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February 18, 2026 ·6:30 PM Final

Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 41 items

  1. 1 Invocation:
  2. 2 Pledge to the Flag ▶ jump to 0:30
  3. 3 Roll Call ▶ jump to 0:48
  4. 4 Courtesy of the Floor Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules ▶ jump to 1:03
  5. 5 Contract Approvals ▶ jump to 20:55
  6. 6 R14 Authorization for Contract with KS StateBank in the amount of $307,690.35. To finance Toro Equipment for five (5) years. One (1) proposal was received. 15-8237 approved Pass ▶ jump to 22:03
  7. 7 R15 Authorization for Contract with BankFunding, LLC. in the amount of $402,562.40. To finance one (1) Milling Machine for four (4) years. Three (3) proposals were received; however, one (1) proposal was rejected. 15-8235 approved Pass ▶ jump to 23:13
  8. 8 R16 Authorization for Contract with Asphalt Maintenance Solutions, LLC, Chemung Supply Corp., H&K Group, Inc., New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co, Inc., and PMG SM PA LLC (d/b/a SealMaster PA) at the unit prices identified on the bid tabulation, for an estimated sum of $2,650,000.00 to furnish and/or deliver and/or apply road materials, including but not limited to geotextiles, competitively bid. 15-8234 approved Pass ▶ jump to 24:28
  9. 9 R17 Authorization of Cooperative Contract(s) in an amount greater than $40,000.00 to provide the City with various goods/services, for Advanced Electronic Design Inc., Koch 33 Ford Toyota and CDW, Inc. 15-8238 approved Pass ▶ jump to 25:15
  10. 10 Minutes of Previous Meeting ▶ jump to 25:32
  11. 11 January 21, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-8253 approved Pass ▶ jump to 25:37
  12. 12 Communications Mr. Santo Napoli stated that visitors to City Council meetings are encouraged to park next door in the government deck and to see our City Clerk for a Chaser to pay for your parking. He stated that is for all City Council meetings. Chasers - If you parked in the city lot next to City Hall, please see the City Clerk for a voucher. ▶ jump to 25:51
  13. 13 Old Business: NONE ▶ jump to 26:05
  14. 14 REPORTS Public Hearing - President Napoli City Council received a request for the transfer of Liquor License Number R-21060 to The Felix Restaurant LLC, 395 S. Cedar Crest Boulevard. We have scheduled a public hearing on March 4 at 6 PM to take public testimony on the transfer. A resolution will be on the council meeting that follows at 6:30 PM to allow City Council to approve or disapprove the transfer. Budget and Finance: Chair Pungo, Mota, Gerlach The Committee has not met since the last council meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for February 25 at 5:30 PM - the agenda includes a review of Bill 12 being introduced this evening, the monthly financial reports, a continuation of our review of the budget process, a brief explanation of the tax structure in the NIZ district and perhaps a brief brainstorming discussion on setting up a future meeting for a presentation of alternative revenue sources - the administration has looked at (Director Patel has forwarded some information to us) and what alternatives we might want considered - time permitting. Mr. Santo Napoli stated that also goes to a member of the public concern about something we are working on. He stated that more to come on alternate revenue sources. Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Binder, Napoli The Committee met this evening and has one Agenda item which is on the Agenda tonight, Bill 8 and it was forwarded favorably. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Binder, Santos, Affa The Committee met has not met since the last council meeting; there are no future meetings scheduled. Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Pungo, Binder The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for March 4 at 5:30 PM to review Bill 11 which is being introduced this evening and the EAC report that has been submitted. Public Safety: Chair Affa, Mota, Santos The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for March 4 at 5:45 PM to review Bill 9, being introduced this evening. I will be setting up another meeting to look at capital projects as they relate to public safety. Public Works: Chair Mota, Pungo, Affa The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for March 11 at 5:30 PM to review Bill 10 being introduced this evening, to review the city's snow plowing and removal policies, Administration and Committee priorities, and a review of capital projects as they related to Public Works - time permitting. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Napoli, Mota, Gerlach The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; they do have two meetings scheduled. The first is a meeting scheduled for March 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM - it will be a public workshop meeting with Lehigh County Administration and Board Commissioners. The second Public Workshop is on March 10, Tuesday, 6:00 PM with Allentown School District administration and School Board Members. Both meetings are an opportunity to communicate and collaborate on shared goals and initiatives. Controller's Report: The Controller has submitted a report which is on tonight's agenda. Mr. Santo Napoli stated that the Controller is out tonight. He asked Mayor Tuerk did he not submit anything. Mayor: The mayor has not submitted anything. Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that he did not, but has a brief Report if you are interested. Mr. Santo Napoli stated ok. We will take it. Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that he will take the Controller's time stating that he doesn't know. He stated that the Controller is turning into a no show at these meetings. He is giving him all his time. He stated that he is glad that they have a couple of new City Council members that might not be aware of a particular initiative that they have been working on. He stated that you might have missed it as well because it kind of got announced back in September and there are a lot of other stuff going on at the moment. He stated back in September and Genesis helped them with this when she was over at the mayor's office. He stated that they launched something called our spotlight city status with Work for America. He stated that it is an organization that started up in the wake of the Trump Administration releasing a lot of federal workers in a lot of different ways. He stated that Work for America was founded to help return people to work in local government and in 2025, Allentown was chosen as a spotlight city for Work for America. He stated what that is meant for them is that Work for America has been helping the city of Allentown in a variety of different ways, but one of the key ways is helping the city to develop an employer value proposition where they can clearly articulate what makes the city of Allentown a great place to work. What makes public service so laudable as a career. They have been working closely with us in the mayor's office through Michaela Boyer in her role as Executive Assistant to the mayor. She has been working closely with the HR department to help tell the story of working for the city using the voices of our employees. He stated that they will continue to help us with modernization of job descriptions. Training our hiring managers to find and keep the best talent and to broaden our recruitment reach. Making sure that they have the best possible pool of talent looking for jobs at the city of Allentown. He stated since day one, of his time as mayor, it has been obvious to him that and heard him say this a lot of times that the city of Allentown is fundamentally a service business and like all service businesses, they can only do what they can do when they have excellent employees. He stated that you heard from some of our residents today, just how important the service delivery model is and how the success or failure of our work sometimes in the hands of how an employee handles their work so they are going to continue to invest in our employees both through Work through America stating Work for America, excuse me and a host of other initiatives. Over the past four years, make sure that every employee has had access to training around innovation, around using information to improve decision making and cross jurisdictional collaboration at the expense of not the city, but of Philanthropic organizations. They were able to send employees to training programs to Harvard University to John Hopkins and at international conferences. He stated that the city is going to continue to invest in those employees and Work for America is helping them do that. He stated at the moment, they only have three job openings. He stated that it is not even about, the three job openings at the city of Allentown right now. One is Maintenance Worker II in Mark Shahda shop. There is a Project Manager position open in Community and Economic Development and a Diesel Tech position in the garage. He stated that is three positions that about 900 employees at the city of Allentown. There are some vacancies in our Police Department that we would love to fill as well. He stated that the point is this, at the moment, it is not a ton of places for people to Onboard in the city of Allentown. He stated that they want to make sure that as they continue to see positions open up, they are accessing the best talent. They are thoroughly articulating what makes working at the city of Allentown such a special opportunity in part because you know you can see this work is getting harder and harder and it is going to get more and more complex and requires the best talent and deeply understand how to engage with our residents. How to delivery high quality services and how to try to do new things to meet the needs of growing and evolving city. He stated that they want to create an environment that becomes the envy of all of our residents. He stated that we love to build the city of Allentown where everyone in the city wants to work and where everyone wants to pitch in and lend a hand. He stated that he says all of that in part to lead up to letting you know and asking you, here is my call of action to you. He stated that those three regular positions that are posted, Maintenance Worker II, Diesel Tech and Project Manager. He stated we can use your help filling those, but the thing that they really need help is the summer jobs. He stated so all those summer jobs: lifeguard, the cashier at the pool, the summer playground instructor are all posted now. He stated that they need them all to help us tap into your networks to make sure you are hiring those positions. She stated that they are excellent jobs for young people in Allentown. Some of you might have and asked anybody ever a lifeguard. He stated that Councilman Pungo was at the city of Allentown. He stated that it is a great foot in the door for public service. He stated that his hope is that they will help them fill those positions and give young people something to do as a way to make a couple of bucks during the summer and hopefully spark that long-term interest in serving the people and in young people of today and into the future. He stated that he hopes that you can help us do that. You can or people can go to Allentownpa.gov/jobs to see the open positions. He stated that it is always a challenge and they are working like crazy to make sure we get all those young people in and we fill all those lifeguard positions so we can have the pools open for the summer. He stated that he needs their help doing that. He stated two final things by way of announcement. He stated on February 28th at 1:00 PM, they will be working with Councilperson Mota. Council Vice President