City Council

Council Chambers

Agenda — 62 items

1. 1 Invocation: ▶ jump to 0:03
2. 2 Pledge to the Flag ▶ jump to 0:35
3. 3 Roll Call ▶ jump to 0:57
4. 4 Courtesy of the Floor Rules and Privileges • Our complete set of council rules are posted online and also stapled to the meeting agendas located on the back table of council chambers. • Council Rules have established a three-minute time limit for speakers. • Speakers are asked to state their name for the record. • Speakers shall direct their comments to the President of Council, rather than to individual Council members, Council staff, members of the City’s Administration, or members of the public. • During this public meeting, speakers are expected to treat all individuals with dignity and respect. Comments that demean, harass, threaten, or discriminate against an individual or group based on characteristics such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or other protected status are not appropriate during public comment. • Speakers must follow the direction of the Council President and refrain from interrupting or disrupting the meeting. Failure to comply may result in the speaker forfeiting the remainder of their time at the podium and being asked to return to their seat. Continued interruption of the meeting may result in the speaker being removed from council chambers. ▶ jump to 1:11
5. 5 Contract Approvals: The general idea for approving contracts is that the council acknowledges that proper procurement procedures were followed pursuant to the city code. ▶ jump to 11:07
6. 6 R122 Authorization of Cooperative Contract(s) in an amount greater than $40,000.00 to provide the City with various goods/services, from Horwith Trucks Inc., Bethlehem Truck and Body, Tom Masano Ford Inc., and Anchor Fence Company, Inc. 15-8724 approved Pass
7. 7 R123 Authorization for Contract with FileBank, Inc., in the amount of $85,842.20 to provide professional digitization services to convert and scan physical legal documents and official records maintained by the City Clerk, including Ordinances, Resolutions, and Minutes, into accessible, searchable, and secure digital formats while preserving the original content. Twenty (20) proposals were received; six (6) were rejected. The Contract term shall commence upon full execution and shall cease one (1) year thereafter. Upon written agreement from the City, this contract may be extended for up to an additional one (1) year term beyond the contract expiration period at the same annual terms of the initial term. 15-8727 approved Pass
8. 8 Minutes of Previous Meeting ▶ jump to 16:31
9. 9 August 5, 2026 City Council Public Hearing Meeting Minutes (Bill 52) 15-8691 approved Pass
10. 10 August 5, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-8695 approved Pass
11. 11 August 25, 2026 Special Meetings to Interview and Act on Controller Candidates Meeting Minutes 15-8685 approved Pass
12. 12 September 2, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-8682 approved Pass
13. 13 September 9, 2026 Special Meeting DROP Minutes 15-8683 approved Pass
14. 14 September 16, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes 15-8684 approved Pass
15. 15 Communications ▶ jump to 18:32
16. 16 Executive Session Announcement: President Napoli - City Council met on September 16th with Council’s and the Assistant City Solicitor to discuss ongoing litigation. Chasers – If you parked in the city lot next to City Hall, please see the City Clerk for a voucher.
17. 17 Old Business ▶ jump to 18:58
18. 18 There was an omission in a contract approved at the last meeting. City Council approved a resolution authorizing several cooperative purchases – one of the items was a blanket purchase of road salt from the state contract, the accompanying document inadvertently missed the reference that the blanket purchase would extend into 2027 (not just 2026), and the price would be $653,287.70.
19. 19 Controllers Reports Special Events and Procurement Process Flows 15-8738
20. 20 Controllers Reports Special Events and Procurement Process Flows 15-8738
21. 21 ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):
22. 22 Bill 62 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of One Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,100,000.00) to fund the implementation project on Tilghman Street and Union Boulevard as part of the SS4A Implementation Grant the City was awarded. This grant is partially reimbursable and requires match funding. 15-8636 approved Pass
23. 23 Bill 65 Amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 196 Business License, Section 3 Fee by updating the language and identifying the new fee that will apply moving forward starting with 2027 billing renewal and removing language in Section 6 Violations and Penalties. 15-8667 approved Pass
