Harrisburg City Council Legislative Session - 5/12/26

Good evening everyone. Uh thank you for

your patience. We were experiencing some

technical difficulties with channel 20.

I'd like to begin with our legislative

caucus.

I will call the meeting to order. Mr.

Trudale will call the role. The

invocation this evening will be led by

Councilwoman Ross. I will lead the

pledge of allegiance in the absence of

Councilman Rodriguez, who is excused

this evening. for communications. We are

joined uh by the board chair of the Art

Association of Harrisburg and we will

recognize the Art Association of

Harrisburg's 100th anniversary.

We will then move to courtesy of the

floor followed by the approval of the

minutes for the legislative session that

occurred on April 28th, 2026.

Then you will hear uh three committee

reports. I will deliver the first report

on behalf of the administration

committee on the work session that

occurred on May 5th, 2026.

The second committee report you will

hear will be delivered by our vice

president and budget and finance

committee chair, Vice President Jones on

the work session of May 5th, 2026.

In the absence of our public works

committee chair, Councilman Rodriguez,

he shared his report, so I will deliver

it. um on his behalf on the work session

of May 5th, 2026.

We do not have any ordinances for first

reading, ordinances for amendment, or

ordinances for final passage. We will

move to resolutions. The first

resolution for consideration is

resolution 27 of 2026,

which we will vote upon. Next,

resolution 28 of 2026, which we will

vote upon. Resolution 29 of 2026, which

we will vote upon. Resolution 30 of

2026, which we will vote upon.

Resolution 33 of 2026, we will vote upon

resolution 39 of 2026. We will vote upon

resolution 40 of 2026. We will vote upon

resolution 41 of 2026. We will suspend

the rules for discussion and then we

will vote upon resolution 42 of 2026. We

will suspend the rules for discussion

and then vote upon resolution 43 of

2026. We will suspend the rules for

discussion and then we will vote upon

it. And resolution 44 of 2026, we will

suspend the rules for discussion and

vote upon it. Resolution 45 of 2026 will

move to the parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee.

Is there any old business for

discussion, council members?

Okay, seeing hearing none, any new

business?

Okay, Councilman Lawson, any other new

business?

I will just have a brief update on our

meeting schedule and then we will

adjourn.

So the time is 6:12 p.m. I would like to

call our legislative session to order.

>> Mr. Trudeale, could you please call the

role?

>> Miss Davis,

>> present.

>> Miss Green,

>> present.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> here.

>> Mr. Len,

>> here.

Miss Rolls

>> present.

>> Mr. Rodriguez. Miss Hill

>> present. Um, as I mentioned during our

caucus, Councilman Rodriguez is excused

this evening. The invocation will be led

by Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

everyone. That is in attendance and

online. Uh, with so much happening in

our world today, it's hard to just

pinpoint one thing to take a moment of

silence on. Uh but I will say as we take

our moment of silence um the things that

you keep in your mind, please think

about anyone who has lost somebody,

anyone who's going through something, um

anyone that is having trouble, please

take a moment of silence.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman Ros. If

everybody could please rise for the

pledge of allegiance.

To the flag of the United States of

America and to the republic for it

stands one nation

indivisible with liberty and justice for

all.

Just for everyone's reference they are

still experiencing um audio issues on

channel 20. So if you are viewing and

you can't hear us, um please look to

YouTube as we are streaming live there.

For communications this evening, we are

joined by Mr. Travis Dicola

who serves as the board chair of the Art

Association of Harrisburg. We are

recognizing the Art Association's 100th

anniversary.

>> Thank you very much.

Members of the Harrisburg City Council,

thank you for the invitation to attend

tonight's meeting as a representative of

the Art Association of Harrisburg. My

name is Travis Dinola, and I'm the chair

of the board of directors of the Art

Association, which is conveniently

located just across the alley, right

behind this very building. It really

should be our president, Carrie Whistler

Thomas, presenting tonight, but she is

on a well-deserved vacation, and asked

me to fill in. As you may know, the Art

Association is celebrating its 100th

anniversary this year. It is near

impossible to celebrate the Art

Association without also celebrating the

career of Carrie Whistler Thomas, who

will be retiring later this year. For

over five decades, Carrie has been an

indispensable leader in Pennsylvania's

cultural and artistic community. Since

joining the Art Association of

Harrisburg over 50 years ago, first as a

volunteer, then as an instructor, and

serving as its president since 1986, she

has demonstrated an unwavering

commitment to fostering the

appreciation, education, and celebration

of the visual arts throughout central

Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, the

art association, housed in the historic

Governor Finley mansion, has flourished

as a vibrant hub for artists, educators,

and the public alike, attracting diverse

audiences and promoting artistic

excellence across generations. Car's

contributions extend far beyond

administrative leadership. As a

distinguished oil painter and lifelong

artist herself, she has inspired

countless students and community members

to engage deeply with creative

expression. Her decades of service have

strengthened Herodsburg's cultural

fabric, expanded opportunities for

emerging and established artists, and

enriched the Commonwealth's artistic

landscape. Her passion, vision, and

steadfast advocacy exemplify qualities

we should celebrate. In every role she

has undertaken, Carrie has made

Pennsylvania's arts community stronger,

more inclusive, and more accessible.

Throughout all of 2026, we are

celebrating 100 years of exhibitions,

awards, education, advocacy, and more.

During this year, we'll have all our

regular exhibitions, including the

popular figuratively speaking and

invitational shows. Additionally, we

continue to coordinate with more than a

dozen community exhibitions every month

throughout the city, primarily in the

lobbies and public spaces of local

businesses featuring local artists,

including the atrium of this very city

government center and the lobby of the

Penn National Building next door. This

will be the 98th year of our jured show,

which will have its opening reception on

Friday, May 29th from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

I hope you all can attend. We had over

200 regional artists submit work for

this annual competition.

Just a few weeks ago, we held our 100th

anniversary gala at the King Mansion,

which is also celebrating its 100th

anniversary this year. And as a part of

that evening, we created a special

performance about the history of the art

association in partnership with Theater

Harrisburg, who is also celebrating

their 100th anniversary this year. 1926

was a busy year in Harrisburg. There

will be our regular summer suarees, fall

member show, and the 38th annual Gallery

Walk this year. The gallery walk was

started by Carrie and promotes all the

visual arts organizations and venues in

Harrisburg each September. And new this

year on November 14th, we're having our

first ever members, teachers, and

students appreciation night at

Strawberry Square. And coming up in

June, it's Art Association Night at the

Harrisburg Senators on Friday, June 5th,

which is also fireworks night. It's

amazing to think that when Gertrude

Olmstead McCormack founded the Art

Association of Harrisburg in 1926, that

her legacy would not only survive, but

thrive 100 years later, due greatly to

the work that Carrie has done to

preserve this legacy. Perhaps what

Gertrude Olmstead McCormack would be

most proud of is not only is the

admission to our galleries always free,

seven days a week, but today the art

association reaches more than 650

students annually with our classes. More

people than ever, kids and adults,

newcomers, professionals. They're

exploring their creativity through art

association classes. Classes made

affordable thanks to the donors who

sacrificed to support our mission. These

classes take place in the studios that

are building as well as the studios we

utilize at Reservoir Park and other

locations in the region. For 100 years,

no visual arts organization in the area

has been more important to our local

community. And it's appropriate in some

ways to be invited here today to speak

about this as just this morning, the

University College of London released a

study that appreciating or making art,

whether that be visual art or music or

dance, adds a year to your life. So, you

know, there you go. you might want to

consider that and come visit us for our

opening on the May 29th show for the

98th annual jured exhibition. I want to

thank you for this opportunity to

celebrate 100 years of the art

association and the career of Carrie

Whistler Thomas. Thank you all very

much.

>> Thank you.

Thank you very much for joining us this

evening. If you want you can stay seated

there just a second. We do have a

proclamation in recognition of the 100th

anniversary. So, if you wouldn't mind

indulging me just for a moment. Thank

you. The city of Harrisburg,

Pennsylvania, Office of City Council,

and Office of City Clerk.

Proclamation. The city of Harrisburg

applauds the Art Association of

Harrisburg for their dedicated

commitment to art in Harrisburg for 100

years. And whereas the Art Association

of Harrisburg was established by Mrs.

Gertude Olmstead McCormick who served as

the president of the civic club.

Following a visit from Homer St. Gonze

of the Carnegie Museum of Art, Mrs.

