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City Council

March 20, 2024 ·6:30 PM Final

Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 52 items

  1. 1 Invocation: ▶ jump to 7:42
  2. 2 Pledge to the Flag ▶ jump to 8:01
  3. 3 Roll Call ▶ jump to 8:19
  4. 4 Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules Please observe the Rules of Council when addressing the body. A full copy of Council Rules can be found on the city website at the bottom of the council agenda. The city website also includes all the meetings and material for the agenda; videos of previous meetings and livestreams the council meetings in real time. If you would like to speak this evening, we are asking that you fill out a card – they are on the back table - and provide them to the clerk before speaking. Include your address. Please address the Council President. 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. ▶ jump to 8:40
  5. 5 Council will not entertain personal insults or attacks, name calling or other behavior that is inconsistent with the purpose of conducting official business. Please address the Council President not individual councilpersons or city staff. Refrain from insulting or defaming staff, officials and everyone present; refrain from using offensive language, cursing, and making noises while other people are speaking. Remove your hat and turn cell phones off. 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. ▶ jump to 9:01
  6. 6 Contract Approvals: The general idea for approving contracts is acknowledging that proper procurement procedures were followed pursuant to the city code. ▶ jump to 18:31
  7. 7 R39 Authorization for Contract with Landmarks SGA, LLC in the estimated sum of $65,000.00 per contract year to conduct architectural surveys of properties within the existing historic districts and update existing property inventories. The firm will also review the efficacy of the City’s historic district ordinance and examine existing City policies, including the zoning code and building codes, to make recommendations for continued improvements to the historic preservation program. The scope of work will also include assisting City staff with the enforcement of the historic district ordinance and assisting City staff with public outreach and methods of increasing public awareness of the historic districts. The firm will identify opportunities to increase the historic preservation incentives and investment within the City, work with staff to develop grant proposals to support the City’s historic preservation efforts and provide general assistance in implementing the City’s Historic Preservation Plan. 15-6759 approved Pass ▶ jump to 23:46
  8. 8 R40 Authorization for Contract with Michael Baker International, Inc. in the amount of $233,336.00 to provide consulting and engineering design services related to the D&L Trail: Allentown East Segment Design. This was competitively bid, six (6) bids were received, however, one (1) bid was rejected. 15-6760 approved Pass ▶ jump to 24:30
  9. 9 R41 Authorization for Contract with Construction Masters Services, LLC in the amount of $1,988,377.50 to construct/reconstruct ADA Ramps in accordance with the Americans with Disability Act and remove and dispose of sidewalk and/or concrete curb, located within the City limits, along with incidental work as may be authorized and required by the Contract Administrator. This was competitively bid, five (5) bids where received, however, one (1) bid was rejected. 15-6761 approved Pass ▶ jump to 26:24
  10. 10 Minutes of Previous Meeting ▶ jump to 26:37
  11. 11 March 6, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-6771 approved Pass ▶ jump to 26:44
  12. 12 Communications An Executive Session was held on March 6, 2024 for the purpose of considering the purchase of real estate and matters related to the initiation and conduct of an investigation. Council’s office received a petition requesting an intermunicipal liquor license transfer for City Center Hospitality Ten, LLC located at 950 Hamilton Street. The Public Hearing on the transfer will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 6:15 PM Chasers: If you parked in the city lot next to City Hall, please see the City Clerk for a voucher. ▶ jump to 26:58
  13. 13 Old Business: NONE ▶ jump to 27:46
  14. 14 REPORTS Budget and Finance: Chair Napoli, Hendricks, Gerlach The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for March 27th at 6 PM. Community and Economic Development: Chair Hendricks, Mota, Napoli The committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for April 10th, time to be determined. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Affa, Napoli, Santos The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; there are no future meetings scheduled at this time. Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Affa, Gerlach The Committee met on March 13th and forward items on this evening's agenda; the next meeting is scheduled for April 3rd at 5:45 PM to review legislation being introduced this evening. Public Safety: Chair Zucal, Hendricks, Mota The committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for April 3rd at 6 PM to review legislation being introduced this evening. Public Works: Chair Gerlach, Affa, Zucal The Committee met this evening, the next meeting is scheduled for April 3rd at 6:15 PM to consider Bill 13, the vacation of Type Street. