[0:05] [clears throat]

[0:08] Roll call for the city council meeting of Wednesday, September 2nd at 9:00 a.m.

[0:13] Council members Titus >> here.

[0:15] » Brzinski >> present.

[0:17] » Flores. >> Horton

[0:19] » here. >> Paul

[0:20] » here. >> Shaw

[0:21] » here. >> Troop

[0:23] » yes.

[0:26] » We had a little bit of a a spill issue. So, we're going to just have to grab a

[0:30] towel. Okay. >> All right. Pay no attention to what's

[0:34] happening behind the curtain on the left of stage.

[0:38] [laughter] >> Um, we will go ahead and stand for the

[0:42] pledge of allegiance. Uh, starting with a moment of silence.

[0:46] » Dr. Titus, if I may. Um, thank you. I would, uh, to think of today uh, Sister

[0:54] Maria Assumpta Rousa, Sisters of St. Joseph who was 89 years old and she had

[1:03] passed away August 31st in her 70th year of religious life. So um that's

[1:13] remarkable service and uh a friend Pete Griswinsky who passed away on Sunday uh

[1:22] or Saturday night of uh accident on a ebike in West Springfield. And for the

[1:30] driver as well because that's a nightmare. Thank you.

[1:33] » Thank you.

[1:44] I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[1:51] for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:58] justice for all.

[2:04] Motion to accept the minutes from the August 19th city council meeting and

[2:08] bills for payment on September 4th and 11th, 2026. Members Brzinski,

[2:14] » yes. >> Flores,

[2:15] » yes. >> Horton,

[2:16] » yes. >> Pull,

[2:17] » yes. >> Sha,

[2:18] » yes. >> Troop,

[2:19] » yes. >> Titus,

[2:20] » yes.

[2:24] » So, I believe there are no presentations this morning. Um, is there anybody here

[2:30] to speak on a repository sale? >> Come up to the microphone.

[2:41] » Sir, if you're when you're finished, could you go into the clerk's office and

[2:44] give her a copy of your license? >> Of course.

[2:47] » Thank you. >> And there should be a list of questions

[2:49] that that are up at the podium there. Y and those are the questions that we if

[2:54] you could read those and then just uh answer those for us. But if you wanted

[2:56] to just say your name and then the address of the property as well.

[3:00] » Okay. >> I'm Cristiano Ferrari. I'm from Las

[3:04] Vegas and uh my company is CJ Ferrari. Um I

[3:12] p I actually started the purchase of six vacant lots and one uh duplex

[3:20] um couple weeks ago and that's why I was called here. So the first uh question is

[3:27] is the property vacant or does it have a structure on it? So supposedly be six

[3:34] vacant lots but uh few of them have some kind of structure on it probably from

[3:41] the previous owner as a background uh backyard uh some playgrounds. So few of

[3:49] them have that and three four of them have nothing just threes and a high

[3:55] grass. Uh and one has a duplex on it. Okay. My plans and intentions for the

[4:04] properties. So the last year I've been um

[4:10] really uh uh merging to tax property sales. So I've been

[4:17] studying a lot about this and uh my understanding is not everybody knows

[4:22] about the how the the the properties are being sold the repository list and my

[4:28] intention of course it's uh um towards profit but also brings the properties

[4:34] back to the productive use right u responsible ownership paying taxes and

[4:41] maintaining the lots and developing whatever I can do to help the city also

[4:46] grows. So that's my my intention. Uh the condition the properties are in they're

[4:53] vary right ones have a big grass. I have the pictures. I visited myself the last

[5:01] uh probably year. I've been in Erie seven times already. I can fly in um in

[5:08] one day. It's a 4-hour flight. So I I can if anything that needs to be done,

[5:14] I'll be here in one day or or something like that. Uh

[5:20] do I live near the property? No, I live in Las Vegas, but again, it's a 4-hour

[5:25] flight. I came yesterday uh um night and uh I'm flying today. Um how I'm going to

[5:33] provide maintenance of the property. So, um, the last I I also already have a

[5:41] property near on East 22nd which I purchased on a judicial sale and got

[5:48] granted the deed couple weeks ago and uh I'm maintaining the property with uh a

[5:55] relationship that I already made with a real estate agent, some companies, the

[6:00] construction companies that you know have providing services. So that's my um

[6:07] basic my my relationship group and and growing moving forward. If this uh it's

[6:14] something that I'm I'm going to be able to do in in in Erie um I'm going to have

[6:20] this people around and and partners to work with. Okay.

[6:26] And uh have you confirmed that any plans made for the property comply with all

[6:32] codes? So we um me and my wife that basically do the all the researches. We

[6:38] called the zoning department. We called everybody and the information was that

[6:43] any that's nothing uh that [clears throat] doesn't uh uh allowed us

[6:49] to build or any violation on anything yet. Okay. But if we got granted, then

[6:56] of course we're going to have to go through the process and see what uh what

[7:00] it needs to be done to bring it up back to code

[7:05] and uh yeah. No, I didn't have any code valuation in the last three years.

[7:10] » Okay. Go ahead, council. Sorry. >> Um I have a question. You said that one

[7:14] of the um prop well one of the I don't know one of them is a duplex. Do you

[7:19] have renters living there currently or is it a vacant?

[7:22] » So that's the problem. I didn't want to step in. So, the only thing I did, I

[7:27] took pictures on the sides. It looks empty, but I also I saw a cat on the

[7:33] window and I saw some belonging. And that's my questions like is that any way

[7:38] that I can ask somebody to verify there's anybody living there? How that

[7:44] works? Well, if it's on for the sale up on the

[7:50] repository sales, it should be vacant from

[7:54] » It doesn't look it. Yeah. >> Are you able to give us the address?

[7:59] » Do you have the address for that? >> 112 11:22 Wayne Street.

[8:06] » So, I I again, I went there. I look around. I didn't want to, you know, try

[8:11] to open any doors or anything like that because I know that's

[8:15] » counselor Flores, Dr. Titus. >> Yes.

[8:18] » Uh just because it's on the repository uh sale does not mean uh that it's

[8:24] vacant. >> The landlord could be losing.

[8:26] » Well, even if there's not a lease agreement, you just don't know who's

[8:30] living there or or squatted or you we we just don't know. Uh if it's a someone

[8:37] could have may be deceased and it could be a family member uh that's been served

[8:42] notice notice notice. Uh but we you almost have to send somebody out and

[8:47] make sure that nobody lives there or nobody's there.

[8:51] » Put a point on that. I've been doing this in the last six months and I've

[8:55] encountered some situations also that when you buy from the repository there

[9:00] still people living in it because many factors could be applied as as a you

[9:05] know somebody to seize or nobody knows about that property and yeah

[9:11] » but I don't have the the way to knock the door so if you guys can help me out

[9:16] » if you just leave the address and make sure our clerk has it someone from our

[9:21] I'm Sure, we can send someone out from our code enforcement. They probably, and

[9:26] if it's on the repository sale, I would I would go out on a limb and say that

[9:30] they already have extensive records uh of of trying to make contact uh with

[9:36] someone uh which still uh which still doesn't mean that someone hasn't taken

[9:42] residency. Yeah. As to your point, >> of course. Yeah.

