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Harrisburg City Council - Work Session 06/17/2025

1:12:22EnglishTranscribed Jun 15, 2026
0:18

call our work session to order. Thank

0:20

you for your patience. We were

0:22

experiencing some technical

0:24

difficulties.

0:27

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

0:29

role?

0:31

Miss Daniels.

0:42

Miss Davis, present.

0:45

Miss Green, present. Mr. Jones, here.

0:49

Miss Rose, present. Oh, present. Mr.

0:53

Rodriguez, present. Miss Hill, present.

0:57

Thank you.

0:59

We have a number of committee business

1:01

items this evening. We will begin with

1:03

the administration committee. We have

1:06

three resolutions for discussion. The

1:08

first resolution 34 of 2025.

1:13

Mr. Trudale, could you please read it

1:15

into the record?

1:17

Resolution 34, 2025, a resolution

1:20

appointing Yavon Marie Jackson to serve

1:23

as a member of the board of the

1:25

Harrisburg Housing Authority. Thank you.

1:27

We have resolution 35 of 2025. Mr.

1:31

Trudale, could you please read it into

1:32

the record? Resolution 35, 2025, a

1:36

resolution appointing Laura Robinson to

1:38

serve as a member of the board of the

1:40

Harrisburg Housing Authority. Thank you.

1:43

Um, I would like to discuss both

1:45

resolution 34 of 2025 and resolution 35

1:50

of 2025 together. Um,

1:54

are Miss Jackson and Miss Robinson

1:56

present? Thank you. If you wouldn't mind

1:59

coming over here to this microphone,

2:01

please.

2:11

Yes, please.

2:26

Good evening, ladies. Thank you for

2:28

joining us this evening. if you wouldn't

2:30

mind taking a few minutes just to

2:32

introduce yourselves.

2:35

Can you hear me from here? No. Can you

2:37

move the mic? You have to move me now.

2:40

Yes, that's better. Thank you. My name

2:42

is Ivonne Marie Jackson.

2:45

I'm a Harrisburg resident all my life.

2:49

I've worked for Highark Blue Shield for

2:52

31 years.

2:55

I've worked for the American Legion for

2:57

almost 15 years.

3:00

I've had other jobs, too.

3:03

Um, I'm a resident of Jackson Towers on

3:07

North Sixth Street,

3:11

and I would like to be a member to help

3:15

our seniors in our building.

3:22

Thank you.

3:26

Hello, my name is Laura Corey Robinson.

3:29

Um, I've been a resident and living in

3:31

Harrisburg for the last 56 years, which

3:34

is all of my life. Um, I've worked at

3:37

the post office for 16 years. Later left

3:42

office and transferred over to DDSP

3:45

um, logistics over in New Cumberland,

3:48

I'm sorry. And I worked there until I

3:50

retired in 21. And I've of course I've

3:53

had other jobs off and on here and

3:56

there. Um I would like to become a

3:58

member to not only help our community

4:01

and to address some of the issues. Um

4:05

being as though I used to live in

4:07

Mcclelay Street apartments. I seen how

4:10

it was then, how it is now, and I am

4:13

very dissatisfied on that. So, I would

4:16

like to be able to help the community so

4:19

we can make a better living space for

4:21

some of our lowincome people and, you

4:23

know, get it together the way it should

4:25

have been a long time ago.

4:28

Thank you. Thank you both very much. Um,

4:31

I don't have any questions. I'm going to

4:33

open the floor to my colleagues who may

4:35

have some additional questions for you.

4:38

Um, I'd like to begin with our building

4:41

and housing committee chair,

4:44

Councilwoman Davis. Any questions? Thank

4:46

you. Thank you, President Hill. Good

4:49

evening,

4:51

Miss Jackson and Miss Robinson. Thank

4:54

you for being here this evening and

4:56

thank you for your willingness to serve

4:58

our seniors. Um, they're my passion.

5:02

Also,

5:04

Miss Jackson,

5:06

what specifically do you believe that

5:09

you can do to help? or is there anything

5:12

in particular that you're wanting to see

5:16

done within the Harrisburg Housing

5:18

Authority? Anything in particular?

5:21

Personally, I would like for the housing

5:24

authority to listen to our seniors to

5:29

let them know exactly what they need.

5:33

One problem I do have at the moment, we

5:36

have no evacuation plan for Jackson

5:39

Towers and that really upsets me.

5:44

We have bought it up many times when the

5:48

other CEO was in charge and nothing was

5:51

done.

5:54

And we have a lot of people in

5:55

wheelchairs, walkers.

6:02

Also,

6:04

I want our community to really become a

6:07

community. You know, we have some

6:10

stagment within our building.

6:14

You know, it's no offense. The blacks

6:17

are here, the Puerto Ricans are here. I

6:20

want us all to come together

6:22

and our residents relations, excuse me,

6:26

they help somewhat, but they also make

6:30

many mistakes

6:32

and I just want to help our people.

6:39

Thank you. And you're you mentioned your

6:42

building. What building are you? I'm in

6:44

Jackson Towers. Jackson Towers. Okay.

6:48

Okay, thank you, Miss Robinson. Same

6:52

question.

6:55

Um, for me, I I want to help not just

6:58

Jackson Towers, like all of our low

7:01

income. I ride through the city all the

7:03

time. I I see where a lot of our

7:07

lowincome properties, you know, aren't

7:10

being upkept. You You know, I I visit

7:13

quite a few people and talk to them. You

7:16

see the some of the maintenance problems

7:18

aren't being addressed, you know. So, I

7:21

want to make sure that we can have them

7:23

in there where they can live, where they

7:25

can come to start coming to some of

7:27

these type of meetings where there are

7:29

problems where they can address the

7:30

board themselves, you know, so

7:32

therefore, you know, we can try to get

7:34

some things done. Um,

7:37

I I don't know what the city's been

7:40

doing thus far as far as, you know,

7:43

everything that they do as far as making

7:44

sure that the properties are up kept and

7:47

managed well, but I don't from the looks

7:50

of the buildings. It's it's just

7:52

horrible. It's horrible. Like I said, I

7:55

I used to live there and you see so much

7:57

damage and I just want to get us back so

8:01

we as a not only as a community because

8:04

a lot of times some of the crime comes

8:06

from those very neighborhoods. So if

8:08

they don't you know if your living

8:10

conditions aren't right it it's

8:12

horrible. I mean, I can just from where

8:14

I live at now, I recently went outside

8:16

and did a lot of work outside. And the

8:18

one thing that I noticed is all the

8:20

neighbors talked about how lovely it

8:23

looks, you know, how if if you give a

8:26

person I I firmly believe if you give a

8:28

person a place that they can be prideful

8:31

in, they'll take better care of it, you

8:34

know. So, I I want to do everything I

8:36

can. I don't know all of the ins and

8:38

outs of it. I've been, you know, reading

8:41

up and trying to learn, you know,

8:43

because I want to be able to give back

8:44

to my community. Almost every job I've

8:46

ever had, I I try to give back. So, I'm

8:49

retired now, so I I really want to dig

8:52

in and be able to help the city as much

8:55

as we can.

8:58

Okay. Thank you very much. Um,

9:01

can I have both of your contact

9:03

information before you leave for either

9:06

at the end of this meeting? Um,

9:09

we have had some difficulties in other

9:14

buildings and those problems were

9:17

addressed. Let me assure you that the

9:19

city does care. Um, so thank you for

9:24

coming down again and I will work with

9:26

you from here going forward as the chair

9:29

of the building and housing committee.

9:31

Thank you so much. Thank you for your

9:33

time. Thank you, President.

9:36

Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Daniels, not

9:39

sure if you can hear us. If you can, do

9:42

you have any questions?

9:52

Okay, I know she's experiencing some

9:54

audio issues. She wanted to try the

9:57

first round of questioning. Um, Vice

10:00

President Green, any questions? Thank

10:02

you, President Hill. Thank you both for

10:04

being here tonight. Uh thank you for

10:06

your willingness to serve. Uh you know,

10:08

it takes a a special person to be

10:10

willing to volunteer their time to to

10:12

help their community. So, thank you for

10:13

even reaching out and wanting to do

10:14

this. I don't really have many

10:16

questions. The one question is how did

10:17

you hear about the board and why did you

10:19

want to join?

10:22

I just heard word of mouth within our

10:24

building.

10:26

Uh I'm not saying I'm a nosy person, but

10:29

I just happen to hear it. So I said,

10:32

"Why not try?"