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Mota, Napoli, Gerlach The committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for March 27th at 5:30 PM. Controller's Report (3 minutes) Mr. Jeffrey Glazier stated that there are three Reports and are on your agenda this evening. Two are bank reconciliations and the three one is a petty cash account for the Fire Department. He suggested that Council read them at their own convenience. He would note that the petty cash account for the Fire Department showed that everything was A OK. Mayor's Report (3 minutes) Ms. Genesis Ortega stated that there in no Mayor's Report, but if she can take a brief moment to address Mr. Spang's comments during Courtesy of the Floor. She stated that she wants the record to reflect that the Allentown Police Department and the city's IT Department are working on a Crime Dashboard. That would address the concerns that he brought up during his remarks during courtesy of the floor. It is a public facing dashboard for neighborhood level crime statistics in the city. They are currently working on that now. They have been working on that for a few months now. They are hoping to release that shortly. Mr. Santo Napoli stated that he appreciates that update. Thank you. ▶ jump to 27:53
  15. 15 Controller Reports 15-6779
  16. 16 ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ▶ jump to 30:52
  17. 17 Bill 7 Amending Article III, Retail Pet Shops, by prohibiting the sale of guinea pigs by pet shops. 15-6614 amended Fail ▶ jump to 31:38
  18. 18 Bill 8 Amending the 2024 Trexler Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Thirty-Four Dollars and Seventy-One Cents ($8,634.71) from the 2023 Springwood Trust, Trexler operating budget of the Parks Department to the 2024 Springwood Trust, Trexler operating budget for the purpose of purchasing benches and the installation of concrete pads at Trexler Memorial Park. 15-6666 approved Pass ▶ jump to 39:36
  19. 18 Bill 7 Amending Article III, Retail Pet Shops, by prohibiting the sale of guinea pigs by pet shops. 15-6614 approved Pass ▶ jump to 38:38
  20. 19 Bill 9 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of One Million, Three Hundred Thousand ($1,300,000.00) Dollars from the Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside (TASA) grant for the purpose of rehabilitating the historic Bogert’s Bridge, located in the Lehigh Parkway. 15-6667 approved Pass ▶ jump to 40:25
  21. 21 Bill 11 Amending the 2024 Fire Department budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Sixteen Thousand Dollars ($16,000.00) from Norfolk Southern Rail, Safety-First grant. This grant is to purchase hazardous materials related equipment for incidents that may occur as a result of a railway incident along the Norfolk Southern railway that runs through the City of Allentown. 15-6669 approved Pass ▶ jump to 41:12
  22. 21 Bill 10 Amending the 2024 Fire Department budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) from The Hartford grant for the purchase of a fire extinguisher simulator. 15-6668 approved Pass
  23. 22 Bill 12 Amending the 2024 Grant Fund budget to accept Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) from the FY 2023 Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program Phase 1 strategy development grant. 15-6670 approved Pass ▶ jump to 43:52
  24. 23 Bill 14 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an appropriation in the amount of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) from the Trexler Fund to the WPA Structures capital projects account. These funds will be used to repair the stage and columns at Union Terrace Park. This is part of the 2024-25 Trexler Capital Project allocation. 15-6724 approved Pass ▶ jump to 44:36
  25. 24 Bill 15 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Nine Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($9,500.00) from WPA Capital Project into the Franklin Park Capital Project. These funds will be utilized for the creation of a concept plan for Franklin Park as part of a grant application. 15-6725 approved Pass ▶ jump to 45:18
  26. 25 Bill 16 Amending the 2024 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Twenty-Three Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifteen Dollars ($23,915.00) from the 2023 United States Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Grant that will be passed through from the Lehigh County to the City of Allentown Police Department. These funds will be used to purchase traffic equipment. 15-6726 approved Pass ▶ jump to 46:15
  27. 26 Bill 17 Amending the 2024 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Three Hundred Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($385,000.00) from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Grant to the City of Allentown Police Department. These funds will be utilized for reimbursement of expenses for the purchase of integrated fingerprint technology, license plate readers and integrated gunshot technology. 15-6727 approved Pass ▶ jump to 47:07
