Harrisburg City Council Legislative Sessions 7-29-25

The time is 6 pm. I would like to be

mindful of our time. We will review our

legislative agenda during a legislative

caucus and then we will call the meeting

to order. I would like to note for the

meeting record that Harrisburg City

Council hosted an executive session

prior to this special legislative

session to discuss legal matters. So I

will call the meeting to order. Mr.

TRale will lead the roll call. The

invocation this evening will be led by

Councilwoman Ross. The pledge of

allegiance will be led by Councilman

Rodriguez who is joining us uh

virtually. Uh, Councilwoman Daniels is

virtual and Vice President Green is

virtual as well. We will then, we do not

have any uh, communications this

evening. We will then move to courtesy

of the floor followed by discussion of

one resolution. That's resolution 47 of

2024.

Um, following our discussion, we will

then vote upon this resolution. Then we

will move to old business. Is there any

old business for discussion, council

members?

Seeing and hearing none, any new

business?

>> Yes, President H. I would like to um

talk to the community about the youth

graffiti cleanup crew that is happening

currently right now.

>> Okay. Any other new business?

Okay, then we will. Okay. The time is

6:01 p.m. I'd like to call our special

legislative session to order.

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

role?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> here.

>> Miss Davis,

>> present.

>> Miss Green,

>> present.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> here.

>> Miss Rose,

>> present.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> present.

>> Miss Hill,

>> present. Thank you. The invocation this

evening will be led by Councilwoman

Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill. I would just

like us to um have on our thoughts and

on our hearts um anybody who is going

through a tough time currently in

Harrisburg

um or even out um in our country um in

the United States, especially um with

the mass shooting that just happened in

New York, keeping those families in our

prayers and just everybody going through

a tough time or having a moment um where

they need our thoughts and our prayers.

Please, let's just take a moment for

that.

Thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. The pledge

of allegiance will be led by Councilman

Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam President. May we all

rise for the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

United States of America and to the

republic for which it stands, one nation

under God, indivisible, with liberty and

justice for all.

>> Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. Uh we

do not have any communications this

evening. We will move to courtesy of the

floor. Just a few housekeeping notes

before we begin. Uh please state your

name and 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 four minutes to share your

comments. Mr. Trudale will serve as our

timekeeper. I will begin to my right. Is

there anyone that would like to offer

public comment? Seeing and hearing no

one, anyone in the middle section?

[Music]

Hi, good evening council. My name is

Ronda Mays. I'm the executive director

of the Fair Housing Council of the

Capital Region. We are located on sixth

in the play in Harrisburg. And I just

wanted to um speak before council this

evening and um the honorable

Markers

um about the need um the necessity of us

ensuring that the organizations that are

in need of these uh CDBG funds from 2024

are um you know we have whatever issues

the city is facing with um allocating

those funds and distributing them to the

organizations that they are resolved as

quickly as possible. Um in the case of

the Fair Housing Council, which is

really the only organization that I can

speak to, um we all realize that there

is a housing crisis um not just in the

city of Harrisburg, but throughout our

nation. Um I can't speak you know what's

going on outside of Cumberland, Dolphin

and Perry counties. But I can say that

um on a daily basis we get phone calls

and visitors to our organization that um

they they really require help. Um we try

to intervene when we can. I would like

to think that without intervention um by

Fair Housing Council and the Fair

Housing Council counselors that we would

see particularly in the Harrisburg

community probably a lot more evictions

than we already are, a lot more

homelessness than we already are. It's

because of our intervention and also

collaboration with other housing focused

um agencies

um and state agencies, the county

agencies that we're able to stem the

tide um a little bit. But in order to

continue to do this work, we need the

funds. We're not asking for anything for

free.

We are putting in extraordinary effort

and extraordinary hours. We are doing

the work. So all that we ask is that the

city of Harrisburg

um you know that supports us um their

fair share of support. We're not asking

for more than anyone else. Uh we don't

believe that we're more important than

anyone else. were all important, but we

are all working very very hard and

diligently to make sure that the housing

crisis doesn't get any worse than it

already is. So I don't know what you

know the the technical issues are within

the city but I do know that as far as my

organization is concerned we're about at

the you know we're we're pretty much in

the fourth quarter going into the fourth

quarter the end of the year um if we're

looking at the federal fiscal year and

um you know our our HUD funds are about

depleted our county CDBG funds are about

depleted

what we are relying on right now to

continue our work is the city to come

through. So, um, I would just like to

encourage all of us to keep working, try

to get past whatever difficulties there

are, whatever barriers there are that's

keeping the funds from going out to, you

know, the the people in the in the city,

the people in our community that are in

most need of our assistance, no matter

which organization that, you know, we

are. I mean, we housing is pretty much

the fundamental need for folks. You

know, um recreational programs and other

programs are fine. They're great and

they have their place, but if a child

doesn't know where they're going home to

that night or they're going home and

they open up the door and their parent

is sitting in there crying because they

have to move, that's an issue. We try to

stop those kinds of issues. And if we

cannot stop it, then we work with an

organization that can get them rehoused.

