City Council - Regular Meeting

Bye.

so so so so so so so so so so so so Bye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

I'm going to call the meeting of the redevelopment authority for the city of Erie the September 14th meeting to order We're gonna start with roll call Ethan you're here Kevin Andy Charles Aaron Corey In gene. Yes. All right. Uh, today's regular meeting will also serve as the 2026 annual meeting of the redevelopment authority of the city of Erie. Um, so we'll get into officer elections shortly. Uh, before that we have time reserved for public comment. So there's anybody from the public who wishes to speak, please stand and at the podium state your name. And in terms of timeframe, two, is it two minutes?

We technically don't have anything in our bylaws. We always follow the city council's protocol, which is currently five minutes.

Five minutes, okay. So we're getting five minutes for anybody who wishes to speak. If you need additional time, let us know. Again, this is just for public comment.

Go ahead. My name is Laurel Sanders, and I am a trainee at Blue Rock Construction. We're doing Royal Homes. And I just want to elaborate on the things I have learned, things I have experienced. I learned a lot developing new skills. And every day is something new that I learn. I learn here every day. It's a good experience. I'm elevating every day daily. I'm networking with new people every day. And it's a very good thing that I'm doing down the road for my success, reaching a higher success. Just reaching my higher self. And I just appreciate it and I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful for it a lot. And I just want to elaborate on that. I'll tell you about it. It was pretty good. Kind of nervous up here a little bit. But it's definitely a good experience to learn everything.

And the organization that you work for, what's the name of it again?

It's Blue Rock Construction.

Blue Rock? Blue Rock Construction. Okay. All right. And then are you rehabbing properties? Is that what you're doing?

Yes. We're doing a project on the real homes. Okay. It's called Real Homes.

Okay.

Yeah, that's about it. I was going to elaborate on that. Okay.

Board, do you have any questions? No. Okay.

Thank you for your comment.

Thank you.

Hey, how you guys doing? I'm a senior trainee in the same program, first and foremost. I love what the city's doing with the redevelopment all around, just bringing up the city and everything like that. My name's Delvon Jordan. I also work for Blue Rock Construction, and we've been doing royal homes for quite some time now, but it's definitely... Something to come up here and be appreciative for. And that's why I do thank Mr. Crenshaw for the opportunity he provided for us. Just to keep the ball rolling and keep the city building up. So I just wanted to make that be known. And if you guys have any questions. Good? All right, great. Appreciate it.

