Full Transcript

·YouTLDR

Harrisburg City Legislative and Work Session 2/3/2026

2:44:13874 summary words · ~4 min readEnglishBy The City of Harrisburg - WHBG20Transcribed Jun 15, 2026
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Summary

The session centers on a massive public debate over city non-cooperation with ICE, municipal hiring of minority-owned contractors, and critical land development approvals, including the controversial approval of a Midtown residential development without affordable housing and the Phase 2 redevelopment of the Poly Clinic hospital.

This meeting highlights intense local friction over federal immigration enforcement policies, minority contractor participation in major municipal developments, and city council's leverage in pushing private developers to incorporate affordable housing.

Section summaries

0:00-28:49

Session Call to Order and Opening Ceremonies

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Council President Danielle Hill leads the call to order, roll call, and invocation. The council introduces the general agenda, committee reports, and planned resolutions for the evening.

Standard administrative setup with no policy discussions or public input.

28:49-41:10

Theater Harrisburg 100th Anniversary Presentation

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Executive Director Laurianne Reese Mahay presents the historic achievements, upcoming season, and community outreach programs (such as the Penguin Project for disabled youth) of Theater Harrisburg. Council President Hill reads a formal congratulatory proclamation.

Informative community celebration, but lacks legislative action or policy debate.

41:10-49:24

Public Comments on Allison Hill Youth and Board Vacancies

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Wendy Shaver from Power to the Hill requests municipal collaboration and funding for youth programming in the Allison Hill neighborhood. Resident Pam Parson alerts council that the Environmental Action Committee has failed to meet in 2026, and criticizes the Redevelopment Authority's outdated web portal.

Highlights critical community-led initiatives and operational failures of city-appointed boards.

49:24-1:09:59

Citizen Demands for ICE Non-Cooperation and Professionalism

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Multiple residents, student advocates, and organizers heavily critique Police Commissioner Thomas Carter's stance on ICE cooperation. Activist Kia Fowler outlines a 12-step municipal protection list, while others raise concerns about city staff using social media to harass residents online.

Represents the most politically charged and significant debate of the meeting, directly affecting community trust and public safety policy.

1:09:59-1:26:27

Minority Contracting, Tenant Safety, and Code Violations

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Certified minority contractors outline structural biases that exclude them from local development bids. Resident Robert Weldon presents code documentation showing a dangerous, unaddressed asbestos hazard in his rented apartment, expressing fear of immediate displacement.

Showcases raw, systemic issues in housing code enforcement and local economic inclusion.

1:26:27-1:42:55

Socio-Political Debates on Governance and Counter-Perspectives

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Resident Melanie Cook commends the Poly Clinic hospital redevelopment and defends council's fight against state intervention. Libby Profit offers a sharp counterpoint, warning council against emotional manipulation by immigration activists and urging focus on homeless veterans. Longtime contractor Pete White demands strict enforcement of a 25% minority business inclusion protocol on public projects.

Captures the philosophical split within the community regarding municipal priorities, state overreach, and racial equity.

1:42:55-2:07:37

Legislative Voting on Land Development and Park Grants

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Council reviews committee reports and votes on five major resolutions. Resolution 4-2026 (funeral home adaptive reuse) passes 6-1 despite President Hill's descent over lack of affordable housing. Resolution 5-2026 (Poly Clinic mixed-use redevelopment) and Res 2 (Vernon Street Park landscape architecture) both pass unanimously.

Shows the official legislative outcomes for key local development projects and municipal contracts.

2:07:37-2:28:12

Work Session: Sign Language Contracts and Infrastructure Grants

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Council holds a work session to negotiate direct contracts for sign language interpreters to maintain meeting accessibility. City Engineer Joel Cider details a $387,000 Green Light GO grant for Allison Hill and a $3 million USDOT BUILD grant to design traffic calming, road diets, and pedestrian safety features on four major corridors.

Crucial for viewers tracking infrastructure planning, though construction is years away.

2:28:12-2:40:33

Second Public Comment & Closing Remarks on Leadership Attitude

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The floor is reopened for final comments; activists reiterate immigration demands and suggest utilizing Channel 20 for public warnings. Councilwoman Ross closes with an impassioned speech, reminding city staff and leaders that 'leadership reflects attitude' and online bullying of citizens must stop.

Features a vital accountability warning to the municipal administration regarding public respect and code of conduct.

Key points

  • Immigration Enforcement and Sanctuary Policies — A large group of local residents and student activists demanded that Harrisburg pass a non-cooperation ordinance to cut all ties with ICE, actively prevent raids, and prohibit city resource usage for federal immigration enforcement. This was catalyzed by Commissioner Thomas Carter's prior advice for residents to 'cooperate and comply' with ICE.
  • Affordable Housing Resistance in Adaptive Reuse — Council approved Resolution 4-2026 for Brenamman Properties' conversion of a vacant Midtown funeral home into multifamily apartments, but President Danielle Hill voted against it because the developer refused to participate in the city's affordable housing program due to financing constraints.
  • Equity and Inclusion in Municipal Contracting — Minority contractors and advocates expressed deep frustration over systemic barriers, 'gatekeepers' inflating land prices, and prime contractors failing to include certified minority- and women-owned businesses in major city-backed projects like the Broad Street Market.
  • Corridor Safety and Road Diets — City Engineer Joel Cider presented details on a $3 million USDOT BUILD planning grant to design comprehensive pedestrian safety, traffic calming, and multimodal upgrades (including bike and bus lanes) along four major corridors: Division, North 6th, Market, and South 17th Streets.
Reporting anyone is unacceptable. Next, we need the city to pass legislation that will actively protect residents from ICE raids, detention, harassment, and terror. Brian Keysling
It is not enough for Harrisburg police to stand by and let ICE operate unimpeded. We need the city to proactively keep people safe, even when that means actively going against ICE. Brian Keysling

AI-generated from the transcript. May contain errors.

20:40

They're

29:37

conduct a legislative caucus prior to

29:40

calling our legislative session to

29:42

order.

29:44

Mr. Trudale will call the role. The

29:47

invocation this evening will be led by

29:49

Councilwoman Ross, followed by the

29:51

pledge of allegiance, which will be led

29:53

by Vice President Jones. For

29:55

communications this evening, we are

29:57

joined uh for a presentation on the

30:01

theater Harrisburg's 100th anniversary.

30:05

Uh Laurianne Reese Mahay, executive

30:08

director, will share the presentation.

30:11

Then we will move to courtesy of the

30:13

floor followed by the approval of the

30:15

minutes for the legislative session that

30:16

occurred on January 13, 2026.

30:21

We will then move to reports of

30:22

committees. Uh the first report

30:24

delivered this evening will be delivered

30:27

by our budget and finance committee

30:29

chair vice president Jones on the work

30:32

session of January 20th, 2026.

30:36

The next report will be delivered by our

30:39

community and economic development

30:40

committee chair, Councilman Lawson, on

30:43

the work session of January 20th, 2026.

30:47

The next report will be delivered by our

30:49

parks, recreation, and enrichment

30:51

committee chair, Councilwoman Ross, on

30:54

the work session of January 20th, 2026.

30:58

The final committee report will be

31:00

delivered by our public safety committee

31:02

chair, Councilwoman Green, on the work

31:04

session of January 20th, 2026.

31:08

There are no ordinances for first

31:09

reading, no ordinances for amendment, or

31:12

no ordinances for final passage. We will

31:14

move to resolutions. The first

31:16

resolution for consideration is

31:18

resolution one of 2026, which we will

31:21

vote upon.

31:25

Resolution two of 2026,

31:28

which we will vote upon. Resolution

31:31

three of 2026, there is a request to

31:34

table resolution 3 of 2026.

31:39

Resolution 4 of 2026 will be voted upon.

31:43

Resolution 5 of 2026 will be voted upon.

31:48

Resolution 6 of 2026 will move to the

31:51

public works committee. Resolution seven

31:54

of 2026 will move to the administration

31:56

committee. Resolution 8 of 2026 will

32:00

move to the administration committee.

32:02

And resolution nine of 2026 will move to

32:05

the public works committee. Is there any

32:07

old business for discussion? Council

32:08

members.

32:11

Any new business?

32:13

Okay. Seeing hearing none, then we will

32:15

adjourn. The time is 5:39

32:19

p.m. I would like to call our

32:22

legislative session to order.

32:25

>> Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

32:27

role?

32:28

>> Miss Davis,

32:30

Miss Green,

32:32

>> present.

32:33

>> Mr. Jones,

32:34

>> here.

32:35

>> Mr. Lawson,

32:36

>> here.

32:37

>> Miss Rolls,

32:38

>> present.

32:39

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

32:40

>> present.

32:41

>> Miss Hill,

32:41

>> present.

32:43

Thank you. The invocation this evening

32:45

will be led by Councilwoman Ross.

32:48

>> Thank you. I would like to um for

32:50

everyone to take a moment of silence um

32:53

for anybody who is going through any

32:55

hardships currently, for anybody who is

32:59

experiencing someone missing in their

33:02

family. But most importantly, I would

33:04

like to take a moment of silence for the

33:06

current state of our country and just

33:09

thinking about how we all work together

33:12

to get it to a better place. Can we all

33:14

please take a moment of silence for all

33:16

of those reasons?

33:21

Thank you.

33:23

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. The pledge

33:25

of allegiance will be led by Vice

33:26

President Jones.

33:39

stands one nation under God, indivisible

33:43

with liberty and justice for all.

33:48

>> Thank you, Vice President Jones. For

33:51

communications this evening, please. We

33:54

have a presentation on the Theater

33:56

Harrisburg's 100th anniversary.

34:01

Hello. Sorry. Take a moment.

34:06

>> Hi. Um, so for those who don't know me,

34:08

my name is Laurian Mayhe. I'm the

34:09

executive director for Theater

34:10

Harrisburg, and I wanted to thank you

34:13

for inviting me to present today. Um,

34:17

the theater was founded in 1926. We are

34:20

in our in the midst of our 100th

34:22

anniversary season and um coming up into

34:26

our hundth uh anniversary year. We were

34:30

founded as Harrisburg Community Theater

34:32

or HCT as the community still lovingly

34:35

refers to us a lot of times. Um, we

34:38

spent the first part of our, um, time as

34:41

a theater going to all these different

34:43

spaces around Harrisburg, most of which

34:45

don't exist anymore, until eventually in

34:48

1952, we settled at Herlock and Sixth

34:51

Street, which is where we now know it as

34:54

the uh, Jay and Nancy Krebsky

34:57

um, production center. And so I I

35:00

included a couple quick shots, but um on

35:03

average every year we produce between

35:05

five to six mainstage shows as well as

35:08

educational programming. And we are

35:10

split between our Herurlock space and

35:12

Whitaker Center. Uh we usually go to

35:14

Whitaker about once or twice a year. So

35:16

you'll see us both uptown and and

35:18

downtown depending on the on the time.

35:21

Um for this special season, we actually

35:23

decided to go with a whole season of

35:25

musicals. Um, we have already produced A

35:28

Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and

35:30

Guys and Dolls, which was downtown in

35:32

November. We're going to be opening up

35:34

The Last Five Years, uh, this Friday.

35:38

And then, God Spell and I Love You,

35:40

You're Perfect, Now Change, which felt

35:41

like a very apt title for a 100-year-old

35:45

organization.

35:47

And, um, in addition to our mainstage

35:50

season, we've also really been leaning

35:52

into a lot of community partnerships.

35:55

Um, so our first uh play was produced um

36:00

we did a reading of the Dover Road which

36:02

was our first show and we did it at the

36:04

McCormick Public Library because that

36:06

was the space that our um really our

36:10

theater was was dreamt into being. Um

36:13

when a group of women from the community

36:14

came together and said, "I wonder what

36:16

it would be like if if Harrisburg had a

36:18

theater." And so this group of women

36:21

came together and they created this

36:24

place. It was entirely volunteer-run and

36:26

we still have thousands of volunteers

36:29

that help us to make everything possible

36:31

even though we have a professional staff

36:33

as well. Um we are going to be doing uh

36:38

a collaboration with the Harrisburg

36:40

Symphony Orchestra. Um we'll be doing a

36:44

show May 30th and May 31st. It's Folly's

36:47

in concert which is one of Sonheim's um

36:49

best known pieces and that is going to

36:52

be at the Forum Theater on May 30th and

36:55

May 31st and then following that we'll

36:58

be doing our 100th anniversary gala at

37:01

the Ashcom mansion, the Willows at

37:03

Ashcom mansion. Um in addition, we are

37:07

going to be doing the fourth year of the

37:09

Penguin Project. And if anyone doesn't

37:12

know about this, it's a really wonderful

37:14

program. It's a nationwide program. Um,

37:17

we're the Harrisburg chapter. It's

37:19

intended for children with disabilities.

37:21

Um, so all of the kids between age 10 to

37:24

21 are partnered with children without

37:27

disabilities and they will work together

37:31

for four months and they will rehearse

37:33

and put together a musical that happens

37:36

for one weekend at the Whitaker Center

37:38

in August. Um, the program is entirely

37:41

free to the community. We serve over 40

37:44

children.

37:45

um and it's a really really special um

37:49

program. So it's one of the big pieces

37:51

for us that's become a very important

37:53

part of what we do and who we are in the

37:55

community. Um following that we are

37:58

actually going to be doing our first

38:00

teen show in relation to that um where

38:02

we're going to be also uh having the

38:05

mentors the kids who work um with our

38:08

what we call our penguins. Um they'll be

38:11

doing the first teen show. They're doing

38:13

Legally Blonde Junior the the weekend

38:15

after. So, I hope you have a chance to

38:17

come out and support it. It's a really

38:19

heartfelt wonderful project to be part

38:22

of.

38:23

I That is a very very quick summary of

38:27

some of the things we'll be doing. We

38:29

launch um season 101 still in our hundth

38:33

year in September. So, we'll be

38:35

announcing some additional community

38:36

programming and things of that nature.

38:38

But at least this is kind of a an idea

38:41

of some of the things we have coming up

38:42

around the community. I wanted to see if

38:45

you had any questions.

38:48

>> Thank you. I don't

38:48

>> You're welcome.

38:49

>> Does anyone have any questions?

38:51

Councilman Lawson,

38:52

>> not really a a question, but um just a

38:55

statement uh just remembering back to

38:58

being a a a socially awkward kid in his

39:01

um uh pre-teen to teen years and and

39:05

being part of your acting class that was

39:08

uh

39:09

>> being held with uh I guess at that point

39:11

Harrisburg Community Theater and just

39:14

how much uh bringing theater into the

39:17

lives of of children affects uh their

39:20

well-being. and and it's been passed

39:22

down to to my children where they're now

39:24

in invested in theater. So, I want to

39:26

thank you for letting me be a part of

39:29

that 100-year journey.

39:31

>> Thank you. I really appreciate that.

39:35

>> Thank you. Um I do have a proclamation.

39:38

If you wouldn't mind, please indulge me

39:40

for a few minutes. uh the har the city

39:42

of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, office of

39:45

city council and office of city clerk

39:50

proclamation. Whereas the city of

39:52

Harrisburg applauds Theater Harrisburg

39:55

for their dedicated commitment to

39:57

sharing live theater and the arts with

39:59

the greater Harrisburg area for 100

40:01

years. And whereas Theater Harrisburg

40:04

originated as the Harrisburg Community

40:07

Theater, founded by Mrs. Robert Peters,

40:10

president of the women's university

40:12

club. She asked nine other women to join

40:15

her in exploring the idea of local

40:17

volunteer-based theater that would

40:20

produce quality plays. And whereas Adele

40:24

Iler served as the first director of the

40:27

Harrisburg Community Theater. The first

40:30

play of the Harrisburg Community Theater

40:32

was the Dover Road, as you mentioned,

40:34

produced in 1926 at the Old Majestic

40:37

Theater located in downtown Harrisburg.

40:40

And whereas productions of the

40:42

Harrisburg Community Theater during the

40:44

1920s through the early 1930s were held

40:47

at the Majestic, but other performances

40:50

were held at the Old City Hall building

40:52

on Walnut Street in the former William

40:55

Penn High School. For 17 years, the

40:57

Harrisburg Community Theater rented the

40:59

Jewish Community Center, then located at

41:02

1110 North Thirdrd Street. And whereas

41:05

in 1950, ground was broken for the

41:08

theat's permanent and current home,

41:11

located at 6th and Herlock Streets in

41:14

Uptown Harrisburg. For the next 48

41:16

years, the Harrisburg Community Theater

41:18

called the building its performance

41:20

home, featuring performance space,

41:23

dressing rooms, set, construction shop,

41:25

and offices. And whereas in 1997,

41:28

Harrisburg Community Theater became the

41:31

first local performing arts organization

41:33

to make a formal commitment as a

41:35

resident company at Whitaker Center for

41:37

Science and the Arts. In addition,

41:40

during the summer of 1999, the

41:42

Harrisburg Community Theater became

41:45

officially known as Theater Harrisburg.

41:47

And whereas in 2005, the Herurlock

41:50

building, Herurlock Street Building was

41:53

renamed the Jay and Nancy Krebsky

41:56

Production Center. It remains the

41:58

location for Theater Harrisburg

42:00

administrative offices, rehearsals, set

42:02

construction, prop storage, costume

42:05

creation, and other storage. And now

42:08

therefore, be it hereby proclaimed that

42:10

Harrisburg City Council commends Theater

42:12

Harrisburg for their vision and

42:14

commitment to community volunteers who

42:16

assist in presenting the high quality

42:19

theatrical experiences that local

42:22

audiences expect and have grown to love.

