2026-09-02 - City Council

[Invocation:] EVERYONE, WE'RE GOING TO KICK START OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND, 2026. AND WE'LL START WITH INVOCATION AND MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. AND PLEDGE A PLEDGE TO A FLAG.

[Pledge to the Flag] I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY. JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. CAN

YOU [Roll Call] DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE, MISS ORTEGA? MISS GERLACH HERE, MISS SANTOS HERE. MR. BENDER, PRESENT MR. NAPOLI HERE. MR. PRESENT HERE. MISS SAFF IS ABSENT AND MISS MODA IS RUNNING A FEW

MINUTES LATE. OKAY. AND ALSO AN UPDATE TO THE PUBLIC ON OUR COLLEAGUE, MISS ALPHA. SHE EXPERIENCED A FALL IN ON THE FIFTH FLOOR OF CITY HALL A WEEK AGO. AND UNFORTUNATELY, SHE DOES HAVE. AND SHE

ALLOWED ME TO SAY THAT SHE DOES HAVE AN INJURY WITH SOME FRACTURED RIBS. SO SHE'S UNABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT. AND BUT SHE IS RECOVERING AND WE WISH HER THE BEST. AND WE ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR EMS

DEPARTMENT, WHO THEY WERE PHENOMENAL WHEN THEY CAME TO GIVE HER ASSISTANCE. SO THANKS TO ALLENTOWN EMS FOR ALL THEIR HELP AS WELL. SO WE'LL [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 Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules] GET WE'LL GET STARTED WITH COURTESY OF THE FLOOR. THIS PORTION OF COURTESY OF FLOOR IS FOR

ANYTHING THAT'S NOT ON OUR AGENDA. SO WE DO HAVE A NEW SET OF COUNCIL RULES THAT ARE POSTED ONLINE AND ALSO STAPLE TO THE MEETING AGENDAS IN THE BACK OF OF THE ROOM. A COUPLE QUICK HIGHLIGHTS. COUNCIL

RULES HAVE ESTABLISHED A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS. WE DO ASK THAT YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SPEAKER SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO THE PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL RATHER THAN TO

INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCIL STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE CITY 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 DIRECTION OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT AND REFRAIN FROM

INTERRUPTING OR DISRUPTING THE MEETING. FAILURE TO COMPLY MAY RESULT IN A 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 A SPEAKER BEING REMOVED FROM COUNCIL CHAMBERS, AND WE HAVE, COURTESY OF THE FLOOR, LOUIS SHOUP. WELCOME. THANK YOU. LOUIS SHOUP, POCONO SUMMIT SLASH. ALLENTOWN, PA. I COME

TO TALK ABOUT FLOCK. NOW. A FEW YEARS AGO, EVERYBODY HERE ON COUNCIL VOTED FOR THIS, DESPITE MY MISGIVINGS AT THAT TIME, TO ASK THAT IT BE TABLED. IT WAS NOT. THE BILL WAS PASSED. AND HERE WE ARE

THREE YEARS LATER AT. THE DEVICES HAVE ALREADY BEEN INSTALLED AT VARIOUS CHOKE POINTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN AND SENSITIVE LOCATIONS SUCH AS WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTERS, BARS AND VOTING POLL

PLACES AND SUCH, AND ALL SORTS OF OTHER PLACES WHERE THESE FLOCK DEVICES GATHER DATA. SOME SAY THEY GATHER BLUETOOTH AND WI-FI. I HAVE MY DOUBTS ABOUT THAT, BUT THEY DO CAPTURE THE LICENSE PLATE DATA

AS WELL AS PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE AND AND INCREASING AI THAT IS CAPABLE OF HALLUCINATING WITHOUT CHEMICAL ASSISTANCE, GATHERS ALL THESE DATA POINTS UP INTO WHAT ARE CALLED PATTERNS OF LIFE. AND THIS

IS UPLOADED TO PLACES LIKE THE FUSION CENTER AT SEVENTH AND HAMILTON, WHERE IT IS DISSEMINATED TO THE NSA AND ABOUT 50 OTHER THREE LETTER AGENCIES. THIS DATA HAS ALREADY BEEN PROVEN DANGEROUS TO