But it all starts with the council a lot

of times. So, um, the money is put to

good use. We're one of the only

organizations that also put homeowners

into the community through our education

and and qualifying people for down

payment assistance, you know. So

whatever the city brings to us and and

you know it's not we don't build houses,

people go out and they purchase their

home just like any of you did any you

know anyone else does and they qualify

and and home ownership isn't a instant

thing. It takes time. It's a process.

>> Thank you for your comment, Miss M.

>> Um I just want to encourage everyone to

to help us to help the community. Thank

you.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone to my left that would

like to offer public comment?

Good evening, council president and

council members. I stand before you

tonight to address an urgent and

significant violation of Harrisburg's

municipal law that demands your

immediate attention and action. For more

than 420 days, Miss Gloria Martin

Roberts has served as interim department

of interim director of the department of

building and housing development

directly contravening Harrisburg

administrative code section 2-01.5C.

This is not merely an administrative

oversight. It constitute a clear ongoing

breach of our city's legal framework

framework resulting in substantial

financial loss to the taxpayers. The law

is explicit. Section 2-301.5C

states the mayor may appoint an acting

department head for a period of not

exceeding 120 days unless the

appointment of such acting department

head has received the advice and consent

of city council. Miss Martin Roberts.

Her appointment on June 3rd, 2024. Her

lawful term expired on October 1st,

2024. Yet, she has continued to serve

without the requisite approval of city

council for more than 300 additional

days, further further exacerbating this

breach. The same statute unequivocally

limits the total duration of acting

appointments. No individual may serve as

acting department head for more than 120

days during a mayor's term in office.

Miss Martin Roberts tenure has now

exceeded three times that statutory

maximum. Under Pennsylvania law,

specifically Title 11 section 10902B1,

the city cannot legally compensate an

officer unless the appointment complies

fully with statutory requirements. Every

payment issued to Miss Roberts since

October 1st, 2024 constitutes an

unlawful expedenture.

[Music]

As city council, your role and

responsibility is to uphold in the

integrity of our municipal government

and excuse me, our municipal government

are clear. Under section 409 of the

optional third class city charter law,

you possess both the authority and duty

to investigate this violation. You can

and must require swore explanation from

the mayor, city solicitor, and Mrs.

Martin Roberts about the prolonged

violation of this law. Established

Pennsylvania case law noted the appeal

of Tado and Fonjo versus Luzar County

confirms that appointment exceeding

statutory authority avoid the inception

void abnio.

Consequently, Miss Martin Roberts ROA

has been legally invalid since October

2nd, 2024. Each day this illegal

appointment continued further compounds

the city's exposure. I strongly urge

city council to immediately take the

following corrective actions.

established a formal investigation

committee of power to secure sworn

statements from the mayor city solicitor

Miss Martin Roberts thoroughly examine

circumstances that allow this breach to

even persist to allow this breach to

persist. Pass a clear and unequivocal

resol resolution condemning the

violation immediately terminating

terminating the unlawful appointment

initiating proceeds to recover and

properly disperse taxpayer funds.

Institute robust financial safeguards to

prevent specific violations, including

mandatory city council notification of

all city all acting appointments and

automatic automatic sessation of

compensation after the 120day statutory

limit. Refer this matter to the

Pennsylvania Attorney General and any

relevant oversight authorities to

investigate potential criminal activity

or public corruption. The mayor and city

solicitor have demonstrated

has de demonstrabably failed in their

fundamental responsibility to uphold our

laws causing substantial financial harm

to this city. This is not a matter of

direct this is not a matter directed

personally at Mrs. Martin Roberts.

Rather it is about preserving the rule

of law safeguarding taxpayers resources

ensuring governmental accountability.

Should the council fail to act promptly,

private citizens will be compelled to

pursue legal remedies through quor I'm

sorry I don't know quarrento actions

oh quarant actions tax taxpayers

lawsuits and manimous filings to enforce

compliance and recover misappropriated

funds. However, you have both the

authority and obligation to rectify this

proactively. The citizens of Harsburg

deserve transparent governance,

adherence to the law, and accountability

when violations occur. They rightfully

demand restitution for every tax de

every tax dollar and properly expended.

I implore you to fulfill your oversight

duties, rigorously thor thoroughly

investigate this clear legal breach and

act swiftly to to correct it. The

integrity of our min our municipal

governance and the public trust depends

significantly on your response to this

critical matter. Thank you for your

attention and thank you for your

attention and commitment to upholding

our city's laws. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else that

would like to offer public comment

before we move forward with our meeting

agenda? Seeing and hearing none, uh the

resolution for discussion this evening

is resolution 47 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record? Resolution 47,2025,

a resolution approving the 2025 annual

action plan for the city of Harrisburg

for the community development block

grant, home investment partnerships, and

emergency solutions grant programs.

>> Thank you. Um, I'll entertain a motion

to suspend the rules for discussion.

>> So,

>> is there a second? Second. Thank you.

Uh, I will defer to our building and

housing committee chair, uh,

Councilwoman Davis to lead discussion.

Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

everyone. Good evening. Okay, so uh,

could everyone introduce yourselves and,

um, just briefly, um, give us an

overview of the annual action plan or

any other comments that you want to

express.

>> Okay. Thank you. I'm Gloria Martin

Roberts, interim director of economic

development and building and housing.

