2026-09-16 - City Council

VERY. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY, BUT [Invocation] OUR LAST MEETING RAN LONG, BUT GOOD CONVERSATION. AND THAT COMMITTEE MEETING, WE'RE GOING TO

START WITH INVOCATION. A MOMENT OF SILENCE. IF EVERYONE CAN, PLEASE STAND. THANK YOU. [Pledge to the Flag] AND PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO

THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MISS GERLACH HERE, MISS SANTOS HERE. [Roll Call] MR.

BENDER, PRESENT. MISS MODA HERE. MR. NAPOLI HERE. MR. HERE. MOSAFFA HERE. MR. PRESIDENT, [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.] YOU'RE ALL HERE. GREAT. THANK YOU. WE'LL RUN THROUGH A COURTESY OF THE FLOOR RULES AND PRIVILEGES. OUR COMPLETE SET OF COUNCIL RULES ARE POSTED ONLINE AND STAPLED TO THE MEETING AGENDAS.

LOCATED ON THE BACK TABLE OF CHAMBERS. COUNCIL RULES HAVE ESTABLISHED A THREE MINUTE LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS. SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO STATE THEIR NAME FOR THE RECORD. SPEAKER SHALL DIRECT THEIR COMMENTS TO

THE PRESIDENT COUNCIL RATHER THAN TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNSEL, 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. LASTLY, SPEAKERS MUST FOLLOW DIRECTION

OF 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 A SPEAKER BEING REMOVED FROM COUNCIL CHAMBERS. FIRST UP, WE HAVE CONTRACT APPROVALS. MISS ORTEGA R 110. YOU HAVE COURTESY OF THE

FLOOR. OH, I'M SORRY, COURTESY OF THE FLOOR. CATALINA DIAZ. YEAH. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL. MY NAME IS CATALINA. I'M A RESIDENT HERE AT ALLENTOWN. I LIVE IN 21ST STREET. RECENTLY, ME AND MY

NEIGHBORS RECEIVED A HAZARDOUS STREET NOTICE. I'M SORRY. I WASN'T VERY PREPARED FOR THIS, SO I UNDERSTAND THE CITY CONCERN. I'M NOT REFUSING TO ADDRESS THE TO ADDRESS THE TREE. MY CONCERN IS THE SIZE

OF THE TREE AND SORRY. AND. AND HAVING THE REMOVAL AND SAFELY. I'M ASKING FOR THE CITY. ADDITIONAL TIME. ADDITIONAL TIME TO OBTAIN ESTIMATED ARRANGEMENT FOR THE. TO DO THE WORK. I'M ALSO ASKING

WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TREE REQUIRES TO CAN BE WAIVED IN MY SITUATION, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE REMOVAL AND FINANCIAL BURDEN INVOLVES. I WOULD LIKE THE CITY TO CONSIDER ALLOWING THE PROPERTY

TO REMAIN WITHOUT A REQUIREMENT, ANOTHER TREE, OR EXPLAIN WHETHER THERE IS A SESSION AVAILABLE. THAT'S IT. OKAY, WE DID RECEIVE YOUR EMAIL OR I'M SORRY. OUR DEPUTY CITY CLERK SENT AN EMAIL TO US

LETTING US KNOW ABOUT YOUR PHONE CALL TO THE OFFICE. YOU WERE ON THE LIST TO CALL TOMORROW, SO I'M SORRY WE DIDN'T GET TO IT TODAY, BUT WE ARE AWARE OF IT AND WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU A CALL AND

DISCUSS IT WHEN WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION FROM OUR FOLKS HERE. SO BUT I DO WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A CONVERSATION AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO. I APPRECIATE IT SO, BUT YOUR NOTE WAS

RECEIVED, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION. YOU SAID TOMORROW I WILL BE RECEIVING THE PHONE CALL. YES. MY PLAN IS TO CALL TOMORROW. THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE IT.