24. 24 CONSENT AGENDA: The Consent Agenda is for items that are considered ‘no brainers’ – no need to have the administration explain anything 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 titles of the resolutions. The President will ask for public comments, prior to council voting on the bundle. approved Pass ▶ jump to 41:00
25. 25 R124 Erick Bernhard, Plumbers Examining Board, 10/8/2029 (Reappointment) 15-8706
26. 26 R125 Robert Brinker, Plumbers Examining Board, 10/8/2029 (Reappointment) 15-8708
27. 27 R126 Shaun Fenon, Plumbers Examining Board, 10/8/2028 15-8710
28. 28 R127 Michael Prisaznik, Plumbers Examining Board, 10/8/2028 (Reappointment) 15-8713
29. 29 R128 Michael Miller, ACIDA, 1/1/2030 (Reappointment) 15-8716
30. 30 R129 Sylvester Novak, ACIDA, 1/1/2030 (Reappointment) 15-8719
31. 31 R130 Little Lehigh Phase 2 Sewer Planning Module 15-8699
32. 32 R131 301 N. Front Street – Mixed-Use Development Sewer Planning Module 15-8696
33. 33 R132 Park Lofts Mixed Use Development Sewage Planning Module 15-8698
34. 34 R133 337-343 Barber Street Sewage Planning Module 15-8700
35. 35 R134 West Allen Mixed Use Development Sewer Planning Module 15-8701
36. 36 R135 RS Residences – Mixed-Use Development Sewer Planning Module 15-8697
37. 37 RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ▶ jump to 42:54
38. 38 R136 Approves the submission of the formal application for the local share account grant on behalf of the Allentown Symphony Association Inc. to support Replacement of Roofing Systems on 23 N. 6th Street, Allentown, PA. 18101 15-8709 approved Pass
39. 39 R137 Approves Seven Transfers – $238,000 Fire, $221,000 EMS/Fire Transfer, $110,000 Traffic Planning & Control Transfer, $75,00 Building Plumbing Electrical Enforcement, $65,413.75 Streets, $48,000 Traffic Planning & Control Transfer, and $22,000 Engineering Transfer. 15-8686 approved Pass
40. 40 ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ▶ jump to 45:01
41. 41 Bill 66 Amending the Allentown City Code by adding Chapter 130, Allentown Outdoor Encampment Response Ordinance, establishing requirements and procedures for the City’s response to outdoor encampments on City owned property. 15-8726
42. 42 Bill 67 Amending the 2026 Grant Fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) from the PA DCED Local Share Account Grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Ripple Community, Inc. 15-8707
43. 43 Bill 68 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Five Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($560,000.00) to fund the installation of a new traffic signal at Hanover Avenue and Linden Street. This is grant funded through the PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund Program (MTF) with no match required. 15-8712
44. 44 Bill 69 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. 15-8714
45. 45 Bill 70 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Seven Hundred Five Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-Eight Dollars and Eighty-Four Cents ($705,938 84) from the Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) class action awards to offset the cost of any PFAS remediation systems the City is required to install under federal and state regulations. This 3M settlement payment will be made in ten separate installments through 2033. The total amount of settlement funds the City has received thus far through its participation in PFAS affirmation litigation is $4,480,903.96. 15-8715
46. 46 Bill 71 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($350,000.00) in reimbursement funding from the Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Development Authority (ANIZDA) to Capital Project #2040 Hamilton Streetscape. There is no city match required. 15-8711
47. 47 Bill 72 Amending the 2026 Grant Fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Three-Hundred Eighty-Four Thousand Forty-Eight Dollars ($384,048.00) from the PA DCED Local Share Account Grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Civic Theatre of Allentown. 15-8704
48. 48 Bill 73 Amending the 2026 Grant Fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Twenty-Nine Thousand Four Hundred Dollars ($29,400.00) from the PA DCED Local Share Account Grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Planned Parenthood. 15-8705
49. 49 Bill 74 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00) to fund the approved Public Works capital project to replace the salt shed as part of the 2026 Capital borrowing. Increasing our storage capacity is important for both operational and financial reasons. It is common for other townships, municipalities, and the state to experience delays or shortages in salt deliveries during the winter season. When this occurs, we are often forced to purchase salt at significantly higher prices simply to maintain our ability to respond to winter storms and keep our roads safe. Doubling our salt storage capacity would allow us to purchase the majority of our salt at the beginning of the season at the contracted rate, rather than having to compete with surrounding townships and municipalities for limited supplies later in the season. This would provide greater reliability during winter storms while also helping to control costs and avoid potentially significant emergency purchases. 15-8717
