Harrisburg City Council - Work Session 10/21/2025

Hey, hey, hey.

The time is 5:30 p.m. I would like to

entertain a motion to resume our

legislative session.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you.

We are currently resuming our

legislative session that began last

Tuesday, October 14th, 2025.

I will lead the invocation this evening

followed by the pledge of allegiance

which will be led by Councilman Jones.

I would like to ask everyone to please

keep the following residents families

and friends in your thoughts and prayers

in the coming weeks and months ahead.

The family of Mr. Larry Kelly, the

family of Mr. Richard Fairfax, the

family of Mr. Albert Brooks, the family

of Miss Kim Wilkerson Leighton, the

family of Bishop John Thompson, the

family of Superintendent Dr. Gilmore,

the family of Mr. Richard Ford, the

family of Mr. Roland Harrison, and the

family of Miss Mary Waters. If everyone

could please join me in a moment of

silence for these residents, their

families, and friends.

>> Thank you. The pledge of allegiance will

be led by Councilman Jones.

>> Thank you. And everyone, please rise.

I aliance

of America and to the republic for it

stands one nation

indivisible with liberty and justice for

all.

>> Thank you Councilman Jones. Um we do not

have any communications this evening. Uh

we will move to courtesy of the floor.

Just a few housekeeping notes before we

begin. 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 four minutes to share your

comments. Mr. Trudale has added a green

timer to the screens for your reference.

And I'll begin to my right. Is there

anyone that would like to offer public

comment? Seeing and hearing no one,

anyone in the middle section.

Okay, seeing and hearing no one, anyone

to my left?

Seeing and hearing no one, we will move

forward with the meeting agenda. Next,

we have the approval of the minutes for

the legislative session that occurred on

September 23rd, 2025.

Council members, are there any revisions

to those meeting minutes?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, the

minutes stand approved. The next set of

minutes for approval are the minutes uh

for the special legislative session that

occurred on September 30th, 2025.

Council members, are there any revisions

to those meeting minutes?

Seeing hearing none, those 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 October

7th, 2025.

On Tuesday, October 7th, 2025, the

administration committee met to discuss

two resolutions. Resolution 55 of 2025,

a resolution appointing Mr. Muhammad M.

LAOW to serve on the coordinating

committee and as an alternate member of

the technical committee of the

Harrisburg area transportation study

affectionately known as hats. And

resolution 56 of 2025, a resolution

appointing Sharon Horn to serve as a

member of the board of the Harrisburg

Housing Authority. First, Mr. Bala was

present to answer any questions council

members had. He introduced himself and

shared his extensive background and

expertise. Prior to becoming employed by

the city of Harrisburg as a project

manager for the Bureau of Traffic and

Engineering, Mr. Burlau

served as an environmental engineer with

the US Environmental Protection Agency.

Council members asked the following

questions. What impact do you believe

you will make as a member of the

coordinating committee and as an

alternate member of the technical

committee of the Harrisburg area

transportation study?

They ask questions around ADA

compliance. Um what was the interest in

this position and tell us about a

challenge in your career or a job that

was challenging. Mr. Bau responded that

he understands how the money works,

state grant programs. He has a strong

understanding of the process. Um, he's

looking forward to gaining a better

understanding of the city. Um, he has a

great interest in the work he'll do. Uh,

he views a problem as a solution in

disguise.

Next, Miss Horn was present to answer

questions council members had for her.

She is a lifelong resident of the city

of Harrisburg. She was employed by the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for 36

years where she retired. She likes to

help people. Council members asked her

the following questions. What made you

interested in this appointment? Uh, do

you have any conflicts of interests? How

did you hear about the position? How do

you think you will be a leader that will

promote change? What would you advocate

for? And how familiar are you with HUD

regulations? Miss Horn is interested in

seeking transparency. She has no known

conflicts of interest. She simply found

out about a number of vacancies

available and she selected the housing

authority. She is interested in

advocating for residents needs and

concerns about where they live.

She is a former employee of the of the

Harrisburg Housing Authority as she was

employed in 1979 as a receptionist.

I encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 55 of 2025 and resolution 56

of 2025.

Resolution 55 of 2025 will ensure the

city of Harrisburg has representation on

the Harrisburg area transportation study

while resolution 56 of 2025 will ensure

the Harrisburg Housing Authority Board

has a quorum to conduct their business.

This concludes the business and the work

of the administration committee. The

next committee report you will hear will

be delivered um by our community and

economic development committee chair,

Councilwoman Daniels on the work session

of October 7th, 2025.

>> So, Councilwoman Daniels is running

slightly behind, but she said she'll be

joining here shortly. Okay, we will move

on to the next report which will be

delivered by our public safety chair,

Councilman Jones. On the work session of

October 7th, 2025.

>> Thank you, President Hill. On Tuesday,

October 7, 2025, the Committee of Public

Safety held a work session on resolution

65 of 2025, 66 of 2025, and 67 of 2025.

Resolution 65 of 2025 is a resolution

approving the adoption of the Dolphin

County 2025 hazardous hazard mitigation

plan as the official hazard mitigation

plan of the city of Harrisburg.

Um, so I'll talk about Oh, let me keep

going. Resolutions 66 and 67 of 2025 is

a resolution confirming the appointments

of Robert Jennings III and Dominic

Commodore to serve on the citizens law

enforcement advisory committee. Present

to discuss resolution 65 of 2020 2025

was Chief Interline. Questions asked by

council. Uh why do you think

why do you think this is a projected

population there is a projected proper

population loss to the city by 7%. Uh

chief innerline stated that the the

surge wasn't made by us. Um also asks do

you think this is a good plan to move

forward with? Interline stated that this

is a good plan following the five bullet

points in the executive summary and the

plan. Council also asked if this is a is

this is a plan if this plan is bilingual

and his response that he wasn't sure but

he will

check into that. Uh present for

resolutions 66 and 67 of 2025 were

Robert Jennings III and Dominic

Commodore. Questions asked by council.

Most council members just welcomed the

new members and they're um congratulated

them on their willingness to serve. Um,

I would ask that my colleagues support

resolutions 65, 66, and 67. Um, and that

ends the report for public safety.

>> Thank you, Councilman Jones. We do not

have any ordinances for first reading or

ordinances for amendment, nor do we have

any ordinances for final passage. We

will move forward with resolutions. The

first resolution for consideration this

evening is resolution 55 of 2025. Mr.

Trudale, could you please read it into

the record?

Resolution 55 2025, a resolution

appointing Mr. Muhammad M. Balah to

serve on the coordinating committee and

as an alternate member of the technical

committee of the Harrisburg area

transportation study.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 55 of

2025?

>> Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels,

Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rose,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes. Miss Hill.

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 55 2025 passes by vote of six

to zero.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 56 of

2025. Mr. Trudeelle, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 56, 2025, a resolution

appointing Sharon Horn to serve as a

member of the board of the Harrisburg

Housing Authority.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 56 of

2025?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudeale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Miss Daniels.

Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> nay.

>> Miss Rose,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

Resolution number 56, 2025 passes by a

vote of 5 to one.

>> Thank you.

Next, we have resolution 65 of 2025. Mr.

Trudeell, could you please read it into

the record?

>> Resolution 65 2025, a resolution

approving the adoption of the Dolphin

County 2025 hazard mitigation plan as

the official hazard mitigation plan of

the city of Harrisburg.

>> Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 65 of

2025?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels.

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 65, 2025 passes by vote of

six to zero.

Thank you.

Next, we have resolution 66 of 2025. Mr.

Trudale, could you please read it into

the record? Resolution 66, 2025, a

resolution confirming the appointment of

Robert Jennings III to serve on the

Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory

Committee.

>> Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 66 of

2025?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 66, 2025 passes by vote of

six to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 67

of 2025. Mr. Mr. Trudeell, could you

please read it into the record?