And to my right is Ashima Bushy. She is

a project manager for community

development block grant in ESG. Uh and

to my left I have Patrice Dawkins who is

also pro project manager for home and

ESG. Both of them will be participating

this evening in the presentation. Um

before we go to our um

overview of the uh the PowerPoint for

the uh 2025 annual plan, I just want to

say that um we provided you with a list

of projects that uh has been recommended

uh to the mayor to focus on for the 2025

um annual plan and funding. And because

we know the nature of what's coming out

of uh Washington at any given time. Uh

we do know that we have a um an array of

major projects that need to be addressed

in terms of infrastructure and facility

improvement. And um at any given time,

we know that the president can sign an

executive order to stop these funds, to

pull them back or whatever. but we don't

want to be at risk of having um major uh

infrastructure and public facility

improvements and not having money to

address it. So, we're recommending for

2025 that we address um those issues. Um

I have asked um sitas uh Kyle Jenkins is

is on the screen and I believe that Kyle

wants to make a comment also.

Good evening, council. I appreciate your

time this evening. Um, I just wanted to

just emphasize what uh what Miss Gloria

has stated. Um, so the city has to

prepare a consolidated plan, which is a

five-year plan for the funding sources

that we're discussing today, CDBG, home,

and the emergency solutions grant

program. And every year of the

consolidated plan, the city also submits

to HUD an annual action plan. That

annual action plan really is essentially

the updated version of the plan for that

given year. And it's essentially uh

there are some narratives and other

aspects that we look at and we we

discuss with HUD and provide to HUD as

uh but mostly it's a budget for that

fiscal year of funding. So, this

particular fiscal year we're talking

about is the 2025 fiscal year grants um

that the city would receive.

And we've been seeing a a common thread

with a lot of our clients nationally

with them really wanting to protect

their funds for more internal city uh

infrastructure and public facility type

properties. And we say public facility,

we mean community buildings, parks,

recreation centers. All of these are

considered public facilities, including

firehouses and fire stations as well.

Infrastructure HUD more thinks of as

water and sewer type projects, road

resurfacing, sidewalk improvement, curb

cuts, those types of things. So, just

wanted to emphasize that um we are

really seeing this nationally with kind

of the

uh change uh that the new administration

has brought in with grant funding in the

potential of those funds um you know

being limited or uh or executive orders

causing compliance uh issues or or or

pieces of compliance that the city has

to um keep up with in this new

environment that we have. So that's

really all I wanted to say was just to

emphasize what Miss Gloria is saying

here today. Uh we really recommend as a

consultant for the city and the

department that the city focus um at

least on this particular action plan

year on improving these public

facilities and getting these

infrastructure projects completed with

the funds that the city is being awarded

by HUD this for this allocation.

Okay, thank you for that. Um, did Miss

Bushy, is it did I pronounce your name?

Buzzy. Correct. Okay. Did you have did

you want to make any comments? Um,

>> okay. Not as of yet. I'll let Miss

Gloria proceed with the presentation.

>> Okay.

>> Oh, okay. Go ahead, Miss Gloria. I'm

sorry. I didn't realize you weren't

finished.

the plan. This is what you'll see on the

screen. I'm sorry, let me use this mic

here. What you will see on the screen is

what we presented to the public. Uh we

had our um required public meeting. Um

and I believe all of you were notified

of that. I sent it out to you. Um but we

held that on June 26 at 5:30 here at

Council Chamber. Um, after the public

hearing, there has to be a 30-day

comment period. That time expired

yesterday at 5:00. Uh, what will happen

now is should you approve this plan, it

will then go to HUD and HUD has 45 days

from the date they receive it um to

respond to our plan.

So the consolidated uh plan and actual

annual action plan uh CDBG home and ESG

is administered through the consolidated

plan. It's called the con plan and

managed through HUD's integrated

dispersement and information system

that's called IDIS

online. The con plan and annual action

plans help grant grantees determine

activities and organizations to fund in

the coming years. The comm plan is five

years in length and describes community

needs, resources, priorities, and

proposed activities to be undertaken

under certain HUD programs. The annual

action plan. The annual action plan,

which we uh abbreviate to AAP, is

submitted to HUD every year during the

five-year comp plan cycle. We're in the

third, this will be the third year as

AAP describes the specific plan usage

for HUD programs as well as certain

other program requirements

for the 2025 action plan funds. Funding

for community development block grant

1,86,820.

program income represents $15,000 and

that's for uh residents who participate

in our home programs um that um leave

their home home before the five years is

up and uh they have to pay back. Um the

home program is $469,627

uh.19.

Um, and again, their program income is

for leans that are on the homes that

homeowners have to pay back should they

leave their homes within or before the

five-year requirement. ESG ESG funds, as

you already know, are for the unhoused.

Those are the dollars that go for the

homeless population, and that's

$163,869.

Patrice

This is the strategic plan. Priority

needs. Priority needs from 2023 to 2027.

Consolidated plan.

Pri priority needs. Number one is

talking about public facilities and

infrastructure to improve and expand

public infrastructure facilities around

the city. Number two, public services.

You know, could be trash or anything.

