[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6545121,"mediaKeyId","4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6","parentId",4097172,"title","Council approves consent items","audioSeconds",39,"startMs",1026000,"endMs",1065000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6&start=1026&end=1065","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6/thumbnail_1026000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6545121/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-consent-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545121-f1788eed701a2dd55a9af39e6d4eb3e8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145150&Signature=lsLg8t0Dn90U-OjKvCsu4dDQsJnfKIbVwOfpgW5mWaqLbTWSc4dwuklq4EfJ~c1TtKTQPzSSAvh-cV2yF-mqU6ewAYWBkbCLAnHPG5I9tJvN7nH2ZjRajqAuK9ZvR2Z6iNgWdSn-XrMauK78Nj6wccwSkqYIEsqnPgtVDIvnr3cFOsGScYchoiO8PAh5vz5I~Dsp4DtsqTqFZ21rC-e2XIZ~luZBHHEVvqDz1wJfulFV2ZfOvjo5XzT2h7jyfyxsATS4FTnFPaYZLsnTN-ZZ7DvnxQ2528aB6Q98e0UsbAy5ZJoJNg2gpiJqDxYn3GDEpLtnDuod7grliwi50BIJPg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State College City, PA","date","2025-06-16T00:00:00Z","article","Council approved the consent items attached to the June 16 agenda after staff recommended approval. A councilmember moved to approve, another councilmember seconded, councilmembers responded “aye” on a voice vote and the mayor declared the consent items passed.

Why it matters: Consent-agenda approvals typically bundle routine administrative items and contracts and clear them for implementation without separate debate. The borough’s staff had indicated the consent materials began on page 5 of the meeting packet.

Procedural note: The transcript records the motion and a voice vote but does not record the names of the mover or seconder or an itemized roll-call tally. Council then proceeded to official reports and correspondence and later adjourned the meeting to a work session by a subsequent motion, also approved by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","6/16/25 State College Borough Council Regular Meeting & Work Session","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the meeting’s consent agenda by voice vote after staff recommended approval; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.","taxTitle","State College City, Centre County, Pennsylvania","taxId",12571,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6545126,"Residents urge borough to address hazardous street trees after April storm; raise sewer-line damage and cost concerns",277,658000,935000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6&start=658&end=935","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6/thumbnail_658000.jpg","/articles/6545126/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-urge-borough-to-address-hazardous-street-trees-after-April-storm-raise-sewer-line-damage-and-cost-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545126-935aff4ff2abc054ce7f9f906ebb6530/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145150&Signature=iESOrLcF5k03qa3rmmVdJET6K9IKSeHK8moD9Fy0bYccCG8IqxkSOeQAObbbLX5WewGGhPnRRf4mxt7ONDamJPDzIVPpfWcaeSz1Ktr0tAqXz1SaRpO1jhkC16d7DRWcQrGV5-f2N8AX15WFTdCFYQjkLkvwxcTBm1c0YmQo99tWWXzHWqgjslNCBS83JeV8ZJos~sbEHQ64zQvp5j6VRSZjrwDLVUDurS4GqpOlgCoEnB~2sXqcUGC69S~bolC-cXb2FlWss~mHDsjIlFb4vwCQehLQ1ZdaBLgO681p1FxY7EdWGEOG3CsIyHEIscMkImBKPalZbJVi6hDwfTSHdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the June 16 public hour, resident Madhu Suri Prakash of 415 East McCormick Avenue described repeated sewer-line damage she attributes to roots from a maple tree planted between sidewalk and street decades ago and asked the borough to remove the tree. Prakash said the tree appears to be in decline and that recent high winds in April 2025, which she said included gusts up to 80 miles per hour, increased concern about the risk of the tree falling.

Leslie Beers, who said she runs a home business and is a friend of Prakash’s, told council that a large branch has fallen near a client’s car and that College Township previously declined requests for removal because of finances. Beers asked whether the pattern — residents bearing private repair costs for trees planted near sewer lines — should be revisited.

Why it matters: residents framed the issue as a public-safety concern (risk of falling limbs and prior storm damage) and a household financial burden (costs to repair private sewer laterals when tree roots are implicated). Council thanked the speakers and indicated staff had received related documentation and email correspondence.

Details and council response
Prakash said she has lived at her address for 41 years and that the tree’s roots have repeatedly interfered with her sewer line. She asked the borough to “give immediate attention and the tree removed.” Beers described near-misses during the spring storm and said repeated requests to other municipalities had met limited success because of funding constraints. Council members acknowledged the comments, noted an email copy of the complaint was in staff hands, and thanked the speakers for reporting the situation. No formal council action or vote occurred during the public comment period.