>> Resolution 67205,

a resolution confirming the appointment

of Dominique Commodore to serve on the

Citizens Law Enforcement Advisory

Committee.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 67 of

2025?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trusel, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 67, 2025 passes by vote of 6

to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 68

of 2025. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read it into the record? Resolution

68205,

a resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

professional services agreement with

Ellen Freriedman Schultz and Associates

LLC for the purpose of developing an

urban forestry and watershed ed

education curriculum in particip

and for the benefit of the Harrisburg

School District.

>> Thank you. Resolution 68 of 2025 will

move to the parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee. Resolution 69 of

2025.

Mr. Trudale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 69 2025, a resolution

affirming the city of Harrisburg's

desire to be officially included in the

federal highlands boundary as maintained

by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for

the Highlands Conservation Act grant

program, thereby qualifying for

financial and technical assistance

provided by the US Congress.

>> Thank you. Resolution 69 of 2025 will

move to the public works committee.

Next, we have resolution 70 of 2025. Mr.

Trudale, could you please read it into

the record?

>> Resolution 70 2025, a resolution

appointing Mr. Zack Fiser to serve on

the Harrisburg Architectural Review

Board of the City of Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. Resolution 70 of 2025 will

move to the administration committee.

Our final resolution for consideration

is resolution 71 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record? Resolution 71 2025, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

apply for and serve as the project

sponsor for the Pennsylvania Department

of Transportation.

Alternatives set aside grant award to

the Capitol Area Green Bow Association

in the amount of $746,390

for the Pakistang Parkway Trail

Restoration phase 2 project and to enter

into all required agreements to

administer the funds.

>> Thank you. Resolution 71 of 2025 will

also move to the administration

committee. Is there any old business for

discussion, council members?

Okay. Any new business? Councilman

Jones.

>> Yes.

All right. Uh, thank you, President

Hill. So, um, I just want to make an

announcement for um the people here and

um the people that are watching online

that um I am launching my uh Councilman

Jones um website and this will help uh

residents navigate through city

government um 247. you'll be able to uh

contact uh me uh work with me if you

want to schedule an appointment. I have

25 minute block time set out for you for

personal or Zoom capabilities, Teams

capabilities. But this is a website I

think that is going to help you with a

lot of constituent services. Um and

again, that website is

councilmanjones.com.

councilmanjones.com.

And this you can get these services 24

hours a day. Um, there will also be

scheduling. Um, I think you will find

this very, uh, productive for us. Um, a

lot of us take a lot of phone calls, um,

emails that we can't get back to, but,

uh, this right here is something that

hopefully that the city at some point

adopts, but again, this is a live, um,

website, councilmanjones.com.

Thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilman Jones.

Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill. Uh, good

evening, everyone. I just wanted to

share a few updates about our uh parks

that are being um renovated. I know a

lot of residents had some questions um

and I did get a few updates so I wanted

to share them with you. So uh Gorgus

Park is in progress and current work

that's being done is um trenching is

nearly complete. The swing set

installation is complete and the overall

layout has been established. Um plan

amenities are new playground equipment,

new lighting, new pavilion, new fencing,

outdoor fitness equipment, and improved

access to and from the park. For 7th and

Rner, which is in progress, it's still

in the early stages. Current work that

has been done is trenching. Layout has

been marked and equipment insulation

expected to begin late October.

Plan amenities are press box, dugouts,

new stadium lighting, concession stand

and bathroom, new walkway system,

[clears throat] new basketball courts,

new parking lot, new fencing, new

pavilion, and improved access to and

from the park. Wilson Park is also in

process in progress and uh site work is

underway. Current work that has been

done is earth moving and trenching

completed. Storm water um has been

installed, components have been

installed, general site work has begun.

Some plan amenities for uh Wilson's Park

is a new pavilion, restrooms, fitness

equipment, new playground equipment,

storm water system improvements,

improved drainage, enhanced access to

and from the park, ADA parking spots and

message board and grills. And those are

the updates for the parks that are being

worked on now. And any more updates I

get, I will make sure I share them with

the community. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there any other new

business?

>> Uh yes, Madam President.

>> Yes.

>> Uh just wanted to let the residents um

at home are watching and all the

residents that are here. In my recent

conversation with the administration,

there is nearly uh still a million

dollars left for the trash relief. So if

you are looking um for some relief for

those bills or you had some hardship

during the co 19 pandemic, there is

still nearly a million dollars left for

those monies to be allocated to

residents in the area. Um there were

eight churches that were allocated due

to hardship during COVID. So that is

information I checked up on and got the

reassurance for. So those are some

public works updates for everyone.

>> Thank you. Is there any other new

business?

Okay. Seeing and hearing none,

uh we will adjourn at 5:50 p.m.

We will move right into our work session

if that's okay with everyone. It is 5:50

p.m. I would like to call our work

session to order.

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

role?

>> Miss Daniels.

Miss Davis

>> present.

>> Miss Green

>> present.

>> Mr. Jones

>> here.

>> Miss Rolls

>> here.

>> Mr. [clears throat] Rodriguez

>> present.

>> Miss Hill

>> present. Thank you. Um we will begin

this evening with the work of the

administration committee. We have two

resolutions for discussion. Resolution

70 of 2025 and resolution 71 of 2025.

We'll begin with resolution 70 of 2025.

Mr. Trudale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 70 2025, a resolution

appointing Mr. Zack Fischer to serve on

the Harrisburg Architectural Review

Board of the City of Harrisburg.

>> Thank you, Mr. Fiser. Are you present?

Okay, if you wouldn't mind joining us

here at this table.

Hi, I would ask that if you could please

move the microphone very close to you so

that we're able to hear you and those uh

that are watching and listening online

are able to hear you as well. Um good

evening. If you wouldn't mind um taking

a few minutes just to introduce

yourself, we would appreciate it.

>> Sure. Hi, good evening. Uh my name is

Zach Fischer. Um I've been a resident of

Harrisburg. Been living in town here for

uh seven or eight years now. Um I'm

originally from the Harrisburg area. Um

after I graduated high school, I I went

to school in Philly. Um received a

degree in mechanical engineering. Uh

spent some time living abroad and moved

back to the area in 2017.

Um my wife and I met in town here and we

bought a house five or six years ago.

>> Excellent.

So, what interested you in um submitting

your resume for consideration for the

hardboard?

>> Sure. Yeah. Um my background kind of

makes me suited for it. I I've spent

five years working commercial

construction. Um after that, I I got

into the the code side of things and

work with a third party. We work with 30

some municipalities in the area. Um, and

a number of years ago, we had submitted

a permit to change some windows and do

some renovations to the exterior of our

house. And during that process, I went

through, you know, the harb approval

process and kind of got me introduced me

to it a little bit and I thought that

that would be an area that I would could

have a positive impact for for the

community that that we care so much

about.

>> Excellent. Thank you. So, just for

everyone's reference, pursuant to the

codified ordinances of the city of

Harrisburg, section 7-317.4,

the Harrisburg Architectural Review

Board um shall be comprised of seven

members. Pursuant to section 7-31

317.4 For subsection A, the members of

the board shall consist of one

registered architect, one licensed real

estate broker and one building inspector

of the city, and four additional persons

with a knowledge of and interest in

preservation of the historic overlay

district and reside therein.

Appointments uh to the board shall be

made by the mayor with the advice and

consent of city council. Appointees to

the board shall be residents of the city

of Harrisburg. Pursuant to section

7-317.4

subsection C. Appointees to the board

shall serve for a term of three years or

for the unexpired portion of a vacated

term. So I just wanted to refresh

everybody's

mind there. Um let's see. Mr. Fischer

shall be appointed to a term of three

years. commencing on the date of city

council's approval of this res

resolution and expiring three years

thereafter. So it would be a full

three-year appointment.

>> Great. Thank you.