[9:46] » And [clears throat] who is the person that I can't contact or I somebody

[9:50] contact me? how that works. >> We we'll get your contact information um

[9:55] after. We'll have you go fill out information with the clerk's office and

[9:57] then um we'll do some internal discussion around this too. So, no, we

[10:01] won't vote on anything [snorts] today. So, there's still information has to go

[10:04] with council and then we'll get some back to you.

[10:06] » Okay. >> And I just have one more question. You

[10:09] said that you do own a property in the city that you have tenants as of a few

[10:13] weeks. >> No, it's a vacant lot.

[10:14] » Oh, so it's a vacant. >> It's East 22nd Street.

[10:16] » East which I purchased on the judicial sale. the last judicial show in uh

[10:21] January. >> Uh what's that address if I may inquire

[10:26] on 22nd Street? I know it's not a structure there, but what was the

[10:30] » address to it? Um let me get >> what's the adjoining, you know, is it

[10:35] between German and Holland is my interest. I have the parcel number and I

[10:40] have the the the address the next door which

[10:44] » uh the the owner of that house it was the owner of the property as well and

[10:51] both properties went to judicial >> if

[10:54] » but he he he paid it back the house. So >> if you if you would just pro provide the

[10:59] address for that way I can I know I can tell you what block it is or the block

[11:04] that I'm interested in. The block I'm more interested in. It's probably the 2

[11:09] to 300 block or the 3 to 400. I mean excuse me the one to 200 block.

[11:13] » Actually I think it's the 2 to 300 block.

[11:16] » So the properties >> quite a few vacant lots there and we own

[11:20] quite a few of them through our land bank. So

[11:23] » for redevelopment >> 1253 East 22nd.

[11:28] » Okay. So that's >> next to the corner.

[11:30] » Mhm. >> Which the old the old owner was Jeffrey.

[11:35] » I know exactly. And it's over by Mckenley Park or Pennsylvania Avenue I

[11:40] think is or Brandis is the 1200 block over there. It's a park not far from the

[11:45] park there. >> Yeah. It's a park

[11:46] » in the school. Mckenley. It's I know exactly where you're talking about.

[11:51] Yes, >> sir. Did you say you just put the bids

[11:56] in on these properties? >> Yes.

[11:58] » I don't think that we've gotten the information yet to to have council

[12:02] review it. >> Yes, I got this list from Pamela.

[12:08] » Okay. >> And that's the reason I'm here.

[12:10] » Okay. >> So, this is uh

[12:15] I started this uh two weeks, three weeks ago. two weeks ago.

[12:20] » All right. >> Yeah. And then they should send me the

[12:27] » So, we will follow up, make sure that we've got the applications that have

[12:30] been completed. Um, and then we can be in touch once we get that information uh

[12:36] » here as council, but we won't vote on anything today. We still have to look at

[12:39] all the packets, >> of course. Yeah. And I also

[12:43] I also have all the receipts that the the the

[12:50] Oops. So, all the payments that I already did.

[12:53] » Okay. >> So, if any Okay.

[12:56] » We'll have our clerk in the clerk's office take copies of everything for

[12:59] you. You can just walk right through the door. She's in there. Thank you so much.

[13:04] » Right [clears throat] through that door. >> Yeah.

[13:06] » Thank you. Thank you, >> Dr. Titus. I just want to enter into the

[13:10] record, too, because the duplex you have a situation where uh it may be someone

[13:16] living in one and not the other. where they both could be occupied or

[13:21] unoccupied and I just want that to be duly noted as well.

[13:26] » We'll loop back with um with the administration make sure that

[13:30] we we go especially over with code and have that checked out. Thank you. Is

[13:34] there anybody else here for repository sale? Anyone else here to speak on a

[13:39] repository sale? Anyone else to speak on repository sale?

[13:45] Okay. At this time then we will move into uh public comment. Um so when you

[13:51] come up to the podium make sure that you are signing in uh that's over here this

[13:55] little desk over here printing your name clearly and that you when you come up to

[13:59] the podium you state your name clearly and the municipality in which you reside

[14:02] and note that you will have 5 minutes. We will have a timer go off so please be

[14:06] mindful when that timer goes off your time is up. Um but once you're signed in

[14:11] go ahead.

[14:14] » [clears throat] >> I'm going to get to the point.

[14:18] Got a little bit of a frog in the throat. You know how that goes. Can you

[14:21] hear me? >> Yes.

[14:22] » All right. Um, what concerns me is these >> Could you just state your state your

[14:27] name? >> David French, Lower East Side.

[14:29] » Thank you. >> These ebikes who choose not to use the

[14:34] bike path, they insist on using the sidewalks. And when you see them coming,

[14:40] it's not that big a deal. But when they're coming behind you, they seem

[14:43] like they want to get kind of close to you. And I've been in a couple pretty

[14:48] bad car accidents in my life and survive them. But I'm getting a little

[14:52] frustrated with it. A lot of these people that have the ebikes don't have a

[14:57] driver's license. That's why they got these. So I think the regulations are

[15:02] need to be um expedited because there's already been

[15:07] some accidents. the bus drivers are kind of tired of the whole situation and I'll

[15:13] leave it at that because it's a technology that is really getting out of

[15:18] hand and I don't want to see anybody get hurt. Thank you so much.

[15:22] » Thank you. >> Thank you. And usually we don't do the

[15:24] public comment back and forth, but I do think that this is an important actually

[15:27] like public service announcement that the ebikes still are required to follow

[15:31] the rules uh and the laws regarding a motorized vehicle. And it's correct and

[15:37] but that's more for for ebike riders to be aware that they are still expected to

[15:43] follow follow those laws and that they can have consequences when they don't.

[15:46] But absolutely noted. >> Thank you so much.

