[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6567554,"mediaKeyId","3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384","parentId",3290941,"title","Council recognizes police accreditation, Lafayette bicentennial events, National Bike Month, Public Works Week and backs state minimum wage bill","audioSeconds",4600,"startMs",510000,"endMs",5110000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384&start=510&end=5110","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384/thumbnail_510000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6567554/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Council-recognizes-police-accreditation-Lafayette-bicentennial-events-National-Bike-Month-Public-Works-Week-and-backs-state-minimum-wage-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567554-f75b898be837d754a715291186693669/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149937&Signature=amMd5oww1uenVgswhx5p2ZJi~DaWkGnfAYTBuQ-wCEiNvNKjgC03JRm3cn-eURyBjMDzUURjk4Hlvk5P3El3VKWMMKd3uq9lgs8sfRWsdnUtanfBRkVedGJhiM3BwTsSqvLi-OirtjgVHDs8tVNfibPYNksMBs2l0wLREqqKlwNT-Iseg0b37pMwY9x0yDXYdE3oTP7ZpVgZkqg3LobCg0ZJi8JebEyBz2l6H8xVn3p6Zwc8LQn9fOriYOAJKnWCmIqm75B878O0xPKPv7eoVMofJMJ7Mav0ZG-2Gu6CpoJPTGOBzsPCYQDW9YfJ8V3aq6dylwovJL7tsKjcyRYPWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Lancaster, PA","date","2025-05-06T13:04:11Z","article","Lancaster City Council used part of its May 13 agenda to recognize awards and adopt several routine proclamations and resolutions.

Accreditation recognition: Council publicly recognized Lancaster Bureau of Police for achieving accreditation from the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association. Jim Adams of the association presented the certificate and explained the program assesses departments against a standards manual (described as 25 standards encompassing roughly 370 specific practices) and requires ongoing annual reporting and periodic reassessments.

Lafayette bicentennial: Council passed a resolution designating July 27–29, 2025, as “Lafayette Days” in Lancaster. A brief historical presentation by Ben Webber outlined Lafayette’s 1824–25 farewell tour and local events planned as part of a multi-state bicentennial commemoration. The resolution passed by recorded vote (roll call recorded as: Mr. Mitt Aye; Mr. Royo Aye; Mr. Cleese Aye; Ms. Craig Aye; Ms. Diaz Aye; Mr. Hirsch Aye; President Bacon Aye).

National Bike Month: Council adopted a resolution recognizing May 2025 as Bike Month and heard a presentation from Global Shapers’ Ride, Roll and Stroll Lancaster (project lead Laura Pauls Thomas and Leah Zickmund). Presenters described local bike-safety education, a free consulting initiative for active-transportation barriers and events planned during bike month. Roll call recorded support for the resolution.

National Public Works Week: Council adopted a resolution celebrating National Public Works Week and the city’s public works employees; Councilor Hirsch highlighted the department’s recent outreach and work on sewer/consent-decree communications.

Minimum wage resolution (Resolution 38): Council voted to adopt a resolution calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to raise the state minimum wage to $15 per hour and to give municipalities the power to set local minimum wages. State Representative Nikki Rivera addressed council, summarizing House Bill 1150 (sponsor Rep. Ronnie G.) and the governor’s budget proposal to raise the statewide minimum to $15 with a separate tipped-worker rate; she urged constituents to contact state senators to support the proposal. Several public commenters at the meeting urged local action on earned-income-tax exemptions and other local policies to protect low-income households. Roll call on Resolution 38 was recorded as unanimous (all present councilors voted “Aye”).

Heritage and HARB items: The council approved multiple historic‑district applications recommended by the Historical Commission/HARB, including demolition of a rear storage building at a Horseshoe Holdings property, construction of an outdoor deck at 800 Buchanan Avenue and a doorway change at 127 East Orange Street. Those items were moved together and approved following a committee report and staff clarification that one other HARB item had been tabled for a later meeting.

Neighborhood Leadership Academy: The meeting included a presentation from the John P. McCaskey High School Neighborhood Leadership Academy class of 2025. Students described a “traffic garden” they designed for Open Streets and reflected on civic engagement lessons. Council and the mayor recognized students and program staff.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution designating Lafayette Days (Resolution 32 20 25): approved by roll call (all present voted Aye).
- Resolution recognizing Bike Month (Resolution 33 20 25): approved by roll call (all present voted Aye).
- Resolution recognizing National Public Works Week (Resolution 35 20 25): approved by roll call (all present voted Aye).
- Resolution urging PA legislature to raise minimum wage (Resolution 38 20 25): approved by roll call (all present voted Aye).
- Heritage/HARB approvals (various): approved as recommended.

What the votes mean: The proclamations are ceremonial recognitions. The minimum-wage resolution is nonbinding (it expresses council’s position and asks the state legislature to act); it does not itself change local or state wage law. Heritage/HARB approvals permit the applicants to proceed with approved façade or demolition changes subject to any permitting requirements. The accreditation recognition is ceremonial and notes the police bureau’s voluntary compliance with the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police standards and periodic reassessments.