10:37

I heard from someone that previously

10:40

used to be on the board. Um, we used to

10:43

talk a lot about a lot of the things and

10:45

some of the complaints she would have

10:47

and she would talk to me about it and

10:49

and she had told me that she was, you

10:52

know, going to step down or I'm not sure

10:55

of her specifics because she didn't go

10:57

into great detail on why she left, but I

11:00

just looked at it as an opportunity to

11:02

be able to give back. And so I said,

11:04

well, I'm going inquire about it and see

11:06

what I can do and if anywhere I can

11:08

help.

11:10

Thank you very much. That's the only

11:11

questions I have. Okay. Thank you,

11:14

Councilwoman Ros. Any questions? Thank

11:16

you, President Hill. Good evening to you

11:18

both. I'm happy to see you both here.

11:20

You are both staples in our community

11:22

and um it's good to be nosy, so that's

11:24

okay.

11:26

Um actually, the question that I did

11:28

have or both of mine were asked and

11:31

answered. I think that you both would

11:33

bring a great deal to the um housing

11:36

committee or the housing board. I think

11:38

um especially since you live in some of

11:41

these facilities or you have lived in

11:44

the affordable housing um that you would

11:46

be able to bring not only your

11:48

perspective but your experience and then

11:51

you hold relationships with people who

11:53

are there and I I agree as well that um

11:56

if you are given nice things if you are

11:58

shown what to do you will protect those

12:00

things because they're important to you

12:02

and that where you live doesn't dictate

12:04

how it should look. Um, that's a big

12:07

thing and I think those are changes that

12:08

we can make and um, having an evacuation

12:11

plan is definitely important. So, thank

12:13

you for bringing that up. Um, so, um, I

12:16

don't have any questions. I want to

12:18

thank you both for coming here and being

12:20

willing to volunteer on this board

12:21

because that's what we need. So, thank

12:23

you.

12:25

Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. Any

12:28

questions? Thank you, Madam President.

12:30

Uh thank you Miss Jackson and Miss

12:31

Robinson for your willingness to serve

12:33

um in any capacity on the board.

12:35

Sometimes it could be challenging but

12:37

your passion rains through and your

12:39

words and your testimony. So I thank

12:41

you. Um not too many questions just one

12:43

for each of you. Uh if you can let's say

12:47

focus in on one objective that you want

12:49

to accomplish during your tenure on the

12:51

board. What would that be? We can start

12:53

with Miss Jackson

12:57

is to get the city to listen

13:01

and to try to help us maintain our

13:05

building to keep it beautiful

13:08

and to help our seniors.

13:12

That's my main concern, a senior because

13:14

I am a senior. Thank you for that.

13:19

For me, the main objective would be for

13:21

all across that everybody has affordable

13:24

housing that they can afford. That's uh

13:27

of course is never going to be no place

13:30

all maintenancefree, but where it's

13:33

where the building is upkept, you know,

13:36

up to codes and have, you know, a decent

13:38

place to stay because you have not only

13:40

your seniors, you have a lot of children

13:42

in these places, you know, where we can

13:44

try to get them together where we don't

13:48

have to worry about so much of the crime

13:50

or someone getting hurt living in their

13:52

own home because there's things that

13:53

need to be fixed. Thank you. Thank you

13:56

um both and uh look forward to working

13:58

with you in the near future. Thank you.

14:02

Thank you, Councilman Jones. Any

14:04

questions? Oh, yes. How are you this

14:06

evening? Good. Seemed like I just talked

14:09

to you guys.

14:11

Um my question is uh more so for Mr.

14:14

Grover. um there won't be any conflict

14:17

of interest but you see any conflict of

14:19

interest with her being a resident at

14:23

as and I haven't read in a little while

14:25

so my my memory is not perfect but I

14:27

believe the particular statute for the

14:29

housing authority actually requires one

14:31

of the members to be a resident so we're

14:34

required to so so the residents have a

14:36

say okay and I don't want to re thank

14:39

you I don't want to reiterate but you

14:41

know I I would like

14:44

a clear answer on the why.

14:49

The why. The why. The why. Not the YMCA.

14:53

I know. I know.

14:55

My why is because I am a senior.

14:59

And I want us to live

15:03

just as good as anyone else.

15:06

And to have the the uh what's the word

15:11

I'm looking for?

15:13

the

15:16

things to do that other people can do

15:19

and enjoy it. Like I know we we do have

15:23

a board now finally in Jackson Towers.

15:26

So we're working on that now. And I got

15:29

to ask you this. Is that a conflict of

15:31

interest? Because I'm the treasurer on

15:32

the board at Jackson Towers. Would that

15:35

be a conflict of interest? It's a legal

15:37

question. Yeah. I I think you have to

15:39

ask that question to the solicitor for

15:42

the board. There may be things you have

15:43

to recuse yourself from when you vote,

15:44

but but the solicitor for that board

15:46

could tell you that.

15:52

For me, the why is because I once, like

15:55

I said, it stated earlier on, I once

15:57

stayed in uh low housing. Um, I'm a

16:01

definite product of how things can turn

16:04

around where you're no longer living in

16:07

sub subsidized housing. For me, I stayed

16:10

there. I mean, it was a great way to be

16:14

able to now be in the process of buying

16:17

my home. You know, I look at how good it

16:21

when it first when I first moved in MAC

16:23

Street Apartments, it was absolutely

16:25

beautiful. Um, the doors were secured.

16:29

you know, you didn't have to worry about

16:30

people coming into the buildings. Even

16:33

out the southside, like I have a friend

16:34

that lives out there and and those

16:36

projects. And at the time, you know,

16:39

when they first started, they were all

16:41

beautiful. Now, everything seems to all

16:43

of the low incomes around here seems to

16:45

be run down on top of rundown. the

16:49

maintenance, you have maintenance issues

16:51

galore, you know, and I I just feel as

16:55

though they if we don't have the right

16:57

people in play to be able to solve solve

17:01

these things, come to you all and be

17:03

able to solve these things, it's only

17:05

going to get worse. So, for me, the why

17:08

is because I think people can really do

17:11

what what it was set up originally to

17:14

do, be able to be a stepping stone to go

17:16

to the next level in your life.

17:19

Okay. And my other thing would be um um

17:22

I could hear passion in both of you when

17:25

in regards to um some of the housing

17:27

situations as we see in the city of

17:29

Harrisburg, but I would also want to

17:31

make sure that we're not going to just

17:32

rubber stamp anything. Oh, no. No. Look,

17:36

that's what I'm saying. Accountability

17:39

is is is serious. you know, this is a um

17:42

a big role, you know, and we want to

17:45

make sure, just like you said, that if

17:47

you see these conditions and you see

17:48

something going wrong, that you are

17:50

willing to stand up and and use your

17:52

voice and be vocal for everyone else as

17:54

well. Um, no matter what side it's

17:57

coming from, you want to make sure that

17:58

we're holding people accountable, and

18:01

that's my concerns. All right. For me, I

18:04

al I agree with you wholeheartedly. Um,

18:07

anyone that knows me, of course I know

18:09

none of you really know me well, but I'm

18:12

a standup person. Can't nobody get in my

18:14

ear, I'm going to do what's right for

18:16

the community as a whole because I I'm

18:19

I'm a part of that community. And it

18:21

even though I may not live in low income

18:24

housing at this moment, but it affects

18:27

all of us because if it starts there and

18:30

it comes at some point, it's going to

18:32

come out of that neighborhood. So yeah,

18:34

accountability. I think everyone should

18:37

be held accountable. If you do

18:39

something, you know, you see something,

18:41

you say something.

18:43

All right, no further questions.

18:46

Thank you. Let's try again. Councilwoman

18:48

Daniels, do you have any questions?

18:57

Yes, you're unmuted, but we can't hear

18:59

you. I'm sorry.

19:08

Are you interested in calling in?

19:15

I don't know. She can hear us.

19:35

just whether the nominees could um flag

19:38

areas of conflicts of interest.

19:57

Me neither.

20:00

They neither of them have conflicts of

20:02

interest.

20:23

Okay, thank you.

20:26

I just wanted to review um two things

20:29

before we um move these resolutions.

20:37

The housing authorities law as amended

20:40

provides for a five member board made up

20:42

of residents of the city who shall serve

20:45

staggered five-year terms under the

20:49

statutory framework provided through the

20:51

housing authorities

20:53

law. The current staggered terms of

20:55

board seats should expire in 2025,

20:59

2026,

21:00

2027,

21:02

2028, in 2029.

21:07

So, I just wanted to note um and remind

21:11

everyone that there are three current

21:14

board members. Miss Gloria Martin

21:16

Roberts was appointed through resolution

21:18

28 of 2024 and her term expires on June

21:23

30th, 2029.

21:26

Miss Sheila Bennett was appointed

21:27

through resolution 46 of 2022

21:32

and her term expires on June 30th, 2027.

