Harrisburg City Council Legislative Session - 2/10/2026

Okay, everybody ready?

The time is 6:09

p.m. I'd like to officially call our

legislative session to order.

Mr. Tuesday, could you please call the

roll?

Ms. Davis? Present. Ms. Green?

Present.

Mr. Jones? Here.

Mr. Lawson?

Mr. Lawson?

Yeah, he's he's unmuting his mic. There

you go. Yep. Thank you.

>> All right. Thanks.

Ms. Rose? Present.

Mr. Rodriguez? Present.

Ms. Hill?

Present. Thank you. The invocation this

evening will be led by Councilwoman

Green.

Thank you, President Hill.

Um as we begin February uh and head into

the second week of February, I think

it's important for us to recognize Mr.

Carter G. Woodson, who established Negro

History Week, which was then expanded

into Black History Month. Um even though

on many levels

uh it's trying to be erased, I think

it's important for us not to forget the

history uh and recognize it and speak

it. Um

So, just taking a moment to recognize

our history and celebrate Black History

Month as we are now 10 days into

February.

And then also just uh send our thoughts

and prayers to everyone in Harrisburg

that needs thoughts and prayers and

everyone in our nation. So, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Green. Will

everyone please rise for the Pledge of

Allegiance?

Thank you.

For communications this evening, we are

joined by Ms. Sharia Benn, co-founder

and director of the Sankofa African

American Theatre Company

in recognition of their 10th

anniversary.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam President and members

of the Harrisburg City Council. Good

evening, and I am

indeed honored and excited to introduce

many of you to Sankofa African American

Theatre Company, and some maybe it's

just reacquainting or hello again. My

name is Sharia Benn. I am the founding

executive

uh

executive artistic director of Sankofa

African American Theatre Company here in

Harrisburg.

I am just grateful again for this chance

to share a little bit about the work

that we do and uh the work that we want

to do

building and contributing to the

cultural, educational, and economic life

of Harrisburg

and our surrounding region.

Uh I moved here uh to this area in 1995.

I was uh

employed with Penn National Insurance,

and

they moved me here from Baltimore.

And in 1995, Harrisburg was a very

different place for me.

And although during the day I am a

director and I do property and casualty

insurance, I had always been involved in

the arts and theater in Baltimore, and

it was my outlet. So, in the evenings

when I would get off from work, I'd go

to the theater to uh see it, to be an

actor, to experience it. And when I

moved here, I did not find the same

opportunities in 1995.

So,

um

after years of looking, I did find um

something at the um at HACC. There was

an audition there, and it was a student

production. And I went, and from that

experience, I was offered some roles at

Open Stage of Harrisburg and became part

of the August Wilson Ensemble.

So, in that, there were a group of

actors that we would come together in

February, and that would be our annual

opportunity to enjoy the arts and

participate in it.

The acting ensemble talked for years and

years about, "We want to do something

more than just in February. Our stories

should be told all the time."

So,

I said, "Let's do something about it."

So,

years passed and we were still talking

about it every February in the dressing

rooms.

And in in 2015, I said, "Enough is

enough. Let's really do something about

it." So,

the idea of Sankofa was birthed, and in

2016,

uh I assembled a founding committee, and

we spent 9 months missioning, visioning,

strategizing

about what a theater company for the

black people in and around Harrisburg

would look like for representation,

but also what we could do to engage,

enrich, and educate the entire diverse

community around the African American

experience.

Sankofa was born.

Sankofa means it's an African principle

from Ghana. It means to go back

and get it.

Go back, learn and claim your history,

all of it, the good, the bad, and what

you think doesn't matter, and bring it

into your present so that you can move

forward with power and purpose. And

that's what we do at Sankofa through the

theater that we do.

So, in 2017, we were

officially

granted our 501c3 status.

We had been a project of Open Stage

Theatre, and uh we launched our first

production in 2018, was Akela and the

Bee.

And our goal was to do one production in

2018, and then each year build on that

until we had a full season of three to

five productions.

And then the pandemic happened.

It only made us stronger.

We pivoted.

We strategically

went into Sankofa with the idea that we

would go into existing theater spaces,

and uh

for that model financially,

it would uh take the burden off of us in

terms of having to carry a large

overhead of a physical space, but also

that's where work needed to be done. In

the places that were already doing

theaters uh that were already telling

stories, but not telling our stories or

not understanding how we as African

Americans, as people of color,

interacted and needed to be represented

on their stages. So, we have been uh

collaborating with all of the theater

companies uh in this area. We've had a

strong relationship with Open Stage.

We do an annual production of uh a Black

History storytelling, particularly about

the Eighth Ward and local history. With

Gamut, we've been doing that for

almost 10 years.

Theatre Harrisburg, we have uh partnered

with the West Shore Symphony Orchestra,

the West Shore Theatre. We actually were

there was we were their first live

performance after they had renovated

their theater on the West Shore. We

successfully

uh overcame some

some some ideologies and some fears and

real concerns about black folks on the

West Shore, and were able to open

dialogue and say and go and

present that our stories are important

everywhere.

So, uh

we have been doing that work.

We do

primarily what we call

straight theater. Not a lot of musicals,

but a lot of music in our theater

stories, because that's part of our

background and our roots.

Our stories uh are mainly original

stories about the people here.

The Eighth Ward, we have found a niche

in telling those hundred voices, the

stories of the hundred voices that of

the names that you see listed on the

pedestal, on the beautiful monument that

is over in Soldiers uh

over on the Capitol grounds.

So,

we also do new works and exciting works.

A Key in the Bee,

we've done works about

uh

Emmett Till. We are now getting ready

to, and we invite you all, we open on

Saturday at Gamut Theatre, the story of

Ephraim Slaughter, a Freedom's Witness.

We've been able to engage a playwright

from Philadelphia to write this. This is

a work that's also in collaboration with

the National Civil War Museum.

We have been able to employ

an active and we pay our agent our

actors. We've been able to employ over a

hundred actors

uh

in our ten years where we're going into

ten years and and pay them for their

work. That's a stake in the ground for

us that we pay all of our actors, our

designers, anyone who's involved in our

production. How do we do this?

We ask.

And we get, but we get about 10% of what

the other art organizations get. So, we

still engage and engage well. Excellence

is another stake in our ground. We train

our actors. We also use a lot of adult

actors. So, they get the opportunity and

they come from our community. They don't

have to have

training. We give them training. They

need to have a heart for the art and the

work that we are doing.

Um

Black Nativity has been our hallmark

production for the last

four years. We started at the West Shore

Theatre and just in this past December,

we were able to gather over

800 people at the Rose Lehrman Theatre

for our annual what has now become an

annual tradition for families in our

community. So,

the work is on the stage

and the art that we produce.

It's behind the stage

when [snorts] we work with our actors.

And it's in our community.

We

foster open honest communications.

After every production, we have a

post-show discussion where we create an

environment where we encourage people to

share about the experience they just

saw, speak truthfully, to be curious, to

be courageous,

and grow.

Cuz these are people who otherwise would

not share the same space.

And now they're coming into a space

and they're across culture, across

ethnicities, across neighborhoods, and

that's where we really see the heart and

the mission for Sankofa come alive.

>> [snorts]

>> Opportunities are lot.

We want to grow.

We are now at a

place where we have outgrown physically

almost all of the venues in Harrisburg.

So, we have to have except the forum.

We're going to get there.

But uh

we share and go into spaces, which means

we are very often limited to the work

that we can do because it's based on the

availability of other theater companies

and the work they're doing. So, we are

looking at and strategically

uh visioning for our own space. And I

would love that space to be in

Harrisburg.

So,

um

we are continuing right now to explore

partnerships and

city initiatives.

Um

we have been able to prove that uh we

increase tourism, youth engagement,

community healing, and foster a good

heart and good feeling about the arts,

about our culture, and about Harrisburg.

Um I would welcome the opportunity to

speak with the council and individuals

about the work that we do. But you

really get a sense for it when you come

to our productions. It's something that

I have no words that really articulate

what happens when you experience a

Sankofa

um production.

Today, um we've shared with you

some of our um work.