Council meeting records, resolutions and the city’s audited financial statements were all referenced during public comment; the mayor noted that audited statements are posted on the city website and responded to questions about a newspaper report related to a pension overpayment and subsequent repayments and corrections by the pension administrator.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lancaster City Council recognized a police accreditation, approved ceremonial proclamations for Lafayette Days, Bike Month and Public Works Week, and passed a resolution urging the state to raise the minimum wage to $15 and to permit municipal wage-setting.","taxTitle","Lancaster City, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania","taxId",3754,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567559,"Council amends property‑sale rules to allow licensed brokers; residents warn of reduced local oversight",2120,5378000,7498000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384&start=5378&end=7498","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384/thumbnail_5378000.jpg","/articles/6567559/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Council-amends-propertysale-rules-to-allow-licensed-brokers-residents-warn-of-reduced-local-oversight","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567559-5c820625530f70a6ac8d2714e48ac656/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149937&Signature=VQcmUUaNOvYcniHxN-P9V6vpGUFagx~Fst1raHw3koZPNOze~dM6qepa6yGD1DYji0z~rszsvgXMUJdj1A5324XobOOHhrYxws9Pz17tS3ZPjan3TMgaNZ3M0Gq8IPMk76ELSSGVLtC9tq5YBwFMwbqWfF7x3a9qU81-lHnfO~jdmACJwVp0-eHKBwrXP-~de8ikCQkB~eEIQeY845nvS7UyLyYTmJ60-VFHJKiNFNl4OsDbppdRUhB55Kw~43jDOcR42YYjbAsVjHbSqbWV4hk3motm391EymLVrD47ccIvyMaKo9uxem~w4Juxe5tfn5sySupkbCMZMKLNll4F8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lancaster City Council voted May 13 to amend Chapter 32 of the city code to add a process allowing the sale of real property through a licensed real estate broker under conditions set by council.

The ordinance (administration bill number 3, 2025) expands the city's existing sale methods (sealed bids or public auction) to permit council, by separate resolution, to authorize a licensed real estate broker to market specified parcels. Council would continue to approve terms of sale, including price, conditions of evaluation, authorization to negotiate or accept an offer, broker compensation and a defined solicitation timeframe. The mayor and staff emphasized that council retains final approval authority for any sale.

Supporters said the change simply adds flexibility and could make occasional asset disposition more efficient. Mayor Deneen Serachi and Councilor Craig explained that the item does not authorize sale of any particular parcel; it only updates how the city may proceed should council later authorize a broker-assisted sale.

Public commenters and several residents strongly opposed the change during the meeting. Concerns raised included: reduced public vetting of sales; the potential to circumvent existing resident-led review bodies (residents cited the redevelopment authority/RACL); the possibility of increased use of outside consultants rather than resident volunteers; the need for broker vetting and ethics safeguards; and specific fears that the change could enable rapid sales of city-owned parcels such as former Station 6 or other neighborhood assets. Speakers urged either tabling the bill or adding additional requirements (ethics/advertising/vetting) before it took effect.

The mayor and staff responded that the new process would require council to authorize any broker engagement by resolution and that council would approve broker compensation and reporting requirements on a case-by-case basis. City staff also said the ordinance does not replace RACL or its statutory process for blighted-property redevelopment: properties transferred to the city or between the city and RACL were described as separate processes.

After public comment, council voted to adopt the ordinance. The roll call was recorded as: Mr. Mitt (Aye), Mr. Royo (Aye), Mr. Cleese (Aye), Ms. Craig (Aye), Ms. Diaz (Aye), Mr. Hirsch (Aye), President Baker (Aye).

Key technical points in the ordinance, highlighted during council discussion, include: council must adopt a separate resolution authorizing a broker for a specific parcel; council sets the evaluation basis and who may negotiate and accept offers; broker compensation is negotiated case-by-case; the ordinance requires periodic status reporting to council and the public about solicitations conducted by a broker; and the ordinance does not change council’s final approval role.

Councilors and the mayor said they favored adding the option for occasional use only and that council retains oversight for each parcel sale. Opponents asked for additional procedural safeguards and suggested delaying use of this authority until the city’s newly forming ethics commission and other vetting mechanisms were operating.