THANKS FOR COMING TONIGHT. YEAH. THANK YOU. HARRY CRAPSER. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HARRY CRAPSER. I'M JUST HERE TO ASK ABOUT. WE HAVE A PARKING PROBLEM. I KNOW IT'S ALL OVER ALLENTOWN, BUT RIGHT NOW

I'M JUST ASKING ABOUT 15TH AND CHURCH STREETS. THE WAY PEOPLE ARE, PARKING IS ENOUGH SPACE IN FRONT OF THEM AND BEHIND THEM. IF THEY MOVE EITHER FRONT OR BACK, THERE WOULD BE ANOTHER PARKING SPACE FOR

SOMEBODY TO PARK. SO YOU HAVE BLUE LINES ALREADY FOR THE HANDICAP, YOU HAVE THE PARKING BETWEEN THEM, YOU HAVE THE PAINTED YELLOW CURBS, YOU HAVE PAINTED CURBS FOR THE WHOLE STREET, PLUS THE SIGNS, NO

PARKING. YOU ALSO HAVE THE WHITE LINES ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE STREET, WHERE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO PARK FROM THAT WHITE LINE TO THE CURB. SO WHAT I'M ASKING IS IF WE CAN SOMEHOW GET THOSE WHITE LINES. I'VE

SEEN IT ON HAMILTON BETWEEN 15TH AND 12TH STREET. THE WHITE LINES COMING OUT TO WHERE THE COURTS SUPPORT THE PARK. EXCUSE ME, WHERE THE CAR PARK. THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. ON A TRUE STREET. BECAUSE LIKE

I SAID, YOU CAN PROBABLY GET FIVE MORE CARS ON THAT BLOCK. MY BLOCK ALONE. IF THE PEOPLE WERE JUST PARKED, YOU KNOW, SO SOMEBODY ELSE CAN HAVE A PARKING SPACE. I HAD THREE NEIGHBORS COME TO ME ALREADY

AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WORKED LATE AT NIGHT, COME HOME EARLY IN THE MORNING, THEY GOT TO GO ALL AROUND THE BLOCKS LOOKING FOR PARKING SPACE, NOWHERE NEAR WHERE THEY LIVE. AND THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE

BIGGEST PROBLEMS IN ALLENTOWN THAT I SEE. BUT ON MY BLOCK, PEOPLE KNOW I COME HERE SOMETIMES, AND THAT'S WHY I'M BRINGING IT UP. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LIKE TO SOMEHOW GET AN ANSWER SOONER THAN

LATER, BECAUSE MONTHS AGO I WAS HERE ALSO FOR THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL LIGHT ON THE INTERSECTION OF 15TH AND TWO. I HAVEN'T HEARD A THING ABOUT IT. IT MUST HAVE BEEN ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO, AND I STILL

HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. BUT THIS ONE HERE, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO. I'M JUST ASKING RIGHT NOW FOR 15TH STREET, THE TWO SECTIONS, 15TH STREET. I KNOW IT'S ALL OVER THE CITY, BUT I'M

HERE FOR MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO LET THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE, IF IT CAN BE DONE. OKAY. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE ON 15TH OR YOU'RE ON TWO. I'M ON 15TH STREET, 15, 22.5. TWO. OKAY. I MISS

ORTEGA, CAN YOU PLEASE SEND ME HIS INFORMATION BY EMAIL? WE'LL FORWARD IT TO PUBLIC WORKS AND TO THE PARKING AUTHORITY AND SEE IF BETWEEN THE TWO THEY CAN FIGURE SOMETHING OUT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT THEY

CAN DO, BUT WE'LL GET IT IN THE RIGHT PEOPLE'S HANDS. SO I CALLED THE STREETS ABOUT IT AND THEY SAID, THERE'S UP TO THE CITY. IT'S A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE IN REDDING THEY HAVE IT DONE, BUT IT'S UP TO THE

CITY. AND THEY SAID, IT'S A GREAT IDEA, BUT. SO ALL RIGHT, WE'LL HAVE A I'D LIKE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT IT, BUT WE'LL HAVE YOUR INFORMATION AND I PROMISE TO GET BACK TO YOU. TIME'S UP.

THANK YOU. YEP. KYLE. 15. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. MY NAME IS KYLE. I'LL BE BRIEF HERE TONIGHT. I'M HERE TO MAKE ANOTHER REMINDER ABOUT AN UPCOMING OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO HAVE A VOICE IN THE CITY

OF ALLENTOWN'S FIRST EVER CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. THE CITY'S FINAL COMMUNITY FORUM IS COMING UP ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD FROM 2 TO 3:30 P.M. AT THE ALLENTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY. THIS WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY

TO HEAR WHAT THE CITY HAS LEARNED THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS SO FAR, AND TO PROVIDE INPUT AS THE PLAN MOVES TOWARDS ITS FINAL STRATEGIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO TAKE