42:25

And be it further proclaimed that

42:26

Harrisburg City Council wishes to extend

42:29

best wishes for a successful 100th

42:31

anniversary season. signed and attested

42:34

in the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

42:36

Danielle L. Hill, Harrisburg City

42:38

Council. Jared Trudale, city clerk. You

42:41

mind taking a picture?

43:13

Go ahead. You go first.

43:14

>> Okay. Ready?

43:16

>> One, two, three, and

43:24

Great picture.

43:48

>> Thank you.

43:52

Next, we have courtesy of the floor. We

43:55

have a full house tonight. So, just a

43:57

few housekeeping notes before we begin.

44:00

If you'd like to offer any public

44:02

comments, please come to the microphone

44:05

that the city clerk just readjusted

44:07

there and state your name and your

44:11

address for the meeting record. If you

44:13

don't feel comfortable sharing your

44:14

address, please share the vicinity in

44:16

which you live within the city. You will

44:18

have four minutes to share your

44:20

comments. Mr. Trudale will serve as our

44:24

timekeeper

44:26

and he has added a timer to the screen

44:31

for your reference.

44:34

Okay. So, we'll begin to my right. Is

44:36

there anyone that would like to offer

44:38

public comment?

44:45

Good evening to the Harrisburg City

44:47

Council. Thank you as always for your

44:49

service. My name is Wendy Shaver and I

44:52

am one of the co-directors of Power to

44:54

the Hill. We operate out of the Allison

44:57

Hill neighborhood at Christ Lutheran

44:59

Church on South 13th Street. I'm here

45:02

tonight to continue to explain about our

45:06

community action project. We spent our

45:08

second community action project. Our

45:11

team of volunteers, there are about 10

45:13

of us here tonight, spent all of last

45:15

year having conversations with neighbors

45:18

in the Hison Hill neighborhood. And the

45:20

neighborhood spoke loud and clear that

45:21

their main priority that they would like

45:24

us to help with organizing was to

45:27

increase youth programming in the

45:29

Allison Hill section of the city. So in

45:33

in addition to the voice of the

45:35

neighborhood, I brought some

45:36

demographics this evening that speak

45:38

loud and clear to the need for this. I

45:41

got these from Tri County Community

45:43

Action. They use policy map and um

45:47

interface that with the census data.

45:50

In the state of Pennsylvania as a whole,

45:54

the percent of the population under age

45:56

18 is 21% and in the Allison Hill

46:00

neighborhood, it is 34%.

46:05

The in the state of Pennsylvania, the

46:07

percent of families that are single

46:10

parent families is 13%. In the Allison

46:15

Hill neighborhood, it is 42%.

46:19

And the poverty rate in Allison Hill is

46:22

about 40% which is triple the national

46:25

average. So you can see the great need

46:28

for the city to help in providing youth

46:31

programming for families in the Allison

46:34

Hill neighborhood.

46:36

What we are asking from the city

46:39

council, we have already had great

46:41

support directly from Councilman Jones

46:44

and Councilwoman RWS, which we greatly

46:46

appreciate. In addition to the overall

46:49

support of the city council, we had an

46:52

email introduction from Miss RS to uh

46:56

Kevin Saunders who is in charge of the

46:59

programming and we are waiting to hear

47:01

back from him to schedule a meeting. So

47:04

any support we could get in connecting

47:06

us further to him to get a meeting set

47:09

up in making some action steps to

47:12

towards youth programming in the Allison

47:14

Hill area. And when the ice melts, we as

47:19

an organization are going to be

47:20

canvasing the four playgrounds in

47:24

addition to Reservoir Park that are in

47:26

the Allison Hill neighborhood to see if

47:28

the swings, the basketball hoops, if

47:30

there are benches that need to be

47:31

replaced. and we are going to be coming

47:34

to the city council with a report of

47:36

those and asking for your financial

47:38

support and physical support in getting

47:41

those parks in great condition so that

47:44

the youth of Allison Hill can enjoy

47:46

those. So, thank you again for your time

47:48

and we will be back with further

47:51

information and further asks. Thank you.

47:54

>> Thank you.

47:56

Is there anyone else to my right that

47:58

would like to offer public comment?

48:02

Yes. Good evening, council. Pam Parson,

48:06

uh 18th and Holly. I was last before you

48:09

I believe in September. Uh Mr. Tuesday

48:12

can uh verify, but it was when we were

48:15

talking about um boards and commissions

48:19

and the people who serve on them. And I

48:22

would like to give you a little update

48:24

on that from my perspective. um my

48:27

committee, the environmental action

48:29

committee has not met. So here we are in

48:33

the new year of 2026 and we as a

48:36

committee have not met. I also would

48:39

like to share with you my most recent

48:40

experience with the redevelopment

48:42

authority. Uh just after uh the new

48:46

year, a friend of mine asked me about

48:49

how do I bid on a property? How do I

48:52

find out what properties are available

48:54

and how do I bid on a lot? So, I said,

48:58

"Well, look on their website."

48:59

Remembering that you had asked as a

49:03

council to update their website. She

49:06

called me back and she said, "Well, I

49:09

can't find the process and I don't I it

49:14

looks old." So, I said, "Well, I'll

49:17

look." So, I went and looked at their

49:19

website. It is three years old. The list

49:22

of properties are three years old. There

49:24

is nothing on the website that tells an

49:27

individual how they can bid on a

49:31

property. There's a process, but it's

49:34

for developers and people who want to

49:37

buy large blocks. And I remember the

49:40

line of questioning that evening uh from

49:43

Miss RWS and particularly from you um

49:46

Miss Green about um wanting to see the

49:50

properties and wanting to be able to

49:53

make them available to individuals. The

49:57

day I looked, they were meeting the next

50:00

day and of course their meetings are at

50:02

lunchtime and I happen to have a

50:05

conflict. I was actually going to go to

50:07

their meeting and pose this question,

50:09

but I wanted to give you that feedback

50:11

both on my own committee and what I

50:14

found recently when I looked at the

50:16

redevelopment authority. Thank you.

50:24

>> Uh just wanted to make a comment for

50:26

Miss Parson. Um she's 100% accurate with

50:29

the EAC board. Just so the public's

50:31

aware, council has made all of the

50:33

proper appointments on our end. We're

50:35

just waiting for the administration to

50:37

get the sustainability coordinator to

50:38

meet, but you guys do have a quorum and

50:41

anytime they get it together, you could

50:42

start meeting right away. Thank you for

50:44

those. Yep.

50:45

>> Thank you. Thank you both. Is there

50:47

anyone else who would like to offer

50:48

public comment to my right?

50:53

Okay, seeing hearing no one, anyone in

50:55

the middle section?

51:02

>> Good evening, counselor. My um name is

51:05

Yolanda Blanding and I live at the 1900

51:07

block of Brookwood Street. Um a couple

51:11

months back, my daughter works here at

51:13

the city of Harrisburg.

51:17

Tisha Barber,

51:19

she assaulted my daughter verbally,

51:22

humiliated her,

51:25

disrespect her,

51:27

followed her to her car. It's caught on

51:30

tape. It's supposed to been an

51:32

investigation been going on for the last

51:34

four months.

51:36

They keep telling my daughter they

51:39

investigate. They investigate. This been

51:42

going on for five or six months. Nothing

51:44

has been done. Nobody's saying nothing.

51:47

I feel as though it's being swept under

51:49

the rug.

51:51

I need to know have some answers. I need

51:54

to know. All my daughter wanted was a

51:57

public apology from her for what she did

51:59

to her in this building.

52:03

It wasn't outside the building. It was

52:05

in this building.

52:07

And the captain said he's running a

52:10

investigation where as though we don't

52:12

have answers yet.

52:19

So I would like for y'all to investigate

52:21

and find something out for me, please.

52:24

Thank you. Do you mind staying after the

52:26

meeting to uh communicate with our

52:29

public safety committee chair?

52:31

>> I have her card and her information.

52:33

>> Okay. Okay.

52:34

>> Speak before the meeting. Um I'll follow

52:35

up on it and if you can't stay, we can

52:38

chat afterwards.

52:39

>> Thank you.

52:40

>> Thank you. Thank you both. Is there

52:42

anyone else in the middle section that

52:43

would like to offer public comment?

52:46

>> Sorry for reading. It'll be to keep me

52:48

to time. Good evening, council. I'm

52:50

Brian Keysling from Midtown and I am

52:52

here tonight with a very large group of

52:54

people rallying outside to address the

52:55

ice crisis. The community gathered

52:58

outside this building is frustrated.

52:59

Some are scared. Many are ready to

53:02

defend their neighbors. But everybody is

53:04

angry. We are angry because we all see

53:06

the way Ice storms around like a pack of

53:08

slave catchers and Nazi Gestapo. And we

53:10

are furious because two weeks ago,

53:12

Commissioner Carter sat right here in

53:14

this room and told the people of

53:15

Harrisburg that we should just cooperate

53:17

and comply with ICE. Everybody knows

53:19

what that means. Every time the cops

53:22

kill someone in this country, all the

53:23

apologists come out to talk about how

53:25

the victims should just comply and take

53:27

the abuse every time. It would have been

53:30

more honest for Commissioner Carter to

53:31

say that ICE terrorizing and kidnapping

53:33

people is not a serious concern of his.

53:36

We all watched him laugh at the start of

53:38

his comment, and we all felt him dismiss

53:40

the gravity of the situation. Now, six

53:43

years ago, when George Floyd was

53:44

murdered by a cop, hundreds of us came

53:46

out into the streets to protest with the

53:49

same kind of righteous anger we feel

53:50

now. And Commissioner Carter greeted us

53:53

then with riot gear and pepper spray.

53:55

They brutalized people that evening. And

53:57

I will never forget that night when I

53:59

turned on the local news and saw

54:00

Commissioner Carter say he was happy to

54:02

report that there was no property damage

54:04

because that is what he cared about

54:06

protecting. I bring that up because we

54:08

are seeing a pattern. It is a pattern of

54:11

a blatant disregard for the safety and

54:13

well-being of the community. It is a

54:15

pattern that also includes the lack of

54:17

justice for those killed by Harrisburg

54:19

police. And now the pattern includes

54:21

collaboration with ICE terror. I could

54:23

have spoken tonight about how if people

54:25

are scared to leave their homes, it'll

54:27

hurt businesses and the city's economy.

54:29

And that is true. But more than that, we

54:31

are talking about basic safety and the

54:33

responsibility of the city to protect

54:35

its residents, whoever they are, from

54:37

any threat, even if that threat comes

54:40

from the government. It may take some

54:42

courage, but it's the right thing to do.

54:44

Two weeks ago, a commenter talked about

54:46

us losing federal funding. But if the

54:48

federal government says keeping our

54:49

people safe means no funding, then that

54:52

isn't funding, it's extortion. The

54:54

government is using funding as a weapon

54:56

and is already cutting it off all over

54:57

the place. I know people don't want to

55:00

think in this way, but that's the

55:02

reality we're facing. So, we need to be

55:03

pragmatic and plan for the fact that

55:05

ultimately we're likely to lose that

55:08

funding anyway for whatever reason they

55:10

decide at whatever time they decide. So,

55:13

we need to plan for that and not let it

55:15

stop us from doing the right thing about

55:16

ICE. And the community will work with

55:18

city officials if those officials work

55:20

to protect the people. I know there is

55:22

legislation in the works and we

55:24

appreciate that there's legislation in

55:25

the works. On behalf of much of the

55:27

community, I come here with a call to

55:29

action on a few of the things that we

55:30

need from the city. We need the city of

55:32

Harrisburg to formally and permanently

55:34

cut all ties with immigration

55:36

enforcement, including any mandated

55:38

reporting of any individuals. We do not

55:41

care if the federal government says the

55:43

police are required to report people.

55:46

Reporting anyone is unacceptable. Next,

55:48

we need the city to pass legislation

55:50

that will actively protect residents

55:52

from ICE raids, detention, harassment,

55:54

and terror. It is not enough for

55:56

Harrisburg police to stand by and let

55:58

ICE operate unimpeded. We need the city

56:00

to proactively keep people safe, even

56:02

when that means actively going against

56:05

ICE. And finally, we need the city to

56:07

cease all projects designed to increase

56:09

surveillance. Projects which give more

56:11

power to Harrisburg police to monitor,

56:13

control, or otherwise restrict the

56:15

freedoms of city residents. This city

56:18

often treats people like they're the

56:19

problem rather than people who are hurt

56:21

by the problem. These actions will take

56:23

courage. It will require all of us to

56:25

have moral clarity and a backbone. But

56:28

if our elected officials show us that

56:30

backbone, the people will stand behind

56:32

you and support you. Otherwise, we are

56:34

truly on our own to defend ourselves and

56:36

our neighbors, which we will do either

56:38

way. But it is simply a question of

56:40

whether the city will stand with the

56:41

people and make that job easier for us.

56:43

Thank you for your time.

56:46

>> Thank you.

56:49

>> Is there anyone else in the middle

56:50

section that would like to offer public

56:52

comment?

56:54

Hello, my name is Akira Louisa. Um, I

56:58

run Students Against Ice. Uh, I live on

57:00

Fishing Creek Valley Road and I go to

57:02

school downtown. Um, I know students

57:04

aren't taken seriously.

57:06

When I speak up, I've been told I need

57:08

to pay more attention in school because

57:10

of my views, which is ironic because any

57:12

look at history would prove what we're

57:14

doing is right. And I've been told that

57:17

my school is indoctrinating me, which is

57:19

funny because all my teachers are

57:20

terrified to say anything slightly

57:22

political or religious or just about

57:24

anything you'd see on the news out of

57:27

fear.

57:29

But that just means we as students have

57:31

to get louder. We must educate each

57:33

other. We must compromise and reach an

57:35

understanding with each other. We need

57:36

to nurture our community and save it

57:38

from the rain of ice. Adults need to

57:40

trust the youth and the youth needs to

57:42

band together. Especially because I run

57:45

Students Against Ice. I've seen and

57:46

heard from students at my own school

57:48

downtown and other schools around PA

57:51

that they are terrified of ICE agents

57:53

raiding near and on our schools. People

57:56

have missed school out of fear and

57:59

anger. And last year at my own school,

58:01

we had um a student with a legal visa

58:04

that was joining our school uh who had

58:07

to leave because she was so terrified

58:09

that ICE was going to come and get her

58:11

even though she was legally here for for

58:13

education.

58:15

Um it's not unfair. It's not only

58:17

unfair, but it's nauseating seeing and

58:19

hearing how the government and ICE are

58:21

treating our citizens.

58:23

They are stopping us from going to

58:24

school and running our businesses. And

58:26

it's on purpose. Minneapolis schools are

58:28

shut down right now. Less than an hour

58:31

away, they are setting up an ICE

58:32

concentration camp. We cannot let them

58:35

take our students. We cannot let them

58:36

take our parents. We cannot let them

58:38

take our community members, our fellow

58:40

human beings. We need to work hard

58:43

because imagine if we were in their

58:45

shoes.

58:47

And soon we aren't going to have to

58:48

imagine because if we don't have to

58:50

spend time stopping them, they will

58:53

start torturing us. All of us as

58:55

protesters are at risk, but us as people

58:58

of color, um people of as journalists,

59:02

students, and people old and young, ICE

59:05

is targeting us. You guys are debating

59:08

right now if they should cut ties with

59:09

ICE. And from the students, we say it's

59:11

a must. It's a need. Thank you, student

59:14

council, for supporting this legislation

59:16

and keep supporting our students. Thank

59:18

you.

59:19

>> Thank you.

59:25

Good evening, counselors. Thank you for

59:26

hearing us tonight. Kia Fowler from

59:28

North Fifth Street. So, I actually sat

59:30

here during our last work session on

59:31

January 20th, and I was here to listen

59:33

to police commissioner Thomas Carter

59:35

stated that the police only assist ICE

59:37

as per legal requirements. Commissioner

59:39

Carter suggested residents have nothing

59:40

to fear if they follow the law and

59:42

comply with ICE. Commissioner Carter

59:44

stated there that they are willing to

59:45

protect their brother law enforcement

59:47

officers in case of unrest. I disagree

59:49

with Commissioner Cardner's willingness

59:51

to cooperate with ICE for the following

59:52

reasons. Number one, ICE is untrained.

59:55

ICE used to get five months of academy

59:57

training. That included five weeks of

59:59

Spanish language and 16 weeks of law

1:00:00

enforcement training. Now they're only

1:00:02

getting six weeks of total academy

1:00:04

training. That's about 48 days. This has

1:00:06

been confirmed by DHS officials. Number

1:00:08

two, they have a policy of con of

1:00:10

violating constitutional protections. A

1:00:12

report released in 2013 shows patterns

1:00:15

of DHS agents intentionally stepping

1:00:17

into the path of a vehicle in order to

1:00:19

create the use of justified force. The

1:00:21

result of this report was a new rules

1:00:23

prohibiting agents from doing this very

1:00:24

action and prohibiting agents from

1:00:26

killing the drivers of a vehicle

1:00:27

attempting to flee the scene. Rules

1:00:29

instructed agents to avoid shooting and

1:00:31

killing drivers of a vehicle due to the

1:00:32

potential injury or death of bystanders.