I come before the board today to ask a question. Human nature, we look at things, we look at people, and immediately we make an assumption. I myself now, hoodie on, face covered, is one perception. As I remove my hoodie, I have a City of Erie hat that was given to me quite a few years ago as a builder here in the city. And we're proud to be a City of Erie citizen. As I remove my Blue Rock sweatshirt, I have a vest on. The vest says it must be a contractor doing something. The gentleman that spoke before me are trainees in our program. The Rural Homes Project was funded for four years before we got the local municipality to allow HUD housing to be built in the city. I removed my old city hat, I removed my vest, and I sport the Chamber's golf outing shirt. I'm sure there's a different perception of who I am for those that don't know me. So my point is, We as human beings do visualize people on how they look and what they can and who they are. I ask the question today to the Redevelopment Authority Board, to the board members, to their council, who do you see me as? Who do you see me as? A builder? A developer? One that has a training program that 80% of my workers are minorities. I have union representation on this project. We're all homes. I left them on the site. My son's on the project. We're pouring concrete right now. I literally work every morning from 5.30 to 8.30 at night. If you come by this project, you're gonna see me on a dozer, in the ditch, because I gotta do what I gotta do to get this project done. One of my questions is, why should I, as a City of Erie taxpayer, have to compete to the City of Erie Redevelopment Authority when it comes to affordable housing? We did a project some 20 years ago called Zoe Metals. We're in the exact same situation. Redevelopment Authority did a project. Home ownership. Our unit sold for $70,000 listing. Redevelopment houses sold for $170,000. With Lerner and all kicked in, the best thing I can say is, look at the facts. And you tell me, Redevelopment Authority, why do I have to fight so? Right now, council, I'm not going to get into specifics, but houses that I've gotten Be it on a blight list or be it not, be it a stay, be it a renovation, we've fixed up what we've fixed up. But we shouldn't be fighting. We should say there's a guy that's trained over a dozen minority youth to do construction. Literally, why you didn't see me in the last few meetings if you haven't seen me, because literally I got eight months to build an 18-month project and lease it up for low-demand income people on the east side of New York. Redevelopment authority, I ask you again to work with me. Go beyond the norm because I'm doing beyond the norm. How many minority developers or developers, period, are developing on the east side housing that we're building? Two blocks from where we're building, redevelopment, you took a house. You blighted it. I would have had twice as many kids here now if that house wasn't taken, blighted, demoed, I'd have them there working and training, fixing up the house. Most of you know me. This is what we do. I invite each and every one of you to come to 1802 East 26th Street. You don't have to wait for the big grand ribbon cutting with Harrisburg people and the mayor making maybe a second trip. She did come out. I think she supports very heavily affordable housing and what we're trying to do. But on one hand, We have support, I feel. On the other hand, we have the challenges. And nothing's easy. Nothing's easy. And the only body that doesn't make a mistake is a person that does nothing. That's it. So every one of us that are out here trying to do, I come before you today. I've seen the 22nd Street proposed project. I am an affordable housing builder that have done modular construction for 20 plus years, have used superior walls for 20 years. So everything you've looked at and been presented, I've been doing it. But there's no conversation. There was a statement I think made that that may be the only manufacturer other than one local that produces modular construction, I've dealt with five and built in this city. So I just ask that you look at all of the facts and you make affordable housing a joint effort, not private against public, not me as an individual that's trying to build with little support and little dollars. The last three projects, Probably over 30 million. I didn't get one penny from this body, this city. But we built affordable housing. So guys, I'm asking you. Look at what you're trying to do. Look at what you're doing and say, why should we compete against our private citizens when we should do like other communities, Pittsburgh, whatever. Receive the funding. You've received some of the same funding I've gotten. Fair funds. You get home dollars. If you look on our prior proposal, we welcome the redevelopment to sit beside us. Let's give these people write-downs. So it's just, instead of land banking things, and they can never own land, but they only own houses, let's do what Zoe Metals did.

I gave the people a $140,000 house for $7,000.

I made it work for them, and a lot of them benefited recently because they sold the houses 18 years later because they did the compliance, home funds 15 years, and they went up in life. not putting something out there that will limit what they can get out of the value of a house. I realize there's soft funds that's needed, and there's certain people out there that need help. That's what I'm trying to do. Low to moderate income people. So DCED gave us a challenge to build eight homes for people at 50% of medium income. We did it. The only reason I'm not doing more affordable housing and home ownership It's because right now I gotta get the Royal Homes completed. Eight months, normally 18 months, because that's how long it took. And the people in Harrisburg had enough confidence in me. They kept extending and working that we're almost there. And when we complete it, we invite you all. But I ask each and every one of you as I close again, think about partnershiping versus competing. But a prior mayor once told me, Don, is when they copy what you do. And when I look at affordable housing, I look at modular, I look at superior walls. The only thing I don't see is the training program and all of the minority youth that are going to get an opportunity to build that we're actually doing it. I thank you, Board, for your time. Is there any questions?

Any questions?

I thank you very much.

Thank you. We appreciate your time. Thank you. Does anybody else from the public wish to be heard? Okay, moving on. We have the consent agenda as presented. Do we have a motion to approve that consent agenda?

So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, motion carries. Moving on to the organizational meeting, it's the election of the chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer, assistant treasurer, or assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. I guess, do we want to have any discussion board on any of the officer appointments or are we okay just keeping the current slate?

Mr. Chair, I move that we keep the current slate for another year.

Okay. Do I have a second on that?

For a second, I know that Mr. Scalise, his term has expired. Are you up for another appointment?

So I'm serving at the will of the mayor at this point until I'm replaced.

Okay.

Wait, you know something I don't? Kidding, kidding, of course. No.