Mota to do a flag raising for Dominican Independence Day. It is 1:00 and going to be the Flag Raising. He stated to be here a little bit earlier if you can. He stated we will have music, dance, readings, they are going to sing the Dominican Independence or the Dominican National Anthem. He stated that maybe he will learn it for this year. He is going to keep trying, but it is a phenomenal celebration. The bringing together Allentown Dominican, actually more than just Allentown Dominican Community. He stated that he thinks that Dominicans from across eastern Pennsylvania come to Allentown to celebrate Independence day so February 28th at 1:00 PM. He stated that they will count on seeing them and hoping for good weather for that and then afterward we will do a celebration up at the Americus with food ad more music and more dance. The other thing is before our next City Council meeting is Read Across America Week. It is not just Read Across America Day. He stated if you haven't gone to read to young people at elementary schools in Allentown, this is your week to do it. He stated that he knows Central Elementary has lots of openings, but pretty much any elementary school in the city has openings for you to come read. He stated that the kids are amazing and you saw EV here, she is in second grade. He stated those kids loves the opportunity to hear from their public officials. They look up to you and if you can make the opportunity and show up for just a half an hour and read to kids, that's and guesses that it is March 3rd through and stated that he thinks the 3rd is a Monday. He stated March 2nd through the 6th is Read Across America Week in Allentown. Show up if you can stating that goes for the general public as well. He stated that they welcome volunteers from across the city. He stated that is my Report. Thank you very much. Mr. Santo Napoli stated ok. Thank you and thank you Vice President Mota for all the hard work you are putting into that event for Dominican Independence. He stated that they are going to move along. ▶ jump to 26:08
  15. 15 Controller Report 15-8265
  16. 16 ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ▶ jump to 38:13
  17. 17 Bill 8 Amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 400 Noise, Section 400-1 Definitions, revising the definition of Zoning Classifications, and Section 400-6 Sound levels by receiving land use, revising Table 1 Receiving Land Use, to be consistent with the zoning classifications within Chapter 660 Zoning, adopted October 15, 2025, effective January 1, 2026. 15-8209 approved Pass ▶ jump to 38:54
  18. 18 CONSENT AGENDA approved Pass ▶ jump to 40:40
  19. 19 R18 943-951 W Chew Street (HARB) 15-8229
  20. 20 R19 Michael Comick, Board of Parks and Recreation, 2/19/2031 (Reappointment) 15-8243
  21. 21 R20 David Snyder, Board of Parks and Recreation, 2/19/2031 (Reappointment) 15-8244
  22. 22 R21 Nancy Wilt, Board of Parks and Recreation, 2/19/2031 (Reappointment) 15-8245
  23. 23 R22 Michael Drabenstott, Board of Parks and Recreation, 2/19/2031 (Replacing Becki Kiss) 15-8246
  24. 24 R23 Diane Purdy, Disruptive Conduct Board of Appeals, 02/19/2029 15-8247
  25. 25 R24 Candida Affa, Disruptive Conduct Board of Appeals, 02/19/2029 15-8248
  26. 26 R25 Candida Affa, Nuisance Abatement Board of Appeals, 2/19/2028 15-8249
  27. 27 R26 Santo Napoli, Police Pension Board, 01/01/2027 15-8251
  28. 28 R27 Santo Napoli, Aggregate Pension Board - 1/01/2027 15-8250
  29. 29 RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ▶ jump to 40:59
  30. 30 R28 City Council and Mayor Matt Tuerk authorize the civic naming of the 2000 block of Liberty Street in honor of Rose Kennedy. 15-8252 approved Pass ▶ jump to 45:26
  31. 31 R29 $41,500 Transfer – placing authorization for the unhoused access to restrooms, drinking water, hydration systems, laundry facilities and animal care into proper accounts for expenditure; $58,828 for a journal reclass for fuel and $42,000 to place money in a construction contract account. 15-8254 approved Pass ▶ jump to 47:40
  32. 32 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ▶ jump to 47:54
  33. 33 Bill 9 Amending the 2026 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Sixteen Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Six and 55/100 ($16,136.55) Dollars from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner Grant to the Allentown Fire Department to purchase 1¾” fire attack hoses and nozzle compliments. 15-8239 ▶ jump to 47:58
  34. 34 Bill 10 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Three Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand One Hundred Fifty-Eight Dollars ($346,158.00) to partially fund the reconstruction on Lehigh and Union Street as part of the Pennsylvania Local Share Account Grant the City was awarded. This grant is fully reimbursable and once the project has been completed, the City will be reimbursed. 15-8240 ▶ jump to 48:31
  35. 35 Bill 11 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Four Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ($480,000.00) from the Trexler operating budget into the WPA Capital Project account and Trexler Monument Capital Project account. These funds will be utilized for the repairs of the Lehigh Parkway staircase and flagstone around the General Trexler monument. 15-8241 ▶ jump to 49:34
  36. 36 Bill 12 Amending the City Code Part II, General Legislation, Chapter 633, Water, Article V, Water Service and Charges to add Section 633-53, Water and Sewer Rebate – by creating a sliding schedule of water and sewer rebates. 15-8242 ▶ jump to 50:08
  37. 37 RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee): NONE ▶ jump to 50:37
  38. 38 NEW BUSINESS: NONE ▶ jump to 50:40
  39. 39 GOOD AND WELFARE: NONE ▶ jump to 50:44
  40. 40 ADJOURNED: 7:20 PM ▶ jump to 50:49
  41. 41 Reference Materials: Council Rules Procurement Code Ethics Code 15-6577