1:00:34

As we saw with Renee Good, agents are

1:00:36

still enacting prohibited actions

1:00:38

despite having received training on

1:00:39

department policy. Additionally, a DHS

1:00:42

internal memo dated May 2025 tells

1:00:45

agents they can enter homes without a

1:00:46

judicial warrant in order to conduct

1:00:48

agency business. As we all know, this is

1:00:50

a violation of our fourth amendment

1:00:51

rights. Uh, individuals who are impacted

1:00:53

by unlawful ICE actions since the last

1:00:55

council meeting include, but are not

1:00:57

limited to three of the following. As we

1:00:59

all know, Alex Prey was a 37year-old US

1:01:01

citizen and legal observer. He was an

1:01:03

ICU nurse at the Veterans

1:01:05

Administration. While he was holding his

1:01:06

cell phone, he attempted to assist a

1:01:08

woman being pepper-sprayed and was, as a

1:01:10

result, slammed to the ground. When he

1:01:11

was slammed to the ground, he was

1:01:12

disarmed of the firearm that he was

1:01:14

permitted to conceal carry. After being

1:01:17

disarmed, he was shot 10 times by two

1:01:18

ICE agents and was killed. Then we have

1:01:21

Liam Ramos. He is a 5-year-old He is a

1:01:23

5-year-old asylum applicant. He was held

1:01:25

as bait by ICE agents in attempt to lure

1:01:27

his parents outside of the home so they

1:01:29

could detain and deport his parents.

1:01:31

Please note, his parents have no

1:01:32

criminal record and are also asylum

1:01:34

applicants. His mother was unable to go

1:01:36

outside to rescue her child because she

1:01:37

was currently pregnant. Our third and

1:01:40

final example is Jonathan Garcia. He's a

1:01:42

17-year-old cit US citizen. At the time,

1:01:44

he was a Target employee and he was on

1:01:46

shift at Target. When ICE detained him,

1:01:49

he identified himself as a US citizen.

1:01:51

He was not permitted to show his proof

1:01:52

of citizenship um nor was he permitted

1:01:55

to walk away. He was slammed to the

1:01:56

ground. 10 minutes later, a videotape

1:01:58

shows him walking away from Walmart

1:02:00

where he'd been dumped bleeding from the

1:02:02

wounds sustained during detention by

1:02:03

ICE. Here are some concrete steps that I

1:02:06

ask council take. One, pass a

1:02:08

non-ooperation agreement. Harrisburg

1:02:09

City Council should state that it will

1:02:11

not voluntarily assist federal civil

1:02:12

immigration enforcement and that city

1:02:14

staff will not share information unless

1:02:16

legal required. This ensures local

1:02:17

government focuses on local

1:02:19

responsibilities, not federal

1:02:20

enforcement. Two, apply pressure to

1:02:22

mayor and police commissioner to ban

1:02:24

287G agreements. City police should be

1:02:26

used to prioritize protecting residents

1:02:28

against violation of constitutional

1:02:30

rights by federal agents, not assisting

1:02:31

federal agents in their attempts to do

1:02:33

just that. Commissioner Carter stated on

1:02:36

January 20th uh during the working

1:02:37

session that quote, "We won't let ICE

1:02:39

beat you. Create legislation, please, to

1:02:42

to enforce this statement. Three, follow

1:02:44

in the footsteps of LA County and ban

1:02:46

the use of facial coverings." I'm going

1:02:48

to skip a little bit because I'm running

1:02:49

out of time. Uh three, prohibit use of

1:02:51

city resources um in immigration

1:02:53

enforcement. Uh four pro prohibit DHS

1:02:56

from using administrative warrants. Five

1:02:58

prohibit DHS sorry five is uh five

1:03:02

prohibit use of city resources um uh

1:03:05

building staff time tax dollars etc.

1:03:07

Seven prohibit DHS from entering any

1:03:09

location public or private without a

1:03:11

signed judicial warrant. Eight adopt

1:03:13

strong data privacy policies in terms of

1:03:15

sharing. Nine require transparency and

1:03:17

notice uh publicly disclose any requests

1:03:20

from ICE. 10 fund or support know your

1:03:22

rights education. 11, protects city

1:03:24

services from being used as traps. And

1:03:26

12, communicate clearly with us. Issue

1:03:28

public statements explain what the city

1:03:29

will and will not do. Sorry, I went over

1:03:31

time. Thank you very much.

1:03:33

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

1:03:35

middle section that would like to offer

1:03:37

public comment?

1:03:42

My name is Julia Tilly, old uptown. I've

1:03:45

been a resident here in Harrisburg City

1:03:47

for over 30 years. I'm a social worker

1:03:49

and a community activist. I am here to

1:03:52

support the work that council has been

1:03:54

doing um to protect our rights as

1:03:58

residents against the illegal activities

1:04:00

of civil immigration enforcement agents

1:04:02

in our communities. I wholeheartedly

1:04:05

support the bill that council has

1:04:06

drafted, but those policies are only

1:04:10

good if they are enforced. If this bill

1:04:13

is passed, I want assurance that the

1:04:15

mayor, our police chief, and our

1:04:17

district attorney will support the

1:04:19

provisions proposed in this bill. And I

1:04:21

would like a commitment from our law

1:04:23

enforcement that they will investigate

1:04:26

and detain any civil immigrant

1:04:29

enforcement agents that violate the

1:04:31

laws. In Dolphin County, there is only

1:04:34

one entity that can bring charges, and

1:04:37

that is the district attorney, which is

1:04:39

an elected position. May I remind

1:04:41

everybody, I am calling on District

1:04:43

Attorney Shardo to go on record that he

1:04:46

will protect us and prosecute any

1:04:49

federal agent or official that exceeds

1:04:51

their lawful authority. I'd also like to

1:04:54

ask District Attorney Chardo to join the

1:04:57

Federal Overreach Organization, which is

1:04:59

a group of district attorneys that are

1:05:01

committed to holding federal agents

1:05:03

accountable for such things as

1:05:06

warrantless entry, unlawful detentions,

1:05:08

and coercive enforcement tactics.

1:05:12

Harrisburg residents are afraid. They're

1:05:15

afraid to leave their homes. They're

1:05:16

afraid they're going to be disappeared.

1:05:18

They're afraid to go to the doctors,

1:05:20

afraid to go to school, afraid to go to

1:05:22

work, and afraid to exercise their civil

1:05:25

rights. My disabled daughter, who is an

1:05:29

adult, has a panic attack whenever I

1:05:32

leave the house to protest, to exercise

1:05:34

my freedom of speech.

1:05:37

She's terrified that I will be executed

1:05:39

for speaking truth to power. We do not

1:05:43

want Minneapolis here. We do not want a

1:05:45

city under siege. And we do not want our

1:05:48

brothers and sisters detained and

1:05:51

kidnapped at random or worse shot and

1:05:54

killed in the streets. We want peace in

1:05:56

our city, accountability, and the

1:05:59

freedom to move about without fear and

1:06:02

anything short of that we the citizens

1:06:04

and residents will not accept.

1:06:14

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

1:06:15

middle section that would like to offer

1:06:17

public comment?

1:06:21

>> Sorry. Hi there, council. Thank you. Um,

1:06:23

good evening. Carrie Fowler. I live in

1:06:25

Midtown Harrisburg. I'm here tonight

1:06:27

because I believe deeply in the values

1:06:29

of the city and because those values are

1:06:31

ruined when professionalism and basic

1:06:34

decency are treated as optional. At its

1:06:37

core, local government is about service.

1:06:40

It's about respect. It's about

1:06:42

remembering that every question a

1:06:44

resident asks comes from someone who

1:06:47

lives here, pays taxes here, raises

1:06:50

families here, and cares enough to

1:06:53

engage.

1:06:54

Residents asking questions, whether

1:06:57

online or in person, are not being

1:07:00

disruptive. They are participating in

1:07:02

democracy.

1:07:04

When city staff respond to those

1:07:06

questions with sarcasm, hostility, or

1:07:10

bullying, it sends a dangerous message

1:07:13

that power matters more than people.

1:07:16

That engagement will be met with

1:07:18

ridicule and instead of respect. That is

1:07:21

not the kind of city Harrisburg should

1:07:23

be. I want to be clear about why I'm

1:07:26

speaking up. This is not the first time

1:07:28

I have witnessed these individuals

1:07:30

respond this way to residents. I have

1:07:34

seen this pattern before time and time

1:07:36

again. I am choosing to speak now

1:07:39

because when this behavior goes

1:07:41

unressed, it becomes normalized and

1:07:45

normal normalization erodess trust. The

1:07:49

behavior I'm referencing came from a

1:07:51

community service aid whose role is to

1:07:54

work directly with residents and the

1:07:58

communications director for the city of

1:08:00

Harrisburg.

1:08:01

These are positions rooted in public

1:08:04

trust. These when people in these roles

1:08:07

engage residents online with disrespect,

1:08:11

it carries weight whether the comments

1:08:14

are made from an official account or a

1:08:16

personal account.

1:08:18

That matters because city policy is

1:08:21

clear that employees personal use of

1:08:24

social media does not excuse

1:08:27

unprofessional conduct, especially when

1:08:30

individuals are publicly identifiable as

1:08:34

city staff or when their comments rate

1:08:36

relate to city business. Personal

1:08:39

accounts do not erase professional

1:08:42

responsibility.

1:08:44

The line between personal and official

1:08:46

depear disappears when power author

1:08:49

authority and public trust are involved.

1:08:52

I have printed screenshots of the

1:08:54

remarks and the city's own social media

1:08:56

media policy for each one of you to read

1:09:00

for your decide yourselves and decide if

1:09:03

you think it's okay to talk to our

1:09:05

residents, our taxpayers in the city in

1:09:08

that manner. I tried my best to keep

1:09:10

them in order of the dialogue as it was

1:09:12

occurring.

1:09:13

This is not about opinions or tone

1:09:16

policing. It is about whether we are

1:09:18

honoring the standards and values the

1:09:20

city has set for itself and whether we

1:09:23

expect those standards to apply

1:09:25

consistently.

1:09:27

Using social media to bully residents is

1:09:30

not transparency and it is not

1:09:32

leadership. If someone cannot respond to

1:09:36

residents with professionalism and

1:09:38

respect on any platform, then the most

1:09:42

responsible choice is to not comment at

1:09:45

all. We are living in a moment where

1:09:48

cruelty has been normalized and

1:09:50

disrespect is often excused as being

1:09:53

tough. But local government should be a

1:09:56

counter example. It should model

1:09:58

decency, accountability, and restraint,

1:10:02

especially when conversations are

1:10:03

difficult. The way city staff speak to

1:10:06

residents matters. It determines whether

1:10:09

people feel welcome to participate or

1:10:12

pushed away from politics in our city.

1:10:15

It shapes whether civic engagements feel

1:10:18

safe or risky. I am asking this

1:10:21

administration and this council to lead

1:10:24

with values. Make it clear that

1:10:27

professionalism applies online and

1:10:30

offline on accounts and personal

1:10:33

accounts. Make it clear that bullying

1:10:35

residents is unacceptable. And make it

1:10:38

clear that respect is not something

1:10:41

residents have to earn. It is something

1:10:43

they are owed.

1:10:46

Harrisburg can do better. We can choose

1:10:49

dignity over defensiveness, service over

1:10:52

ego, and community over conflict. Thank

1:10:55

you.

1:10:59

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

1:11:01

middle section that would like to offer

1:11:03

public comment?

1:11:12

>> Hello. Um, I had no intention on on

1:11:15

getting up here to speak, but after

1:11:17

hearing them two ladies speak, I feel

1:11:19

like I have to. Now, I mean, we got a

1:11:22

beautiful city council sitting here.

1:11:24

Everybody's dapper and looking pretty

1:11:26

good and all that, but you're not

1:11:29

worried about somebody going in your

1:11:30

home and taking your kids out or you're

1:11:33

not worried about going out to your car

1:11:34

and being picked up and snatched. We

1:11:37

have to do something about this in

1:11:39

Harrisburg. We can't do something about

1:11:40

Minneapolis, but we have to do something

1:11:43

about it here before it gets here.

1:11:45

>> Let's not wait for him to get here and

1:11:47

say, "Oh, well, you know that that's not

1:11:48

right." Well, we know it's not right

1:11:50

already.

1:11:51

>> That's right.

1:11:52

>> So,

1:11:54

like these people are saying, let's get

1:11:56

something together. We There's a lot of

1:11:59

cities that are saying we're not going

1:12:01

to have it.

1:12:02

>> We can be one of those cities.

1:12:04

>> That's right.

1:12:05

>> Let's not have it. Just simple as that.

1:12:07

I mean, you know, we can't we got the

1:12:09

big orange guy that we got to fight, but

1:12:12

everybody else is fighting. We can't

1:12:14

join up with him cuz when he falls, we

1:12:17

don't want to fall with him. And you

1:12:19

know, I've known the commissioner for a

1:12:22

lot of years, and it shocked me to hear

1:12:25

that when he said that. I I didn't I

1:12:27

still it doesn't sink, you know, but um

1:12:33

everybody's an elected official except

1:12:35

maybe him, but uh everybody who is

1:12:39

elected needs to come on board with this

1:12:42

because the next the election, if you're

1:12:45

not on board, you might not be here.

1:12:50

>> Can you please state your name? Can you

1:12:52

please state your name?

1:12:53

>> James Brown. Very famous name.

1:12:57

and your address or the vicinity in

1:12:59

which you live just for the meeting

1:13:01

record.

1:13:01

>> I live in the 1900 block of Lennox.

1:13:04

>> Thank you.

1:13:04

>> Right off of Paxton.

1:13:06

>> And I'm a contractor, certified minority

1:13:08

contractor. And uh something else I

1:13:11

wanted to mention is that I understand

1:13:13

that you're faced with an opportunity to

1:13:15

do great things for the minority

1:13:17

contractors which do things for the city

1:13:19

and all the other uh people in the city

1:13:23

on the kids, the groceries, all of these

1:13:26

things. Um anytime this thing comes up

1:13:30

before you, please back the ideas that

1:13:34

are coming out. I've heard some of them

1:13:36

and they're they're really good. They're

1:13:37

they're going to do great things for the

1:13:40

the contractors here and for the people.

1:13:44

Not just the contractors, but you know,

1:13:46

the minorities, um our kids, our

1:13:48

grandkids. It's going to do a lot of

1:13:50

things. You know, it's been a lot of

1:13:51

years since we had uh close to evil even

1:13:56

uh playing field. And uh I'm 71 years

1:13:59

old and I don't remember us ever having

1:14:02

one. So, you know, let's try try to do

1:14:04

something better in that, you know, in

1:14:06

that form too, uh, against the ice and

1:14:09

for our city and our contractors. And I

1:14:12

thank you very much.

1:14:14

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

1:14:16

middle section?

1:14:21

>> Good evening. My name is Tracy Talton

1:14:23

and I'm from the Allison Hill District

1:14:26

in Harrisburg.

1:14:28

And I like him. I had no intention on

1:14:31

speaking, but I feel like I have to. So

1:14:37

when I come before you here this

1:14:40

evening, I'm coming as a certified

1:14:43

minority female contractor. Okay. Um I

1:14:48

have renovated

1:14:50

many homes in the Harrisburg area, put

1:14:54

heart, sweat, and tears in it. sold

1:14:57

them. I mean, redevelop the communities.

1:15:01

Mr. Jones can tell you when I come in

1:15:03

the neighborhood, everybody's values

1:15:06

going up on their house. Okay? Because

1:15:09

that's what happens. So, if you take one

1:15:11

person that can um bring the skills

1:15:15

necessary to redevelop our

1:15:17

neighborhoods, it gives the people that

1:15:20

live in the neighborhoods the pride and

1:15:23

they start to take that back. and then

1:15:25

you'll see another person out there

1:15:26

painting and another person out there

1:15:28

doing that. And it also makes um the

1:15:31

children look up to people um that look

1:15:34

like them. So, with all of that being

1:15:38

said and going through

1:15:42

um all the different roads and avenues

1:15:45

that I had to take to become certified,

1:15:48

now that I am certified, I still want to

1:15:51

redevelop land in the city of Harrisburg

1:15:55

along with other contractors that um are

1:16:00

minorities. Okay?

1:16:02

um whether it be a female, black, brown,

1:16:04

gray, whatever. Okay. But that

1:16:08

opportunity for me is limited here. So,

1:16:11

I guess I'm coming before city council

1:16:14

to say, um, we need your help. There are

1:16:18

gatekeepers, and I'mma put it out there.

1:16:21

There are gatekeepers,

1:16:23

>> who have, um, the land that needs to be

1:16:28

de developed. You go before them. I'm

1:16:30

also a real estate agent. You go before

1:16:32

them. So, I know the transaction of

1:16:35

buying, selling homes, land or whatever.

1:16:38

But when you go before them, our prices

1:16:40

go up out of out of control. Or you're

1:16:43

in a bidding war with somebody that

1:16:45

doesn't exist.

1:16:47

Then you see that somebody another

1:16:50

developer from somewhere else has

1:16:53

purchased this land

1:16:55

>> and then it leaves us that live here

1:16:58

because my company is city. Okay. I grew

1:17:02

up in the city. I'm a product of the

1:17:05

city. I went to Harrisburg school

1:17:07

districts. I mean that's what I do. I I

1:17:10

want to see the community that I grew up

1:17:12

in thrive. I want our kids to be able to

1:17:15

look at things and have nice things.

1:17:17

Just because you live in the city or

1:17:19

because you may not have what this other

1:17:21

person have, it don't mean you can't

1:17:23

have nice things. That's right.

1:17:24

>> And it don't mean that you got to settle

1:17:26

for less. So, if we don't raise the bar

1:17:29

and we don't have or we try to raise the

1:17:32

bar, I should say, because I can't speak

1:17:33

for everybody else, but I can speak for

1:17:35

myself. I've tried and I have raised the

1:17:38

bar for my city neighbors, the children

1:17:43

and all, but if we don't have city

1:17:45

council's help to help us get through

1:17:48

some of the barriers and the gatekeepers

1:17:50

there, then it hinders us and it hinders

1:17:53

our business from growing.