We have a second. All in favor? Aye. All right. Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion carries.

Congratulations, Mr.

Chair. Yes. Oh, thanks.

Congratulations to everyone.

Moving on to the meeting minutes from August 10th, 2026. Do I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes as presented in our packets?

So moved.

Do I have a second?

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion carries. Finance report. Yeah, so it's going to be Aaron today.

Certainly, I wouldn't like to throw Corey under the bus on his first official day. Even though with his two and a half years of experience, I think he's well-suited to step in the role of Director of Finance. So moving forward, he'll handle these reports, and I'll do the best I can. I know we've both come off of a grueling two weeks of absorbing as much out of April as we possibly could. So in front of you today, the balance sheet outlining the multiple accounts. Of course, we have race checking, savings, the revolving loan fund, ARPA checking, LHRD checking, all the different checking accounts and savings accounts associated with that with a total of $5,369,448.07 residing in those bank accounts. Go on to profit and loss. January through August of 2026. So, so far our total income is 1.8 $1,846,382.07. And our total expenditures being $1,830,945.67. Sale of property being totaling $100,238.96. And then on to our budget versus actual, we are operating income-wise at 27.42%, currently residing almost 66% of the way through the year. A lot of that is a lot of funding hasn't been expended as far as East Bayfront Greenway Trail and some of the other projects, specifically, of course, the central city development and things like that. that haven't quite come to fruition yet. So those hopefully will come through here. We're waiting on some final payments to come through for the East Bayfront Greenway Trail project. Other than that, a lot of the general, as far as payroll administrative expenses, are running within the limits of where we should stand for the current year. Any questions with those? Any questions from the board? And then checks as written are added as well.

And as of now, the proceeds from the sale of the property, those are just in, what, the general savings? We haven't made any decisions with respect to allocation. We have not, no.

And given the last two weeks, I didn't feel it was prudent to put Northwest Savings Bank back on the agenda without some time for the board to have a discussion. So hopefully we'll look forward to having that on in October and we can kind of figure out how we want to move some of that funding along. Thank you.

Report of the Executive Director.

Good afternoon, Board. It's nice to be here today. Within your packet, you'll see the itemization in my memorandum for the September meeting, and it's Hard to believe that we're into September already, but here we are. You'll see there's sales agreements on a couple of vacant lots. One is scheduled out. We're working again with Aaron and his team to turn those around. Again, Aaron and I are continuing to meet the first Monday of every month to make sure that we both know where we're going and how we're going to get there to help format our efforts. So that has continued, and I'm encouraged that that will continue so that Aaron and Uh, can work together to help facilitate these transactions. You'll see there's been no change with regard to item number 2. That we're still waiting to hear from the court. Do not anticipate any surprises with regard to that decision. I just. unfortunately can't provide the board with an idea as to when we might hear. Number three is one that's been on there and it's really an unfortunate situation where we've been trying to schedule a hearing on that. It just hasn't come to fruition. So again, I'll try to kickstart that again. The next number, number four, with regard to the blighted properties that are on track, tried to give you an overview with regard to those. They are proceeding very efficiently. Again, the courts understand where we're coming from and where we're going, and they're very receptive to that. knowing what our processes are. The one with regard that you're aware of, do not anticipate any problems with that in any way, shape, or form. I do want to touch base with, again, because the court, I'm sorry, the court, the board was aware with regard to the gentleman who came here with regard to Wayne Street. That's Mr. Lopez, right? Yes, that's correct. We're just sitting tight. We're sitting tight, and I'm letting him communicate directly with Aaron's office.

Has there been any progress?

There's been no communications, Mr. Boardman.

Okay. So just to confirm, Mr. Lopez, after the meeting where he did mention that he was going to reach out, he sent that email like right before the meeting. There's been nothing since then? There's been no communication whatsoever. Thank you.

And have we physically been out to the property to see if any work has been done? No. No. Okay.