21:37

Mr. Jackary Zachary Jackson was

21:40

appointed through resolution 29 of 2024

21:44

and his term expires on June 30th, 2026.

21:50

Um so the two openings

21:52

will end in 2025 and 2028.

21:57

Um but

22:00

um as you notice the expiration dates

22:04

are June 30th. So the person appointed

22:08

for June 30th, 2025,

22:11

your term is going to end in 2030

22:14

because otherwise you would only be

22:17

appointed for like 5 days.

22:20

So I just wanted to note the the term

22:23

the expiration uh dates for the the two

22:25

ladies. Um, Miss Robinson, your term

22:28

will expire um in 2030. And then Miss

22:32

Jackson, your term will expire in 2028.

22:37

Okay. So, just wanted if God's willing.

22:39

God's willing. He is. So, um, I just

22:43

wanted to note that for your reference.

22:46

Are there any other questions, comments,

22:48

or concerns related to resolutions 34

22:52

and 35 of 2025? Yes, President Hill. Um,

22:57

I just wanted to ask, have you reached

22:59

out to any other organizations for any

23:03

assistance or anything? Just curious.

23:08

When you say reached out to any

23:10

organizations, you mean as far as for

23:12

this um within the city for help with um

23:16

some of the um problems that

23:19

you're experiencing?

23:24

Well, all I know is I had a meeting with

23:27

the housing authority maybe a year ago

23:31

and like I said, Senor was still in

23:33

charge and

23:37

nothing seemed to

23:39

it went above their heads cuz Senor knew

23:43

he was leaving

23:45

and the person in charge now he he just

23:49

sat there. He he didn't have much to say

23:51

at all. And we asked about the

23:54

evacuation plan then and nothing has

23:57

been done. Nothing.

24:00

Thank you for that information. Thank

24:02

you again for coming. Thank you.

24:07

Thank you, ladies. Uh, I move to add

24:10

resolution 34 of 2025 and resolution 35

24:14

of 2025 to our next legislative session

24:19

agenda for a formal vote. Thank you for

24:21

joining us this evening. Thank you. Next

24:24

for discussion, we have resolution 44 of

24:27

2025. Mr. Trudale, could you please read

24:30

it into the record?

24:32

Resolution 44, 2022, a resolution

24:35

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

24:37

negotiate and enter into an access

24:39

control agreement with the Commonwealth

24:41

of Pennsylvania acting through the

24:44

Department of General Services for that

24:46

portion of Giger Street situated between

24:48

Front and Second Streets in the city of

24:50

Harrisburg.

24:53

Thank you.

25:00

Good evening, gentlemen. You going to

25:03

provide an overview of resolution 44 of

25:06

2025, please?

25:11

I think they need the people who wrote

25:13

it to do the overview. Oh, sorry. I

25:16

didn't know. They just they're the

25:18

appropriate people to talk about the

25:19

street and the process. Um but but as

25:22

the council's aware, a number of

25:24

officials from the state reached out to

25:26

a number of officials from the city

25:28

about closing that street after the uh

25:31

firebombing of the governor's mansion.

25:34

Um they have in fact already blocked it

25:36

off um plus part of the property on the

25:39

other side of that street uh for

25:41

whatever renovations they're doing. Um

25:44

the formal document from DGS is a is a

25:48

security and maintenance agreement that

25:50

they will take responsibility for

25:51

security and maintenance of that

25:53

property. Um uh from between front and

25:57

second street in order to better secure

25:58

the mansion. I think Joel could talk

26:00

about where that goes into like the city

26:02

street maps. Sam can talk about the

26:05

mayor's uh authorization to move

26:07

forward.

26:09

Okay. Thank you. Um let's begin with the

26:12

mayor's authorization please to move

26:15

forward with this request. Yeah I just

26:18

Sam Sakovski BIS interim business

26:21

administrator just want to express that

26:23

the mayor is in 100% supportive of this

26:26

um um process and I think she's she

26:30

thinks it's very important that that the

26:33

state is able to secure the mansion

26:35

concerning what happened. So, uh, we

26:37

encourage the council to, uh, city

26:39

council to fully support this and she's

26:42

on behalf on on board 100%. So, thank

26:46

you. Good evening. Joel Slater, city

26:50

engineer. Uh, Geiger Street from Front

26:53

Street to Second Street is a relatively

26:57

unused alleyway. I I don't see any issue

27:00

from a transportation standpoint of

27:03

having that closed for a a long-term

27:05

solution. Um,

27:08

and agreements such as this are similar

27:11

to agreements between the Commonwealth

27:14

and the city for numerous other things

27:16

throughout the city such as uh

27:18

maintenance and and utility agreements.

27:21

So, this is really nothing new on on the

27:23

city's behalf and as

27:27

um steward of the the rightway, I also

27:30

uh support this endeavor.

27:34

Thank you very much. It seems like a

27:36

no-brainer to me in an effort to um

27:42

collaborate with the Commonwealth to

27:43

protect our governor. So, I don't have

27:45

any other questions or comments. I will

27:48

open the floor to questions from my

27:51

colleagues. I'll begin with our public

27:54

safety committee chair, Councilman

27:56

Jones. Do you have any questions? No.

27:59

Thank you, President Hill. Of course, it

28:01

would fall on me. Public safety, right?

28:05

Uh, no. The only thing I see though

28:07

there for some, and I can't really

28:09

picture the street,

28:12

uh, Geer, I mean, where you want to

28:13

block it off at. Um, but I'm I'm looking

28:18

at one of the uh the conditions that if

28:20

for some reason we may need the street

28:22

again, we can reverse this. Right.

28:26

So, no further questions. We will all be

28:29

judged by this. Yeah. Right. For some

28:32

strange reason, I said thank you. No

28:35

further question. Councilman Rodriguez,

28:37

any questions? Thank you, Madam

28:38

President. No questions for me. Thank

28:40

you. Okay. Councilwoman Ross, any

28:42

questions? Thank you, President Hill.

28:44

evening to you both. Thank you for being

28:46

here this evening. Um I don't have any

28:48

questions. It's there to um further

28:50

secure the governor. So there's no

28:52

questions for me. Thank you, Vice

28:54

President Green. Any questions? Thank

28:56

you for being here tonight. I don't have

28:58

any questions. Thank you,

29:02

Councilwoman Davis. Any questions?

29:06

Thank you, President Hill. No questions.

29:09

Thank you. And I believe we've lost

29:12

Councilwoman Daniels by Zoom and by

29:15

phone, so I don't believe she had any

29:17

questions. Well, if there is no further

29:19

discussion, I move to add resolution 44

29:22

of 2025 to our next legislative session

29:26

agenda for a formal vote. This concludes

29:29

the business of the administration

29:31

committee.

29:32

Oh, next we have community and economic

29:36

development.

29:37

We will begin discussion with resolution

29:41

56 of 2024.

29:44

Mr. Trudale, could you please read it

29:46

into the record? Resolution

29:49

56, 2024, a resolution approving the

29:52

preliminaryfinal

29:54

subdivision and land development plan

29:56

submitted by Midtown Redevelopment LLC

29:59

to consolidate and subdivide various

30:01

vacant parcels into multiple project

30:03

sites to develop single family and

30:05

multifamily dwellings, commercial space,

30:08

and accessory parking along with

30:10

associated improvements in the area

30:12

bound by Riley Street, Falton Street,

30:14

Safeford Street, and James Street.

30:19

Thank you. Good evening, Mr. Knight. Um,

30:22

if you wouldn't mind providing a brief

30:24

overview of resolution 56 of 2024,

30:29

please. Sure. Um, and to catch council

30:32

up as to, you know, how we got here. Uh,

30:34

this was, um, reviewed initially at the

30:37

planning commission meeting at the same

30:38

time as the capital town homes, uh,

30:40

which I believe council reviewed at the

30:41

end of last year or November, I think.

30:44

Um at the time uh however um the

30:46

applicant uh was not able to attend the

30:48

meeting and kind of um granted or

30:51

requested a indefinite continuence of

30:54

the case and um so that's gotten back us

30:57

back to where we are now uh back on the

30:59

agenda. Um and uh this uh project is uh

31:04

similar to uh the Capitol Town Homes uh

31:06

project uh but it has a few differences.

