City Council - Regular Meeting

to even be counted. And so those demographics will probably need a targeted focus campaigns to assuage some of their fears. Thank you.

Do we, and I know this is early on and we're just now kind of looking at it, do we have a I guess like the thought process around like, how are we going to start the engagement process or a program in mind or committee that's forming?

Yeah. So, I mean, I think the intent is to go back to the door to door model. I mean, you know, I think you all remember, um, the kind of door to door work that was done in 20, I think it was the summer of 2018 perhaps. Um, and I think that's the model that we're going back to. So to your point, council Horton, we cannot show up for the census and just expect people to talk to us and give us all this information. So the intent is to train and create teams that will be deployed throughout the city. We have lots of outreach information we can give them, build those relationships as we're providi

Just to kind of echo a little bit of what my colleagues have shared, too, knowing, especially within marginalized and oppressed communities, that there is a strong fear around being honest, and there's also an erasure of a lot of the identities around being counted. So I think just the education with that component, too, and also might spark some questions around how are we going to capture data that this census isn't intentionally not capturing. For example, trans people are not captured on the data, but we know they exist. I mean, I'm here. But how do we, as a city, make sure that we're stil

I guess I should note that our team is going to Philadelphia for training on this. So this isn't us making this up as we go. That's why we got the grant. So we have funding to send them and have them trained with best practice here.

Wonderful. Thank you. I am excited to see how early we're starting with that, too, because this is going to take a long on-ramp to building up. Any questions as we look at the old business item? This is where we had the public hearing on last time, and I wanted to just make a note that we have members of the administration here, to answer any questions if we had any follow-up questions anything we wanted to flush out they will not be present during the the meeting so if we had any questions we wanted to ask about us voting on this and approving it now would be the time as we have the staff her

Councilman? I think that was a 25-foot offset from the bluff or something like that. I'm pleased to really support this project. They were responsive. And the east side needs a win, man. You know, and this looks like a win-win for everybody, so. Yeah, welcome to the east side, to the nine ships.

I was encouraged when we had a couple of the residents who came out here to speak up with their concerns. I actually submitted a letter, one submitted a letter of support after some of those concerns were addressed. And so I think that goes a long way to show.

Well, as someone who lives on the Lower East Side, I won't speak for the mayor either, but we'll take all the wins that we can get. And so we want to encourage development. contrary to what it looks like sometime up here. We will always put the citizens first, but we do truly encourage and welcome development in the city of Erie. Thank you.

Dr. Titus, can I just let Council know, also for Council's knowledge, I had lunch last week with the Nine Chips owners to talk with them about their hopes to add all these jobs on the east side, and I spoke with them specifically about how and what kind of jobs and how they were going to do it, they were very engaged in that conversation, made some connections for them to members of the community to help build the pipeline. So I just want to say, above and beyond this process, I truly believe that they have that intent and they've already shown that. And I think this can, Councillor Horton, yo

Wonderful. Thank you. Are there, as we look at the new business, we have several of the repository sales that were presented to us last time that are now before us for a vote.

I had a question. Did we ever get any information as far as code enforcement finding out about the house if it was occupied?

I don't know that we did. No. I'm sorry. We can follow up on that. Was it one property?

Well, they want to buy multiple vacant lots, but I believe only one had actual structure on it, and they weren't sure themselves if someone was living there, but it did look like someone was living there.

Councillor Flores, you are absolutely right. That's our miss. Do we know which one of these it was?

Which one? I can't remember if it was the 739. I just remember people taking notes at the last council meeting.

If you'd like to table that one and have us go out, I mean, we could. I'm just offering that. I apologize. That's our miss.

I just know that based off of the repository letter information, I think the 7838 is the one that has the structure on it, because it specifically says I would like to improve the property and bring revenue back to the city. And then when I look at the note for the repositories for the other address, which is the, it doesn't really tell me that there's a structure there.

I'm going to echo the same thing that I echoed at the county. It makes me sick, even though I know the state of the property, to see properties leaving local control for $250 a pot. And so it's going to be really, really compelling. Whether you table it or not, I'm probably going to be a no-brainer. on those group sales going forward. And I want to be consistent with what I've been for the last three or four years at the county. And so I wear it on my sleeve. Nobody has to even guess how I feel about them. I'm probably going to be a staunch now.

And I guess to keep us making sure that we stay within, looking at our attorney, stay within the, The parameters of our advisement, I will also be voting no for many of the reasons that we have discussed under the advisement with our solicitor. So if there is a desire to table, we can move that direction. I think that there, I don't know if there is an ability to even pass. So if we're going to delay a no vote is, I guess.