McCormack formed a committee and founded

the art association. And whereas the

purpose of the Art Association of

Harrisburg was to bring museum quality

art to the public. And whereas the Art

Association of Harrisburg carries out

their mission to promote and encourage

the visual arts through art exhibition

and education, enriching the well-being

of the local community. And whereas the

Art Association strives to make art

accessible, relatable, and enjoyable.

And whereas the Art Association of

Harrisburg offers a variety of in-house

exhibitions, including eclectic

invitational exhibitions, themed

membership shows, and an annual

international jured exhibition.

And whereas the Art Association of

Harrisburg takes art outside of their

North French Street location and into

the community with over 70 exhibitions a

year in local businesses and public

spaces. And whereas the Art Association

of Harrisburg offers a variety of

classes for students and adults to

participate in, including drawing,

ceramics, and sculpture, painting, and

mixed media, children's classes, and an

introduction to digital photography

class. And whereas the Art Association

of Harrisburg hosts numerous events

throughout the year, providing artistic

enjoyment for their patrons and art

lovers in the community while generating

funds in support of their cultural

programs. Special events include the

major annual gayla, summer suarees, the

annual Harrisburg Gallery Walk, a

holiday suare, concerts, art history

lectures, and art demonstrations.

And now, therefore, be it hereby

proclaimed that Harrisburg City Council

commends the Art Association of

Harrisburg for their vision and

commitment to promoting art education

and exhibition. And be it further

proclaimed that Harrisburg City Council

wishes to extend best wishes for a

successful 100th anniversary year.

signed and attested in the city of

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Jared Trudale,

city clerk. Danielle L. Hill, Harrisburg

City Council. If you wouldn't mind, we'd

like to get a picture with you before

you leave.

>> Of course. And that's very kind of you.

Thank you very much for that.

>> Thank you.

Okay, thank you. Now, we will move

forward with our meeting agenda. Next,

we have courtesy of the floor. Just a

few housekeeping notes before we begin.

If you're interested in offering any

public comments, uh 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 timer to the screen for your

reference and I will begin to my right.

Is there anyone that would like to offer

public comment?

Hold on. Let me just do a little

adjustment. I'm a little I'm a little

tall. A little bit

for the short people. That's what you

were trying to tell me. Okay, I got it.

Okay.

Good evening, council. Thank you for

listening to my comments this evening.

My name is Dr. Kamiki Campbell. I am one

of the founders of Young Professionals

of Color Greater Harrisburg and the vice

president of YPOC and I also happen to

be the lead organizer for Junth HBG. We

are here

as a united front to represent a

seven-year legacy. In 1780, right here

in Pennsylvania, the act for gradual

abolition of slavery was passed. A

promise of freedom that took 85 years to

reach every black American on that first

Junth in 1865 in Galveston, Texas. We

are here today to ensure that the

promise of freedom includes economic and

cultural wealth for the black community

of Harrisburg. This year, YPOC

celebrates a decade of service. That's

right. YPOC is turning 10.

Little graphics for you guys here.

And we have um all of our flyers and

things back here for you guys to take.

Uh we formed this organization 10 years

ago to create a community of practice

for the black and brown professional

collective. Junth HBG is the extension

of that mission. Our journey started in

2020. In 2021, I produced a zen

cataloging every independent junth um

event in the region. In 2022, I called

for all those folks that were

represented in the zen to move from

silos to form a collective. For seven

years, we have sustained that unity. We

didn't just start an event. We built a

social and economic infrastructure for

our city and leadership structure for

our city. Yet, um by f funding out of

city entities over proven residentled

organizations, the city is fueling the

decadesl long division that have

historically held Harrisburg back. We

don't want our city to choose to

subsidize outsiders while putting the

weight of the city on the backs of its

own residents. We have operated in good

faith. We have reached out regarding the

city's parade on July 2nd of last year.

We spent about 9 to 10 months attempting

to get a meeting, which didn't happen

until March. We didn't receive an MOU

until April 24th. We have been sprinting

to pull off a worldclass parade for this

city only to be hit with almost $15,000

in municipal fees five weeks out from

our event. Simultaneously, resolution

4T2026 proposes to pass through $20,000

to a business based in Carile people who

do not live or work in the city. While

Junth HBG is 95% residentled and

reinvest our dollars into local vendors,

while the city is proposing to export

those tax dollars to Cumberland County

while invoicing its own residents for

the privilege of serving its community.

Because we are a proven entity entering

our seventh year, we are asking council

to help with this issue. We are asking

for accountability and equity. We see

that there are unallocated carryover

funds in the host fund. We are asking

you to keep Harris Harrisburg dollars

particularly for Junth um HBG in

Harrisburg and reinvest back into our

Harrisburg residents and vendors. Um, we

work with over 75 to 100 vendors every

single year and contractors to pull this

off. Um, we ask that you reallocate

$25,000 to Junth HBG to cover the costs

of this uh, municipal lag and wave the

city personnel fees uh, to make this

event a success. Invest in the residents

who have been doing the work for seven

years. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else my right

that would like to offer public comment?

opposite.

Okay,

that was my bad. You told me to put back

down. Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Elise Irvvis,

19 and a half North Fth Street,

Harrisburg.

And yes, I am um while I am working with

Young Professionals of Color, YPOC, and

the Junth HBG, I'm also here to announce

a new CDFI in town. It's called Ignite

CDFI, and I am the entrepreneur outreach

and manager um manager of entrepreneur

outreach support.

So this year is a unique opportunity for

the city to compound dollars that will

um increase and expand economic

development which has been at the

forefront of conversations right um

about doing business in Harrisburg

whether we're talking about micro

businesses those medium-sized businesses

and the larger corporations and really

contract companies

So, I am the chair for the Junth summit,

this one, which is happening Wednesday,

June 17th. It's an all day 8 a.m. to

8:00 p.m. essentially at Harrisburg

University, who has uh for the third

year, let us use their 222 Chestnut

building. Um, it's the perfect venue for

about a 200 250 person economic

development summit. And as I said, this

year's investment will be uniquely

compounded with the historically

disadvantaged business assistance

dollars that were acquired and need to

be spent and will be spent here in

Dolphin County and surrounding counties.

The summit is on well I'm in the third

year chairing the summit here in

Harrisburg

and

the summit is the intellectual and

cultural heartbeat of Junth week. Now in

its fifth year, the summit gathers

subject matter experts, community

leaders, young people, entrepreneurs,

and everyday Harrisburg residents for a

full day of honest conversation,

practical tools, and civic action. It's

rooted in Junth and pointed toward

toward our collective future. This

year's theme is work, wealth, and

freedom.

And like Dr. Campbell said, we're

celebrating 250 years Pennsylvania.

We're celebrating 10 years as young

professionals of color here in greater

Harrisburg. And Junth is celebrating

seven. So, we need you at the table, not

just um our ask is for the $25,000 be

reallocated

for Junth HBG because of the asset that

it is to this city, the million of pe

millions of people who come out every

year for the entire week. Um, but I'm

asking you to take a seat with me at the

summit. The morning we'll be centering

youth for a youth summit and a power and

policy panel that Mayor Kendy Alvarez

will be in town mcing and we're looking

for elected officials to help us have

that conversation out loud and together

about the true power behind policy.

And um after the power and policy

breakfast panel at 8:30 a.m. we will

you'll switch you'll be in the audience

and youth will take the stage to run the

youth summit portion and then we'll have

breakouts in rooms

for parents. There'll be head shot

available. Credit repair. People will

have the opportunity to walk away with a

website built on the on the spot. tech

and AI will take over in the afternoon.

So, a full day of economic development

and I I cannot walk away without

mentioning. This year's keynote is

Justin Pearson from Tennessee. Um, so

lots of things and we can't do it

without you. So, please consider

reallocating $25,000 so that Junth HBG

can bring billions of people to the city

this year. See you at the summit.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Hi, my name is Eris Smallwood. I reside

at 1300 Big Low Court, apartment 8. Um,

so I prepared a statement. Um, good

evening, city council. My name is Eris

Smallwood and I'm here tonight as a

business owner, community organizer, and

the organizer of Harrisburg's Junth

parade. I'm asking this council to

seriously consider financial support for

this year's parade because quite

frankly, the future of this event is in

danger due to budget constraints. Last

year, our inaugural Junth parade brought

national news attention to the city of

Harrisburg. Over a thousand people came

out to support it in the rain and more

than 80 organizations participated.