31:09

Um it involves a uh development across

31:13

uh seven different blocks um on 11

31:16

different project sites. Um, so in that

31:18

way it's uh uh similar to uh the capital

31:21

town town homes one uh sorry Capital

31:23

Heights um but it also uh includes um

31:28

some uh uh commercial uh standalone

31:31

commercial components um and uh it's a

31:35

bit more uh integrated within an

31:37

existing um community neighborhood uh

31:39

where it's more bit more of an infill

31:41

than uh on big vacant blocks. Um and so

31:44

uh this particular project uh involves

31:47

the um development of uh 62 units across

31:51

23 individual buildings and

31:53

approximately 5,500 ft of commercial

31:55

space. Uh there are three uh multif

31:57

family dwelling 12 unit multif family

31:59

dwellings uh within um the project

32:02

footprint. Uh all of them are kind of

32:04

fronting onto Cder Street. Uh there are

32:07

also uh three separate blocks of um or

32:11

sorry two yeah three separate blocks of

32:13

uh town homes uh six town homes each. Um

32:16

and then there's a uh food hall I guess

32:19

would be the best way to say it. Um

32:21

fronting on Safeford Street uh at the

32:23

southern end of the project site. Um and

32:26

a 44 space parking lot uh directly

32:29

adjacent to that. Uh the project did go

32:32

through uh again at the same time as the

32:33

capital town homes had similar uh zoning

32:36

relief requests for um the use for

32:38

encroachment into setbacks uh for some

32:40

relief from off streetet parking. Um

32:43

although uh a majority of the parking um

32:45

is provided in that large uh 44 space

32:48

parking lot and that was designed to

32:50

kind of limit the amount of curb cuts on

32:52

um the different uh project sites areas.

32:55

Uh and also to ensure that the um land

32:58

was being used in the most efficient way

32:59

possible for building footprints and

33:01

yards instead of just little parking

33:03

pads and and curb cuts and driveways

33:04

everywhere. Um uh overall um again the

33:09

project will add about 62 units um in

33:12

scattered sites across uh the two blocks

33:15

uh just to the north of um where Safford

33:18

Street is. So a little bit north of uh

33:21

the uh Broad Street Market area. Um and

33:24

um it will hopefully uh bring about uh

33:28

some uh new uh development there that

33:32

allows the residents of the homes to be

33:34

supportive of uh the various uh

33:36

businesses in the area um including the

33:38

Broad Street Market. Uh when that uh

33:40

gets up and uh reconstructed uh this

33:43

will help uh to um ensure that the

33:46

vendors can get back on their feet uh

33:48

hopefully in a uh more uh timely manner.

33:52

Um the planning commission recommended

33:55

that city council approved the request

33:58

uh with the following conditions. Uh the

34:00

applicant should design all the proposed

34:02

residential units within the project to

34:03

be at least visitable if not fully ADA

34:05

accessible including as aspects such as

34:08

zeroep entries for the proposed town

34:10

homes. Uh to ensure the units are

34:12

accessible to as much of the population

34:13

as possible. Uh the applicants should

34:15

ensure that all new vehicular access

34:17

points feature a driveway curbcut design

34:19

as opposed to a street curbcut design.

34:21

Um and that's pretty common across uh

34:23

the various developments that the

34:25

planning bureau reviews. Uh the

34:27

applicants will coordinate with the

34:28

department with the city engineers

34:29

office on new or reconstructed sidewalks

34:31

and pedestrian markings such as

34:33

crosswalks. Uh the planning bureau

34:34

recommends that the applicants construct

34:36

sidewalks the full width of the public

34:37

rightway along Cder Street and North uh

34:41

Fourth Street specifically. And um there

34:43

will obviously be uh this will obviously

34:45

generate significant amount of new

34:47

pedestrian um activity um especially on

34:50

Calder Street because many of the uh

34:51

project sites front that uh road and uh

34:54

ensuring that we have uh both um ADA

34:57

compliant sidewalks but also uh new

34:59

crosswalk markings and signage where

35:01

necessary uh will help the ensure uh

35:03

safety of all users of the road. Uh, the

35:06

applicant should consider the inclusion

35:07

of secure ground flooror bike storage in

35:09

the proposed apartment and mixeduse

35:10

buildings and will include bike racks

35:12

near the entrances of the commercial

35:13

components of the project as required

35:15

per section 7-327.3E

35:18

of the zoning code. Uh, plan B would

35:20

recommend that such parking be located

35:21

near the main entrance and sheltered if

35:22

possible. Uh the applicants will provide

35:24

formal landscaping and phototric plans

35:26

to inform discussions with the city

35:28

arburist and to uh confirm consistency

35:30

with the applicable discussions with or

35:33

the applicable requirements of the

35:34

zoning code uh such as the fence

35:36

regulations and the environmental

35:37

performance standards. And uh finally

35:39

the applicants will coordinate with the

35:40

department of public works to uh confirm

35:42

the appropriate size, location and

35:44

design of refuge collection particularly

35:46

for the multif family dwellings and

35:48

mixeduse buildings. Obviously, the town

35:50

homes would just have single individual

35:51

uh bins. Um but the 12-unit um apartment

35:55

buildings may require a dumpster or they

35:58

may require um a multitude of uh

36:01

individual bins. That's kind of up to

36:02

the uh uh Department of Public Works and

36:05

their ability to access, you know, a

36:07

site such as a dumpster. Uh the planning

36:10

commission recommends the city council

36:12

approve the request for the following

36:13

reasons. Uh the applicants have received

36:15

approval from the zoning hearing board

36:16

for the various relief requests needed

36:18

to affectuate the project as proposed

36:20

and has met the conditions of those

36:21

approvals in the subsequent lot

36:22

consolidation and land development

36:24

submission. Project will enhance the

36:26

character of the neighborhood by

36:27

replacing vacant lots which with

36:28

buildings that reflect the height,

36:30

massing and configuration of the

36:31

surrounding community and with

36:33

commercial space tailored to small

36:34

businesses similar to those along North

36:36

Third Street. It will enhance pedestrian

36:37

infrastructure throughout the project

36:39

area. The proposed residential units,

36:41

both the town homes and the apartment

36:43

buildings, will feature two-bedroom

36:44

units, which are in higher demand than

36:46

some of the studio one-bedroom

36:47

developments that have been more

36:49

commonplace in recent proposals. And

36:51

finally, the proposal will add new

36:52

residents to the neighborhood and

36:53

activate the street and surrounding

36:55

community on nights and weekends and

36:56

contribute to a growing customer base to

36:58

support local businesses.

37:08

Okay. Thank you, Mr. Knight. Good

37:10

evening. Would you like to add anything

37:12

to Mr. Knight's overview?

37:14

Good evening. Yes, thank you. My name is

37:16

Chris Bryce. I'm the owner of Midtown

37:17

Redevelopment. I'm here with my

37:19

professional engineer, Christian Koba,

37:21

who made it at the last minute. Um, and

37:24

uh, no, I agree with everything Jeff

37:26

said. We're excited to move forward. Um

37:29

we actually um are working with HA to

37:31

have the lots transferred over uh

37:34

imminently so we can build we we

37:36

actually think we can break ground in

37:38

November for the first 12 units. So

37:39

we're super excited. Um that'll be uh on

37:43

uh Calder Street and and so we actually

37:47

have plans to do the the first 312 units

37:51

in succession. So we we think that we'll

37:54

be able to get the first three 12 units

37:56

done within the next 12 months and we

37:59

sort of have a game plan to move forward

38:01

through all of marketplace and Capital

38:02

Heights. Um it's been very difficult to

38:04

figure this whole thing out but I think

38:06

we've kind of cracked the code and now

38:08

we're moving forward.

38:11

Okay. So I just wanted to Mr. Knight

38:13

provided an update of how we arrived

38:15

here. So, you think that um I guess the

38:19

extension of time provided enough time

38:21

for you to revamp your timeline to move

38:25

forward with the project? Yeah. Well, we

38:27

we had some uh we had a pivot a little

38:29

bit. We I had a builder partner who I

38:31

lost and uh so now I' I've

38:35

board knows Justin Heinley. Justin

38:36

Heinley is a uh um is a professional

38:41

friend and he's we've worked together

38:42

and we found other uh partners to to

38:45

work with. I'm always going to be a

38:47

member of the team that's building, but

38:49

we have other financing, we have um

38:51

other interested investors and so that

38:53

was sort of the reason for the delay um

38:56

to be completely honest with you. No,

39:00

thank you. I appreciate that. I just

39:02

wanted to clarify and for anyone

39:04

listening if they remember the other uh

39:06

project. Okay. I don't have any other

39:09

questions. I'll open the floor to my

39:11

colleagues who may have some additional

39:12

questions for either of you. I'll begin

39:14

with Councilwoman Davis. Any questions?

39:18

Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

39:21

everyone. Thank you for being here today

39:23

this evening.