The, on page two, again, you'll see, Again, what we're working on with regard to Aaron and I again met with regard to the East Bayfront Greenway Trail. Those deed transfers will take place. I did get a communication back from a solicitor for the city of Erie requesting that they be consolidated into one single deed. That's kind of what I was waiting on. So that deed will be presented to the city of Erie this week. for their approval for that transfer. And then also number seven as well, again, as I indicated, we will have that transaction done this month. And I know that they're working with Marquette Savings Bank for the funding purposes. So I'm monitoring and making sure that that's all falling into place. If you have any questions or problems by all means, let me know.

Any questions from the board? Nope. All right. Moving on. Aaron, your report?

Yeah. So in your packet should be my executive director report from last meeting until this meeting. A couple things I just want to highlight. You're welcome at will to read through the entire report. Let me know, as always, if you have any questions regarding anything on there. The Housing Choice Voucher to Home Ownership Cohort, which was Center for Community Progress, a cohort between the Land Bank and the City of Erie Housing Authority, to focus and kind of utilize an example out of New England as far as using housing choice vouchers and positioning those individuals for home ownership. So we've been sitting in those cohort meetings once a month over the last Probably about four months now, I think we're on our fifth meeting will be coming up and it's been very interesting. In the last meeting, we kind of walked through market rate rents and housing choice vouchers and the amount of money that can potentially be transitioned over to help offset a individual transitioning over to home ownership. And so in those communications, in those conversations, we've really begun to work well with the housing authority. Dusty and I have set up monthly meetings. We're going to meet the first Tuesday of every month just to kind of keep this going. And so certainly they're not ready to use housing choice vouchers toward homeownership now. They have to revise their comprehensive plan, which they are working with M&L Associates on currently to make that revision over the next year so that we can position that. But we are working on the land bank side of identifying a property in which they will take from the land bank, renovate using their resources and staffing. And then hopefully that will be our first model of transitioning housing choice vouchers into home ownership probably in mid to late 2027 would be our hope. Moving on, Gene set us up a meeting with Erie Water Works. That coordination continues to to be very beneficial to us as we work to clear properties and move through that disposition process. I had a meeting over in the county executive's office with Jeremy Blazer from the Erie County Land Bank regarding Act 48. Act 48 is an act that can be placed on, essentially a fee placed on upset tax sales, judicial tax sales, and foreclosure filings that reverts into a rehabilitation program to be used for owner-occupied rehabilitation so similar to our act 152 funds which are a recorded a fee on the recording of a deed this is just a fee that would be recorded at every sheriff sale and tax sale it would fill up a pot of money and so forecasting it out it's approximately on average over the last five years about sixty five thousand dollars a year it's not a lot but it's just another thing that you know an act that's eligible for county council to enact that would help provide us some additional funding for rehabilitation within the city of erie so uh that conversation went extremely well uh we'll talk about 22nd in german here in a minute i did attend the board of managers meeting for Infinite Erie along with their meeting on August 31st where we talked about the future of Infinite Erie and how it should be positioned to help assist all of us so that was really beneficial. A lot of good networking came out of that. Jean talked about the Blake condemnation, of course, you know, the financial department transition. But the biggest thing and most importantly, you know, all of the work that's included in this seven page report, I can't do it alone. I do not do it alone and I would not be able to do it without the immense support of my staff and many of which are sitting in this audience. And so it's only with their dedication and their support and especially over the last few weeks and going forward you know and be able to continue working through as we work through transition and modifying all this as everyone knows that that transition is a lot but but these grants and stuff they don't expend themselves and so without them uh you know i'm just extremely proud of the work they're doing and and so yeah i'll stop there thank you any questions from the board

I was pleased to receive an email from Holly regarding the lead-based paints training program. Can you remind me the date of that?

Holly, do you want to sum up the podium just for the record for anybody listening online?

Sorry.

I didn't know I was going to be at the podium today. So it's a public film screening of this short documentary that's based on some lived experiences of people who, as children, experience exposure to lead paint hazards into adulthood. And it kind of chronicles how that's affected their lives. It'll be followed by a panel discussion with some folks from the Lead Free Promise Project. Local doctors, family that's had experience with lead poisoning, I don't need a vet. It's going to be a cool thing. So that will be on Wednesday the 23rd. Okay. And it's just 9 to 11 in the morning, and we would love to have you guys there. It would mean a lot.