SPANISH PEOPLE, TO PEOPLE OF COLOR, TO PEOPLE THAT THE AI THINKS MIGHT BE AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT AND HAS ALREADY CONTRIBUTED TO MANY PEOPLE BEING DETAINED OVER THAT. IT'S BEEN ABUSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT

LOOKING FOR EX-PARTNERS. ALL THIS EVIDENCE I'VE BEEN POSTING ON MY FACEBOOK GROUP, ALLENTOWN, PA COMMUNITY, EVERYBODY HERE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN INVITE. I DON'T KNOW IF HE JOINED OR NOT, BUT YOU DON'T

HAVE TO. IT'S AN OPEN GROUP. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK MAYBE SORT A LITTLE BIT BY FLOCK, WHICH IS A DEDICATED TOPIC. I WOULD ASK THAT YOU SERIOUSLY CONSIDER GETTING RID OF THESE CAMERAS. WHILE THE

LEGAL WINDS ARE GOOD. TODAY, GOVERNOR SHAPIRO CAME OUT AND CLAIMED THAT HE WOULD BE IN FAVOR OF LEGISLATION THAT WOULD BAN FLOCK CAMERAS IN THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA. SO ME, IN MY SMALL DATA FARM THAT

I STILL HAVE AT 11TH AND HAMILTON STARTED SPREADING THE WORD AROUND SAYING, HEY, MAYBE IF WE CAN GET THE GOVERNOR TO HAVE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO BLOCK THIS, THIS MIGHT WORK OUT BETTER FOR HIM AND FOR

EVERYBODY IN GENERAL. SO I SPREAD AROUND HIS PHONE NUMBERS, AND I MIGHT HAVE HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER LATER. I'LL HAVE TO CHECK THAT. BUT THE POINT BEING, THESE CAMERAS DOING A LOT OF DAMAGE TO PEOPLE

AGAINST THEIR FOURTH AMENDMENT RIGHTS, WHICH, BY THE WAY, HAS A DEFECT. I TALKED ABOUT THAT BEFORE, BUT THAT'S ACADEMIC. THE POINT BEING, PLEASE START THE PROCESS TO GET RID OF THESE CAMERAS WHILE THE

LEGAL WINDS ARE BLOWING. GOOD. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU KYLE. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KYLE LIVE AT 528 NORTH BURKE STREET. I'M CHAIR VALENTINE'S ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. I

JUST WANT TO COME UP HERE AGAIN TONIGHT TO RAISE SOME ATTENTION AND AWARENESS TO THE UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE, PROVIDE INPUT TO THE CITY'S FIRST EVER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. WE'RE MOVING ON TO

THE NEXT PHASE OF COMMUNITY FORUMS, WHERE THE CITY WILL SHARE WHAT IT HAS HEARD SO FAR IN ITS FIRST ROUND OF ENGAGEMENT, AND BEGIN DISCUSSING SPECIFIC STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS THAT ARE HOPEFULLY GOING

TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT OR THE FINAL PLAN. THERE WILL BE AN EAST SIDE FORUM ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH FROM 6 TO 7:30 P.M. AT THE EAST SIDE YOUTH CENTER AND ANOTHER IN CENTER CITY ON SATURDAY,

OCTOBER 3RD FROM 2 TO 3:30 P.M. AT THE ALLENTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY. THERE ARE ALSO OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE ANYTIME THROUGH SURVEYS AND OTHER PILOT PROGRAM FORUMS, SO I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO

LEARN MORE AND TAKE PART IN THIS PLAN. YOU CAN FIND THE SCHEDULE, REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND UPDATES AT ALLENTOWN, PA.GOV/CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. YOU CAN ALSO REACH OUT TO ME OR ANYBODY ON THE

ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL AT A TOWN, [email protected] OR OUR WEBSITE, ALLENTOWN.ORG. AND ALSO, JUST TO CHERRY ON TOP, FOR THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON, $25 STIPENDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR TIME WITH

REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SO AGAIN, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY, IF THEY SHOW UP TO ONE OF THESE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THEY REGISTER BEFOREHAND, THEY CAN GET $25 CASH FOR GOING. SO DEFINITELY A BIG INCENTIVE. AND