For a first year event planned with

limited resources, that is a major

accomplishment, not just for me, but for

this city.

The parade created positive visibility

for Harrisburg.

It brought families together. It gave

black organizations, performers,

churches, businesses, and community

groups a moment to be seen and

celebrated in a city that is majority

black, yet has very few city supported

cultural traditions specifically

centered around AfricanAmerican history

and culture.

And I want to say something honestly but

respectfully.

It has been difficult watching funding

and support seemingly materialize for

other cultural programming while the

Junth parade has struggled to receive

the same level of investment.

Carnival is not an African-American

trait tradition.

Junth represents the emancipation of

enslaved African-Americans in this

country and it deserves its own

intentional support and recognition.

I also think it matters that I am a

Harrisburg business owner actively

investing

back into this city and creating

programming here.

This parade was not outsourced.

It was built from the ground up by the

people in the community who care deeply

about Harrisburg. Parades are expensive.

Security, permits, traffic control,

insurance, sanitation, logistics, these

costs add up quickly. And in today's

climate where DEI related programming

often faces push back, it has become

even harder to sustain events like this

through grassroots funding alone. So

when an event that generated national

attention brought our brought over a

thousand people together and involved

more than 80 organizations still

struggles financially. Naturally the

question becomes why

a parade of this magnitude should not

survive solely on sacrifice burnout and

community scrambling. It should be

create it should be treated as a city

sponsored cultural event worthy of

investment. I'm asking this city, this

council to help ensure that Harrisburg's

Junth parade continues, not that just

this year, but for years to come. Thank

you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

>> Hi, council. My name is Ashley Smith.

It's nice to see you all. Thank you for

letting me speak. So, hello council. My

name is Ashley Smith. I am the chair of

Junth Jubilee happening on June 19th. I

represent the 75 to 100 local vendors

who generate thousands of dollars in

economic impact throughout the week. As

we continue to grow, we will be hosting

this Jubilee at Riverfront Park this

year. Please bring your families out to

enjoy. Any fee assessed on Junth HBG is

a tax on Harrisburg's black small

businesses. We host the Jub Jubilee

celebration as a free event so residents

and visitors can access can access and

share in our community's cultural and

economic wealth. Since I've chaired,

I've made it my mission to offer free

food as I'm passionate about food and

security. I ask and encourage you to

support Junth HBG. I thank you for your

unwavering support of me with my

community events that I've hosted in the

past. Thank you.

>> Can you please state your address for

the meeting record? I wasn't calling

didn't want to cuz I ain't a Harrisburg

resident but 136 North 28th Street,

Harrisburg, PA, but it's uh I'm in

Susana Township, but right on the edge,

y'all. So, yeah.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

>> Good evening everyone. I'm Jasmine

Slaughter from North 18th Street in

Harrisburg, PA. I lead the public

relations efforts for Junth HBG. Last

year, we platformed Harrisburg on a

global stage with 81.6 million audience

impressions. Strawberry Square in

downtown Harrisburg was mentioned and

featured on the Today Show for last

year's parade. And just this morning,

Essence Magazine featured Junth HBG as

one of the places to visit for this

year's celebration, bringing national

eyes to what our community has built

right here. We provide the city millions

in freeearned media visibility with

positive sentiment. Our goal is to

ensure these lowcost and free events for

residents and visitors are recognized as

the premier cultural standard for

central Pennsylvania. This region is

growing across many industries and

economic development matters to all of

us. Supporting and platforming events

that contribute to tourism is both a

business investment and a community

responsibility because black history is

American history.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Good evening

everyone. My name is Jasmine White and I

am a proud to be part of the leadership

and the continued growth of Junth HBG. I

lead Taste of Black Harrisburg on

Thursday, June 18th. This event

celebrates the rich culinary heritage of

Harrisburg while creating real economic

opportunity for blackowned businesses,

chefs, creatives, and entrepreneurs

throughout our city. By partnering with

organizations like Breadcoin, we are

intentional about not only celebrating

culture, but also addressing food and

security and expanding accessibility.

We provide this as a lowcost and free

event for residents and visitors to

ensure no one is barred from celebrating

our culture due to cost.

Taste of Black Harrisburg is more than

just a food event. It is an economic

driver and a proven community

investment. For seven years, Junth HBG

has consistently created opportunities,

brought tourism and revenue into the

city, highlighted local talent, and

created spaces where residents feel

seen, celebrated, and connected.

In a majority black city, diluting the

specific historical and cultural legacy

of Junth does not fully honor the

significance of the holiday or the

community that has carried this work

forward year after year. We are asking

you to recognize Junth HBG as the proven

municipal asset that it is. We have the

legacy, the caliber, and the seven-year

track record of creating real economic

advancement in Harrisburg.

This work matters because representation

matters. When young people attend these

events and see successful black business

owners, organizers, artists, chefs,

leaders, it expands what they believe is

possible for themselves. We are

respectfully asking council to strongly

consider our measurable impact and

reallocate 25,000 of these funds to

Junth HBG.

Thank you for your time, your

consideration, and your continued

commitment to the people of Harrisburg.

And I'm sorry, I forgot to say I'm of

North 20th Street.

>> Thank you. You knew that was coming,

didn't you?

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Good evening. My name is Trish Robinson.

I do not reside in Harrisburg, but I

have a business um called Evolve Youth

Trades Academy, and that's why I'm here.

Um, my intentions was to come last week,

but because I wear many hats, I'm not

just the CEO, I'm the trainer, I'm the

teacher, I'm the nurse,

I'm the doctor,

I'm the advisor,

I'm the counselor,

I'm the mother of many.

and so I could not make it. But I did

hear that Evolve was mentioned several

times. So I'm here to set the record

straight.

I was approved and thank you council.

Let me just say that. Pause. Thank you

for your continuous support of Evolve

Youth Trace Academy. We certainly

appreciate you.

So, with that being said, I was approved

an amount of money

and was requested to by the mayor

to produce well, let me go back. I

reached out to the mayor and I asked her

for

next steps.

Her next step was to for me to present

anou.

Thatou

held was held up and I was told it was

held up in legal.

Then theou needed more information.

Then theou was not sufficient enough. It

needed an itemized list.

Then theouou needed to be broken down

even further than what I submitted.

So then I asked a question, well, do I

need receipts?

I was told no.

So now I'm addressing

your the solicitor

for insinuating

that I don't have receipts

at the last meeting.

I have receipts

from the students that I put into

workforce development.

I have receipts for the students that

are in apprenticeships.

I have stu I have receipts for students

that come back and ask for support.

But even outside of that,

to ask or to insinuate that I don't have

receipts, that I was not requested to

provide

is insinuating that I was doing

something incorrect or I didn't know how

to do it properly. Wherever the case may

be, I have receipts.

And so those receipts have been

produced.

They have been produced. But what I do

not like is to be

when I'm not here. So I'm here to set

the record straight to act as if I don't

have receipts.

The last thing that I want to say and I

want to keep it positive is I do want to

recognize Miss Robinson

because as of lately

she has been very communive which is a

problem

and my whole thing is I'm not

confrontational

but I do expect to be communicated to

whatever the response is.

Communication is key. And so I want to

thank her for reaching out to me and

hopefully this will be resolved very

soon. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

>> Good evening. My name is Melanie Cook. I

live in the 3000 block of North Third

Street. And I came here this evening in

response to what I understand to be a

request by the administration for an

additional $3.2 million ver of change

orders for the construction

reconstruction of the Broad Street

Market. From what I've read, most of

that money is as a result of a collapsed

wall. $3 million to put back up a brick

wall, push back council, and push back

hard. I also want to know how is it that

assuming the Berg, which is apparently

one of the only publications that

receives information, it's expects the

city expects to get $3 million in

insurance proceeds. How the city will

get the three million needs to be

addressed. The question needs to be

asked and answered. And if the city is

getting $3 million of additional

insurance proceeds, that begs the

question why $2.2 million of community

block grants are asked to be drawn down.

Now, when you draw down $2.2 additional

million for the Broad Street Market,

that leaves $25,000

not in the pocket of the members of the

community who put on events that they

organize with their money. We sit in

this city and watch every dollar darn

year that comes in for these

communities, black and brown kids, go

out in the pockets of people who don't

even have their businesses in the city

of Harrisburg. And we want to know why.

We want to know why council and why the

mayor continues to allow that to happen.