And donuts will be provided, right?

There will be snacks. The health department is in charge of that. This is a partnership event with the Erie County Department of Health who kind of really renewed their partnership on all things led with us this year. So this has been a lot of work getting to this.

No, we appreciate that. It's important for us to understand the public health aspects. We talk a lot about bricks and sticks. It's nice to be reminded of your work, too, with the families that we're working with. So thank you.

And the county executive will be making the opening remarks on that. So she's part of this as well.

All right, perfect. Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

I have a question for Aaron. So under P&D coordination, with the pack of folks to discuss the 1500 block of State Street redevelopment, can you talk a little bit more about that? Any traction, or is that just kind of, this would be nice?

A lot of this would be nice, and so Mr. Tannenbaum and I have met multiple times on that. He was really instrumental in why we were able to push those two parcels south of the PACA building through the blight designation. We are following up. Carpenter Electric did go through a liquidation sale of the inventory of their building, and it is the plan talking with the family related to that sale, that they are going to market that property. I understand Mr. Tannenbaum's concerns. The property is, it's deteriorating rapidly in the rear of the structure. The roof is flapping in the wind. So it is, time is of the essence. And so I, Definitely understand his concerns. He's ready to make a move on it. However, it's still within private control, both of those parcels are. It's more of a conversation, understanding what he's looking for, what potential outcomes could be, and plan for if there was movement in that. Certainly, he's ready to steward the property, but we can't make any determination on that property at this time. Thank you.

Any other questions? Moving on to old business. We have a resolution before us regarding the porches of Central City. Aaron, why don't you... Describe that.

Yeah. So in front of the board today is a design service agreement with between module and the redevelopment authority of the city of area to kind of move into the next phase of this 22nd and German street development. What we presented today is a feasibility study. And essentially it is taking four of our already. owned and controlled parcels and re-dividing them into six parcels and six single family residents for development. What we don't have and what we are really in that feasibility study focused on trying to narrow down and tightening up is the on-site Erie cost associated with that project. Those are the unknowns. That is the part of the feasibility study that module has put a lot of hypotheticals to based upon their experience within other markets. And other markets aren't necessarily the Erie market. And so through this design agreement, we will go through the engineering, the subdivisions, the replots, and all of that work associated with this project. And then we'll be provided bid documents in which we will be able to bid out to the general public for developers within the area to put in their proposals for the development. That way we have the cost for the construction of the module units, and then we will have our onsite costs and be able to really finalize our sources and uses at that time.

So again, this is just in relation to the design services agreement. And to Mr. Crenshaw's point, there's going to be a proposal for local developers to You know, throw their hat into the ring to see if they get awarded the bid for potential construction.

Yes, that is correct. So really the authority is. Essentially going to purchase the boxes and then coordinate with a contractor local developer to facilitate the onsite coordination site work. Placement finished construction and sidewalk and driveway installation.

And I understand from our last meeting, we had some questions just regarding about, you know. In particular, the sources and uses of funding and the limitations associated with some of the funding sources, none of those decisions we're making here today, this is strictly just for the design services agreement.

Yes, yes. This will finalize, like I said, the site engineering, but also provide us the stamped and approved plans for the boxes to then take to the City Bureau of Building Standards and Safety to get approval for permits there. It just kind of packages and tightens up that package so we can get some finalized numbers.

And then if we do approve the motion, those ongoing discussions and research will be ongoing, correct? Yes. So that we can have some answers and understand exactly how we plan to stack that capital.

Yeah, given they estimate roughly 60 to 75 days for this design plan, that kind of will help give us a little bit more time to find out about the Federal Home Loan Bank, work out some coordination with the City of Erie and try to really tighten up where the funding would be coming for for subsidies on this project.

I just have a couple of comments and having some experience. Do we have any subsurface studies done in terms of the soil conditions, assuming that these were properties that had previously constructed properties on them and sometimes the demolition isn't always the best and you find surprises in

That is part of LSSE's part of this agreement.

