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City Council

February 21, 2024 ·6:30 PM Final

Council Chambers

Agenda PDF Minutes PDF 📹 Watch video Official record ↗

Agenda — 44 items

  1. 1 Invocation:
  2. 2 Pledge to the Flag ▶ jump to 0:13
  3. 3 Roll Call ▶ jump to 9:11
  4. 4 Courtesy of the Floor Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules ▶ jump to 9:25
  5. 5 Contract Approvals: There are a few contracts for approval; the general idea is council is approving a resolution acknowledging that proper procurement procedures were followed pursuant to the city code. The Clerk will read the resolution. The Purchasing Agent, Sarrah McNeil will explain the proposal. After she explains the process, ask for comments from the dais and the public before a vote. ▶ jump to 81:04
  6. 6 R23 Authorization for Contract with Aspen Outdoors, Fisher & Son Company, Inc., Genesis Turfgrass, Inc., Nutrien Ag Solutions, Inc., and SiteOne Landscape Supply, LLC at the unit prices identified on the bid tabulation, for a total estimated sum of $220,800 for agricultural chemicals for the City, competitively bid. 15-6663 approved Pass ▶ jump to 84:46
  7. 7 R24 Authorization for Contract with Asphalt Maintenance Solutions, LLC, Chemung Supply Corp., Naceville Materials JV, Crafco, Inc., 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 $2,400,000.00 to furnish and/or deliver and/or apply road materials, including but not limited to geotextiles, competitively bid. 15-6662 approved Pass ▶ jump to 85:58
  8. 8 R25 Authorization for Contract with Allentown Rescue Mission Clean Team, LLC for an estimated sum of $349,127.38 to provide maintenance services for the City’s Central Business District for year one with a possible 3% CPI increase yearly. This estimated sum includes costs for Special Events Assistance, snow clean up, and special cleanup project on an as needed basis. The estimated sum for the 5-year base contract is $2,132,098.62. This was competitively bid through the RFP process. 15-6665 tabled Pass ▶ jump to 107:18
  9. 9 R26 Authorizes lease agreement with Ami Martin and family for residential property located at 200 Springhouse Road, Allentown, PA 18104. The agreement is for $19,103.52 for year one ($1,591.96 a month) with a CPI increase for the second year of the original term, with a five (5) one (1) renewal options. This will be a two (2) year lease with five (5) one (1) year renewal options. For year new year, the lease will be increased based on the CPI percentage indicated on the official US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 15-6661 approved Pass ▶ jump to 112:42
  10. 10 Minutes of Previous Meeting ▶ jump to 112:57
  11. 11 January 10, 2024 Special Council Meeting Minutes (Organizational Meeting) 15-6582 approved Pass ▶ jump to 113:02
  12. 12 February 7, 2024 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-6676 approved Pass ▶ jump to 113:17
  13. 13 February 15, 2024 Special Investigation Committee Meeting Minutes 15-6693 approved Pass ▶ jump to 113:36
  14. 14 Communications: Chasers: If you parked in the city lot next to City Hall, please see the City Clerk for a voucher. City Council and the Mayor have received the Auditor General's report on the pension funds; the reports are part of the agenda and will be reviewed at the Budget and Finance Committee Meeting next Wednesday. ▶ jump to 113:48
  15. 15 Auditor General Reports 15-6696
  16. 16 Old Business ▶ jump to 114:04
  17. 17 REPORTS Budget and Finance: Chair Napoli, Hendricks, Gerlach The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for February 28th, at 6:15 PM. Community and Economic Development: Chair Hendricks, Mota, Napoli The committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is not yet scheduled. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Affa, Napoli, Santos The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled at 5:30 PM on February 28th. Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Affa, Gerlach The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is not yet scheduled. 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 not yet scheduled. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Mota, Napoli, Gerlach The committee has not met since the last Council meeting; there are no future meetings scheduled at this time. Controller's Report (3 minutes) Mr. Jeffrey Glazier stated that a couple of meetings ago, Mr. Zucal had asked about gift cards. He wanted to point out to Council that they released a gift card audit of CED on the 11th of January and everyone got a copy of it. They released a gift card audit of the mayor's office on the 22nd of January. Everyone got a copy of it. The findings were gift cards supposed to be purchased through Purchasing. In either instances, they were not. He attributed that to turnover or new people in the department. Both departments said they would absolutely comply going forward. They have one or two of the audits in process. When they are completed, they will be forwarded to Council in the normal fashion. Mayor's Report (3 minutes) NONE ▶ jump to 122:34
  18. 18 Controller Reports 15-6695
  19. 19 ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): The Clerk reads the bill. The Chair gives the committee recommendation on the bill, comments are taken from the administration, the dais and the public before a vote is taken. ▶ jump to 125:11
  20. 20 Bill 2 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of One Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($1,600) from the Hispanic American Organization, Inc. to support the mini-pitch system at Jordan Meadows. 15-6602 approved Pass ▶ jump to 125:34