  28. 27 Bill 18 Amending the 2024 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of One Million One Hundred Eighty-Three Thousand Fifty-Four Dollars ($1,183,054.00) from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) Grant to the City of Allentown Police Department. These funds will be utilized for reimbursement of expenses for the purchase of new city cameras, new in-car cameras for the entire police fleet and new body-worn cameras. 15-6728 approved Pass ▶ jump to 48:00
  29. 28 Bill 19 Amending the 2024 General Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Twenty-Five Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($25,500.00) from the United States Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial JAG Grant to the City of Allentown Police Department for the purpose of funding overtime pay of patrol presence in an effort to suppress violent crimes and drug investigations in the Keystone Opportunity Zone in Allentown. 15-6729 approved ▶ jump to 48:55
  30. 29 Bill 20 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) to the Capital Project Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. These funds have been awarded as an MTF-DCED grant and will be reimbursed when the project is completed. The project includes the replacement of the existing rusted streetlights with 24 new LED luminaires and street light poles. 15-6730 approved Pass ▶ jump to 49:44
  31. 30 Bill 21 Amending the 2024 General Fund budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000.00) from the Khan Partnership for traffic signal improvements. 15-6731 approved Pass ▶ jump to 50:25
  32. 31 Bill 22 City Council authorizes the City to enter into an Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement with the Redevelopment Authority of Allentown. 15-6732 approved Pass ▶ jump to 51:37
  33. 32 CONSENT AGENDA: There are no items. ▶ jump to 51:55
  34. 33 RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ▶ jump to 52:02
  35. 34 R37 Establishes a Special Committee to provide a framework for Understanding, Implementing and Evaluating Co-responder Public Safety Models 15-6723 amended Pass ▶ jump to 52:45
  36. 35 R 38 Denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness – 425 N. 10th Street 15-6680 approved Pass ▶ jump to 54:51
  37. 36 R 42 Approves the submission of an application for a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the design of Franklin Park. The City is asking for $200,000.00 in grant funding with a match required – in-kind or cash. 15-6762 approved Pass ▶ jump to 57:58
  38. 36 R37 Establishes a Special Committee to provide a framework for Understanding, Implementing and Evaluating Co-responder Public Safety Models 15-6723 approved as amended Pass ▶ jump to 54:05
  39. 37 Request to suspend the rules to introduce and vote on resolution 43. Suspend The Rules Pass ▶ jump to 58:17
  40. 38 R 43 Approves a transfer of $32,000 in Garage for a part-time Clerk 3 to assist with entering invoices and ordering vehicle parts; due to high number of invoices entry in the Garage. 15-6769 approved Pass
  41. 39 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ▶ jump to 61:19
  42. 40 Bill 24 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000.00) from the National Society for the Preservation of Covered Bridges, Inc. (NSPCB). These funds are a contribution to go towards the construction of Bogert’s Bridge rehabilitation. 15-6763 ▶ jump to 61:23
  43. 40 Request to suspend the rules to introduce and vote on resolution 43. approved Pass ▶ jump to 61:03
  44. 41 Bill 25 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) from the National Society for the Theodore Burr Covered Bridge Society of Pennsylvania, Inc. (TBCBSP). These funds are a contribution to go towards the construction of Bogert’s Bridge rehabilitation. 15-6764 ▶ jump to 61:51
  45. 42 Bill 26 Amending §455-139B(6) of the Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code, Article XVIII, Licensing Residential Rental Units, Owner and Occupant duties, to remove the requirement that multiple disruptive conduct reports filed within a twenty-four (24) time period count as a single disruptive conduct report. 15-6765 ▶ jump to 62:16
  46. 43 Bill 27 Amending the 2024 Fire Department budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Seven Hundred Seventy-Nine Thousand Two Hundred and Twenty-Eight Dollars ($779,228.00) from Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development Local Share Account grant for the purchase of a new fire truck. 15-6766 ▶ jump to 63:58
  47. 44 Bill 28 Amending various sections of the city code by removing penalties providing for imprisonment as a means of enforcement. 15-6768 ▶ jump to 64:30
  48. 45 RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee): NONE ▶ jump to 64:52
  49. 46 NEW BUSINESS: NONE ▶ jump to 64:56
  50. 47 GOOD AND WELFARE: NONE ▶ jump to 65:00
  51. 48 ADJOURNED: 7:35 PM ▶ jump to 65:04
  52. 49 Reference Materials: Council Rules Procurement Code Ethics Code 15-6577