Then I hear that here is a woman who is

running a business to train citizens,

youth in our city who is asked to put

together a memorandum of understanding.

If there are specific details that the

council wants in a memorandum of

understanding, put together a document

so that people who are completing the

document know what you want. So you are

not stalling them out asking for

something as soon as they produce it.

You want something else. And again, I

come to this meeting with prepared

statements and always have to respond to

something else. I also want to ask, how

is it that only one member of council

has come to address the closure of

schools in the city of Harrisburg? They

are closing schools in black and brown

cities all across Pennsylvania. Where is

the push back in Harrisburg? You see the

push back in Philadelphia. They are

proposing to put virtually every middle

school student, one of the most volatile

ages, in camp curtain, a school that

people have said and should say publicly

is an unmitigated disaster currently.

They are closing buildings, jamming

these kids together, and then when there

is what will likely be a violent

outbreak, they're going to turn around

and say, "Now we need police in our

schools." So we will have a situation

where the community and elected

officials are allowing a circumstance to

exist do develop that is going to result

in our students being overseen by law

enforcement in their own institutions of

higher learning. Where is the push back?

Where is the push back? Evolve could

have been in the William Penn campus. We

applaud the Art Association of

Harrisburg for reaching a hundred years.

What will not reach a hundred years is

the William Penn campus. A building with

historic and cultural significance that

not one person in this elected body has

stood up and said why are you you

demolishing this building? Not only why

are you demolishing it once it's

demolished what are you going to do with

it? You will have 20 plus empty acres

for what? Where is our economic

development? Where are the questions as

to why this is necessary? Ask and vote

no for more money.

>> Is there anyone else to my right that

would like to offer public comment?

Seeing and hearing no one, anyone in the

middle section.

>> Good evening, council profit from the

experience Libby Profit. I'm coming as a

CEO from Culture and Co. 19 and a half

North Fourth Street in Harrisburg.

I don't want to repeat anything that was

said. So, let me just let you guys know

that everyone that works get pay. So, if

you're here doing dirty work in the city

of Harrisburg to the individuals in

Harrisburg, your pay day is coming.

Regardless of if you're you're sending

money outside of Harrisburg, funding

individuals and businesses that doesn't

represent your community, your payday is

coming. If you're doing good in the city

of Harrisburg, your payday is coming.

It is sad to hear that Junth is not

getting any. I'm a I I'm a fan of of

Carnival. I'm Caribbean by nature. I'm

also a fan of Juneen because the youth

in the community, five of them being my

children,

have a lot of benefit come out of Juneen

and they spill it, they say it, they

they they they enjoy the festivity of

that. So if you guys are actually is

this true sending money outside of the

city for such events? I don't think

that's true. And you know what? I sit in

rooms all the time and I defend you

guys.

I defend you personally because some of

the things that the the city is saying

about you is unbelievable. Is that true

that you guys are funding other

community events but you won't even fund

for your own in the community? That

cannot be true.

I know a lot of these contracts that

come through here is because of you know

who you know.

a memorandum of understanding

to be I'm I'm just I'm just I just hope

that you're really here to do the job of

the people.

You're here to do good work because when

payday come you will get paid and not

everybody gets paid in cash. Somebody

gets paid some of us will get paid in

karma.

Please do right by the city. Do right by

the people. You can make it. You can

make it work. You can fund this. You can

fund both Carnival and Junth.

You can do it, please. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment? Seeing hearing no one,

anyone to my left.

Hello, my name is Jessica Garart, 313

Street.

I petition that

William Penn High School does not get

demolished.

Harrisburg area 250 signatures of

Harrisburg area

and uptown residents

is not for it

and

we

six $6.8 $8 million

is

being put towards it to destroy it. Why

don't we use half of it to renovate it

and utilize it that big and huge

beautiful building? The community will

be glad to

like to help out in cleaning up the

rooms, repainting and landscape.

We appreciate your support

and we ask that and we do see that you

that you're um that you help to make a

greater Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

left that would like to offer public

comment?

Okay. My name is Heather Tidwell and I

own a parcel in Uptown Harrisburg, but

most people know me as the president of

Pivot Forward Properties. I'm a grant

writer here in the city of Harrisburg.

Most recently, I brought $18 million to

affordable housing projects here, as

well as I have seven different clients

that are doing business, not only

creating more affordable housing, but we

are also doing economic development work

here. So, I come to council tonight to

be able to ask you to pause for a second

before you give $2.2 million of CDBG

money. That money should be allocated to

the grassroots part of it. That money

should be allocated to

what was in 2024 uh $ 1.5 million of

public facilities and infrastructure uh

uh close to $800,000 in affordable

housing rehab and and preservation.

Removal of slum and blight was about

$25,000.

This is all money and this is all things

that are eligible to find on HUD's

website. I can just literally Google it

and find it. So $2.2 $2 million means

it's an allocation from one year plus

additional unused money that is going to

a project that means that we cannot

create more affordable housing. That

means we cannot take our buildings that

are here like William Penn to be able to

do something better with it rather than

bring it down. This means that we are

activating different things that could

be brought from the state. I'm not

saying CDBG is a wrong use of money. I'm

saying it could be used better when we

have the eyes of the governor and other

state officials. Why not go for rack P?

Why not go for stake local share? Why

not go for new market tax credits? Why

not go for business in our sites? That's

what those resources are for. And those

resources also don't activate Davis

Bacon prevailing wage. we're going to

lose more money in prevailing wage at

the market than we would using other

resources. So, I just ask before we do

this vote tonight that we've paused and

make sure we looked at all of the

resources available before giving the

money for the community away.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

left that would like to offer public

comment?

Okay, seeing hearing no one, we will

move forward with our meeting agenda.

Next, we have the approval of the

minutes for the legislative session that

occurred on April 28th, 2026. Council

members, are there any revisions to

those meeting minutes? Okay, seeing

hearing none, the minutes stand

approved. Next, we have reports of

committees. Um, I will deliver the first

report on behalf of the administration

committee on the work session that

occurred on May 5th, 2026.

On Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, the

administration committee met to discuss

five resolutions. Resolution 27 of 2026,

a resolution appointing Mr. Patrick V. D

to serve on the building and housing

code board of appeals of the city of

Harrisburg. Resolution 28 of 2026,

a resolution reappointing Miss Evelyn

Hunt to serve on the license and tax

appeal board. Resolution 29 of 2026, a

resolution appointing Mr. Steven M.

Keter to serve on the license and tax

appeal board. Resolution 30 of 2026, a

resolution reappointing Mr. Dan A.

Shoodler, Esquire to serve on the

license and tax appeal board. Resolution

39 of 2026, a resolution approving the

disposal, destruction,

recycling, or donation of certain

personal property owned by the city of

Harrisburg, which has exhausted uh their

useful life for city operations.

Mr. D was present to discuss resolution

27 of 2026.

He introduced himself sharing that he

has been a resident of the city of

Harrisburg since 2008. He owns a number

of properties within the city of

Harrisburg and his background includes

construction, nonprofit experience, and

conflict resolution.

I provided an overview of the role of

the board. Council members asked the

following questions. What impact do you

believe you will be able to make as a

member of the board? any conflicts of

interest. Um, what is your relationship

with codes? Like, do you believe your

history as a property owner could be

helpful? Mr. D shared that he does not

have any known conflicts of interest. If

a property he owns uh comes before the

board, he would recuse himself. his

current relationship with the Bureau of

Codes includes both good and bad

experiences

um entailing permits, code inspections.

He shared that the Bureau of Codes

always has a willingness to find

solutions. He believes his history as a

property owner would absolutely be

helpful in helping residents to

navigate. Miss Evelyn Hunt was not

present to discuss resolution 28 of

2026.

However, Miss Hunt has served as a

member of the license and tax appeal

board since 2014.

Her term expired on January 1st of 2025,

and she will be reappointed to serve

through January 1st of 2028.

Mr. Keter and Attorney Schuler were

present to discuss resolution 29 of 2026

and resolution 30 of 2026. Mr. Keter

introduced himself as a lifelong

resident. He is also a former city

employee in the tax administrator's

office. Attorney Scheer introduced

himself as a Harrisburg resident since

1986.

He is a homeowner. Council members ask

the following questions. What impact do

you believe you will be able to make as

a member of the license and tax appeal

board? Any conflicts of interest? And

any um assistance in removing barriers

that some businesses face. Mr. Keter

shared that his strong knowledge and

background regarding how the ordinance

um should be applied would be helpful

and impactful for him. Attorney

Schlerler shared an experience he had uh

during a major hearing that took place

in either 2015 or 2016. He believes

people should pay what they should pay.

