[{"_1":2,"_86":-5,"_87":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6316999,"mediaKeyId","2375120-108da55ef7755f71ebb9e814b7fbec62","parentId",2375120,"title","Council members report on coke-plant redevelopment, water reserve growth, blight reviews and warming-center needs","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1711000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375120-108da55ef7755f71ebb9e814b7fbec62&start=1711&end=1711","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375120-108da55ef7755f71ebb9e814b7fbec62/thumbnail_1711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316999/Erie/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/Council-members-report-on-coke-plant-redevelopment-water-reserve-growth-blight-reviews-and-warming-center-needs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316999-8267f1ce266ffce90c4a7e596504695c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204904&Signature=QmaJdCaCy4PRaDzMvtS-2oRESmQwPf8WrmwYZOKceqi6tcjehIqwjJz7x5mMpL4FoXbn98kqpmGenXDr82A4Yr5TQywcyXLTkKyxiyIkpyligp-9elDDenzRrkNDPx9MtNXhzxz56P01Tc-JA~6OEnUBbhzmnsA3m-LhVtPXxBTfaCxVRHoBo705MF-PC~K500nVRR7YqraHlKu9GPNniVh8zXrWD70XeMmEPhMXEoexuhpngdfd~xMy~JYobfiC97P6H4gHOi3p6WMtfuuvpbXMrRvxsfl1g4zajGnv4jUBi-7OqbZaHMzV5CG7dBvHro-~gpMHhHY1q0OmbuyHYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Erie, PA","date","2025-02-22T12:20:26.54Z","article","Council members used committee reports at the Feb. 19 Erie City Council meeting to update colleagues on a range of community issues, including Port Authority planning for the former coke plant site, the status of the city's water reserve fund, blighted-property reviews and proposals for expanded warming-center services during the winter cold.

Council Member Nelson said the water reserve fund — a city account used for capital expenses that the state permits to hold equities — has doubled over the past three years because the council has avoided withdrawals previously taken from surplus funds. \"It has doubled in 3 years,\" Nelson said, adding that historically the council has taken about 4% annually (\"usually been about 400, a little less than 500,000 a year\") and that future capital draws will depend on market conditions.

Council Member Nelson’s remarks were made during a committee-report update on the fund and its role covering capital expenses. He noted the council has not taken withdrawals from the reserve in the last three years and that reopening withdrawals would increase available capital depending on market performance.

Council members also reported on Port Authority-led outreach regarding the former coke plant property. A council member said Port Authority staff are engaging neighborhood meetings and collecting input on cleanup needs and redevelopment options; the meeting record indicates the site cleanup and securing funding are prerequisites for transformation but does not specify a timeline or particular proposals.

On blighted properties, Council Member Perez said the Blighted Property Review Committee met and rescinded two properties from its list; Perez described the rescissions as positive examples of properties returned to productive use. She said the committee continues to add properties as appropriate.

Multiple council members reiterated calls for expanded warming-space capacity during the cold period between Feb. 15 and March 15. Councilwoman Catherine and Council Member Perez described demand for warm daytime spaces and services such as showers; Perez referenced Erie City Mission’s existing shower program for women on Tuesdays as one instance of services currently available.

Mayor Schoenberg and Attorney Betts also offered brief updates: Attorney Betts noted a business opening on the Bayfront and upcoming community events; the mayor said CDBG applicants were interviewed but that award amounts remain uncertain because allocation from HUD has not been finalized.

These committee-report items were presented for information; the transcript records no formal council direction to staff, nor does it record motions adopting new policy in these reports.