Number three, removal of slum and

demolition and blight removal in the

areas that are needed to homes or

buildings.

Number four, affordable housing

development.

Anything deal with rental housing

development, home ownership housing

development, and owner occupied housing

rehab.

Number five is homeless and housing

services, reduced homelessness, which is

dealing with cash with ESG with the

homelessness. And number six is the

section 108 loan repayment.

>> And that loan repayment, if you can

recall, is the uh building on Cameron

and her street. Um that was a loan that

was taken out and was never paid. Uh and

I believe the person that uh uh

developed that building was prosecuted

um for wrongdoing. So we'll have that

loan paid off next year.

>> Okay. And we have the 2025 annual action

plan goals. Column one is the 2025

goals. And then the second column is

like the goal outcomes that we excuse me

expect. 1 A, improve and expand public

infrastructure. The goal is to have

5,000 low to moderate income persons

assisted.

1B improve access to public facilities

with the goal of having 20,000 low to

moderate income persons assisted.

Um it should be 2A 2A demolition and

blight removal. Um and the goal is to

demolish four buildings in need of

demolition.

For a rental housing development,

two rental units constructed is the goal

to have two rental unit constructed. 4

B, home ownership housing development

with the goal of having two homeowner

housing units constructed.

4 C, owner occupied housing rehab. The

goal is to have 30 homeowner units

rehabilitated.

5A, reduce homelessness

using the ESG funds. We have the goal is

to have 500 persons experiencing

homelessness provided with shelter and

15 persons at risk of homelessness.

provided prevention services 6A section

108 loan repayment which is marked as

not applicable because we plan to have

this paid off by next year. Thank you.

Um, as you can see for the TW 2025

action plan projects and and funding,

um, I'm sure you don't want me to read

all these figures, but you can see the

funding for administration, public

facilities and infrastructure, housing

programs, emergency demolition, section

108 loan payments, home administration,

our home choto set aside, home non

choto, housing development and ESG 2025.

And again, the ESG is the emergency

solutions grant for the uh unhoused

population.

>> Are you finished, Director Martin

Robbins? Finished. Okay. Thank you.

>> You're welcome.

>> Okay. Um,

I don't have any questions at this time,

but I'll open up the floor to my

colleagues. Um,

and I'll start with Councilman Jones.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. Um,

yeah, my question is,

um, not really a question, more so of a

statement. I think this is long overdue

of how CDBG funds should be used. So, I

do have a question. intertwined with

this. Uh we've seen previous

administrations use the CDBG funding to

build the in to build infrastructure in

the city. So I think this is long

overdue as I stated. So

um

are you still going to be looking to

give nonprofits or are you just

excluding them completely when it comes

to the CDBG ESG and well not ESG but

yeah ESG too?

>> Good question. And the money is being

targeted to toward infrastructure and

public facilities.

The entire pot of money. Uh if you can

see from that list, we have some very

expensive items on this list that really

really require things like street

paving. As you all know because you live

in this city, you know, some of the main

streets might be okay, but the secondary

streets are the ones that are often time

ignored. Yeah. We have a lot of holes

and so forth and so on. It's amazing

when I met with some of these

departments, it's amazing the price tag

on the cutouts that we have to do, you

know, to comply with ADA um and then

pour concrete for them and so forth and

so on. These are very expensive um

projects that we're looking at and this

seems to be the norm like I said around

the country because we know that if we

don't handle these problems now we just

can't predict what the federal

government is going to do and we need to

get these things done.

>> So is that some of those prices are

pretty high now u with us having our own

equipment and ability to be able to pave

streets does that reduce the cost in any

way? It does re Yes, it does.

>> Does it reflect in these numbers?

>> I'm sorry.

>> Does it reflect in the numbers that

you're showing?

>> Um, not necessarily because they haven't

given me an absolute number on the

projects. They just pretty much gave me

estimates of what each cutout would cost

or the paving of streets would cost and

so so forth because they still have to

buy the materials and so forth for that.

>> Now, I also see that these are

recommendation. Is there action is there

actual plan to make sure that these

things are implemented and if so which

would be tackling first?

>> Well, first of all, yes, there will be a

plan. This will be put in plan format

and because it will have to come to you

also with a dollar amount for your

approval. Um, and in terms of

prioritizing these, we haven't we have

to sit with the mayor. We sat with the

mayor, went over the recommendations,

but we have to sit to decide what's

priority in that meeting. will probably

be all these department heads to tell us

like ADA, we probably have a timeline on

when we when we have to get this stuff

done and um so we'll be sitting down

with her and doing that.

>> All right. No further questions.

>> Okay. Thank you, Councilman Jones.

Councilman Rodriguez, do you have any

questions?

>> Um, no questions at this moment. Thank

you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you, um, Chair Davis. Uh, thank

you all three of you for being here

tonight and presenting this um to us.

