Harrisburg City Council Legislative Session 6-24-2025

Good evening.

Okay, we're going to conduct our

legislative caucus prior to the start of

our legislative session. So, following

our caucus, I will call the meeting to

order. Mr. Trudale will will lead our

roll call. The invocation will now be

led by Councilwoman Davis. Councilwoman

Ross is excused this evening and the

pledge of allegiance will be led by Vice

President Green.

We do not have any communications this

evening. Uh we will then move to

courtesy of the floor followed by the

approval of minutes for the legislative

session that occurred on June 10th,

20125.

Then we will move to reports of

committees.

I will deliver all of the reports. So we

we will start with the administration

committee report on the work session of

June 17, 2025.

Then we will have the community and

economic development committee

uh report on the work session of June

17, 2025.

Next, the parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee report on the work

session of June 17, 2025. And then the

final committee report uh will be that

of the public works committee on the

work session of June 17, 2025.

We do not have any ordinances for first

reading, ordinances for amendment, or

ordinances for final passage. We will

then move to resolutions. The first

resolution for consideration is

resolution resolution 56 of 2024,

which we will vote upon.

Next, resolution 32 of 2025, which we

will vote upon. Yes, we can. Resolution

37 of 2025, which we will vote upon.

Street. Resolution 42 of 2025, which we

will vote upon.

Resolution 43 of 2025, which we will

vote upon,

and resolution 44 of 2025, which we will

vote upon. Resolution 46 of 2025 will

move to the administration committee and

resolution 47 of 2025 will move to the

building and housing committee. Is there

any old business for discussion council

members?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, any new

business?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, then we

will adjourn.

So, let's get started. The time is 6:06

p.m. I would like to call our

legislative session to order.

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

role? Miss Daniels,

here. Miss Davis, present. Miss Green,

present. Mr. Jones,

Miss Rolls,

Mr. Rodriguez,

Miss Hill, present. Please note for the

meeting record that both uh Councilwoman

Ross and Councilman Rodriguez are

excused this evening and Councilman

Jones. Um but if he arrives, we'll note

his presence.

Uh the invocation this evening will be

led by Councilwoman Davis.

Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

everyone.

Let's keep the family and friends of

Mary E. Hudson who has passed on. Um

let's keep them in our prayers um going

forward. This must be a difficult time

for them. But I want to highlight that

Miss Mary Hud E. Hudson was educated in

the Harrisburg School District and

retired from the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania.

She was also a lifelong member of Camp

Curtain Memorial Mitchell United

Methodist Church. and she loved her

church, faithfully served in numerous

capacities to include president of the

United Methodist Women's Communion. And

I could go on and on, but I will just

ask us to keep her family in our

prayers. Also, in light of the

end of the school year, I'd like to also

have a moment of silence and prayer for

our young scholars who are out of

school. Let's um keep them in mind for a

safe and productive

summer. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. The

pledge of allegiance will be led by Vice

President Green

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, Vice President Green. As I

mentioned, we do not have any

communications this evening. So, 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 will serve as our timekeeper.

And I will begin to my right. Is there

anyone that would like to offer public

comment?

block street.

I just want to um thank the Department

of Works.

They came and fixed the light.

They uh paved the alley, passed patches

and all that. They did they did what

they said they was going to do. So, I

want to give them uh applause for work

that they did.

Um,

okay, Tom. I think it's time. Okay, now

handicap parking. Handicap parking. You

got to go down and register each year.

But anybody can park in your parking

space. The handicap folks on my block,

they got to put the walkers out there

because folks take their spots,

put the trash cans, all that out there.

It's It's just a mess. And at one time,

they said they could only stay there

They couldn't stay there overnight. Now

they can stay there as long as they want

cuz I talked to parking people. Now in

Still

on their sign they put the tag numbers

who supposed to park there. That's still

they say they used to do that here but I

don't know. Um okay that's that.

South 20 I mean North 20th Street.

There's a bunch of abandoned cars.

back there on bricks.

My old neighborhood, my father still

lived there in 91.