ADVANTAGE OF THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A CLIMATE EXPERT IF YOU LIVE, WORK OR CARE ABOUT ALLENTOWN. YOUR PERSPECTIVE CAN HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. THE MAYOR HAS

ATTENDED MANY OF THESE MEETINGS SO FAR, AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL TO ATTEND AS WELL, NOT JUST TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOUR INPUT AS MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO BE

ABLE TO SIT WITH RESIDENTS AND HAVE A LEGITIMATE CONVERSATION WITH THEM AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT MATTERS MOST TO THEM WITHIN THIS SPACE. IT'S BEEN VERY VALUABLE AS AN EC TO TALK TO RESIDENTS AT THESE

MEETINGS AND LEARN HOW THEY CARE ABOUT THINGS LIKE LITTER AND CONTAINERIZATION AND WHATNOT. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING, YOU CAN FIND REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON ALLENTOWN,

PA.GOV/CLIMATE ACTION PLAN OR THE ACS WEBSITE, ALLENTOWN, EC.ORG. AND AS AN ADDED INCENTIVE FOR RESIDENTS TAKING THE TIME TO PARTICIPATE, THERE ARE $25 STIPENDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AS LONG AS YOU

REGISTER AHEAD OF TIME AND ATTEND THE FORUM. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, AN OPPORTUNITY COST YOU'RE LOSING $25 IF YOU DON'T SHOW UP. SO IF YOU'RE INTERESTED AND YOU'VE BEEN MEANING TO GET INVOLVED AND

YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT A PARTICULAR TOPIC THAT RELATES TO OUR ENVIRONMENT, LET'S JUST SAY SOMETHING LIKE DATA CENTERS. THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD, AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU

THERE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3RD FROM 2 TO 3:30 P.M. AT THE ALLENTOWN PUBLIC LIBRARY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, THAT WRAPS UP THE COURTESY OF FLOOR. THERE WILL BE OPTIONS FOR COURTESY THE FLOOR AS WE

DO OUR AGENDA ITEMS. SO THERE'S STILL AN OPTION TO DISCUSS AGENDA ITEMS. [Contract Approvals] NEXT UP, CONTRACT APPROVALS. WE'LL START WITH R 110. R 110 IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR FOR COOPERATIVE

CONTRACTS IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN $40,000 TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES FROM WHITMER PUBLIC SAFETY GROUP, INC, RECREATION RESOURCE USA, AND SYLVIE SALT. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR

QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES OR THE PUBLIC ON R 110? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE? MISS AFAR. YES, MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH. YES. MISS. YES. MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI.

YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. NEXT UP, R111R111 IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE. A SINGLE SOURCE CONTRACT WITH IPVM IN AN AMOUNT OF $10,000 TO PERFORM A

FLOCK LPR REVIEW FOR THE CITY. IPVM WILL PROVIDE A WRITTEN FINDINGS REPORT COVERING THE STATE OF THE DEPLOYMENT, DOCUMENTED RISKS, PEER CITY COMPARISONS, AND A PRIORITIZED ACTION PLAN THE CITY CAN

BRING TO LEADERSHIP AND LEGAL. THEY ALSO PROVIDE RFP REVIEW THAT ENSURES THE CITY'S SPECIFICATIONS REFLECT INDEPENDENT TECHNICAL STANDARDS, NOT WHAT VENDORS PREFER TO BE ASKED. IPVM CAN HELP THE CITY

BUILD A UNIFIED TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY THAT SERVES ALL DEPARTMENTS WITHOUT DUPLICATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? COUNCIL PERSON. BENDER. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. I

JUST WANT TO MAKE A COUPLE OF QUICK COMMENTS ON THIS FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE. SO I BEGAN THIS PROCESS BACK IN MARCH OF 2026 TO REVIEW HOW SURVEILLANCE IS BEING HANDLED WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS. I MET

WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE AT THE TIME ABOUT TRYING TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT FLOCK SAFETY SYSTEMS WERE BEING DEPLOYED IN ALLENTOWN AND WHO WE WERE SHARING DATA WITH. MY GOAL IN

THIS PROCESS, MY GOAL TRAJECTORY IN THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN TO CREATE SOME SORT OF ORDINANCE FOR PUBLIC OVERSIGHT OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGIES, AND THEN TO HAVE THAT REFERENCE, A SURVEILLANCE USE