Um, it was to me as I looked at it very

strong plan and it has a a great chance

to make a huge impact especially on our

infrastructure. Um, so with that, I had

two questions. My first one was um

because I think in order for it to be a

success is one to make sure we're

transparent with uh the residents as we

um dive into the plan and as we execute

things for the plan as they get

finished. So is there any u metrics

you'll be using to be transparent with

the community other than them just

seeing um things being done but there is

there any other way you'll communicate

with them? Well, personally, I think the

channel 20 is underutilized in terms of

informing our community about the

different things that we're doing. Um,

so that would be an avenue, but we also

have discussed uh putting inserts in

utility bills and so forth so that

people know, you know, that we're paving

streets that were that were brightening

up their streets. Uh cuz one of the

problems is you know the c criminal

element out here and the lights are dim

almost everywhere in the city but

putting brighter bulbs in the streets.

And by the way we don't have to replace

the poles. We just actually have to

replace the bulbs and also putting

cameras throughout the city. And some

people contain that we should just focus

on the high crime areas. But as you all

know, criminals can be comfortable with

the nice quiet neighborhoods, too,

because they feel like we're not paying

attention. So, we're talking about doing

this throughout the city, not just in

the high crime areas. So, we want to

notify people of these changes and why

all of a sudden their streets are

brighter and so forth. So, yes, we are

going to do all all the means possible

of printed and electronic media to to

put out the different things that we're

going to be doing. I think that would be

great, especially using channel 20 as

you suggested and um insert and also

putting cameras not just in high crime

areas but you know throughout the city

and in certain spots. So I think that's

a great idea. Um my last question I just

wanted some clarification on um

providing 500 um uh no for the homeless.

>> It was was it 500 homeless shelters? Um,

not 500 homeless shelters, but I think

it was providing 500 persons. Yes. With

shelter. Um, so just some clarification.

Providing them with shelter, is it just

going to are we counting that as that

small period of time in the winter or

when it's really hot out or is it trying

to provide them with um an instance

forever homes maybe and also providing

them with mental health services they

need? That is it. Is this providing them

with services where we're trying to um

not just get them off the street but

keep them off the street or are we just

measuring well I provided them with

housing for these three months so

they're going on my list as saying I got

it done. So ju just clarification we

providing for how long? Well, as you

recall, the council approved for CCU and

downtown daily bread um approved them

for additional money so that the

homeless can have shelter throughout the

year.

>> The problem is we don't have a lot of um

organizations that have the space to do

that. Now, you know, the county just

bought property

>> uh and they're going to be moving um the

homeless population from down by Pendot

to another location. We're still in

talks about whether or not people should

be going into tents or whether we

there's some other type of housing that

can be erected there to give them more

stable um coverage, if you will. But

that has not been defined yet.

>> Okay. So, as it goes, when you get the

plan, then we'll it'll come back in

front of us and we'll see it to see what

that exactly means for the 500 people

that are um that were is our goal to

help in the shelter.

>> Well, let me say this. Remember that we

don't provide that direct services. Cash

facilitates correct that and cash is

representative of all the organizations

that provide

>> excuse me some kind of support for the

unhoused population. So these are their

numbers and this is what they anticipate

doing.

>> Okay. Yes, I do know cash catch or cash

>> cash sorry I always like to say cash but

um I do know that they provide those

services. I just didn't know what other

clarifications you had on that to let So

will they come in front of us and to

speak about it?

>> They can certainly and they probably

will want to when you receive you you

know the legislation on um the funding

and so forth.

>> Yes, I I think we would enjoy that. Just

to know what those just to clarify what

that looks like um because the community

is going to ask us and there's that

transparent piece. So yes, thank you for

answering. That's all I had.

>> You're welcome. Thank you.

>> You're very welcome.

>> Okay. Thank you. Uh, Vice President

Hill,

>> thank you. Um, just to follow up on

Councilwoman Ros's point, we did have um

the county come and speak before with

former um, director Hill to discuss um,

cash and the unhoused population and

assistance they provided. I don't have

any questions. Thank you for your

presentation. I just wanted to read the

document that was shared just so

everybody has some context of what we're

talking about. It's dated July 29th,

2025,

2025 annual action plan infrastructure

and public facility improvements. Listed

below are infrastructure and public

facility improvements recommended by

departments including public works,

parks and recreation, public safety and

facilities. Number one, install cameras

in high crime areas. Number two, replace

existing street light bulbs with more

efficient bulbs. Number three, develop

additional ADA compliant sidewalks.

Number four, rehab buildings and homes

that have been vacant and blighted for a

long time. Number five, beautify homes

potentially through the facade

improvement program. Number six, repair

sidewalks that have been damaged by tree

roots. Number seven, remove and or

replace unsafe and dying trees. Number

eight, resurface major and side roads,

ensuring correct and visible lane

markings. Number nine, implement more

speed bumps and enhance traffic light

systems. Number 10, mend the doors,

windows, and HVAC system of the Broad

Street Market Stone Building. And number

11, provide additional funds for HRP or

home rehabilitation program to address

the increase in applicants.

>> Thank you.

>> You're welcome. Thank you.

>> Okay. Thank you, Vice President Green.

Questions?

>> Um, thank you all for being here

tonight. Uh, I don't have any questions.

The one that I had was asked earlier in

the evening. So, thank you.

>> Okay. And Councilwoman Daniels is not

here with us. Oh, Councilwoman Daniels,

questions?

>> No questions. Thank you.

