Erie City Council approves multiple appropriations, moves two ordinance amendments on first reading

The Erie City Council on May 21 unanimously approved six appropriations totaling $1,846,444 and adopted two ordinance amendments on first reading during a regularly scheduled meeting at City Hall.

Council members voted 6–0 to appropriate funds for a range of projects, including $500,000 toward upgrades to the Erie Zoo otter exhibit and $1,189,944 to the city capital fund. The council also advanced amendments to the city’s rental housing code and to the Bureau of Fire that were adopted on first reading.

The appropriations the council approved on final passage were: $10,500 from unanticipated revenue for the Panelac generator; $500,000 in RACP pass-through funding for upgrades to the Erie Zoo otter exhibit; $55,000 in PennDOT ARLE funds for the LED streetlight upgrade along the Bayfront connector; $40,000 in Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) CEAP grant proceeds for signage at the South Central Fire Station; $51,000 in DCED CEAP funds (contract C00093603) for an unspecified grant purpose; and $1,189,944 from unanticipated revenue for the capital fund. Each of those appropriations passed by voice vote with the record showing six ayes and zero nays.

Council also read and adopted on first reading an amendment to Article 3.54 (Rental Housing) to amend section 3.54.05(a) addressing rights and obligations in the landlord-tenant relationship; and an amendment to Article 1.31 (Bureau of Fire) to add duties for the chief fire marshal and fire marshals including limited citation authority and enforcement of specified traffic laws. Both measures were sponsored and advanced on first reading with votes recorded as 6–0.

Votes at a glance: • Council File 16-523 / Official Ordinance 34-20-25 — Appropriated $10,500 (Panelac generator revenue). Sponsor: Council Member Titus; second: Council Member Flores. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-524 / Official Ordinance 35-20-25 — Appropriated $500,000 (Erie Zoo otter exhibit; Pennsylvania RACP pass-through). Sponsor: Council Member Titus; second: Council Member Flores. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-525 / Official Ordinance 36-20-25 — Appropriated $55,000 (PennDOT 2023 ARLE funds for LED streetlight upgrades). Sponsor: Council Member Titus; second: Council Member Flores. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-526 / Official Ordinance 37-20-25 — Appropriated $40,000 (signage at South Central Fire Station; DCED CEAP contract C00093428). Sponsor: Council Member Schauff; second: Council Member Brzezinski. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-527 / Official Ordinance 38-20-25 — Appropriated $51,000 (DCED CEAP contract C00093603). Sponsor: Council Member Brzezinski; second: Council Member Troop. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-528 / Official Ordinance 39-20-25 — Appropriated $1,189,944 (capital fund). Sponsor: Council Member Titus; second: Council Member Brzezinski. Passed final: 6–0. • Council File 16-529 — Amendment to Article 3.54 (Rental Housing); first reading adopted. Sponsor: Council Member Flores; second: Council Member Schaaf. Adopted on first reading: 6–0. • Council File 16-530 — Amendment to Article 1.31 (Bureau of Fire) adding duties and limited enforcement authority for the chief fire marshal and fire marshals; first reading adopted. Sponsor: Council Member Schauff; second: Council Member Brzezinski. Adopted on first reading: 6–0.

Council President Witherspoon and members Brzezinski, Flores, Shoff, Titus and Troop were present; Council Member Nelson was absent. No recorded no votes or abstentions were announced in the meeting minutes. Several members of the public had spoken earlier in the meeting about separate issues — including concern about a large capital fund appropriation item, accessibility at signalized intersections, and the condition of elevators at a downtown residential building — but the ordinance votes reported here were taken without further amendment and passed unanimously.

The council’s approvals authorize the mayor and city departments to obligate the appropriated funds and proceed with the projects as described in the ordinance text and referenced grant agreements. The rental housing and Bureau of Fire amendments will return for final consideration per the city’s ordinance schedule.

Details on the grant sources and contract numbers referenced in the meeting appear on the agenda and in the ordinance language submitted to council.