POLICY, WHICH WOULD LIVE, WOULD BE A LIVING DOCUMENT WITHIN THE ADMINISTRATIVE HANDBOOK, OUTLINING THE CRITERIA AND GUARDRAILS THAT DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE CITY WOULD ADHERE TO RELATED TO ANYTHING WITH

SURVEILLANCE. I RECOMMENDED TO THE CITY TO EXPLORE OBTAINING INFORMATION FROM IPVM SO THEY COULD HELP NAVIGATE THIS PROCESS. I CURRENTLY JUST FOR. FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, I SUBSCRIBE TO IPVM IN MY

PROFESSIONAL ROLE AS A SERVICE. THIS ORGANIZATION, THIS ORGANIZATION FOCUSES ON DOING INDEPENDENT REVIEWS IN THE SURVEILLANCE INDUSTRY. THAT IS THEIR SOLE FOCUS. THEY'RE NOT A THEY'RE NOT FUNDED

THROUGH ANY MANUFACTURERS OR LIKE THAT. AND THEY FOR, FOR THE SURVEILLANCE INDUSTRY PROVIDE A VERY NON OR VERY UNBIASED TECHNICAL APPROACH TO IT. BUT IN THIS CASE, IF THIS PASSES, WOULD BE FOCUSING ON

HOW THE CITY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT WE'VE DEPLOYED, WHAT ARE THE RISKS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND HOW WE CAN PROPERLY CRAFT SOME POLICY GOING FORWARD? THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE

PUBLIC. I KNOW SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP FOR FOR A YEAR OR TWO NOW AT THIS POINT, AND I THINK THIS IS A GOOD NEXT STEP IN CREATING THAT THAT THAT POLICY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT. AND

THEN FOR ALL OF US TO BE ABLE TO EVALUATE, I'D ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO, TO MOVE THIS FORWARD. BUT I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE IT'S VERY CLEAR THIS IS COMING OUT OF COUNCIL'S BUDGET. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT

THAT SINCE THE SINCE THE PUBLIC HAS COME TO US AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE INTERESTED IN THIS, THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING THIS INITIATIVE TO TRY AND COME UP WITH A GOOD POLICY. AND THAT'S WHERE THE FUNDING

WOULD COME FROM. SO I JUST WANTED TO I KNOW THERE WAS A LITTLE LONG THERE, BUT MAKE SURE IT WAS VERY CLEAR WHAT THE REASON WAS FOR THIS, WHY IT WAS SINGLE SOURCED. AND I DON'T KNOW IF IF THE

ADMINISTRATION WILL GIVE IT TO YOU, BUT IF THEY WANTED TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THAT OR IF ANYONE HAS ANY QUESTIONS. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE THE BACKGROUND. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY

COLLEAGUES ON THIS R1 11 INDEPENDENT REVIEW? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? COME ON UP, MR. SHOOP. GOOD EVENING. AS BOTH A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE AND ADMIN FOR THE FACEBOOK GROUP ALLENTOWN, PA

COMMUNITY, I POSTED THIS STORY EARLIER TODAY, A GOOD CHUNK OF WHICH I WILL READ HERE. THE PROPOSED CONTRACT IS DESCRIBED BY THE CITY AS A SINGLE SOURCE, BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. BUT YOU ALREADY KNOW THAT.

BUT EVENTS REPORTED TODAY BY THE NEWS COMPANY WIRED AND 404 MEDIA MAKE AN INDEPENDENT EXAMINATION OF FOX TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP, PARTICULARLY TIMING. ACCORDING TO THE NEWLY PUBLISHED WIRED

INVESTIGATION, RESEARCHERS WHO OBTAINED AND EXAMINED A CAMERA FROM FLOCK WERE ABLE TO RECOVER AN ENCRYPTION KEY STORED ON THE DEVICE AND ACCESSED SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION CONTAINED ON IT.