So, you can see um

our programs. There's Black Nativity. Uh

we just finished a partnership and we

have a touring show, Frances Ellen

Watkins Harper, The Artistry and

Activism of Frances Ellen Watkins

Harper, that we were able to bring to

Penn State Harrisburg.

Uh our Whitaker Center performance was

snowed out, but uh

it was

an example of the work that we do,

bringing together

our community and entities within our

community

to foster

belonging, community, and healing.

That's what we need, healing.

Uh

So, I would love to know if there if

there are any questions that you have of

me. I'd love to share information with

you that um

if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for your presentation

this evening.

My great great-great-grandfather

is one of the 100 names listed on the

Orator's Pedestal, Daniel Potter. So,

um Daniel Potter, okay.

>> Yes.

Uh Sankofa's goal is to tell or touch

every single one of those names. So far,

we've done 47 of them. So, I'm going to

look up your great-great-grandfather,

Daniel Potter, on that list.

>> Yes. Mhm. All righty.

>> Listed as a a clergyman. Yes.

Um so, thank you. I've attended uh the

Black Nativity for the past few years

with my church. So, um thank you very

much. We're really excited that you were

able to join us.

Uh we do have a proclamation, so just

bear with me for a moment. Thank you.

>> Whereas the City of Harrisburg applauds

Sankofa African American Theatre Company

for their dedicated commitment to share

live theatre and local black history

with in the greater Harrisburg area for

ten years.

And whereas Sankofa African American

Theatre Company exists to engage and

enrich the Harrisburg region around

African American perspective on relevant

issues through thought-provoking theatre

that reflects artistic excellence.

And whereas Sankofa African American

Theatre Company was born in 2016

after a founding committee met over nine

months, as you shared, to complete

missioning, visioning, strategic

planning, and program development. And

whereas Sankofa African American Theatre

Company carries

out their mission to illuminate African

American history and culture and

cultivate healthy spaces for

cross-cultural dialogue and Sankofa

African American Theatre Company has

reached nearly 10,000 students and

adults through live theatre productions.

And whereas Sankofa African American

Theatre Company has strengthened the

cultural and education landscape of the

regional community through 12

artistically strong live theatre

productions of both new and published

works.

And whereas productions include Ephraim

Slaughter, Freedom's Witness, The

Artistry and Activism of Frances Ellen

Watkins Harper, Black Nativity,

Unfolding Esther, The Untold Story of

Esther Popel Shaw, The Colored Museum,

Voices of the Eighth Part Three, Part

Two, various parts,

The Call of Crusades,

Mary Speaks, Intimate Apparel, The

Jackson Rooming House, Music's Resting

Place,

and the list goes on. Um For Colored

Girls Who Considered Suicide When the

Rainbow Is Enough, one of my favorites.

And whereas Sankofa African American

Theatre Company has grown since since an

ensemble of local professional African

American actors and the founders of Open

Stage of Harrisburg recognized

recognized the need for an African

American led and focused theatrical

area.

And now, therefore, be it hereby

proclaimed that Harrisburg City Council

commend Sankofa African American Theater

Company for their vision.

And be it further proclaimed that

Harrisburg City Council wishes to extend

best wishes for a successful 10th

anniversary season. Thank you. Thank you

very much.

>> [applause]

>> If you don't mind, we'd like to take a

picture. Yes. Yes, thank you.

We will now open the floor for courtesy

of the floor. Just a few housekeeping

notes before we begin.

If you're interested in offering public

comments, please state your name and

your address for the meeting record. If

you don't feel comfortable sharing your

address, please share the vicinity in

which you live within the city. You will

have 4 minutes to share your comments.

Mr. Truesdale

has added a timer to the screen for your

reference. And I'll begin to my right.

Is there anyone that would like to offer

public comment?

Hello. Uh it's Ed Gerak, 1521 Second

Street. I just want to uh comment about

the uh snow removal process.

And I'm sure there's a lot of people

have different opinions or whatever

whatever, but my point is uh I hope you

guys can find some funds to maybe hire

independent consultant to come look at

what equipment we have, our people, our

process, whatever. I know it's a complex

thing, but I'm sure we're missing some

equipment or whatever, and I think we

need an independent voice to define that

and maybe build a 5-year plan to

properly fund whatever it is we need.

So, thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment? Yes, my name is uh John Saxon,

637 Minute Street, Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania.

Um I'm born and raised in this city and

I had some issues

and I just had to come in and uh

let you guys know the experience that I

had.

I watch the news, I'm pretty sure

everybody does, but uh when I had an

issue, I came down

here a couple weeks ago, I ran into Mr.

Truesdale.

Me and him went over the situation. He

set up a meeting with Mr. Rodriguez and

eventually I went to see

Mayor Williams, who took the time out of

her day to see me and help take care of

the issue.

With all the things that we witness now

on the news, it really feels good

to come in somewhere into a into the

city, to the these offices, and and talk

to someone, have someone take the time,

listen to your voice, treat you like a

human being,

set up dates.

The Mayor Williams was awesome. She took

the time to see me.

While in there, I was speaking with Mr.

Carter. I remember him when I was young

growing up

and I was telling him what was going on

with me and everything, and before I

left the room,

Chief Carter said to me, "Take care of

your mom and your wife."

With everything that we see going on

in America, I just want to say it really

makes me feel proud to be from this city

and have the experience that I did, and

I felt as though

you guys needed to hear that. So,

I thank you guys for taking I thank

everybody for taking the time they took

to help me and just

being treated like a human being. I

appreciate that. Thank you, guys. Thank

you. Is there anyone else to my right

that would like to offer public comment?

Good evening. My name is Daniel Bowers.

Live at 1113 Hudson Street.

Uh and also the proud parent of

uh

Council President Hill.

I would just like to take the time on

Saturday to thank all of the police

officers that came out to do a wellness

check on my neighbor, uh Lewis Harrell.

Uh we couldn't get in the house. They

were able to get into the house.

Uh he had an accident. He fell in his

bathroom. He was on the floor. He was

dehydrated. He couldn't answer the door.

And I was just so

glad that they were able to get in the

house. And they had he had to be

transported to the hospital. So, I just

wanted to take the time to thank every

officer for for doing that. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Good evening. I am Brian Keisling from

Midtown. Uh before I begin, after the

rally we had last week, we were

approached by the family of Adeleno

Oliver Horton, who asked us to remind

Council of his name and story. This past

Thursday marked 20 years since Adeleno

was shot and killed by Harrisburg

police. That's 20 years of life and

counting stolen from Adeleno and his

family, and it goes to show that the

passage of time does not reduce the need

and the desire for justice.

Uh regarding the legislation on ICE

that's up this evening, uh we had a

chance to review it and feel that it is

important for it to be amended and

supplemented to make it stronger so that

it can actually protect people.

There are effectively two ways for the

city to approach dealing with ICE. The

first way is good, and the second way is

bad. Based on what I've seen and heard,

I believe members of this Council

support the good way.

The good way is for the city to actively

protect people from being kidnapped by

ICE so they don't get kidnapped or

terrorized at all.

The bad way, unfortunately, is the

approach that some other members of our

mayor's administration seem to be

taking, which is to not do anything to

actually stop the kidnappings from

happening. But when they do happen, the

city can say, "Well, we did what we

needed to do to cover ourselves."

And as it stands now, the ordinance on

the agenda tonight falls into that

second category. It doesn't stop ICE

from doing anything. It really just

prevents the employees of the city from

going the extra mile to helping ICE more

than the city otherwise would.

There is concerning language in this

ordinance, such as basically saying that

resources wouldn't be used to detain or

investigate or arrest people based

solely on the immigration issue, but

that does leave the door open for

immigration to be used against people as

long as literally anything else is

tacked on to that investigation.

It also talks about not granting federal

immigration agents access to non-public

city property. I don't see why the city

can't ban immigration agents from public

city property. We know that this city

has the power to ban people from public

property in various ways. We've seen it

happen before. What comes to mind is

homeless people and encampments. I think

it should be no problem for the city to

have creative legal solutions to keep

ICE off of public property the way we

were able to keep residents off of

public property just because they are

homeless.