There's a roading problem back there and

just that's a mess back there about

wine. And there's cars back there that

have wrong tags and all that on too. So,

there's some work to do over there. And

the garages over there,

they tore up and the children be back

there playing. And the one I think the

one resident told him, "Oh, y'all boats

don't be on there in case y'all fall in

the hole. Somebody got to go get help."

So, the roofs of the garage is all

messed up. There's abandoned cars and

all that. Uh,

parking

Midtown. I think Midtown need to be free

after 52.

It's free downtown, but Midtown, I think

Midtown got more going on in downtown,

but it's not free at the five Midtown.

That's all I have. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Okay, seeing and hearing no one. Anyone

in the middle section? Seeing and

hearing no one. Anyone to my left?

Good evening, council.

My name is Robert Williams, senior. I'm

a resident of 1630 North Fifth Street,

Harrisburg, PA. On January 29th of this

year, I filed a sworn citizen complaint

with the Harrisburg Bureau of Police

under city code 3301.

The ordinance is not optional. Within 24

hours, I was entitled to a receipt of

internal affairs case number at 30, 60,

and 90 days. I was entitled to status

letters in each quarter. This body is

entitled to internal affairs statistics.

None of those requirements have been

met. No receipt, no case number, no 30,

60 or 90day updates, and critically no

quarterly IIA reports have ever received

this county depriving you of oversight

power. When I met with the mayor, Wanda

Williams, and Commissioner Carter on

June 17th, they told me to my face that

they could not talk to me about my

complaint due to a civil lawsuit that

was filed. That is retaliation and not

policy. Because the city code has been

ignored for over 144 days in counting.

On Friday, I filed a private criminal

complaint under PA rules of criminal

procedure 506

alleging official oppression,

obstruction of administration of law,

tampering with public records, and other

related offenses. Tonight, I

respectfully request that council direct

the public direct the police bureau

immediately to immediately to deliver

the overdue quarter 1 and quarter 2

internal affair statistics, including

every open complaint number. Schedule an

oversight hearing to examine why

ordinance 3301 has been systematically

ignored. Refer this matter to Dolphin

County District Attorney and if

necessary the Pennsylvania Attorney

General for independent investigation.

Our ordinance is clear. The deadline has

passed. Your authority under 330 301.5

is being thwarted. I ask you to assert

to assert the authority this evening.

Thank you for your time and your

service.

Thank you. We will move forward with our

meeting agenda. Next, we have the

approval of the minutes for the

legislative session that occurred on

June 10th, 2025. Council members, are

there any revisions to those minutes?

Yes, President Hill. I think for

consistency purposes, uh, President Hill

is mentioned in the, uh, notes, but also

President Bowers. So, there's two names.

Thank you. Thank you.

Is there a second? Um, regarding the

motion to correct the minutes, I'll

second. Thank you.

Any further discussion? I'm the same

person. I just got married. U Mr.

Chelle, could you please uh call the

vote?

Miss Daniels?

Yes.

Miss Davis? Yes. Miss Green? Yes. Mr.

Jones, Miss Rolls, Mr. Rodriguez, Miss

Hill? Yes.

Uh the amendment passes uh

four to zero. Thank you.

We will now move to the reports of

committees. Please bear with me as I'm

delivering some other committee reports

this evening. So we will begin uh with

the administration committee report on

the work session of June 17, 2025.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the

administration committee met to discuss

three resolutions. Resolution 34 of

2025, a resolution appointing Miss

Giovan Marie Jackson to serve as a

member of the board of the Harrisburg

Housing Authority. Resolution 35 of

2025, a resolution appointing Miss Laura

Robinson to serve as a member of the

board of the Harrisburg Housing

Authority. and resolution 44 of 2025, a

resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into

an access control agreement with the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania acting

through the Department of General

Services for that portion of Geiger

Street situated between Front and Second

Streets in the city of Harrisburg.