No formal policy change or direction to staff was recorded in the meeting minutes; residents asked publicly for expedited attention and for the borough to consider whether current cost responsibilities for repairs and tree management are appropriate.","Two residents told council during public hour that a maple planted near a curb has damaged a private sewer lateral and is at risk of falling; they urged prompt removal and asked the borough to consider policy changes about who bears repair costs.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6545131,"Council reviews parking capital-improvement projects, considers gateless garages and camera enforcement program",431,3768000,4199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6&start=3768&end=4199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6/thumbnail_3768000.jpg","/articles/6545131/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Council-reviews-parking-capital-improvement-projects-considers-gateless-garages-and-camera-enforcement-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545131-883c1157fe71c7b5c42f19a27acd2fec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145150&Signature=I9FxjP7ICReEVjrKC7kVMpGQ8bRSzN9SXWuXrkZjjCfMjIeJaPsorNH95qls2ixBi~212S-xiv4GkYgf0t0m4r4AIqIvUPKXIntuvXpdMvyI8fxb0YizgCnQMV6uoSBXrNRnKPpHWF40hM5IEV32mmLZP9AdgrFMtPy-i2kp9puI7GvAF2TAln6KLh5hemH1nYcCAarHyvGLdw~5ctkePUn9lkeMBtViz-LVz32ej~rPg0DBwwTEs5qTB3W~qhbV7k2~ojaZDhonqnA2HP-W~Vj6NZaJYRX3yk4UCkVz-e6ZJtvn-0pph9q~LMuspmK5YyntPCG68eXbsLUZQFwwFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the June 16 work session, State College Borough council members and staff reviewed the parking section of the borough’s draft five-year capital improvement plan, covering six projects ranging from surface-lot repairs to new gateless parking technology and potential land acquisition for a future parking facility.

Why it matters: downtown parking policy affects local businesses, traffic flow and municipal revenue. Council members said the projects could improve convenience for visitors and delivery services while also creating new fee revenue streams if the borough adopts monetized enforcement.

Key projects discussed
- Beaver Avenue lot reconstruction: Staff reported the downtown Beaver Avenue surface lot needs pavement and pedestrian-safety repairs; the total project cost was estimated at about $200,000 (including engineering). The lot’s narrow spaces and tree-root damage were noted as contributors to deterioration (source: Tom Brown).

- Beaver Garage lighting upgrade: Council reviewed a proposal to replace high-pressure sodium and metal-halide fixtures with LED fixtures to save energy. Staff estimated roughly 150,000 kWh saved annually and presented a cost estimate in the $400,000 range based on prior vendor bids.

- Loading-zone camera enforcement and monetization (Automotus): Staff presented a camera-based invoicing system for loading zones and fire lanes used in other cities. The consultant’s cost estimate to deploy the system downtown was roughly $518,991; the same analysis estimated potential first-year revenue near $937,202 if fees were set similar to larger cities. Staff said on-street meters and loading-zone enforcement revenues are recorded in the general fund, while garage revenues go to the parking enterprise fund.

- Gateless garage and license-plate recognition: The council reviewed a gateless conversion and full license-plate recognition and digital-payment system as a modernization option. Staff said the technology is widely deployed and could reduce gate repair costs and improve convenience.

- Parking garage maintenance and replacement timing: Staff presented maintenance and life-extension options for Beaver and Fraser garages; council discussed trade-offs between extending garage lifespans (8–10 years) and acquiring land now for a long-term replacement. Staff noted the CIP is a planning document and projects would be budgeted only after further decisions.

- Potential land acquisition for a new facility: Staff said property owners of a building at a potential replacement site (the meeting referred to the business at that location) have approached the borough and indicated a willingness to sell. Council discussed timing and whether the borough should acquire land now to avoid future price increases.

Council concerns and follow-up
Councilmembers asked for clear signage and public-awareness steps if automated camera enforcement proceeds; staff said the vendor’s proposal includes a public-awareness campaign and sample signage. Councilmember Herndon said monetized short-term loading zones could help local retail by keeping curb space available for deliveries. Council asked staff to continue refining cost estimates and to include parking items in upcoming budget discussions; a public hearing on the CIP was scheduled in July, with adoption contemplated in August.