I mean, if you all want to table it, I'm just telling you now, I won't do that. I think that's a great suggestion, too, by Council. So just move. Okay.

If that's the, yeah, if we would like to, if the majority of Council would like to have these pulled and put on the next one, we can do that.

Mr. Titus, we'll commit to getting more information. We apologize. Yes, please.

So then this would just leave, again, resolution number one under new business, because that's a separate repository sale. That's a separate entity that's looking much to the same concerns which we just discussed, but it's a different entity.

And I don't believe that that, does that require a motion for us to pull it, counsel? I don't think, I think here at the caucus level we could just pull it. I want to be consistent there as well.

So we will be pulling then items number two through eight are also a figment of our imagination until next meeting. Thank you. So then, Mike, when we go to new business, we will go from item one directly to item nine, would be item two. Yes. So we will have then items three and then four should we pass the wave of rules and pass the motions for the two contracts. So listen.

We've kind of gotten through most of this already, but just to the two contracts that are being added, I get it, where it's being transferred to and where it's being transferred from. But can you just again tell us, I know it's all storm related, can you again just tell us what it's for? Yes. Not looking for complete itemized, but... Just because I'm slow like that.

I'd actually ask the mayor to kind of give us a big overview of everything, because this is a lot of money that's moving. It's about $3 million, I think.

Again, I won't speak for the mayor, but she did say that she would give us a breakdown as time goes. I'm just sitting here, and if I'm just voting for a million dollars, I haven't heard one iota of what I'm paying for.

I'm prepared to give that tonight, and I can answer that question as part of it. Is that okay? But is it time to do that now, Dr. Titus?

Yeah, so this would take us back up to the ordinance number one and ordinance number two to kind of expand on that million dollars and that $3 million so we know what that's for.

Great. I think for brevity's sake, because I don't really need a... Pre show, I think that when it comes up. Uh, for 1st, the 2nd motion, when you go to discussion, I think it'd be appropriate. So those ones that we could ask the mayor to inject that at that time.

And if unless she just wants to do it, unless you just want to do so with that 1, though, there are 2 other contracts that aren't connected to those 2. So. What I'd like is to go over the ones that will be on our agenda and then we can go over the ones that will be in the motion.

So let me ask this then. I don't know if Jason can stay the whole time, so shall we allow Jason to give the updates on the two add-on requests?

And again, I don't get off into the weeds on it or whatever. Just like a couple bullet points, and this is what it is.

So I've prepared a report on the storm. So if it's okay with you, Dr. Titus, and the rest of council, I would just like to give that to you to let you know what we've done. And then at the end of that, I'm going to talk about why it's relevant to tonight's agenda items. I'll do that briefly. And then if Director Sayers has more to add, he's certainly welcome to come up. So with your permission. Okay. So obviously, I just think it's important that council... and the public have a brief recap of what we've been through together in the past two weeks. This was a truly significant storm, by some c

Give me one second. So under first read ordinance that we're waiving, the $1 million taken from the fund balance being transferred into the emergency management services line number blah, blah, blah, 455, and that in turn is going to be transferred into the emergency management services account, an item two for a total of three million, or is that going to be a four million? It's four million.

It's a four million dollar. Three million from the general fund fund balance and one million from the refuse fund fund balance. Okay. Both of those going into this newly created line item emergency management services from which we will pay all the bills associated with this event.

Well, we're actually not waving, but I'm going to suggest that we move them to a second reading because it is an emergency. It is an emergency. It is something that I ordinarily would not do. But I would ask this body to consider moving those ordinances to a second reading just because everybody and their brother has a contractor out for trucking and grinding or whatever. You can't really, residents can't even contract with anyone hardly right now to do any of the removal. And so I don't know about the third class city code or whatever, but I don't see why an ordinance of this type should have

Okay, I got you. Your money's going to be the money anyway. I just want to make sure the contract is.

So that one, the one reading. Yeah, you got it.

I'm slow. No, no, no. I always remind you.

