During the February 10, 2026, work session, the Lancaster City Council moved forward with significant mid-year budget adjustments, including a restructuring of wastewater department staffing and allocations for police overtime. The Council unanimously approved a resolution allowing beer and wine consumption at the upcoming Shamrock Fest and received a presentation from the Lancaster County Council of the Arts regarding a cultural performance. A robust discussion took place regarding city resources used for event security, with Council members debating the financial sustainability of covering police overtime for non-city events.
Detailed Agenda Summary
Invocation, Pledge, and Citizen Comments
The meeting began with an invocation led by Council Member Marsh, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. During citizen comments, Mark Khan briefly addressed the council regarding a priority project. Jane Alford, representing the Lancaster County Council of the Arts, invited the community to the “Motown Ballet” performance by the South Carolina Ballet. Scheduled for February 17th at the Lancaster High Multi-Purpose Building, the event will feature music from the 1960s and 70s blended with classical and modern dance. Alford highlighted the affordability of tickets and the partnership between the Kennedy Center, the School District, and the City.
Approval of Minutes
Council unanimously approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on January 27, 2026.
Resolution R26-05: Shamrock Fest
Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution authorizing the consumption of beer and wine at the 2026 Shamrock Fest, scheduled for March 14, 2026. The designated area for consumption spans from Dunlap to Elm Street and Chesterfield/Catawba to White Street. Alcohol sales will be permitted from noon to 10:00 p.m., with strict requirements for age verification and wristbands. Staff noted that previous festivals attracted over 5,000 visitors and confirmed that the event headliner will be American Idol winner Caleb Johnson.
Ordinance 026-02: Annexation of 468 Elm Street
The Council approved the second reading of an ordinance annexing a 0.12-acre parcel located at 468 Elm Street. The annexation was requested by the property owner, Jose Saul Lopez, to reestablish water and sewer services, which had been disconnected for over six months. The measure passed unanimously.
Ordinance 026-03: Budget Amendment (First Reading)
Council considered a mid-year amendment to the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 operating budget. The amendment addressed several key areas:
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Wastewater Treatment Plant Staffing: Wastewater Superintendent Stephen Ledford requested to convert a vacant part-time operator position into a part-time administrative assistant position. Ledford explained that increased administrative burdens caused by city growth and industrial pre-treatment requirements (specifically citing E. & J. Gallo Winery) necessitated the change. He confirmed the adjustment would not increase the department’s overall budget as the pay grades are identical.
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Finance Adjustments: Finance Director James Absher detailed several line-item adjustments, including a $31,000 rollover for the South Ferguson stormwater repair project and $1,900 for painting a city parade float. He also noted a $150,000 increase in the Gross Revenue Fund to cover credit card processing fees, which are offset by the 3% assessment fee charged to customers using cards.
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Police Department Overtime: A significant portion of the discussion focused on a request to move funds from vacant police salaries to cover overtime and on-call pay. Council Member Harris expressed concern regarding the high cost of police overtime for festivals and events. She argued that while city-sponsored festivals should be covered, non-city entities (such as the school district or the Greenway) should bear the cost of security for their specific events rather than the taxpayer. Staff clarified that the budget adjustment was necessary partly because on-call pay was a new budget item this year and was underestimated, and partly due to nine current vacancies in the department. The ordinance passed its first reading unanimously.
Executive Session
Council entered an executive session to discuss an economic development matter regarding “Project Philadelphia.” Upon returning to open session, no action was taken, and the meeting was adjourned.
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