The Reader Beat: City Council Notes from January 7, 2025

Following our notes taken during the City Council meeting held on Jan. 7 at 9:00 a.m.

I attended the City Council meeting on Jan. 7 at 9 a.m. The council began with electing the new President and Vice President for 2026. Tyler Titus was nominated and unanimously elected President. Titus is the first transgender person to hold the position in the commonwealth. "I am hopeful and honored that you all have entrusted me," they said. Kathy Schaaf was nominated and unanimously elected Vice President. During public comments, Constituent and former City Councilman Michael Keys discussed renovating local parks and potentially installing a recreational center on the south side of Erie. "I know we have a grants department now so it's my request that we put this back on the forward agenda," Keys said. Council discussed the following ordinances: 

• Amending the Traffic Code of the City of Erie by the installation of stop signs at six intersections. The City Traffic Engineer is authorized and directed to install appropriate stop signs at the following locations passed unanimously.

1.) W. 27th Street & Emerson Avenue – stopping W. 27th Street 

2.) W. 27th Street & Washington Avenue – stopping W. 27th Street 

3.) Maple Leaf Drive & Pebble Drive – stopping Pebble Drive 

4.) Cold Spring Drive & Washington Avenue – stopping Cold Spring Drive 

5.) Cold Spring Drive & Melrose Avenue – stopping Cold Spring Drive 

6.) W. 28th Street & Melrose Avenue – stopping W. 28th Street

• An ordinance appropriating $742,429.00 from the City of Erie ARP Fund Interest to be used to fund the Capital Improvement Fund passed unanimously. 
• An ordinance amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Erie, by changing the classification and/or the rezoning of the property located at Hillcrest Avenue, which is adjacent to a property located at 4125 Peach Street passed unanimously. The Hillcrest Avenue property will be rezoned from R-1 to C-2, which is the same classification and/or zoning of the adjacent property located at 4125 Peach Street.