Union City council approves tenant-registration amendment, zoning and parking updates and backs county housing plan

Union City Borough Council unanimously approved a package of administrative and regulatory actions at its Sept. 16 meeting, including moves to advertise an amendment to the tenant-registration ordinance, changes to local parking and zoning rules, and support for a countywide housing plan.

The council voted to advertise a proposed amendment to the tenant-registration ordinance that would allow the borough to charge repeat violators more than once per year when they fail to provide required information. The motion to advertise the amendment was made by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn; the motion carried unanimously. The amendment will be advertised for public review as the next step in the ordinance process.

Councilors also approved amendments to Parking Ordinance 1137 to tighten restrictions on unlawful and disabled vehicles and to update schedules I, II and IV. The parking-ordinance amendment had been advertised Sept. 9; the motion to approve was made by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn and passed unanimously.

On zoning, the council approved changes to Zoning Ordinance 1118 to add definitions and regulation for redemption games (games of skill) and to add section 701.04 governing use of accessory structures on adjoining lots. Councilor Kerns moved to approve the zoning amendment; Councilor Steadman seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

The council adopted a resolution to exonerate $5,563.49 in taxes on a property at 121 East High that had been acquired by the Land Bank. Councilor Kerns moved to approve the tax-exoneration resolution, Councilor Steadman seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

Council also approved a resolution supporting Erie County's effort to develop a new countywide comprehensive housing plan. The resolution notes that the county will use MAP grant funding and Act 137 (Affordable Housing Act) funds from housing deed transfers; council members said several borough residents have submitted applications for Act 137 funds based on income. Councilor Osborn moved to approve the resolution, Councilor Steadman seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

For capital needs, the council authorized submitting an application to the county for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds of up to $100,000 to cover a portion of storm-water repairs in Municipal Lot #1. The motion to apply was made by Councilor Steadman and seconded by Councilor Osborn and was approved unanimously.

Council carried several routine procedural measures earlier in the meeting, including approval of the agenda (motion by Councilor Kerns, seconded by Councilor Steadman), minutes from the Aug. 27 meeting (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Kerns), the secretary's report (motion by Councilor Kerns, seconded by Councilor Osborn) and payment of bills (motion by Councilor Osborn, seconded by Councilor Kerns). All votes reported in the meeting were unanimous among the four councilors present (Cross, Osborn, Steadman and Kerns); three councilors (Joyce, Winkler and Uber) were absent.

During the public-comment portion, Bev Ballog of the Hometown Heroes project thanked the borough for its support. Council President Riley Cross said he had spoken with Lance Greer regarding a civil case involving Hometown Heroes and said Lance would not be accepting money from that case. Council President Cross later reiterated that the borough is not connected to Hometown Heroes though it supports the project's aims.

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.; an executive session on real estate, personnel and contracts (with no public action) followed from 6:58 p.m. to 7:42 p.m.