Uh I did take a few minutes to look at

some city codes, and off the very top of

my head, ordinances about disturbing the

peace or banning malicious loitering and

prowling struck me as possible avenues

for preventing ICE from being here. That

is from 15 or 20 minutes of perusing our

city codes online. So, I therefore have

full faith and confidence in the city,

in the city solicitor, who has far more

qualification and experience than me, to

come up with creative ways of looking at

city laws that exist and city laws that

don't yet exist to be able to apply the

law to protect the people, and not just

for the city to be able to say, "We're

covering our ass."

Uh I do hope that the mayor's office

would be on the front lines of this

because the mayor has been silent on it,

and we need the mayor on the front lines

of protecting the people.

That silence has been noticeable.

There are community members who have a

draft of alternate legislation that the

city could take a look at and pass,

modeled on other cities' welcoming city

initiatives.

Uh while that also has room for

improvement, it is more robust than the

current draft that is on tonight's

agenda, and it does give us more room to

build to keep people safe. So, our calls

to action remain the same. We want the

city to permanently cut all ties with

immigration enforcement, actively

protect residents from immigration

enforcement and surveillance

uh that gives the Harrisburg police more

power to monitor and control people.

Thank you very much, and again, I know

you're the Council and not the mayor,

but the mayor's silence has been

noticeable. We need her on the front

lines of this to protect the city, and

we need her and her office to work with

the Council to give us more than what

we've got. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Good evening, Council. Pamela [snorts]

Parson, Allison Hill.

Um thank you,

Council Member Green, for reminding us

that Dr. Woodson

um

began with Negro History Week, which has

now become Negro um excuse me, Black

History Month, as we know it. And that's

not lost on me standing here as a white

woman looking at all of you, black and

brown elected officials.

And

I'm going to go back and get something,

which is that um tomorrow is the 236th

anniversary

on February 11th, 1790,

a group of Quakers and Mennonites

petitioned Congress to end slavery. Did

they understand civil rights in the way

that I do now? No, they did not. But

they put themselves out there, just as

the people who are standing outside

here, and the people who've made

comments

tonight and will make comments are

putting themselves out here.

I'm also going to go back and get the

Pledge of Allegiance.

That's a Sankofa moment, because in it

we say, "Liberty and justice for all."

And if you notice, there are no

qualifiers. It says all. It doesn't say

that you must be a certain gender, or

certain age, or have a certain amount of

education, or certain amount of wealth,

that you have to be a voter, that you

have that you speak a certain language.

It doesn't even say that you have to be

a citizen.

It says, "Liberty and justice for all."

And you all are elected officials of the

City of Harrisburg, but you took an oath

to protect the Constitution, just as all

other

elected officials do. And so there are

people of this city who are looking to

you to do the best that you can to

protect everyone in this city.

And one of the things about the City of

Harrisburg is that community runs strong

and deep here, as you've heard from two

other residents here tonight who talked

about care for neighbor, care for

um

>> [snorts]

>> getting their issue resolved, um even

care for cleaning the streets. So there

are many people here here who care very

deeply about their neighbors.

I appreciate you, Councilman

Councilmember Green, for opening the

discussion uh some weeks ago with

Commissioner Carter about ICE. I

appreciate those of you on Council who

have been vocal thus far about what is

uh happening in our communities. And

those of you who've been silent, we're

looking at you

to see what you may say or do.

Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Good evening, Council members.

My name is Robert Williams,

Pennsylvania Accountability Project,

uh Capital Heights area of Harrisburg.

Tonight,

you will legislate or

is introduced to legislation, I think

Resolution 1.

So tonight, you legislate from a

principle I wholeheartedly endorse, that

administrative power without judicial

oversight is unconstitutional.

You declare that no government may

detain residents, strip away their

rights based on bureaucratic authority

alone. I'm here to insist you govern by

these standards. Your present You

present yourselves as defenders of

constitutional rights, yet on January

27th, 2025, Harrisburg police forcefully

removed me from my residence without a

warrant, without placing me under

arrest, and without any exigent

circumstances. I filed a sworn citizen's

complaint under city ordinance 3301. 13

months later, no investigation, no

response, no accountability.

If administrative authority without

oversight is insufficient for federal

agents, why is it sufficient for

Commissioner Carter?

To Why is it sufficient for Commissioner

Carter to ignore both the Fourth

Amendment and your own accountability

ordinance? Tonight, you demand due

process protection from federal agents,

but your Bureau of Codes Enforcement

systematically violates due process for

property owners. I'm a Harrisburg

resident rehabilitating blighted

properties in this community.

I am your constituent working to improve

neighborhoods you claim to care about.

Your Codes Enforcement Bureau has

violated my due process rights several

times. I received violations without

proper notice of what standards I

alleged by that were alleged violated. I

was denied any meaningful right to

appeal, no hearing, no opportunity to be

heard, no or no impartial review. The

Constitution requires notice and an

opportunity to be heard before

government deprives you of property

rights. I received neither.

Codes inspectors issue violations, block

my permits, stop my project without ever

providing any basic procedural

protections the Constitution guarantees.

Where is my due process rights? Where is

my notice? Where is my right to appeal

and be heard before my property rights

were destroyed and trampled on?

Due process is not a buffet. You don't

get to serve it selectively based on

which violations are politically

motivated or or convenient. The police

violated the Fourth Amendment. You

buried They buried the complaints. Code

Enforcement violates due process, and

they called it regulation. You ignore

your own ordinances while demanding

federal agencies follow theirs. This is

selective application of of

constitutional law. Your administrative

powers requires limits. Though

Your administrative powers requires

limits. Those limits must bind every

city department. The Constitution

applies to local government. Due process

doesn't appear doesn't disappear when

code with when Excuse me. When it's

Codes Enforcement. Respond to my 3301

complaint, provide notice and appeal

rights in Codes Enforcement. Stop

violating constitutional protections you

claim to defend. Follow the

Constitution, enforce your ordinances,

apply the law, do your dang jobs. Thanks

for

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Uh hello. My name is Gabriel Guevara. I

live in Midtown.

Watching the horrors that ICE has done

in Minneapolis and other cities, I fear

for the safety of my neighbors if

Harrisburg continues to cooperate with

ICE. Uh as a Puerto Rican, I fear for my

Latino community who might not look or

sound like what an ICE agent deems uh

citizen should look or sound like. And

once our neighbors have been kidnapped

off our streets, what's to come of their

well-being in custody?

Uh

I'd like to bring up the case of Chou

Feng Gee, a 32-year-old Chinese citizen

who died in ICE custody on August 5th,

2025, at the Moshannon Valley Processing

Center nearby in Clearfield County. He

was found hanging in a shower room, and

his death was ruled a suicide, though

his family has filed a lawsuit demanding

transparency regarding his treatment and

isolation. I urge you to research the

conditions of other ICE facilities in

the country. Residents of this city

can't even count on our government to

sort out malpractice at Dauphin County

Prison, so we don't need to see any more

neighbors in needless danger now because

they are in custody with ICE.

Some members of the community put

together a draft of alternate

legislation that Council could consider

in place of the legislation they have on

the agenda tonight. This legislation

would be based on other cities'

welcoming city initiatives. And while

this draft isn't perfect, it is more

creative than the legislation on the

agenda for tonight, and gives the city

more room to take meaningful steps on

protecting Harrisburg residents. There

is always more we can do to protect our

communities.

A member of the community has already

emailed this draft to City Council

members, and we ask that City Council

take this input from the community

seriously. We as residents want to play

an active role in working with the city

to keep all of our residents safe from

ICE. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Seeing hearing no one, anyone in the

middle section?

Good evening, Council. Kia Fowler,

North [clears throat] Street.

Um

my planned speech is going to go a

little bit different than I intended

tonight. Unfortunately, I have to

skidaddle right after this, so I

uh look forward to reading the meeting

meeting notes for the rest of the

meeting tonight. However, um the next

following weeks, what I want to do is be

here to emphasize um why this work is

important on mitigating ICE's operations

here. So, some examples of that, um

While the administration claims that ICE

and DHS removal operations are targeting

only the worst of the worst criminals,

daily operations reflect a different

story. As of January 25th, 2026, 70,766

people were recorded as being currently

detained by ICE. Of those, 74.2% or

52,504

people do not have a criminal record. A

report by the Cato Institute reveals

that of individuals booked by ICE

between October and November 2025, 73%

had no criminal conviction. Only 5% of

individuals had a violent criminal

conviction. By not proactively passing

legislation to protect Harrisburg

residents from

unlawful actions by DHS, the city risks

passively permitting cases of injury or

death in ICE interactions with with city

residents.