>> Okay. Thank you. And I don't have any

questions either. I'm actually pretty

pleased to see this facilities

improvement list. Um, the community has

been asking about what's going to go on

with the sidewalks, the potholes, and

you know,

I've seen a lot of improvement in the

city. I don't know about nobody else

over the last three, four years. The

blight is down, the garbage is down,

and I'm happy to know that we're going

to continue to move forward with um

protecting our community and doing what

we need to do to make sure that our uh

residents are safe and all of these

things are important. So, I fully am

pleased with the the work that has gone

into the annual action plan. And so,

that's all I have. And back to you,

President Hill.

>> I believe Councilman Jones had another

question.

>> Yes. Thank you, President Hill. Um,

yeah, I would like would love to agree

with Councilwoman Davis, but I just

can't. Um there's our streets are

horrible and it still is a lot of trash

in the city. Um not saying that it's not

being tended to, but it's not all

peaches and cream. But um my question is

on this number one

uh on your action plan that was a

recommendation. And here it says install

cameras on high crime areas, but I just

heard you say that you want to do the

city entirely. Um that was something

that I would be opposed to. Um, but I do

think um lighting up these areas would

would help, but I don't think everyone

wants to live under surveillance. But in

these high crime areas, um, there was

something that I proposed um last year,

well earlier this year to the police

department and actually had a demo and

actually taken a page out of York's book

where you have these mobile CCC TV

cameras that can move around in

different neighborhoods instead of

wiring the whole neighborhood. And I

would love to see where those funds

would come from if we look like we're

going to put cameras all through the

city. I just think it would be an

expensive price tag and I think everyone

wouldn't be in agreeance to that. I

think they had issues with uh the rings

the ring cameras. A lot of people don't,

you know, it's an invasion of some

privacy though. We do want to keep

people safe. I think we should really

consider that. I do like the the idea of

in the high crime areas and the way that

they did it in um New York. Um I watched

uh Commissioner Mardro um when he

announced these cameras and I was like

why is he telling them these cameras are

coming but it actually worked because

they knew they said they're just going

to move from one neighborhood to the

next. So when they did that they moved

the cameras where they went. So it's

kind of like just chasing them around. I

think something like that would be more

efficient. Um these these uh machines

are very durable. Um they hold they can

go through all types of weather. They're

they don't need to be attached to any

infrastructure. They have solar power.

Um it's just something I think that we

should actually continue to discuss and

look at versus

wiring the whole city. I think that

would be I mean I know Lancaster is

doing it, but I think it's costing them

like $4,000 per camera. And then we have

to think about manning those cameras. We

have to think about the maintenance, all

of that stuff. Um, having someone in

that department to watch all of this

stuff where I think the other option is,

um, like I said, move getting those

portable cameras to move around

throughout the city. Um, so that's just

one thing. Uh, the other thing,

>> excuse me, but would you will be willing

to share that information on who gave

you the presentation? Absolutely.

Perhaps we could um have um per public

safety personnel and and other

department heads and staff to be there

to actually see this.

>> Well, there was a demo. There was a demo

with um Commissioner Carter Patai uh and

Deputy Chief Young. Um I definitely

actually had a demo. I think um our

deputy uh

Yeah, we were all we were all

>> Oh, okay.

>> Yeah. So, this was something that was

definitely presented early on. Go ahead.

I think there is an exploration of

getting one to start already and to see

how it functions for the city.

>> Okay.

>> So that was my general.

>> Okay. Then I I still think that it would

be a good idea for other staff to see

it.

>> Oh yeah. so that we understand exactly

what you're talking about and and so

forth and you know be able to relate

that cost versus as you said putting

permanent cameras up and which one is

the most cost effective because again

you know we have to send data to HUD and

justifying how we spend these dollars

and so forth. So, I think you make a

good point. If it's something that's not

going to uh create um a burden on having

staff to sit watch cameras or, you know,

have I I mean, some of these criminals

may be able to even shoot out stuff. I

don't know. But, but I wouldn't put it

past them. So, you know, just being able

to have something mobile and whatever

may be a good idea, but I'd like to see

it anyway.

>> Yeah. And I think that um one of the

things too when you speaking of that

though uh the cameras is it's a 360

degree uh view. It stores up maybe 6

months of data and if they do shoot it

out the company will replace it but you

will also catch them doing it. So I mean

these things are something that I think

that we should really look at. But but

while I have you here, I do want to ask

um when it comes to the

the money for housing people to repair

their homes, right?

I think that it came out as first come,

first serve if I'm correct.

>> It goes by the date we received our

applications.

>> Okay.

Yes. Because I I just again I'm just why

I got you here. You know, you're a very

hard person to catch up with. Uh

>> well, I'm here every day. Yeah. Um some,

you know, there's been some um

grievances about how it's moving far as

some of the residents that put in

applications and they knew where their

number was. Say someone was at 67, but

then you're at 87 and they just wanted

to know how how is that happening? How

are they getting overlooked?