1:17:55

You got I'm gonna say this real quick. I

1:17:57

have 27 seconds. the farm sh the farmers

1:18:01

market. You have certified contractors

1:18:03

that are bidding on these jobs. You have

1:18:06

the prime contractors who will send you

1:18:08

out and invite to bid. You they send it

1:18:10

to you and then you never hear from them

1:18:12

no more and then they come back and they

1:18:13

tell you, "Oh, well, we did send the

1:18:15

invitations to bid, but they didn't

1:18:16

respond." That is not true. Okay. So,

1:18:20

again, I'm asking for your help. I'll be

1:18:22

back in two weeks and I'm going to ask

1:18:24

for it again and I'm gonna keep asking

1:18:26

for it until we get it. Thank you.

1:18:29

>> Thank you.

1:18:31

Is there anyone else in the middle

1:18:33

section that would like to offer public

1:18:35

comment?

1:18:37

Okay, seeing and hearing no one, anyone

1:18:39

to my left.

1:18:54

Uh hello, I'm Toby. Uh, I live in

1:18:57

Midtown. Um, I'm just coming up here to

1:19:01

say that the

1:19:04

I I have no idea why Harrisburg is not

1:19:08

continuing to do anything about the snow

1:19:11

removal. Um, I haven't seen anything

1:19:14

happening or heard anything. Um there is

1:19:19

so many dangerous areas.

1:19:22

Um

1:19:24

mostly by intersections that are still

1:19:27

the walkways are still covered with snow

1:19:30

and I think it's just a very very big

1:19:33

public health issue that needs to be

1:19:35

taken care of. Uh thank you.

1:19:39

>> Thank you.

1:19:41

Is there anyone else to my left that

1:19:43

would like to offer public comment?

1:19:55

City Council, y'all have seen me before,

1:19:59

but I will repeat my name. My name is

1:20:01

Robert C. Weldon. I was here in front of

1:20:03

you few weeks ago on the council meeting

1:20:06

in January, first one.

1:20:09

Uh, I recently have had city codes come

1:20:12

into my apartment and do the inspection.

1:20:15

If I may,

1:20:19

inspector badge, I will not give

1:20:22

anything to his name or anything, but I

1:20:25

will say denote owners to which

1:20:26

compliance letters will be sent pursuant

1:20:28

to ordinance

1:20:30

uh I can't pronounce how this is. It's a

1:20:33

numerical 1-207.

1:20:36

All residential properties units require

1:20:38

an annual residential rental unit

1:20:40

registration and are to be inspected for

1:20:42

code compliance. One time every 60

1:20:45

months to register your property in a

1:20:47

time prescribed could result in your

1:20:49

property being placarded as unfit for

1:20:52

human habitation in addition to other

1:20:54

legal remedies. This property has an

1:20:57

overdue rental registration payment. If

1:20:59

you have any other properties in the

1:21:01

city that are overdue for rental

1:21:02

registration, use the forms provided for

1:21:04

vote this that and the other. However,

1:21:07

he goes on to state there is wrap on the

1:21:10

pipes in the basement and must be

1:21:12

wrapped or removed.

1:21:15

Now, I just went down in there and I

1:21:18

have posted a video and I will say that

1:21:20

video. You can go to YouTube at

1:21:23

robertweldon2704.

1:21:27

Behind the heating unit that is to my

1:21:31

unit, there is a pipe section where they

1:21:35

have a piece of metal with brad wrap and

1:21:39

on that it's just like sitting there

1:21:42

like it's a tray.

1:21:44

It's just laying there as best fell away

1:21:46

from the pipe.

1:21:49

Now you go and look

1:21:52

right where my electrical panel is. And

1:21:56

I know I had deer in the headlights on

1:21:58

the first video, but I went back down

1:22:01

there on the 22nd of Thursday of last

1:22:04

January

1:22:07

and then I turned and froze because

1:22:09

right there above my electrical panel is

1:22:12

open exposed asbestous.

1:22:16

the very place that I have to flip the

1:22:18

breaker.

1:22:22

And it's only covered

1:22:24

with the same

1:22:26

foil you put into an oven.

1:22:30

And it's all over the place.

1:22:35

Now,

1:22:37

my worry is this. I have nowhere to go.

1:22:41

I'm facing a very financial deficit

1:22:44

situation.

1:22:46

I'm trapped.

1:22:48

I'm literally trapped

1:22:53

now. I don't know what to do.

1:22:56

I have no resources, no financial

1:22:59

assistant I have tried to find.

1:23:02

I don't know what to do. If they deem

1:23:05

this uninhabitable because of

1:23:07

nonresponse,

1:23:10

I'm out of the apartment.

1:23:14

That's not fair to me. Not fair from a

1:23:17

rental agency that's city limits.

1:23:21

And they've also sold my property to

1:23:24

someone else. So therefore,

1:23:27

it's criminal now. It's fraud because

1:23:30

when they sold it, they went through the

1:23:32

Midtown properties. I spoke with the

1:23:34

real estate agent

1:23:37

and I told her, she said, "Sbbestous."

1:23:40

I said, "Can you send me a copy of the

1:23:42

disclosure? Do you know what I have now?

1:23:44

I can't even call her number now. She's

1:23:46

disconnected it.

1:23:49

So therefore, she's knowingly committing

1:23:51

fraud upon the sale.

1:23:57

Now, this is a criminal act. I'm asking

1:24:00

for something to be done.

1:24:03

It's got to be done. A lot of this

1:24:06

nonsense with these deadbeat landlord

1:24:08

situations, it's got to be done. It's

1:24:11

got to be dealt with.

1:24:14

>> Thank you for your comment.

1:24:15

>> Thank you.

1:24:16

>> Can you please state your address? I

1:24:18

know you stated your name, but just for

1:24:20

the meeting record or the vicinity in

1:24:22

which you live.

1:24:22

>> I live in 1210 Marketer Street, first

1:24:25

floor, Harrisburg, PA17103.

1:24:28

>> Thank you. I just had a question. I I

1:24:30

know we don't normally uh answer

1:24:33

questions right now or go back and forth

1:24:36

of a conversation, but I do feel like

1:24:37

that's an important issue. So, I was

1:24:40

just wondering if as a legal matter, I

1:24:41

know usually tenant landlord tenant

1:24:43

issues are dealt at the MDJ's office,

1:24:46

the one that's nearest to, and I can't

1:24:47

think off the top of my head what judge

1:24:49

that would be. Salone in your area. Um,

1:24:53

I know they directly deal with that, but

1:24:55

I don't know from a standpoint of the

1:24:56

city with codes giving him a letter. Is

1:24:59

there anyone particularly that he could

1:25:01

talk to to at least get something

1:25:03

started with the city? Because it feels

1:25:04

like a two-part conversation.

1:25:07

I'll try to speak.

1:25:10

>> Oh gosh.

1:25:31

>> It just takes time to do that. They

1:25:34

could also

1:25:36

Fair Housing Council

1:25:39

and Central

1:25:42

Legal Services about

1:26:02

servicesal

1:26:04

and advice.

1:26:16

>> Okay. I I would definitely call Central

1:26:19

Pen Legal if you haven't already. I do

1:26:21

know when you call them

1:26:24

>> I'm sorry.

1:26:26

>> I would

1:26:27

>> Do you mind waiting until after our

1:26:29

meeting is over to communicate for Okay.

1:26:32

>> I will say this though. I've tried

1:26:34

contacting MP Legal Services before and

1:26:36

on other issues and it's just like I'm

1:26:39

on the phone and calling them and

1:26:40

speaking to them and I get nothing.

1:26:43

That's it. To me that's a dead end dead

1:26:45

end, you know, street help to after um

1:26:49

I've used them before. So I try to help

1:26:51

you where I can.

1:26:53

>> Thank you.

1:26:54

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

1:26:55

left that would like to offer public

1:26:57

comment?

1:27:13

Good evening, council. My name is

1:27:15

Melanie Cook. I live in the 3000 block

1:27:17

of North Third Street in the city of

1:27:19

Harrisburg. I too was here a couple of

1:27:22

weeks ago um and sat through the work

1:27:26

session. One of the things I want to

1:27:28

comment on initially is to speak on

1:27:31

behalf of a project that is here for

1:27:34

final approval. The Pinmark Harrisburg

1:27:37

holding project at Poly Clinic Hospital.

1:27:40

For those of you who are not familiar,

1:27:42

should make yourselves available to

1:27:44

review and come to their public

1:27:46

meetings. I have worked in the building

1:27:48

and develop industry in my lifetime 10

1:27:51

15 years. I've dealt with a lot of

1:27:54

developers and attended a lot of public

1:27:56

meetings there at and also uh DP. This

1:28:00

group is very professional and open to

1:28:04

public comment and has done what I

1:28:07

believe is a stellar job. They are

1:28:10

attempting to save a historic property

1:28:13

in the city of Harrisburg that has sat

1:28:15

empty in what in any other city would

1:28:19

have been developed years ago. This is a

1:28:21

jewel that should be developed and these

1:28:24

types of developers should be

1:28:26

encouraged. You heard people say that

1:28:28

they are incorporating business and

1:28:30

minority builders and women. They need

1:28:33

to be the model that the city uses. Last

1:28:36

two weeks ago, I commended council

1:28:39

because I have been here for multiple

1:28:40

meetings where council has asked

1:28:42

developer after developer after

1:28:44

developer, can you? Will you can you

1:28:47

sending letters claiming we've made an

1:28:49

attempt is not getting the ball moved

1:28:53

forward. You have to figure out how to

1:28:56

reward those people who are actually

1:28:57

getting the job done and using minority

1:29:00

and other um youth spreading programs to

1:29:04

help develop a base of operation that is

1:29:07

effective in this city. I also want to

1:29:10

commend this city council. It took a lot

1:29:13

of fortitude for Vice President Jones

1:29:17

and for the rest of you to stand up and

1:29:19

say we are going to challenge if we have

1:29:22

to do it in court an action we believe

1:29:24

is not in the best interest of the

1:29:26

citizens of this state and of this city.

1:29:30

We cannot have government by appoint

1:29:34

whoever we want. If there is a process

1:29:36

that needs to be followed, it has to be

1:29:38

followed. And you as our elected

1:29:40

officials have to take the hard knocks

1:29:43

from the governor, even if you have to,

1:29:45

because we deserve the same degree of

1:29:50

oversight that would be expected in

1:29:52

every other community in this

1:29:54

commonwealth. And if you are fighting

1:29:56

for our behalf, even if it's viewed by

1:29:59

other people as being a backyard brawl,

1:30:02

let them. We know what the truth is. Um

1:30:04

I have heard people say that uh the

1:30:07

governor called into and I'm quoting a

1:30:10

gubanatorial woodshed um members of our

1:30:13

leadership. That is not the case and

1:30:15

that needs to be corrected. And people

1:30:17

need to understand this city is prepared

1:30:19

to work with Governor Shapiro, but we're

1:30:22

also prepared and demanding that you

1:30:24

stand up to ensure that we are

1:30:26

represented adequately and above

1:30:29

adequately. And again, I always manage

1:30:31

to run out of time, but I do want to

1:30:33

speak to the youth programming that is

1:30:37

needed throughout this city. I was at a

1:30:39

meeting last night in Riverside. As uh

1:30:42

I'm going to say, Commissioner Miss

1:30:44

Rolls recognizes, we have been trying to

1:30:46

advocate for a playground in the uh uh

1:30:51

Italian Lake area. There are zero

1:30:54

playgrounds above Division Street. It is

1:30:56

absolutely deplor deplorable. Rude city

1:30:59

employees. Today I called and had

1:31:02

someone parking authority badge number

1:31:04

921 yell at me from her car about

1:31:08

someone whose vehicle was sitting and

1:31:11

has been sitting for two weeks parked

1:31:13

across the sidewalk. It is not. We

1:31:17

deserve the same consideration. I'm

1:31:19

going to say it again and again and

1:31:21

again. And as far as ICE, I was here two

1:31:24

weeks ago and I responded and said, "I

1:31:26

have a law enforcement background and I

1:31:29

am quite willing to adhere to the law,

1:31:32

but I don't live in pre- Nelson Mandela,

1:31:34

South Africa, and you are not going to

1:31:37

compel me or anybody around me to walk

1:31:40

around with identification."

1:31:48

>> Thank you. Thank you. Is there anyone

1:31:50

else to my left that would like to offer

1:31:52

public comment?

1:32:02

>> Good evening, council. Libby Profit, 200

1:32:05

block of 20,000 block of Chestnut

1:32:08

Street.

1:32:10

Um, I want to warn you because you may

1:32:13

not have seen it. a strategy that's been

1:32:16

used over time, last 50 years at least,

1:32:22

targeting your melanated self, thinking

1:32:25

that people can come up here and use

1:32:28

Joyce Flo uh Freud,

1:32:31

the late Mandela's

1:32:34

uh and and all these things that

1:32:37

happened

1:32:38

to make you not look at America today

1:32:42

and where we are and where we're

1:32:44

growing. There's veterans that's

1:32:46

homeless. I don't see nobody out there

1:32:48

rallying, protesting or housing them.

1:32:52

But here we are having hours of debate

1:32:56

on illegals, people that came into your

1:32:58

country illegally, living in Maine for

1:33:01

two years, no rent, no utilities. These

1:33:05

people are not paying nothing.

1:33:08

And you can't even get medical. You

1:33:10

can't get health care. You can't get

1:33:11

child care. But illegals are taking your

1:33:14

benefits,

1:33:16

right? Oh, you don't have to listen, but

1:33:18

I I listen to you because I'm conscious

1:33:21

enough, too.

1:33:23

I'm educated enough, too. I don't have

1:33:26

to join the masses. There's people that

1:33:29

don't even like this flag, BUT WANTS ALL

1:33:32

THE BENEFITS THAT GOES UNDER THIS FLAG.

1:33:36

THAT FLAG DIDN'T EXIST WHEN uh what's

1:33:39

her name?

1:33:41

Pocahontas was sleeping with the white

1:33:44

man. THAT FLAG DIDN'T EXIST THEN.

1:33:48

But here we are degrading that flag and

1:33:51

everything it stand for and all THE

1:33:53

BENEFITS THAT COMES WITH BEING IN

1:33:55

AMERICA

1:33:57

DEFENDING PEOPLE THAT JUMP THE borders

1:34:01

illegally.

1:34:03

And there's VETERANS HOMELESS IN THE

1:34:05

COLD.

1:34:08

>> THIS IS AMERICA. EXCUSE ME. NOW, WHEN

1:34:10

YOU SPOKE, I SAT AND I LISTENED.

1:34:13

>> Excuse me.

1:34:13

>> THE SAME WAY AS I SERVED FOR YOU to come

1:34:17

here.

1:34:20

>> Excuse me. Hold on. Please don't

1:34:22

interrupt other people when they're

1:34:24

speaking. Thank you. Please continue.

1:34:27

>> ICE was invited to Harrisburg. He has

1:34:30

documented intelligence of what was

1:34:33

going on. all of those CONSTRUCTIONS

1:34:35

THAT WAS NOT BEING GIVEN TO LOCALS. ICE

1:34:38

HAS documented

1:34:40

intelligence. They're not just here.

1:34:43

And if you have evidence to give

1:34:45

counsel, give name dates, give evidence.

1:34:48

Don't come with Minnesota cuz Minnesota,

1:34:50

THEY'RE THEY'RE WAVING THE SOMALIAN

1:34:52

FLAGS.

1:34:55

They're not waving the American flags.

1:34:59

Stop using people's melanated skin to

1:35:02

come and talk about George Floyd and and

1:35:05

all the other things that happened. Stop

1:35:07

using the terror. You know, Anne Frank

1:35:10

had her diary. DID ANYONE Y'ALL READ IT?

1:35:12

YOU COME up here talking Holocaust

1:35:14

stuff.

1:35:16

You've read it. I'm sure you did. You

1:35:18

were well educated.

1:35:21

Well, let's not come here and just

1:35:22

deframe America, deframe ICE.

1:35:26

Without law, there is no order. There

1:35:29

are federal agents doing their job. When

1:35:32

you have somebody crash your vehicle,

1:35:35

break into your house, who you call? You

1:35:37

don't call a crackhead.

1:35:39

>> You call 911. So, respect them. At least

1:35:44

the ones that doing their jobs.

1:35:48

Thank you.

1:35:50

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

1:35:52

left that would like to offer public

1:35:53

comment?

1:36:03

Good evening, city council. Good

1:36:04

evening. Um, everybody stay warm.

1:36:09

Um,

1:36:12

>> the still river is still running.

1:36:14

>> Um, we we've got we've got a lot going

1:36:17

on. We've got a lot going. I'm gonna try

1:36:20

to sum it up, but it starts at the top.

1:36:23

It starts at the top and the top is the

1:36:25

Civil War Museum. Okay? It's about

1:36:28

respect.

1:36:29

It's about who died for us to be free.

1:36:32

And if we don't teach our children

1:36:34

through that curriculum,

1:36:37

they won't understand.

1:36:39

And we will repeat slavery all over

1:36:42

again. We won. We won the Civil War and

1:36:45

we still don't know how to treat our

1:36:46

people. You want us all to be in chains

1:36:49

again? Did you go by the Civil War? the

1:36:51

curriculum. You want to teach the kids

1:36:53

so a curriculum they don't even we don't

1:36:56

even have that curriculum in our

1:36:57

schools. Take the kids up to the top of

1:37:00

the hill. That's where the knowledge is.

1:37:02

And then it flows down. It's not trying

1:37:05

to get li uh eliminate the Civil War

1:37:08

museum. That's that's what we need to

1:37:10

learn.

1:37:11

We need to readress how we treat each

1:37:14

other. Don't laugh when I'm talking. I

1:37:16

know.

1:37:18

I know how what the war what the cost

1:37:20

was for freedom for me to be laughed at.

1:37:23

It's crazy.

1:37:25

It's crazy. In Gettysburg, 51,000 died.