[15:49] » Thank you, Dr. Titus. Yes. >> I'm I'm not sure. I I cuz I I thought I

[15:56] read somewhere it has an engine on there. They're considering that you do

[16:00] have to have >> license, driver's license to be on the

[16:04] road. And I'm not sure that the public is even educated about that stuff. And

[16:10] we're we're educating uh we had a contract on here to educate about

[16:14] autotheft. Uh maybe we ought to do a campaign about ebikes too before some of

[16:20] our residents get really really hurt uh out here. I I think that u summer's

[16:26] coming and we've been blessed not to have as many motorcycle fatalities as

[16:30] we've had in years gone by. Uh but I fully expect without an education

[16:35] campaign of some sort uh right down to proper uh wear and how to protect

[16:40] yourself with protective clothing uh we're going to see a rise on those type

[16:45] of things. It it was actually covered on the news last night or the night before

[16:49] that there's more injuries of adolescent and young adults based off of the ebike

[16:55] because they're getting hit. They're having upper body um injuries. They're

[17:01] having to um have like broken arms, broken wrists um and they're not wearing

[17:06] head gear. So, they're having a lot of concussions. So, it's it's up and a lot

[17:10] of the like um pediat pediatricians on the national level have brought alert to

[17:16] this issue. So, I'm not sure what we're doing, but I know that they recommended

[17:20] that even though your older kids don't want to wear a helmet, please encourage

[17:25] them wear a helmet when they're riding these ebikes because the the injuries

[17:28] are severe. I actually think I see more of those on the road than I do pedal

[17:34] bikes >> nowadays, you know, which I'm very proud

[17:37] to say that I still own and and hope to get back riding uh soon.

[17:44] » Duly noted by all members of council. Um and I don't want to get us too far away

[17:47] from from public comment, but I noted and even put a little asterisk in ink in

[17:52] my in my because this is something that we do need to and have needed to address

[17:56] for a minute. Um, any other members who would of the of the public who would

[18:00] like to make public comment are here to speak.

[18:17] Good morning, Cindy Triber, born and raised in Erie, currently living in

[18:21] Edinburgh. Um, if I may first just ask whatever God spiritual entity you

[18:27] believe in, can you please be praying for our military over in the Middle East

[18:31] right now, including my loved one? Um, wanted to talk to you all about the

[18:38] Council for Police Review Collaboration, whatever we're going to be calling this.

[18:44] Um it is my understanding and I would I really would love to be educated on this

[18:48] because I don't know that I have found maybe the correct information. Um but

[18:54] whenever we have a board that is being created is typically created by the

[18:58] council under an ordinance. Um I do not recall an ordinance being

[19:05] presented or passed on a specific police collaboration review board. So I

[19:13] I just would like some clarification if that has been done. I did I'm pretty

[19:17] good at the research but I know that I am a little bit stressed right now. So I

[19:20] have may have missed it. So I'd like to know how we created a board without that

[19:25] being done. Um I also have some questions on that board. Um including

[19:31] who is allowed to sit on the board? What parameters as far as their education

[19:36] experience um need to be in place to be on the

[19:40] board? how applications were submitted, how the selection process was submitted,

[19:44] how the demographics have been chosen, um where those demographics are from.

[19:50] Are all persons representative? Do we have veterans on that board? Do we have

[19:54] women on that board? Do we have new Americans, African-Americans, um

[19:59] different other um cultural groups on that board? Um, do we have persons who

[20:05] are no longer law enforcement, who may be retired, who can speak freely about

[20:10] things that they are concerned about or that they see without the ramifications

[20:16] possibly of union or FOP or bargaining right um pressure. So I I also it is my

[20:25] understanding that when we have a board that information is public

[20:30] and we should know all of the afor mentioned we should know who, why, what,

[20:36] where, when and we should know it before the meetings happen. Um, so I'm I'm very

[20:43] confused as how we have such a a very important topic that we have been

[20:48] pressing for over 10 years that has actually been mentioned in several

[20:54] lawsuits settlements as part of this settlement should be that we have a

[20:59] police review board. But we are not talking about any of those things

[21:04] publicly. For me, it is a like the action should

[21:08] correspond with the intent or the importance of the event. And I don't see

[21:13] that happening. And that's concerning to me because that says to me that it's

[21:17] actually not that important because we're not doing the due diligence to

[21:21] explain. So, I have those questions. Um, I personally also feel that there should

[21:28] be people outside of the city on that board. um whether they be subject matter

[21:32] experts, nonprofits, um a consultant, if we have money to

[21:37] bring in consultants for everything else, I feel like we should be able to

[21:40] bring a consultant in maybe from cola or or uh Nicole on on how we are going to

[21:46] do this board and what powers we have that there's plenty of organizations in

[21:50] Pennsylvania that I know for a fact that would be willing to help. Um, so I'd

[21:55] just like some clarification on that and and I really would like for that that

[21:59] board to stop until the public is um given the information that they are

[22:05] owed since we're the ones paying everybody and voting for everybody. Um

[22:10] my second concern is um Mayor Daria if you don't mind when you had originally

[22:17] talked about the policies of the police um I I know and we have met that it is

[22:22] not it's certainly not anyone's intention to speak down to the public.

[22:29] Um but I I wondered if you had considered using the verbiage that you

[22:33] used may have been offensive. It was offensive to me and I'm high I I

[22:37] consider myself pretty intelligent and educated. Um when you when we say to the

[22:41] public, you know, even myself found these policies to be hard to

[22:47] understand with the legal ease. So we want to, you know, basically dumb them

[22:52] down for everybody. So my concern is that the population that is having the

[22:57] most interaction with the police is the new American and African-American

[23:00] communities. I don't know if it's the best approach to say, "Hey, you're I'm

[23:06] smarter than you. You're not as smart as me, so let me dumb this down for you."

[23:12] They that population and many others are being so over inundated, whether it be

[23:20] because of high saturation or not. I think we need to get more information,

[23:25] not less. like let's have a town hall and get more and let's stop treating

[23:29] people like they don't know what they're doing.

[23:32] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[23:36] » We can address um and answer these comments during our our liaison reports.

[23:41] Um is there anyone else here to speak to or for public comment? Anyone else to

[23:48] speak during public comment? Anyone else to speak during public comment?

[23:53] Okay, we will go ahead and move Move on.

[23:58] » Ordinances for final passage.

[24:06] Council file number 16629, official ordinance 492026,

[24:11] an ordinance appropriating the sum of $10,000 from unappropriated and

[24:15] unanticipated revenue to be received from a community partnership grant

[24:20] administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural

[24:23] Resources, which is DCNR, and providing it for the expenditure thereof.

[24:29] Sponsored by Council Member Shaw, seconded by Council Member Titus. that

[24:32] council file ordinance bill number 16629 and now known as official file ordinance

[24:37] 492026 be finally passed by city council

[24:41] members Brzinski >> yes

[24:42] » Flores >> yes

[24:44] » yes >> Paul

[24:45] » yes >> Shaw

[24:46] » yes >> troop

[24:47] » yes >> Titus

[24:48] » yes >> city council read and adopt and pass

[24:53] official file ordinance 49 2026 by yay 7 nay zero Council

[25:05] file number 16630, official ordinance 50 20226, an ordinance appropriating the

[25:10] sum $25,000 from unappropriated and unanticipated revenue for the

[25:15] expenditure thereof. The contribution is from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

[25:18] acting through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission PHMC

[25:22] and from the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant. Sponsored by Council

[25:26] Member Shaw, seconded by Council Member Titus. That council file ordinance 16630

[25:31] and now known as official file ordinance 50 2026 be finally passed by city

[25:36] council. Members Brzinski, >> yes.