Action: administration bill number 3 (amendment to Chapter 32 to allow use of licensed real estate brokers for sale of city property) passed by recorded roll call vote.","Lancaster City Council adopted an ordinance changing the methods the city may use to sell real property, adding the option to solicit offers through a licensed real estate broker. The change passed after public criticism about transparency, oversight and potential impacts on specific properties such as Fire Station 6 and the Beaver Street site.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6567565,"Council donates Beaver Street lots to SACA Development for affordable housing after contentious debate",2422,6978000,9400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384&start=6978&end=9400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3290941-98bd598f0192119ae53d44fb2433e384/thumbnail_6978000.jpg","/articles/6567565/Lancaster-City/Lancaster-County/Pennsylvania/Council-donates-Beaver-Street-lots-to-SACA-Development-for-affordable-housing-after-contentious-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6567565-51ab62dd380f6f96503d5c23e68d60d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149937&Signature=IIwZs4gUr~bshqU5zy32Z06sygDNHhiSyXwQEsajKVc6ie8Ru5esUKT3hGf-G3xAz5jDM9oXnBRvJ2OTUtOTfLwi9K3UGGP1hrUbMDhy9B9YIDTMYd~Co~3mtXevBtcP4WAj99YD3bV0UfoM0VGJOogoCxrt8-S4bxOi7qTxNnnnD97vz~YbBlk1lxACYwIYsqW3xp99h~9E8Ppv6845Np68kKt4m-VxKgkfLC9NG807YtOzcukQvIlM9DTsBUyU5lL-BVB1-dgq1A6A7pq1W9j0h~KfNWAilD56noIBPDB3HE0FcGa00Oev7ruCCH485MuVoeomvA9XMaEfGHI-bg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lancaster City Council voted May 13 to donate the City-owned parcels at 339–341 Beaver Street to SACA Development Corporation for development into owner-occupied and rental affordable housing.

The resolution approved by council transfers the lots to SACA subject to deed restrictions intended to preserve affordability: owner-occupier sales are limited to households at or below 80% of Lancaster County area median income (AMI) and rental units are to be limited to households at or below 60% AMI. The record and presentations at council also noted a 15-year deed restriction term and referenced prior planning and fundraising the city had undertaken for a neighborhood park at the same site.

Mayor Deneen Serachi summarized the parcel’s history, saying the site had originally been planned as a park by the Community Action Partnership but that subdivision, safety and rising cost obstacles stalled that effort. Serachi told council the city had earlier raised about $25,000 toward a park and estimated development costs had grown from roughly $250,000 to about $600,000 by 2023. The mayor said SACA has a track record of infill affordable housing work in the neighborhood and the donation was intended to produce units the city otherwise could not deliver.

The proposal prompted lengthy public comment at the council meeting. Neighbors and residents who said they had worked for years to maintain the lot urged council to delay or reverse the decision and questioned whether the city should give the site away to a nonprofit developer. Several speakers described volunteer maintenance they had provided to keep the lot usable for children and argued the site remained more urgently needed as a small neighborhood park. Some speakers also claimed the ground had been contaminated when the property was previously disturbed; the mayor said no EPA contamination determination was in the city files but acknowledged difficult site conditions and cost increases.

Council members asked for and received clarifications about the affordability restrictions. Director of Community Planning and Economic Development Betsy Logan and the mayor explained the AMI-based limits are standard HUD-derived measures (varying by household size) and that the deed restriction is intended to preserve affordability for the stated term. Councilor Hirsch noted the property’s assessed value appears low—approximately $1,500, according to remarks in the meeting transcript—and said he supported the resolution because it would add affordable units and because SACA has completed similar projects.

A motion to table the donation was made during public comment but failed for lack of a second and the item was put to a vote. The roll call recorded by the clerk was: Mr. Med (Aye), Mr. Royo (Aye), Mr. Cleese (Aye), Ms. Craig (Aye), Ms. Diaz (Aye), Mr. Hirsch (Aye), President Behnken (Aye). The resolution passed.

Councilors and the mayor said any subsequent construction would still have to go through the normal land‑development, planning and permitting processes. The mayor also said the city has invested in other nearby parks and that larger park improvements across the south of the city are planned as part of a separate, bonded program.

The approved donation agreement names SACA Development Corporation (a Pennsylvania nonprofit housing corporation) as the transferee and requires that the property be developed into owner-occupied or rental affordable housing in accordance with the deed restrictions described in the agreement. The agreement and deed restriction text were referenced as exhibits in the resolution material presented to council.

If SACA proceeds to design buildings on the narrow property, that development will return to municipal land‑use review and permitting. Several neighbors asked the city to consider alternatives including a community-led park and requested more community engagement before any construction. SACA did not present a detailed building plan at the May 13 meeting; councilors and members of the public asked whether SACA would present conceptual designs at a later community meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the donation resolution by unanimous recorded vote (all present council members voted “Aye”), and the resolution will allow the city to convey 339–341 Beaver Street to SACA Development Corporation subject to the affordability deed restrictions and the usual land‑development approvals.

Community reaction after the meeting remained mixed. Several residents who spoke at the meeting praised SACA’s track record on affordable housing but said the neighborhood-led effort to convert the property to a park had not been exhausted. Others said they feared loss of open space and asked for stronger community safeguards. The mayor and council framed the action as an attempt to produce affordable units in a neighborhood with demonstrated need and noted the donation is only the first step in a process that includes design review, permitting and potential additional public financing.","Lancaster City Council voted unanimously May 13 to donate parcels at 339–341 Beaver Street to SACA Development Corporation for affordable housing, drawing strong neighborhood opposition from residents who had pursued a community park for the site.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council recognizes police accreditation, Lafayette bicentennial events, National Bike Month, Public Works Week and backs state minimum wage bill

Council amends property‑sale rules to allow licensed brokers; residents warn of reduced local oversight

Council donates Beaver Street lots to SACA Development for affordable housing after contentious debate