OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Erie City Council Caucus Session - August 21, 2026

City Council — Friday, August 21, 2026
BodyErie, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateFriday, August 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 55:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

And begin our caucus session for this evening.

0:09

Um I'd just like to call council's attention to the agenda and we can go over if there are any questions, um, starting with uh items on for final passage.

0:20

I believe we have four items for for final passage this evening.

0:26

Um we have the ordinance around the historic designation, um, and then we'll also see that property again under our old business as we had tabled uh and there's an easement, so uh but this is for two different things.

0:42

But is there any questions on any of the items who that are before us tonight for final passage?

1:05

One question I did have, and this is um I should have asked it probably the last one, but I'm just gonna could you help clarify um I guess just how under item number four, how it's written, which which budget item is the spot shot or list, because it's like two eighty and two hundred eighty thousand two hundred eighty thousand in that first one.

1:25

I'm probably gonna need Lisa to come up to the mic and help me with the budget line item.

1:37

Sorry, Lisa.

1:45

Okay, so you asked what budget that's in the middle of the year.

1:47

So under uh the final reading, like number four.

1:50

Just when we're looking at just so for clarification, um which item is the 200, like which budget line is the 280,000 coming from?

1:58

Yeah, that's coming out of the police budget in the general fund.

2:03

So Lisa, you're showing two numbers here.

2:05

Is that one in and one out?

2:07

So it Yeah, the uh comes in.

2:17

Okay, and those are still the ones that we're hoping that we can get covered from community partners.

2:23

Yes.

2:23

And we have some assurances.

2:25

We don't have anything written, but we feel very confident there, yes.

2:31

Do any other council members have any questions when we have Lisa up here on that one?

2:35

Okay.

2:36

Thank you.

2:37

Sorry, Lisa.

2:38

Thank you.

2:42

All right, then looking over at items for first reading.

2:46

Do we have any questions on we have three items for first reading?

2:50

Uh it this is one typo in that um any questions.

3:02

Just some appropriate of funds.

3:19

There are no questions on those ones.

3:21

Do we have any questions on old business?

3:37

Just for clarification, I'm not sure if I'm hoping everyone did on council saw the email that we received from uh attorney check just kind of explaining just some of the easement of process, like when when we get it, uh and and what it's going through, and a reminder that we had tabled items number two and three, just to get more clarification, which I believe we have received is from council.

3:58

We had approved originally an easement for four foot.

4:02

Uh that does not meet the ADA requirements for the easement section.

4:06

And so the the one that was before us.

4:08

Go ahead.

4:10

No, the easement was for four feet from the from the the prop from those building.

4:16

But the six feet is what would be the pedestrian walkway.

4:20

That's fine.

4:22

So this so when I talk to engineering, they prefer five feet or more.

4:27

So that's six feet qualified.

4:29

Okay.

4:30

But then the business center came back and said, wait a minute, can we get five feet from the building?

4:34

And then when they went through it, they still had five feet left instead of six, and that the engineering says that's okay as well.

4:40

Okay.

4:41

So the first one did qualify fine.

4:43

It's just the business center said, hey, if I can get a little more space for my chairs and tables, because it's uh the McCoy's um, and I think that also had to do with what is required by the the license or the the liquor board um the compliance.

5:00

However, I don't know anything about what they require or if it's just a suggestion.

5:06

But from engineering's point of view, the five feet still meets the pedestrian walkway requirements for ADA.

5:13

And then just so we know for clarification, I mean, just for public, but then also for council, that five feet does not include like they're not measuring any part of the easement, or they're not measuring any part of where there is the shrubbery or the plants.

5:24

So that five feet that is still open is is not being blocked off by so if you have I think everyone has a diagram.

5:31

So that middle part, so where the brick is to the to the curb is not counted, and you'll see there's like an orange line at the very front that's the five feet of the pedestrian access, and then the yellow line to the building is what would be the easement.

5:46

So the easement's just this part.

5:48

So it says that the dining area will still leave five feet walkable.

5:54

Yes.

5:55

Right, that's that.

5:56

Yeah.

5:57

Yeah.

5:58

It's it's exactly how he stated it is my only concern with it is it moves it out another foot into the brick area, which is in and of itself is not a concern.

6:09

And I discussed this with the solicitor too, but it seems they have cutouts for planners there.

6:15

Uh two along there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Waterfront Development█████████████████████████25%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████████████18%
Personnel Matters███████████11%
Public Safety████████8%
Public Engagement████████8%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Community Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Erie City Council Caucus Session - August 21, 2026

This caucus session served as a preparatory meeting for the upcoming public hearing and regular council meeting. Council members reviewed agenda items, received updates on budget recommendations from PFM, and discussed waterfront development, property easements, and community benefit agreements. No formal votes were taken.

Consent Calendar

  • Final passage items included an ordinance for historic designation and a budget item appropriating $280,000 from the police budget, with hopes of coverage from community partners. Council clarified the budget line item.
  • First reading items involved appropriation of funds, with no questions raised.
  • Old business: Two previously tabled items regarding an easement for McCoy's restaurant were discussed. The easement was originally four feet; McCoy's requested five feet from the building, which engineering confirmed meets ADA requirements for a five-foot pedestrian walkway. Council expressed comfort with the revised easement, and the items were pulled from the table for voting.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mr. Kissel addressed the council regarding the Scott Motel waterfront development. He stated that the planning commission had voted on the second hotel deal, and that promised public amenities (seven pocket parks) were not included in the documents. He noted that the city accepted a $5 million grant for the first hotel, but the second hotel received $7.6 million in CRIS funding plus additional loans, with no binding community benefit agreements. He urged council to review the original grant agreement.
  • Councilor Horton responded, acknowledging the lack of return on investment and expressing concern that promises were not legally binding. Councilor Titus mentioned she attended the planning commission and advocated for benches, a four-way stop, and bird-friendly glass.

