City Council

Council Chambers

Agenda — 12 items

1. 1 Roll Call
2. 2 Special Council Meeting: Pursuant to council rules, this is a special meeting to consider amendments to the city budget, a meeting follows this to adopt the city budget. An amendment must have two sponsors to be on the published agenda. There are two proposals for council consideration this evening – one proposal sponsored by Councilpersons Affa, Hendricks and Napoli and a budget memo submitted by the mayor that increases the Mayor’s operating budget by $50,000 to support the Conference of Churches in providing an additional day of weekly services for homeless support. ▶ jump to 0:16
3. 3 Background/Attachments 1.A proposal to decrease the solid waste fee by $50 and reinstate the tax increase at 3.96%. (Affa, Hendricks, Santo) Background: On November 19th City Council amended the General Fund Budget to remove the mayor’s proposed 3.96% tax increase. At that time, the Mayor proposed a compromise that would reduce the solid waste fee by $25. President Hendricks scheduled a special meeting on December 3 to review the mayor’s compromise. After reviewing the compromise and reviews by the Finance Director and the City Controller, Councilpersons Affa, Hendricks and Santo are proposing a reduction in the solid waste fee by $50 and reinstatement of the mayor’s proposed tax increase. The General Fund would lend funds to the Solid Waste fund which would be paid back over time – a common practice this city has used multiple times. In the recommended alternate proposal the property owners least able to absorb increases remain protected. In the new proposal fixed-income taxpayers are NOT disproportionately impacted. The City still generates the revenue needed to sustain services. The alternate proposal lowers the garbage fee and results in little to no increase for lower-valued homes and some even pay less than they are paying currently. Higher-valued properties contribute slightly more, which reduces the burden on residents living on fixed or limited income. This makes the alternate proposal a more equitable option for our community while maintaining essential revenue for services. The new proposal would have a positive impact on 23,000 single family residents – out of a total of 26,000. The impact is presented on the spreadsheet attached to the agenda. This policy would retain cash reserves and a fund balance that would lower borrowing costs for projects everyone on this dais has approved. It follows recommendations from our Finance Team, Controller and Financial Advisor. 2.Proposal submitted by the Mayor found on Budget Memo 2: Increase the Mayor’s operating budget by $50,000 to support the Conference of Churches in providing an additional day of weekly services for homeless support. 000-09-00908-0091-50040 - $50,000 $50,000 15-8105 approved Fail ▶ jump to 33:57
4. 4 Bills for reference:
5. 5 Bill 84 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing the General Fund, Administrative Order Fund, Risk Management Fund, Debt Service Fund, Equipment Fund, and Golf Fund Budgets for 2026. 15-8040
6. 6 Bill 85 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing and adopting the Building Code Fund Budget for 2026 for Community and Economic Development per Chapter 270 of City code for Building Fees. 15-8041
7. 7 Bill 86 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, adopting the Liquid Fuels Fund Budget for 2026. 15-8042
8. 8 Bill 87 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing and adopting the Rental Unit Licensing Fund Budget for 2026 and amending Article 1759 – Landlord and Rental Fee by maintaining the Residential Rental Fees. 15-8043
9. 9 Bill 88 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing and adopting the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund Budget for 2026 and amending Article 1131, Municipal Waste Storage, Collection and Disposal by increasing the Solid Waste Fee at Seven Hundred Forty ($740) Dollars. 15-8044
10. 10 Bill 89 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, establishing and adopting the Stormwater Fund Budget for 2026 and amending Article 393.15 – Stormwater Utility Fee by maintaining the Stormwater Utility Fee at Twenty ($20) Dollars per Five Hundred (500) square feet of impervious surface. 15-8045
11. 11 Bill 90 An Ordinance of the City of Allentown, County of Lehigh and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, adopting the Trexler Fund Budget for 2026. 15-8046
12. 12 ADJOURNED: 6:37 PM ▶ jump to 37:19