[25:38] » Lores, >> yes.

[25:40] » Horton, >> yes.

[25:41] » Paul, >> yes.

[25:42] » Shaw, >> yes.

[25:43] » Troop, >> yes.

[25:44] » Titus, >> yes.

[25:46] City Council pass official file ordinance 50 2026 finally by yay 7 nay

[25:51] zero.

[25:58] Council file number 16631 official ordinance 512026

[26:03] an ordinance appropriating the sum of $25,000 from unappropriated and

[26:07] unanticipated revenue for the expenditure thereof. This contribution

[26:11] is from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting through the Pennsylvania

[26:14] Historical and Museum Commission, the PHMC from the FFY 2025 Certified Loan

[26:20] Government Grant. Sponsored by Council Member Schoff, seconded by Council

[26:23] Member Titus, that council file ordinance bill number 16631

[26:28] and now known as Official File Ordinance 51, 2022 be finally passed by city

[26:33] council. Members Brzinski, >> yes.

[26:35] » Flores, >> yes.

[26:36] » Horton, >> yes.

[26:37] » Pull, >> yes.

[26:38] » Shaw, >> yes. Troop.

[26:40] » Yes. >> Titus.

[26:41] » Yes. >> City council pass official file

[26:45] ordinance 512026 finally by yay 7 nay zero.

[26:54] Ordinances for first reading or

[27:00] council file number 16632 an ordinance appropriating the sum of $88,823

[27:07] from unappropriated and unanticipated revenue for the expenditure thereof for

[27:11] an $88,000 $823 grant from the Department of Justice fiscal year 25 JAG

[27:19] program local solicitation for police equipment sponsored by council Member

[27:24] Horton, seconded by council member Shaw, that council file ordinance 16632 having

[27:29] been read is hereby adopted on first reading by city council. Members

[27:33] Brzinski, >> yes.

[27:35] » Flores, >> yes.

[27:36] » Horton, >> yes.

[27:37] » Paul, >> yes.

[27:38] » Shaw, >> oh, sorry.

[27:40] » Yes. >> Droop,

[27:41] » yes. >> Titus,

[27:42] » yes. >> City council read and adopt council file

[27:47] ordinance 16632 by Yay 7 N0 on first reading.

[28:00] We don't have any old business. So, Council President, this takes us to new

[28:05] business. >> At this point, I would ask for a motion

[28:08] to move the balance of the agenda. >> Motion.

[28:12] » Second. >> Any separations?

[28:19] » Um, I'll separate one just so I can make a comment about it. Which one?

[28:22] » The new business number one, the recreation, parks, and open space plan.

[28:32] » Any other separations?

[28:36] » That's it. Lori >> moving the balance of the agenda.

[28:40] Members Brzinski, >> yes.

[28:43] » Flores, >> yes.

[28:44] » Horton, >> yes.

[28:45] » Paul, >> yes.

[28:47] » Shaw, >> yes.

[28:48] » Troop, >> yes.

[28:49] » Titus, >> yes. Resolution passes. Yay. 7 nay zero.

[28:56] » Um I right right now I can make comment or we wait.

[28:59] » We'll wait till she reads the actual plan. This is sponsored by council

[29:03] member Titus, second by council member Shaw. That the proper city officials

[29:07] hereby formally adopt Erie outside city of Erie comprehensive recreation parks

[29:12] and open space plan as a shared vision and practical road map for maintaining

[29:17] improving investing in Eerie's parks to better serve residents today while

[29:21] preparing the future. Discussion >> um I just wanted to bring this uh to the

[29:27] community's awareness. We have been working on this plan for the last three

[29:31] or four years. I know when I first came on the council, I was um invited to the

[29:36] community centers and asked to come and look at playgrounds and just see the

[29:39] conditions in which our young people have to play in. And it really justarted

[29:45] me. It made me sad to see that even our playgrounds were run down and our kids

[29:49] really don't have much to look forward to. So, I really pushed to make sure

[29:54] that we're making our community spaces more representative of what we want to

[30:00] see Erie as. So, I'm happy to see that the community participated in surveys,

[30:04] were able to formally adopt this plan, and then go to the state and get grant

[30:08] funding to help increase our remodels of all of our parks over time. So, it's

[30:14] just a great plan that I think the community is really going to be able to

[30:17] enjoy during our spring, summers, and falls. Thank you. Council,

[30:22] » any other discussion? >> Thank you, Dr. Titus. Um, yes, I am

[30:27] looking forward to this. Um, was very um interested in the outside park plan and

[30:36] love that um they are being used. I went to uh

[30:42] the Land Lighthouse Park um with Miss Pole last week and very nice uh

[30:51] playground opportunities there for the children as well as a beautiful view.

[30:58] Yesterday, um the daycare facility on State Street

[31:04] had the children playing a ball type of game out in front of uh in on Perry

[31:13] Square and looks like they were having a great time. But um I like how they also

[31:21] broke down the median age of you know people who use parks and uh how they're

[31:31] foreseeing um seniors um in their senior years using parks as as

[31:40] well because um that's so important on the quality of life. Um, I actually have

[31:48] a friend um moving out of Mil Creek um down south because um she's in her

[31:56] senior years and um she has found a place near her family, but um they focus

[32:05] on uh senior community and senior well-being.

[32:11] And this out eerie outside park plan really has done a great job of

[32:18] recognizing all the people using the parks. And I also liked how they put the

[32:26] history of it. Andrew Elott was one of the first surveyors in 1795

[32:34] um who did Perry Square, Gridley Park, and Wayne Park. um because at that time

[32:41] too they were looking for um civicminded open spaces. So um they built upon the

[32:49] history of our past and now going forward to the future and that the last

[32:56] uh park plan hadn't been since 1993 which as we well know was more than 30

[33:03] years ago. So, um, thank you for everyone who, um, put their, um, stamp

[33:09] on it, effort into it, and did the research. Thank you.

[33:14] » Any other counselors? >> Yes, Dr. Titus. Thank you.

[33:18] [clears throat] And thank you, uh, colleagues Sha and Flores for your

[33:24] comments. Um, wow. I've been here all my life. I

[33:30] didn't know the city had 32 parks. And that was the first thing that blew me

[33:34] away. Uh, and some I've never been to. I'm soon to be a little older.

[33:43] [laughter] Um, but one thing that I do want to say

[33:47] about the plans from Eerie outside and that their plans for the future,

[33:54] but when I look at park number five, which is Perry Square East and West,

[34:02] My colleague to my left can appreciate it. There are some right now things we

[34:07] need to take care of about our park. We have It's embarrassing to have a park

[34:14] caddy corner from city hall with no restrooms, no public restrooms.

