate. Councilor Poll and Councilor Shaw spoke in favor of recognizing community contributions. After Horton agreed not to let it fail, the resolution passed 3‑1 (Horton, Poll, Shaw yes; Titus no).
  • ECRSSA Funding Resolution: Councilor Titus explained the resolution only reallocates FY2024 CDBG funds ($65,000) and does not guarantee future funding. Councilor Horton supported it as a reallocation, noting he had opposed the original day‑reporting center. The resolution passed 4‑0.
  • Liaison Reports & Caucus Discussion: Council reported on meetings of the Owen E. Pension Board, Port Authority, Housing Authority, and the SPCP. Council President Titus announced that due to conduct concerns, she had removed Councilor Brzezinski from all liaison positions. Mayor Devlin discussed efforts to relaunch the Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships (SPCP) board, the ongoing investigation into the Sparks incident, and plans to release a report. She also noted the officer involved has not been suspended but suggested reassignment could be considered.

Key Outcomes

  • Final passage of ordinances:
    • Official Ordinance 39‑2026: Appropriated $4,237.21 in CDBG program income (passed 4‑0).
    • Official Ordinance 40‑2026: Amended the landlord/rental ordinance (Article 330) to allow a four‑year inspection cycle for properties that pass two clean inspections, and moved fee deadlines to July (passed 4‑0).
    • Official Ordinance 41‑2026: Updated enforcement of noncompliance policies (passed 4‑0).
  • First reading approved:
    • Ordinance 16621 (Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority grant, $189,868)
    • Ordinance 16622 (Auto Theft Prevention Authority grant, $405,899)
    • Ordinance 16623 (ECAT upgrades, $500,000)
  • Resolution on America 250: Passed 3‑1.
  • Resolution on ECRSSA funding: Passed 4‑0.
  • Resolution on Spencer House historic designation: Tabled 4‑0 pending further research on the family’s history.
  • Mayor’s announcement: The administration intends to issue a 90‑day notice to BIU to end the rental inspection portion of their contract, effective October 1, 2026. No council vote required.
  • Code of conduct: Council President Titus removed Councilor Brzezinski from all liaison positions due to inappropriate conduct. A proposed amendment to the code of decorum was circulated to council members.
  • Next steps: The police chief will meet with command staff to discuss the Sparks incident; a full report on the investigation and any disciplinary actions will be released. Council will review a model use‑of‑force policy and consider changes to the city’s current policy.

Meeting Transcript

So let's start it if anybody has any questions on anything that we're going to be doing for for the final passage. We have those we have three items for final passage. Yes. I've got a couple coming, right? So you have to what I would like to go back and um draw everyone's attention to because we did have some changes, and I wanted to do some clarification, is uh item number two for final passage, and that's the landlord and rental, uh Article 330. Um it was sent out by our solicitor just uh the updates, but if you wouldn't mind uh mayor and I'm gonna put you on the spot here, or or solicitor check, uh just to kind of go over some of those updates. Thank you, Dr. Titus. Uh council, you'll recall we had the first reading um on the landlord and rental ordinance um at our la at your last meeting. Uh you'll recall that there were some questions from particularly the apartment association. And so we did meet with them, had a a long meeting with them, I think um between the meetings, so last week, and we talked about their concerns. Um, one of the concerns we heard from them was the frequency of the inspections. You might recall that we were um proposing that we change the frequency. Everyone would be inspected every year, and then if you passed, you could get on a two-year cycle. Um the landlords uh really talked about how they felt a four keeping the old, which was you could get on a four-year cycle if you had two successful inspections, that they really wanted to go to that. I expressed to them that I felt four years was too long to go without an inspection, but then we discussed and kind of the negotiation we came to was we would we would consider the four-year if when a property changed hands, the cycle started over. So what we had been talking about was that we would treat rental registration like car registration. You know, you register, but then your inspection holds even when you buy a car. But they were uh in agreement that when a property changed hands, everything would restart and the registration and inspection cycle would start over. So with that concession, I felt more comfortable about keeping the four-year cycle. That's if you pass two good inspections and we agreed they would be clean on the first time. So it's not you come and you have some violations and we come back, two fully clean inspections, we would consider keeping that four-year cycle. So we have changed that in the ordinance today, certainly open to your comments, but I just wanted to give you the the reasoning why we got there. We also have some thoughts that while we bring this program in-house, you know, giving us a four-year cycle on some properties would keep the workload down a bit and give us a little chance to get ourselves going. So we did that is an a change you'll see today. The other change that they asked for was to give them a little more time on the payment of fees. Um they raised a good point that our fees for registration are due around the same time that taxes are due, and that that felt a lot. And so they asked whether we could push it out a bit, and so we are proposing that we push the first payment, I think till the end of July, so that it's not hitting the same time as taxes and just giving them a little more time. So we did make those we we are proposing those changes in your ordinance today. Go ahead. Uh the solicitors sent those out. I kind of looked got the some thank you. I appreciate that. Um, and although we did uh settle on for have some consensus on it in its past form or current form, be that as it may, uh I think that in a good deal everybody gets something. And uh I I like the compromise. So thank you and the and the association both uh for working diligently to you know come to some understanding. I agree. Um thank you for for meeting with them and then working through because I think this is this is a great this is a great end product here. So thank you. Any other questions on this particular one before we go to another topic? Yes. Council members, some of these we're trying to save paper now, so some of them have the six pages resolutions, and some are just a page, so it's a little confusing at first. So I might keep passing some back to you to sign. That's it. Thank you, Mayor Daria. And so you felt everything was good with the changes. I did. And and you know, in the meeting, they said, Will you, you know, can we talk about perhaps not moving the program, you know, in-house and keeping it with BIU. And I basically said to them, no, we're not, we're we're not still considering that. I think council is in favor of the move.

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