>> Okay. Uh I don't think I have any other

questions for you at this time. I'll

open the floor to my colleagues who may

have some additional questions for you.

I'd like to begin with our uh building

and housing committee chair,

Councilwoman Davis. Do you have any

questions for Mr. Fiser?

>> Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

Mr. Fischer. Thank you for being here.

>> What do you hope to contribute uh to the

board?

>> Um, I'd like to contribute just my

knowledge. Um, I'd also, you know, I

think a lot of times HARB has uh there's

a there's some push back from the

community because there's a a lack of

understanding on what they're trying to

accomplish. Um, I think I have a lot of

experience working with uh community

members and trying to explain uh

technical nuance and understanding where

we're coming from. So, I'd like to be

able to contribute that.

>> Okay. So, uh to be an intermediate

between the community and the hardboard

>> precisely.

>> I can see where that would be a benefit.

Um I don't have any other questions.

Thank you.

>> Okay. Thank you, Vice President Green.

Any questions for Mr. Fiser?

>> Thank you, President Hill. Uh good

evening, Mr. Fischer, thank you for

being here this evening. I don't have

any questions for you, but I thank you

for your willingness to serve.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. Any

questions?

>> Good evening. Thank you one for

volunteering to be a part of the hard

board. Um it is something that I am

trying to work on too to see how we can

ease the burden on residents um when

they do buy these historical homes um

but don't always have the funds to put

into um re renovating them to the code

that we want. So my question to you

would be um how can you help kind of

alleviate that burden where we're still

you know keeping the traditions of our

community and the way that it looks but

also updating it where it's coming into

the next century and not just staying

behind.

>> Yeah. I think part of it is is an

education component. There's there are

um allowances to not follow the complete

historic restoration requirements so

long as you meet certain requirements.

And I think expanding that knowledge

base um both from a hard member

standpoint but also an education for the

community is an important part of that.

>> Okay. Thank you. My second question

would be um after looking over some of

the resolutions HARB has, is there any

that you would look at wanting to amend

or any resolutions you are looking to or

ordinances I should say you're looking

to um bring to the hardboard to also

make it easier for the community or just

to change it to make it update and flow

with our changing and future community.

>> Um I'm not coming with an agenda. Um I'm

not I'm not I'm coming in with an open

mind. Um there I I I think that there

are some there are some components that

HARB works in that do cause a hardship,

but I think it's important for me to

come in and try to develop an

understanding of the systems and

processes prior to coming in and trying

to to change everything.

>> Thank you. That's a great answer, too.

>> Thank you.

>> So, thank you. That's it for me.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman,

excuse me, Rodriguez.

Um, I have no questions, but your uh

>> resume looks amazing and just appreciate

you and your ability. Um, look forward

to working with you in the future if you

get the position, which I don't see why

you wouldn't, but look forward to

working with you here in the near

future.

>> Thank you, M.

>> Absolutely.

>> Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez.

Councilman Jones, any questions?

>> Sure, why not, President Hill? Uh, uh,

thank you again for serving. what your

willingness to serve. Um, and to follow

up with Councilman Rodriguez, you do

have a impressive resume that actually

fits this position. Um, but to expound

on what Councilwoman Ross was talking

about, um, looking at some of the

barriers that are there for the, uh,

residents and people that are coming in

to buy some of these, uh, properties in

the historical area. How do you plan to

inform uh, the residents? Because, um,

like Councilwoman Ross, I've gotten

people that um, went and purchased these

properties and didn't realize that they

couldn't do what they wanted to do. Um,

so, um, how do you plan to educate, um,

how do you plan to get this information

out?

>> I think it's it's, you know, um, it's a

great question. Thank you.

>> There needs to be a willingness to uh,

uh, learn as well as to teach. You know,

an education is a is a two-way street.

Um,

I will do everything I can to make

myself available for any questions that

that people have.

There is the potential opportunity for

an education campaign that goes into

purchasers uh, proposed purchasers, and

that's everything from realators to

potential home buyers.

If people aren't aware that they're

moving into a historic area and that

there's requirements, then that that is

an issue. So, I think it needs to start

from

before people buy the house uh or

purchase a property. And that that that

needs to come from

this whoever's issuing the sale. It

needs to go to the real. It needs to go

to the homeowner. And more than that, it

needs to be an education of not just

you're in a historic society. It needs

to be these are some of the barriers

that you're going to come across. One of

the one of the best things about

Harrisburg is the history that we have.

And I don't I think we all want to see

that maintained and continue to be

improved upon. But if we don't do it in

a responsible manner and we have these

barriers that are stopping people from

addressing, you know, dilapidated homes,

then we have blighted properties and and

that becomes a hindrance. So in to to

answer your question specifically, I

mean there is an education component

that needs to happen prior to Harb ever

getting involved. Um, I will be happy to

answer any questions that anybody has

about the historic society. Where harb

ties in with that is something that

still needs to be determined. Um,

>> right. So, is I'm taking it that there

there's an is there application process

when someone wants to purchase in in a

historic area?

>> No more than would be on a regular.

>> Right. So, I'm I'm just thinking even

when they come to the table um to speak

with anyone from that uh department or

you know um organization and make sure

that they're um updating them on some of

those things because I think you're

right. Um, I know you're [snorts] right

because there are people that come in

and, you know, they may get a good deal

in the historical area and I've seen it

over and over where they just started

doing work and didn't realize that they

there was there were certain things that

they had to follow and they've changed

material and every then they had to take

it all down and redo it and put it back

to its historic nature and it's probably

hard for them to sell. So, I think um

the educational uh component is

something that we ought to look into as

a city to make sure no one's just um

falling into a trap. Um you know, they

would say in law, ignorance is no

excuse. However, I think we do have an

opportunity to probably share with uh

our residents and if anything that uh we

can do at here at council to help with

that, um I think putting our heads

together and making sure that people are

truly informed would would be beneficial

to all parties.

>> I I agree. We'd love to work together.

>> All right. Thank you. No further

questions.

>> Thank you.

Has Councilwoman Daniels joined us yet?

Okay. Thank you. Um, thank you, Mr.

Fischer, for being here this evening.

Uh, I move to add resolution 70 of 2025

to our next legislative session agenda

for a formal vote. Wonderful.

>> Thank you. You're welcome. Next, we have

resolution 71 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record?

Resolution 712025,

[clears throat] a resolution authorizing

the city of Harrisburg to apply for and

serve as the project sponsor for the

Pennsylvania Department of

Transportation Transportation

Alternatives Set Aside Grant Award to

the Capitol Area Greenbuild Association

in the amount of $746,390

for the Pacang Parkway Trail Restoration

phase 2 project and to enter into all

required agreements to administer the

funds.

Thank you.

So, who from the administration is

present to discuss this resolution?

Okay. Good evening, Mr. Siders. would

you like to start the discussion and

then we can um provide Mr. Hill an

opportunity?

>> I believe Doug could probably

>> Oh, he's going to lead it. Okay, that's

fine.

>> Mr. Hill, good evening.

>> Thank you. It's great to be with you

again and I appreciate the opportunity

to speak uh on behalf of uh this

resolution uh in support of our TASA

grant application. Uh I do have our

sketches along. If you would like to see

those, I can get those up. Uh but I

don't want to take more of your time

than is necessary. So that's completely

up to you. Uh but uh

>> I think we would like to see them since

you brought them. I mean why not share

So the project that we're working on is

the reconnection of the green belt in

South Harrisburg occasion by uh the uh

tunnel to the towers uh Eden Village and

um the Veterans Project. And this is a

two two-phase project. We already have

grant applications in for the first

phase. This grant application will be

for the second phase. Uh to orient you

uh this is South Harrisburg area. This

is where the trail used to run. the

route that we're working on uh to be the

permanent new route instead will come

here on Front Street up Sycamore

down uh into the Pensy property

underneath the Sycamore Street Bridge uh

through Pensy property and then

reconnect to city land here and to the

traditional route of the green belt in

the vicinity of Shenoi Street.

for orientation purposes. This was phase

one. And so phase one, uh, this is the

river front street, Sycamore Street. of

phase one. Uh it will reroute along the

sidewalk of Sycamore Street and uh phase

one terminates right at the driveway to

Pensy Supply. We have a budget of about

1.2 million for that. Uh we have a grant

application in to for LSA funding

through DCED as well as some parks

funding with DCNR and we're doing some

private fundraising for that.

