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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
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Erie City Council unanimously OK's zoo property transfer to Erie Events. What it means
Erie City Council has unanimously signed off on transferring just shy of 100 acres of city-owned property, including the Erie Zoo, to Erie Events as part of a long-range plan to help the financially-struggling zoo. Council signed off on a resolution approving the transfer at its regular meeting on Aug. 6 in the Bagnoni Council Chambers at City Hall, following more than an hour of public comment about the issue. Prior to the start of the meeting, City Council members agreed to shelve another zoo-related resolution, one that proposed pledging city support of at least $500,000 a year for the zoo moving forward. Council members, in their pre-meeting caucus, decided to pull that resolution from the agenda because there was not enough support on the seven-member panel for it. Councilmember Tyler Titus, the panel's liaison to the zoo, said prior to council's vote that the city 'is in no position to be able to meet the zoo's needs. Nor should we try. 'I do not think Erie Events has an easy road ahead of them on this,' Titus said. 'But I think this resolution puts us in the best position.' Council's vote now allows the city, zoo officials and Erie Events to finalize a new arrangement regarding zoo operations. Zoo officials had stressed urgency in recent weeks because of the zoo's precarious financial condition. In a letter to Erie Mayor Joe Schember dated Aug. 1, zoo officials gave formal notice of their plans to terminate a zoo management agreement that's been in place since 1964. The letter, signed by Erie Zoo CEO Melissa "Roo" Kojancie and Jeffrey Beach, chairman of the Erie Zoological Society, sets Aug. 1, 2026, as the formal termination date for that agreement. Zoo officials had also said publicly that absent a new arrangement regarding zoo operations, they would begin to slowly shut down the zoo and have animals transferred to other facilities. Gus Pine, Erie Events' executive director, attended City Council's meeting. Asked about the vote, Pine said: 'Honestly, I'm even more happy as a citizen of this community. If the zoo goes away, it's a hit to our morale as a community. It's the type of amenity that is critical to attracting businesses and our quality of life. I'm really pleased that we could collaborate and make this happen.' A proposed new agreement Both resolutions were proposed as city officials, Erie Events and zoo officials are working to come up with a solution to the zoo's financial crisis and create a plan for managing the zoo moving forward. Officials from Erie Events — which owns and operates the Warner Theatre, Bayfront Convention Center, UPMC Park and two bayfront hotels — have said the organization is willing to provide $500,000 a year in operating income and serve as a partner to stabilize zoo operations. In exchange, both zoo officials and Erie Events asked the city to transfer ownership of the zoo, Glenwood Golf Course, Flo Fabrizio Ice Rink and Glenwood Park to Erie Events. The agreement, in total, involves 96 acres of property. The resolution council approved Aug. 6 does that, with various conditions/restrictions on how the property can be used. Those restrictions include: Erie Events must commit to providing a $500,000 yearly payment to the zoo. Erie Events 'shall maintain a zoo on the property.' Erie Events must commit to maintaining a nine-hole golf course within those 96 acres, and the city would continue to operate the course. Erie Events would lease the golf course back to the city for free. Erie Events is prohibited from selling or transferring 'any portion of the property without the approval of the city of Erie.' Erie Events may not sell or transfer ownership of any portion of the Property without the approval of the City of Erie. If Erie Events fails to maintain a zoo and a golf course on the property, 'ownership of the Property shall revert back to the City of Erie.' The city would continue to operate Glenwood Park's picnic grounds and horseshoe courts, which Erie Events would lease back to the city for free. Erie Events will take over operation of the Flo Fabrizio Ice Center. Utility costs and insurance for all 96 acres would become the responsibility of Erie Events. During the citizen comment portion of City Council's meeting, a number of people, including current Erie Zoo employees, asked council to help ensure the zoo's long-term future by transferring control of the property to Erie Events. One of those who spoke was Darren Julius, a zookeeper at the Erie Zoo for the past eight years. Julius said the zoo creates more than $21 million in annual economic impact for the city, and it supports and sustains more than 200 city jobs, according to a 2022 zoo study. Transferring property to Erie Events, Julius said, makes sense in terms of tourism. 'Erie Events is much more sustainable,' said Julius. 'We've seen what they've done with the Warner Theatre and all the properties that they manage.' City Council reacts Council President Mel Witherspoon said he initially intended to vote 'no' on the Erie Events resolution, because he was wary of giving up city-owned property. 'I don't believe this is a good business deal, from a business perspective,' Witherspoon said. However, discussing the issue with his colleagues convinced Witherspoon that Erie Events' involvement was best for the zoo's long-term sustainability moving forward. Councilman Ed Brzezinski seconded that sentiment. Brzezinski said "we had to come to some kind of conclusion' regarding the zoo, and direct city funding regarding the zoo was not the answer. The property transfer and a collaboration with Erie Events, Brzezinski said, makes the most sense. 