[34:20] And I I walk through there at least once or twice a week. Uh there's that wall

[34:25] that runs diagonal along there. I I call that Matthew's porch cuz I see some of

[34:31] everything in the net up in there. It's a lot of good, a lot of good people, a

[34:37] lot of brokenness over there. But surely uh in the center of our town square, we

[34:44] have statues uh of our fallen officers and statues of

[34:51] our heroes of years gone by. We can't have a public restroom

[34:58] or a point of decency. Uh you got to know where you're at. You

[35:05] got six high-rise buildings down here in the 16501. They don't deserve basic

[35:12] decency. And we're spending money on a lot of

[35:16] things. Uh, and we do have a budget coming

[35:23] and that's one thing that should be non-negotiable

[35:27] is our our public works. Uh, we have children, people bringing their kids to

[35:33] play in the fountain as I did as a kid when they used to have bathrooms.

[35:39] Imagine that. Uh, so I'm really disappointed. And

[35:43] that's one of the first things we have the festivals. They bring the

[35:47] portaotties. They got some pretty good ones now uh that you can put up with

[35:52] wash stations. You can lock them at night and clean them or whatever at a

[35:56] certain hour, but surely we're a better city than this.

[36:01] Thank you. >> Thank you. Any other comments from any

[36:05] other counselor? >> Dr. guys. Um, I was just curious, this

[36:08] might sound like a silly question, but with the research that the I don't know

[36:14] the companies are doing with the parks, um,

[36:18] do they have, um, information on like how parks can be used like in the winter

[36:23] time? I mean, I don't know. You know what I mean? That's like time that

[36:28] they're unused. So, do cities have ways of using

[36:35] the parks in the wintertime? Are there things that can be done like

[36:40] events or I I'm not sure if other cities do that, but that's just a curiosity.

[36:45] » I do recall um just I guess jump and answer that that was actually put in

[36:50] quite a bit of quite a bit of thought and and process with the the new updates

[36:53] that we got especially during our study session was how to activate during

[36:56] during the winter. um because I we're not getting any cooler summers and we're

[37:00] certainly not getting any right >> warmer winters. So I know that that was

[37:04] part of the the plan as well. But point well made.

[37:09] » If if council is is okay then I will go ahead and call for the vote on this

[37:14] » members. Brazinski >> yes.

[37:16] » Flores >> yes.

[37:17] » Horton >> yes.

[37:18] » Paul >> yes.

[37:19] » Shaw >> yes.

[37:20] » Troop >> yes.

[37:21] » Titus >> yes.

[37:23] » Resolution passes. Yay seven nay zero. I believe this takes us to committee

[37:28] reports. >> All right, we will go ahead and start

[37:31] with uh councelor pull. >> I just have a short report this morning.

[37:39] um past couple weeks uh the OE and fire

[37:44] pension uh both had their monthly meetings that I attended through Zoom

[37:51] and they're doing well and ongoing except for a few passings

[37:57] um of retirees. It's always a sad sad thing to say goodbye to that um when

[38:05] they're taken off the the pension roles. Um,

[38:12] » apologize. >> It's all right.

[38:17] » I attended um on the 21st of August. Um, it's a couple Fridays ago, Ainsworth

[38:24] Field. Um, they had like a fundraiser uh because they want to update it, redo

[38:31] it because it's it's in horrible shape. um

[38:38] since they knocked down the school in front of it. They used to have all kinds

[38:42] of activities there um through the years and um growing up not too far from

[38:48] there. I used to spend a lot of time around there at the tennis courts,

[38:53] things like that. Um, and it's good to see them trying to revive it and

[38:58] hopefully not only the school district because it is owned by the school

[39:01] district um that the city can partner with them a little bit and um not

[39:06] monetarily but um you know put get together and um bring

[39:13] that back to life and have activities there again and even you know maybe

[39:18] little league or you know anything that'll bring that back to life a little

[39:22] bit and bring the history back to that area. Um,

[39:29] and I do I think about the military often because it's in the news daily.

[39:33] Um,

[39:37] I have a um, you know, me many relatives that served in the in the service.

[39:43] Um, and one recently after 9/11. um and you worry and you pray and I continue to

[39:50] pray for for all the military no matter where they're stationed but mainly where

[39:55] the um where everything's going on right now.

[39:59] Um that's it. Thank you. >> Thank you. Uh councelor Ch.

[40:04] » Thank you uh Dr. Titus. Um I'll just keep it brief today. Um, I just want to

[40:09] um really want to thank Area Events for um coordinating

[40:14] um gym city soul night last night for the city. Um it was um relatively short

[40:22] notice that it was put together and and um it was really well attended.

[40:27] Um everybody had a great time together. Um

[40:32] before in one of these meetings I I talked about um the city having wins and

[40:38] I think that the city walked away last night feeling like they had a win

[40:42] together. You know what I mean? Um a very diverse crowd and it felt like

[40:46] people felt like it was it was a victory. So um thank Eerie Events and

[40:51] the bands that participated, the sound crew and all the community and and

[40:56] vendors and things that came together rather quickly to make that happen.

[40:59] That's all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councelor Flores.

[41:02] » Um I'll I'll have a brief um report. I just wanted to acknowledge that, you

[41:06] know, with us having our students back in in school for us to be mindful of

[41:11] them on their journey to school and on their path um home. I also wanted to um

[41:17] make sure that people are aware that the city did announce the next couple of

[41:21] heritage festivals we will be having through the month of September. But

[41:26] also, there are a few more um heritage festivals that are going to be winding

[41:30] down the season for us. So, these are a great way for us to build community with

[41:34] one another. We all come from different places. Unless you're Native American,

[41:38] you migrated here from somewhere. And for us to respect one another's views

[41:43] and our heritage and our culture is a beautiful thing. That's what makes

[41:46] America a melting pot. So, we just have to be mindful on how we're interacting

[41:51] with one another. A lot of us are carrying heavy weights, especially with

[41:55] some of the negativity that is on social media. Um, we have a lot of toxic views

[42:01] on social media that people feel really brazen to say to people behind a

[42:06] keyboard, but yet when they see you in person, they really just look at you and

[42:09] give you a dirty look and that's about it. So, I just want people to be aware

[42:13] that unless we're Native American, we did migrate from somewhere.

[42:17] We're all forced here on slave ships and bondage. So just acknowledge the true

[42:23] American history and maybe we can move forward because right now things are at

[42:27] tense times and when we are at war with other countries and we have a lot of

[42:32] things going on at home, we need to acknowledge that our community is what

[42:35] makes us beautiful and Erie has always been welcoming and acknowledging

[42:39] everyone's heritage. So please make sure you make it to any of these festivals

[42:43] that are going to be winding down our summer season because it is a beautiful

[42:47] experience to see everybody enjoying their culture. Thank you.