Phase two will begin at the Pency Drive.

And as I described, it will do a hairpin

turn, go down the hill underneath

Sycamore Street Bridge and then through

this lot and then reconnect to city

property here and to the trail uh the

historic route of the trail down here.

And this is a little bit closer detail

uh for phase two uh and because what

we're going to be doing is uh working

with Pensy, we're in currently in

negotiation with Pensy Supply to acquire

some of the property and to acquire

rightaway to some of the property uh on

behalf of the city. And for phase two,

we'll do the hairpin turn as I say and

down and through. Uh the right ofway

will be in this area and the purpose of

doing it as a rightaway so we don't have

to do a subdivision from this lot. Uh

and it'll still because it's city use uh

will still meet the purposes uh of the

trail. Uh we will be acquiring this lot

down here. We're negotiating to acquire

this lot down here. This is our original

sketch when we uh were thinking we would

have to stay close to the boundary line.

Instead, it'll be a little bit more of a

meandering, so a little bit more

consistent with a recreational purpose,

a little bit better visual appeal. Uh

and so this this is the phase two

project. Uh our budget uh for the grant

is a little over 740,000.

Uh the green belt will be putting in

about 133,000

uh in upfront costs. So the TASA grants

uh are for the construction side of of

the project. All of the other work

engineering and the other preparatory

work is on on behalf of the applicant

and uh KAGA will be doing that so the

city doesn't have to put any money in.

Now that the budget that I described

does not in does not include the land

acquisition costs. Uh we'll be bearing

that as well. Uh but uh we are currently

in negotiation. In fact, we're we're at

Pensy's request. We're having an

appraisal done of the rightway and of uh

this property. And then that will be the

starting point uh for our discussion on

on how that transaction's handled. As I

indicated, uh the rightway will be

recorded in favor of the city and then

the property will it's down here will be

deed over to the city. Um the later on

your agenda is a resolution uh relative

to the Highlands and that will be for a

grant application uh that money is

available specifically for land

acquisition costs for land preservation

recreation purposes but that's for later

on your agenda. So that's the the basics

of what we're talking about here on

phase two. Uh we are working we've been

working closely with the city on the

planning for all of this. Uh the city

will be the sponsor of the grant. Uh but

we are actually doing all the writing

for the grant application and we will be

assuming the administrative overhead uh

with city oversight uh for development

of the project once the grants received.

>> I don't know if Mr. has anything to add?

>> Yeah, excuse [clears throat] me. Good

evening. I'd just like to add that um

working closely with uh Mr. Helen, the

green belt association for phase one, uh

the city is in full support of phase

two. And this grant would be more of

just the city uh being the grant

administrator on their behalf as it's

through um Pendot's ECMS software, which

um the green belt is unable to access,

but the city does have access.

Okay, thank you. I don't have any

questions. I know we've been moving

through um this project. Um so I will

open the floor to my colleagues who may

have some additional questions. Um this

time I'd like to start with our

parks, recreation, and enrichment

committee chair, Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill, and thank you

both for being here and good evening. I

don't have any questions. Um, you

explained it very well. I know this has

been in the works and it's something,

you know, we all been asking for. So,

I'm just glad that, you know, it's

getting started. Um, because the green

build is loved by so many, but it's also

a great way to travel through the city

without having to be on the street. Um,

and just feeling a little safer. And

it's great sightseeing, too, and great

for bike riding. So, I haven't

questions.

>> Thank you. our public works committee

chair, Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam President. Mr. Hill,

always good to see you. Mr. Cider,

always great to see you.

Miss Becca, how you doing? Um, just for

my own edification, as a reminder, the

reason why this project had to take toll

in the restructuring of it all is

because of the towers project. Correct.

>> That's correct.

>> Um, since that meeting we've had way

back, have they been in connection with

you, Mr. Hill? Have they offered any

help? Are they co-licants on any of the

grants? Um what what is their play in it

all?

>> There there's no reason for them to be

part of either the grant application or

the administration, but they did give us

a grant of $30,000.

>> That's great. That's great because I

remember um in the initial

conversations, I know speaking

personally, I just felt they should play

a bigger role in it because of their new

structure. It would cause all of this to

have to, you know, entail. But it's good

to know that they actually have some

skin in the game. So, um, I appreciate

it and I look forward to seeing this

project in completion. So, thank you for

all you're doing. Um, I have nothing

else, Madam President.

>> Thank you, Councilman Jones. Any

questions?

>> Uh, not so much a question, just more of

a a statement. Again, thank you all for

for the work that you're doing for the

city, and I think it's always a good

thing when we don't have to spend our

money and get beautifification out of

it. So, thank you guys for what you're

doing, and look forward to seeing this

project to its completion. Thank you.

>> Thank you.

Vice President Green, any questions?

>> Good evening. Um, I don't have any

questions. Thank you all for being here

tonight, for coming back after last

week, um, and our our tech issues. Uh, I

appreciate you presenting the

information and for following through

and making sure this this gets done, and

of course for looking for funding

everywhere to make sure it gets done

because that's always an important part

of every project. So, thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. Any

questions?

>> Thank you, President Hill. Um, no

questions. Just a couple of statements.

Good evening everyone. I just want to

thank you for bringing the charts. Um it

helps to visually see and understand

where the changes and the connections

are taking place.

I'm always talking but not in my phone.

[laughter]

So, I'm happy to know that where the new

route is going to be because I for one

love riding my bike back there and once

the tunnel of towers put the barb wire

up to say no, we can't ride back there.

There was nowhere else to go. So, I'm

looking forward to the new connection,

the new route around the green belt.

>> Thank you. That's

>> Councilwoman Daniels, do you have any

questions?

>> Um, yes. I just have a brief one and you

may have answered it already, but I came

in uh a little bit into your

presentation. Um, of the funding sources

you've secured, um, what amount is not

taxpayer funded?

>> So, we have, uh, foundation funding, uh,

from various sources. Uh, and I don't

have my tally sheet in front of me right

now. We've raised about $150,000

so far. Uh, we also have uh applications

in. We've received one grant from Dawren

County's gaming funds and then we have

another application in for that as well.

Uh, gaming funds, whether that counts as

taxpayer dollars, I don't know. Uh and

uh but otherwise uh we are going to be

mounting a capital campaign called

Buckle the Belt and uh it's actually

live on our website right now. So

anybody who's listening in, you're

welcome to click through and and uh show

your support as well.

>> And that was it for me. Thank you.

>> Thank you.

>> The website is uh www.kaga.org.

Thank you. Thank you for the

>> Thank you. Thanks. There any other

questions?

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, I move to

add resolution 71 of 2025 to our next

legislative session agenda for a vote.

Thank you.

>> We will now move forward with our

meeting agenda. The next committee

business lies with the community and

economic development committee. I will

defer to our community and economic

development committee chair,

Councilwoman Daniels, to lead

discussion.

>> Thank you. Um, Mr. Trusel, if you don't

mind reading resolution 60 and 2025 into

the record, I'd appreciate it.

Resolution 60, 2025, a resolution

approving the preliminary land

development plan for 315 North Second

Street submitted by Adam Brenamman with

Brenamman Properties LLC to convert the

existing office building into a 10-unit

multifamily dwelling and associated site

and access improvements.