So, resolution 34 of 2025 and resolution

35 of 2025 were discussed at the same

time. Both Miss Yavon Marie Jackson and

Miss Laura Robinson were present to

answer any questions that council

members had. Miss Jackson introduced

herself and shared why she was

interested in serving as a member of the

board of the Harrisburg Housing

Authority. She is a resident of Jackson

Tower. she has an interest in helping

seniors in her building. Miss Robinson

introduced herself and shared why she

was interested in serving as a member of

the board of the Harrisburg Housing

Authority. Miss Robinson is a lifelong

Harrisburg resident who used to live in

Mcclelay Street Apartments. Council

members asked the following questions.

What would you like to see done with the

Harrisburg Housing Authority? Um, how

did you hear about the board and why did

you want to join? Um, please share one

objective you'd like to accomplish and

are there any conflicts of interest?

Miss Jackson wants to listen to our

seniors and has a desire to help our

people. Miss Jackson heard about the

vacancy in her building. Miss Robinson

wants to help all of the lowincome

housing residents and she heard about

the vacancy from a former board member.

Both women stated that they have no

known conflicts of interest.

Um I encourage my colleagues well

noting that they are tabled um for this

evening's agenda. So we discussed them

last week. Next we have resolution 44 of

2025. Mr. Neil Grover, city solicitor,

provided an overview of the resolution

stating that it is a formal document

with the Commonwealth. Um mainly for

security and maintenance of the

governor's residence. Um it is he noted

that the portion um that this resolution

covers is an unused alleyway on Guyer

Street um between Front and Second

Streets. Mr. Sam Skowski, uh, interim

business administrator, shared that the

mayor is 100% supportive of this

process. Um, that the state is able to

secure the governor's mansion. I

encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 44 of 2025.

Any action the city of Harrisburg can

take to ensure the safety of our

governor and his family should be an

easy yes. So this concludes the report

of the administration committee on the

work session of June 17, 2025.

Next, I will deliver the community and

economic development committee report on

the work session of June 17, 2025.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Community

and Economic Development Committee met

to discuss two resolutions.

Resolution 56 of 2024 is a resolution

approving the the preliminary and final

subdivision and land development plan

submitted by Midtown Redevelopment LLC

to consolidate and subdivide various

vacant parcels into multiple project

sites to develop single family and

multifamily dwellings, commercial space

and accessory parking along with

associated improvements in the area

bounded by Riley. Riley Street, Fulton

Street, Safford Street, and James

Street.

Mr. Jeffrey Knight, planning director

for the city of Harrisburg, was present

to discuss resolution 56.

Mr. Knight uh shared that the project is

similar to the Capitol Town Homes

development and the development spans

seven sites.

Um it includes

um

row homes. Um

three will be developed as multifamily

dwellings. Those are buildings one, two,

and three. One of the sites will be a

mixeduse building. That's building five.

One of the sites will be a food hall

building four. and three will be

developed as accessory parking uh for

the proposed residential and commercial

buildings.

In total, there will be 62 units across

23 individual buildings and

approximately 5,500

square ft of commercial space.

Mr. Chris Rice and Mr. Christian Cobalt

were present to discuss resolution 56 of

2024.

Mr. Rice explained that they worked

closely with the Harrisburg

Redevelopment Authority to have the lots

converted. Um the anticipated

groundbreaking will be held in November

of 2025.

Uh council members asked the following

questions. Um were there any timeline

impacts due to the due to the delay? Um

residents were residents that currently

live in the neighborhood um aware of the

updates with the project u market value

for apartments and town houses and are

any of the town homes for sale? Mr.

Bryce confirmed that there is a 10%

carveout for affordable housing. Um five

or six of the town homes will be for

sale. Next, resolution 32 of 2025 is a

resolution approving the preliminary and

final land development plan for 555

South 25th Street submitted by

Commonwealth Charter Academy to demolish

a portion of the existing school

building on site and redevelop the

property as a cyber charter school with

a larger foot building footprint and

expanded site and access improvements.