[42:51] » Thank you, Council Brzinski. >> Thank you. Uh start off by saying Zawa

[42:58] was a once again a fantastic weekend. Uh Yogi Bear used to say nobody goes there

[43:07] anymore because it's too busy. Uh lines stretched over a block to get some

[43:15] goumpkies or pyogis or potato pancakes. Uh everybody was happy, everybody was

[43:20] having a good time and uh it does bring the community together which is a

[43:24] beautiful thing. Uh with that uh let's be reminded that the German fest

[43:31] uh on old French road is this weekend I believe and uh the great Irish St.

[43:36] Patrick's one is uh some place around the 20th of September I believe. keep it

[43:43] in mind and if you get a chance, go there because you're going to see

[43:46] smiling faces wherever you turn. Thank you.

[43:50] » Thank you, Councelor Horton. >> Uh thank you, Dr. Titus. Um

[43:57] all the meetings are starting to run together for me. I don't know whether

[44:01] it's a redevelopment or zoning. I certainly did not attend the blighted

[44:05] property review board uh but or the land bank um meeting. I can't believe I've

[44:11] watched online. Uh the big takeaway is that they want to do a housing

[44:16] development on 22nd Street, which is why I was asking the gentleman, we're at u

[44:22] uh the redevelopment. Mr. Snipper and his staff have uh uh done a great job.

[44:28] Um uh Jake and the building inspectors have did all the necessary paperwork.

[44:34] I'm continuing to learn about the processes of acquiring and blighting and

[44:40] uh selling properties and place them on repository. So, it's been quite a

[44:45] learning experience. But again, the big takeaway is they want to build uh they

[44:49] have had like 40 something lots uh up there. It sounded like 20 something, but

[44:55] they're going to take six or seven of those lots and and turn it into

[45:01] housing supposed to be quality affordable housing. And I won't get into

[45:04] the numbers of it cuz it's still uh mind-boggling to me. Uh but that that's

[45:10] what's on the uh horizon. Uh anyway, um uh I think that I would like to really

[45:18] just take the opportunity to just thank uh some people. Um really I want to

[45:23] start with thanking my colleagues. I know it's been a difficult year uh and

[45:28] we've taken uh in quite a bit uh from the residents, but we've really turned

[45:33] out some really good product too with the help of the uh executive branch and

[45:38] and Mayor Develin uh and our solicitor uh and a lot of the questions that come

[45:44] to us from that podium um uh are not questions that I care to even try to

[45:50] take an answer and I would I would think that you all would not either. But we

[45:54] have a very capable solicitor. Uh those type questions should be directed to

[45:59] him. Uh and they're all valid questions. Uh u you know, but uh I am glad that uh

[46:06] the mayor has initiated a process uh to at least address some of the things that

[46:12] the community is asking for. And one thing that I know to be wrong is to

[46:18] stand by and do nothing. And so, Mayor Develin, I want to thank you and your

[46:22] staff and Lori, I I hate to stop naming people because you have so many very

[46:27] capable people who are all contributing. None of the work gets turned around by

[46:32] one or two or even a few people, but it's a team approach. Um, and finally,

[46:37] I'll I'll add that it was a great night uh last night. Kudos to Mr. Troop and

[46:44] kudos to Mr. Pine and the Eerie events uh for holding such a a great event. It

[46:50] was a wonderful night. I believe last night we probably had uh we in Erie,

[46:54] Pennsylvania probably had some of the best weather anywhere in the world. Uh

[46:58] with the nice lake breeze blowing up off of it and soft tones of music which

[47:03] always seemed to bring people together. Uh and I I counted a win and this city

[47:08] always needs wins. Uh so thank you again and that concludes my report. Thank you,

[47:14] Council Shaw. >> Thank you, Dr. Titus. Um, I've been in

[47:18] uh Conversation with Nick Paladus, who currently has 2,000 signatures

[47:25] um to open up the Southeast Erie Post Office. We met with um Senator Kelly and

[47:34] or Congressman Kelly and hopefully um there will be some action

[47:40] on that and he encourages everyone to write to the postmaster general because

[47:48] uh this um in his research um has been going on

[47:54] not just in Erie but um throughout Pennsylvania. Um there have been some

[48:01] post office closures and um if you are concerned about um your service

[48:10] definitely um contact as many people as you can because the

[48:17] squeaky wheel gets the grease. Um Odessa's place thanks to Carol Troop and

[48:26] her team gave out many back to school supplies and was very helpful to the

[48:35] people who came to her the doors of Adessa's place ready to go back to

[48:41] school as well as the Blue Coats and Daryl Craig with their uh back to school

[48:48] bash at Perry square and they had an excellent giveaway too and Angela McNair

[48:57] um did one on Sunday as well and there were even other places so anyone who

[49:04] contributed and volunteered and donated in any way thank you very much for what

[49:11] you've done um the Ainsworth field I did attend that I hope the Erie school

[49:17] district um does a great job um with their renovations that they want to do

[49:27] because again the Ainsworth field has so much history behind it and um it would

[49:34] be wonderful to see that place restored. Um, thank you to Matthew Falconee who

[49:40] checked out some trees. Um, in South or North Erie. Um, David French

[49:51] today had mentioned ebikes and my friend Pete Griswinsky, who I met in 2018 in

[49:59] Perry Square, um, died over the weekend. And um I just can't imagine um the

[50:09] family and the driver's family affected by that. That's one of my greatest

[50:15] nightmares. Um especially in the evening while um driving because like David

[50:24] French mentioned um there are accidents waiting to happen. um they

[50:32] can come up behind you and you think like you're going to get run over at

[50:38] times and um I hope that everyone starts um

[50:46] following the rules as far as their own safety and the safety of others.

[50:53] um Friday night. Um for those people looking for things to do, um Frontier

[50:59] Park continues to have a music series there and um it's quite enjoyable. Um

[51:07] it's near the Leaf building, so it's not like on the Blues and Jazz Fest side

[51:16] where they have the Frontier Park. It's it's closer to the slides and the and

[51:21] the hill and um it's quite enjoyable. I attended the Eerie Water Authority

[51:28] meeting and the Erie sewer um meeting as well. And um Miss Flores had mentioned

[51:37] earlier about um the pediatricians and

[51:43] the increase of accidents and I watched the same thing and it's actually 671%

[51:52] increase um from Yes. Um it it's quite um alarming. Um

[52:00] there was a father who gave his ch 12-year-old child one and ended up

[52:07] [snorts] with a horrific injury that took a long process of surgical healings

[52:15] and um there was an expose on that. Um thank you. Have a great day. Thank you.