Uh here are some examples of risk of

harm during arrest from ICE. On January

8th, 2026, ICE agents arrested um

Alberto Castañeda

Mondragón, a 31-year-old Mexican

immigrant with no criminal record.

During this arrest, Mr. Mondragón

suffered suffered eight skull fractures

and five life-threatening brain

hemorrhages. According to NPR reporting,

Castañeda Mondragón stated that four

masked ICE agents pulled him from a

friend's car, threw him to the ground,

handcuffed him, and struck his head with

a steel baton. He was then taken to an

ICE detention facility at the Wipple

Federal Building, where he was where he

reported being beaten again. The

arresting officers claimed to medical

staff that Mr. Mondragón threw himself

headfirst into a brick wall while

handcuffed, and that is what caused the

man's injuries. Medical staff who

attended Mr. Mondragón stated that his

injuries were inconsistent with the

officer's statements and were more

consistent with being beaten with a

metal rod.

Some risks [snorts] of harm once in

detention. Once arrested, there is no

guarantee of where a Harrisburg resident

may be detained. Multiple detention

centers have documented human rights

abuses and violations. There's no way to

guarantee a Harrisburg resident is going

to be safe in any one of these

facilities. Less than 3 months ago, for

example, on December 29th, 2025, an

individual employed with an ICE

processing processing center in

Louisiana pleaded guilty to the sexual

assault of a female detainee detainee

while she was in custody.

Reports from the Fort Bliss, Texas,

Detention Center document overcrowded

conditions, um undernutrition and

malnutrition due to lack of food,

limited access to bathroom facilities or

cleaning products. In the first 50 days

of operation, the Fort Bliss facility

recorded 60 violations of federal

detention standards.

Conditions at this facility are so bad

that Francisco Gaspar Andreas died of

liver and kidney failure after he failed

to receive appropriate medical care at

Fort Bliss on December 3rd, 2025.

Um I appreciate all of you that have

worked really hard to to draft this

first draft of proposed legislation. Um

I would really appreciate you guys

having a look at the potential welcoming

ordinance. I'd love to see some kind of

stronger protections added to this

proposal for um ordinance one. Um thank

you for all very much for your time, and

I'll probably see you next week. Thank

you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the middle

section that would like to offer public

comment?

Absolutely. Let me back up. Hello. Can

we get enough?

Jonathan Luff, live over on Green

Street.

Sounds like Harrisburg needs a lawyer.

So, I have come here to tell you all

that I have accepted a position at

Skerenji Law Firm, where I will be

taking my talents

um and we will be practicing criminal

law. I am back. And y'all need some free

legal advice to the camera.

Do not talk to the cops.

Period. Call your boy first. If I'm not

there,

you have nothing to say.

Uh we handle civil rights cases. We

handle employment cases. We handle

personal injury cases, slip and fall.

Here's the Here's the short end end end

of it, Harrisburg. When you asked me, uh

Mrs. Rawls,

I'm sorry, Councilwoman Rawls. I

apologize. When you when you asked me to

sit still and stay here,

I'm not going to go back home.

Harrisburg has a lawyer.

Let it be known there is a black lawyer

here. I am here for you guys. Call your

boy, okay?

That's the lawyer part. Secondly,

foundation-wise, I have started a

foundation, and I am looking for talent.

14 to 25 May May 30th at Penn State

Harrisburg. My foundation in honor of my

late son, we will be giving away a

thousand dollars. I'm looking for the

singers, 14 to 25. A thousand dollars on

a line. Now, personally, like I said,

I'm from Philadelphia. I think the

winner's going to come from Philly. But,

maybe I'm wrong.

So, that's the second thing. And lastly,

to I'm glad there are cameras here cuz

here's my zenko for a moment. To the

young black

boys and girls,

there is a

child-sized hole in my heart

that I need to have some faith that

y'all believe in yourselves.

I do not want to hear that you cannot

make it. I want you to look at me and

hear me clearly. I have made it. I will

show you how. You can be a lawyer. You

can do the things. We will start debate

teams. We will start trial teams. I

promise you. I am here to stay. All I

need is your energy. Give me some

energy, and we got the rest, Harrisburg,

all right? Before I lose control,

because my girl say I'm a little

dramatic. So, here's my card.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

Uh thanks for the opportunity uh to

speak. Uh my name is Sam Donkoh. Uh I'm

on Edward Street up in the 14th Ward. Um

just have a very short uh quick little

comment to talk about snow removal um

and the potential that City Council has

to to really make an impact. Um So,

here's the deal. Um

our house is on Edward and Susquehanna

Street, way up almost in the next

township. It's a forgotten little alley.

There's many many like it in the city.

Um

and like a lot of the alleys in the

city, for 3 days um our street was not

plowed. Um which really wouldn't be that

big of a deal,

except for the fact that our neighbors

behind us, older than my wife and I, um

couldn't really get out, you know, with

the the the depth of snow that was

there. Um so, they were calling, we were

calling routinely uh 311 and the other,

you know, resources that are available

to us um when we need an essential city

service. And, you know, offering all

apologies and all excuses and everything

like that um for the the overwhelming

nature of the storm. We haven't had snow

like this in a long time. It was clear

everybody that we were talking to was

saying the city's doing as best we can

with the limited resources that we have.

I totally will allow for that with what

I'm about to say, but

what took

what what it took for us and for our

family to get that service was finding

and contacting Councilman Rodriguez

personally on his personal cell, sending

him a few pictures of what the street

looked like, because everybody that we

would talk to would say, "Well, it can't

be that bad. Can't be that bad." We

showed him the pictures about how it was

impassable, and within 1 hour there was

a city plow that came and at least made

the street passable. Um that I think is

a a very wonderful example of how city

government um

can can reach out and uh and provide an

essential service to somebody, to

directly respond to a uh a group of

citizens that that need something. We

found that to be very refreshing. Um

just a personal word of thanks to

Councilman Rodriguez for that. And I'm

I'm sure that you all do similar things

for your own constituents um as well.

But, I I will say, just as an an aside,

you know, I I and nobody else in this

room should really have to do that. I I

shouldn't necessarily have to reach out

to my councilman directly to get a city

service like that. But, not focusing on

that, I I just want to leave you all

with this, you know, um the the city of

Harrisburg has a lot of potential. We've

we've talked about that for a long long

time about the potential that the city

has. Um and I think if my story can be

an example of how that potential can be

turned into action, um I'd like to be

able to leave you all with it. There

There's a lot of different ways that we

can make this place better than it is

right now. I think it involves focusing

in on how we serve each other best and a

little bit less on personal squabbles.

Um and I know you all have a very

difficult job, especially with the

legislation in front of you tonight. Um

so, just a word of thanks and just a

reminder to um keep your eyes and ears

on service. Thanks.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

Silas Steinbrook.

So, council members, um coming again

before you tonight. Uh it's been a

couple weeks since I've been here, but

we're talking about ICE again.

Uh luckily, a couple of my fellow

constituents already talked about the

draft that was emailed.

Um hopefully, y'all have time to review

it, introduce it, really take it into

account, into thought.

As I've also looked over the ordinance

to be introduced tonight and feel that

it is quite bare-bones, [snorts] if I'm

being honest.

Now,

>> [sighs]

>> onto what I'm actually here to talk

about.

I'm here again to urge the council to

pass a resolution to prevent ICE from

deputizing local law enforcement and to

protect the protect the citizens of the

city from having their constitutional

rights as American citizens violated by

armed thugs.

Luis Gustavo Núñez Cáceres, Gerardo Luna

Campos, Victor Manuel Diaz,

Perry La, Luis Beltran Yanes Cruz,

uh Heber Sanchez Dominguez,

Rene Nicole Good, and Alex Pretty.