Perfect. That's important. And you've tied in or we tied in or will tie in the sewer department because sometimes those laterals deteriorate over the years and what's on a map may not exist in good condition and so on. Yes. I'm just going through my mental checklist of all things that are the surprises.

Yeah, and in conversations with Module while they were sourcing out some quotes from engineering, I am not certain that we're not going to have to fully excavate foundations. Those were early 2000s. There's a lot of unknowns back then, so certainly there's the potential for some hidden obstacles within the ground.

We don't know what we don't know yet, but at least we're aware that we don't know, so that's perfect. Thank you.

Any further discussion, questions? Okay, so we have the resolution before us. Do I have a motion to approve the resolution? And that's resolution 11-2026. So moved. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Hearing none, the motion carries. All right. And then we have a, I guess in terms of new business, a few additional resolutions. Aaron, why don't you describe those?

Yes. So the first resolution is our resolution in which every director of finance, essentially, the authority board has to, by resolution, authorize, in this one, Corey Wright, to take on the duties of Director of Finance and Administration authorizes him the ability to be on the bank accounts, execute contracts, sign documents related to liens and mortgages, like I said, serve as an authorized signatory, monthly financial reports. It essentially takes the duties as outlined within our bylaws by the treasurer of the board and offsets them to the Director of Finance by resolution.

Any discussion from the board? Any questions? Nothing. Okay. So this first resolution is merely just to appoint or to authorize Corey to do all of the items that you enumerated. Now, April, I'm assuming she's been removed or is that in process?

That's in process. Okay. And then when do we expect that to be completed? Is it going to be tomorrow? Contemporaneous with this? Yes. Okay.

All right. So do I have a – I guess we have a resolution on the floor. Do we have a motion to approve the resolution? It's resolution number 13-2026. Do I have a second? Second.

I'm sorry. Forgive me. I'm a little late at the switch. Item C on the real estate transfers and so on, I think that that should be limited just to executive director or – I guess correct me if I'm wrong.

Is that – That was, I think there's two signatures that are required for those. Is that correct, Aaron, or not? No, it's only one signature. Only one signature.

And it's typically mine. And so this was always, the real estate was always on there as a backup in the event that I was unavailable and it was a time-sensitive transfer, the director of finance was eligible to sign. We typically don't, I don't think we've ever had the director of finance acknowledge a sales agreement, not in my time at the authority. Right.

So as a board, do we want to, I guess, qualify that or just leave it as is, as we've historically done?

But a board member could sign in the absence of the executive director, right?

Or at the very least, the chair could. The chair, yes.

Yeah. I prefer to see that.

So striking C from the resolution.

Strike C. Strike C from the resolution.

Yeah. Nothing personal. It's just customary from what I'm accustomed to seeing. And then... You're not going out to Vegas or anything buying strip glasses or anything, right?

We don't have any plans, like immediate plans for anything, I guess, in terms of signing of deeds or anything along those lines, correct? Or do we want to just do a separate resolution now to authorize me and... Aaron's absence. I don't think you need to be authorized. Yeah, you're authorized by the bylaws to sign.

I think you can always sign.

The executive director resolution essentially does the same thing and removes the duties of the chair over to the executive director.

OK. And so you're, by bylaws, eligible to sign. We're going to revise resolution number 13-2026 to remove, I guess, item C. from that. So do I have a motion to approve the revised resolution number 13-2026? I so move. Do I have a second?

I'll second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion carries. And then there's one additional resolution for the removal and appointment of the 457B plan trustees.

Yes, so this is a resolution to essentially remove April Decker as a trustee to the 457B retirement account and place Corey within her place as appointed as a trustee effective today, September 14th, 2026.

Any discussion from the board?

All right, hearing none. Do we have a motion to approve resolution number 14-2026?

I'll second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion carries. Following the public meeting, the Board will meet in executive session to discuss personal matters. No official action will be taken during the executive session. So that brings us to adjournment. Do I have a motion to adjourn?

So moved.

No, no one wants to.

Do I have a second?

Second. All right. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Hearing none, that motion airs. Thank you.