Uh Mr. Keter is supportive of assisting

in removing barriers that some

businesses face. Attorney Shler um needs

to analyze and review the process.

Neither have any known conflicts of

interest.

Captain McGarity and um Mr. Alex

Burstein, Bureau of IT were present to

discuss resolution 39 of 2026.

Old obsolete equipment including phones,

cameras, u motors, network switches,

laptops, desktops, and printers. Um

outdated bodywn cameras that are no

longer serviceable.

um are included on uh the list of items

um on resolution 39 of 2026.

Council members um had one question.

Where does the old equipment go? Um the

response was that an IT disposal company

receives the old equipment.

Um, I encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 27 of 2026 to ensure the

building and housing code board of

appeals of the city of Harrisburg is at

a full complement. I encourage my

colleagues to support resolution 28 of

2026, resolution 29 of 2026, and

resolution 30 of 2026

to ensure the license and tax appeal

board is at a full complement. Finally,

I encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 39 of 2026 to properly

dispose of dated equipment. This

concludes the report of the

administration committee. The next

committee report you will hear will be

delivered by our budget and finance

committee chair, Vice President Jones on

the work session of May 5th, 2026.

>> Thank you, President Hill.

before I read this report. Um, usually

when we have public comments, we don't

get an opportunity because this the

public's time to speak their concerns

and we're okay with that, but I too want

to set the record straight for for for

this body. There were several things

that were mentioned and I just want to

be clear on these things.

We have to really understand how this

government works. And I'm not trying to

give a lesson, but there's plenty of

times where people come and point the

finger at this body. I want you to know

that this body, we are the last stop

before someone gets a bid. We don't do

the day-to-day work here. That's the

administrative side of the executive

side of this local branch. They do the

day-to-day work. So your contracts, your

your RFPs, all of these different things

come to us at the end and we have to

make a decision whether to support

support it or deny it. And the current

state of our city,

um there are a lot of things happening

that we all aren't aren't going to agree

with. Um the market being one. Um we see

what's happening there. um this council,

this body will catch a lot of flack for

the decisions that we make in regards to

that. Um there are several things people

are saying that the council is fighting

with the mayor and we need to stop the

fighting. So to be on an even playing

field, we want to make sure that these

these works get done in our city. So we

have to find some type of common ground.

Me personally, I don't agree with the

$23.7 million spend on this one brick

building. However, we are in the midst

of this and we cannot stop this project

at this moment because it will cost us

more and more and more money and it will

start to begin to cost the taxpayers

$5,000 a month in 2025. I mean 2026,

beginning of 2027, it will cost us

taxpayers $6,500 a month to to rent the

tent over there. So, we got to stop the

bleeding at some point. But I I I just

don't um appreciate that council gets to

blame for so much that is happening. And

we want to we are working with the

administration to write the ship to make

sure our city flows in the right

direction. um that's the only right

thing to do unless we want to continue

to fight going back and forth to to

court using um precious taxpayer dollars

where we can use these monies in for

Junth or for Evolve youth or for these

other entities that are seeking help

from the city. Um if we are paying

attention we are not operating with a

huge surplus in the city right now. We

have depleted assets. There are things

that are happening that we just have to

make sure that we are fiscally taking

responsibility and using these dollars

wisely.

The other part where we come to William

Penn

that does not belong to the city that is

the school district. The school district

is making that decision to spend 6.8 to

tear down that building. That is not a

city function.

Uh I am one that is not in support of

this being building being tore down. and

I've spoken to the proper people in that

regard. Um when people come here Tuesday

night to make those statements right now

that meeting is going on at the school

district. So these are the this is where

I think the attention should be not the

blame the attention should be at the

school district if we're worried about

William Penn that's not a city function.

Um, I believe we all should be working

collectively,

but again, we have to make decisions

that we think are the best for us to

move our city forward. We get to see

some of the things in our finances and

uh, I'm not happy with them all and

we're not going to be able to please

everyone. And I just wanted to say that

because I know um, we didn't we didn't

allocate money to uh, Junth. We that's

not us. that's not our decision. So when

they're having that decision, they're

they're having those conversation with

the administration. Again, we are the

last stop. And so we have to go through

it and make the best decisions possible.

We can't just say, "Hey, do this with

the money and do that with the money."

That is not our function. We do have the

power of the purse. However, again, when

the decisions are made, it is not us.

But I'm not placing blame on the

administration either. Those

conversations, we don't do the

day-to-day. We do not do the day-to-day

business. I wish we were more involved

in that because I think we can have a

better understanding collectively and

and get better outcomes, but that's just

not the way the government is set up.

There's a separation of powers for a

reason. So, we don't have any

dictatorship.

So, I just wanted to um just state that

on the record. Um and again, I'm not

arguing. I'm not pushing back. And so,

when people say push back, you know, um

when we were at the work session, we do

have questions. this body do have

questions, you know, but again, we still

have to make the best decision so it

won't cost us more in the long run. And

I hope people will understand and

appreciate that. So, with that being

said, I'm going to go on and read um

what happened on May 5th

and hopefully I do a good job of

explaining.

On May on Tuesday, May 5th of 2026, the

budget and finance committee held a work

session where we discussed resolution 40

of 2026. Resolution 40 is a resolution

approving the third proposed 2026 budget

reallocation.

Present to discuss resolution 40 of 2026

was Mr. Brian McCutchen, Robert Kennet,

and Alexander Bernstein. As we discussed

resolution 40 of 2026, several questions

were asked by coun by council. As Mr.

Bern Bernstein shared with council, the

budget and the three items to be

adjusted with this reallocation when it

comes to the broad street market, these

expensive these expensive expenses have

exceeded the current budget by $973,942

due to incumbrances.

And to address these, they have proposed

under the revenue expense account to

transfer from the CDG funds in the

amount of 2.2,286,936 200 2,286,936

into the facility's maintenance special

projects and also adding 3 million into

uh the insurance reimbursement for loss

which is currently at 6,820,000.

So it'll bring that account to

a total of $9,820,000.

There was currently no budget for CDGB

funds. Also proposed is to the G uh the

grants and local funds to add 200,000

which is usually in the host fees funds.

Um the available amount in the grants to

local units is $156,300

thou uh $300 bringing that approved uh

available amendment

line to a total of $356,300.

The third item proposed is the 2026

awarded distributions for the grants to

local units which involves

$25,200

for Evolve Youth Trades, which would

affect the current available balance,

which is $617,500,

adjusting the proposed budget amendment

to $30,200

uh with an ending total of a balance of

$647,700.

Questions asked by councils were the

money being moved to the broad street

market. Would this be due to some of the

change orders? Mr. Bernstein uh

responded yes due to several uh one of

which would be the wall collapse also

due to the incumbrances that went over

the available budget. Another question

asked was do we expect any more change

orders? Mr. McCutchen explained that

there are other change orders that were

not recorded at the time of this report.

So that means that there are other

incumbrances that are I mean there are

going to be other change orders that are

coming in. However, they didn't have

those numbers reported at the time. So

you can expect to see more. But this is

why this money is being moved over there

to to address some of those things. Um

where did I leave off? Okay. of other

questions asked by council is the total

cost of the project 23.7

due to the building's historical value.

Miss Reinhardt stated yes. This is some

of the reason and also the rising prices

for the materials. Council also inquired

about the $25,200

for evolved youth trades and if they

were if there were any award letters

sent out. Mr. McCutchen explained that

no award letters have gone out and these

items uh and these funds were encumbered

with no actual spend at this time. This

report was was to give an identity to

these I mean to those to receive these

funds.

There was also a request that all

awardees come to council to be

transparent about how the funds are

being used for the programs they are

applying for and awarded these monies

for these programs. So again the these

are some of the things that we are

addressing and you can see those

questions and how we actually ask

certain things by going back to channel

20 on YouTube and watch it. uh we

definitely asked and inquired but again

to stop the the fighting the fussing and

fighting I think it's better for us to

work collectively and I would love to

help evolve youth Junth but that's just

not my sole decision so um and this

concludes the business of the budget and

finance committee and I would ask that

my colleagues support resolution 40 of

2026 thank you

>> thank you um I will deliver the uh

public works committee report on behalf

of Councilman Rodriguez in his absence.

On Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, the public

works committee met to discuss

resolution 33 of 2026. Resolution 33 of

2026 is a resolution authorizing the

city of Harrisburg to to submit and

enter into a sidewalk and mural

maintenance and roadway lighting

agreement with the Pennsylvania

Department of Transportation in relation

to the improvements to the Mcclelay

Street Bridge and authorizing the

designation of the city engineer as the

sole signatory of the agreement.

SI city engineer Joel Ciders was in

attendance to speak to the logistics of

this resolution. Engineer Ciders spoke

to three parts of the agreement. The

first would be the sidewalk maintenance.

The second would be a lighting agreement

and a third would be a planned mural.

The city would maintain this mural

portion for a 25-year period per the

PennDOT agreement, and that would

include an inspection every 5 years to

remove any graffiti, dirt, or grime on

the project. Questions from council were

minimal, and a few statements were made

geared around the previous mural that

once was on the was on the bridge years

ago. I highly encourage my colleagues on

council to support this resolution. And

that concludes the report from the

public works committee from Tuesday, May

5th of 2026. Thank you.

We do not have any ordinances for first

reading, ordinances for amendment, or

ordinances for final passage. We will

move forward with resolutions. The first

resolution for consideration this

evening is resolution 27 of 2026. Mr.

Trudale, could you please read it into

the record?

>> Resolution 27 of 2026, a resolution

appointing Mr. Patrick BD to serve on

the building and housing code board of

appeals of the city of Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. Uh, council members, are

there any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 27 of

2026?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lolen,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 27 of 2026 passes by vote of

six to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 28

of 2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 28 of 2026, a resolution

reappointing Miss Evelyn Hunt to serve

on the license and tax appeal board.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 28 of

20126? Yes.

>> Yes, President Hill. I'm just wondering

since uh Miss Evelyn has not been able

to attend um the meetings here to

discuss. Is she okay? Is she going to be

able to serve? Just a concern.

>> I believe that she is willing and able

to continue to serve. Um, she had a

doctor's appointment prior to the last

meeting, so that interfered with her

attendance.

>> Thank you.

>> You're welcome. Are there any other

questions related to resolution 28 of

2026?

Okay, seeing hearing none, uh, Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes. Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lson,

>> yes. Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 28 of 2026 passes by a vote

of 6 to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 29

of 2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 29 of 2026, a resolution

appointing Mr. Steven M. Keter to serve

on the license and tax appeal board.

Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 29 of

2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lolen,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 29 of 2026 passes by vote of

six to zero.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 30 of

2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please read

it into the record?

>> Resolution 30 of 2026, a resolution

reappointing Mr. Dan A. Scher, Esquire

to serve on the license and tax appeal

board.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 30 of

2026?

Seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudale, could

you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes. Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lson,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 30 of 2026 passes by vote of

6 to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 33

of 2026. Mr. Trusel, could you please

read it into the record? Resolution 33

of 2026, a resolution authorizing the

city of Harrisburg to submit and enter

into a sidewalk and mural maintenance

and roadway lighting agreement with the

Pennsylvania Department of

Transportation in relation to the

improvements to the Mcclay Street Bridge

and authorizing the designation of the

city engineer as the sole signatory of

the agreement.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 33 of

2026? Seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Len,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 33 of 2026 passes by vote of

six to zero. Thank you. Next, we have

resolution 39 of 2026. Mr. Trudeell,

could you please read it into the

record?

>> Resolution 39 of 2026, a resolution

approving the disposal, destruction,

recycling, or donation of certain

personal property owned by the city of

Harrisburg, which have exhausted their

useful life for city operations.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 39 of

2026?

Seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudeelle,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lson,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 39 of 2026 passes by vote of

6 to zero.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 40

of 2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read it into the record?

Resolution

40 of 2026, a resolution approving the

third proposed 2026 budget reallocation.

>> Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 40?

>> Okay.

>> Your preference is to suspend the rules.

>> Okay.

I will entertain a motion to suspend the

rules for further discussion of

resolution 40 of 2026.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. So before us we have

resolution 40 of 2026.

I will defer to

>> Vice President Jones to lead discussion.

Go ahead.

>> Yeah, I I will go ahead and open the

floor up. I see my colleagues are

clamoring.

Uh, so I'll give the floor to uh,

Councilwoman Ross.

>> I really just had a quick comment. Um,

so I'll be quick about it because I'm

sure other council members may have

questions. Um, I just really wanted to

say I do know how important the Junth

parade is. It is our heritage. Um my

daughter was in it last year for cheer

cheerleading and in the rain. So many

people came out and I do know at that

time the administrator administration

was working with the YOPC

um and their participants and their

members um to put on the parade. So um I

know council I can't speak for all

council but I know I wasn't in every

meeting that they might have had. I

wasn't on every phone call. But I do

think and I do ask that because the

parade is so important not only to the

administration, to council, um to the

members of YOPC and to the residents

that um there some meeting happens after

this meeting and it comes to some

understanding on what those next steps

are. Um because this is not just for us,

but it's for the community. So, I just

really wanted to say that I'm definitely

in support of any meeting that happens

after this meeting and decisions that

are made that make sure the parade still

happens. It's an important parade. It

got national attention because it's

important and it's a parade that we need

to have every year. So, those were my

two cents.

>> Yes, I would concur. Councilman Lawson.

>> Okay. So, first I'll say that um

Councilwoman Ross stole my um new new

business comment. So I I definitely

support her. Um and and I I I support

that sentiment as as well. Um but the

the question that I have is is more

about the the funding for the market. Um

as we left last week's meeting, I was

under the understanding that the

insurance would cover the the the change

that we had here and I just wanted to

make sure that I'm I'm understanding it

correctly.

>> Okay. Yeah. I can address on the legal

side. So the when you add as they did

here for example the insurance money the

reason there's additional insurance

money is because there is additional as

we understand it insured cost very much

driven by the change orders but

insurance money is reimbursement.

So you have to have the money to fund

the contract you know and then you're

looking for insurance to then come back

to us. So that's where's part of what

the money is moving into the budget and

we're trying to maximize what comes back

to us but we won't know till we're

really far in the process how much comes

back to us. Um there is a significant

amount of coverage on that structure for

that fire. Um and but but we have to

prove every bill every invoice is

related to the fire or to some other

specialty within the insurance policy.

But it's all reimbursement. So, you

know, we can't fund a contract and sign

a contract without funding from

somewhere. And so, that's why it's sort

of designed the way it is. And again,

it's pretty close to the budget that was

approved the end of last summer for the

total cost was right around 23 million.

Then again, three of that anticipated

funding didn't roll forward because no

contracts were out for that money. So,

we're not that far off the mark from

what the prediction was at the start of

this process. uh when contracts were

going out the door.

>> Okay. Thank you. That's that was my

understanding, but I just wanted to make

sure that I understood it correctly

before we we held the vote. But thank

you very much.

>> Yeah, it's a little hard to read when

you're looking at the um the spreadsheet

to see that movement. That's why I

hopefully I did a a fair job of

explaining what was happening. Um

President Hill.

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

have a comment and I will be offering an

amendment to resolution 40 of 2026.

Um my comment is basically that the

awardees that are noted on the exhibit A

um of the resolution

um

are simply named. This does not um mean

that they will receive funding

immediately after today's vote. Um the

amendment that I will be offering and I

did mention this uh last week um is that

prior to any dispersement of funds um it

will be contingent on the potential

awardees making a presentation before

Harrisburg City Council discussing how

the funds will be spent. Um, as I

mentioned last week during our work

session, um, some of these entities and

organizations have come before council

before and shared videos and elaborate

presentations around um, how the funding

was spent. So I think that it's only

fair that everyone if they are to uh be

successful in receipt of these funds um

be provided the same opportunity to

share just to ensure that um we are

being trans completely transparent um

about how the funds are being spent.

Yeah, I would uh agree with you on that

because you can't just say one person

has to show receipts and and you know if

it's we're going to do it be fair and

everybody across the board and again in

in regards to our CDBG funds that's not

a item that council moved. That's that

wasn't our department. Um that wasn't

our saying that we're not going to be

giving money to this entity and that

entity. That's not our decision until

the end anyway. Um,

yeah, that's it. Does anybody else have

anything, Councilwoman Davis?