Miss Tza Cameron, assistant city

solicitor, shared a technical amendment

um prior to the discussion of the

resolution. Mr. Jim Skinner, facilities

director uh for Commonwealth Charter

Academy was present and explained that

the space will be similar to the

Commonwealth Charter Academyy's virtual

learning areas. The space is primarily

for staff members. U Mr. Patel, the

developer for the project, shared that

he knocked on 75% of the neighbors doors

in an effort to ensure that they were

aware of the project. The applicant

requested that the traffic impact study

um be removed. Um and I would like to

note for the record that there is an

additional exhibit. Is that correct,

Miss K?

Um, no, no exitional exhibit and the

traffic study was not removed because

it's what technically happened in the

meeting. It is further clarified in the

resolution though that their project is

approved by the planning commission

without any conditions. So, thank you

for clarifying.

Council members asked the following

questions. Do you foresee any issues

with two schools in the area? Mr.

Skinner replied, "No, there will be no

buses, staff only." I encourage my

colleagues to support both resolution 56

of 2024 and resolution 32 of 2025.

Resolution 56 of 2024 provides

additional housing opportunities for

city residents. Resolution 32 of 2025

will provide assistance to the staff of

Commonwealth Charter Academy. This

concludes the community and economic

development committee report on the work

session of June 17, 2025.

Next, we have uh the work session report

from the parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee on the work session

of June 17, 2025.

On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Parks,

Recreation, and Enrichment Committee met

to discuss one resolution, resolution 43

of 2025, a resolution authorizing the

city of Harrisburg to negotiate and

enter into a lease agreement with the

Harrisburg School District for that

portion of land that houses the Jackson

Lick Pool in order to allow continued

operations as the parties work toward

finalizing the city's subdivision an

acquisition thereof. Um, Mr. Neil

Grover, city solicitor, shared that this

is basically a legal agreement um

between the two entities. Council

members did not have any questions.

Uh, I recommend support of resolution 43

of 2025

um to ensure that our children um and

members of the public have access to the

Jackson Lick pool. This concludes the

report of the parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee on the work session

of June 17, 2025.

The final report I will deliver this

evening is on behalf of the public works

committee on the work session of June

17th, 2025.

On June 17, 2025, the public works

committee met to discuss resolution 42

of 2025, a resolution authorizing the

city of Harrisburg to negotiate and

enter into a professional services

agreement with ArborP Pro, Inc. for the

purpose of performing a tree inventory

and related urban forestry services.

Um,

our

the city forester Cody, I apologize, I

don't know his last name and I'm having

technical difficulties in accessing it.

Um, was present to discuss the

resolution. There was also

representation from Arbor Pro

Incorporated.

Um the this

agreement will be funded through a

grant. Um council members didn't have

any questions on this either. Uh we felt

that it was pretty um self-explanatory.

So I recommend support of resolution 42

of 2025.

Um, this concludes

the report of the public works committee

on the work session of June 17, 2025.

We do not have any ordinances for first

reading, ordinances for amendment, or

ordinances for final passage. So, we

will move forward with resolutions. The

first resolution for consideration this

evening is resolution 56 of 2024.

Mr. Trudale, could you please read it

into the record?

Resolution 56, 2024, a resolution

approving the preliminary/final

subdivision and land development plan

submitted by Midtown Redevelopment LLC

to consolidate and subdivide various

vacant parcels into multiple project

sites to develop single family and

multifamily dwellings, commercial space,

and accessory parking along with

associated improvements in the area

bound by Riley Street, Falton Street,

Safeford Street, and James Street.

Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 56 of

2024?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote? Miss

Daniels,

yes.

Miss Davis, yes. Miss Green, yes. Mr.

Jones, yay. Miss Hill. Yes. Resolution

56 2024 passes by a vote of 5 to zero.

Thank you. Next we have resolution 32 of

2025. Mr. Trudale, could you please read

it into the record? Resolution 32, 2025,

a resolution approving the preliminary

land development plan for 555 South 25th

Street, submitted by Commonwealth

Charter Academy to demolish a portion of

the existing school building on site and

redevelop the property as a cyber chart

cyber charter school with a larger

building footprint and expanded site and

access improvements. Thank you. Uh,

council members, are there any

questions, comments, or concerns related

to resolution 32 of 2025?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote? Miss

Daniels,

yeah. Miss Davis, yes. Miss Green, yes.