>> Thank you. Um, so for

for those who have been following, we

had a previous work session where we

talked about the city's posture. I had

indicated I may have a conflict of

interest. I I don't. Um I confirmed that

earlier today. Um so I am just going to

first ask the applicant to give a very

brief explanation and description of

your project including timelines and

then I'll open up to my council members.

So um applicant if you don't mind

introducing yourself and giving us a

brief summary of the project.

>> Yes. Thank you. Michael White um here is

project manager for this project for

Brenamman Properties. Uh sorry that I

was not present in the last session.

There was some miscommunication. You

want me to a little closer? Yeah, there

was some miscommunication. I wanted to

be here. I followed up and found out

that I wasn't here and and was was eager

to come to. So that's that's my fault.

Apologies. Um the uh the project's

located 315 North Second. It is a now

vacant uh 8,300 foot office building

that was formerly occupied by the

Pennsylvania Healthcare Association. Um

we purchased the building uh closing in

July. Um and we submitted for uh density

relief for the conver the uh conversion

to 10 apartments. Um and we were able to

we were granted that relief by the you

know first by recommendation of the

planning commission and then the zoning

hearing board. Um we um the units will

be ranging in size um just off the top

of my head from just under 500 ft² up

to,200 square f feet. It's going to be a

mix of one and twobedroom units. Um the

zoning is uh favorable. Um it's in the

commercial neighborhood district. Um and

uh we do have the benefit of of eight

parking spaces which is very exciting

for us for the you know for the project

because a lot of um projects that we

approach don't have the parking and it

can create a barrier just in terms of of

use for potential residents. Um we have

not yet um I guess this would be the

next step in the process but we are

prepared uh with permit drawings working

with Rich Gribble and uh by design

architects and engine co as our

construction partner um and they'll be

managed and we're getting council by

Justin Heinley at Midtown Property

Management.

>> I'll just introduce myself. I'm here uh

as attorney to Brenamman Properties. My

name is Phil Patrina. Uh I'm an attorney

at MCNE Wallace anduric um representing

Brenamman Properties uh on this project.

So I'm here uh basically just to answer

any questions that you may have from you

know a legal perspective of the

property. Uh and Mr. White is here to

answer questions about the use uh the

conversion itself and the the unit mixes

and such. So, thank you for your time

this evening and uh we really appreciate

it.

>> Thank you. So, I'll go ahead and open up

to my council members. I'll start to my

left. Councilwoman

um Davis.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Daniels.

So, good evening, gentlemen.

>> Good evening.

>> Um and there is going to be eight

parking spaces, but you have a 10 unit.

Um, how would those spaces accommodate?

How are you going to use those spaces?

Is it for one per a unit or

>> It'll be on a um first come first serve

basis. Uh just in our experience um in

other projects that the utilization will

be uh lower than eight um given the the

walkability of of the area. Um so a lot

of uh projects don't have parking at

all. um and they're able to be uh you

know accommodating to the lifestyles of

the people that that live and work

downtown. So our hope was that that that

would be sufficient uh even at 10 units.

>> Are the parking spaces in the back of

the

>> property? Okay. How is the lighting back

there?

>> Uh from what I have seen, I haven't been

at the property at night as much. We're

going to be assessing um the exterior.

The exterior is is fairly intact. Um,

but just in doing a walk around the

building and identifying light sources

and and cameras, it seems like that

there are light sources and that it

should be, you know, well lit, but we're

going to have further uh consideration.

>> Okay. Well, that's important. Um,

>> I don't have any other questions at this

time.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you, uh, Vice President Green.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Daniels. Uh,

thank you, gentlemen, for being here

tonight. Uh, I don't know. Did we go

over cost? How much will a unit cost?

>> Uh the average unit uh monthly rent is

going to be right around $1,250

per month.

>> And that's for what size unit?

>> Uh well, that would be the average. So,

our smaller units, our one-bedroom units

are going to be around $1,000 per month.

And then there is one unit that is is

much larger, but the other three units

that are of similar size are going to be

around 1350 to,400 per month.

>> Those would be the two-bedroom units to

be specific.

>> Okay. Um

rent has really went up, hasn't it?

[laughter]

Um

parking spaces, are that is that an

added cost? Are you renting the parking

spaces or will they come with the unit?

You said first come, first serve, but

like

>> right right now they will be included.

We do not have plans to rent them

separately.

>> I don't have any other questions at the

moment. U mine just kind of ticking. I

guess just the cost of rent. It's like

$1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment. Like

that used to be a house plus utilities.

So, uh, just kind of looking at those

costs and and wondering how how the

residents in the city who live here now

who might want to work downtown or might

work downtown and want to live downtown

can afford those rates. Um, and you guys

are confident you'll fill the fill fill

the units up. Uh,

>> uh, yes, we are we are hopeful.

>> Okay. All right. That's the only

questions I have right now. Um, if I

have any others, I'll let you know.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you. Um, President Hill.

>> Yes. Thank you. I have h some additional

questions around affordability. Um I

wanted to know so your

average rent cost per month, how are

those uh rates determined?

>> We um

part of it is just market experience um

and other projects that we've done. Um I

think that having the benefit of working

uh with Midtown Property Management is

that you know we've seen their

experience and um and then also uh it's

a project feasibility uh consideration

too in just terms of the the cost of

construction is is you know very high

and the um the building sat on the

market for a long time was difficult to

acquire. So that that basis is a is a

major consideration. But uh we also are

um all of our projects are we don't um

build any luxury products um at all. Um

all of our projects I would say are

middle market you know or affordable. So

this is just this is kind of in line

with what we do.

>> Okay. Um,

so was there any consideration either

for

um Dolphin County's median family income

or city median income?

>> Yeah. Yeah. one or both are considered

>> with the uh one thing that I have just

my eye on is um the HUD uh AMI table and

um in terms of that determinative of

affordability and um so I think that we

given depending on the family size um

and just imagining the family size that

could occupy the the units that we'll

have here that um by by those standards

the units um are affordable though we're

not receiving any any benefits um in

terms of of funds and them being

designated affordable But

>> so um that is something that I that I

think about and I think that we we're

providing um not at the very low levels

but at the the low income or 80% levels

that were we're I don't have it in front

of me but I think we're very closely

aligned with that.

>> Okay, one final question. Um so

Harrisburg does have an affordable

housing program where at least 20% in

this instance it would only be two of

the apartments um would have to be

deemed affordable for our residents. Is

that something

I think you kind of insinuated in your

last response that you think all of this

is affordable, but if it were just two

that were deemed affordable for our

residents, would you be open to that or

no?

>> Uh, for for this project, I would say

no. But for future projects, it's

something that that we're we're focused

on and we have designs for.

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

questions.

>> Okay. Um, Councilwoman Ross,

>> thank you, um, Councilwoman Daniels, and

thank you for being here tonight, um, to

answer our questions. We understand

wires can get crossed, but thank you for

coming back.

>> Um, most of my questions were asked when

it came to feasibility and cost of the

apartments. But I did have one

additional question um, that geared more

towards like um, interest. So, I was

just wondering what was your interest in

um purchasing um 315 North Second

Street? I know you are putting

apartments in there for people to live,

but why did you choose that area? What

were you um you know, what was your

interest and goal of um acquiring the

apartment, acquiring the building and

creating apartments?

>> Um I um I grew up in the Harrisburg

area. I grew up in Mechanicsburg. Um,

I've been visiting the city for my

entire life. Um, my father worked on

Third Street for, you know, my entire

life. Um, and, uh, moving back to the

area a number of years ago, um, I wanted

to, you know, work in the Harrisburg

area. Um, just because of my, you know,

personal history here. Uh, and, um, the

the building is beautiful. It's a very

attractive, uh, building. And I've seen

that um when buildings go unsold just

due to market dynamics that they can be

degraded you know over time. So um we

wanted to when we were made aware that

this was a possibility or that the price

had become a little bit more feasible um

you know given a lot of the vacancy on

on the block we we thought that it was a

really good this particular property was

a good opportunity to try to turn things

around a little bit with a lot there's a

lot of vacancy in that particular block

right there. So, we felt like that given

the parking, the condition of the

exterior, and the location that uh this

would be a good building to start to

initiate some change in terms of of

what's happening on that block.

