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Erie City Council approves financing for water projects, small appropriations and several board appointments
Summary
Council unanimously approved multiple final-passage ordinances including appropriations and water‑authority financing measures and adopted first readings for the 2026 budget and tax rate; a refuse/collection fee adjustment passed first reading 4–3.
At its Nov. 19 meeting the City of Erie City Council approved several final-passage ordinances and adopted first readings on budgetary and utility matters.
Final-passage votes recorded by the clerk included:
- Ordinance (Council file 16‑5‑66 / Official Ord. 76‑20‑25): Appropriated $34,268 in HOME program income for HOME M‑18 projects. Sponsor: Council Member Titus; second: Council Member Flores. Vote recorded: 7–0.
- Ordinance (Council file 16‑5‑67 / Official Ord. 77‑20‑25): Appropriated $1,000 from a McDonald’s 9/11 fundraiser donation. Sponsor: Council Member Schaaf; second: Brzezinski. Vote recorded: 7–0.
- Ordinance (Council file 16‑5‑68 / Official Ord. 78‑20‑25): Appropriated $1,000 from a donation by the Irish Wolfhound Association of Lake Erie. Sponsor: Council Member Schaaf; second: Brzezinski. Vote recorded: 7–0.
- Ordinance (Council file 6‑79‑20‑25 / Official Ord. 79‑20‑25): Authorized the city to incur lease rental debt evidenced by a guaranteed revenue note in a maximum principal amount of $12,000,000 to be issued by the Erie City Water Authority for construction/alteration and improvements including the Sigsby Pump Station, valve vault and line replacement project. Sponsor: Council Member Schaff; second: Brzezinski. Vote recorded: 7–0.
- Ordinance (Council file 80 / 16‑5‑72 / Official Ord. 80‑20‑25): Authorized guaranteed revenue bond financing in a maximum principal amount of $3,032,000 for customer-side galvanized service line replacement (Phase 3). Sponsor: Council Member Schaff; second: Brzezinski. Vote recorded: 7–0.
- Ordinance (Council file 16‑5‑73 / Official Ord. 81‑20‑25): Appropriated $1,000 for canine training. Sponsor: Council Member Schaaf; second: Brzezinski. Vote recorded: 7–0.
Appointments and resolutions approved unanimously included reappointments of Ryan Bergquist to the Erie Airport Authority (term through 12/31/2030), Janelle Dafuchsia to the Blighted Property Review Committee (two‑year term), and Heather Harrington to the Erie City Water Authority (term to 01/03/2031).
On first reading the council adopted the general fund budget ordinance for fiscal 2026 (Council file 16‑5‑69) and a 2026 tax rate ordinance (Council file 16‑5‑70). The council also took first reading on an amendment to the codified ordinances (utilities & public service code) to increase the residential refuse collection fee — transcript language records the annual/quarterly collection fee changing from $306.62 per year to $322.93 per year — and the first reading passed 4–3. In the transcript the no votes were recorded by several members; the clerk later read the roll and identified Brzezinski, Titus and Witherspoon as ‘no’ votes for that first-reading amendment.
A separate contract for playground equipment (Hagerty Park) priced at $81,006.61 was placed on the agenda but a member requested separation and the motion to table that contract passed.
Council adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
