Lancaster City Council adopts parks master plan, approves towing-fee change and appointments; advances ARPA appropriations for further review

Lancaster City Council on Dec. 10 adopted a comprehensive parks, recreation and open-space plan, approved a package of personnel appointments and a change to towing-license fees, authorized a letter of intent for an environmental center on the Sunnyside Peninsula and advanced several first-reading ordinances that would appropriate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) proceeds for a range of projects.

The parks plan, adopted as Administration Resolution 93 (2024), lays out priorities for park development, design and programming and includes a citywide goal that residents be within a 10-minute walk of a high-quality park. Councilor Hirsch, reporting from the public works committee, described the plan as guidance for prioritizing future funding and noted the public-works department and a roughly 16-member community working group participated in its development. Councilors voted to approve the resolution during the meeting; the vote was recorded as the council answering “Aye.”

Why it matters: The master plan sets a policy framework that city staff and councilors said will guide where the city directs future park investments and programming. Council discussion and committee materials identified possible amenities and tiers of priority, including additional active-recreation facilities.

Council action and other measures - Appointments: Council approved multiple appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions. Nominations approved included terms for Philip Stone Kennedy (traffic commission), appointments to the planning commission and historical commission, and reappointments to zoning and hearing boards. The council moved and seconded the slate of appointments and recorded approval during the meeting.

- Towing-license fee adjustment: Administration Resolution 92 (2024) passed to modify the annual towing-license fee structure. The city presented the change as maintaining the existing flat annual license fee of $700 while adding a per-tow fee of $10 to better align licensing revenue with administrative costs. Council voted to approve the resolution.

- Environmental center on Sunnyside Peninsula: Administration Resolution 95 (2024) authorized city officials to enter a letter of intent for master-site design or a small-area plan for an environmental center and nature preserve on the Sunnyside Peninsula. Councilor Craig said the city issued an RFP last year and received one response from Partners for Environmental Stewardship, a nonprofit supported by the High Foundation. Diana Martin, identified in committee materials as executive director of Partners for Environmental Stewardship, participated in committee discussions. Council approved the resolution.

- Sewage facilities plan amendment: Administration Resolution 96 (2024) approved an amendment to the Act 537 sewage facilities plan for the city. Councilor Craig explained the item had been before council previously but required Lancaster County approval first; with county approval complete, council re-approved the amendment.

First readings (no final action at the Dec. 10 meeting) - Bill 13 (2024): An ordinance described in the meeting as amending a section of the city code (section 224929 as read aloud) to increase certain city fees by 12% effective Jan. 6, 2025. Council held first reading; the item will return to council on Dec. 17, 2024.

- Bill 14 (2024): An ordinance to appropriate returned or unused ARPA proceeds previously awarded to non-city entities for community facilities and affordable-housing programs; committee discussion noted grantees have a deadline (described in committee as late-2026) to use the funds. First reading only; further consideration set for Dec. 17.

- Bill 15 (2024): An ordinance to appropriate $1,000,000 in ARPA proceeds received in 2022 for renovations to the Jackson Street Top Lot Park (Joe Jackson top lot). Councilors noted an additional $250,000 grant recently received that would accelerate the project timeline and that the city hopes to complete renovations in 2025. First reading only.

- Bill 16 (2024): An ordinance to appropriate $6,000,000 in ARPA proceeds for 2024 revenue replacement; committee materials described this as part of the budget adopted previously. First reading only.

- Bill 17 (2024): An ordinance to appropriate $2,400,000 in ARPA proceeds for revenue replacement in 2025; committee discussion noted this is being done proactively to comply with federal ARPA guidelines. First reading only.

- Bill 18 (2024): An ordinance described as a home-rule safeguard directing that existing city code provisions remain in force to the extent they are consistent with Lancaster’s new home-rule charter taking effect Jan. 1, 2025. Committee discussion framed the measure as a temporary safeguard while staff and consultants complete code updates through 2025. First reading only.

Public comment and community priorities During the meeting’s two public-comment periods, resident Tony Dastra (700 block of New Holland Avenue) urged the council to consider an income-based tax exemption or a rebate program for lower-income residents, explaining the city’s flat tax structure limits ability to use graduated rates. He asked the council to study a rebate or exemption targeted to households at about 50% of the city’s median income (he cited roughly $30,500). Dastra also urged the council to begin community discussions about rent-control options in 2025 rather than delaying the topic.

Other commenters encouraged the city to design ARPA spending for ease of use by residents and suggested using unused ARPA funds for sidewalk repairs where homeowners do not complete required work.

What’s next Councilors said the items on first reading will return for further action on Dec. 17, 2024. The council announced a special meeting for Dec. 23, 2024, at 6 p.m. to consider final ARPA allocations before the end-of-year deadline for certain expenditures.