>> Thank you for that insight. That was it

from me.

>> Thank you, um, Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you,

gentlemen, for joining us this evening.

I, too, had questions regarding

affordability. Um, but I do have some

additionals. What would, if I missed it,

my apologies. What would the application

uh process be like for uh interested

parties?

>> Um, the application process would be

through uh Midtown Property Management.

Um, and typically tenants would need to

uh income qualify, uh, credit qualify,

and um, pass a uh a background check.

>> Well, it's pretty standard then.

>> Yeah, pretty pretty standard. Yep. And

then um once again, if I miss it, my

apologies. Could you go over the

timeline from uh beginning to

completion?

>> Yeah. So um closed on the buildings um

in uh beginning of the summer. We were

in planning commission and zoning

hearing I think in the uh June session.

Um we submitted our land development

application shortly thereafter. Um

during that uh time there was a there

was a brief uh post settlement

occupancy. So, the buildings were

actually occupied for a couple months

afterwards. Uh, we've been working with

our uh architect, our engineer, and our

construction team just getting our our

drawings in order, figuring out the, you

know, the layout beyond the basic

concept that we provided as part of the

the zoning hearing and planning

commission process. Um, making sure that

everything is is up to code and

accessible. Um and uh you know now we

are finalizing um our drawings from a uh

mechanical, electrical and plumbing

standpoint um and getting prepared if we

are to be given final approval to submit

um our permit drawings and uh get our

demo permit.

So, and then we'll you know the the

construction you know phase we expect to

be six months to a year.

>> Groundbreaking would take place around

>> groundbreaking would take place

I believe we're hopeful in the next uh

two months.

>> Okay. Okay.

>> Before the end of the year.

>> Awesome. And then with the current

government shutdown and possible supply

chain issues with materials, things of

that nature, do you foresee any issue

issues or difficulties perhaps? Um I

know no one has a crystal ball, but just

being optimistic. Um if you could think

of any possible challenges, what those

what those may arise? Hm. Um I think

that we what I could say is that we are

well prepared to withstand a storm.

Okay. You know, if unforeseen things

that like large like macro events like

that that are outside of our control is

that

>> we are, you know, secure in our

possession of the building and we can

wait out a storm if we if we need to. Um

but that there isn't a particular part

of the process that um that I think I

foresee um being derailed because of

that. Okay.

>> So, I'm I'm hopeful that there's as we

all are that there's a you know

resolution soon, but um

>> we are ready to to wait if we need to.

>> Awesome. Thank you for the answers and

sorry we missed you at the last session.

>> I am so sorry. I I was I was mortified.

Uh so

can can attest to it was a very So I'm I

am I sincere apologies. So

>> well I'm very appreciative that you

gentlemen joined us this evening.

>> Yeah. Very much wanted to be here. Thank

you. Thank you.

>> No further questions, Madam Chair.

>> Thank you. And Councilman Jones.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Daniels. Um,

thank you both of you gentlemen for

showing up tonight. And I'm pretty sure

you were shaking like this is over.

>> Yeah, it was he could he could

[laughter] tested the call that I was

calling to follow up. I'm like, "Hey,

I'm anxious to appear." He's like,

"Well, you didn't appear, so you know."

>> Yeah, [laughter]

that was Yeah, that's Jared. Yeah. Yeah.

Beat Jared. Uh

>> he was he was nice. So I watched I

watched the video.

>> Yeah. So um you know a lot of the

questions that were asked is I think all

of us here are in unison making sure

that we have um affordability for our

residents. Um lowincome homes are a

different thing. Um, and one of one of

my things that I like to do is to um, if

I'm correct, you already have someone

that's going to do the construction

work.

>> Yeah, we have a a general construction

partner and they'll be the the GC or the

construction manager and then they'll be

working with with other third parties on

>> That's what I was going to add. Yeah.

Um, you know, I'm I'm just a stickler. I

like to see the community that work

though this isn't a large project. Um, I

do like to see opportunities for um,

contractors that live right here in the

city of Harrisburg to give them

opportunities to get work. Um, again,

being in public safety, I think if

people are working, they're less likely

to be out committing crimes and there

are a lot of dollars moving through the

city of Harrisburg and, you know, I just

asked, you know, to to consider, uh,

some of those individuals through third

party subcontracting, um, things of that

nature. um similar to uh council

president and some of my other

colleagues worrying about the

affordability of the homes again with

this being a small project. So I'll ask

you this. What type of taxes you think

that the city will receive with this

being market rate housing

>> in terms of the um the property taxes?

Absolutely.

>> For for the new value. Um, I I think

that if I would go off the common level

ratio and and what um we believe that

the new value would be, I think that it

would be in excess of uh the taxes would

be in excess of $25,000

per year.

>> Okay. Yeah. I mean, again, it's a small

project, you know, but that's still

that's still good. Something that's

getting back on uh the city's uh tax

role. Um so um again I understand my

colleagues concern and and and I'm too

am concerned when we look at the AMI and

we're looking at HUD um uh regula uh

regulations when it comes to the

finances which I really believe needs to

be redone um because if you're looking

at uh people living here in the heart in

the city of the city of Harrisburg those

numbers have drastically changed um so

but but I get it but I also feel the

need for market rate housing too um

again to help the city when it comes to

taxes with a lot of the buildings down

here, particularly downtown area that

are uh that are non-t taxable. So, um,

yeah, my questions were, uh, asked and

answered. And I just wanted to add that

other piece to to see, um, if you make

sure that you can possibly give

opportunities to, uh, local contractors,

local meaning here in the city of

Harrisburg with demo, um, electric, all

of those things because, um, again, if

you go outside of that, um, it's very

hard for a lot of those contractors

coming in from across the river, say

McKaysburg, to come in and do business.

um there's some pretty steep fees for

them to come in and do business with the

city. So, I always would would encourage

uh developers uh to look locally right

here in the city of Harrisburg. And uh

thank you guys for what you're doing. Um

this may be a a part of at least we got

10 more people that can be uh

trafficking and uh purchasing things

downtown Harrisburg. So, uh thank you

guys for what you're doing.

>> Thank you very much.

>> Thank you. So, um, are there any other

outstanding questions from any of my

colleagues?

>> No, thank you.

>> Okay. Thank you all. Um, I think that

concludes the hearing on on this

resolution. I'd recommend that it be

added to the next legislative session.

And thank you, uh, M, uh, members of the

Brenamman team, uh, for attending today.

>> Thank you. Thank you.

And that concludes the business of the

community and economic development

committee.

>> Thank you.

>> Yeah. Thank you very much everybody.

Yeah.

>> The next committee business for

discussion ales with the parks

recreation and enrichment committee. I

will defer to our parks recreation and

enrichment committee chair councilwoman

Ross to lead discussion.

>> Thank you President Hill and good

evening again everybody. Uh Mr. Trudale,

can you please read resolution 68 of

2025? N

>> resolution 68 2025, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a professional

services agreement with Ellen Freeman

Schultz and Associates LLC for the

purpose of developing an urban forestry

and watershed education curriculum in

partnership with and for the benefit of

the Harrisburg School District.

>> Thank you, Mr. Trudale. Is there anyone

here from the administration to give

more information on resolution 68?

>> Yes. Hello. Um, good evening council

people. My name is Sha Zwerver.

>> Can you please excuse me? Do you mind

moving the microphone closer to you?

Thank you.