>> No, I am in agreements with everything

we just discussed. Um,

as far as

ensuring that everybody comes in to uh

do a presentation, show receipts or

whatnot, it's only fair that everyone

uh have the opportunity to present in

front of council. So, no, I'm looking at

the um the uh proposed budget adjustment

and uh I understand everything and I

have any questions. So, thank you.

>> Okay. Um, President Hill,

>> Ma Madame President, uh, unusual

request, but there's a detail that sort

of came up tonight in the middle of this

discussion um, which would lead me to

make the request that, uh, the meeting

be briefly recessed to get a

clarification

um, from finance.

>> Okay. The time is 7:30m.

We will

be at ease.

>> Oh yeah, we have to return the session

first. I'm sorry.

>> If Are there any other questions,

comments, or concerns related to

resolution 40 of 2026.

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, I will

entertain a motion to resume our

legislative session.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. Um the time is 7:31 p.m. Uh

we will stand at ease. Um as

>> five or 10 minutes is all you need.

>> Five or 10 minutes for uh discussion

with finance department. Thank you.

>> Thank you.

10 to 15 minutes. So, thank you for your

patience. The time is 8:08 p.m.

We um resumed our legislative session.

So, before us, we have resolution 40 of

2026. Mr. Trudeau, could you please read

it one more final time? Resolution 40 of

2026, a resolution approving the third

proposed 2026 budget reallocation.

>> Thank you.

Um,

we have agreed upon a collective

amendment to resolution 40 of 2026.

The mayor is agreeable to this amendment

language. So, I will offer the amendment

at this time.

I move that the allocations of the host

fee funds reflected in exhibit A shall

be deemed the maximum amount for the

program or event listed. Further

providing that all awardees must present

before Harrisburg City Council regarding

their program or event. Further

providing that the administration may

reallocate funds between existing

programs and events to maximize the

benefit of the community to the benefit

of the community.

Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you council members. Um is there

any further discussion on the agreed to

amendment?

Okay. Seeing hearing none, Mr.

Trudeelle, could you please call the

vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lolen,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> The amendment passes by vote to six to

zero.

>> Thank you. So now before us, we have

resolution 40 of 2026 as amended.

Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lolen,

>> yes. Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 40 of 2026, as amended,

passes by vote of six to zero.

>> Thank you. Thank you everyone for your

patience. Next we have resolution 41 of

2026. Mr. Trudeell, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 41 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the submission of a grant

application to the United States

Department of Transportation Safe

Streets and Roads for All Grant Program

for up to $4,300,000

for funds to improve safety and

accessibility along Division Street.

>> Thank you. Um, I will entertain a motion

to suspend the rules for discussion.

>> So, move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you.

>> Good evening. If you wouldn't mind, I'm

taking a few minutes to provide an

overview of resolution 41 of 2026.

>> Sure. Uh, my name is Joel Sers. I'm the

Harrisburg city engineer. This

resolution is an ask for council support

in um applying for a safe streets and

roads for all grant offered by the

federal highway administration and we

are looking to uh improve division

street. It's um it's a one of the top

priorities of the administration. We

applied for this grant uh last year and

unfortunately we were not selected. um

both engineering and grants sat down

with the Federal Highway Administration

for a debrief uh that kind of let us

know where we could fill in the gaps,

make a stronger application. And so this

year I'm hoping that uh our application

is uh will be selected. So uh the the

plan is from Second Street to to 7th

Street along the division street

corridor. Uh um we held public meetings

um I believe it was

May of 2025

and uh based on that feedback and the

mayor's direction uh we're at the

planning stage at the moment and this

grant would take us through design and

construction. The ask that we are um

applying for is 4.3 million. there is a

20% match which would mean the city

would would then um be responsible for

about 1.2 2 million.

And the overall concept of the the plan

is multimodal, pedestrian, and safety

improvements along the the corridor. U

be dedicated bike lanes, raised

crosswalks, raised intersections, just

uh slow people down and make it more

safe for for pedestrians getting from uh

south of Division Street to Italian Lake

or vice versa.

Okay, thank you.

And are you aware of the application

deadline for this um grant?

>> Yes, it is May 26, which uh is why I

appreciate your um

supportive.

>> Thank you. I just wanted to clarify so

that council members were aware of why

we uh suspended the rules for discussion

this evening. Um I don't have any

questions. Thank you for your presence

this evening. I'll open the floor to my

colleagues who may have some questions

for you. I'll begin with Councilwoman

Davis. Any questions?

>> No questions.

>> Okay. Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. Any

questions?

>> Uh thank you. I just had a quick

question. Um because it was uh so quick

tonight, we had to suspend the rules. I

didn't get to look through everything.

Um, is there a match that we have to

present for this grant?

>> Yes, it would be 20% match.

>> Oh, you probably said it. I'm sorry.

And sorry if I had to make you repeat

yourself.

>> No worries.

>> Just quick turn around.

>> Thank you. Thank you, Vice President

Jones. Any questions?

>> Yeah. Um, quick quick question. I wasn't

paying attention either, so now I'm

messing with you. No questions.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Green. Any

questions? I don't have any questions

for you. I always love when we're

applying for grants looking to better

the city. So, thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilman Lawson. Any

questions?

>> Uh, thank you, President Hill. Only

question is, can I vote yes right now

living on second in division and uh

realizing that um we've had

six cars in our yard

>> since I've been there. I've I've lost

four cars from cars driving into uh our

our property. Um so, you know, it's

definitely uh something that is is

needed on that street there. Um the only

question or request I have is if there's

a way to look at front in division as

well in that in this study because it's

it's a dangerous place for people to

cross as as the the traffic goes from uh

one way to two. Um it just becomes

hazardous where people are walking

across the front.

>> Sure. And that wouldn't be part of this

grant, but um stay tuned. We are working

on another grant application that would

include that section.

>> Okay, great. Thank you very much. It's

definitely appreciated by our neighbors.

>> Thank you. Um if there are no further

questions, no further discussion,

um I move to add and take action on

resolution 41 of 2026

during our current legislative session.

I will entertain a motion to

um resume our legislative session.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. So before us we have

resolution 41 of 2026. Mr. Trudale,

could you please read it into the record

one final time? Resolution 41 of 2026, a

resolution authorizing the submission of

a grant application to the United States

Department of Transportation Safe

Streets and Roads for All Grant Program

for up to $4,300,000

for funds to improve safety and

accessibility along Division Street.

>> Thank you.

Are there any final questions, comments,

or concerns? Seeing and hearing none,

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Lolen,

>> yes. Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 41 of 2026 passes by vote of

six to zero.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 42 of

2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please read

it into the record? Resolution 42 of

2026, a resolution authorizing the

submission of a grant application to the

Pennsylvania Department of Community and

Economic Developments Greenways, Trails,

and Recreation Grant Program in

conjunction with the Capital Area Green

Belt Association in the amount of

$250,000

to provide funding for safety features

and improved accessibility for the

Capital Area Green Belt in South

Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. I will entertain a motion to

suspend the rules for discussion.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you.

>> Good evening. If you wouldn't mind

taking a few moments to introduce

yourself and provide a brief overview of

the resolution.

>> Good evening. My name is Mike Kasi. I'm

a former past president of the Capillary

Green Belt Association.

I am no longer a Harrisburg resident. I

live in Dillsburg. I'm sitting in for

Doug Hill tonight, our president. He uh

he's been in a dental chair this

afternoon and uh unfortunately couldn't

make it.

This resolution would approve a grant

request which is one of a series that

we've been working with the city on over

the last

two years. Uh it requests $250,000

to augment the first part of the

reconnection of the green belt in South

Harrisburg.

Uh this phase one um is is underway in

terms of the design phase.

Uh we've received several grants

already. Uh we have phase one is funded

at $995,000

for construction and our association is

providing approximately

$100,000 for the design of the phase

one.

However, we had to cut back on some of

the features of the green belt phase one

construction because one of the grants

was funded uh probably essentially

$250,000

less than the city requested. Uh, this

grant would would fill that shortfall

and it would allow us to improve the

safety lighting, the safety fencing of

the green belt relocation.

It would also allow us to improve the

the surfacing of the sidewalks, the

10-ft sidewalks, and improve its

durability. And the final thing it would

do would improve the access at Shenoi

Street, which is the closest access to

the poor neighborhoods down along

Cameron Street. Uh the match for this

money would be a previous grant that

we've received or the city's received

from uh

uh Pennsylvania Department of

Conservation, Natural Resources.