Mr. Jones, yay. Miss Hill, yes.

Resolution 32, 2025 passes by vote of 5

to zero. Thank you. Next we have

resolution 37 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record?

Resolution 37 2025, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a

co-sponsorship agreement with TLC

Workbased Training Program Incorporated

for the implementation of a workforce

development program in an amount not to

exceed $75,000.

Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 37 of

2025?

Seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudale, could

you please call the vote? Miss Daniels,

yes.

Miss Davis, yes.

Miss Green, yes.

Mr. Jones, yay. Miss Hill, yes.

Resolution 37 2025 passes by a vote of 5

to zero. Thank you. Next we have

resolution 42 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record? A resol resolution 42 2025, a

resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

professional services agreement with

Arbiter Pro Incorporated for the purpose

of performing a tree inventory and

related urban forestry services. Thank

you. Council members, are there any

questions, comments, or concerns related

to resolution 42 of 2025?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote? Miss

Daniels,

yes. Miss Davis, yes. Miss Green, yes.

Mr. Jones, yay. Miss Hill, yes.

Resolution 42, 2025 passes by vote of 5

to zero. Thank you. Next we have

resolution 43 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record? Resolution 43 2025, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with the Harrisburg School

District for that portion of land that

houses the Jackson Lake pool in order to

allow continued operations as the

parties work towards finalizing the

city's subdivision and acquisition

thereof. Thank you. Council members, are

there any questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 43 of

2025? Madame President, um just just for

the record, after the meeting last week,

well, yesterday, the city received

proposed uh technical corrections

amendments to the uh um lease agreement

and an exhibit that better described the

physical area. All of those changes were

acceptable to the city and we provided

that substitute exhibit for the

resolution to the clerk's office uh to

put with the resolution. Um the uh

because of the switch over at the school

district after the council votes,

although it came from their council,

they still have to vote at the board

level as well, just like the council

does on the agreement. Okay. Just just

to keep you up to date. No, thank you.

And everyone Well, yeah. Okay. Thank

you. Um,

the updated agreement should replace

exhibit A in resolution 43 of 20125 just

for everyone's reference. Thank you,

Solicitor Grover.

Any other questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 43 of

2025?

Seeing in hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote?

Miss Daniels.

Yeah,

Miss Davis. Yes, Miss Green. Yes, Mr.

Jones. Yay, Miss Hill. Yes. Resolution

43 2025 passes by vote of 5 to zero.

Thank you. Uh, next we have resolution

44 of 2025. Mr. Trudeale, could you

please read it into the record?

Resolution 44, 2025, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into an access

control agreement with the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania acting through the

Department of General Services for that

portion of Geiger Street situated

between Front and Second Streets in the

city of Harrisburg. Thank you. Council

members, are there any questions,

comments, or concerns related to

resolution 44 of 2025?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudeelle,

could you please call the vote? Miss

Daniels, yes. Miss Davis, yes. Miss

Green, yes. Mr. Jones, yay. Miss Hill,

yes. Resolution 44, 2025 passes by vote

of 5 to zero. Thank you.

Resolution 46 of 2025. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the

record? Resolution 46, 2025, a

resolution appointing Mr. Basier Vincent

to serve on the Harrisburg Planning

Commission. Thank you. Resolution 46 of

2025 will move to the administration

committee. Our final uh resolution for

consideration this evening is resolution

47 of 2025. Mr. Trudeell, 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.

Resolution 47 of 2025 will move to the

building and housing committee. Is there

any old business for discussion, council

members?

Okay. Uh, seeing and hearing none, any

new business? Yeah, I just want to um

offer my apologies for my tardiness to

my colleagues and uh the community as

well. That's it. Well, thank you.

Apology accepted, but you made it

safely. That's important. Okay. If there

is no further business, uh the time is

6:37 p.m. I will entertain a motion to

adjurnn. So move. Is there a second?

Thank you. We stand a journal.

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