>> Of course. Um, so good evening council

people. Thanks for the time tonight. My

name is Shayworver and I am the

community outreach forester for the city

of Harrisburg under um the Department of

Parks and Recreation. I work part-time

and we also have Ellen Schultz online as

well. And um if it's helpful, I have

just I can give some more context around

this and then hopefully preemptively

answer a couple questions. But in

September of 2023, as part of the

inflation reduction act, the urban and

community forestry program of the USDA

allocated $ 1.5 billion across multiple

years to 385 projects in the US. The

city of Harrisburg was one of those

projects that was funded. They received

$2 million. Um, it's completely waved of

match. It's reimburseable. It's paid out

of the city's grant bucket. And a large

portion of the city's awarded grant will

go towards tree services and an

inventory. But there's a portion that's

allocated to education and outreach

through digital content and channels.

And instead of doing one-off

presentations to different groups, uh,

which we still do, uh, we wanted to

create something that's evergreen and

sustainable and that would have benefits

beyond the grants life cycle. So, we

decided to work closely with the or we'd

like to work closely with the school

district to co-create a place-based

curriculum. And by place-based, I mean

uh leveraging the city's natural assets

like the Sescuana River and our trees um

and local biodiversity to help teach the

state's steel standards. Uh steel stands

for science, technology, engineering,

environmental literacy, and

sustainability, which were adopted in uh

2022 by the state board of education and

are being implemented this uh school

calendar year. So, it's also great

timing to integrate these lessons into

the school's curriculum. Uh we've been

working with Jen Broski or I've been

working with Jen um who's the supervisor

of K- through2 math and science

curriculum and we hope the project not

only helps to teach the state standards

but by getting kids out helping them see

the value in our parks and our trees and

our rivers that uh they'll feel a

stronger connection and appreciation for

them as well. So our primary goal was to

secure a qualified vendor to deliver on

this specialized project scope. uh there

were limited qualified providers with

the experience necessary to successfully

carry out this project. So Ellen with

Ellen uh Freriedman Schultz and

Associates has over 20 years of

experience providing educational

consulting with a focus on local

watersheds and engaging teachers

facilitating co-design of curriculum in

the context of the local environment and

ecosystem ecosystem. She's demonstrated

her competencies through her work with

the Fairmont Waterworks in Philadelphia

and creating the digital platform

understanding the urban watershed which

we hope to replicate for Harrisburg and

her experience um on similar projects in

the Delaware wershed will translate well

to Harrisburg's geography and

understanding of similar environmental

issues. Uh we value local partnerships

and even though Ellen's leading the

facilitations of the curriculum

development and creating the digital hub

of resources, the project is still

building local ownership uh by involving

Harrisburg educators and community

organizers.

>> Thank you.

>> I was trying to get everything. I almost

want to say, can you email me your

notes? Of

>> course. I was talking a little fast. I

know we're always limited on things.

>> No, it was it was very informational. It

was a great introduction. So I would say

Miss Schultz, am I saying that

correctly?

[clears throat]

>> Yes.

>> Do you have anything to add? Um to say

your last I know it's Shay is your first

name.

>> Wor

Swerver. I remember but I I couldn't

thank you.

>> Would you like to add to anything Miss

Worver has said?

>> Well, uh can you hear me? Okay. Thank

you for um letting me um participate on

Zoom because I'm in Philadelphia area.

Can you hear me? Okay.

>> You sound wonderful.

>> Okay. Good. Good. So, um Sheay really um

was uh covered everything that we're

proposing to do together um

extraordinarily well. But what I want to

um uh just let you all know is that I've

been doing this work with um the

Philadelphia Water Department and the

School District of Philadelphia in

partnership and I've developed a

curriculum that's now being implemented

in classrooms. um all throughout the

city of Philadelphia and it's very

impactful work. I think giving um making

things that are hyper local focused and

authentic learning for the students

really u changes their perspective and

their um hopefully their behaviors about

how they feel about water water

management and um the land and water

relationship. So, I'm very excited to

apply all that I've done in Philadelphia

to the Harrisburg um community and city.

And there's so much um richness in the

city that I I will listen to uh the

experts in in Harrisburg. I will um

involve the teachers which I've done in

Philadelphia. They are a co- um producer

of this work because um that they are

the ones that are going to be in the

classrooms and outdoors teaching this.

So, I just want to u say that

>> thank you so much. No,

>> sorry to interrupt. I can um I took

screenshots of the website or the

digital hub where Ellen helped create.

And what's great is that um that will

replicate this for the city of

Harrisburg and it'll be accessible by

all educators, not just by the, you

know, the teachers within the school

district, but um the public as well. So,

I'll just hand these over.

>> You hand it to Mr. Trudo. Yep. And he'll

hand it out. Thank you.

But you can look on your phone, too.

It's re uh resourceswater.org,

right, Ellen?

>> Resource water.

>> Yeah, just resourcewwater.org.

>> Yep.

>> Yeah. I'm sorry. Is there anything else

either one of you want to add before um

questions from council members?

Okay. Um I just had one quick question.

I saw the price was $25,000, but from my

understanding it's coming from the $2

million that we got in grants.

>> Yes.

>> Okay. Thank you. And a quick

clarification, what was the other money

being used for that could also but we

were allowed to take out of that 2

million to use for education, but what

did we use the other money for? You said

>> a majority of it is going towards like

tree care services. So, the removal of

hazardous trees or dead or diseased

trees and also um an inventory of all

the city's trees.

>> Yes, that did come in front of us before

us. Okay. Thank you. Um I don't have any

other questions. I'm going to start here

to my far left with Councilman Jones.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. Thank you

both uh for being here tonight. Um

let me see.

No. Uh I think this is a a a great

program. Um, the one question I do have,

um, being that you are, um, it looks

like you're partnering with the school

district on this, um, which I think is

great. Um, you know, as a young man

myself, I didn't really care too much

about the environment. Um, you know, my

mind just wasn't there. I was just

worried about playing in the

environment. Didn't really understand

uh, all the the necessary things that

needed to take place. So, as I got

older, I got into botany, environmental

stuff. So, you know, I think this is

good. Have you peaked any interest or do

you think that you would peique any

interest from the youth that are in the

Harrisburg school district to want to uh

look into and get and get involved into

this program because again I think um we

all have a duty here at some point we

will definitely be departing and we want

to make sure that uh we are leaving it

in good hands to making sure that they

know air quality is important uh uh

clean water is important and all of

those things. So, did you peique any

interest with the Harrisburg School

District?

>> Anyone can answer.

>> Sure. [laughter]

Um, yes. So, we started uh we made

contact with Jen Broski, who's the

supervisor of the K- through2 math and

science curriculum, and they were really

interested in partnering. And so we

have, you know, written and verbal

confirmation that they're on board and

they'll help identify a few teachers

that Ellen will will then facilitate um,

you know, a workshop with where that's

where we'll co-design the curriculum.

But hopefully, you know, the idea of

reaching out to stakeholders in the

community who are also who are already

doing environmental education work, um,

Capitol Region Water and and we welcome

any suggestions too if you have um

people we should reach out to. But by

engaging the teachers and having them so

intimately connected to this project and

code designing the curriculum, uh, we

hope to make engaging content where the

youth will then, yeah, feel excited

about, you know, we can create exciting

lessons.

>> Yeah. Good. I I I'm I'm very um

intrigued by that myself, but I really

do hope that we can spark some minds of

the young people to get involved in

this. And I'm glad that the the school

district is actually looking to bring

this type of curricula uh to the

district. Um again, I think this is very

important. And um when we look at um

those partnerships, um I think we do

have an environmental justice board. Am

I correct? I don't know if it's active

or do do you guys are you guys aware of

that?

I don't

>> we do have an environmental justice

>> maybe etc

>> advisory council I'm sorry yeah

>> but is it active

>> no it's lacking members I believe

>> so I think that's some where you want to

start there are some people that are on

that um on that committee that that are

here in the city and um love you know uh

the environment

>> making sure that we're educated on it so

again I just think that that that's

great to to partner with all

stakeholders capital region water.