39:25

I was just thinking about the residents

39:28

that currently live in that

39:31

neighborhood. How would this project

39:34

affect them? Um,

39:38

so this has been going on for a long

39:40

time. I don't know if I should be

39:41

embarrassed about it or not, but we did

39:42

we put a lot of time into meeting with

39:45

the neighbors. So, um I think it was

39:48

actually during COVID this all started

39:50

and we actually put up tents on all of

39:52

the building sites and we advertised

39:54

that we would be there to ask uh answer

39:57

questions and a lot of neighbor

39:59

neighbors especially in the marketplace

40:01

development came and spoke with us and

40:03

we answered their questions. It's all

40:04

very transparent because we already have

40:06

all the building drawings. So, we

40:08

actually had big posters up with the

40:11

drawings of the buildings on the lots

40:12

that they would be in so people could

40:14

visualize it. And um we actually made a

40:17

lot of changes because of that input. We

40:19

were really we really wanted to go four

40:21

stories with some buildings and that was

40:24

just not something that the neighborhood

40:25

was getting behind. So, we changed to

40:27

three stories. but they are um all of a

40:31

a

40:32

size and shape that fits with the

40:34

existing neighborhood and the density is

40:36

not much greater than what was there

40:38

originally for sure. So because we're

40:40

putting town houses where town houses

40:42

were we are putting a 12-unit building

40:44

where like eight or nine town houses

40:47

would have been. So it's not really that

40:49

much different than in a matter of fact

40:50

the town houses would have had five

40:52

bedrooms and these apartments only have

40:54

two bedrooms. So and we are providing

40:56

parking as well. So, I think actually um

41:00

you know, I'm a city resident myself and

41:01

I spent a lot of time in Midtown. Um I'm

41:04

ecstatic about this. I think we're going

41:05

to have market rate building in Midtown

41:07

and we haven't had that in 30 years. So,

41:10

it's something I think to really um be

41:13

happy about.

41:15

Okay. Thank you. That's it for me for

41:17

now. Thank you. Thank you, Vice

41:20

President Green. Any questions? Thank

41:22

you very much. I don't have any

41:23

questions for you at this time. Thank

41:25

you, Councilwoman Ross. Any questions?

41:28

Thank you, President Hill. Good evening.

41:29

Thank you all for being here. Um, you

41:31

touched on what kind of my question was

41:34

uh when you said market value. So, I

41:36

I'll just extend it. Um, will it be

41:39

market value for the apartments or the

41:41

town houses or both? So, so we our

41:45

overall proposal for Capital Heights and

41:47

Marketplace includes a um 10% uh carve

41:51

out for um I guess is it low-inccome

41:54

housing? Affordable housing. Affordable

41:55

housing. Thank you. I apologize. No,

41:57

it's okay. And uh so but th those builds

42:00

are all in Capital Heights. So the

42:01

marketplace is uh all market rate. So

42:05

we're starting in Mark. So we want to

42:07

focus on the density, the highly dense

42:09

area first marketplace. And as I said,

42:11

we've got the ball rolling from an

42:13

investor perspective. And um so we're

42:16

excited about that. But then the

42:17

lowinccome facet will happen sort of

42:20

when we move into Capital Heights. And

42:22

those are all identified in our project

42:23

plan. Okay. Which was The Capital

42:26

Heights project plan was approved prior

42:28

to this. Yes. Right. Okay. And then and

42:31

and this could have been in here, but I

42:32

didn't see it. Um for the town homes,

42:35

those are Capitol Heights. So the

42:38

there's two different neighborhoods,

42:39

right? That's why heights is um does

42:41

have um some town homes, but it also has

42:44

mostly uh 12 unit apartment building.

42:46

That's what I thought. Okay. Okay. Um

42:48

and are the town homes going to be for

42:50

sale at all, or is that just to lease

42:52

and rent? Yeah. Are you pushing home

42:55

ownership? No. Well, there's no

42:57

question. Um, we do have some, um, town

42:59

homes that will be for sale. I I don't

43:02

think it's going to be many, though. I

43:04

think we'll probably have five or six

43:05

for sale. Okay. Um, and I just want to

43:07

share like it is so crazy expensive to

43:10

build building these days. It's nuts.

43:11

So, I know it's going to cost us like

43:13

close to $300,000 to build them. That's

43:16

just to build them. That doesn't mean

43:17

that like all this time, all the time to

43:19

get here, it's not even included. So, I

43:22

don't know. It just the numbers don't

43:24

work out, you know. No. Well, well,

43:25

that's why I'm asking because, you know,

43:27

um I just wasn't sure. I didn't think I

43:29

saw that in there. So, I was going to

43:31

ask if um if any of them would be for

43:33

sale. And with I know the apartments

43:35

were two bedrooms. Yes. Were also the

43:37

townhouse. When I was looking at it, it

43:39

looked like all the town homes were two

43:40

bedrooms and each had their own bathroom

43:43

and I think like a walk-in closet, but I

43:45

didn't know if I missed something. No.

43:46

So, you're exactly correct. In Midtown,

43:49

that's how they're designed. So to get

43:51

them to be affordable to build, we kind

43:53

of we made them two stories and they're

43:55

two. So they're like big apartments.

43:57

That's what I Okay, that's what I But

43:59

they're still nice. I I am I am a town

44:01

home person that likes to go three

44:02

stories up. That's just me with a garage

44:05

underneath, but I get a little, you

44:06

know, but they still look really

44:08

beautiful. It's It definitely will add

44:11

um It would be nice to not see empty

44:13

lots anymore. So I think that would be

44:16

great. I'm also a big person on QR codes

44:18

and people can put their phone out and

44:20

bring up a picture of what you're doing

44:21

so they can see what's coming. So, if

44:23

you could do that, I think that would be

44:25

great for the neighborhood so you can

44:27

say, "Hey, here's what's coming." And I

44:29

think everybody would really enjoy that.

44:31

So, thank you. No other questions?

44:35

Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. Any

44:37

questions?

44:40

No, no questions for me. Thank you for

44:41

the work thus far and look forward to

44:43

seeing the completion of the project.

44:45

Thank you. Thank you, Councilman Jones.

44:48

Any questions? No questions. Okay. Thank

44:51

you. There are no further questions. I

44:55

move to add resolution 56 of 2024 to our

44:59

next legislative session agenda for a

45:01

formal vote. Thank you. Thank you very

45:03

much.

45:06

Next, we have resolution 32 of 2025. Mr.

45:11

Trudale, could you please read it into

45:12

the record? Resolution 32, 2022, a

45:16

resolution approving the preliminary

45:19

land development plan for 555 South 25th

45:22

Street submitted by Commonwealth Charter

45:24

Academy to demolish a portion of the

45:26

existing school building on site and

45:29

redevelop the property as a cyber

45:31

charter school with a larger building

45:33

footprint and expanded site and access

45:35

improvements.

45:38

Thank you. Yes, madame council

45:40

president, if I just could mention there

45:42

is a as corrected version of this one. I

45:46

don't know if you guys have it. Um, it's

45:48

just a technical amendment in my

45:50

drafting of this legislation. I made a

45:53

mistake in the bounding properties. Um,

45:56

so if you guys

45:59

have

46:01

the correct it's linked the corrected uh

46:04

version is linked so everybody should be

46:06

able to access it. Um the language that

46:08

was corrected is in the second whereas

46:11

clause the property is bounded by um I

46:14

corrected that with the proper

46:16

information as given to me um by the

46:19

applicant. They did get it right. It was

46:21

totally just a law bureau mistake. So

46:23

it's a technical amendment. Okay. Thank

46:25

you for clarifying.

46:27

U Mr. Knight, if you wouldn't mind

46:30

beginning with our overview of

46:31

resolution 32 of 2025, please. Sure. Uh

46:35

so this one is a much more simple one.