Eight deaths

in ICE custody or publicly shot in the

streets in the month of January of 2026

alone.

They have done And in the cases of Rene

Good and Alex Pretty, we have seen how

the administration can take the videos

we see and immediately start lying to

our face, and before their bodies are

even cold, start declaring them domestic

terrorists.

>> [snorts]

>> When we clearly saw a man get tackled to

the ground, disarmed of his concealed

carry that was a legal carrier of

and then shot eight times.

I don't care

what justification you can think of,

nothing justifies that.

But ICE has demonstrated time and time

again

that they're more than willing to

brutalize, murder, and unjustifiably

detain people for any cause whatsoever

and then lie to our faces.

>> [snorts]

>> And on the topic of detainment, it

brings me to my next point of concerns.

These new warehouses

that have been purchased in Schuylkill

County and the one up in Reading

designed to hold 150 to 250 people,

tops. And that's, you know, employees as

warehouses.

They're not designed to hold 1,500 to

7,500

people. 7,500 people. The warehouse in

Schuylkill County is being

converted into a detention center in

order to hold.

A 7,500 person

detention center that, first off, is not

zoned to be such.

Now, I know Warren Dolphin County, whole

different ballgame, but

fact of the matter is, the sewer system,

the water system is not designed for a

detention center of that sort, and it is

going to overwhelm Schuylkill County.

And we could see backlash from that as

far over here as Dolphin County

and any support for ICE to construct a

detention center, even supporting ICE in

the first place, is still allowing for

that kind of infrastructural damage to

occur here. When I mean, we've all seen

the river outside. We all seen the

Susquehanna. We're still struggling to

get that cleaned up.

Let alone if we had

ICE trying to open another detention

center here.

So

not only that

we have people held for months, for

years [snorts]

without charge, without being able to be

contacted by their families, by their

attorneys

having CBP and ICE lie about their

status while they're being transferred.

Their ongoing cases because there are so

many being held like that.

I realize I'm over my time. I didn't

even get halfway through

what I wanted to talk about, but

I hope you all understand the severity

of this ordinance that you're discussing

tonight, this legislation that you're

presenting.

And to my citizens of Harrisburg, the

ones not here and the ones outside

practicing your First Amendment rights

remember that we're in this together.

Thank you for your comment.

Is there anyone else in the middle

section that would like to offer public

comment?

Um I

I I hadn't planned again. I hadn't

planned on talking like last week.

But um

as I listen to people, it makes me

realize that I I have to start doing

more research on things because I

haven't heard anything come back from

the council since last week. Some, you

know

it sounds like something's being done.

There's some kind of ordinance being

drawn up or draft.

Is that draft here now?

Is it over here?

No, it's available online. Oh, it's just

online. So we couldn't print that out,

could we?

It's not possible to print that out

today.

Um well

I just want to say that um

all of the things that are happening to

these people, everybody, you know, we

can always say, "Well, it didn't happen

to me."

You know, but it keeps happening. It

keeps happening. And

we have a crook who

is in charge of a

50,000 man army, his his personal army

that he just

you know,

if you had

if you had the right to just put on a a

mask

and grab a gun, buy a

$25 badge, and just go into people's

house and pull them out

you know, what kind of country would

would this be?

If if anybody could just do that. You

know, and that's that's what he because

he's the president, he feels that he can

do anything he wants. He can come in

here I mean, you know, he's he's shot

white people.

He's shot black people.

Spanish. He's taken people, putting them

in the worst penitentiaries in the

world.

You know, think about that. If you kill

five people, you don't go to the worst

penitentiary in the world.

You know, but he you know, he he's just

for his little base, he's saying, "Look,

I'mma show y'all how cruel I can be to

these people. I don't like them people.

I don't want y'all to like them people."

Um

I spoke to a guy the other day on my

job.

He said to me, he said, "Hayes, well,

what do you think about Trump?"

And I said, "Well, to tell you the

truth, I think he's the worst human

being that has ever been on this

planet."

And he said, "Oh, well, I like him." I

said, "Well, why do you like him?"

He said, "Oh, because those transgenders

that Wait a minute. What Why do you like

him?" "Because those homosexual because,

you know, and all of these things that

he comes out and says

uh I hate these people, so we want y'all

to hate them. So stand behind me so we

can crucify these people. You know, once

we get finished with the Spanish people,

then we'll come to the Somalis.

After we leave the Somalis, we'll go to

other Africans. After leave we leave

them, we'll go to the next group of

people. We're not coming after the white

people, and I'm not trying to be smart

or anything like that. He he he he cares

about the white people.

But if you got money, he loves you.

You know, if

he he'll he'll do anything for that

dollar as we've all seen. Look what he

did to He threw out Obama's

uh portrait out of the White House

and put Putin's portrait in his place.

I mean, come on. What What kind of

stuff, you know, he's got this thing

with Putin where he feels like he can

just do anything he wants and they

they're, you know, this is my buddy

here.

You know, and so you know

uh I don't know what the race

differential is in Russia, but I don't

When I'm on TV, I don't see I don't see

too many minorities there, you know. So

I think that one thing that he's trying

to do, Trump is trying to do, is bring

down the whole minority population.

And then when the next time this when

this when these midterms come around

he's going to feel like there's no way I

can lose because, you know, it it must

be rigged cuz there's no minorities

around that can vote for him.

>> And and thank you for saying thank you

for your comment.

But um you know, we have to do something

this ordinance. I do want to read this

ordinance and uh

I'm I'm going to do a little research

this week and find try to find out some

more things to say when I come up here

probably next week. Thank you. Can you

state your name and your address for the

minute record?

>> like I said before, is James Brown.

I live on

Lenox Street in Harrisburg.

Lifelong resident. And um

that's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

Okay, seeing and hearing no one, anyone

to my left.

Seeing and hearing no one, we will move

forward with our meeting agenda.

Next, we have the approval of minutes

for the legislative session that

occurred on February 3rd, 2026.

Council members, are there any revisions

to those meeting minutes?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, the

minutes stand approved. We will now move

to reports of committees.

I will deliver the first report on

behalf of the administration committee

on the work session of February 3rd,

2026.

On Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026, the

administration committee met to discuss

two resolutions. Resolution 7 of 2026, a

resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

professional services agreement with a

Joshua Boger to provide sign language

interpretation services. Resolution 8 of

2026, a resolution authorizing the city

of Harrisburg to negotiate and enter

into a professional services agreement

with Elizabeth Sheeber

to provide sign language interpretation

services.

Mr. Boger and Ms. Sheeber were present

to answer any questions council members

had. Mr. Boger and Ms. Sheeber

introduced themselves. Both are

certified sign language interpreters.

And both shared how they began signing.

Council members expressed their

gratitude for their services. One

question was asked regarding why Halcyon

decided not to move forward with their

professional services agreement for

2026.

Um so Halcyon is our previous sign

language interpretation service.

Um and they just decided not to renew

their professional services agreement

for 2026.

Um there was no major issue with their

decision or the services that they

provided. We wish them the best of luck

in their future endeavors.

Um, so as a result, we are individually

contracting with Mr. Boger and Ms.

Shiber.

I encourage my colleagues to support

both resolution 7 of 2026 and resolution

8 of 2026 to ensure Harrisburg City

Council continues its inclusive efforts

to reach all of the residents within the

City of Harrisburg. This concludes the

administration committee report. The

next report you will hear will be

delivered by our public works committee

chair, Councilman Rodriguez, on the work

session of February 3rd, 2026.

Thank you, Madam President. And um,

before I begin my report, I'd just like

to wish everyone a happy Black History

Month. And um, with that, I just wanted

to acknowledge a recent video um,

pretty much condemning it by the very

own president of the United States,

including a jungle theme with our former

president and first lady. Uh, this video

was highly offensive and it's a shame

that this was allowed to be posted on

the personal social media pages of the

POTUS. This further exemplifies a

continuous racist dialogue and outlook

from our federal administration. This

needs to be addressed more than what it

currently is. Also, um, as a Latin man,

I'd like to acknowledge the dangers uh,

that comes within the cooperation of

ICE. And I do not want to be one of the

ones that's looked at as standing still

or being quiet on the subject. I do

recognize with the last name of

Rodriguez, I myself am only one door

knock away from being dragged away from

my very own family or the children that

bear my last name. So, I'm very

cognizant and very deliberate when I

speak against ICE. Just please

understand to the residents and those

watching from home, we have to be very

meticulous and careful on how we address

things like this. This way, we measure

twice and only have to cut once.

