City Council
Council Chambers
Agenda — 48 items
- 1 Invocation:
- 2 Pledge to the Flag
- 3 Roll Call
- 4 Courtesy of the Floor Please observe the Rules of Council when given privilege of the floor. A copy of Council Rules can be found on the council agenda on the website; copies are also on the back desk along with the agenda. When anyone has privilege of the floor, I will not entertain personal insults, attacks, name calling or other behavior that is inconsistent with the purpose of conducting official business. If you would like to speak, we are asking that you fill out a card – they are on the back table - provide them to the clerk before speaking. Include your name and address. Courtesy of the Floor is meant to provide public comment on items that are not on the agenda. Public comment during consideration of ordinances, resolutions and motions is limited by topic – your comments must be relevant to the subject matter of the proposed legislation. Public comments are taken before council votes on items. You are given privilege of the floor to provide public comment, it is not a question-and-answer session. If you are speaking on behalf of yourself, you have three minutes and if you are speaking on behalf of a group that has several members present, you will be given five minutes.
- 5 Please address the Council President not individual councilpersons or city staff. Refrain from insulting or defaming staff, officials, and the public; refrain from using offensive language, cursing, and making noises while other people are speaking. Please be aware that comments and/or behavior in violation of these rules will result in a forfeiture of all remaining time and you will be asked to return to your seat.
- 6 Contract Approvals
- 7 R118 Authorization for Contract with Yannuzzi Group, Inc. for an estimated yearly sum of $90,000.00. The intent of this invitation to bid if to secure a Contractor to demolish buildings and remediate the properties on an as needed basis and in accordance with the specifications referenced in Bid No. 2024-27. One bid was received; one (1) year contract that can be extended two (2) additional one (1) year terms, if pricing remains the same. Additionally, if necessary, the City reserves the right to extend the contract by three (3) months, in order to prevent a lapse in coverage.
- 8 R119 Authorizes lease agreement with Friends of Allentown Parks for an office space located at 2700 Parkway Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18104.
- 9 R120 Authorization of Cooperative Contract(s) in an amount greater than $40,000.00 to provide the City with various goods/services. H.T. Lyons - Replacement of City Hall Air Handler #2, Samsara Networks, Inc. - 170) License For Vg-Series Gateways, Includes Support, Software Updates, Hosted Service, And Cellular Connectivity (13) License For Dual-Facing Dash Cam, Includes Support, Software Updates, Hosted Cloud Service, Shi International Corp. - Network Switch Order and Miller Sports Construction - Cedar Basketball Court Resurfacing and Bucky Boyle Basketball Court Resurfacing, Schaedler Yesco Dist. – Mack Boulevard Lighting & Musco Sports Lighting, LLC. – Jordan Meadows Mini-Pitch System.
- 10 R121 Authorization for Contract with Spohn Ranch, Inc. in the amount of $977,861.00 to provide services of a qualified general contractor for Phase 2 of Jordan Skatepark. Jordan Park is located at 201 N. 6th St., Allentown, Pennsylvania, 18102. This project involves the construction of a cast in place concrete skate park facility which will be utilized by skateboarders, scooters, and BMX riders. One bid was received; one (1) contract year that can be extended for up to an additional sex (6) months beyond the contract period.
- 11 R122 Authorization for Contract with Bethlehem Landfill Company in the estimated amount of $2,954,870.00 for the first contract year, with a maximum CPI adjustment of five (5%) percent to be applied for contract commencement on 6/1/2025 and each year after the first-year term, to provide disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW). There were three (3) bids; contract shall be for five (5) years beginning on the commencement date, June 1, 2025, and terminating May 31, 2030 and can be extended for up to an additional two (2) two (2) years beyond the contract expiration period at the sole discretion of the City.