ULTIMATELY, AGAIN, THE PLAN IS TO BE ROOTED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE RESIDENTS OF ALLENTOWN THINK, AND THAT'S HOW BAD WE WANT IT. SO PLEASE, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY, TELL THEM TO

COME OUT TO TO SOME OF THESE EVENTS. THEY CAN MAKE A LITTLE MONEY. IT CAN ALSO REALLY HELP OUT THE CITY IN THE LONG TERM. SO THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG. WE HAVE [Contract

Approvals] ANY MORE I THOUGHT THAT WAS THAT. OKAY. MOVING ALONG TO CONTRACT APPROVALS, OUR 103 WAS TABLED IN COMMITTEE. SO WE'RE GOING TO SKIP OVER OUR 103. AND WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR 106. R 106.

IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS AND AMOUNT GREATER THAN $40,000 TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES FROM RAMTEK AND MILLER FLOORING COMPANY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OR FROM FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 106? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MR. BENDER? YES, MISS GERLACH YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI. YES.

MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE FIVE YEAS AND NAYS. OKAY. [Minutes of Previous Meeting] NEXT UP, WE'LL GO TO OUR MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING FROM JULY 15TH. MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH, YES. MR. YES. MISS

SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE [Communications] FIVE. YES AND NO. THANK YOU. AS ALWAYS, IF YOU'RE COMING FOR CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARK IN THE GOVERNMENT

DECK NEXT DOOR TO CITY HALL AND TO SEE OUR CITY CLERK FOR A CHASER TO PAY FOR YOUR PARKING. ANY OLD BUSINESS. OKAY. NEXT UP, REPORTS. WE'LL [REPORTS President Napoli: Allentown City Council has

scheduled a special meeting on September 9th at 6:30 to discuss Bill 46 - Amending Part 1 – Administrative Legislation, Chapter 75 – Pensions and Retirement, Article III – Police Pension Fund, by

adding a new section 75 53 “Limited Deferred Retirement Option Plan”. Budget and Finance: Chair Pungo, Mota, Gerlach The Committee has not met since the last Council Meeting; we are looking at

some dates to review the monthly finances and the 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report as prepared by Maher Duessel, as required by the Home Rule Charter. We would like to thank our auditors for

completing this and we especially appreciate the work of our staff to make this happen: Director Patel; Erica Strohler, Treasury and Accounting Manager; and the rest of their team: Michael Sinclair –

Senior Accountant, Sheri Young – Accountant, Xuemei Lu – Senior Accountant and Hector Rodriguez – Accountant. We understand all the work that goes into this and look forward to reviewing the report

soon. The reports are included as part of the agenda on the city website for review. Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Binder, Napoli The Committee met August 26th at 6 PM to discuss

city policy related to the housing fund and draft legislation on affordable housing; the next meeting is scheduled for September 16th at 6:00 PM to review Bill 63 – legislation promoting the

development of workforce housing. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Binder, Santos, Affa The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for September 9th at 6 PM

to review Bill 61, a $6.5 million transfer into the Risk Fund to cover health care costs. Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Pungo, Binder The Committee met this evening; there are no future meetings

scheduled. Public Safety: Chair Affa, Mota, Santos The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for September 30 – time to be determined for an update on the

quality-of-life committee, discussion of budgetary priorities and a review of City’s ‘flock’ technology. If you have specific questions on the Flock system, please forward them to the Clerk prior to

the meeting. (CC has provided some already, verbally.) Public Works: Chair Mota, Pungo, Affa The Committee has not met since the last committee meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for September

16th at 5:30 PM to review Bill 62, discuss budgetary priorities and options on the stormwater fee issue. Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Napoli, Mota, Gerlach The

Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; there are no future meetings scheduled. Controller's Report – welcome the new controller! Mayor: No submission. ] START WITH FIRST ONE. ALLENTOWN

CITY COUNCIL HAS SCHEDULED A SPECIAL MEETING ON SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 630 TO DISCUSS BILL 46 AMENDING PART ONE ADMINISTRATIVE LEGISLATION, CHAPTER 75 PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT. ARTICLE THREE POLICE PENSION

