Erie council adopts rental-housing ordinance and related measures; several ordinances pass first reading

Erie City Council on Jan. 8 gave final passage to two ordinances and advanced several others on first reading, including a high-profile rental-housing ordinance that city residents and advocates discussed during public comment.

Final passage

- Ordinance (Council File 16490 / Official File 012025): Appropriates $1,026.53 received as program income to the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (HAREF). The transcript states the amount as $1,026.53; the measure was sponsored by Council Member Schauff and carried by the full council on final passage (7 yays, 0 nays).

- Ordinance (Council File 16491 / Official File 022025): Amends Article 354 (rental housing) to establish rights and obligations of owners and occupants of rental housing in Erie, specifying applicability of federal, state and local landlord-tenant rules. The ordinance was sponsored by Council Member Titus, seconded by Council Member Schaaf, and passed final reading (7 yays, 0 nays).

First reading and other actions

- Council File 16492 (first reading, as amended): An ordinance amending Article 101 to authorize a referendum to study the city’s form of government and the advisability of adopting a home-rule charter. Council members discussed a friendly amendment to reduce the study-commission size from nine members to seven; council adopted the ordinance as amended on first reading (see clarifying details). Council members and staff emphasized the time sensitivity for petition circulation (petition signature period begins Feb. 18 for the May primary) and urged residents interested in serving to prepare for an 18-month commission process with frequent meetings and robust public outreach.

- Council File 16493 (first reading): Amends Article 521 to prohibit parking in bike lanes and to continue implementation of designated bicycle travel lanes. The council adopted this on first reading (6 yays, 1 nay).

- Council File 16494 (first reading): Amends Article 719.11 to exempt short-term utility closures from sidewalk-closure permit requirements. Adopted on first reading (7 yays, 0 nays).

- Council File 16495 (first reading): Amends definitions in Article 354 (rental housing) to exclude the Housing Authority of the City of Erie from the definition of "landlord." Council members discussed HUD rules and the Housing Authority's funding and operational constraints; council adopted the ordinance on first reading (7 yays, 0 nays).

Public comment and context

Several residents and local advocates spoke in favor of the rental-housing ordinance during the citizens-to-be-heard period. Bridal Tepper urged the council to pass the tenant-landlord ordinance in part because it establishes what counts as "habitable" housing and creates a complaints process and protections around rent increases. Melinda Hall of the Erie Spiritual Coalition urged final passage and thanked Council Members Titus and Schauff for sponsorship. Other speakers praised recent council steps such as hiring a renter-specific code-enforcement officer and passing a renters' bill of rights.

Council discussion on the Housing Authority exclusion ordinance (16495) centered on HUD timing rules: multiple council members explained that the Housing Authority must follow HUD guidelines that allow faster rent adjustments tied to income and that requiring 60 days’ notice (a city requirement for other landlords) would harm the authority’s budget and operations. Members asked for more public input before final passage on some items and signaled they would seek additional stakeholder comment before second readings where voting was only at first reading.

Votes at a glance

- 012025 (Council File 16490) — Appropriation to PA HAREF ($1,026.53): Final passage, 7-0. - 022025 (Council File 16491) — Rental-housing ordinance: Final passage, 7-0. - 16492 (Home-rule charter referendum study) — Adopted on first reading as amended (commission size amended from 9 to 7); vote recorded in transcript as "adopted on first reading" (exact roll-call tally unclear in transcript; see clarifying details). - 16493 (Prohibit parking in bike lanes) — Adopted on first reading, 6-1 (one nay recorded). - 16494 (Utility short-term sidewalk-closure exemption) — Adopted on first reading, 7-0. - 16495 (Exclude Housing Authority from landlord definition) — Adopted on first reading, 7-0.

Next steps

Measures passed on first reading require a second reading before final adoption; council members asked staff to gather additional public input on ordinances affecting sidewalks, utilities and the Housing Authority before final votes. The home-rule charter study measure includes a timetable that would require community outreach and sustained participation if the referendum proceeds to the ballot.