- 12 Minutes of Previous Meeting
- 13 June 5, 2024 City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting Minutes
- 14 July 9, 2024 City Council Special Council Meeting Minutes
- 15 Communications
- 16 Old Business: NONE
- 17 REPORTS Budget and Finance: Chair Napoli, Hendricks, Gerlach The Committee met this evening; a meeting is scheduled for August 28th, time to be determined, to discuss the city's budget parameters with the Finance Department and Financial Advisor. Community and Economic Development: Chair Hendricks, Mota, Napoli The committee met on July 17th; and forwarded some items on this evening's agenda. There are no future meetings scheduled at this time. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Affa, Napoli, Santos The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is not yet scheduled. Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Affa, Gerlach The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for August 7 at 6:00 PM. Public Safety: Chair Zucal, Hendricks, Mota The committee has not met since the last council meeting; There are no future meetings scheduled at this time. Public Works: Chair Gerlach, Affa, Zucal The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for August 7 at 6:15 PM. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Mota, Napoli, Gerlach The committee met on July 17th; and forwarded some items on this evening's agenda. there are no future meetings scheduled at this time. Controller's Report (3 minutes) NONE Mr. Jeffrey Glazier stated that the interns are quickly wrapping up their projects and he believes they have an agreement to have them present their process flows at the August 7th meeting. The audit reports will come out shortly after that. He stated that these gentlemen work very hard. Jacqui did a great job directing them and he is sure that the findings will help the city run its operations in a much more efficient manner. He stated to stay tune. Mayor's Report (3 minutes) Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that he will try to make it brief. He stated that one thing he wants to report on is that the city has participated yesterday in a kickoff meeting with the City Data Alliance. You may be aware that the city of Allentown has been accepted into a John's Hopkins led effort to build a data strategy for the city of Allentown to help them become a better data informed city. The kickoff begins and yesterday they are going to focus on the development of the data strategy as well as a resident impact project. He stated that he hopes to inform Council in the future about the dimensions of the Resident Impact Project. They also hosted a City Hall at the Table event at the Civic Theatre last night. He was happy to see Councilperson Hendricks join them. Those are excellent opportunities for members of the public to discuss whatever is on their minds. He believes last night they talked about parking, housing and litter. These are common topics and it is a great opportunity for you all to join us and meet with city residents to hear what's on their minds. The next one of those is scheduled for August 27th which is just before Fair week kicks off. They will be at Civic Theatre that night as well. He stated that they are looking forward to the week ahead. They are going to get started on Friday with a busy weekend, particularly for basketball fans. Friday night they will be showing Space Jam. It is Space Jam II. It is the LeBron James version. If you are a Michael Jordan fan, he has bad news for you. Space Jam will be showing at Valania Park on Friday night. They will follow that up with two basketball tournaments. The very big one is the Awesome Fest which is happening at Cedar Beach over Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It is accompanied by a football tournament as well. They are also hosting the Heritage Classic at Valania Park on Saturday and Sunday. He stated that he hopes they all can join them for those events that are run by other organizations. They are also working with the Puerto Rico Cultural Preservation Association on Sunday at 11:00 AM to do a Puerto Rican Flag Raising in recognition to the Puerto Rican Culture here in the city of Allentown. That will be followed by the Puerto Rican Parade which begins right after the flag raising and goes up to 5th Street he believes and terminates at Coca Cola Park when the Puerto Rican Cultural Preservation Association will host the Puerto Rican Festival. They are sensitive to issues that were experienced last year on Union Boulevard by some of the resident businesses. They worked to address those issues and be better prepared for the huge number of people that will be joining them on the eastside. He hopes that Council will be able to join them as well. It is hot so wear your sunscreen. He encouraged them to join them on August 5th, before the next Council meeting they will be celebrating Romper Day. He stated that he is sure all of them are familiar with the Playground Program in the city of Allentown. A huge and awesome opportunity for great young people across the city to get involved in physical activity over the course of the week during the summer. That all culminates at Romper Day which is the J Burney Crum on August 5th. That's a Monday. He stated that he hopes Council can join them for that. The following night is National Night Out which he doesn't know which number they will be celebrating here in Allentown, but it is always a great experience. He knows that they often see Councilperson Affa joining them at those events. It is the opportunity for neighborhood groups to engage with the Police Department and other public safety organizations. He stated that he hopes to see them there. The final thing he wants to note with the things upcoming is that the Safe Streets for All Safety Action Plan Map Project is open through the end of July. He encouraged them if they did not offer feedback on the needed safety improvements for our streets. There you can go to Allentownpa.gov/ss4a and record your concerns related to traffic safety. He stated that the final thing he wants to mention is just in response in a way to the conversation that they had last week and wants to address a pressing concern that they do obviously continue to face continued demand for our city services with limited staff. This is seen most acutely in our parks. He stated that the team is constantly working to address those issues. He stated that he knows there are some discussion last week and appreciates Councilperson Affa's outreach to our fire department, our parks department. He stated that he does want to remind them as they look forward to the discussion tonight that our team is stretched thin. Council did vote in the 2024 budget not to increase taxes and not to fund certain positions that would have put us in a better position to address those increased demands across the Lehigh Valley. He stated that they will have to revisit that and will address some of it tonight. That is something that he does want Council to consider and keep in your minds as we prepare for this next budget that there are very strong needs in our city. The city is changing and we must adapt to those needs. He thanked Council President Mota for your time and your continued commitment to the city of Allentown. He looks forward to working together to find solutions that would allow them to all serve our community better.
- 18 Controller Reports
- 19 ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):
- 20 Bill 55 Amending the 2024 Golf Fund, General Fund, and Trexler Fund budget to fund the Chief Maintenance Supervisor in the Dept. of Parks and Recreation to improve work efficiency and support operations at a level to accommodate additional responsibilities related to infrastructure projects and comply with maintenance standards expected from the Trexler Trust.