Um

u the city staff have been very helpful,

Joel, Rebecca, uh the city legal staff

to help us get this grant put together

and I'd be glad to respond to any

questions you have.

>> Thank you very much. Are you aware of

the application deadline?

>> May 31st. Yes.

>> Okay. Thank you. Just wanted to clarify

that. I don't have any other questions.

Your uh overview was pretty thorough,

but I will open the floor to my

colleagues who may have some additional

questions for you. I'd like to begin

with our parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee chair, Councilwoman

Ross.

>> Thank you, President Hill. Good evening.

Thank you for stepping in um tonight and

giving us an overview of uh the grant

was very thorough. I don't have any

questions.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. Any

questions?

>> Thank you. No questions for me.

>> Okay. Thank you, Vice President Jones.

Any questions?

>> No questions.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Green. Any

questions?

>> I don't have any questions for you.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Lawson. Any

questions?

>> Thank you. We'll make it an easy night.

No questions.

>> Thank you.

>> I have I have one more thing to add,

which I hope is good news. Uh this

morning we received word

uh that the city uh was granted $746,000

for the construction of phase two of the

green belt relocation.

So it's always nice to add that in and

bring money to the city.

>> Sure. That's excellent. Thank you for

sharing.

Uh if there's no further discussion,

I move to add and take action on

resolution 42 of uh 2026

um during our current legislative

session. I will entertain a motion to

resume our legislative session.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. So before us we have

resolution 42 of 2026. Mr. Trusel, could

you please read it into the record one

final time?

>> Resolution 42 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the submission of a grant

application to the Pennsylvania

Department of Community and Economic

Developments, Greenways, Trails, and

Recreation Grant Program in conjunction

with the Capital Area Green Belt

Association in the amount of $250,000 to

provide funding for safety features and

improved accessibility for the Capital

Area Green Belt in South Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns?

Seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudeale, could

you please call the vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Len,

>> yes.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 42 of 2026 passes by a vote

of six to zero.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 43 of

2026.

Uh Mr. Trudeale, could you please read

it into the record?

>> Resolution 43 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the submission of a grant

application to the Pennsylvania

Department of Community and Economic

Developments, Greenways, Trails, and

Recreation Grant Program in the amount

of $250,000 to provide funding for

upgrades and enhancements to Vernon

Street Park.

>> Thank you. Uh, council members, I will

entertain a motion to sus to suspend the

rules for discussion.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. Uh, before us we have

resolution 43 of 2026.

Miss Bulmer, if you wouldn't mind

providing an overview of the resolution,

please.

>> Sure. Um, hi guys. Um, so this is a

grant to uh request funding from the uh

DCED GTRP program um up to $250,000

to fund I'm just kind of kind of read

I'm actually stepping in for Sam who's

out ill tonight. He's been mostly

working on this but I have his notes. So

we're looking to support enhancements

and redesign of the Vernon Street Park

uh in the South Allison Hill

neighborhood. Half of the park includes

amenities like playgrounds, a pavilion,

and concrete walkways. The other half is

an empty grass field, and the belief is

it's underutilized and doesn't really

provide much recreational use for all of

the folks around. So, we could we're

we're not like making the best use of

that space. And the city the the intent

of this grant is for the city to

redesign this space improve access to

the park activity beautifification

appearance and provide an anchor for the

community and the surrounding residents

like as a park where people want to go

and draws them in together. Um the idea

is for ADA access multiple access points

into the park. um flexible multi-use

areas, more playground equipment,

permeable surface, working probably with

CRW if that you know comes to pass,

lowmaintenance vegetation, design

elements for physical activity and

community projects, uh playscapes and

gardening and

um 15% is the required 15% of the total

project cost which is about 750,000 is

the required match. So the match we need

to come up with is about 113. Um but

I've spoken with Sasha and uh they have

budgeted for that in 2027 in their

budget. Um we're also looking at more uh

grant funding sources, greenscapes,

greenways, uh DCNR uh going forward as

we go. Um really quickly, there's paving

and pathways. This is getting down kind

of into weird into the weeds. um for ADA

accessibility at 15th especially 15th of

Vernon like at that specific

intersection

uh landscaping green space opportunities

shade perhaps rain gardens is I think it

depends on how much we end up working

with CRW

um amenities the uh the current play

equipment is more than 20 years old and

needs to be replaced

uh and it's been it's been a location in

the neighborhood and people have loved

it for a long time, but things are

breaking down. So, we need to um we need

to replace that equipment and especially

lighting as well uh for a safer park at

night.

>> Okay. Thank you.

>> Sure. Um are you aware of the

application deadline?

>> Yeah, also May 31st.

>> Okay. Thank you.

>> Sure. I don't have any questions. I will

um defer to our parks, recreation, and

enrichment committee chair, Councilwoman

Ross. Do you have any questions?

>> Thank you. Good evening, Miss Walmer.

No, I don't have any questions.

>> Okay. Thanks.

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. Any

questions?

>> No questions.

>> Thank you.

>> Councilman Lawson, any questions?

>> Thank you. Um, no questions.

>> You're welcome. Councilwoman Green, any

questions? I don't have any questions

for you.

>> Okay, Vice President Jones, any

questions?

>> No questions.

>> All right. Well, thank you for your

presence this evening. I move to add and

take action on resolution 43 of 2026

um during our current legislative

session. I will entertain a motion uh to

resume our legislative session.

>> Motion to resume.

>> Okay. And we have a second. Excellent.

Thank you. Before us we have resolution

43 of 2026. Mr. Trusale, could you

please read it one more time?

>> Resolution 43 of 2026, a resolution

authorizing the submission of a grant

application to the Pennsylvania

Department of Community and Economic

Developments, Greenways, Trails, and

Recreation Grant Program in the amount

of $250,000 to provide funding for

upgrades and enhancements to Vern Street

Park.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 43 of

2026? Seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudeale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Mr. Len, yes. Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> Resolution 43 of 2026 passes by vote of

six to zero.

>> Thank you. Uh, next we have resolution

44 of 2026. Mr. Trudale, could you

please read it into the record?

Resolution 44 of 2026, a resolution

ratifying a master certified local

government grant agreement between the

city of Harrisburg and the Pennsylvania

Historical and Museum Commission,

thereby establishing the city's

eligibility to apply for grants through

the certified local government grant

program for projects that support and

advance the city's historic preservation

program.

>> Thank you. I previously misspoke during

our uh legislative caucus. I thought

this was a time-sensitive resolution,

but since we will have time to discuss

it further, um I uh resolution 44 of

2026 will move to the building and

housing committee for discussion.

Next, we have resolution 45 of 2026. Mr.

Trudeale, could you please read it into

the record? Resolution 45 of 2026, a

resolution ratifying and approving the

proposal from Bixler Pyro Techchnics

Incorporated to provide the city of

Harrisburg's 4th of July 2026 fireworks.

>> Thank you. Resolution 45 of 2026 will

move to the Parks, Recreation, and

Enrichment Committee.

Council members, uh, is there any old

business for discussion?

Okay, seeing hearing none, Councilman

Lawson, new business.

>> Thank you, President Gil. Um, as

Councilwoman Ross had had spoken

earlier, I think it's um important that

we embrace uh the work that's that's

been happening uh with the young

professionals of color with the the

Junth parade. Um, it's something that

celebrates our diversity and it also

brings um a a a great focus of of civic

pride to our to our residents. Um, I

believe that uh this parade is something

that we should try to uh to encourage to

become part of our our local fabric that

it becomes an annual event similar to

what we see with the St. uh Patrick's

Day parade. Um, so hopefully there is a

way for us to have those meetings in the

the future to discuss supporting this

and seeing how we can we can make this

happen. Um, but I just wanted to

encourage um our city to stand behind uh

the work that has been done for the past

uh uh to to make this parade something

that becomes a Harrisburg standard. And

thank you.

>> Thank you. Um, I just wanted to note for

everyone's reference, Harrisburg City

Council uh will not meet next Tuesday,

May 19th, 2026 due to the primary

election day. Uh the next work session

and legislative sessions will be held on

Tuesday, May 26th, 2026,

beginning at 5:30 p.m. And one final

note, welcome back. Attorney Isaac

Gaylord, assistant city solicitor. If

you remember, Isaac was here a few years

ago. He left and he's back. So, welcome

back.

>> Thank you for

>> You're welcome. Okay, everyone. The time

is 8:33 p.m. I will entertain a motion

to adjurnn.

>> So move.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. We stand adjourned.