'Let's give it to the pros,' Brzezinski said. Councilwoman Jasmine Flores said the zoo is a community asset that other municipalities should also support. 'It is a regional asset and the county should help support (it),' Flores said. 'We know that everyone uses the zoo… I think it's going to be time that we find ways to make sure that everyone's paying their fair share for these amenities.' Councilwoman Kathy Schaaf agreed. 'I really think it does take a community collaboration… All of our surrounding municipalities really should invest in the zoo as well,' Schaaf said. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at@ETNflowers This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Zoo: City council approves land transfer to Erie Events Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Erie City Co. votes to update ‘Tenant Bill of Rights' to remedy unfair landlord costs
Erie City Council passed an amendment Wednesday morning to the ordinance that has been referred to as the Tenant Bill of Rights. Council members call it a small change that puts the city's law in line with the commonwealth's. Fire marshals can now give citations to drivers parked by fire hydrants, in fire lanes It involves a $15 application fee that potential tenants pay landlords when they apply for housing. Under the old ordinance, if they were turned down, the tenant would get that fee back. Erie County Council votes on appropriation of ICE funds But since landlords do background checks that cost money to conduct, if they turn a tenant down, they'd be taking on that fee regularly. 'This ordinance not only is putting everyone's rights in one spot, but it's also allowed more conversations around the education on what renters need to know and what landlords need to know to work together. It's creating a new collaboration that we didn't see happening before,' said Erie City Council member Tyler Titus. Titus said this was about rectifying an unfair step for landlords and that no other language in the ordinance was impacted. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie City Council approves home rule charter ordinance. What's next?
City of Erie voters will get to weigh in on whether the city should study a new form of government. Erie City Council, during its regular meeting on April 16, voted 5-0 to give final approval to an ordinance regarding what's known as a home rule form of government. The ordinance, which was approved 5-0 on second reading without discussion, does not put home rule in place. Instead, it authorizes the creation of a ballot question that would ask city voters if they want to launch a nine-member commission to study the possibility of moving to a home rule charter. The question is expected to be on the ballot for the Nov. 4 municipal election. Further, citizens interested in serving on the home rule commission would have to be elected to those posts in relation to the ballot question. Those candidates will be required to collect 200 non-partisan signatures on nominating petitions, similar to what other candidates for elected office are required to do. Erie County Director of Elections Tonia Fernandez said the date to start circulating those petitions, and the deadline for submitting them to county elections officials, has yet to be determined. City Council gave preliminary approval to the ordinance on April 2. City Council rejected a similar ordinance in January after some members said they felt the issue was being rushed. Council members Tyler Titus, Ed Brzezinski, Jasmine Flores, Maurice Troop and Kathy Schaaf voted for the ordinance. Two of their colleagues, Council President Mel Witherspoon and Chuck Nelson, were absent Wednesday. If city voters approve a home rule study, the commission would compile a public report on what home rule government might look like in Erie and make a recommendation on whether or not to move forward with home rule. Then Erie voters would either approve or reject home rule through a second ballot question. The entire process could take years. Please enable Javascript to view this content. The process would essentially empower city government to create its own constitution with greater flexibility and independence regarding issues such as city operations, taxation and executive/legislative structure. Erie currently adheres to the state's Third Class City Code, with an optional charter, in terms of how its government operates. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, 'the basic authority to act in municipal affairs is transferred from state law, as set forth by the General Assembly, to a local charter, adopted and amended by the voters." Home rule municipalities also have significant latitude to craft their own governmental rules in various areas, according to DCED, except where specifically limited by state law. Nelson is among those who has advocated for the home rule study, saying the move would give citizens more say on how the city is governed and give city officials more ability to craft laws and make decisions based on needs specific to Erie. Voters in Lancaster recently approved a home rule study. Two other third-class cities in Pennsylvania, Reading and Allentown, adopted home rule decades ago. Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@ Follow him on X at @ETNflowers. This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie voters will get chance to weigh in on home rule charter