On February 3rd of 2026, the public

works committee met to consider two

resolutions. Our city engineer, Mr. Joel

Seider, was present and represented the

administration for both. Resolution 6 of

2026 concerned the Greenlight Go Grant.

This project includes improvements to 13

signalized intersections along the 13th

Street and Market Street corridor. The

proposed upgrades focused on improving

safety and alleviating congestion in

that area. While some intersections

may receive ADA compliance upgrades,

specific locations have not been yet

identified. One question by Councilman

Lawson was raised uh, pretty much about

the ADA improvements, but Mr. Joel

Seider says at this point, we have not

identified any that needed. Uh, also for

discussion was resolution 9 of 2026 that

involved a federal grant application to

fund the design phase of a major

transportation project. The project area

included 2nd Street through 7th Street,

Cameron Street through 25th Street and

the 17th and Market Street corridor

extending to Paxton Street. The grant

request totaled 3 million and

incorporates traffic calming measures,

curb bump-outs, a road diet, and a

multimodal transportation approach.

Council [snorts] discussion centered uh,

on concerns, especially from

Councilwoman Davis, on the ongoing

Market Street construction project and

the challenges it's created for nearby

residents. We conversed on the

possibilities of raising um,

communication efforts when it comes to

large CRW projects and other entities'

projects within the city.

Uh, after that, no real questions were

raised by council, and I highly

encourage my colleagues to support both

resolutions on the evening. That

concludes the report from the public

works committee. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez.

We have one ordinance for first reading,

bill 1 of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

Bill 1, 2026, an ordinance amending part

3 of the administrative code under

chapter 2-301, adding thereto chapter 3

-301.16,

providing for a framework to restrict

and otherwise limit city intervention in

matters regarding immigration status.

Thank you. Bill 1 of 2026 will move to

the public safety committee.

We do not have any ordinances for

amendment or ordinances for final

passage. We will move to resolutions.

The first resolution for consideration

this evening is resolution 3 of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record? Resolution 3, 2026, a

resolution approving the first proposed

2026 budget reallocation in order to

authorize the roll forward of certain

2025 budget year encumbered commitments

and to reaffirm certain 2025 capital

project and program appropriations.

Thank you.

I know, thank you.

I will entertain a motion to suspend the

rules for discussion. So moved.

So, it's been moved and seconded. Okay.

Um, we have before us resolution 3 of

2026.

Okay, thank you.

Solicitor Grover, will you be discussing

this resolution?

I can generally

Okay, thank you.

There is an amendment to resolution 3,

which is the first budget reallocation

and roll forward of the year. It's a

fairly simple amendment. We added a

schedule C,

which was the funding of refunding of

two positions in particular, the

business administrator and the

um,

learner administrator {slash} he's got a

very long title.

And he it's a very long title in the

budget, the learner administrator. And

the third position is a new economic

development director position. Um, and

uh, schedule C sets forth where the

money comes from, where it goes, which

which finance prepared this afternoon.

Uh, I would like to commend the council

and the mayor for coming to a resolution

on something that I think both sides

deeply Go ahead. deep views on and to

basically get us to a point where the

city could move forward.

Thank you. Mr. McKnighton, did you have

anything to add?

Thank you. Uh, good evening, uh, city

council members. Thank you, President

Hill.

Um,

just to follow up on uh, the city

solicitor's comments,

schedule or exhibit C is reflected to

what he's describing. It It It's uh,

all contained within the general fund

and also contained with uh, contained

within two specific budget units, namely

the office of the mayor,

which there is uh,

a proposed amendment that that includes

uh,

the the long title name for the director

of business development, learner

administrator, and then also the newly

thought out uh, position,

uh, community and economic development

director, to increase that line uh, by

approximately $146,400.

The other line pertains to the office of

the business administrator and reflects

the the salary for uh, the business

administrator for for 2026 proposed.

>> [snorts]

>> Um,

so again, the the the lines are similar.

It's salaries and wages and there's

related corresponding increases to the

payroll tax expense.

Uh, the total proposed expenditures for

for this exhibit uh,

uh, total to $301,761.

Again, all personnel. And then the

offset uh,

estimated resource match for that

includes the general fund revenue

uh, estimated cash carryover for um,

for accommodating that increase in

expense.

And that's

everything on on that uh, exhibit. Thank

you.

Thank you. Um, I will open the floor for

questions uh, from my colleagues. I'll

begin with our budget and finance

committee chair, Vice President Jones.

Uh, I really don't have a question. I do

want to make a motion to um, further

amend uh, resolution 3 of 2026.

Um, and I'll explain why why I want to

amend that. I want to take um,

by reallocating $20,000 from the um,

general fund

and placing it into

um,

uh, from removing it from the general

fund and placing into line item 4210

1 0 421010.

That's the legal services line

uh, for council. And the reason why I

want to do that is because um, you know,

sometimes it can be overwhelming. I I

feel for the law bureau that doesn't um,

we don't get really get a chance to get

some of our legislation through. I think

this will help take some of the strain

off of uh, the legal

you know, the solicitor's office um,

attaining that council for us to make

sure when we do draw up our resolutions

that are here to actually protect the

the residents of our city, that we get

that outside legal opinion to make sure

that we're not leaving ourselves

subjectable

um, for for any,

uh, lawsuits. So, um,

you know, I feel that it's very

important that we, uh, roll that at

least $20,000 from

um,

yeah, from the general fund forward. And

that's pursuant to

um, section 11610

of the Pennsylvania Third Class City

Code.

Um, so,

I don't know if I make that motion now.

I just wanted to explain why I wanted

to,

you know, uh, further amend resolution 3

of 2026.

Thank you. You'll formally make the

motion we when we resume the legislative

session.

Councilwoman Green, are there any

questions related to resolution 3 of

2026?

Thank you, President Hill. Um, only

questions I have, uh, one, if we can get

the exact salaries for the different

positions. It's kind of all clumped

together, but if we can get the exact

salaries for the project director, blah,

blah, blah, blah, blah. Um, and then

also the economic development director.

If we get the actual proposed salaries

for them,

um, and then since the economic

development director,

um,

wasn't in the budget and the position

control, is that something that has to

like actually open the budget back up to

add it in or how would that be put in?

Sorry, I have a cold if I sound nosey.

As as this resolution amendment is, uh,

based on what is now a motion before the

court, uh, and it's joint stipulation of

the council and the mayor, um,

based on the optional third class city

provision where there's a liberal

interpretation of the act in favor of

the city, uh,

it would seem that you would not have to

reopen the budget. And technically, you

really could not technically reopen the

budget. That's why it's attached to a

budget reallocation. There are instances

in the past when the mayor's office and

the council are in agreement to add

positions that become necessary in the

middle of the year without reopening and

and they've done it various ways. Um,

but this basically gives a directive to

HR, a directive to finance to add the

position. Um,

I don't have the math in front of me. I

don't know if Mr. McCutchen does.

The numbers for the positions are

exactly the same as proposed in the 2026

budget. The numbers for the uh, project

manager / lur person is the exact same

numbers. The salary number for the new

economic development director position

is a combination of the funding that was

in the community service, uh, director's

position plus the small portion that

came out of, uh,

the director of DBHED. Those two numbers

are simply combined. So, it's uh,

literally the exact same dollar numbers

that were in the

December budget that were taken out for

those things, put back into these three

positions.

But I don't I I can't tell you I have

them memorized which ones they are. So.

Um, I appreciate the sentiment if I

could still get it in writing because

when it's a clump, um, I just don't want

it to be that like now our project

director

position is making the same as a

building housing director position or

economic development director. I just

want to make sure that the the positions

and the salaries, uh, you know, just all

line up so that we can all be in

agreement. Not that after the fact it's

like, oh, we didn't realize that's what

the salary was.