46:37

Um it's uh basically uh the majority

46:42

demolition of the existing or the

46:44

previous uh Roman Catholic DSC school

46:46

that was on site uh because they moved

46:49

uh their uh students to a downtown

46:51

campus and um a reconstruction uh about

46:55

I'd say probably 50% or 75% larger uh

46:59

than what the existing building was uh

47:01

as a cyber charter school. Um so in uh

47:05

doing so this is not going to be a

47:07

school that uh will have students coming

47:09

every morning, teachers coming every

47:11

morning. Uh it will be very similar to

47:13

the applicants uh operations um at the

47:15

Commonwealth Charter Academy building uh

47:18

up um adjacent to the farm show if

47:20

you're familiar where that is. Um so

47:22

it'll be a lot of uh virtual learning um

47:25

areas uh and kind of some I guess

47:28

custodial staff and office workers to

47:30

support the people on site. but it will

47:32

be definitely lower impact than uh what

47:34

a traditional school might be. Um and uh

47:37

you can see uh the applicants brought a

47:39

storyboard there uh with what the

47:42

proposed design looks like. Um they've

47:45

definitely been working with us on um on

47:48

both designing the project uh to help um

47:53

uh improve the neighborhood while also

47:54

engaging the community. Um, as part of

47:57

this project, uh, one of the big things

47:58

from the city's perspective was, uh, if

48:01

you're familiar with the site, um, you

48:03

basically come into, uh, South 25th

48:06

Street on Berry Hill, uh, and then

48:07

there's two, uh, driveways on either

48:09

side of that intersection, and that kind

48:11

of creates some confusing, uh, traffic

48:13

circulation issues, uh, where there are

48:15

some, um, crosswalks and other places

48:17

where there aren't. Uh so one of our big

48:19

things was having the main entrance

48:21

relocated directly across from Barry

48:23

Hill Street to create a four-way

48:24

intersection there. Um which kind of uh

48:26

clarifies uh the movements for all users

48:29

and especially for drivers. Um and uh

48:32

they also will have a uh kind of

48:34

secondary accessory uh truck uh access

48:37

uh to the north of where that is. Um and

48:40

that's to help them u not only with

48:42

bringing in uh larger equipment you know

48:44

servers and things like that for when

48:45

the project is being constructed but

48:47

also in serving those things and I think

48:48

replacing them over the uh course of

48:50

time uh maybe bringing in some like

48:52

larger shipments of uh you know food and

48:54

other equipment onto the site. Um and

48:58

otherwise uh you know they've engaged

49:00

the community to gone out told them what

49:01

they were doing asked them you know kind

49:03

of what types of improvements they'd

49:04

like to see. Uh you may be aware the

49:06

property has been vacant for I think

49:08

probably five years or so. Um and um so

49:12

as anything new coming in there is going

49:14

to be kind of a bit of a change for the

49:16

neighbors and and the applicants were

49:17

pretty diligent about going out doing a

49:19

doortodoor uh canvasing of the

49:21

neighborhood to just tell them what they

49:22

were doing, let them know what uh

49:24

changes were going to be coming to the

49:26

uh community there. Um but overall uh

49:28

there's been a significant improvement

49:30

you know not only with uh the um

49:33

appearance of the site uh but also uh

49:35

again with the infrastructure rounding

49:38

uh surrounding it um that that

49:39

relocation of the driveway but also

49:41

they're going to be constructing um

49:43

sidewalks along the whole frontage of

49:44

the property on South 25th Street. Um so

49:47

all in all this will be a um again a

49:50

significant improvement uh for both the

49:51

site and the community and uh the

49:53

planning bureau you know would like to

49:55

thank the applicants for their um

49:57

coordination with us to make sure that

49:59

this project is you know the best it can

50:00

be for the neighborhood. Um and because

50:04

uh the applicants have addressed uh a

50:06

lot of the planning bureau's initial uh

50:08

comments uh in the project uh we were

50:10

happy to recommend an approval without

50:13

conditions to the zoning to the planning

50:14

commission. Uh and the planning

50:16

commission uh did recommend uh that the

50:19

case be that the city council approve

50:21

the request without conditions for the

50:23

following reasons. The applicant has

50:25

collaborated with the planning bureau

50:26

and city engineers office to incorporate

50:28

many of the recommendations from the

50:29

initial submission which will enhance

50:31

the property's contribution to the

50:33

surrounding community in conformance

50:34

with the comprehensive plan. Project

50:36

will result in the inind replacement of

50:38

an educational facility with proposed

50:40

changes that will bring benefits to the

50:41

city and surrounding neighborhood

50:43

including the improvement of a

50:44

complicated intersection that will make

50:45

the street safer for all users. And

50:47

finally, the applicant has engaged

50:49

residents of the surrounding

50:50

neighborhood to secure public buyin from

50:52

the community.

50:56

Thank you, Mr. Knight. Good evening,

50:59

gentlemen. If you wouldn't mind

51:00

introducing yourselves and if there's

51:02

anything you'd like to add uh to the

51:04

conversation, we would appreciate that.

51:07

My name is uh Jim Skinner. I'm the uh

51:10

facilities director for CCA. And I'm not

51:13

sure I have to say anything.

51:17

We hit everything that we're trying to

51:19

do as far as continuing basically to uh

51:24

expand our staff.

51:30

Okay. Thank you. My name is Mayor Patel.

51:32

I'm with Law Firm Patel Developers. Um I

51:35

agree. We've been working with Mr.

51:36

Knight for for several months now and

51:38

there was a lot of good back and forth

51:39

with planning commission as well. Um, I

51:42

think it is important to reiterate we

51:43

knocked on uh every home in the

51:46

neighborhood that has a line of sight to

51:48

this school and talked to 75% of the

51:51

neighbors,

51:53

showed them the plans, had great

51:55

discussions with them. A lot of good

51:57

dialogue. Everybody was in favor of

51:59

having these renovations done to the

52:00

buildings. And I do have one request.

52:03

Um, on page three of the resolution,

52:06

there's a traffic impact study

52:08

reference. I know Mr. We had met with

52:10

the city engineers and and you guys said

52:11

without conditions we could um recommend

52:14

approval. So I just wanted to see if we

52:15

can get that removed in the final draft.

52:22

Okay, perfect. Thank you.

52:26

Okay, thank you. Noted u I will I thank

52:31

you for um providing additional details

52:35

regarding the uh neighborhood canvasing.

52:38

I was curious to know how that went. So,

52:40

thank you for sharing those details. Um,

52:42

I don't have any other questions. I'll

52:44

open the floor to my colleagues who may

52:46

have some additional questions. I'll

52:48

begin with Councilwoman Davis. Any

52:50

questions?

52:52

No questions. Okay. Thank you, Vice

52:55

President Green. Any questions? I don't

52:57

have any questions. It was pretty well

52:58

summarized. Um, I look forward to seeing

53:00

something get done with the building.

53:03

Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. Any

53:05

questions? Uh, good evening. Thank you

53:07

all for being here this um evening. I

53:09

don't have any questions. Mine were

53:11

addressed. My biggest issue was just the

53:14

um traffic coming up 25th and turning on

53:17

to Berry Hill. It's very it's hard to

53:19

see sometimes around that corner. Um so

53:21

I just, you know, had just some

53:23

concerns. I know you're coming straight

53:25

out on the Berry Hill, but still cars

53:27

coming up and it's very congested in

53:30

that area. Um especially when then you

53:32

try to turn on a Hail Street, but you

53:34

did address most of those concerns. So,

53:37

I don't have any questions. Just thank

53:39

you for bringing that project there

53:41

that's been vacant. I thought I thought

53:43

longer than five years. It just felt

53:45

like nothing's been there like ever. So,

53:47

um since the school had moved out, but

53:50

thank you. Thank you, Councilman Ro,

53:53

excuse me, Councilman Rodriguez. Any

53:55

questions? Thank you, Madam President.

53:57

Um thank you all for being here this

53:59

evening. Um I have a business in that

54:01

neighborhood, so it's good to see, you

54:03

know, something going on with that

54:05

school. Um I remember actually going

54:07

there as a a polling place years ago. Um

54:10

so uh if you guys um foresee any issues

54:14

with two schools in the immediate area,

54:16

what would those be or do you not really

54:18

consider or foresee any traffic issues?

54:21

Um I I don't foresee any issues. We

54:23

won't have any buses or anything that

54:25

come

54:27

our staff. Okay. Thank you. Sure. No

54:30

further questions. Thank you, Councilman

54:33

Jones. Any questions? Uh, yes. Uh, I

54:36

lived on South 25th Street. You guys

54:39

didn't knock on my door. I'm sure I did.

54:41

You probably weren't home at the time.

54:43

Yeah. Yeah. I moved about eight years

54:45

ago. That's why

54:47

every door. No questions. No questions.

54:50

Thank you. Um, if there's no further

54:52

discussion, I move to add resolution 32

54:55

of 2025 to our next legislative session

54:59

agenda for a formal vote. Thank you.

55:02

Thank you.

55:04

This concludes the business of the

55:06

community and economic development

55:08

committee. We will now move to the

55:09

parks, recreation, and enrichment

55:11

committee. I will defer to our parks,

55:14

recreation, and enrichment committee

55:16

chair, Councilwoman Ross. Thank you,

55:19

President Hill. Um, Mr. Trudale, can you

55:21

please read resolution 43 of 2025?

55:24

Resolution

55:26

43, 2025, a resolution authorizing the

55:30

city of Harrisburg to negotiate and

55:32

enter into a lease agreement with the

55:34

Harrisburg School District for that

55:35

portion of land that houses the Jackson

55:38

Lick Pool in order to allow continued

55:40

operations as the parties work towards

55:42

finalizing the city's subdivision and

55:44

acquisition thereof. Thank you, Mr.

55:47

Trudale. Is there anyone here from the

55:49

administration who can give us more

55:51

information on resolution 43?