This is a lot of moving parts, and we're doing a couple waves. No, I didn't sit next to Marilyn for a reason. And I'll say it during the public meeting as well, but... There was many times where I just, these past few weeks where I just sat and I was like, what can I do? What can I do? But to watch this team, the team that you, have right now, and then the neighborhood teams and these other organizations come in was truly inspiring and very humbling. And I cannot thank all of you enough. I know that you lost time with family. You lost time at home. And how many of you put? put the rest of the

I just want to say right here, right now, publicly, before our meeting starts, to thank you on behalf of all the families in the city of Erie, any travelers, anybody who was visiting here. What a Herculean lift and task. Residents should be proud. If ever our textile was ever at work, it was at work. If ever citizens needed to pull together, it was a time like that and we did. I got to speak with some of you personally and express that. I want to say that right here publicly in our caucus. Thank you. Thank you so much. I know that there are still a lot of challenges ahead, but if we move forwa

And with that, we've also started getting notice, at least I've been receiving calls, that there are unfortunately individuals who are using this as an opportunity to take advantage of some of those who have been harmed. And if you are getting, make sure you're getting a couple quotes when you're having work done. And if you are hearing a quote and it's very egregious, there are numbers in which you can report I do not have that number on me right now, and I will try to get it before the liaison report, but that we are notifying and making sure that we are holding those who are being predatory

All right. Dr. Titus, and I think it's your intent that during the public meeting we're going to publicly thank again. Councillor Horton, thank you so much for your kind words. So I'm going to ask any of our City of Erie citizens employees who are here, if they can just stay for just after the Pledge of Allegiance, we're just going to ask them all to stand and be recognized. So if you can, just stay for the beginning of the meeting. We want to recognize you in the public to get it on the record as well. Thank you.

I never felt so good about spending city money to buy a grinder and to do things. I'm serious. Because I see a lot of things being spent a lot of ways. But you get to see direct impact right here, right now, in your face, impact. And I love it. We don't have Lori here to push us and stuff, but I think you probably need to break this stuff down, Dr. Ty.

And with that as well, I think what I would love to see as we get to the other side of this, Just a debrief and even one that we can present to the public too, like lessons that we've learned and plans in place as we move forward. Because this is, I know we say this a lot, but this is a first but not the last. And as we head more into these extreme climate changes in all the seasons, we're going to see many things. And so I think that there's a lot we can take from this as we plan, especially when we head into the budget season. So thank you.

Can't wait to see all the photos. We've got so much work ahead of us to do still on this. I mean, it's mid-September now, but our kids are usually trick-or-treating in freezing rain. And so we've got that to consider as well.

So I don't know if we can go, if anybody else has questions. This is where we saw some numbers not line up correctly last time. And so I think as we start to unpack, I think... When it comes to what we need to approve tonight, is this before? Because I'm not on the agenda necessarily for approval. What is the legal process for us? Is this way to the budget? Do we get it then or?

And Dr. Titus, if I could say, when the controller, when it was presented to me, I appreciated her office was very clear that it can be changed. They need to present it to stay in compliance. But when PFM is here next week, as some of you will recall, we had a conversation about lowering the MMO. So that could happen. As the controller has noted, there's a number of things that would have to happen first. They need to do this for compliance purposes. It could change, but that's ultimately what will work with PFM, the controller's office, and then the final budget with the finance director.

So I think for me, all the processes, as I'm trying to dodge the sunlight that's getting really bad right now, it was just getting a little... I wasn't sure where they fell, knowing that we have the meeting with PFM next week. So I think... This is just the formality of the presentation.

And then just making sure that we, just so we know where it's going to be captured. Thank you. Appreciate it. Any other question on any other agenda items before we get ready to go into the meeting?

Not necessarily a question, just next Thursday's study session is the PFM. Yes. Okay, just making sure.

Thank you. And then do you know if we'll be able to get some of that information prior, just so we can start? Absolutely.

I have a call with them tomorrow to prepare. So I'll let them know that you'll want the items in advance.

Thank you. Well, if there are no other questions, we can go ahead and get ready to go into our main meeting. And just as a reminder, because I'll say it again, we have our study session, but then we also have the housing town hall next week as well.

At this time, we will stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, led by a moment of silence, or followed by a moment of silence.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one

Yes. At this point, I'm going to go ahead and we're going to go a little bit out of order, but I'll pass the mic over to Mayor Devlin to go ahead.

Thank you, Dr. Titus. For those of you that were in caucus this evening, you heard me give a rather lengthy report on the storm event that hit our city roughly two weeks ago tonight and the recovery. We want to take a moment in this public meeting to do a brief recognition. of the city of Erie workers who were just superhuman in their efforts to help us over these past two weeks. So I have actually a special presentation for one of our departments. But before I do that, I need to say that although we are going to formally recognize our public works department tonight, all the work that they di

Before you continue with the meeting, I'd like to just add another member of the team, actually the team leader. I'd like to acknowledge the work of our fine mayor, too, because every good team needs a great leader. And the leadership that you provided during the emergency, I think the way that your temperament and your calm approach to things bled over into the residents. And we've seen a spirit of unity. We've seen the residents stay calm. And it's a true testament to your leadership. And you should be applauded as well.