>> It goes by the date we receive them and

we record everything. We document

everything. And it also depends on

whether those persons, especially one

that put through grievances, are they

providing us with all the documentation

that we ask for. Oftentimes that's the

issue. They may put their application

in, but they haven't provided us with

documentation that's required by us. And

so we have to go back and ask them for

documentation. And believe it or not,

sometimes it can be months before people

respond to that and they still think

that we're supposed to hold up the next

person in line until they get their

documentation in and we don't do that.

>> Yeah. Well, some of them actually did um

have all of their paperwork in because I

helped and I've actually spoke to you

with a couple individuals that did have

their paperwork correct and got letters

and communications from you. Um

>> I don't recall speaking to you about

this.

>> Okay. Well,

>> ever. Okay.

>> Okay.

>> Yeah. Well, I do I remember sitting in

your office and being on a uh a call

doing a speaker and actually had the

individuals on the phone if you can

recall like maybe you were a couple

months in.

>> Oh, last year.

>> Yeah. So, yeah. But so, and there's what

we spent about what 700,000 so far out

of the five million. That's what's been

out the door so far.

>> And remember one thing, we are sharing

the contractors

um the ones that are certified by our

system here codes we are sharing the

same contractors for the HRP for the

ARPA home and lead

so and we can only use those who have

been certified through the city so um

you know we're stretched with

contractors and we're always soliciting

asking for new contractors to come in

but so we have that setback also So, but

we're still moving ahead on these

programs as quickly as possible. I

contend because we we do document

everything. If a person sends in their

application and their number 66, when we

get to number 66 to we take care of

them. We don't hold anybody's uh

application, but we take this very

seriously. We we are here to serve them.

We want their houses to be code safe. So

we we we don't have any investment on

not giving a person a qualified home

what they need. Not that's not who we

are.

>> Okay. Um well I'll just have those

individuals reach back out to you and I

actually do um have their information

and I do see the correspondence between

your department and them. Um so I guess

they just wanted some clarification on

that. Um there's

>> gladly I gladly you address that.

>> All right. I'll make sure I get those

emails over to you. No further

questions.

>> Um, thank you, Councilman Jones, again,

and thank you again for being here and

for the work that you're doing. Um,

you know, every year the roads, the

holes show up after the winter, the salt

and everything, and they are pretty bad.

There's And one of other thing I like to

see on this list is perhaps we could

maybe get some street signs. There's a

lot of streets that don't have signs

>> and um

uh some residents have have asked me,

you know, stop sign.

>> No, not stop signs, street signs. The

names the street signs

>> and and you mentioned that the various

departments will be coming before us to

or you will get a list of the the line

items. the okay

important very important but otherwise

again

I don't see a lot of burnt up boarded up

buildings anymore it was driving me

crazy in this city for a while and

they're down

>> now there's spaces there but um and I

also want to um thank the organizations

that are out there helping us to clean

up the city. Um

um

the ministry on Cam uh 13th Street, I'm

trying to think of the name of it, but

Hotspot Saturdays and

um other organizations that are out

there helping us, you know, clean up.

So, I'm really grateful for um Tanner's

um ministry. Yes.

>> That they're out there. they were in our

neighborhood a couple weeks ago and I've

seen them in other other neighborhoods

and um so I'm happy that we're all

working together and we're all, you

know, concerned about the city and that

as when these things are addressed, it's

going to be even better and safer for

our residents and brighter.

>> Thank you for your presentation and

thank you, President Hill. I don't have

anything else.

>> Thank you. Um, are there any further

questions, comments, or concerns before

we resume our legislative session? Okay,

seeing and hearing none, I'll entertain

a motion to resume our special

legislative session.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. So before us, we have

resolution 47 of 2025. Mr. Trudo, could

you please read it one more time?

Resolution 47, 2025, a resolution

approving the 2025 annual action plan

for the city of Harrisburg for the

community development block grant, home

investment partnerships and emergency

solutions grant programs.

>> Thank you. And again, are there any

final questions, comments, or concerns

related to resolution 47 of 2025?

Seeing in hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> no.

Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rose,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 47205

passes by vote of six to one.

>> Thank you. Is there any old business for

discussion, council members?

Seeing and hearing none, new business,

Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill. I just wanted

to share some exciting news with um the

community and anybody who's here tonight

as well. Um a couple months back, uh

Councilman Jones had organized a

community cleanup. Um and through that

community cleanup, there were some

partnerships for formed with residents

who had a great idea um of clean up

graffiti throughout the city. Um they

showed us how to do it at the community

cleanup using elephants knot which was

something new to me and a power washer

and my kids even took part and kids even

in the neighborhood as it was being

cleaned up they came around and they

wanted to help. Um, so two residents

from the community, Ed and Mark, which I

always say residents have the best ideas

and um, we need to listen to them more.

And our job as council and as

administration is to bring their um,

thoughts and ideas to fruition and not

say no, but give a a yes of how can we

get this done. Um so with um of course

the help from Councilman Jones because

he had started the community cleanup

that day um our other council members

and uh President Hill, we were able to

sit and work with ETC and Mr. Watson and

um our sanitation department.

>> You say what that is. So

>> environmental team corps.

>> Yes. If you want Thank you. Oh, thank

you very much. Environmental team corp.

I'm sorry because I do those acronyms.

Thank you. environmental team corps um

which are um our youth who goes around

they clean up the city but they're from

the city so that's where the huge impact

comes from um so the help with Mr.