1:37:30

That's more than the population of

1:37:32

Harrisburg.

1:37:35

They wanted Harrisburg. And if they

1:37:37

would have got Harrisburg, it would be

1:37:39

different.

1:37:41

Know what Harrisburg stands for.

1:37:44

get the pride that we deserve. Treat

1:37:47

people don't laugh at me. I'm good.

1:37:50

I'm a man of war.

1:37:52

And I know what the cost was.

1:37:56

It wasn't the laugh at me. Lewis, but

1:38:01

it wasn't about that.

1:38:04

I would fight and I fought

1:38:06

and I will fight again.

1:38:09

But when the kids are the when the kids

1:38:11

are the end result because they don't

1:38:13

have programming,

1:38:16

they come up there, they learn and they

1:38:17

learn how what what a gun will do and

1:38:21

what chains are.

1:38:24

But Harrisburg school district, we don't

1:38:26

give them that curriculum.

1:38:29

It's very important. It's very

1:38:31

important.

1:38:34

We got the farm show.

1:38:38

It's the second largest um fishing boat

1:38:42

in the world.

1:38:44

That's an economic engine.

1:38:47

There's over 400 retail slots and it's

1:38:51

happening in our house and nobody sells

1:38:56

a fishing rod in the city.

1:39:00

We need economic development. Let's use

1:39:02

that as l as leverage to get dignity and

1:39:06

pride. Let's get some people in that

1:39:09

show that that can make some money. The

1:39:13

kids entrepreneurism.

1:39:16

We got the farm show. They don't even

1:39:17

know how to ride a horse. I know how to

1:39:20

ride a horse.

1:39:22

I know how to ride a bull, too.

1:39:25

But so you're going to you're going to

1:39:27

be laughing anyway.

1:39:30

Can you ride a bull? I don't think so. I

1:39:34

don't think so. I don't think so. But

1:39:36

that's not my point. My point is that we

1:39:39

got we got the history right on top of

1:39:41

our heel.

1:39:43

The national civil that's Smithsonian.

1:39:46

Get it in our curriculum. Get some pride

1:39:48

about ourselves. Raise the flags of the

1:39:51

union.

1:39:52

Get some visuals

1:39:55

that everybody can when ICE comes to

1:39:57

town and they see how many flags we got

1:39:59

flying that nobody else can fly in the

1:40:01

country in the world. Maybe they get a

1:40:04

little understanding that don't push us

1:40:06

around.

1:40:08

>> We got to do something else that nobody

1:40:11

else does.

1:40:12

>> Thank you.

1:40:12

>> We are Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

1:40:14

>> Thank you for your comments.

1:40:19

>> Thank you. We will move forward with our

1:40:21

meeting agenda. Next, we have the

1:40:23

approval of the minutes. Oh, I'm sorry.

1:40:26

Oh, I'm sorry. I missed you.

1:40:30

Okay.

1:40:37

First of all, let me introduce myself.

1:40:39

My name is Pete White. I've been in

1:40:42

business in this town for 40 years. I

1:40:44

had one of the largest construction

1:40:46

companies here. We retrofitted schools.

1:40:48

We built churches, yada yada yada. I had

1:40:51

40 employees and we instituted a

1:40:54

training program even then at Harris.

1:40:57

However,

1:41:00

my problem right now with city council

1:41:02

is this.

1:41:05

If you are supposed to be the vanguard

1:41:07

for the city, you've been voted in. What

1:41:10

that means is that you're looking out

1:41:13

for the home front. You're looking out

1:41:15

for all the citizens here. Right now,

1:41:17

I'm going to speak about the black and

1:41:19

brown citizens particularly, which have

1:41:22

been under represented.

1:41:24

the construction companies

1:41:27

that I see and I've gone around to every

1:41:29

one of these jobs from the Broad Street

1:41:31

Market 18th in her the park ever. By the

1:41:37

way, I have a degree in microbiology and

1:41:39

associate degree in civil engineering. I

1:41:42

used to be the civil engineering

1:41:43

inspector for the for the uh the pipes

1:41:46

and so forth going through the city. See

1:41:49

Derry Street from 13th to 18th home and

1:41:52

so forth. Now you're looking at some of

1:41:54

the prospects that I was over to make

1:41:56

sure they're right. But the problem here

1:41:58

is city council has neglected the one

1:42:02

thing you need to be about and that's

1:42:04

leveling the economic playing field in

1:42:06

this city. You have a number of

1:42:09

contractors coming in here from all over

1:42:12

majority contractors.

1:42:14

What protocol have you told them that

1:42:16

they need to abide by for inclusion?

1:42:19

I've been here through a couple meetings

1:42:21

sitting here and so forth. I've heard

1:42:23

nothing. That word was never used.

1:42:26

It should have been the first thing

1:42:27

because the first when we started

1:42:31

implementing business in this city in

1:42:33

1988, myself and three other individuals

1:42:36

put together a protocol which city

1:42:40

council at that time which composed

1:42:42

mostly lawyers ratified

1:42:45

to the tune that wherever something is

1:42:47

done on city land or the inclusion of

1:42:51

city funds

1:42:53

that the contractors

1:42:55

had to abide by an inclusion of 25%.

1:43:00

I'm not talking about hours. I'm talking

1:43:02

about literal dollars of that contract.

1:43:04

It started with the Hilton. This is

1:43:06

where we came in and had the the meeting

1:43:09

in agreement with that. And as such, we

1:43:12

had an organization and we had 29 29

1:43:17

black contractor companies over there.

1:43:20

What you don't seem to recognize with

1:43:22

this is this.

1:43:24

This is another form of income. You have

1:43:28

a lot of qualified contractors. We've

1:43:31

had several meetings here.

1:43:33

Dena has had these meetings which I find

1:43:36

very enlightening and all the assistance

1:43:38

I can give her to bring it up to speed.

1:43:41

The fact of the matter is

1:43:44

if they're going to come to Harrisburg,

1:43:48

if they're going to come to Harrisburg

1:43:51

because they want to exploit

1:43:55

the residuals here that we have and the

1:43:57

assets in terms of what's going on for

1:43:59

business here,

1:44:01

then they have to know that there's a

1:44:03

certain protocol to do business in

1:44:05

Harrisburg,

1:44:06

just like it is if we go campill

1:44:10

or somewhere else which we are rarely

1:44:12

invited by these contractors. And I'm

1:44:15

speaking of gym construction.

1:44:19

I'm speaking of the contractor down here

1:44:23

at the uh Poly Clinic. I'm speaking of

1:44:27

Alexander.

1:44:29

They are major minimalizing

1:44:32

non-inclusionary companies.

1:44:35

I've had meetings with them.

1:44:38

You might as well be an alien

1:44:42

if you think you're going to work a

1:44:43

contract with that. And I'm also a

1:44:44

professional estimator, so don't blame

1:44:47

me. If you know anybody,

1:44:51

Fred Clark, anybody, you asking who Pete

1:44:53

White is. We made changes.

1:44:55

>> Thank you for your comment, Mr. White.

1:44:57

>> Come up.

1:44:58

>> Thank you for your comment.

1:44:59

>> Mr. White, can you please share your

1:45:00

address or the vicinity in which you

1:45:02

live? It's strictly for the meeting

1:45:03

record.

1:45:05

I'm over on I'm on south side of

1:45:07

Harrisburg.

1:45:08

>> Okay. Thank you. Is there anyone else

1:45:11

that would like to offer public comment?

1:45:12

I don't want to miss anyone else. Okay.

1:45:15

Seeing and hearing no one, we will move

1:45:17

forward. Oh,

1:45:20

I'm sorry.

1:45:22

You can have you can offer public

1:45:24

comment.

1:45:26

>> And if you can give us a couple minutes.

1:45:28

>> No.

1:45:32

>> No, we don't.

1:45:38

Yes, there will be more co public

1:45:42

comment. We do have a work session after

1:45:44

this meeting. The legislative session is

1:45:46

where your comments will be added to the

1:45:47

meeting record just for everybody's

1:45:49

reference. Next, we have the approval of

1:45:52

minutes for the legislative session that

1:45:53

occurred on January 13, 2026. Council

1:45:57

members, are there any revisions to

1:45:59

those meeting minutes?

1:46:01

Okay, seeing hearing none, the minutes

1:46:02

stand approved. We will now move forward

1:46:05

with with reports of committees. The

1:46:08

first report will be delivered by our

1:46:10

budget and finance committee chair, vice

1:46:13

president Jones on the work session of

1:46:16

January 20th, 2026.

1:46:19

>> Thank you.

1:46:20

On January 20th, 2026, the budget and

1:46:23

finance committee held a work session

1:46:25

where we discussed resolution three of

1:46:27

2026, a resolution approving the first

1:46:30

proposed 2026 budget reallocation

1:46:34

uh in order to authorize the roll

1:46:36

forward

1:46:37

of certain 2025 budget year incumbr uh

1:46:41

commitments and to reaffirm certain 2025

1:46:44

capital projects and program

1:46:46

appropriation.

1:46:48

Present to discuss resolution three of

1:46:51

2026 was Brian McCutchen and Robert

1:46:53

Kenn. We discussed resolution three, a

1:46:56

budget reallocation to roll forward

1:46:58

2025's budget and cumber commitments and

1:47:02

how the general fund is the and we also

1:47:05

talked about how the uh general fund is

1:47:07

the biggest piece of this action and how

1:47:10

most of it if not all of the budget

1:47:12

units

1:47:14

um are affected by this actions. 19.7

1:47:18

million is the roll forward amount from

1:47:20

the general fund and is an extremely

1:47:22

high amount due to the broad street

1:47:24

market expedential line under

1:47:26

facilities. 16.5 million of the 19.7

1:47:31

is about 84% of the total request. So

1:47:34

basically what is happening is the money

1:47:37

that was uh budgeted in 2025

1:47:40

um the remaining still needs to be

1:47:42

utilized in 2026 for contracts and

1:47:44

projects that still needs to be funded

1:47:46

with this rema with these remaining

1:47:48

dollars. Questions asked by council

1:47:51

council pretty much thanks the finance

1:47:53

department for a thorough presentation.

1:47:55

Councilman Rodriguez asks about the

1:47:57

remaining funds from the trash release

1:47:59

program asking if those funds 1.4 4

1:48:02

million were a part of the roll forward

1:48:04

funds from public works. Mr. McCutchen

1:48:06

clarified that those funds were from the

1:48:09

capital projects funds and that the roll

1:48:11

forward request was a little over

1:48:13

500,000 from the neighborhood services

1:48:16

funds for the new year. Um and that will

1:48:18

conclude the report from the budget and

1:48:20

finance committee.

1:48:22

>> Thank you, Vice President Jones. The

1:48:24

next report will be delivered by our

1:48:27

community and economic development

1:48:29

committee chair, Councilman Lawson, on

1:48:31

the work session of January 20th, 2026.

1:48:36

During the January 20th uh 2026

1:48:40

Harrisburg City Council work session,

1:48:43

the Community and Econ economic

1:48:44

development committee reviewed

1:48:46

resolution 4 of 2026, which proposes the

1:48:50

approval of the preliminary and final

1:48:53

land development plan for 1332 North

1:48:56

Second Street. The project submitted by

1:49:00

Adam Brenamman of Brenamman Properties

1:49:02

LLC focused on the adaptive reuse of a

1:49:05

former former funeral home um in Midtown

1:49:09

Harrisburg. The proposal seeks to

1:49:11

convert um the vacant portion of a

1:49:15

commercial space previously occupied by

1:49:17

a funeral home into eight new

1:49:19

residential units, expanding an existing

1:49:22

fiveunit apartment building to a total

1:49:25

of 13 multif family units. The property

1:49:28

includes a large off- streetet parking

1:49:30

lot with approximately 35 spaces

1:49:33

ensuring adequate parking for residents

1:49:35

and visitors.

1:49:38

Hold on.

1:49:43

The Harrisburg Planning Commission

1:49:45

recommended the approval of the pro of

1:49:47

the project and conditions and these

1:49:50

include review of any exterior

1:49:53

alterations by the city's historic

1:49:55

preservation specialist with additional

1:49:58

approvals as required, coordination with

1:50:01

the Department of Public Works regarding

1:50:03

refuge container placement, um screening

1:50:06

and access, consideration of

1:50:08

consolidating refuge storage within an

1:50:11

existing carport along the uh street

1:50:14

frontage. The commission cited the

1:50:17

project's responsible design and

1:50:19

compatibility with surrounding

1:50:20

neighborhood.

1:50:25

Council and staff highlighted uh several

1:50:28

uh municipal benefits of the pro of the

1:50:30

project, including productive reuse of

1:50:33

vacant and underutilized building space,

1:50:35

increased housing supply in Midtown,

1:50:38

which can help stabilize housing costs,

1:50:41

activism, act um excuse me, activation

1:50:44

of the street and support for nearby

1:50:48

businesses through um residential

1:50:50

occupancy and adequate off- streetet

1:50:52

parking that minimizes neighborhood

1:50:54

impact.

1:50:55

Um, Michael White, director of

1:50:57

acquisitions and development for

1:50:59

Brenamman Group, provided additional

1:51:01

details on the project, noting that the

1:51:03

8,500 square foot building includes

1:51:06

approximately 5,000 square ft of former

1:51:08

former commercial space. He confirmed

1:51:11

that financing is in place uh with a

1:51:14

project construction loan um closing by

1:51:17

the end of March and an estimated

1:51:19

8-month construction period and subse

1:51:22

subsequent lease up. Council members

1:51:24

raised several key topics about during

1:51:27

the discussion about economic inclusion.

1:51:30

Council emphasized the importance of

1:51:32

engaging local minority and womenowned

1:51:34

contractors. The developer expressed

1:51:36

openness to referrals and a commitment

1:51:38

to expanding local participation where

1:51:41

possible and environmental safety. The

1:51:44

developer expressed concerns related to

1:51:47

the the former use and confirming that

1:51:51

adequate environmental assessment has

1:51:53

been completed and that the regulatory

1:51:55

process are being followed to safe

1:51:57

conversion and the job creation. The

1:52:00

property is expected to generate

1:52:01

approximately 15 construction related

1:52:04

jobs primarily through skilled

1:52:06

subcontractors.

1:52:08

In lighting and safety, council

1:52:11

underscored the importance of effective

1:52:13

lighting and overall site safety. The

1:52:15

developer indicated that lighting in the

1:52:18

facade improvements remain under review

1:52:21

to ensure a safe and welcoming

1:52:24

environment.

1:52:27

We on January 20, 26 work session,

1:52:31

Harrisburg City Council and the

1:52:34

community of um and excuse me, community

1:52:36

and economic development has also

1:52:39

reviewed um resolution five of 2026,

1:52:44

which seeks the approval of the

1:52:46

preliminary and final land development

1:52:49

plan for 2601 North Third Street,

1:52:52

Building One, as part of phase two of

1:52:55

the Poly Clinic Hospital campus

1:52:57

redevelopment. The proposal involves the

1:53:01

adaptive reuse of a long vacant hospital

1:53:04

building into a mixeduse development

1:53:06

that will bring new life for residents

1:53:09

and services surrounding the

1:53:10

neighborhood. The project includes

1:53:12

approximately

1:53:14

130 new residential units ranging from

1:53:17

studio to two-bedroom apartments, street

1:53:19

level commercial and retail space with

1:53:22

plans underway to attract a locallyowned

1:53:24

grocery store and other neighborhood

1:53:26

serving businesses. Use of existing

1:53:29

parking garage and surface lots provide

1:53:32

ample off- streetet parking. Flexible

1:53:35

space reserved for future phases of

1:53:37

development.

1:53:39

and the Harrisburg Planning Commission

1:53:42

recommended approval of the project,

1:53:44

citing its thoughtful reuse of a large

1:53:46

vacant structure, minimal traffic

1:53:48

impacts, um, compared to the building's

1:53:51

former use and the potential to

1:53:53

stimulate additional investment in the

1:53:55

Midtown area,

1:53:57

uptown area, excuse me. Condition of

1:53:59

approval focus on uh pedestrian

1:54:02

accessibility

1:54:04

um refuge management, bicycle parking

1:54:06

and compliance with signage and

1:54:08

accessibility standards.

1:54:11

Council members expressed strong support

1:54:13

for the project and highlighted several

1:54:15

key priorities. um neighborhood

1:54:18

engagement with multiple community

1:54:20

meetings scheduled to gather resident

1:54:22

input, economic inclusion, including the

1:54:25

use of local, minority, and womenowned

1:54:28

contractors, public safety and quality

1:54:31

of life. Noting that occupied, well-lit,

1:54:33

mixeduse development helps reduce blight

1:54:36

and improve neighborhood safety, housing

1:54:39

affordability, particularly for working

1:54:41

in middle inome residents, and access to

1:54:44

healthy food, emphasizing the importance

1:54:47

of a grocery option um for the

1:54:49

surrounding community. The applicant

1:54:51

also provided updates for on phase one

1:54:54

of the redevelopment, noting active

1:54:57

construction progress towards historic

1:54:59

track tax credits and continued

1:55:02

coordination with city departments.

1:55:06

Following discussion, city council

1:55:08

advanced this resolution to our

1:55:10

legislative session. And that concludes

1:55:13

the business of the community and

1:55:15

economic development. Thank you.

1:55:18

>> Thank you, Councilman Lawson. The next

1:55:20

report you will hear will be delivered

1:55:22

uh by our parks, recreation, and

1:55:25

enrichment committee chair, Councilwoman

1:55:27

Ross, on the work session of January

1:55:29

20th, 2026.

1:55:32

Thank you, President Hill. Good evening,

1:55:34

everyone.