  21. 21 Bill 3 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to correct a previous ordinance number 15951. This will appropriate the funds of Six Hundred Fifty Thousand ($650,000) Dollars from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) to support design and construction of the D&L Trail – Allentown Segment to the proper accounts. 15-6601 approved Pass ▶ jump to 126:08
  22. 22 Bill 4 Amending the 2024 Trexler Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Two Thousand ($2,000.00) Dollars from the Trexler Trust to support the Romper Day Program. 15-6603 approved Pass ▶ jump to 127:12
  23. 23 Bill 6 Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Sixteen Thousand Eight Hundred Ninety-Six Dollars and Thirty-Six Cents ($16,896.36). This was the result of payment in lieu of tree plantings from Tilghman Street Dental LLC, City Center Development Corporation, Housing Development Corporation, Devon Self Storage Holdings, Lehigh River Development Corp 3, 1134 Hanover Ave LLC, and Stratagem Allentown LLC. Funds will be used for the purchase of new street trees. 15-6605 approved Pass ▶ jump to 127:48
  24. 24 CONSENT AGENDA: The Consent Agenda is for items that are considered ‘no brainers’ – the objective is to vote on all the resolutions at one time if there are no issues. The President asks if there is any request to remove any item from the Consent Agenda. If not, the clerk will read the resolutions. The President will ask for public comments, prior to council voting on the bundle. approved Pass ▶ jump to 128:37
  25. 25 R 27 Carlos Rodriguez, Allentown Housing Authority, 2-22-2029 15-6673
  26. 26 R28 Certificate of Appropriateness for work in the Historic Districts: 503 W. Allen St: 23 N. 12th St.; 433 N. 8th St. 15-6674
  27. 27 RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): The Clerk reads the resolution. The Chair gives a committee report if applicable, comments are taken from the administration, the dais, and the public before a vote is taken. ▶ jump to 128:58
  28. 28 R12 Authorizes the City of Allentown to adopt a Vision Zero Policy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe, traffic-related injuries. 15-6571 approved Pass ▶ jump to 129:28
  29. 29 R22 Authorizes the Administration to enter into a cooperation agreement with the Allentown Parknership, to utilize the organization’s fundraising and planning capabilities to raise money to finance and manage capital improvement projects, manage construction, provide enhanced maintenance, provide programs and special events, coordinate volunteer activity, and to pursue such other authorized opportunities and address recognized needs, for the betterment of the city’s parks. 15-6619 approved Pass ▶ jump to 130:28
  30. 30 R29 City Council hereby determines and concludes that outside the Purchasing Agent neither the Director of Finance nor anyone from the Administration should participate in scoring or be present during the process to select a response to the RFP selecting investigatory services since it is an investigation of the Administration. 15-6660 approved Pass ▶ jump to 184:53
  31. 30 R22 Authorizes the Administration to enter into a cooperation agreement with the Allentown Parknership, to utilize the organization’s fundraising and planning capabilities to raise money to finance and manage capital improvement projects, manage construction, provide enhanced maintenance, provide programs and special events, coordinate volunteer activity, and to pursue such other authorized opportunities and address recognized needs, for the betterment of the city’s parks. 15-6619 approved as amended Pass ▶ jump to 131:32
  32. 31 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral): The Clerk reads the bill; comments are taken from the public noting the bill will be discussed in detail at a committee meeting – the legislation is referred to the proper council committee. ▶ jump to 187:39
  33. 32 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 ▶ jump to 187:41
  34. 33 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 ▶ jump to 188:26
  35. 34 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 ▶ jump to 189:02
  36. 35 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 ▶ jump to 189:29
  37. 36 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 ▶ jump to 189:57
  38. 37 RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee): The Clerks reads the resolution. Comments are taken from the administration, the dais, the public before a referral is made to a council committee where a detailed discussion will take place. ▶ jump to 190:23
  39. 38 R30 Amending Council Rules by prohibiting Council Members from engaging in discussion and voting at Council Meetings by remote participation to ensure compliance with the Sunshine Act and having an adverse impact on council business conducted during that meeting. 15-6613 ▶ jump to 190:27
  40. 39 R31 Council recommends ARPA funds not appropriated be directed to towards offsetting any potential tax increase and used for critical infrastructure projects. Proposed Amendment: Amend the resolution to take the 1.2M from community reinvestment and place it into the general fund to be used for recommendations from the housing study. 15-6671 ▶ jump to 202:07
  41. 40 NEW BUSINESS: NONE ▶ jump to 202:32
  42. 41 GOOD AND WELFARE: NONE ▶ jump to 202:36
  43. 42 ADJOURNED: 9:52 PM ▶ jump to 202:38
  44. 43 Reference Materials: Council Rules Procurement Code Ethics Code 15-6577