Discussion Items

  • PFM Budget Recommendations Presentation: Mayor presented a three-tier plan from PFM to address the city's budget deficit. Short-term actions (already taken) included six position eliminations, community support for public safety, and departmental reviews, reducing the deficit by $3 million. Midterm actions (balance of 2026) include additional position eliminations via retirements and vacant positions, a likely tax increase in 2027, negotiated agreement with Erie Parking Authority, prescription drug/health insurance changes for management, and a potential pension obligation bond to trigger an MMO recalculation. Long-term items include modest annual tax increases, advocacy for local services tax removal, additional hotel tax, contract review, sale of Downing Golf Course, debt restructuring, exploring headcount reductions with unions, and home rule charter to adjust EIT rate. Councilors expressed concerns about the pension bond and tax increases, with Councilor Breneman noting it could be disingenuous given the pension fund's health. Councilor Horton requested PFM also examine the amusement tax collection and skill games legislation. Councilor Titus suggested considering a community benefit agreement for future developments.
  • Firehouse Historical Review Contract: Contract for environmental and design research to assess firehouses for historical designation, funded by a $50,000 grant, allowing access to additional capital improvement grants.
  • Ainsworth Field: Council discussed the field's condition (owned by school district) and ongoing efforts to support grant applications through an operating agreement. A support event is scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m.
  • Celebrate Erie Event: Councilors praised the police, public works, and event staff for a successful event, despite some issues with unprofessional security personnel and youth with nothing to do.

Key Outcomes

  • Agenda items for final passage and first reading are set for the regular meeting.
  • The two tabled easement items will be voted on in the upcoming public meeting.
  • The mayor will add feedback on amusement tax and skill games to PFM's September presentation.
  • Council plans to invite the CRIS Authority for a study session to discuss community benefit agreements and waterfront development commitments.
  • An executive session was called before the public meeting to discuss updates.

Upcoming Hearing

  • The 7:00 p.m. public hearing concerns a waterfront conditional use property that falls outside the bayfront jurisdiction, so special conditions cannot be imposed. A letter from Jeffrey Johnson about traffic patterns will be included in the record. Council will prepare a resolution for the next meeting.

Meeting Transcript

And begin our caucus session for this evening. Um I'd just like to call council's attention to the agenda and we can go over if there are any questions, um, starting with uh items on for final passage. I believe we have four items for for final passage this evening. Um we have the ordinance around the historic designation, um, and then we'll also see that property again under our old business as we had tabled uh and there's an easement, so uh but this is for two different things. But is there any questions on any of the items who that are before us tonight for final passage? One question I did have, and this is um I should have asked it probably the last one, but I'm just gonna could you help clarify um I guess just how under item number four, how it's written, which which budget item is the spot shot or list, because it's like two eighty and two hundred eighty thousand two hundred eighty thousand in that first one. I'm probably gonna need Lisa to come up to the mic and help me with the budget line item. Sorry, Lisa. Okay, so you asked what budget that's in the middle of the year. So under uh the final reading, like number four. Just when we're looking at just so for clarification, um which item is the 200, like which budget line is the 280,000 coming from? Yeah, that's coming out of the police budget in the general fund. So Lisa, you're showing two numbers here. Is that one in and one out? So it Yeah, the uh comes in. Okay, and those are still the ones that we're hoping that we can get covered from community partners. Yes. And we have some assurances. We don't have anything written, but we feel very confident there, yes. Do any other council members have any questions when we have Lisa up here on that one? Okay. Thank you. Sorry, Lisa. Thank you. All right, then looking over at items for first reading. Do we have any questions on we have three items for first reading? Uh it this is one typo in that um any questions. Just some appropriate of funds. There are no questions on those ones. Do we have any questions on old business? Just for clarification, I'm not sure if I'm hoping everyone did on council saw the email that we received from uh attorney check just kind of explaining just some of the easement of process, like when when we get it, uh and and what it's going through, and a reminder that we had tabled items number two and three, just to get more clarification, which I believe we have received is from council. We had approved originally an easement for four foot. Uh that does not meet the ADA requirements for the easement section. And so the the one that was before us. Go ahead. No, the easement was for four feet from the from the the prop from those building. But the six feet is what would be the pedestrian walkway. That's fine. So this so when I talk to engineering, they prefer five feet or more. So that's six feet qualified. Okay. But then the business center came back and said, wait a minute, can we get five feet from the building? And then when they went through it, they still had five feet left instead of six, and that the engineering says that's okay as well. Okay. So the first one did qualify fine. It's just the business center said, hey, if I can get a little more space for my chairs and tables, because it's uh the McCoy's um, and I think that also had to do with what is required by the the license or the the liquor board um the compliance. However, I don't know anything about what they require or if it's just a suggestion. But from engineering's point of view, the five feet still meets the pedestrian walkway requirements for ADA. And then just so we know for clarification, I mean, just for public, but then also for council, that five feet does not include like they're not measuring any part of the easement, or they're not measuring any part of where there is the shrubbery or the plants. So that five feet that is still open is is not being blocked off by so if you have I think everyone has a diagram.

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