Thank you. So, Council, we're going to go again a little out of order here. What we're going to do is I'm going to call for two separate motions. I will have Mr. Lavery read the first motion, but we need to add two items. So we're going to waive a motion to waive the rules twice for two separate contracts, but I'll have the first contract. Mike, if you could read that one.

So at this point, I'm calling for a motion to waive the rules to add that contract to tonight's agenda.

At this point I will call for another motion to waive the rules to add the contract that Mike will read.

And then just to explain to the public what happened is those two contracts were not on the agenda. In order to have them on the agenda, we needed the majority plus one to approve to add them. Those will be not written on the agendas that you have, but they are now under essentially new business with the contracts that we're going to be going through. So that way we are not delaying any of the work so that the city can continue to do the work they need to. All right, now back to the regularly scheduled program. We do not have any presentations tonight. Do we have anyone here for a request for

Unfortunately, only if you, the rules of council are that you can speak for five minutes, so if someone else would like to take over the presentation, they can do that.

Thank you. If you've spoken, can you just make sure you are signing in, please?

Dr. Titus. Yes. I know that it's out of order. Can I just... suggest that I will meet with our director of public works tomorrow and we will have a conversation and be back in touch with you with some answers. I want to just commit to that and we will be back in touch with you tomorrow to set up a meeting and discuss.

Can you just state your name for the record and just move that mic down so everyone in the audience can hear you. I'm sure. There you go. Thank you.

Thank you. Citizens don't always want to stick around, but I believe in our caucus, and someone can stop me from speaking out of sorts, but the Salvation Army on 11th and Liberty, or 10th and Liberty, because we have been designated an emergency under PEMA, they have opened up a mark center there, ma'am, and they're helping with those type of issues or the potential to help with those type issues. That's the Salvation Army on 10th and Liberty or 11th and Liberty. It's like an emergency. It's like a resource center there for storm damage and people that's found with claims or looking for help.

Well, we can't legislate any of that. What I'm suggesting to you is that the Mark Center is a resource center and that there may be some help for you or your neighbor to accomplish what you're trying to accomplish. That's a great place to start. To accomplish, to get the city to take responsibility? First of all, well, I don't want to get into a back and forth. And the city is not the land bank. They're two entirely different things. I'm trying to suggest to you that there may be someone to help you with your issue other than that if the city if it's any if it's any if it's getting the tree re

So I think Council Horton was providing some information that might be able to help with some of the other things that might not be covered by insurance. But we can follow up after so that we can allow public comment to continue. I apologize. Thank you.

Dr. Titus, Tori Williams in the back. Ma'am, she's raising her hand. She'll get your information and she can direct you. We can have a conversation. She's waiting for you in the back. You can speak with her. Thank you.

And Dr. Titus, I apologize for breaking protocol, but because we've had such a dire weather, I think that we should be as responsive on the spot as we can. So allow us to take that time to do that.

Actually, this is the time for public comment, and we don't go back and forth right now.

Thank you. Is there anyone else here to speak on public comment? Anyone else for public comment? Anyone else for public comment?

Thank you. Anyone here or anyone else for public comment? Anyone else for public comment? Anyone else for public comment? We will go ahead and move on to the next part of the agenda.

Prior to calling the vote, I just want to take a moment. We've done this process now three or four times this year. And I just want to, again, take a moment to publicly commend the process that we have witnessed and unfolded with this specific project. We've heard from many residents that they have felt heard. Any question that we as a body have asked has been answered. And I do think that this was an example of when a project is working well and it is including the community and incorporating community input, this is how it rolls out. So as we go into the vote, I just wanted to be on record a

Could you repeat that? Can you read it backwards?

I would call for the motion to move the balance.

Motion by Councilor Polis, second by Councilor Flores. Are there any separations?

We pulled in caucus, correct? The ones that we needed to?

Two through eight was pulled. I would like to separate number one.

We're voting on the motion to move the balance.

That's what I thought, and then everyone... Can we call for a re-vote?

Yes. We've done too many changes up, so I think we've got everybody a little confused.

I requested the separation, but I don't have any comments. If there are no other comments, I would go ahead and call for the vote.

We'll go ahead and start with Councillor Brzezinski, because I'm usually picking on Councillor Pol.