55:57

I I can start us off. Okay. As the

55:59

council may recall, um after some back

56:02

and forth, the city had made an offer to

56:05

acquire the property where Jackson Lake

56:07

Lick Pool is. We had found in the course

56:09

of a grant process that we actually

56:12

never owned it. And the pool's been

56:14

there since 1969

56:16

at at the most recent. Um it turned out

56:19

it's part of the larger parcel owned by

56:21

the school district and it's not

56:22

divided. So uh the school district has

56:26

uh a agreed informally to the offer to

56:29

acquire it for a dollar, take the cost

56:32

of the subdivision plan which the city

56:33

will do the survey which will draw the

56:36

new boundary lines without that fully

56:38

completed yet which just takes some

56:40

time. Uh they had asked that we enter

56:42

into a lease agreement until such time

56:45

that that is done. Um and that that

56:47

documents those will come back to you as

56:49

they come forward the subdivision plan

56:51

and the uh survey. Um so this this I

56:54

think gives everybody peace of mind at

56:56

the school district side and the city

56:57

side that um it's acknowledged that they

57:00

own the land and that we are taking

57:02

responsibility for it during the lease

57:03

period as we get ready to move forward

57:05

to divide the land and acquire it.

57:10

Thank you. And would you um Mr. Director

57:13

Baker or Director Ross, would you like

57:14

to add anything else to what Mr. Grover

57:17

said?

57:19

I think we're good. Thank you. Okay.

57:21

You're welcome. Um, I don't have any

57:23

questions. It was pretty

57:24

straightforward. I think this is

57:26

something we've been waiting for because

57:28

um with this agreement, we can then

57:30

start um also doing work on Jackson

57:33

Lick. I would Is that true? And we've

57:35

been doing some work. We had, but I

57:37

mean, we were going to renovate it

57:39

completely. Wasn't that the issue that

57:41

we couldn't renovate it completely

57:43

without some type of lease agreement or

57:46

ownership towards it? So that grant

57:48

money moved on to other projects just

57:50

because it's controlled by third

57:51

parties, right? And then that money will

57:53

have to come back as you know as as we

57:55

move forward. Right. But now we would be

57:58

able to actually utilize it. Yes. When

58:01

it comes back. Okay. All right. Thank

58:03

you. So no, I didn't I don't have any

58:04

questions. I'm just glad we're moving

58:06

forward with this and we've come to some

58:07

type of agreement. um for our residents

58:10

to um have some more information on

58:13

what's happening with Jackson Lick. So,

58:15

I'll um ask my fellow uh council men and

58:19

women if they have any questions. Um

58:21

Councilwoman uh Daniels is not with us,

58:24

right? Okay. So, Councilwoman Davis, do

58:27

you have any questions? Thank you,

58:29

Councilwoman Ross. Uh, no. The

58:32

explanation by solicitor uh Grover was

58:35

clear communication to me. So, I don't

58:37

have any questions. So, thank you.

58:39

You're welcome. Uh, Vice President

58:41

Green. Good evening. Thank you all for

58:43

being here. Uh, I don't have any

58:44

questions. Thank you, President Bower,

58:47

excuse me, President Hill. No, thank

58:50

you. I don't have any questions. Okay.

58:53

Um, Councilman Rodriguez.

58:56

Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, thank you

58:58

both for being here this evening. um

59:00

more of a statement. It just would have

59:02

been great to have someone from the

59:04

district here just to speak on their

59:05

behalf. Um but I look forward to it.

59:07

Long time coming. Um is there anyone

59:11

that may be planning from the district

59:13

to come maybe for the legislative

59:15

session or Yeah, frankly, I think it's

59:17

all lawyers and I don't think they want

59:18

to pay them to come from Philadelphia

59:20

for the meeting. Well, I meant from the

59:22

school district, a board member,

59:23

superintendent, etc. Not that I'm aware

59:25

of. Because from experience, it's just

59:28

without having those entities at the

59:30

table, it's usually a he say, she say.

59:32

It'd just be great to have everyone's

59:33

input and hear firsthand everyone. I

59:36

understand what you're saying. I I I can

59:38

make the inquiry. Um the uh but this is

59:41

sort of a lawyer to lawyer arrangement.

59:44

So I will note that the superintendent

59:46

has been meeting with the mayor. Um he

59:49

has emphasized to the mayor and others

59:52

that he believes the role of the school

59:54

district need to be uh more student

59:57

focused than grown-up focused. and that

59:59

he it was important to him that uh a

1:00:02

pool be available for the students of

1:00:03

this school district. Right. Absolutely.

1:00:05

Which was a great refreshing thing to

1:00:07

hear. Said for a dollar and then they

1:00:09

might come back and we've never offered

1:00:11

it up for a dollar. It's 3.3 etc etc et

1:00:14

but this isn't that agreement. This is a

1:00:16

lease agreement till we get the

1:00:18

property. Right. So and then there'll be

1:00:21

further discussion after right where all

1:00:23

the other documents come back to you.

1:00:24

Right. And so we're but we are picking

1:00:26

up the cost of the subdivision plan.

1:00:28

We've retained outside real estate

1:00:30

council who's retaining the surveyor who

1:00:32

will and the negotiation of any is

1:00:35

really where is the appropriate spot for

1:00:37

us and them to draw the line so so that

1:00:40

our utilities are properly in place for

1:00:42

everybody that kind of stuff. But the

1:00:43

long-term goal is to acquire that. Okay.

1:00:46

No further questions. Thank you. You're

1:00:48

welcome. Um Council Man Jones

1:00:53

clear that up.

1:00:56

Yeah, let it rain one more time. Put

1:00:57

that into the record. Um, Mr. Grover,

1:01:01

uh, this is where I know this is like a

1:01:04

like kind of I don't want to call it a

1:01:06

band-aid. It's temporary right now again

1:01:08

until you get uh the district and the

1:01:10

city figure out um what's what. But in

1:01:13

the interim of that um the liabilities

1:01:16

it's on us right now, right? It always

1:01:18

was. Okay. It just always I know that

1:01:20

was part of the fight the part of the ar

1:01:22

well the agreement or non-aggreement

1:01:24

that was part of it. So we run a pool

1:01:28

right I mean so there the laws who who

1:01:30

has what responsibility it seems pretty

1:01:32

clear. Okay no questions.

1:01:36

All right thank you. I would like to

1:01:38

move uh resolution 43 of 2025 to our

1:01:42

next legislative agenda. Thank you for

1:01:45

um coming tonight. You didn't even have

1:01:47

to do much tonight. Look at that. Yes,

1:01:48

it was easy. Thank you.

1:01:53

Thank you. Our final committee business

1:01:56

this evening lies with the public works

1:01:58

committee. I will defer to our public

1:02:00

works committee chair, Councilman

1:02:02

Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam President.

1:02:05

Um, today for the public works

1:02:06

committee, we'll be discussing

1:02:08

resolution 42 of 2025. Mr. Trudale, can

1:02:11

you please read resolution 42 of 2025

1:02:13

into the record? Resolution 42,2025,

1:02:17

a resolution authorizing the city of

1:02:19

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

1:02:21

professional services agreement with

1:02:23

Arbiter Pro Incorporated for the purpose

1:02:25

of performing a tree inventory and

1:02:27

related urban forestry services. All

1:02:30

right. And I see Deputy Director Ross um

1:02:33

speaking on behalf of Resolution 42.

1:02:35

Could you give us an overhaul of just

1:02:37

all entails? Or if you would like to

1:02:39

speak first, please introduce yourself.

1:02:41

I'll speak directly into the mic for

1:02:42

those watching at home can hear you

1:02:44

clearly. Sure thing. Thank you uh for

1:02:47

being here tonight. Uh my name is Cody

1:02:48

Le. I'm the city forester here. Um as

1:02:51

Trudale stated, this um resolution is uh

1:02:55

approving us to enter into a service a

1:02:58

professional service agreement with

1:02:59

ArborPro

1:03:01

uh to perform a citywide tree inventory

1:03:05

including our city parks. Um

1:03:09

after review of the proposals, ArborP

1:03:12

Pro um was recommended uh for this

1:03:16

project. Um they scored the the highest

1:03:19

out of all five proposals. Um, Arbor Pro

1:03:24

um, not only proved that they have

1:03:28

extensive experience with performing

1:03:31

street tree inventories

1:03:33

uh, with many other municipalities, much

1:03:36

larger than the city of Harrisburg here.

1:03:39

um and that they have quite vast array

1:03:43

of qualified um personnel, but they are

1:03:47

also

1:03:49

one of the lowest prices that was

1:03:51

offered to us. Um which which is great

1:03:54

on on our behalf. Um and also I'd like

1:03:57

to state for the record that this is um

1:04:00

going to be funded by an IRA grant that

1:04:02

was recently awarded with us and that

1:04:04

grant is completely waved of match.