FUND BY ADDING A NEW SECTION 75-53 LIMITED DEFERRED RETIREMENT OPTION PLAN. NEXT UP, BUDGET AND FINANCE CHAIR PONGO. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING,

BUT OUR OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH AT 5:30 P.M. TO REVIEW THE MONTHLY FINANCES AND THE 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT THAT WAS PREPARED BY MARK DRISCOLL, AS REQUIRED

BY THE HOME RULE CHARTER. WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK OUR AUDITORS FOR COMPLETING THIS, AND WE'RE ESPECIALLY APPRECIATIVE OF OUR WORKING, THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF DID TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. DIRECTOR PATEL,

ERIC STOLER, TREASURY AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER, AND THE REST OF THE TEAM. MICHAEL SINCLAIR, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT. CHERIE YOUNG, ACCOUNTANT. JAMIE LIU, SENIOR ACCOUNTANT AND HECTOR RODRIGUEZ, ACCOUNTANT. WE

UNDERSTAND ALL THE WORK THAT GOES INTO THIS, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO REVIEWING THE REPORT SOON. THE REPORT, AS INCLUDED AS, IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE AGENDA ON THE WEBSITE, ON THE CITY WEBSITE TO

REVIEW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR GERLACH. YES. THANK YOU. THIS COMMITTEE MET BACK ON AUGUST 26TH AT 6 P.M. TO DISCUSS THE CITY'S POLICY RELATING TO THE

HOUSING FUND, AS WELL AS A DRAFT PIECE OF LEGISLATION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING, WHICH IS BEING INTRODUCED TONIGHT. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 5:45 P.M. WE'LL GO OVER BILL 63,

WHICH IS THAT WORKFORCE HOUSING BILL, AS WELL AS GET AN UPDATE ON THE ENCAMPMENT POLICY. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND APPOINTMENTS CHAIR BINDER. THANK YOU,

PRESIDENT NAPOLI. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 9TH AT 6 P.M. TO REVIEW BILL 61, A $6.5 MILLION TRANSFER INTO THE RISK FUND TO COVER HEALTH CARE COSTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU. PARKS AND RECREATION CHAIR SANTOS. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. WE HAD TWO ITEMS ON THE AGENDA. FORWARD TO TONIGHT, AND THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT THIS

TIME. THANK YOU. PUBLIC SAFETY IS CHAIR ARFA. I'LL READ FOR HER. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH AT 6 P.M. FOR AN UPDATE ON

THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE, DISCUSSION OF BUDGETARY PRIORITIES, AND A REVIEW OF CITY'S FLOC TECHNOLOGY. IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ON THE FLOC SYSTEM, PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO THE CITY CLERK

PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND WE WILL ADD THAT TO OUR AGENDA. NEXT UP IS PUBLIC WORKS. I WILL READ FOR CHAIR MATA. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED

FOR SEPTEMBER 16TH AT 5:15 P.M. TO REVIEW BILL 62, DISCUSS BUDGETARY PRIORITIES AND OPTIONS ON THE STORMWATER FEE ISSUE, RULES, CHAMBERS INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND STRATEGY. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT

MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR COMPTROLLER'S REPORT. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW COMPTROLLER, MISS JASMINE SALGADO, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO

WORKING WITH YOU. AND AS YOU GET UP TO SPEED WITH EVERYTHING. AND I'M SURE IT'LL TAKE A FEW WEEKS, BUT LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING YOU PART OF THESE MEETINGS. SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. YOU'RE WELCOME

AND WELCOME. AND NEXT UP IS ORDINANCES. FOR FINAL PASSAGE. [ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ] WE WILL START WITH BILL 59. BILL 59 AMENDS THE 2026 EQUIPMENT FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN

INCREASE OF $48,985 FOR THE PURCHASE OF ONE ELECTRIC PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE CITY WAS AWARDED $120,070 FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CONSERVATION BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM, AND

$60,000 FUNDED PENNSYLVANIA ALTERNATIVE FUELS INCENTIVE GRANT PROGRAM. THE MAJORITY OF THIS GRANT FUNDING HAS BEEN SPENT ON SIX VEHICLES IN 2025, BUT AN ADDITIONAL $24,652.85 BETWEEN BOTH PROGRAMS