Ending: Council members closed with community announcements, including an upcoming Winter Carnival in Perry Square and an art exhibit at the Women’s Club of Erie.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - February 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","During committee reports at the Feb. 19 meeting, council members updated colleagues on Port Authority redevelopment planning for the former coke plant, the water reserve fund's growth, blighted-property actions and calls to expand warming-center capacity amid a severe winter.","taxTitle","Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2967,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6317004,"Erie City Council approves two appropriations, reads five ordinances on first reading",87,763000,850000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2375120-108da55ef7755f71ebb9e814b7fbec62&start=763&end=850","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2375120-108da55ef7755f71ebb9e814b7fbec62/thumbnail_763000.jpg","/articles/6317004/Erie/Erie-County/Pennsylvania/Erie-City-Council-approves-two-appropriations-reads-five-ordinances-on-first-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6317004-b867ae3cad7f0b14b79f9a3d3b38805c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204904&Signature=GTv-AExMXngKimoKAhOppa1n85p9CLYpqp5zuLg~CCa9SO2R8XF9jNYVuh1-omh16vOHplQC0Oe6k9C9bHkydKzz83R5YIxmlRJNzxNaOfO~zFvcnfyiRnOaeC2EtLEUXvE73HRlYjj~iN~dmWZwrqXNCpOPyrGe8SpMZx9UL9~hADw8mTItxWtg2mnWI19Qkk6oihVVXlgrJmQbKcu-fm~fNC3IGCnvOrqtxTHWDqTvtaX2VPjvNpGaCLcxMapzMYDy4M1xu7RUKEEniGfni7HSxwUj93G~rp1mBh89OF51z4wcRgrrYyZ00W2W8DtEZXKOFZegQsbLaJya3kj8SA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Erie City Council on Feb. 19 approved two appropriation ordinances and read/adopted four additional ordinances on first reading that fund police, streets and recycling programs and authorize grant-funded equipment.

The council voted unanimously, 6-0, to finally pass Official File Ordinance 11-20-25, appropriating $15,000 from unappropriated and unanticipated revenue donated by Mercy Terrace Apartments for use by the Bureau of Police, Fire and Streets. The body also voted 6-0 to finally pass Official File Ordinance 12-20-25, appropriating $200,000 from a Pennsylvania recycling grant for related expenditures.

Council members then read and adopted four ordinances on first reading by unanimous votes. Those measures included an appropriation of $40,000 from Erie Insurance for the Bureau of Police (Council file 16-502), a $127,000 grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the Department of Community and Economic Development to fund a police crisis communications vehicle (Council file 16-503), an ordinance to edit and incorporate certain ordinances into the codified ordinances of Erie (Council file 16-504), and a $50,000 appropriation from a Community Partnerships Program grant administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for unspecified expenditures (Council file 16-505).

The measures were moved and sponsored as recorded in the meeting. Official File Ordinance 11-20-25 was sponsored by Council Member Schauff (mover); the record does not specify the second for that motion. Official File Ordinance 12-20-25 was sponsored by Council Member Schauff and seconded by Council Member Flores. Other sponsors and seconds were recorded in the meeting text as noted in the actions record below.

Votes at a glance
- Official File Ordinance 11-20-25 (appropriation $15,000; source: Mercy Terrace Apartments) — final passage: 6-0 (Brzezinski, Flores, Nelson, Shoff, Troop, Witherspoon) — approved.
- Official File Ordinance 12-20-25 (appropriation $200,000; source: Pennsylvania recycling grant) — final passage: 6-0 (Brzezinski, Flores, Nelson, Shoff, Troop, Witherspoon) — approved.
- Council file 16-502 (appropriation $40,000; source: Erie Insurance) — read and adopted on first reading: 6-0 — first reading adopted.
- Council file 16-503 (appropriation $127,000; source: grant from Commonwealth via Department of Community and Economic Development for a police crisis communications vehicle) — read and adopted on first reading: 6-0 — first reading adopted.
- Council file 16-504 (codification/inclusion of certain ordinances into the codified ordinances of Erie) — read and adopted on first reading: 6-0 — first reading adopted.
- Council file 16-505 (appropriation $50,000; source: DCNR Community Partnerships Program grant) — read and adopted on first reading: 6-0 — first reading adopted.

The measures that were finally passed will take effect according to the city’s usual ordinance-adoption rules; the meeting record did not specify different effective dates. Several of the items are grant-funded and therefore contingent on receipt of the listed funds and any conditions imposed by the grantor agencies.

Council members casting recorded affirmative votes in the measures were Brzezinski, Flores, Nelson, Shoff, Troop and Witherspoon; Council Member Titus was absent. No recorded votes against or abstentions were announced in the meeting transcript.","At its Feb. 19 meeting, the Erie City Council finally passed two appropriation ordinances totaling $215,000 and read/adopted four other ordinances on first reading, including grants and code updates.","actionData","errors"]

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Council members report on coke-plant redevelopment, water reserve growth, blight reviews and warming-center needs

Erie City Council approves two appropriations, reads five ordinances on first reading