1:55:37

On January 20th, 2026, the Parks,

1:55:40

Recreation, and Enrichment Committee met

1:55:42

to discuss resolution two of 2026, a

1:55:47

resolution authorizing the city of

1:55:49

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

1:55:51

professional service agreement with

1:55:53

Flora Teter Landscape Architects

1:55:56

Incorporated to provide landscape

1:55:58

architectural services for Vernon Street

1:56:01

Park and playground located at 15th and

1:56:04

Vernon Streets.

1:56:06

Deputy Director Ross and Mr. Saunders

1:56:09

from the parks and recreation and

1:56:11

enrichment department were present to

1:56:13

provide council with additional

1:56:14

information. They explained that the

1:56:16

primary purpose of this agreement is to

1:56:19

secure professional design services that

1:56:22

will allow the department to pursue

1:56:24

future grant funding. In order to apply

1:56:26

for these grants, the city must first

1:56:28

submit a formal architectural concept

1:56:30

and design plan for the proposed

1:56:32

playground improvements. Floral Teeter

1:56:36

Landscape Architects was selected to

1:56:38

prepare these designs. The department

1:56:40

noted that the firm specializes in

1:56:43

improving park functionality, enhancing

1:56:46

rec recreational spaces, maximizing

1:56:49

small urban areas, and ensuring

1:56:52

inclusive and accessible design for all

1:56:55

residents. Their proposal was also the

1:56:57

lowest responsible bid totaling $19,500

1:57:02

for the park concept plan.

1:57:05

The anticipated project timeline runs

1:57:07

from January through May and will

1:57:10

include two community engagement

1:57:12

meetings to gather resident input and

1:57:14

ensure the final design reflects

1:57:16

neighborhood needs. Questions my fellow

1:57:19

council members raised were as follows.

1:57:23

Were they chosen because they were the

1:57:25

lowest bidder or because of experience?

1:57:27

Mr. Saunders responded that cost was a

1:57:30

primary factor in the selection.

1:57:32

However, the firm's prior experience and

1:57:35

history of submitting proposals on pass

1:57:37

city projects were also considered. He

1:57:40

added that the department strives to

1:57:42

distribute opportunities among qualified

1:57:44

bidding firms and this time Floret was

1:57:48

selected.

1:57:49

Can you expand and provide more

1:57:51

information on the timelines for the

1:57:53

seventh and Rner reservoir? Radner

1:57:56

reservoir gorgus and Wilson projects.

1:57:59

Mr. Saunders responded that those

1:58:01

projects have been extended with an

1:58:03

anticipated completion date of March

1:58:06

3rd, 2026.

1:58:08

Do you believe that that is a

1:58:10

responsible or reasonable time frame?

1:58:13

Mr. Saunders stated that the department

1:58:15

believes the proposed timeline is

1:58:17

responsible.

1:58:19

Is the parks and recreation department

1:58:21

working in collaboration with the public

1:58:23

works department to pave the alleyways

1:58:25

across from the Vernon Street playground

1:58:27

due to safety concerns? Miss Rash

1:58:30

responded that they will con coordinate

1:58:32

with Director West and ensure the matter

1:58:34

is addressed and placed on the radar.

1:58:37

Are there any updates on the Hall Manor

1:58:39

pool? Mr. Sonners responded that the

1:58:41

department is waiting the completion and

1:58:44

an and expansion of a scientific finding

1:58:47

report to to confir confirm that a pool

1:58:51

can be safely constructed on the site.

1:58:53

The report is expected to be returned in

1:58:56

the first quarter. And lastly, if

1:58:59

awarded, will the grant for the Vernon

1:59:01

Street playground also cover a new wall

1:59:03

or fence? Mr. Saunders responded that

1:59:06

the grant would support improvements to

1:59:08

help revamp the entire park. He noted

1:59:10

that multiple grants will likely be

1:59:12

needed, but this would serve as an

1:59:14

important first step. I respectfully ask

1:59:17

for your support on this resolution as

1:59:20

we continue working to upgrade and

1:59:22

invest in parks across the city of

1:59:24

Harrisburg. This concludes the report of

1:59:27

the parks, recreation, and enrichment

1:59:29

committee. Thank you.

1:59:30

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. The final

1:59:33

committee report this evening will be

1:59:34

delivered by our public safety committee

1:59:37

chair uh Councilwoman Green on the work

1:59:40

session of January 20th, 2026.

1:59:43

>> Thank you, President Bowers, President

1:59:45

Hill, excuse me. During the work session

1:59:47

of January 20th, 2026, the public safety

1:59:50

committee met to discuss resolution one

1:59:52

of 2026, uh a resolution authorizing the

1:59:55

city of Harrisburg to negotiate and

1:59:56

enter into a professional service

1:59:58

agreement with WCA public safety

2:00:01

assessment for the purpose of providing

2:00:03

psychological testing and assessment for

2:00:06

the city's Bureau of Police. This would

2:00:08

keep needed psychological testing and

2:00:10

assessment in place for our police

2:00:12

department. Uh, and the fees for the

2:00:14

2026 years are as follows. For the

2:00:16

postcond conditional offer,

2:00:18

psychological evaluation is $425.

2:00:21

Promotional evaluation is $425.

2:00:23

The fitness of duty evaluation is $300

2:00:26

per hour. The wellness visit is $250.

2:00:29

The PTSD evaluation is $525

2:00:33

and the specialized service evaluation

2:00:35

for SWAT, hostage, negotiator, or K9

2:00:37

unit is $425.

2:00:40

Uh, I do ask my colleagues to support

2:00:41

this resolution. That concludes my

2:00:43

report. Thank you.

2:00:44

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Green.

2:00:47

We do not have any ordinances for first

2:00:50

me reading, excuse me, ordinances for

2:00:52

amendment or ordinances for final

2:00:55

passage. We will move forward with our

2:00:58

resolutions.

2:01:02

I'll begin with those that are being

2:01:06

referred to committee and the table

2:01:08

resolution. Resolution

2:01:11

three of 2026. Mr. Trudeau, could you

2:01:14

just read it into the record? It will be

2:01:15

tabled, but just for everybody's

2:01:17

reference.

2:01:18

>> Resolution 3, 2026, a resolution, a

2:01:21

resolution approving the first proposed

2:01:23

2026 budget reallocation in order to

2:01:26

authorize the roll forward of certain

2:01:28

2025 budget year encumbered commitments

2:01:30

and to reaffirm certain 2025 capital

2:01:33

project and program appropriations.

2:01:36

>> Thank you. As I mentioned during our

2:01:38

legislative caucus, resolution 3 of 2026

2:01:42

will be tabled uh this evening. Uh I'm

2:01:45

going to continue with the referrals

2:01:47

since we're here. Resolution 6 of 2026.

2:01:50

Mr. Trudeell, could you please read it

2:01:52

into the record? Resolution 6, 2026, a

2:01:55

resolution ratifying a Commonwealth of

2:01:57

Pennsylvania Department of

2:01:58

Transportation Green Light GO grant

2:02:01

application and authorizing the city of

2:02:03

Harrisburg to execute any agreements,

2:02:05

forms, and documents related to the

2:02:07

award of 387

2:02:10

$38

2:02:12

to update traffic signal equipment with

2:02:15

the Allison Hill neighborhood.

2:02:17

>> Thank you. Resolution six of 2026 will

2:02:20

move to the public works committee. Next

2:02:22

we have resolution 7 of 2026. Mr.

2:02:25

Trudale, could you please read it into

2:02:27

the record?

2:02:28

>> Resolution 7, 2026, a resolution

2:02:30

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

2:02:32

negotiate and enter into a professional

2:02:34

services agreement with Elizabeth

2:02:36

Sherber to provide sign language

2:02:38

interpretation services.

2:02:40

>> Thank you. Resolution 7 of 2026 will

2:02:43

move to the administration committee.

2:02:45

Next, we have resolution 8 of 2026. Mr.

2:02:48

Trudale, could you please read it into

2:02:50

the record? Resolution 8, 2026, a

2:02:53

resolution authorizing the city of

2:02:54

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

2:02:56

professional services agreement with

2:02:58

Joshua Bar to provide sign language

2:03:01

interpretation services.

2:03:03

>> Thank you. Resolution 8 of 2026 will

2:03:06

also move to the administration

2:03:08

committee. Our final resolution this

2:03:10

evening is resolution 9 of 2026. Mr.

2:03:13

Trudeelle, could you please read it into

2:03:15

the record? Resolution 9, 2026, a

2:03:17

resolution authorizing the submission of

2:03:19

a grant application to the United States

2:03:21

Department of Transportation, better

2:03:23

utilizing investments to leverage

2:03:25

development grant program for up to $3

2:03:27

million to improve safety within four

2:03:30

roadway corridors to include Division

2:03:32

Street, North 6th Street, Marcus Street,

2:03:34

and South 17th Street.

2:03:36

>> Thank you. Resolution 9 of 2026 will

2:03:40

also move to the public works committee.

2:03:44

So, we will go back to resolution one of

2:03:46

2026. Mr. Trudeale, could you please

2:03:49

read it into the record?

2:03:52

>> Resolution 1, 2026, a resolution

2:03:54

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

2:03:56

negotiate and enter into a professional

2:03:58

services agreement

2:04:00

with WCA public safety assessments for

2:04:03

the purpose of providing psychological

2:04:04

testing and assessment for the city's

2:04:06

Bureau of Police.

2:04:08

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

2:04:09

any final questions, comments, or

2:04:11

concerns related to resolution one of

2:04:14

2026?

2:04:16

>> Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudale,

2:04:18

could you please call the vote?

2:04:19

>> Miss Davis,

2:04:20

>> yes.

2:04:21

>> Miss Green,

2:04:22

>> yes.

2:04:23

>> Mr. Jones,

2:04:24

>> yay.

2:04:26

>> Mr. Len,

2:04:27

>> yes.

2:04:28

>> Miss Rolls,

2:04:29

>> yes.

2:04:30

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

2:04:31

>> yes.

2:04:32

>> Miss Hill,

2:04:33

>> yes.

2:04:34

>> Resolution 1, 2026 passes by vote of

2:04:37

seven to zero.

2:04:38

Thank you. Next, we have resolution two

2:04:41

of 2026. Mr. Trudale, could you please

2:04:44

read it into the record?

2:04:45

>> Resolution 2, 2026, a resolution

2:04:48

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

2:04:50

negotiate and enter into a professional

2:04:52

services agreement with Flora Teter

2:04:54

Landscape Architects Incorporated to

2:04:56

provide landscape architectural services

2:04:58

for Vernon Street Park and playground

2:05:00

located at 15th Street and Vernon

2:05:02

Street.

2:05:03

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

2:05:05

any final questions, comments, or

2:05:07

concerns related to resolution 2 of

2:05:10

2026? Seeing and hearing none, Mr.

2:05:12

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

2:05:14

>> Miss Davis,

2:05:15

>> yes.

2:05:16

>> Miss Green,

2:05:18

>> yes.

2:05:19

>> Mr. Jones,

2:05:20

>> yay.

2:05:21

>> Mr. Lolen,

2:05:22

>> yes.

2:05:24

>> Miss Rolls,

2:05:25

>> yes.

2:05:26

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

2:05:27

>> yes.

2:05:28

>> Miss Hill,

2:05:29

>> yes.

2:05:29

>> Resolution 2, 2026 passes by vote of 7

2:05:32

to zero.

2:05:34

Thank you. Resolution 4 of 2026. Mr.

2:05:38

Trudeale, could you please read it into

2:05:40

the record?

2:05:42

Resolution

2:05:45

4, 2026, a resolution approving the

2:05:47

preliminary/final land development plan

2:05:50

for 1332 North Second Street submitted

2:05:53

by Adam Brenamman of Brenamman

2:05:54

Properties LLC to expand the existing

2:05:57

non-conforming multifamily dwelling use

2:06:00

on site by converting space occupied by

2:06:02

the former funeral home and associated

2:06:04

site and access improvements.

2:06:06

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

2:06:08

any final questions, comments, or

2:06:10

concerns related to resolution 4 of

2:06:13

2026?

2:06:15

I have one comment. Um, the applicant

2:06:18

shared that of the eight new units,

2:06:23

approximately two, uh, would be deemed

2:06:27

approved or affordable for our residents

2:06:30

if the applicant was interested in the

2:06:32

affordable housing uh, program. um they

2:06:35

indicated that they are not for this

2:06:38

particular project due to the financing.

2:06:41

So as a result I will be a no vote on

2:06:44

this resolution. Mr. Trudeale, could you

2:06:47

please call the vote?

2:06:48

>> Miss Davis?

2:06:49

>> Yes.

2:06:51

>> Miss Green?

2:06:52

>> Yes.

2:06:53

>> Mr. Jones?

2:06:55

>> Yay.

2:06:56

>> Mr. Len,

2:06:58

>> yes.

2:06:59

>> Miss Rolls,

2:07:00

>> yes.

2:07:01

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

2:07:02

>> yes. Miss Hill.

2:07:05

>> No.

2:07:06

>> Resolution 4 2026 passes by vot 6 to1.

2:07:10

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution five

2:07:12

of 2026. Mr. Trudeale, could you please

2:07:16

read it into the record?

2:07:17

>> Resolution 5 2026. A resolution

2:07:20

approving the preliminary land

2:07:22

development plan for 2601 North 3rd

2:07:25

Street, building one submitted by Gregor

2:07:28

Gregory Haloquist of Penmark Harrisburg

2:07:30

Holdings LLC to convert the vacant

2:07:33

hospital building into a mixeduse

2:07:34

building and associated site and access

2:07:36

improvements.

2:07:38

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

2:07:39

any final questions, comments, or

2:07:41

concerns related to resolution five of

2:07:44

2026?

2:07:46

Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr.

2:07:47

Trudeelle, could you please call the

2:07:48

vote? Miss Davis,

2:07:50

>> yes.

2:07:52

>> Miss Green,

2:07:53

>> yes.

2:07:54

>> Mr. Jones,

2:07:55

>> yay.

2:07:56

>> Mr. Lawson,

2:07:57

>> yes.

2:07:58

>> Miss Rolls,

2:07:59

>> yes.

2:08:00

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

2:08:02

>> yes.

2:08:02

>> Miss Hill,

2:08:03

>> yes.

2:08:04

>> Resolution 5, 2026 passes by 7 to zero.

2:08:10

>> Thank you. Uh, council members, is there

2:08:13

any old business for discussion?

2:08:16

I have one note. I just wanted to note

2:08:19

uh the receipt of the fourth quarter

2:08:22

quarterly reports. Please note for

2:08:25

everyone's reference that they um have

2:08:27

been posted to the city's website under

2:08:30

miss ecodes of course under

2:08:33

miscellaneous documents. So I just

2:08:34

wanted to note that. Is there any other

2:08:37

old business? Okay, seeing hearing none,

2:08:40

any new business? Okay, seeing hearing

2:08:42

none, the time is 7:15 p.m. I will

2:08:45

entertain a motion to adjourn our

2:08:47

legislative session.

2:08:48

>> So move.

2:08:49

>> Is there a second?

2:08:50

>> Second.

2:08:50

>> Thank you. We stand adjourn.

2:08:55

>> The time is 7:16

2:08:58

p.m. I would like to call our work

2:09:00

session to order.

2:09:02

Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

2:09:04

role?

2:09:07

>> Miss Davis,

2:09:07

>> present. Miss Green

2:09:12

>> present.

2:09:13

>> Mr. Jones

2:09:14

>> here.

2:09:15

>> Mr. Lson

2:09:17

>> here.

2:09:18

>> Miss Rolls

2:09:19

>> present.

2:09:20

>> Mr. Rodriguez

2:09:21

>> present.

2:09:22

>> Miss Hill

2:09:22

>> present. Thank you. Um I'd like to begin

2:09:25

with the two resolutions

2:09:28

that are before the administration

2:09:30

committee. Resolution 7 of 2026 and

2:09:34

resolution 8 of 2026. Mr. Mr. Trudeale,

2:09:37

could you please read both resolutions

2:09:39

into the record?

2:09:42

>> Resolution 7, 2026, a resolution

2:09:45

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

2:09:47

negotiate and enter into a professional

2:09:49

services agreement with Elizabeth Sheber

2:09:51

to provide sign language interpretation

2:09:53

services. Resolution 8, 2026, a

2:09:57

resolution authorizing the city of

2:09:58

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

2:10:00

professional services agreement with

2:10:02

Joshua Walker to provide sign language

2:10:05

interpretation services.

2:10:07

>> Thank you. If you guys wouldn't mind

2:10:09

joining us, I know this is a different

2:10:11

side of the table that you're normally

2:10:13

on.

2:10:16

Thank you for joining us. Thank you for

2:10:18

your patience this evening. I just

2:10:20

wanted to remind everybody that um we

2:10:23

are no longer contracting with Houseion

2:10:26

Communication Services and so um you may

2:10:31

have seen these familiar faces uh

2:10:34

through their work. So as a result we

2:10:38

are um individually contracting with the

2:10:41

interpreters so that we can maintain uh

2:10:45

the inclusive service that we are

2:10:47

providing for our residents. So, if you

2:10:49

both wouldn't mind just taking a few

2:10:51

minutes to introduce yourselves, maybe

2:10:53

tell us a little bit about how you um

2:10:58

became interested in sign language

2:11:00

interpretation.

2:11:03

>> Hi, I'm Josh Ber, um a certified sign

2:11:06

language interpreter. I've been working

2:11:08

since 200

2:11:08

>> I'm sorry. Can you move the microphone

2:11:10

closer to you? Thank you.

2:11:12

>> Do I need to start again? Did you hear

2:11:13

me?

2:11:13

>> You can start again. Yes.