REMAIN. THE AVAILABLE FUNDING ALLOWS THE CITY TO PURCHASE ONE ADDITIONAL ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH THE REMAINING FUNDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS WAS IN MISS SANTOS COMMITTEE THIS EVENING? YES. THIS WAS

FOR THE FAVORABLY BY MY COMMITTEE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS ON BILL 59? ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? COME ON UP, MR. SHOOP. ALLENTOWN. POCONO SUMMIT. SOMETHING I DID

NOT MENTION ABOUT THAT LAST IDEA I HAD JUST DISCOVERED RECENTLY. THEY NOW HAVE WHAT ARE CALLED PLUG IN SOLAR PANELS. THEY'RE VERY LARGE. THEY KICK OUT LOTS OF WATTS, AND THEY'RE DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO

BE PLUGGED INTO A HOUSE ELECTRICAL SOCKET THAT CURRENTLY DOES NOT HAVE POWER, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING A POWER OUTAGE, AND THAT THE ELECTRICITY GENERATED IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TO POWER A MICROWAVE OR A

SMALL REFRIGERATOR. THESE DEVICES CAN ALSO POWER UP AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE. JUST A THOUGHT. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR FEEDBACK. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? OKAY. MISS GERLACH, YES, MISS MODA, YES, MISTER.

YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. BENDER. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. MOVING ALONG, BILL 60, BILL 60 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND AND GENERAL GENERAL FUND

OPERATING BUDGETS TO PROVIDE FOR A TRANSFER OF $20,000 FROM THE 2026 PARKS AND RECREATION AQUATICS OPERATING BUDGET INTO THE ITHACA PARK CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW

PAVILION AT ITHACA PARK. THANK YOU. AND THIS WAS ALSO IN MISS SANTOS COMMITTEE. YES. THIS WAS ALSO FORWARDED FAVORABLY TO FULL COUNCIL. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS? BILL

60 OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. MR. PONGO? YES. MISS. SANTOS? YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS. GERLACH. YES. MISS MOTA. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE 60 DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. MOVING ALONG.

[RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):] RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE. FIRST UP ARE 107 R 107. AUTHORIZES A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN AND THE ALLENTOWN PARTNERSHIP FOR

THE TACK BARN, LOCATED NEAR BOGERT'S BRIDGE ON PARK DRIVE. CITY OF ALLENTOWN. COUNTY OF LEHIGH, PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS A BUILDING LOCATED IN LEHIGH PARKWAY. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS ON R 107

OR FROM THE PUBLIC? COMING UP? HI, I'M RUFFIAN TITMAN, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALLENTOWN PARTNERSHIP, AND THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERING THIS TONIGHT. WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO HAVE A LEASE WHICH WILL

ENABLE THE LONG TERM STEWARDSHIP AND ACCESS TO THE HISTORIC TACK BARN IN LEHIGH PARKWAY, ONE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS HERE IN ALLENTOWN AND ADJACENT TO THE CURRENTLY BEING RESTORED BOGERT'S BRIDGE. SO

HOPEFULLY A GREAT STORY OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND ACCESS FOR ALLENTOWN PARK. SO I HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER THIS FAVORABLY. AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MR. BENDER.

THIS IS FOR ITS 20 YEARS. IS THAT CORRECT? I DON'T KNOW WHO SPEAKS TO THAT, BUT I BELIEVE WHEN I READ IT, IT WAS 20 YEARS, A DOLLAR A YEAR LEASE. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. OKAY, EVERYONE. GOOD? WE'LL CALL

THE VOTE, MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS. GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES. AND MR. PONGO. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. AND NEXT UP, R 108. R 108

AUTHORIZES AND APPROVES THE ENGAGEMENT OF MARIA MONTERO, ESQUIRE, TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO ALLENTOWN CITY COUNCIL PURSUANT TO THE ALLENTOWN HOME RULE CHARTER AND ADMINISTRATIVE CODE. OKAY. ANY

COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION. SO BECAUSE IT SAYS ONE OF THE TWO YEAR, TWO, ONE YEAR RENEWALS. SO THIS IS JUST FOR ONE YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT?