Watson, we were able to form two uh

groups of students who are currently

going around and they are cleaning up

graffiti in their own city. And I just

think that's so powerful uh to have them

out there doing the work in their own

city um where they can help and and

learn a new skill. They're going to

forever I was talking to them today and

I said, "You will forever know how to

power wash." And you I said, "You know,

you can do this to your own home. you

can own your own power washing business

or graffiti cleanup business. And um

they really had a good time. I can't

wait um to you all see the pictures of

it in our recap for council. But I just

wanted to share that you will see these

kiddos out and about um cleaning up

their city and just still um just

pushing youth to gain new skills all the

time. So I I just wanted to say that

went from paper to real life action. So,

thank you and um thank you to the

community and council members for

pushing that through and the sanitation

department cuz we couldn't have did it

without all of us working together. So,

thank you. And public works. Well, sanit

excuse me, public works. I have

Councilman Jones has a few words to say.

No, but thank you. Yes, public works,

especially Kevin Jackson. He's been very

helpful. That's who's been in the

meetings with us making sure we get the

u materials for those things. So I just

I just want to give credit where

credit's due and flowers where they need

to be given. So thank you everybody.

>> Administration to I said administration.

I mentioned administration which deals

with public works.

>> Well, thank you. That's awesome. Great

things happen when we work together.

>> Yes. Yes. Thank you. And that's my whole

point with that, too. Do you want to add

anything, Councilman Jones?

>> Yeah.

>> Okay. Please do.

>> No, I No. I just really think that um

I'm happy about this and it's a start.

We were out there on site today in the

community and Councilwoman Ross hit me

with some uh some water one of the uh

pressure hoses. So, we do have some

adjustments that we have to make. Um

there's some fittings that have to go

on. But um again, we got to do we really

do have to thank the administration side

for uh making ready available some of

the tools and things that we needed for

for those young people making sure they

have protective gear, gloves, everything

that they need to be uh safe. Um all the

way down to rollers. Um and um and also

we got to thank the Harrisburg Fire

Department today because we

>> they came in and jumped in at a moment's

notice when we didn't have a correct

valve and we were right there at the

Allison um Hill um center. So um

Councilman Jones walked around there,

talked to them, they pulled their truck

back, they connected the host to their

fire truck and we were in business. So I

think it was just another moment of like

the youth seeing people work together,

right? Like we are their role models. Um

so they will never forget how they watch

the community work together. So yes,

thank you fire department. That was in

my head too because you all really came

through the day. Um we just need

everybody working together. That's it.

>> So thank you. And I will close by

saying, yeah, it was just um it's always

a joy to see um collaborative efforts

instead of us just talking about it,

actually doing it and implementing it.

And speaking with those young people, um

you know, there was a couple marks that

they couldn't get off and I was like,

well, why you think this didn't come

off? And um you know, he quickly got it

like we didn't put enough elements. We

didn't apply enough. So I was like,

yeah. But I also explained to them what

would happen if they were on a job. it

with it cuz it takes about 45 minutes

once the elephant snot is on the

graffiti to set and then you can come

back with the power washer to get it off

and um yes elephant what

>> snot it's actually a chemical

>> say that huh

>> yeah you it that's called on the

container elephant and it's snotty it's

thick and gooey and

>> but it works

>> but but it but it works and we can't

forget the CSAs they were out there

today too um they rolled some on there

Um, CSA Brooks, he had pictures of other

spots where there's graffiti and he's

going to share them with Mr. Watson or

he already has for the the crews to go

around him. So, I cannot forget the CSAs

because they were out there today.

Community effort. It truly was. So, yes,

and is really elephant. It's not real

elephants. It's not, but it looks like

it.

>> It looks like it. But yeah, they had um

you know they they definitely um and I

think uh

community service a Brooks I don't know

what I think that's the right community

service a Brooks but yeah uh the the

young people have actually and Mark and

Ed actually had also went around and

identified um the defacing of some of

city property and and um some of the

blighted homes. So that's another reason

why um some of those homes come down.

Uh, but that's a whole another story.

But yeah, I just want to say thank you

to everybody that's involved and I think

this is very inspirational to these

young people. They actually enjoy it

putting on these suits and they, you

know, just feel like they're doing

something to clean up their

neighborhood. So, I just want to say

thank you to President Hill and

Councilwoman Ross as well for your

support with this. So, that's it. Thank

you.

>> Thank you everyone. Thank you for

mentioning all of the organizations and

everyone because it truly is

a it's really good to see everyone

working together. Everyone in our

community, everyone in the

administration, everyone working

together. Um it's a tall order. It's a

tall order and one person can't do it.

There's a lot of moving parts in our

city and cleaning it is important, but

there's a whole lot of other things

that's going on and that you know we're

we are doing the work. We are doing the

work and that makes me happy. So, thank

you.

>> Thank you everyone. Um it's exciting.

Teamwork makes the dream work. There's

no I in team all the things. Um, is

there any further new business for

discussion?

Okay, seeing hearing none, the time is

6:57

p.m. I will entertain a motion to

adjurnn to move.

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

ajourned.