2:11:15

>> Hi, Josh Bucker. I'm a certified sign

2:11:17

language interpreter. been working since

2:11:18

2010. Um, yeah, I started in my church

2:11:23

when I was young and really enjoyed it.

2:11:24

Went to Bloomsburg University, got my

2:11:26

degree there, and then from there I got

2:11:28

my certification for the state and then

2:11:29

my national certification.

2:11:32

>> That's awesome.

2:11:34

>> I'm Elizabeth Sheber. Um, I've been

2:11:38

signing since 2016 and I'm also a

2:11:42

certified sign language interpreter. Um,

2:11:45

I

2:11:47

discovered signing in college really and

2:11:50

that I just it just took stuck and I it

2:11:52

took off from there. Yeah.

2:11:54

>> Awesome. Thank you. Well, I'm familiar

2:11:57

with your work so I really don't have a

2:11:58

lot of questions. The these are just the

2:12:00

formalities that we have to go through.

2:12:02

So, I will open the floor to my

2:12:04

colleagues who may have some additional

2:12:05

questions for you. Um, I will begin with

2:12:08

Councilman Lawson. Any questions?

2:12:11

>> Thank you, President Hill. No questions.

2:12:13

just want to thank you for your service.

2:12:15

Um it's very important to make um uh

2:12:19

these meetings as accessible as as

2:12:21

possible and as someone who who goes to

2:12:25

the gym and watches closed caption, I

2:12:26

know you cannot always rely on that

2:12:29

being accurate or or correct when when

2:12:32

uh looking at the the meeting. So your

2:12:34

service is something that is desperately

2:12:36

needed for a lot of our residents. So we

2:12:38

we thank you.

2:12:40

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Ross. Any

2:12:43

questions?

2:12:44

>> Good evening to you both. Um, I don't

2:12:46

have any questions. I've seen your work.

2:12:49

Um, I just really want to thank you all

2:12:51

for coming in and allowing us to um give

2:12:54

this type of inclusionality to our um

2:12:57

our residents who this really services.

2:13:00

So, just thank you for being

2:13:01

professional in the way that you um do

2:13:04

give your services and just thank you

2:13:06

for doing that.

2:13:08

>> Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. Any

2:13:10

questions?

2:13:11

>> Thank you, Madam President. Thank you

2:13:12

both for joining us this evening as

2:13:14

always and giving us your few words on

2:13:16

why you do what you do and your passion.

2:13:18

Um I've been at home on many meetings

2:13:20

and witnessed you doing what you do and

2:13:21

it looks magnificent. So I I wouldn't

2:13:24

I'd be lying if I said I didn't try to

2:13:25

keep up with it from time to time but I

2:13:28

um I guess my question may be to either

2:13:30

madam president or legal. What was the

2:13:32

main reason we won't be going through uh

2:13:34

was it houseion and going more direct?

2:13:36

>> They decided they weren't interested in

2:13:38

contracting. There's no no bad Yeah. No

2:13:41

bad blood, nothing. I just chose not to

2:13:43

anymore.

2:13:44

>> Just curious. But thank you both for all

2:13:45

you do and I look forward to many more

2:13:48

uh sessions with you guys in front of

2:13:49

the camera. Thank you.

2:13:51

>> Thank you, Councilwoman Davis. Any

2:13:53

questions?

2:13:54

>> Uh thank you, President Hill. Um no, no

2:13:57

questions. U Mr. Bogger

2:14:01

>> and Miss Sheber, thank you for being

2:14:03

here this evening. I think it takes a

2:14:05

special person with a special heart to

2:14:08

want to offer this service and thank you

2:14:12

for reaching our residents, our visually

2:14:15

and hearing impaired residents with your

2:14:18

services. So, thank you.

2:14:20

>> Thank you. Uh, Councilwoman Green, did

2:14:23

you have any questions for our

2:14:24

interpreters?

2:14:25

>> Thank you, President Hill. Thank you

2:14:26

both for being here tonight and thank

2:14:28

you for your service. Um, I apologize

2:14:31

that I had to step out for a moment and

2:14:32

and missed uh the conversation. I don't

2:14:34

have any questions reading over the

2:14:36

resolutions though and thank you for

2:14:37

what you do.

2:14:38

>> Thank you. If there are no further

2:14:40

questions.

2:14:40

>> Oh, excuse me, President Hill. Yes. Uh,

2:14:43

I meant to just mention

2:14:45

uh hearing impaired, not visually

2:14:48

impaired. Thank you.

2:14:50

>> You're welcome. Um, if there are no

2:14:52

further questions, I move to add

2:14:54

resolution 7 of 2026 and resolution 8 of

2:14:59

2026 to our next legislative session

2:15:02

agenda for a formal vote. Thank you.

2:15:05

>> Thank you.

2:15:08

>> This concludes the business of the

2:15:11

administration committee. Next, we have

2:15:14

business with the public works

2:15:17

committee. I will defer to our public

2:15:19

works committee chair, Councilman

2:15:21

Rodriguez, to lead discussion.

2:15:22

>> Thank you, Madam President. And tonight

2:15:24

for the public works uh committee, we

2:15:26

are discussing resolution 6 of 2026 and

2:15:29

resolution uh 9 of 2026. Mr. Trudale,

2:15:32

can you read both resolution 6 of 26 and

2:15:35

resolution 9 of 26 into the record,

2:15:37

please? Resolution 6, 2026, a resolution

2:15:40

ratifying a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

2:15:42

Department of Transportation Green Light

2:15:44

GO grant application and authorizing the

2:15:46

city of Harrisburg to execute any

2:15:48

agreements, forms, and documents related

2:15:50

to the award of 387,380

2:15:55

to update traffic signal equipment

2:15:57

within the Allison Hill neighborhood.

2:15:59

Resolution 9, 2026, a resolution

2:16:02

authorizing the submission of a grant

2:16:04

application to the United States

2:16:06

Department of Transportation better

2:16:07

utilizing investments to leverage

2:16:09

development grant program for up to $3

2:16:11

million to improve safety within four

2:16:14

roadway corridors to include Division

2:16:16

Street, North 6th Street, Market Street,

2:16:18

and South 17th Street.

2:16:20

>> Thank you for that, Mr. Chale. And I see

2:16:23

um our city engineer, Mr. Joel Cider

2:16:25

with us. Good to see you. Good evening.

2:16:27

>> Good evening. um if you'd like to give a

2:16:29

overhaul of resolution six of 2026 first

2:16:32

for council please.

2:16:33

>> So the green light go grant that we

2:16:35

submitted for and then we're

2:16:36

subsequently uh awarded is for 13 signal

2:16:42

uh intersections in the Allison Hill

2:16:44

area mostly along uh the market street

2:16:47

corridor and the 17th street corridor.

2:16:50

These upgrades are uh really safety

2:16:53

upgrades. Uh some retiming to alleviate

2:16:57

congestion, increased pedestrian

2:17:00

intervals to allow safer passage across

2:17:02

the streets and um

2:17:06

just more high visible crosswalks. Uh

2:17:08

some locations will receive ADA ramp

2:17:11

upgrades, but that is an as needed

2:17:14

basis. But that's pretty much the the

2:17:16

overall of that that project. Um, have

2:17:19

you identified any areas that need the

2:17:21

ADA compliance upgrades as of now?

2:17:23

>> As of now? No.

2:17:24

>> Okay. Okay. All right. Um, I'll open it

2:17:27

up to my colleagues on council, starting

2:17:29

with my far right, Councilwoman Lawson.

2:17:33

>> Thank you, uh, Chair Rodriguez. Um, I I

2:17:35

don't have any

2:17:38

Well, actually, yeah, just, uh, bringing

2:17:40

up the, uh, the ADA access, um, just

2:17:43

because I didn't think of that. There

2:17:45

were there certain areas that were um

2:17:49

>> so we we wrote that into the scope in

2:17:52

the case that we identify those during

2:17:54

the design.

2:17:55

>> Okay. So they haven't been quite

2:17:57

identified yet. Just it was just

2:17:59

curiosity and and nothing more than that

2:18:01

behind that. That that's all that I

2:18:03

have. Thank you.

2:18:03

>> Absolutely. Councilwoman Green.

2:18:06

>> Thank you very much. Councilman

2:18:08

Rodriguez. I don't have any questions

2:18:09

for you. Thank you for being here

2:18:10

tonight.

2:18:11

>> All right. Uh, President Hill,

2:18:14

>> good evening. Thank you. I don't have

2:18:15

any questions.

2:18:16

>> All right, Councilwoman Ross.

2:18:19

>> I'm sorry. Good evening. Thank you for

2:18:21

being here tonight. I don't have any

2:18:23

questions. I think I'm just um excited

2:18:26

to see another project, especially in

2:18:28

the House and Hill Center. I know

2:18:30

residents have been very concerned with

2:18:33

they love that we've had so many

2:18:35

projects going on, but they feel like

2:18:36

it's been concentrated in one area. So,

2:18:39

I think um we just had members from

2:18:41

Powder Hill come and speak about Alison

2:18:43

Hill and the parks, but I'm sure there's

2:18:44

also some other issues. So, I think this

2:18:47

um brings some light to saying, you

2:18:49

know, some we are doing some things and

2:18:51

projects in that area. So, um thank you

2:18:53

for keeping them on the radar. We look

2:18:56

forward to future ones.

2:18:57

>> Yeah, I I agree. It's it's refreshing,

2:19:01

as we stated before, to see

2:19:02

concentration more on Allison Hill,

2:19:04

South Allison Hill. Um, for many times

2:19:07

these are just areas that are

2:19:08

overlooked. So, you know, we really

2:19:10

appreciate it. Uh, Councilwoman Davis,

2:19:13

>> thank you, Councilman Rodriguez, and

2:19:15

thank you for being here this evening.

2:19:17

Yes, as my colleagues mentioned, my

2:19:20

sentiments go out towards these areas

2:19:22

and it's in particularly 17th in Market.

2:19:26

That area is just congested at any given

2:19:30

time on any given day. it's not just um

2:19:34

after work hours or in the morning. So,

2:19:37

I look forward to this project and for

2:19:40

some relief for the residents and

2:19:42

hopefully as the lights um get upgraded,

2:19:46

the lights get upgraded, then the

2:19:48

congestion will disperse and it will

2:19:51

help other areas surrounding Market

2:19:55

Street 17th and Market. So, thank you

2:19:57

for your work.

2:19:58

>> Excuse me.

2:19:58

>> That's our plan.

2:20:00

>> Thank you. All right. Thank you. Does

2:20:02

anyone else on council has anything else

2:20:04

to add regarding resolution six of 2026?

2:20:08

All right. And um right going right into

2:20:10

resolution nine of 26, which I'm also

2:20:12

excited about. Um we've seen a lot of

2:20:15

development on division and of course

2:20:16

uptown, but to see you know Market

2:20:18

Street and South 17th on this roster,

2:20:20

it's once again refreshing. So Mr.

2:20:22

Siders, if you would like to give an

2:20:24

overhaul of resolution 9 of 2026 for

2:20:26

council, please.

2:20:27

>> Yes. So the build grant is a a federal

2:20:30

grant and we are applying for a planning

2:20:33

grant. So this it it construction is

2:20:36

still many many years off but this is

2:20:38

more to get us to the design phase and

2:20:40

then um once we have a a final design we

2:20:43

can then bid it out for construction.

2:20:44

But the limits for this uh include um

2:20:48

division street from 2nd to 7th 6th

2:20:51

street from division to probably

2:20:54

Forester uh Marcus Street from Cameron

2:20:57

to 25th and 17th Street from Market to

2:21:02

probably Paxton Street.

2:21:03

>> Say Cameron to 25th.

2:21:05

>> Yeah,

2:21:05

>> that's awesome.

2:21:06

>> So, um

2:21:08

that's why the ask for this is $3

2:21:10

million because that is a massive area

2:21:14

and our plans are to do

2:21:17

extensive safety improvements. Um just

2:21:21

think of Second Street but applied

2:21:22

throughout the whole city. So that's

2:21:25

>> and just for the residents watching that

2:21:26

may not be cognizant of, you know, the

2:21:28

projects you're referring to. Can you

2:21:30

speak to some of those improvements that

2:21:31

may entail with this project?

2:21:33

>> Sure. So it would be traffic and calming

2:21:34

elements such as raised crosswalks,

2:21:36

roundabouts. I know not everyone's a a

2:21:38

fan, but uh they do slow people down. Um

2:21:44

like curb bumpouts that help uh people

2:21:46

cross the the road safer. Um we could do

2:21:49

some sort of road diet. And then I would

2:21:52

also mention that multimodal will be a

2:21:55

big part of this design as well. So

2:21:56

we'll we'll add bike and bus amenities

2:21:59

along all those corridors as well.

2:22:01

>> Now Cameron to 25th how wide from what

2:22:04

to what like state to uh

2:22:07

>> it'll be up market street from Cameron

2:22:09

to 25th along market

2:22:10

>> just market straight up. Okay. Okay.

2:22:12

Will that include um curbs different

2:22:15

things like that? Also ADA improvements.

2:22:18

It will include all the um safety

2:22:20

upgrades as well as accessibility.

2:22:23

>> That'd be great because there still are

2:22:25

a lot of communities that still don't

2:22:26

even have curbs that are highly unsafe

2:22:28

for the seniors, not to mention the

2:22:30

children that walk to and from school

2:22:31

every day. So, that's amazing. All

2:22:33

right. Um I'll open it up to council

2:22:35

this time starting with my immediate

2:22:37

left. Councilwoman Davis.

2:22:38

>> Thank you. Councilman Rodriguez,

2:22:41

can you speak to the current um

2:22:45

situation on Market Street um and the

2:22:49

construction that's going on and give us

2:22:51

an update of where we're at with the um

2:22:55

the equipment that's there 13th in

2:22:57

Market uh 14th in Regina.

2:23:01

>> So that that is a Capitol Region water

2:23:04

project. They're replacing a sewer main.

2:23:07

Um, as far as I am aware, they are

2:23:10

nearing completion of the really big

2:23:13

replacement of of the main line and then

2:23:17

they'll go to the smaller lines and

2:23:18

that's just less intensive. Um,

2:23:21

unfortunately these pipes are buried

2:23:24

probably like 15 feet deep so the holes

2:23:26

pretty big and it requires the whole

2:23:28

unfortunately the whole intersection to

2:23:30

be closed while they're doing their

2:23:32

construction activities.

2:23:34

>> Thank you very much. I mean that gives

2:23:37

some uh insight to our residents as

2:23:40

well.

2:23:40

>> So that that is nothing the city is

2:23:43

doing. We're just working in conjunction

2:23:44

with CRW to kind of oversee not oversee

2:23:48

but to work with them to for the

2:23:51

closures and and make sure they restore

2:23:54

the road then to a proper

2:23:55

specifications.

2:23:57

>> Okay. Thank you very much.

2:23:58

>> And thank you for that too, Councilwoman

2:24:00

Davis. There's a lot of residents that

2:24:01

stay right there in that concentrated

2:24:03

area that don't have a clue what's going

2:24:04

on. And I know I couldn't pro pose the

2:24:07

questions to you as far as the outreach

2:24:09

and you know how many residents have

2:24:10

been reached out to, but is there any

2:24:12

way that we can sustain communication

2:24:14

until that project's over with the

2:24:16

residents in that area? Um I just

2:24:18

haven't seen it done and you know I

2:24:20

myself sometimes forget about it. Take

2:24:22

the kids to New York Friday after

2:24:23

school, get them something to eat and I

2:24:24

completely forget. I can't even park. So

2:24:28

um is there any way we can like up uh

2:24:30

the communication on immediate residents

2:24:32

in that area? Not sure if that would be

2:24:34

through trash bills or just our

2:24:36

communication via communications on the

2:24:37

website what that looks like, but um

2:24:39

anyway we can partner.

2:24:40

>> Yeah, I'll certainly reach out to

2:24:42

communications and see what we can work

2:24:43

out.

2:24:44

>> That would be amazing. Uh Councilwoman

2:24:46

Ross,

2:24:48

>> thank you. Um I don't really have any

2:24:50

questions. Um I think we all know that

2:24:52

these projects are a necessity. Um I'm

2:24:55

just going to say something in a

2:24:57

proactive way. I think that um some

2:25:01

concerns that even residents spoke with

2:25:03

today and that we've had in the past is

2:25:05

looking at the companies we hire and

2:25:08

making sure they are local Harrisburg

2:25:11

companies. And I know that when you go

2:25:14

through the process after getting the

2:25:15

grant and you go through the process of

2:25:18

uh picking a project manager, which I

2:25:20

would assume you would um be in charge

2:25:22

of doing or at least having a voting

2:25:24

board that would help you do that. Um, I

2:25:28

would just ask looking at ones that work

2:25:31

with in our city that work with our city

2:25:34

that will think about our disadvantaged

2:25:36

businesses that don't always get picked

2:25:39

or looked at. Um, I think when we know

2:25:42

better, we do better. And I think we can

2:25:44

also do our processes differently. And I

2:25:47

would love to see you working with

2:25:48

equity and compliance to see what

2:25:51

businesses are working with our city.

2:25:53

Um, you know, we have Dena there. I

2:25:55

believe her name is. So, I think that

2:25:58

let's take charge and see how we work

2:26:01

together as a city um to promote these

2:26:04

businesses and and let residents know we

2:26:06

do hear them. So, I'm I'm just I'm

2:26:09

charging you with this.