>> I think you have a court order that does

that for you. Just but we'll get you the

exact numbers. I appreciate the numbers.

That's all I have for now.

Thank you. Councilman Lawson, do you

have any questions regarding resolution

3 of 2026?

Well, Council, uh, woman Green just

asked the question that I had on my

mind. I I just want to make sure that,

um, the person we put in that position

is is paid a a decent salary. So, I

would like to know what that salary

would be. Um, and and I guess it's as

simple as as going back and doing the

math, but, um, just as we sit here now,

I don't know what it would be and I

wanted to make sure that it was

something that, um,

would would work well with the position.

That's all.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Davis, any questions?

Thank you, President Hill.

I understand what's going on and I don't

have any questions at this time. Thank

you. Thank you. Councilman Rodriguez,

any questions? Um, no questions, Madam

President. Just more of a statement. I'd

just like to thank both the

administrative administrative and

legislative body for coming together and

coming to this conclusion to, uh, loosen

up some dollars for the taxpaying

citizens and getting back to business.

So, just my appreciations all around and

I look forward to getting back to

business. Thank you. Thank you.

Councilwoman Ross, any questions? Thank

you. Um, I don't have any questions. I

did have the same one as, uh,

Councilwoman Green did, just wanting to

know what the exact, um,

dollar amounts were for each position,

um, just so we have that and understand

as we move forward. And I also had the

same thought of, uh, amendment as

Councilman Jones did, just to make sure

that, um, we know sometimes the law

bureau gets overwhelmed and just making

sure that the resolutions that, um, we

have are able to be passed and put in

the place for the residents cuz they're

there to to keep them safe. So, um,

everything was on [clears throat] the

same line of what people already said,

council members already said, so I

didn't have any questions, but thank

you.

Thank you. Um, if there's no further

discussion, I will entertain a motion to

resume our legislative session.

>> Motion to resume the session.

I second that.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I missed you. I was looking

at my colleagues. Missed you.

Yeah, thank you, President Hill. I just

wanted

to wait. So, um,

Vice President Jones, but just back to

your, uh, request and I I just want to

be sure I understand it. Uh, $20,000

increase in the legal line, but within

City Council's budget unit. Is that Is

that correct?

>> Yes.

>> And and just a just a, that's a budget

adjustment increase. Yes.

>> That's the extent of it. Yes. I mean, I

really I was looking at the line. Um, it

was it's 40,000 that we didn't use last

year. We could have just actually rolled

the whole 40 over, but, you know, we'll

we'll go with the 20.

Uh,

yeah, that's pretty much it.

>> Okay. And all right, yeah, thank you for

that. And then, uh,

Councilwoman Green, if you like, I can

comment verbally right now on the the

salaries or, you know, follow up to

what, you know, with your document,

documentation request. Yes. But but for

the director of business development

lurder administrator, the the, uh, the

proposed salary is is $67,784.

Uh, for the new community

Did you get that? Uh, okay. For the the

new position economic development wise,

that salary is $78,633.

And, um, the the business administrator

is, uh, is the listed on the

specifically on on on the exhibit.

That's $133,900

even.

And Mr.

Mr. McCutchen, just to be clear, um,

adding that 20,000 will bring our our

our line, uh,

to 60.

Okay. Currently as it as the budget

>> at 40, yes. And and moving that over

will make it 60. Okay. I appreciate that

extra clarification. Thank you.

That's that's all. Thank thank you,

President Hill.

Thank you. Is there any further

discussion?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, again,

I'll entertain a motion to resume our

legislative session. So moved. Is there

a second?

>> Second. Thank you. Before us, we have

resolution 3 of 2026. Mr. Truesdale,

could you please read it into the record

one more time?

Resolution 3, 2026. A resolution

approving the first proposed 2026 budget

reallocation in order to authorize the

roll forward of certain 2025 budget year

encumbered commitments and to reaffirm

certain 2025 capital project and program

appropriations.

Thank you.

Um, Council members, are there any

questions, comments, or concerns related

to resolution 3 of 2026 prior to the

introduction of the amendment? Uh, yes.

I again, I would like to make a motion,

um, to to further amend resolution 3 of

2026 by reallocating $20,000

from the general fund and adding it to

line item 421010,

Council's legal services line, pursuant

to section 11610 of the Pennsylvania

Third Class City Code. Second.

Thank you. Council members, are there

any questions regarding the amendment on

the floor?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote on the amendment?

Ms. Davis?

Yes.

Ms. Green? Yes.

Mr. Jones? Yes.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes.

Ms. Ross?

Yes.

Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

Ms. Hill? Yes. The amendment passes by

vote of 7 to 0.

Okay, thank you. So, before us, we have

resolution 3 of 2026

as amended.

Council members, are there any further

questions, comments, or concerns related

to resolution 3 of 2026 as amended.

I

I just had a I just had a very quick

comment. I just really wanted to

congratulate

Council with being able to bring forth a

framework that included a framework

settlement that included an economic

development position because we see

the state that our city currently is in.

We see that economic development is a

huge part of what needs to be fixed

renovated

and brought to

a better position for our residents. So,

I just want to

just say thank you

to city council members for bringing

that abreast and for that being in the

reallocation for resolution 3 cuz it's

much needed. So, I just wanted to make

that comment.

Thank you, Councilwoman Ross.

Councilwoman Green.

Thank you, President Hill. I just want

to say thank you to to everyone who

worked on this.

I'm glad we made it this point where

we're able to have a resolution. We were

able to to come to an agreement with the

administration. I'm still disappointed

that it took lawyers to do so.

I would like to say thank you to to

solicitor's office for reaching out to

the the opposing sides and kind of

bringing them together to have that

conversation

because I think that I did help to move

things forward. Thank you to everyone

for being reasonable as we move forward

and just getting us to this point.

So, I'm glad we got here, disappointed

it it had to come this way, but looking

forward to moving forward with the

residents of Harrisburg for the best

services possible.

Thank you, Councilwoman Green. Vice

President Jones. Yes,

me as well. I'd just like to commend

everyone, the the residents all the

attorneys, everyone that reached out to

try to bring a um

you know, a peaceful resolution to the

issues that we were facing. But, I will

say that this is a new day for

Harrisburg. It's a shining moment for

us. I think with working alongside

administration, being able to resolve

these issues to make sure that our city

could move forward in the right

direction. I think this this was

important despite the the legal you know

the legal situation, but I think it's

huge and it stays says a lot to our

residents and to this council. Not only

this council, I want to commend each and

every one of you for standing firm and

making sure that we do the right thing

for our residents rather they understand

it or they don't, but I think this is a

great move. I think again a shining

moment for the city. We have been able

to put to bed some of the old practices

that were being going throughout some of

these administrations and I think we

have a bright future moving forward and

I really hope that this is the beginning

of a new day that we can really sit and

work with

our mayor

to actual to ensure that our city moves

in the right direction. Thank you.

Thank you, Vice President Jones.

Councilman Rodriguez. Thank you, Madam

President. I just wanted to reiterate

sentiments from our colleagues today

tonight. We're setting the precedent of

huge victory for the city as a total,

not one-sided,

not looking at this blinded, and I just

pray as I speak here on this day is that

the media perpetuates it as just,

not with any negative connotation or,

you know, buts and commas.

You know, the city is working together.

The city has figured it out. The city

has done it. Let's look at this in a

celebratory manner and I'd love to see

the headlines exonerate as such. That's

that's just my two cents on it.

Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez.

Councilwoman Davis. Thank you, President

Hill. I would just like to thank my

colleagues, the residents, and the

administration

for working together

and coming together at this point. I

mean, this could have dragged on and on

and on and cost the taxpayers a lot more

money. So, I'm pleased and I'm looking

forward to working with the

administration and with my colleagues

for the best interest of this residents

of this city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Davis.

Any other questions, comments? Okay, I

have a comment, so please bear with me.

I would like the meeting record to

reflect that Harrisburg City Council has

met this moment in time.

Harrisburg City Council initiated a

proposal.

Harrisburg City Council compromised.

Throughout this entire process, we've

kept the residents interests at the top

of our minds.

Three things that I'd like to highlight,

then I will read the framework that we

shared and what was agreed upon.

