Ed Brzezinski

The 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan for the City of Erie, Pennsylvania, outlines a five-year strategy to guide the use of federal HUD funds, including CDBG, HOME, and ESG. The plan prioritizes increasing access to and quality of affordable housing, providing housing and services for homeless individuals, improving public facilities and infrastructure, delivering essential public services, eliminating blighted influences, and fostering economic development. The overarching goals are to provide decent housing, enhance the quality of life and living environments for low- to moderate-income residents, and generate economic opportunities through sustainable development and empowerment to achieve self-sufficiency.

The meeting commenced with roll call and the approval of the agenda, which included the addition of the Keystone Planning Grant under new business and modifications to an existing new business item regarding extreme weather and trash pickup. The January 2026 meeting minutes were approved. Subcommittee updates were provided for the single-use plastic bag ordinance, noting continued survey work and pending alignment with the Mayor. The Dark Sky subcommittee discussed next steps, including connecting with Pittsburgh government resources and scheduling a March 6th follow-up meeting for subcommittee members. There was discussion regarding the scope of the dark skies ordinance versus bird safety initiatives. Old business included finalizing and sending a letter to Mayor Develin. The LCAP updates detailed a productive meeting with Penn State students and department heads regarding project deliverables, which include securing a Keystone grant for steam vent repairs at city hall, solar/green roof considerations for the fire station, energy saving contracts, facility benchmarking, and a fleet electrification study. The prior $3 million grant for electric garbage trucks was noted as being returned due to manufacturer delays and financial feasibility issues.

The meeting focused on budget discussions, specifically comparing the City's structure to a 2A City (Scranton) regarding budget amendments. Key discussions involved the Mayor's proposed budget, noting that while inflation caused increases in some areas, finance charges remained flat for the fifth consecutive year, though some fees increased to cover rising costs. The presentation reviewed the Mayor's office budget, highlighting a slight decrease in budgeted personal expenses, with savings primarily attributed to changes in how Group Insurance and Deferred Comp were budgeted. The Office of Communications budget review introduced the new Communications Director, Rob Lee, and detailed anticipated savings due to not recurring the expense for two cameras purchased last year. Discussions also covered salary adjustments, including merit-based increases for advanced degrees or increased responsibilities, and concerns about attracting talent amid inflation when starting salaries are budgeted conservatively. The Clerk's office budget review showed many line items remaining the same, with an expected increase in Education and Training due to new council members. Increases in Advertising and Other Services and Charges (specifically for eCode documentation fees) were noted. A significant discussion point in the General Government budget was the calculation of employee payouts based on known retirements, the necessity of funding studies (such as a housing strategy), and concerns raised regarding in-lieu tax payments made by entities like tax-exempt organizations (e.g., Mercyhurst University, Parking Authority, School District) compared to current economic conditions.

The session was dedicated to reviewing the proposed budget, beginning with general rules and moving department-by-department. A significant discussion focused on the City Council budget, specifically regarding unspent funds allocated for professional services and the potential need to hire a financial consultant. Members discussed the existing reserve fund of approximately $11 to $12 million and whether portions could be utilized. There was an extended debate regarding salary increases for management and non-bargaining unit employees, with a recommendation made to institute a freeze on management salaries due to raises consistently exceeding the Consumer Price Index without corresponding performance reviews. Discussions also covered historical budget adherence, the need for ongoing training, particularly in finance technology, and inquiries regarding staff retirements and projected salary impacts for future planning.

The committee discussed scheduling for future meetings, aiming to move to the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM, potentially at the Leaf Education Building at Frontier Park to accommodate recording capabilities. Discussions focused heavily on planning for the Urban Forest, including how to proceed with creating a comprehensive plan and conducting an inventory of existing trees. Members debated whether to prioritize the overall plan or the inventory first, agreeing that the initial step should involve creating a 'plan to make the plan,' which incorporates the inventory process. The committee also addressed member recruitment, noting the need to replace departing members and exploring potential candidates, including Master Watershed Stewards and university sustainability coordinators. There was a discussion about seeking external assistance for the large undertaking of developing the Urban Forest plan and identifying funding sources for this work.