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Erie Community Foundation donates $15,000 for LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention
Advocates of the LGBTQ+ community say it's more important now than ever before to provide safe spaces for everyone. That's why the Erie Community Foundation continues to support the work that goes into it as well. Erie Land Bank changing policies to help drive development Statistics show that LGBTQ+ youth have higher risks of anxiety, depression, and suicidal tendencies than other groups. And investments into nonprofits like Compton's Table are what can help tip the scale in the other direction. 'Over the past several months we've seen several executive orders that have really been targeting the trans and the queer community stripping us of rights that we've been fighting for for centuries and decades really,' said Tyler Titus, the founder of Compton's Table. Titus said a statistic that keeps them up at night is a staggering 50% of LGBTQ youth have regular instances of suicidal ideation. And it's why groups like the Erie Community Foundation are continuing to support the work of nonprofits like Compton's Table. State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro named Advocate of the Year for anti-SLAPP law 'The LGBT fund is a really special group of people who are so passionate about turning around, taking their own experience as community members, or their passions as allies and using that to drive improvements for the LGBTQ+ community and this grant is a really perfect example of that,' said Olivia Burgess, director of collective giving for the Erie Community Foundation. The community foundation's LGBT fund is awarding $15,000 to Compton's Table to support youth programs. True North is a four-session life skills and empowerment program meant to help LGBTQ people ages 16-24. It gives them skills in things like career development, budgeting, self-care and beyond promoting confidence and resilience. Chat n' chill is what it sounds like, a safe space for peer groups to connect for open conversations regarding whatever might be happening in their lives. 'It was life-changing. I was able to learn life skills like how to cook, clean, be a good roommate and live with other people. They break it down into these nice bite-sized lessons each week so it's not too overwhelming for people. Especially when you're young, queer, and maybe even neurodivergent, it can be harder to absorb information like that,' said Sunny, a mentor at True North for Compton's Table. 'We need to create these people where can just show up as their full authentic self and just do things that teen and young adults do,' Titus went on to say. LECOM Health offers Erie's first treatment for Alzheimer's, dementia Titus said studies show that all it takes is just for one adult to be accepting of that individual and the risk of suicidal ideologies decreases by 40%. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Yahoo
Erie Police Department awarded $1M in grants for new tech
The Erie Police Department is getting money from the federal government that will help officers track and reduce crime. In today's day and age, technology is advancing in both the ways officers respond to and solve crimes. According to the deputy chief, this funding is much needed for the department. Bayfront traffic light near full opperation Erie City Council met wednesday morning and on top of their agenda, four grant ordinances were on the line for final passage. 'We had money that is being allocated through grants and just making sure that went through was a unanimous passage,' said Tyler Titus, vice chair of Erie City Council. Half of those grants approved were for the Erie Police Department. Over the last few years, there has been an increase in auto theft. This is believed to be due to trends on social media app TikTok where younger generations find different ways to steal vehicles. Elm Street Walmart reopens, police continue to investigate following bomb threat The city applied for the Encouraging Innovation Program through the Department of Justice and was one of three municipalities in the nation to be approved. One million dollars will be used to fund an additional auto theft detective position for their unit. 'We have a technology coordinator now that we didn't have 20 years ago. With technology changing obviously we as the police department need to change as well,' said Rick Lorah, deputy chief of police for the City of Erie. This is a full-time position for three years and will include travel for extra training as well. Another grant that was approved during the city council meeting was an upgrade to police equipment which included license plate readers integrated into the dash cam. Nearly $82,000 will be used for the vehicles' computers and batteries for handheld radios. Deputy Chief Lorah said these technologies can be expensive but important to keep up on. 'LPRs, in-car cameras, body cams has not only helped us solve some major crimes in the city but it's helped a lot as far as prosecuting criminals that are committing crimes in the city. Keeping up with technology is an extremely important aspect of policing in America as well as here in Erie,' Lorah went on to say. City of Erie Streets Dept. introduces 'pothole hotline' to help clean up winter damage Deputy Chief Lorah said things like this usually take time but they plan to post the position soon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