2:26:11

>> Um it's just a nice ask and I think

2:26:14

anybody up here on council is here to

2:26:16

help because we want whoever comes in

2:26:18

front of us for us. Um we know that it

2:26:21

was a work in pro, you know, together

2:26:23

project. Um, also just proactive too. I

2:26:27

know with State Street, um, it didn't

2:26:29

get the completion that it needed and we

2:26:31

know it is, um, a a street that is in

2:26:35

need of help, but some things weren't

2:26:36

done the way the residents needed it to

2:26:39

and communication fail. So, I think with

2:26:42

these projects, just making sure we're

2:26:44

communicating with residents. It's not

2:26:46

they don't want it, they just want to be

2:26:47

included. So, I think just being

2:26:49

proactive in that way and making sure

2:26:51

their voices are heard, I think we're

2:26:52

going to get a lot done. So, I'm just

2:26:54

charging you with that and I'm here to

2:26:56

help.

2:26:58

>> Thank you, Councilwoman. Uh, President

2:27:00

Hill,

2:27:00

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

2:27:02

related to resolution 9 of 2026.

2:27:05

>> Thank you, Vice President Jones.

2:27:08

>> How you doing this evening? No

2:27:10

questions.

2:27:11

>> Right. Councilwoman Green,

2:27:13

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

2:27:15

questions for you regarding this. Thank

2:27:16

you.

2:27:17

>> All right. And Councilman Lawson,

2:27:20

>> thank you very much. And I'm I'm just

2:27:22

going to be a an echo of uh Councilwoman

2:27:26

Ross. Um definitely making sure that we

2:27:29

first engage with um our local

2:27:32

businesses and look to make sure that we

2:27:34

are hiring as the city being the lead in

2:27:37

in hiring a diverse business to help you

2:27:40

know with work with everything that we

2:27:42

can and we have the resources to to to

2:27:44

find them and make that happen. So, I

2:27:46

think that's very important and I'm I'm

2:27:48

glad she brought it up and I'm glad I

2:27:50

get to echo her. And then the second

2:27:52

part I want to echo just so it doesn't

2:27:54

fall apart as State Street did is that

2:27:57

we do reach out to our residents as we

2:28:00

make any changes that we we get out

2:28:02

there in front of them and and have some

2:28:04

public comment uh meetings just so that

2:28:07

we can let people know what we're doing

2:28:09

and how we're doing it. And then the

2:28:11

last selfish request is can we take

2:28:16

Division Street one more street down the

2:28:19

front just because it's very difficult

2:28:22

getting off Division onto Front Street

2:28:25

especially at night when or early

2:28:28

morning when the the lights are are are

2:28:30

down.

2:28:32

>> Yeah, I can certainly make that ask.

2:28:34

>> Okay, great. Thank you very much.

2:28:36

>> Welcome.

2:28:36

>> All right. Uh, are there any more

2:28:38

comments, sentiments, um, regarding

2:28:41

either of these resolutions we discussed

2:28:43

tonight in the public works committee?

2:28:45

>> All right. Thank you, um, city engineer,

2:28:48

Mr. Ciders, thank you for joining us as

2:28:49

always. It's a pleasure. Uh, and I'd

2:28:51

like to add resolution 6 of 26 and

2:28:53

resolution 9 of 2026 to our next

2:28:56

legislative session. And that concludes

2:28:58

the work of the public works committee.

2:29:00

Thank you.

2:29:00

>> Thank you.

2:29:08

Um we this is our second opportunity as

2:29:11

we mentioned for public comment. So just

2:29:12

a few housekeeping notes. If you are

2:29:15

interested in offering public comment,

2:29:17

please state your name and your address

2:29:19

for the meeting record. If you don't

2:29:21

feel comfortable sharing your address,

2:29:22

please share the vicinity in which you

2:29:24

live within the city. You will have four

2:29:26

minutes to share your comments. Mr.

2:29:29

Trudale will serve as our timekeeper. He

2:29:32

has added a timer to the screen for your

2:29:34

reference. I will begin to my right. Is

2:29:36

there anyone that would like to offer

2:29:38

public comment?

2:29:40

Okay, seeing hearing no one, anyone in

2:29:42

the middle section,

2:29:53

Kia Fowler, North Fifth Street. I want

2:29:55

to apologize to council for my

2:29:56

inappropriate outburst earlier. I had a

2:29:59

moment, but I do recognize that it was

2:30:00

inappropriate. Um, second, I wanted to

2:30:03

acknowledge and appreciate the council's

2:30:05

work to um try and serve underserved

2:30:08

populations in the community. I think

2:30:09

it's so important to have diversity in

2:30:11

the community and to focus on a

2:30:13

rejuvenation and assistance of

2:30:14

underserved communities, especially like

2:30:16

the Allison Hill neighborhood. Um, a lot

2:30:18

of people could use a lot of assistance.

2:30:19

So, it's really good to see that the

2:30:21

council really appreciates that need.

2:30:23

Um, third, I know last time I went over

2:30:26

time, so this is going to be a little

2:30:27

repetitive, but I wanted to read out my

2:30:29

list of 12 requests to the council in

2:30:31

full.

2:30:33

Uh, our first was passing non-ooperation

2:30:35

agreement. Second was applying pressure

2:30:36

for 287g agreements. Um, third was

2:30:40

follow in the footsteps of LA County and

2:30:42

ban use of facial coverings by local,

2:30:44

state, and federal law enforcement

2:30:46

during regular duty operations. require

2:30:48

that all local, state, and federal law

2:30:50

enforcement display visible personal

2:30:51

identification and agency affiliation

2:30:53

during regular duty operations. Four,

2:30:56

prohibit use of city resources. City

2:30:58

buildings, equipment, staff, time, and

2:31:00

funding should not be used to support

2:31:02

ICE operations. Local tax dollars should

2:31:04

serve Harrisburg residents. Five,

2:31:06

prohibit DHS from using administrative

2:31:07

warrants, either by banning or refusing

2:31:09

to accept them. Six, prohibit DHS from

2:31:12

operating within the city without a

2:31:14

signed judicial warrant. Seven, prohibit

2:31:16

DHS from entering any location, whether

2:31:18

private, public, or governmentowned,

2:31:20

without a signed judicial warrant.

2:31:22

Eight, adopt strong data privacy

2:31:24

policies. Limit what personal data the

2:31:26

city collects, how long it keeps it, and

2:31:28

when it can be shared. Nine, require

2:31:31

transparency and notice. Publicly

2:31:33

disclose any requests from ICE for city

2:31:35

assistance whenever legally permitted.

2:31:36

We want a transparent local government.

2:31:38

And I know this government does uh try

2:31:41

quite hard for transparency. This is

2:31:43

just kind of part of a general list of

2:31:44

asks I've compiled.

2:31:46

10. Um, fund or support know your rights

2:31:49

education. Provide information sessions,

2:31:51

multilingual materials, and partnerships

2:31:53

with trusted organizations. 11. Protect

2:31:56

city services from being used as traps.

2:31:58

Ensure residents can access libraries,

2:32:00

utilities, permits, and burrow services

2:32:02

without fear of immigration enforcement.

2:32:04

Uh, 12 was my final statement about

2:32:06

communication. Thank you very much for

2:32:07

your time.

2:32:09

>> Thank you. Is there anyone to my left

2:32:11

that would like to offer public comment?

2:32:12

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know you had

2:32:14

additional comments.

2:32:18

I also would like to apologize for my um

2:32:22

emotional sabotage that

2:32:26

what I wanted to express to you guys is

2:32:28

that people often come and use the black

2:32:32

card to grab you and make you jump on a

2:32:35

ship that's sinking

2:32:38

because you're melanated. They will come

2:32:40

and they will use emotional connection.

2:32:44

They don't use the N-word, but they

2:32:46

might as well have with all the Mandelas

2:32:48

and all the George Floyds and all the

2:32:51

other things that they say to you to

2:32:54

emotionally sabotage you from making

2:32:57

decisions that are sound. And that is

2:33:01

what I intended on saying to you before

2:33:03

I got into the whole veterans thing.

2:33:08

Um, you guys are a bunch of smart group

2:33:12

for sure. well educated

2:33:15

and uh you know the Black Panthers they

2:33:18

have said this is not your fight this is

2:33:20

not your fight and every time they need

2:33:23

numbers it's all about numbers they come

2:33:26

to you they come to the minority

2:33:29

community

2:33:30

rehabs they come to you but yet the

2:33:33

minority community don't have no real

2:33:35

rehab

2:33:37

the rehabs that the minority community

2:33:38

would need is more like for medical for

2:33:41

marijuana to keep people from that

2:33:44

addiction and not the other substance

2:33:48

that's not necessarily affecting the

2:33:50

black community. But when they need that

2:33:52

rehab money, they come to you. That's

2:33:54

just one example of how every time they

2:33:56

need something, they come to you and

2:33:59

they use the numbers because you, you

2:34:01

know, there's strength in numbers and

2:34:03

they want you to jump on their bandwagon

2:34:05

when it's not even your fight. It has

2:34:07

nothing to do with black Americans.

2:34:11

And we're tired of people always using

2:34:13

the melanated part of us

2:34:17

to grab us into some emotional turmoil

2:34:20

to make decisions

2:34:22

based on slavery and things that's we

2:34:26

have come far far from

2:34:30

I am not a descendant of a slave person.

2:34:33

And if you want to talk about melanated

2:34:35

people, we can talk about Kim, modernday

2:34:40

Egypt, where we were royals and

2:34:42

recognized as such. We can also talk

2:34:45

about when we're talking about slavery.

2:34:49

We can talk about how the Arabs

2:34:51

contributed

2:34:53

up to today.

2:34:55

You can't go into the EU without handing

2:34:58

over your passport

2:35:01

and being subjected to certain things.

2:35:05

There's a lot of things if we're going

2:35:07

to talk about melanated in a global

2:35:10

perspective.

2:35:12

It's not always the white man.

2:35:16

A lot of black people were sold by their

2:35:19

own and didn't for 40 people did not get

2:35:23

on a boat and loaded with millions.

2:35:26

They had people selling their own. So

2:35:30

stop letting people come in here

2:35:33

and grabbing your emotions

2:35:38

to make decisions that doesn't benefit

2:35:40

you. And that is what I was trying to

2:35:43

say. Thank you.

2:35:47

Thank you. Is there one anyone else to

2:35:49

my left that would like to offer public

2:35:52

comment?

2:35:59

>> What's on Midtown? Um it seemed like

2:36:02

there's a big lack in communication. We

2:36:05

don't have um a a paper. We don't have a

2:36:09

radio station, but we do have channel

2:36:11

20. We have reporters. Let's use it. If

2:36:15

we need to go on that site regards

2:36:17

regards to Market Street or any place

2:36:20

else, we can do an episode

2:36:23

for that and put it on channel 20. If we

2:36:26

want to talk about what they're doing,

2:36:27

we can put it on channel 20. Let's use

2:36:30

it. Let's spin it. Let's do something

2:36:33

and keep rotating it. Let's have a news

2:36:36

reporter from the city and if we have

2:36:38

questions and and um issues, we have

2:36:42

that reporter go and do it and put it on

2:36:44

channel 20 and spin it. Whatever we

2:36:47

want, we do have channel 20. If if we

2:36:51

need to move the cars

2:36:53

for towing or um plowing or whatever, we

2:36:57

have a reporter and we go out there and

2:37:01

it's like a news. It's like a news 8

2:37:04

o'clock in the morning.

2:37:06

Go live and for an hour. Then you spin

2:37:08

it. You spin it all day or 12 o'clock.

2:37:12

Then you have another episode at 12:00

2:37:14

to report what needs to be reported. And

2:37:17

then you spin it. At least we have

2:37:19

channel 20. Let's use it to its fullest

2:37:23

benefit. Don't just sit on it. That went

2:37:25

over there. It's dead.

2:37:27

Let's get some Let's get some life back.

2:37:30

If we need the communication, let's use

2:37:32

it. That's half the problem. Not using

2:37:36

Facebook. And I don't even get because

2:37:38

I'm on a whole different

2:37:40

um algorithm than anybody else's and we

2:37:43

all get the same thing at the same dag

2:37:45

on time. Let's get on some kind of

2:37:48

schedule that we can inform our people

2:37:52

and they can count on it before school

2:37:55

or whatever so the kids know what's

2:37:57

going on. I know it sounds stupid.

2:38:00

But it's not. Do it. Just do it because

2:38:03

we have it. If we don't use what we

2:38:06

have, we'll lose what we've got.

2:38:09

Okay? Let's get there's reporters.

2:38:11

There's young reporters. You can get

2:38:12

some young reporters to do the job.

2:38:16

Let's get that curriculum. Let's learn

2:38:19

from what we have and let's use it. Just

2:38:21

use it until we can't use it anymore.

2:38:25

What What else What else do we want to

2:38:27

teach our kids? We can use channel 20.

2:38:30

It should be scheduled

2:38:33

8 o'clock, 12 o'clock, and 3 o' and 6

2:38:37

o'clock.

2:38:39

Whatever. Just get some some motion on

2:38:42

the communication part of it. It's not

2:38:46

me.

2:38:47

It's not me. It's you.

2:38:50

Cuz you have it and you just don't do

2:38:51

it.

2:38:53

Okay. Get smart.

2:38:57

Love you, guys.

2:39:01

>> Thank you.

2:39:04

Okay, the time is 7:46

2:39:07

p.m. Oh, Councilwoman Ross has something

2:39:11

to say. Hold on.

2:39:12

>> I will not hold anybody up long. I know

2:39:14

that we've been here for a while and

2:39:16

it's 7:50 and it's shorter than we

2:39:18

thought it was with two agendas. But I

2:39:20

just wanted to say something really

2:39:21

quickly only because um

2:39:25

there's been a a lot in our country but

2:39:28

even in our community on how we may

2:39:31

speak to each other and um I remember

2:39:34

when I first got elected to this

2:39:36

position it was actually Councilman

2:39:38

Rodriguez who said you have to change

2:39:42

the way you speak to people. You have to

2:39:45

change the way people view you in the

2:39:46

community because you're a leader now.

2:39:48

you hold a certain position and we said

2:39:51

I was like I don't know what he's

2:39:52

talking about really well okay whatever

2:39:55

but I realized it when um the things

2:39:59

were going on with the market

2:40:02

there were a lot of false narratives

2:40:04

about city council even about myself I

2:40:06

was called racist on a platform that I

2:40:09

didn't even know about till somebody

2:40:10

showed it to me um there was incorrect

2:40:12

information put out about

2:40:16

anybody and anything that dealt with the

2:40:19

market and I wanted to give everyone a

2:40:22

good tongue lashing. I wanted to tell

2:40:24

them and give them a piece of my mind

2:40:28

but I realized that leadership reflect

2:40:31

attitude and I couldn't take that road.

2:40:36

I remember when a young lady came up

2:40:38

here and spoke about my children said

2:40:40

where they went to school.

2:40:43

It said all things that were no one's

2:40:46

business that she should have came to

2:40:48

me. Once again, I wanted to give her a

2:40:50

good tongue lashing. But instead, I

2:40:53

remembered that leadership reflect

2:40:55

attitude. So, I spoke to her

2:40:57

respectfully in the hallway and she

2:40:59

apologized.

2:41:01

I spoke respectfully again in our

2:41:03

meeting just to say where my boundaries

2:41:05

were.

2:41:11

when we wear a certain uniform, when

2:41:13

we're elected to a certain position,

2:41:16

when we hold a certain title, I feel

2:41:18

that it comes with great responsibility.

2:41:21

And if we took those roles and we knew

2:41:24

that, then we have to hold our part up

2:41:26

to that. And I feel that we must

2:41:30

communicate as leaders,

2:41:32

professional communicators, even in our

2:41:34

most private moments.

2:41:36

Because leadership reflects attitude.

2:41:41

We control how we respond to people.

2:41:43

Even when they say things that aren't

2:41:45

true, even when they hurt us to our

2:41:48

core, it's how we respond.

2:41:51

Men in the kitchen. Someone said

2:41:53

something so rude about their food and

2:41:57

said it all on Facebook,

2:42:00

but they responded with such a

2:42:03

respectful reply and promoted their

2:42:06

business at the same time because

2:42:08

leadership reflects attitude.

2:42:14

I I don't just say this for myself. I

2:42:17

say it for everyone.

2:42:20

People are going to say things.

2:42:23

Residents are going to complain.

2:42:27

Unpopular comments are going to be said,

2:42:30

spoken, written.

2:42:32

But it's up to us in leadership roles to

2:42:36

respond in a leadership way

2:42:39

because leadership reflects attitude.

2:42:43

And I just feel like it needs to be said

2:42:46

because I don't like the way people are

2:42:49

being spoken to. I don't like the

2:42:51

comments that I'm seeing. And I want

2:42:54

anybody to know where I am a leader

2:42:57

within this community. And I'm sure I

2:42:59

can speak all of council. We are here to

2:43:01

help in the mayor administration

2:43:05

and

2:43:07

we have to make sure we understand that

2:43:10

we took these roles to help. And it's

2:43:13

not always a glorious job,

2:43:16

but it's what do we do to show you all

2:43:18

that we're here?

2:43:20

But the one thing I know we can do and

2:43:23

remember, and I want everybody to

2:43:25

remember, and I'm going to say it again,

2:43:27

leadership reflects attitude. So if we

2:43:31

want to better Harrisburg, if we want to

2:43:33

work better together,

2:43:36

we have to have better attitudes and

2:43:38

lead Harrisburg in the correct

2:43:39

direction. Thank you.

2:43:43

Thank you. Thank you for your comments.

2:43:46

And what do we do? We continue to show

2:43:48

up every week. We stand in our decisions

2:43:52

and we lead from where we are. The time

2:43:56

is 7:51 p.m. I will entertain a motion

2:44:00

to adjurnn.

2:44:01

>> Motion to adjurnn.

2:44:04

>> It's a race.

2:44:05

>> Go Cougars.

2:44:06

>> Is there a second? Is there a second? Is

2:44:08

there a second? Thank you. We stand a

2:44:10

journ.

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