- 21 Bill 56 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of One Hundred Seventy Thousand ($170,000.00) Dollars from Irving Pool Improvements capital project into Dixon St Bridge to use for design of the bridge and Jordan Skatepark for construction of Phase 2 of the park.
- 22 Bill 57 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of One Hundred Twenty Thousand ($120,000.00) Dollars from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to support construction phase 2 of Jordan Skatepark
- 23 Bill 58 Amending the 2024 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Seven Hundred Fifty ($750.00) Dollars from Keep PA Beautiful in their efforts to support a volunteer event by Giant/Martin Food Stores for supplies to conduct the volunteer event.
- 24 Bill 59 An Ordinance providing for the expenditure of certain monies received by the City of Allentown under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1976, as amended; The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act of 2009; and Title II of the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended; for the purpose of undertaking programs of housing and community development within the City
- 25 Bill 60 Amending the Ethics Code Section § 36-6 Patronage, by prohibiting the hiring of anyone that has been engaged in remunerated political activity related to the election of City Officials.
- 26 Bill 61 Amending the Ethics Code Section § 36-5 Nepotism, by prohibiting the hiring of an elected official’s spouse or domestic partner, child or stepchild, sibling or stepsibling, parent, or member of his or her household, of an elected official during the office holder’s term and requiting a specific time frame for the Human Resources to carry out the responsibilities of reporting such relationships already prescribed in the code.
- 27 Bill 62 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Seven Hundred Thousand Dollars ($700,000.00) from the Residential Street Construction capital account to the City-Owned Building Repairs capital account. This will transfer the unused funds from the Residential Street Construction project to the City-Owned Building Repairs capital account.
- 28 Bill 63 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Eight Hundred Seventeen Thousand Dollars ($817,000.00) from the General Fund Unappropriated Cash Balance to the Administrative Order capital account. The debt will be paid back with 4.250% annual interest in full no later than May 31, 2029, pursuant to the Annual Debt Service presented in the annual report required will allow the Administrative Order (AO) fund to have the additional funds needed to complete the City’s requirements under the Concession Lease Agreement.
- 29 Bill 64 Amending the 2024 General Fund, Rental Fund, and Risk Fund budgets to accommodate the upgrading and retitling of positions to allow various departments to operate at a level more in line with the job responsibilities currently assigned, to support City functions. This will ensure that departments are operating more efficiently, inequalities are reduced, positions are correctly classified, and employees are appropriately compensated for the work they are performing based on a correctly classified position which enhances job satisfaction.
- 30 Bill 65 Authorizing the Lehigh County Board of Elections to place the following question on the November 5, 2024 ballot for the Allentown electorate that would amend the Home Rule Charter, Section 807, Revenue, to delete the Deed Transfer Tax from Section 807 (B).
- 30 Bill 64 Amending the 2024 General Fund, Rental Fund, and Risk Fund budgets to accommodate the upgrading and retitling of positions to allow various departments to operate at a level more in line with the job responsibilities currently assigned, to support City functions. This will ensure that departments are operating more efficiently, inequalities are reduced, positions are correctly classified, and employees are appropriately compensated for the work they are performing based on a correctly classified position which enhances job satisfaction.
- 31 CONSENT AGENDA
- 32 R123 Certificate of Appropriateness for work in the Historic Districts: 820 Liberty St.
- 33 RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):
- 34 R115 Approves the submission of the Action Plan to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
- 35 R124 RCDC HUD Action Plan Amendment
- 36 R125 Authorizes Lead Grant Application
- 37 R126 Approves one transfer: (1) $19,000.00 in CED required to purchase a Viken Detection Machine (Detects Lead Paint).
- 38 R127 Authorizes and Approves the Engagement of Brown McGarry Nimeroff Attorneys at Law, to Provide Legal Services to Allentown City Council Pursuant to the Allentown Home Rule Charter and Administrative Code to provide legal services in an action adverse to the Mayor of Allentown, and/or the Mayor’s Administration.
- 39 R128 Approves the submission of an application for a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the improvements of Andre Reed Park. The City is asking for $250,000.00 in grant funding with a 15% match required – land appraisal or cash.
- 40 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral)
- 41 Bill 66 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Two Hundred Thousand ($200,000) Dollars from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to support improvements to the Rose Garden including stone repairs at the stairs and gazebos and an upgraded Rose Garden #2 pavilion. Rose Garden Grant
- 42 Bill 67 Providing for the vacation of South Ruhr Street from the centerline of Willow Street to the centerline of Hill Street and Hill Street from the centerline of South Saint Lucas Street to the centerline of South Ruhr Street in the Eighteenth Ward of the City of Allentown.
- 43 RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee):
- 44 NEW BUSINESS: NONE
- 45 GOOD AND WELFARE
- 46 ADJOURNED: 7:58 PM
- 47 Reference Materials: Council Rules Procurement Code Ethics Code