I HAD A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE THIS AFTERNOON AT THE EAGLE'S NEST, REV. BROCK'S EAGLE'S NEST SCHOOL. EVERY TIME I SEE THE YOUNG KIDS IN UNIFORMS SHOWING DISCIPLINE AND BEING HAPPY, IT'S A WONDERFUL THING. BUT IT WAS EVEN NICER BECAUSE MS. LAMAS WAS HERE THIS AFTERNOON FROM THE COUNTY GIVING THEM A $500,000 GRANT TO kind of promote basically the PAL program. The kids will have the opportunity to meet with policemen. They'll have the opportunity to learn about the whole mechanism of this. They'll learn to call policeman friends. They'll travel. Transportation's provided. Some meals are provided. I

Thank you, Dr. Titus. Well, of course, September 3rd, 4th, and 5th, I was out assessing damage, speaking to neighbors, primarily on the west side, lower and upper areas. I took a few photos. One of the observations I noticed right away on West 2nd Street as I looked at some damage They perhaps need a traffic study down there. There's not a stop sign between Chestnut Street. I think Chestnut Street and Liberty, there's not a stop sign. And in my opinion, since they have Pontiac Field and Bayview Park there, in our health department building county, there should probably be a stop sign at Walnut

Mr. Norton, I think that if you sign that over, it's just hard to hear you. Thank you.

Yeah, Dale told me that at the county. He pushed it up there, and I pushed it back. In any event, September 11th, I attended a reception over at 510 Cafe with the Blanks family. which was really, really nice. Uh, September 12th, um, in the morning, I attended a couple of workout sessions with Mr. Blanks, took a few pictures. Uh, Mr. Blanks is so much more than just a creator of Thai bowl. He's, um, he's a fitness guru. Um, he's a wellness pioneer. Uh, anytime he's a five time world class, uh, Taekwondo and karate champion. Um, But the thing that I love most about him is he's New Jerusalem's ve

Thank you. Welcome to you, Councillor Flores.

um thank you president titus i wanted to start off my committee report by saying happy hispanic heritage month hispanic heritage month goes from september 15 through october 15th i am the first latina elected to erie city council i'm half mexican half puerto rican so i am very happy to see the representation slowly starting in our community we had our third fiesta on the square uh this past saturday was a great showing of great food great music great community and it wasn't just the hispanic community that was there and that's great to see because as a community that embraces our melting pot w

Thank you Dr. Titus. I met with the best organization and I was with Matthew Putz as well from our zoning office and I thank him for attending with me and answering and going over some of the plans that they have for their neighborhood. It was sort of a roller coaster type of period from the last meeting till this meeting because I sort of had PTSD and loss and the whole things sometimes that makes you emotional, but happy times as well. I think I've told you before, I survived a tree falling on top of my car in the Glenwood Hills area in 1980 or 81. So the storm really affects me. And I did l

Thank you. I will report out on the committees I serve on next week as they are at our next meeting as they have their meetings coming up. I wanted to acknowledge that it is welcoming week and there's been many events and the staff have been working very diligently. There is one update due to the weather. It is eerie and that happens quite often to us. But the conclusion, the big jamboree, the new American jamboree has been moved. It will now be at the Boys and Girls Club at 1515 East Lake Road. So that has moved from, I believe it was in Perry Square and has now moved over there. So make sure

Thank you. We can go ahead and pass it to the attorney if you have a report.

Thank you, Dr. Titus. I want to start my report this evening by just answering a few of the concerns that were raised during public comment. First, just with some of the information about the police budget, I want to make one clarification. The police overtime budget, they have spent 45% of their budget for the year. That doesn't mean that overtime is 45% of the budget. What we were saying in the meeting was the police have a budget for overtime. They have spent 45% of it to date. as opposed to last year when they were at 65% at this time. So I just want to clarify that. Lots of good questions

Just for clarification, you said, I think you meant parking authority.

Julie Slomsky will have my neck. Thank you.

Goodness gracious. Parking. Thank you. Yes. So the parking authority, we've let them know that there is a time. The clock is ticking. We need this finalized by the end of the year. And we have asked them... to make sure that happens by getting us red lines on the MOU we provided by October. So more to come, but letting you know we are working on that. Saw many of you at the Labor Day parade. I was so honored to walk with the Teamsters. It felt very appropriate given all our Public Works employees and all the work that they had done. That was a very good day. Also want to report that I went to

Thank you. One last request that I'll have, and then I'll hit the gap and we can all go, is if you and I and Vice President Schaaf could maybe meet and figure out the schedule of the budget meetings, so then when we come to our study session with PFM, the rest of council knows how to kind of plan out.

All right, and with that, we will go ahead and conclude tonight's meeting.