No formal votes were taken on these items during the work session; staff will bring refined cost estimates, sample signage and implementation timelines back for future decisions.","In a work session the council evaluated six parking projects in the draft capital improvement plan including Beaver Avenue lot repairs, Beaver Garage LED lighting, automated loading-zone enforcement, gateless license-plate systems, garage maintenance and potential land acquisition for a replacement facility.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6545134,"Center County Solar Group partners sign contracts; 13.51 MW Route 58 project in Clarion County moves toward construction",862,2072000,2934000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6&start=2072&end=2934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/4097172-f604ece664dec03cdcd0a17f7d61e8f6/thumbnail_2072000.jpg","/articles/6545134/State-College-City/Centre-County/Pennsylvania/Center-County-Solar-Group-partners-sign-contracts-1351-MW-Route-58-project-in-Clarion-County-moves-toward-construction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6545134-f5cbc5254265460d0f18c37f68be9ec9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771145150&Signature=R4Gp7I3ho4gc-pm6mqYEESEY4~6Fv6gmhlImQX44ZPcc8aE1KcG6C9HFkZHxeNZEzNBmqKkIfaAm1MGHDlJJwaAOIQEqx17KZ8MCuWzrdSmkPNxpFp6uSRXIZ1yF3qS6dNAd-qyJswOX8pGSzM0BpQlnN2GVzHm6FQ222J6JKqu2u2yxfq68n8ByNbydHDvrfcZN~Qz0pF2U3lkc-5YV8yp4A2GIs2AsUgbNQnJkjXu2GrXqsunLdR21DQI1hgO208QrK-rRo9UFN~1akQ8Ni4W~MTL6T2OHQVkuE8OllujsRXiqsaQ9f12wifkp7-fjZazN7x3JgkBbjMNW8U5Zww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State College Borough staff and council members reported on June 16 that all 10 participating municipal partners in the Center County Solar Group (CCSG) have signed the power-purchase agreement (PPA) documents for a solar project identified in the PPA as “CL Route 58.” The PPA describes a 13.51 megawatt AC facility sited in Sligo, Clarion County; the documents were signed locally by participating municipalities as of the meeting date.

The CCSG update, delivered by Tom Fontaine, said the project appears ready to proceed once developer and retailer signatures are obtained. The PPA lists a June 30, 2025 start-of-construction target but the borough and staff noted there are no financial penalties tied to missing that start date; a separate October 2026 completion date carries penalties. Fontaine said the Route 58 project received preliminary land-development approval from the Clarion County Planning Commission on Nov. 16, 2022, giving developers five years — until Nov. 2027 — before requiring new approvals.

Why it matters: municipal officials emphasized that the CCSG PPA locks a long-term electricity price that the borough and partners expect will save money compared with volatile market rates. Council members repeatedly framed the initiative as both a climate leadership project and a fiscal hedge against rising energy costs.

Details from council and the working group
Peter Buck, who identified himself as chair of the working group and facilities-committee member in the school district, said the PPA terms are locked in the signed local documents and that the project will allow the participants to claim electricity from a single renewable facility. “The rate year 1 for the PPA itself is about 4.6¢ per kilowatt hour. And year 15, it’s about 5.7¢ per kilowatt hour,” Buck said. He and other council members stressed those PPA numbers do not include transmission fees and retail adders that can vary independently.

Fontaine told council the CCSG consultant will send contracts to the developer Prospect 14 and to Direct Energy (NRG) for their signatures; once those signatures arrive, the developer is expected to remove the project’s suspension in the PJM interconnection queue and provide a construction schedule. Fontaine said he had “no information to indicate” the October 2026 completion requirement was in jeopardy.

Council asked several procedural and transparency questions. Members requested public access to the final signed documents once returned; Fontaine said those are public records and will be posted when available. Council also pressed whether any municipal staff had signed beyond their authority; Fontaine said he was not aware of any unauthorized signatures and that municipal staff, school district staff and COG staff had coordinated the signings.

Location and land-use questions
Councilmembers and the public raised questions about the project site and local impacts. Fontaine and Buck said the Route 58 facility is in Clarion County (Sligo) and not on Center County farmland; they said it will be built on reclaimed strip-mine land. Councilmembers noted the project had been discussed previously with other candidate sites (including projects in Walker Township) and that the working group had ranked proposals before moving forward with the Route 58 site.

Next steps and oversight
Fontaine said GreenSky (the project consultant) will coordinate final signatures and convene the new CCSG board to set meeting logistics and a construction schedule. Council agreed to request monthly updates from staff on the project’s status. Buck said the working group expects additional external recognition (awards) now that the local signatures are complete.

No formal council vote was taken on the project during the June 16 meeting; the presentation was an informational update and staff noted future decisions (permits, construction approvals) will follow established regulatory processes.","Council received an update that all municipal partners have signed power-purchase agreement documents for a 13.51 MW AC solar project in Sligo, Clarion County, with construction scheduling and completion deadlines still pending.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves consent items

Residents urge borough to address hazardous street trees after April storm; raise sewer-line damage and cost concerns

Council reviews parking capital-improvement projects, considers gateless garages and camera enforcement program

Center County Solar Group partners sign contracts; 13.51 MW Route 58 project in Clarion County moves toward construction