1:04:08

Um,

1:04:11

that's the main points of of the

1:04:14

proposal here. I do have two Arbor Pro

1:04:17

representatives here with us virtually.

1:04:20

Um, Chris Connley, division manager, and

1:04:22

Mason Berdick, operations manager, if we

1:04:25

want to present um them with any

1:04:27

questions as well. Absolutely. Or if

1:04:29

those two gentlemen would like to add

1:04:30

anything to the discussion, if you can

1:04:33

hear me on virtual, um, would you like

1:04:35

to add anything to the discussion?

1:04:40

Uh, this is Chris Conley, division

1:04:41

manager. I don't have anything to add

1:04:44

currently to the discussion, but thank

1:04:46

you.

1:04:48

Thank you. Um, Deputy Ross, would you

1:04:52

like to add anything? No, I don't have

1:04:54

anything. All right. Well, I'll open it

1:04:56

up to council. Starting to my immediate

1:04:57

left, Councilman Jones. No questions.

1:05:00

Thank you. To my right, Councilwoman

1:05:03

Ross. Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. I

1:05:06

don't have any questions. Good evening

1:05:07

to you both again, Director Ross, and

1:05:09

just thank you for being here. Thank

1:05:12

you, Madam President. Good evening. I

1:05:14

don't have any questions. Thank you,

1:05:16

Madame Vice President. Good evening. I

1:05:19

don't have any questions for you all.

1:05:20

Councilwoman Davis. Thank you, Council

1:05:24

Rodriguez. Good evening. I do have a

1:05:27

couple of questions.

1:05:29

Um so you are going to inventory the

1:05:35

city's tree

1:05:37

um all the trees in the city and

1:05:41

are you inventorying the city's trees to

1:05:45

identify different the different types

1:05:47

of trees or what specifically are you

1:05:51

looking for and what will you do with

1:05:55

the results of what you find? Sure.

1:05:58

Yeah. There's there's a a whole list of

1:06:00

data that will be collected um including

1:06:03

species, tree height, condition. Um we

1:06:07

do currently have an inventory. Um this

1:06:10

is just for updating purposes. Okay. And

1:06:13

this is part of the larger portion of

1:06:14

the grant. We'll use this inventory to

1:06:18

schedule work um appropriately in

1:06:21

different parts of the city again with

1:06:23

that IRA grant. Um and these trees are

1:06:29

only the trees within the right ofway.

1:06:30

So there's street trees between the curb

1:06:31

and the sidewalk. Um but it does include

1:06:34

um city parks was which was recently not

1:06:37

included in a uh inventory previously.

1:06:42

Okay. And so you mentioned the trees

1:06:44

between the curb and the sidewall,

1:06:47

right? And those are the trees that you

1:06:49

would do work on if Okay. Correct. Those

1:06:53

are within that public right of way that

1:06:54

that we would be um performing work on.

1:06:57

Okay. So, could the residents expect you

1:07:01

to cut down their trees or if they're

1:07:04

dead or dying? Yes. Okay. Because I know

1:07:07

that the homeowners have typically are

1:07:10

typically responsible for the trees, the

1:07:12

overgrown trees on their property.

1:07:15

Um, so I just wanted to know to what

1:07:18

extent will you be, you know, assisting.

1:07:23

Sure. Sure. Yeah, that that's the the

1:07:24

the main goal of the the the full IRA

1:07:27

grant. This is just to just kind of

1:07:29

identify what we have and update our

1:07:31

current records. But um I guess that

1:07:34

might be a discussion for another time.

1:07:36

But that is the the main goal of the the

1:07:38

grant is to kind of take that burden off

1:07:40

of some of the residents um as as far as

1:07:44

grant funds are available.

1:07:47

Okay. And when do you anticipate well

1:07:50

once this Oh, that's a question for

1:07:52

later time. Okay. Okay. I I will say

1:07:56

that the inventory can will likely

1:07:58

happen sooner than later, but given

1:08:00

certain times of the year, it can make

1:08:02

it difficult. Um, ideally you want to do

1:08:04

that in the spring and summer. Um, there

1:08:06

might be a lag between the winter

1:08:08

months, but um,

1:08:11

relatively quick, I would imagine.

1:08:14

Okay. Will we uh be able to receive a

1:08:17

report and findings of what the outcomes

1:08:22

are to this? Yes. Yes. So, Arbor Pro

1:08:25

does provide a live um update. Uh I

1:08:28

think it was weekly, may it might be

1:08:30

bi-weekly. Correct me if I'm wrong,

1:08:31

Chris. Um but but after that whole

1:08:34

inventory is complete, all that data

1:08:36

will be ours. Um and we'll we'll use

1:08:38

that into our um RGIs hub. Um so, we'll

1:08:42

we'll have we'll house that data then.

1:08:45

Well, that would be interesting. I'd

1:08:46

like to know what species are out there

1:08:49

and you know, if some of the work work

1:08:54

that can be done. I'd like to know what

1:08:56

could be done for our residents who have

1:08:59

these overgrown trees on the properties

1:09:01

and the the ground is uplifting and it's

1:09:05

just a mess in some of the areas. So

1:09:08

hopefully this uh project could help. So

1:09:13

thank you. That's it for me. Thank you.

1:09:16

And um if I'm not mistaken, specific

1:09:18

area will be right there in that Berry

1:09:20

Hill corridor where the tornadoes did a

1:09:22

lot of the damage. A lot of those Yes,

1:09:24

that area also. Um is it Chestnut

1:09:28

Street? Yep. Just past 19th Street, 19th

1:09:32

and Chestnut. Yeah, I'm I'm familiar

1:09:34

with both of those locations. Would

1:09:36

those be something that this project

1:09:38

would be able to take care of for the

1:09:39

residents

1:09:40

in the grand scheme? Ideally, yes. Um

1:09:43

this particular portion, no. This is

1:09:45

just kind of getting ground the

1:09:47

cataloging of it all, but I mean the

1:09:50

long term. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So,

1:09:52

residents could look forward to some

1:09:54

remediation for issues like that up

1:09:56

until the grant allows it to. Right.

1:09:59

Right. All right. Um, are there any

1:10:01

further questions from council? I know

1:10:03

councilwoman Shebain's not able to join

1:10:05

us right now. All right. If there are

1:10:08

none, I hear none, I'd like to move to

1:10:10

add resolution 42, 2025 to our next

1:10:13

legislative session. And that concludes

1:10:15

the work for the public works committee.

1:10:17

Thank you. Thank you. At this time, we

1:10:20

will open the floor for public comment.

1:10:23

Um, just a few housekeeping notes before

1:10:26

we begin. If you could please state your

1:10:28

name and your address for the meeting

1:10:30

record. If you don't feel comfortable

1:10:32

sharing your address, please share the

1:10:34

vicinity with which you live within the

1:10:36

city. Um, you'll have four minutes to

1:10:39

share your comments. Mr. TR sale uh will

1:10:43

serve as our timekeeper. I'll begin to

1:10:46

my right. Is there anyone that would

1:10:47

like to offer public comment?

1:10:52

Hi, my name is Sonet Jackson and I live

1:10:55

in the 2500 block of Sixth Street and my

1:10:58

question is for the park on Rner Street.

1:11:02

They were tore down maybe about 90 days

1:11:06

ago now and school is out. Also, I was

1:11:08

wondering what you guys have in place

1:11:10

for that either being rebuilt or if you

1:11:13

guys are going to have some type of um

1:11:17

what do you call that?

1:11:20

No, not a program. Um a cross the street

1:11:23

crossing guards to get to the nearest um

1:11:26

playground which is on Emerald Street

1:11:28

which is about a mile or not a mile,

1:11:30

half a mile away from

1:11:32

Oh, is Emerald Tre down to Okay. So then

1:11:35

there's no park other than Mccclelay

1:11:36

Street on 7th Street for the Uptown kids

1:11:39

to go to. So I was wondering what you

1:11:41

guys had planned for that.

1:11:44

Um sorry Miss Jackson. Yes. Okay. Hi. Um

1:11:48

Miss Director Ross is right there and

1:11:50

she can answer your questions.

1:11:55

Thank you. Um is there anyone else to my

1:11:58

right that would like to offer public

1:12:00

comment? Okay. Seeing and hearing no

1:12:02

one. Anyone in the middle section?

1:12:04

Seeing and hearing no one. Anyone to my

1:12:06

left? Okay. Seeing and hearing no one.

1:12:09

The time is 6:48 p.m. I will entertain a

1:12:13

motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Do

1:12:16

we have a second? Thank you. We stand

1:12:18

ajourn.

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