THAT WAS MY MISTAKE. THAT'S A MISTAKE. IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THERE. OKAY. BUT IS IT JUST FOR UNDERSTANDING. IT'S FOR ONE YEAR. IS THAT CORRECT? OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. AND ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC

ON R 108. OKAY. MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE [ORDINANCES FOR

INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ] ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION. WE'LL START WITH BILL 61. BILL 61 AMENDS THE 2026 RISK FUND BY TRANSFERRING $6,500,000

FROM THE GENERAL FUND UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCE TO THE RISK FUND FOR THE PAYMENT OF HEALTH CARE CLAIMS, DRUG PRESCRIPTION BENEFITS AND OTHER EMPLOYEE MEDICAL COSTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, AS WELL

AS FOR INSURANCE COSTS AND PROPERTY AND AUTO LOSSES. AMOUNTS FOR HEALTHCARE CLAIMS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER THIS YEAR, AND CERTAIN LOSSES HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCED AT RATES HIGHER THAN EXPECTED. OKAY, ANY

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 61 BEFORE I SEND IT TO COMMITTEE? OKAY, SO THIS WILL BE SENT TO OUR HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE. THAT'S CHAIR BINDER. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT

EBERLY. OKAY. AND BILL 62, BILL 62 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $1,100,000 TO FUND THE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT ON TILGHMAN STREET AND UNION BOULEVARD. AS PART OF

THE SS FOR IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, THE CITY WAS AWARDED. THIS GRANT IS PARTIALLY REIMBURSABLE AND REQUIRES MATCH FUNDING. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 62? OKAY. THIS WILL BE SENT TO PUBLIC

WORKS COMMITTEE. THAT'S VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND LAST ONE IS BILL 63. BILL 63 AMENDS THE ALLENTOWN CITY CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 653 WORKFORCE HOUSING TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT OF

WORKFORCE HOUSING IN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN BY REQUIRING CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROJECTS, BENEFITING FROM PUBLIC FUNDING OR TAX INCENTIVES TO INCLUDE HOUSING UNITS, AFFORDABLE TO MODERATE INCOME

HOUSEHOLDS. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 63? COME ON UP. ALLENTOWN. POCONO SUMMIT. I'M NO LONGER HOMELESS HERE IN ALLENTOWN, BUT I STILL CARE ABOUT THE ONES THAT ARE, AND I KNOW MANY OF

THEM. A LOT OF THEM ARE ON LIMITED INCOMES THAT DID NOT KEEP UP WITH THE INFLATED REAL ESTATE PRICES. THANKS TO BIDEN'S EVICTION MORATORIUM, THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT MORE NEEDS TO BE

DONE. THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE. THEY'RE STILL HOMELESS, AND THEY STILL NEED HELP. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. OKAY, SO BILL 63, WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO REFER TO COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMITTEE. THAT'S CHAIR GERLACH. THANK YOU. AND ALL THREE OF THOSE COMMITTEES WILL BE DISCUSSIONS ON THESE TOPICS. SO FOLLOW OUR SCHEDULE. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ANY OF THOSE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. WE

DO NOT HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS FOR [NEW BUSINESS] INTRODUCTION. ANY NEW BUSINESS FROM. I JUST I JUST WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT TODAY WAS THE BEGINNING OF THE ALLENTOWN FAIR. I JUST CAME FROM THERE. I

WAS STUCK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS LOTS OF PEOPLE. SO PLEASE, I URGE YOU GUYS TO, YOU KNOW, SHOW UP AND, AND HAVE FUN, YOU KNOW, AND TO CELEBRATE THE 250 YEARS, THEY SAY SOMETHING ABOUT CELEBRATING THE ALL

THE NEW RED, RED, WHITE AND BLUE. SOMETHING REALLY CUTE THOUGH. I LIKE THE THEME. OKAY, SO YEAH, SO PLEASE SHOW UP. THANKS FOR MENTIONING THAT AND SHARING THAT, SHARING THAT AND GOOD AND WELFARE. ANY

GOOD AND WELFARE FROM ANYONE. OKAY, THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.