[52:25] Um so I will start in really quickly with the two uh authorities that I

[52:30] attended on August 26th. I was at the Erie airport authority meeting. Um

[52:35] wanted to announce that they had two executive sessions, one on August 5th,

[52:38] one on August 26th to discuss um personnel and real estate matters. Um

[52:44] and also complete their evaluation of their their uh executive director. Um at

[52:49] this past meeting their executive director did get a salary increase. So

[52:53] that was approved [snorts] unanimously and voted on by the authority. Um also

[52:58] they have negotiated through two different union contracts and so they

[53:02] are solidifying those. Uh they've reached agreements on both of those

[53:05] which I it's it's great for for everybody involved when we're able to go

[53:10] ahead and wrap up those those union negotiations. Um they also appointed um

[53:16] the the board member that we had seated who will be joining and sitted on the se

[53:20] officially seated on the board at their next meeting. Uh you can learn more

[53:23] about just the time and the location of the airport authority meetings on their

[53:26] website. I was at the Erie events authority meeting on the 27th um just to

[53:32] notify that there is uh has been some changes in the times but the next two

[53:38] meetings there will also be change in location due to events that are

[53:41] happening at the convention center. So to just please check out their website.

[53:44] The public is permitted to attend authority meetings. So just to note to

[53:48] go on to their website so you know where those are happening overall that they

[53:52] there's been some changes in the tax revenue around um uh hotel taxes and so

[53:58] they are seeing some revenue increase. Uh some of the discussion that I want to

[54:02] make sure I I brought up here continues to be around the zoo and how they are

[54:07] structuring it. They are currently seeking out consultants on developing a

[54:10] master plan. Uh and that will lay out the whole entirety of the property. Um

[54:15] and the public will will ask be asked for input. So I'm asking again for the

[54:18] public to make sure that we're paying attention to that. So when we are

[54:21] developing this master plan that the whole community gets to have their voice

[54:25] heard. They're looking uh at the vet center. um they need to have the vet

[54:31] center up and have movement on that for the accreditation process but also the

[54:35] CRIS authority is looking to support that which um I'll come back to in a

[54:40] second here on that but overall they are moving the the eerie events always has a

[54:45] million things going on um but they're really starting to to move in in how are

[54:50] we going to lay out the zoo and how is that property going to be um developed

[54:54] and so I think it's important for all of us to to pay attention to that and have

[54:57] our participation in that um I also wrote a note in here uh that I would

[55:02] like to bring to council for us to discuss but I would like to invent

[55:06] invite the cruise authority I know we've talked about this with the mayor but

[55:09] there are so many projects that are moving very quickly um and I want to

[55:13] make sure that we fully understand the process of how these properties and

[55:17] these project are selected uh when we have a like eerie events being selected

[55:23] um and they're already a taxexempt authority want to making [snorts] sure

[55:25] that we fully understand how the money's coming in how the money is going out as

[55:29] a as a council um because these projects impact us, they impact the community.

[55:33] And so I know we're heading into uh budget season, but for us to be also

[55:38] having that on our radar as well, so we can start to plan um to to extend that

[55:43] invite and maybe plan out when we could get them here. There is the date change

[55:46] for the housing town hall that we'll be hosting with the the city. Uh it's moved

[55:51] now to the 22nd. It's going to be at East Middle School. it the the event

[55:55] itself the town hall goes from 6:00 to 8 but the doors will open at 5:30m for a

[56:00] resource fair and so that residents are able to come in there'll be two

[56:04] different kind of tracks will be actually three things that are happening

[56:07] the the county is going to be collecting some of their data around their housing

[56:11] assessment and their project so for community input there we'll be talking

[56:15] to homeowners and some of the resources available to them but then also uh

[56:18] tenants and renters uh so that they can know their rights and and resources

[56:23] available to them as well So 922 East Middle School. And then to also address

[56:28] the ebikes comment that we heard, um there is an enormous safety concern.

[56:33] We've seen even in New York City where they actually sued some of the people

[56:37] who were selling the ebikes. Um, I would caution all of us as we approach these

[56:41] to make sure that we're doing it through a lens of equity as oftentimes ebikes

[56:45] are the only means of transportation due to the economy and various things and

[56:49] that any any rules or ordinances we create will inadvertently impact certain

[56:54] groups of our community more than others. Not saying that we shouldn't,

[56:58] but just saying as we do this that we be mindful. Um, and then I will

[57:03] challenge all of us on council to pay attention to what's happening with flock

[57:06] cameras. there's national discussion happening, but now there is a very loud

[57:10] state discussion that is happening. And this has bipartisan support at this

[57:14] point to move in the direction of blocking or limiting um as the software

[57:18] is incredibly dangerous. Um and so I'm working with some other local advocates

[57:23] to get uh legislation that we could we could review, but also to that might be

[57:28] a mute point if it comes in front of our our authorities. Uh and with that, I

[57:33] will mic pass because we got the timers going for us. Thank you Lori for doing

[57:36] that. Um to ask the solicitor to address the comments made around uh boards and

[57:42] authorities noting that we do not have one um that has been codified around the

[57:46] police and safety.

[57:51] » U obviously there's the boards that everyone knows about that are enacted

[57:55] through diff the different ordinances and you can find those on uh those are

[57:59] the easy ones like the planning commission and zoning hearing board.

[58:01] However, the mayor through her executive power is allowed to form or unform

[58:06] advisory councils and those advisory councils would then be at the discretion

[58:10] of the mayor for certain topics. For instance, so the the one that's being

[58:14] referenced is an advisory council through the executive arm. And so that

[58:19] is her prerogative to get experts or

[58:23] opinions through that that manner. So that's what's going on right now. Now

[58:27] obviously there has been a a lot of discussion of doing like a citizens

[58:32] review board or a police review board type of um commissioner board that would

[58:37] be enacted by ordinance that if that was to be created that would be at the same

[58:43] the same rules as say the planning commission or the zoning hearing board

[58:46] um bylaws will be enacted and that sort of thing. So the mayor and and it's not

[58:52] just Mayor Develin doing this. Mayor Shamber also had advisory boards that

[58:55] were in place. And so sometimes those boards, you know, uh go away or they

[59:00] continue uh when a new mayor comes on.

[59:06] » Thank you.

[59:11] » Good. Sorry. Um passing notes up here to make sure that I go over everything that

[59:16] I was supposed to go over. Uh, controller, if you want to go ahead and

[59:20] share your report out.

[59:25] » Hi. Um, we are always working hard in the controllers's office. Um, so I just

[59:29] want to give you an update on the things that are going on. Uh, we just attended

[59:33] a very valuable workshop and team building exercise last Friday for all of

[59:37] our third floor staff. Uh, I want to commend Lori, the mayor's chief of

[59:40] staff, on a wellthoughtout, wellorganized, and extremely productive

[59:44] session. I know good things will come out of this workshop for us. I am also

[59:48] working on several projects right now. Um I have formed a committee to

[59:52] streamline policies and procedures related to our bills paying process. Uh

[59:56] so our first meeting on that is next week. We're going to draft a mission

[1:00:00] statement and kind of outlay the process and see if we can make it easier and

[1:00:04] better. And I'll give updates as they're appropriate on that. And I want to

[1:00:09] remind everyone uh this wasn't mentioned here today. Um, and I apologize if it's

[1:00:13] outside my boundaries, but I want to remind everyone of the Labor Day parade

[1:00:16] on Monday the 7th at 10:00 a.m. I will be marching with the Teamsters. Uh, and

[1:00:21] it's a great day, beautiful parade, and it celebrates labor as we should on that

[1:00:26] day. And as always, I want to give a thank you to my staff for their

[1:00:30] continued hard work and commitment to excellence in our office. Kate, Kelly,

[1:00:34] and Meg. You all do a wonderful job. Thank you so much for everything you do.