A stand-alone director of community and

economic development. Given the

discussion and desperate need to spur

economic development within the city of

Harrisburg

we feel a sole director of community and

economic development will assist in this

effort.

The practice of the current mayor and

future mayors of appointing interim

directors ends indefinitely.

Finally, an ordinance will be introduced

by Harrisburg City Council to stop

funding an acting or temporary

department head that is subject to the

advice and consent of the council beyond

120 days.

This victory is a collective victory for

Harrisburg City Council and the

residents of the city of Harrisburg.

You may not see it now, but later you'll

understand.

We are taking action to truly move this

city

forward.

I'd like to read our settlement

framework that we crafted and came to

the table with.

City Council agrees to fund, at that

time it was four positions.

A business administrator, a director of

economic development

and it was building and housing

development and LERTA administrator.

The mayor agrees that she will not

reappoint an individual to a a prior

role whether an acting interim, or

permanent basis at any point in time.

The mayor agrees to end the practice of

appointing interim department heads.

The Harrisburg City Administrative Code

of Ordinances is amended to include a

provision that the funding of an acting

department head ends automatically on

the 121st

day after their appointment unless the

appointment of such acting department

head has been subject to the advice and

consent of City Council.

The last point was funds are increased

for City Council to retain its own

special counsel on an as-needed basis.

Which was covered through the amendment

this evening.

Final settlement includes City Council

will fund three positions for the 2026

fiscal year through the budget

reallocation process. Specifically,

Council will allocate funding for the

previously defunded positions of

business administrator and project

director of business development and

LERTA administrator

and allocate funding to a new position

of director of economic development. The

latter two positions will be a direct

report to the mayor or mayor's designee

for the 2026 fiscal year.

Two.

The mayor and council agree to mutually

honor each other's respective roles of

mayoral appointment authority subject to

the advice and consent of the council

and in that spirit, the mayor will

identify and appoint a successor to fill

the role of business administrator.

Three. In addition, the parties agree

that the practice of the appointment of

an interim department head will be

discontinued.

If a vacancy in a department head

position will remain unfilled for a

period to exceed 120 days, the parties

agree to confer on the then available

options to meet the city's obligations

related to the specific department and

duties.

Four. The parties acknowledge that an

amendment to the codified ordinances of

the city of Harrisburg restricting or

otherwise limiting the expenditure of

public funds for an individual serving

in the capacity of an acting or

temporary department head that is

subject to the advice and consent of the

council beyond 120 days shall be offered

in the form of a 2026

bill for consideration by the council

and the public.

Five. Notwithstanding any of the above

statements and representations, it is

the express intention of the parties

that the mayor and the city council

shall each retain all powers and

authority granted to their respective

branches of local government by law.

So,

I just wanted

everyone to be clear on the framework

that Harrisburg City Council brought to

the table and the final settlement

agreement points that were

um

exercised today.

So, if there's no further discussion, we

have before us resolution 3 of 2026 as

amended. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

call the vote?

Ms. Davis?

Yes.

Ms. Green? Yes.

Mr. Jones? Yay.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes.

Ms. Rose?

Yes.

Mr. Rodriguez? Yes.

Ms. Hill? Yes. Resolution 3 of 2026

passes as amended by a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you.

Next, we have resolution 6 of 2026. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please read it into

the record?

Resolution 6, 2026, a resolution

ratifying a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Department of Transportation Green Light

Go Grant Application and authorizing the

City of Harrisburg to execute any

agreements, forms, and documents related

to the award of $387,380

to update traffic signal equipment

within the Allison Hill neighborhood.

Thank you.

Council members, um

are there any final questions, comments,

or concerns related to resolution 6 of

2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

Ms. Daniel or

>> [laughter]

>> Ms. Davis?

Yes.

Ms. Green? Yes.

Mr. Jones? Yay.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes.

Ms. Rose? Yes.

Mr. Rodriguez? Yes.

Ms. Hill? Yes.

Resolution 6 of 2026 passes by a vote of

7 to 0.

Thank you. Next, we have resolution 7 of

2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

read it into the record?

Resolution 7, 2026, a resolution

authorizing the City of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a professional

services agreement with Elizabeth

Sheeber to provide sign language

interpretation services.

Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 7 of

2026?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote? Ms. Davis? Yes. Ms. Green?

Yes. Mr. Jones? Yay.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes.

Ms. Rose? Yes. Mr. Rodriguez? Yes.

Ms. Hill? Yes. Resolution 7 of 2026

passes by a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you. Next, we have resolution 8 of

2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

read it into the record?

Resolution 8 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the City of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a professional

services agreement with Joshua Balker to

provide sign language interpretation

services.

Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 8 of

2026?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote? Ms. Davis? Yes. Ms. Green? Yes.

Mr. Jones? Yay.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes. Ms. Rose? Yes. Mr. Rodriguez? Yes.

Ms. Hill? Yes. Resolution 8 of 2026

passes by a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you.

Finally, resolution 9 of 2026. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please read it into

the record?

Resolution 9 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the submission of a grant

application to the United States

Department of Transportation Better

Utilizing Investments to Leverage

Development Grant Program for up to $3

million

to improve safety within four roadway

corridors to include Division Street,

North 6th Street, Market Street, and

South 17th Street. Thank you. Council

members, are there any final questions,

comments, or concerns related to

resolution 9 of 2026?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote? Ms. Davis? Yes.

Ms. Green? Yes.

Mr. Jones? Yay.

Mr. Lawson?

Yes.

Mr. Rodriguez? Yes.

Ms. Hill?

Yes.

Resolution

passes by a vote of 7 to 0.

Thank you. Council members, is there any

old business for discussion? Yes, Madam

President.

>> Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you. Just a legal question. Um

Solicitor Grover, just wanted to touch

base on where we were with the corner

store ordinance. Um I've been speaking

to many entities within the community

and they're looking forward to

supporting it. I know we've had some

hiccups, but found where it would live

in the code. Just wanted to see how soon

we'd be able to bring that down.

Uh we we can try to get it down in 2

weeks from now. We were pretty close. We

were just doing a cross-check on the

definitions in the code, uh which does

take a lot cuz there's definitions all

over the code.

I'll give you an example. It turns out

we have five definitions of the phrase

rooming house,

which we're dealing with because judges

care that we have five different

definitions of rooming house, and they

all got adopted at different points in

time. So, it's the same kind of we're

trying to avoid that and make sure that

we're clear we're clear on what it says.

But, we we've changed the section

originally proposed to a different part

of the code. We put put it in a

different part. Did all those parts

announce really just doing some due

diligence.

Do you Do you think this specific

legislation would need I'm not sure,

maybe a communications

type of scenario to have maybe input

from different businesses? So, so I

think whenever you're putting upon a

business or anyone that something new in

terms of responsibility,

and and just like the I I talked about

this with the Council President with the

the immigration-related one, it really

is valuable to have public input about

what the people affected will think, you

know, from various perspectives. You

know, what one neighbor wants, maybe the

next neighbor doesn't, but I think

Council, the more you can more input you

can get cuz you're really the voice of

of the people here when you're doing it.

Um and I think it helps balance it, you

know, we think we know what people want,

but but it's good to hear from them.

Absolutely. All right, thank you for

that. Nothing further, Madam President.

Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez.

Councilwoman Rose? Yes, I was going to

piggyback off of that note of

communication. I just wanted residents

to know that bill 1 of 2026, if they

were under the impression it was going

to be spoke about tonight, I just didn't

want them to feel like um something went

wrong or it was taken off of the agenda.

Just to know the process, we read it in

for first reading, but it will be talked

about during our work session um next

Tuesday at 5:30, where

please come for public input to speak

about um how you feel about that bill,

um any recommendations for amendments,

or if you like it as it stands. We

really want to hear from residents about

all um bills, resolutions, or ordinances

that come in front of us, but just so um

residents know about bill 1.

Thank you. Any other old business for

discussion, Council members?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, any new

business?

Okay, I don't have any new business

either. The time is 7:46 p.m. I will

entertain a motion to adjourn.

>> Is there a second? Second. Thank you. We

stand adjourned.