They're doing a lot of things in the in

the city as well. Um even uh UGI to be

uh uh uh to to to

>> I know it seems like off topic, but they

really are doing some environmental

things.

>> Yes. Yes. So, um yeah, that's all I

really have. Um I think this is um I

would love to see how this pans out and

hopefully that we can get some students

involved, but uh thank you for what you

guys are doing and bringing to the

table. That's all I have.

>> Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for

joining us this evening. Um, just for

clarification, the EAC does have a

quorum and can take action. They just

need the sustainability coordinator to

uh get that going. I do think this would

be a great uh tool and a mechanism by

way of the EAC. So, I would definitely

advise you to reach out. Maybe the

administration madame mayor may be able

to guide you, but as long as the

sustainability coordinator is willing to

take it on, she does have a quorum where

she can get effective right away. So, I

think that would be a perfect tool to

help you engage. So, definitely. Um, but

I have no questions. It's amazing the

work you're doing and I look forward to

seeing it uh come to life. So, thank

you.

>> Yeah, thank you.

>> Absolutely.

>> Thank you. Um, and both um, President B,

President Hill and Councilman Rodriguez

were saying at the same time that there

is a quorum. So, I hope that the

sustainability

director reaches out to them to get them

started on that work. Um, President

Hill,

>> thank you. Uh, thank you both for being

here this evening. It sounds really

interesting. I just had a few questions.

Um, for the curriculum drafting

workshop, will that be held in person?

Well, Ellen, will you come here? Okay,

good.

>> Okay. Yes.

>> Okay. And my next question is around how

long has the curriculum been present in

the school district of Philadelphia?

We uh the the Philadelphia project

started in 2014

and we built it over three years with

some pretty robust funding from uh the

William Penn Foundation and then we

continued to refine it and it was being

implemented, piloted, implemented by

2019

and so we've been um working ever since

>> on implementing it. So what feedback I

guess have you received since it's been

fully implemented from either teachers,

parents or students?

Well, we we we have a lot of

testimonials um particularly from

teachers um who have um said that this

really um changes their um whole

perspective on their practice that they

are they see students that are totally

engaged because we've created a lot of

hands-on work and it's um something that

is very locally based so they feel like

it's very real and they can um relate to

what they're learning. We've had a lot

of great feedback actually from the

district um the curriculum and

instruction office and now that we have

the new um PA steels standards which

have to be implemented it's a perfect

time for integrating all of this in

every classroom in Philadelphia. We've

been working with a cohort of 30 plus

teachers over the year that's but now

we're we're um advancing to implement it

in every classroom and to be aligned

with these new standards. So that's very

exciting and certainly um the water

department has been supporting the work.

They're very um um supportive and and

excited about how this really um impacts

their um their customers and their f the

families of people using water and then

the the the students who will become

rateayers someday.

>> Thank you. So I guess that leads me to

one final question. um how is is capital

will capital region water be engaged at

all? She mentioned Philadelphia's water.

Okay.

>> Yes. Yeah. We've um connected um with

their storm water director to see what

they're already doing around

environmental education to not be

duplicative and how can we kind of

create a synergy and uh come together so

we're not all trying to work in our

silos.

>> Yes. And I'll add um that as the you

know a lot of the funding I mentioned

will help go towards tree maintenance in

the city. And so as um the contractors

or vendors are going around the

different neighborhoods and doing this

tree work, you know, hopefully the kids

are hearing about it too about forestry

and how that impacts the local

environment. What are the economic and

social benefits of trees? So again,

they're understanding maybe a little bit

more of why trees are important or why

that work is being done by the city and

they're, you know, right outside their

front door.

>> Thank you. I don't have any other

questions.

>> Thank you. Okay. Uh, Vice President

Green,

>> thank you very much. I don't have any

questions for you. I look forward to

this partnership. I think it's necessary

for our youth in our city and I think it

it could allow us to be a um stand in

the forefront for other school districts

to be able to be a part of it as well.

So, thank you.

Uh, is President I'm not excuse me,

Councilwoman? Uh,

okay. If she comes back, I'll try if

you're still here, but um, Councilwoman

Daniels, do you have any questions?

>> No questions. Thank you.

>> You're welcome. Okay. I don't have any

questions. Thank you. Um, and I would

like to move resolution 68 of 2025 to

our next legislative uh, agenda.

Thank you very much. The final committee

business this evening lies with the

public works committee. I will defer to

our public works committee chair,

Councilman Rodriguez, to lead

discussion.

>> Thank you, Madam President.

Today, the public works committee will

be meeting to discuss resolution 69 of

2025. Mr. Trudeau, can you please read

resolution 69 and 25 into the record?

Resolution 69, 2025, a resolution

affirming the city of Harrisburg's

desire to be officially included in the

federal Highlands boundary as maintained

by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for

the Highlands Conservation Act grant

program, thereby qualifying for

financial and technical assistance

provided by the US Congress.

>> Thank you for that, gentlemen. Haven't

seen you in quite some time. Mr. Hill,

Mr. siders, if you'd like to give an

overview of uh resolution 69 of 25.

>> Um I'd like to give just a brief

overview and then I'll turn it over to

Mr. Hill. He's much more eloquent than I

am. Uh so this is um

a federally recognized boundary for the

forest and preservation that stems from

uh south central Pennsylvania up to the

northern borders at Connecticut. And it

was a a grant authorized by Congress to

make anyone within that boundary

eligible for federal dollars to um

conserve um and do improvement projects

in that area. And by the city's um

willingness to be a part of this

boundary, it simply opens us up to uh

eligibility for for money and with no

real downside.

Thank you. It's good to be with you

again. Uh the uh as Joel indicated, the

U funding is uh through Congress, but it

uh flows to the four states,

Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and

Pennsylvania. And in Pennsylvania, it's

administered by DCNR. Uh a portion of

the federal funding goes as base

funding. So it's a simple straight

allocation to the state. And then the

other portion of the funding is

available on a competitive basis, but

that's administered through the state

agencies out of the federal government.

Uh I the point of the resolution is to

allow us to apply for funding uh to with

DCNR

uh for the purpose of the land

acquisition that I discussed earlier in

my presentation.

>> All right. Um I'll open it up for

questions. Uh, starting to my immediate

left, Councilman Jones.

>> Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. Again,

this is a no-brainer. Thank you guys

again. Um, you know, getting us to to to

get into a space like this where we can

have uh sustain the natural beauty in

the city of Harrisburg, it's always a

good thing. And again, at minimal cost

to us, but we get the beautifification.

No questions.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross.

>> Good evening again. It's good to see you

back. Um, I hope it was a short walk to

your seats and I don't have any

questions. Thank you.

>> Thank you, Madam President.

>> Good evening again. I don't have any

questions. Thank you.

>> Right. Thank you, Madam Vice President.

>> Thank you very much. I don't have any

questions for you.

>> All right, Councilwoman Davis.

>> No questions.

>> Thank you. And is Miss Daniels or

Councilwoman Daniels?

>> No questions.

>> All right. And I I have no questions.

Um, as my colleague says, pretty much a

no-brainer. I definitely support the

project. Um, and with that being said, I

move to add resolution 69 of 25 to our

next legislative agenda. Thank you,

gentlemen, for joining us,

>> Madam President. That's it.

>> Thank you. Uh, we will continue with our

meeting. Next, we have public comment.

Just a few housekeeping notes. 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 four

minutes to share your comments. I'll

begin to my right. Is there anyone that

would like to offer public comment?

Seeing and hearing no one, anyone in the

middle section. Okay. Seeing and hearing

no one, anyone to my left. Seeing and

hearing no one, the time is 6:57

p.m. I will entertain a motion to

adjurnn. So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> There is a second.

>> Thank you. Please stand adjourned.