[1:00:38] And that's it. >> Thank you, Mayor.

[1:00:44] Thank you, Dr. Titus. Uh, I want to start out this morning by thanking the

[1:00:49] planning department who maybe has stepped out, but um, Jackie Spry and her

[1:00:54] team um, for the incredible work on the parks plan that has been noted today. It

[1:00:58] was a long road and they just did an incredible job. So, I want to thank them

[1:01:01] for that. Um, just want to note a couple of other things. We did hold a Celebrate

[1:01:05] Yuri debrief internally last week to talk about what worked and didn't work

[1:01:09] for Celebrate Yuri so that we can begin planning for next year. And on that

[1:01:13] note, it's not too early to start to start planning for next year. This

[1:01:17] morning actually, I'll be holding a summer debrief meeting with all the

[1:01:20] partners that we funded for summer programming. So that's through our CDBG

[1:01:24] dollars and also our parks dollars to have a conversation about how the summer

[1:01:28] went, what obstacles they found, how the literacy initiative that we started this

[1:01:32] year worked so that we can really begin immediately starting to plan for next

[1:01:37] summer. Um because I think we have a lot of areas that we can improve there. Um

[1:01:42] just a couple of notes on on scheduling. So we did announce welcoming week. We

[1:01:46] held a press conference the other day. I want to thank um Marta Alsad at Almadina

[1:01:51] Supermarket who help uh hosted us on Parade Street for our announcement of

[1:01:55] welcoming week that is coming September 10th through the 19th. And a couple of

[1:02:00] there's a huge um amount of activities going on that week. There's educational

[1:02:05] activities, festivals, and things. You can find all of that on our website. But

[1:02:08] a few things to note there. Of course, Fiesta in the Square will happen on

[1:02:13] September 12th. Um, and that is something that we do in coordination

[1:02:16] with our uh, Latino community. And then also the new American Jamberee on

[1:02:21] September 18th. That will be the first time that that event will be held in

[1:02:25] Perry Square. And so those are two events that really are marking uh,

[1:02:29] welcoming week as we celebrate that here in the city of Erie. Um, I do want to

[1:02:33] address the ebike education, the comments today. We have actually done

[1:02:38] some social media education on this topic but hearing the comments today and

[1:02:43] your comments council I think we need to do more there. So heard and noted and I

[1:02:47] I will take that back to the to the um Mocha team and see what they can do

[1:02:52] there. Also just talking about um a couple of other dates certainly Patriot

[1:02:57] Day 911 is coming. Um I was in uh conversation with the county executive

[1:03:02] yesterday. There is a county um ceremony planned on the morning of September

[1:03:06] 11th. I think it begins at 8:30 um down in front of the the memorial there. So,

[1:03:12] I I'm sure more information will be coming, but I just want you to all be

[1:03:15] aware um that that hopefully is on your calendars. Um also today, the Sons of

[1:03:20] Lake Erie, of course, are having their event. We're very grateful to the Suns

[1:03:23] for all the work they do around conservation. We all know Mr. Kle is a

[1:03:27] passionate advocate and we appreciate all the work that all of them do. So, I

[1:03:31] hope I'll see some of you there for their annual fish fry this afternoon.

[1:03:36] And then lastly, uh just want to put a few more uh words around the solicitor's

[1:03:40] comments regarding the mayor's council on community safety and trust. Um this

[1:03:45] is in line with the other councils. For example, the mayor's council on on

[1:03:49] disabilities, the mayor's council on new American Affairs. There has been a

[1:03:52] long-standing tradition for mayors to have these advisory councils. However, I

[1:03:56] do want to remind the public as we've discussed I think a few times that the

[1:04:00] work we are doing is to codify something that can be passed by ordinance by

[1:04:05] council so that the work long outlives this administration and all of you. So

[1:04:11] as we have said I think a few times the the council the group that has been

[1:04:15] brought together is advisory in nature. they are helping us to first have really

[1:04:20] really difficult conversations um to build some trust and then to work

[1:04:25] together on the codification of something that will be long lasting. Um

[1:04:29] we have been very clear that the group that's together now might not be the

[1:04:33] group that's together after codification but it is a start to your point

[1:04:36] councelor Horton. It's some action that we felt needed to be taken to begin this

[1:04:40] work. So I am happy to have conversations at any time um about that

[1:04:45] council, about its priorities, about how people were picked. So very happy to do

[1:04:49] that um and and would welcome those questions at any time. Um and with that,

[1:04:55] I think I will uh close my comments. Thank you.

[1:04:59] » Thank you. So just again to remind the public, we have a study session next

[1:05:03] Thursday. Uh we have the housing town hall. We have a another study session at

[1:05:09] the end of the month that will happen between this study session and then our

[1:05:13] city council evening meeting. Um and so we are ramping into that budget process.

[1:05:18] And this is really we want the public always paying attention. But this is

[1:05:23] where you're going to start to see rubber kind of hit the road um and some

[1:05:26] big changes that we that we can start to do um to write some ships in in the

[1:05:30] city. And with that we will go ahead and call Oh, no. Sorry. Go ahead.

[1:05:33] » Before we adjourn >> Yes. to the study sessions.

[1:05:36] » Yes, >> study sessions. Um, I'd like to uh

[1:05:42] interest you and our colleagues in the mayor's office and uh putting together a

[1:05:46] study session on community benefit agreements since you mentioned the Chris

[1:05:51] and everybody's going to try to come through here and push those projects.

[1:05:55] Everything's going to be priority. And I kind of look at it like we look at it in

[1:06:00] terms of internet safety. when they say hurry up quick and do something, it

[1:06:04] makes me pause. Uh, and there's and uh we should demand more of a return on

[1:06:10] investment for the things that we're putting on the taxpayer. Uh, and so I'd

[1:06:16] like to convene or work with you in administration in convening a community

[1:06:20] benefit agreement thing. I think the time is now.

[1:06:24] » Agree. And we should be able to codify uh some of that uh even within our

[1:06:30] zoning structure. So yeah. So thank you. >> Thank you. All right. With that we will

[1:06:36] go ahead and adjourn today's meeting.

City Council Meeting - September 2, 2026

Transcript