50. 50 Bill 75 Amending the 2026 Golf Fund to accommodate an upgrade of the Greenskeeper position and the Maintenance Mechanic 3 in the Golf Fund’s Grounds Maintenance program. The Greenskeeper position, currently an m16, would be upgraded to a proposed pay grade of m21 and retitled to Assistant Superintendent. The Maintenance Mechanic 3 position, currently an m14, would be upgraded to a proposed pay grade of m20 and retitled to Golf Course Equipment Tech. These upgrades allow for a pay structure that better reflects job duties while maintaining consistency with compensation for similar roles across the region. 15-8721
51. 51 Bill 76 Amending the 2026 General Fund budget to accommodate the upgrade of position 235-012, presently a Receptionist within the Human Resources Department and paygrade s05, to that of Constituent Services Specialist with a revised paygrade of s11. This will entail the transfer of funds from between accounts within the Human Resources Budget to cover costs associated with the increased salary for that position over the balance of the year. 15-8723
52. 52 Bill 77 Amending City Code Chapter 75, Pensions and Retirement, Article III, Police Pension Fund, Section 75-30, Association membership; appointment and term, and Section 75-31, Association Officers, to authorize the Mayor, City Controller, and Finance Director to select designees to serve in their place on the Police Pension Fund. 15-8720
53. 53 Bill 78 Amending the 2026 Grant Fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of One Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,300,000.00) from the State Office of the Budget, Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP). These funds are a pass-through grant that will support Resurrected Community Development Corporation Early Childhood Education Facility. 15-8718
54. 54 Bill 79 Amending the 2026 Grant Fund to provide for a supplemental appropriation of Eight-Hundred Fifty-Five Thousand Dollars ($855,000.00) from the PA DCED Local Share Account Grant. These funds are a pass-through grant that will support the Allentown Art Museum. 15-8703
55. 55 Bill 80 Amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget to provide for an increase of Two Hundred Ninety-Six Thousand Dollars ($296,000.00) to fund the safety improvements and accessibility at South 10th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive by installing ADA compliant ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, and upgraded traffic control measures to enhance pedestrian safety. This is grant funded through the Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program (TASA) with no match required. Additionally, amending the 2026 Capital Fund Budget for a transfer of Fourteen Thousand Dollars ($14,000.00) from accounts associated with the Traffic Signals-Upgrade and Thirty-Three Thousand One Hundred Thirty-Five Dollars and 45/100 ($33,135.45) from accounts associated with the Street Lighting Upgrade to the 10th Street & MLK Safety Improvements project. 15-8728
56. 56 Bill 81 Amending Article V, City Controller, by removing language assigning responsibility for preparing and reconciling all City accounts to the City Controller in order to align the ordinance with the City’s current practice and maintain a separation between the preparation of bank reconciliations and the Controller’s independent review and oversight of those reconciliations. 15-8729
57. 57 Bill 82 Amending the Allentown City Code by adding Chapter 653, Workforce Housing, to promote the development of workforce housing within the City of Allentown by establishing affordability requirements for certain multifamily rental housing developments involving ten (10) or more dwelling units that receive tax abatements under the City's Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) Program, receive at least $250,000 in City Housing Trust Fund funding, or acquire or utilize publicly owned or controlled land, subject to certain exceptions. 15-8737
58. 58 RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee): There are no resolutions for introduction.
59. 59 NEW BUSINESS ▶ jump to 57:13
60. 60 GOOD AND WELFARE ▶ jump to 59:56
61. 61 ADJOURNED: 7:30 PM
62. 62 Reference Materials: Council Rules Procurement Code Ethics Code 15-6577

Watch Allentown

This is one agenda. Allentown publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.

Watch this

Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.