THE EXAMINATION REPORTEDLY REVEALED APPROXIMATELY 1.6 MILLION IMAGES, WHICH I'M DOWNLOADING THEM ALL RIGHT NOW. I MIGHT HAVE IT WHEN I GET BACK, BUT LONG STORY SHORT, THE NEED FOR AN INDEPENDENT

EXAMINATION IS ALMOST ACADEMIC AT THIS POINT. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS RELEASED AT THE HARDWARE HACKING VILLAGE AT DEFCON, AND IF I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THOSE GUYS, THEY DID A

GOOD JOB AND THAT NEWS IS GOING TO BE SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE. I'M DOWNLOADING THE TORRENT RIGHT NOW. IT'S ABOUT 28GB FILLED WITH ALL THOSE IMAGES, WHICH AVERAGE ABOUT 28 K IN SIZE. SO I'M GUESSING

THE DATA STREAM OVER A CELL CONNECTION GOING UP THE NETWORK MUST BE INTERESTING TO OBSERVE, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF SOFTWARE ON THERE AS WELL. AND ONCE I DOWNLOAD IT, I MYSELF WILL DO THE EXAMINATION FOR

FREE. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SUBSCRIBE TO THAT. IVPM. I MESSED THAT UP. I'M SURE IT'S A GOOD COMPANY. I LOOKED INTO IT MYSELF. I'M A BIG FAN OF THEIR WORK, BUT WHY WASTE A $10,000 WHEN THE HACKERS OF THE

WORLD WILL DO IT FOR FREE? THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON OUR. 111 YEAH, I, IF I CAN GO AHEAD. SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK, THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES THAT I

BUMPED INTO WHEN I, WHEN I CAME HERE IN APRIL AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT USES FLOCK TECHNOLOGY AND SOLVES CRIMES BECAUSE OF FLOCK TECHNOLOGY, BUT WE ARE NOT COMFORTABLE AS A, YOU KNOW, AS AN

ADMINISTRATION. AND I THINK YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THAT WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR DATA. I MEAN, THE COMPANY CAN TELL US WHATEVER THEY LIKE, BUT WE'VE SEEN AMPLE EVIDENCE THAT THAT THAT

WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY SAY MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE THE CASE. AND WHEN WE LOOKED INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF THE PROCUREMENT, WHEN WE LOOKED INTO INTO COMPANIES THAT PROVIDE THIS SERVICE, LOTS

OF COMPANIES WILL TELL YOU THAT THEY'LL, THAT THEY WILL AUDIT YOUR USE OF A TECHNOLOGY. THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT REALLY HAD EXPERIENCE. AND THAT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE INDEPENDENT. THEY

THEY DON'T GET ANYTHING FROM THE INDUSTRY. I MEAN, THEY'RE ENTIRELY SUBSCRIPTION BASED SERVICE AND THEY'RE LOCAL THERE. I THINK THEY'RE IN BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP. SO I'VE HAD INTERACTIONS WITH THEM. I

KNOW THAT COUNCILPERSON BENDER SUBSCRIBES TO THEM. SO THAT'S HOW WE ARRIVED AT THIS AT THIS VENDOR. AND I MEAN, WE'RE, WE'RE ANXIOUS TO, TO HEAR HOW OUR TECHNOLOGY, HOW OUR USE OF TECHNOLOGY, YOU

KNOW, HOW IT IS, HOW IT, HOW IT, HOW IT, HOW IT PLAYS OUT. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR DATA ONCE IT'S, ONCE IT LEAVES OUR HANDS, LET'S SAY, OKAY, MR. BRENNER, GO AHEAD. I JUST WANTED TO CREATE A

FOLLOW UP. IT ISN'T JUST FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE TECHNOLOGY. IT'S ALSO TO COME THROUGH AND HELP PROVIDE ALL OF THE GUIDANCE FOR HOW WE'RE MANAGING, WHAT CHANGES WOULD BE RECOMMENDED BASED ON THE

INDUSTRY AND HOW OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND CITIES ARE HANDLING THIS, AS WELL AS IT'S GOING TO PROVIDE, WHICH I DIDN'T PUT THIS IN MY COMMENTS, BUT FOR THE OTHER TECHNOLOGIES THAT WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF

SURVEILLANCE, HOW WE CAN BETTER USE THEM, BE MORE EFFECTIVE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE, AND ALSO MAKE SURE WE'RE PROTECTING RESIDENTS, NOT JUST WITH FLOCK, BUT ALSO WITH OUR SURVEILLANCE AT LARGE. SO

JUST ROUNDING OUT A LITTLE BIT, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE TECH SIDE. SO OKAY, THANKS FOR THAT. AND MR. POGO, GO AHEAD. ABSOLUTELY. I GUESS THAT WAS KIND OF ONE OF MY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DELIVERABLE, AND

I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW IT'S GOING TO BE MADE AVAILABLE AND WHO AND IS THAT BECAUSE WE'RE GETTING IT, YOU KNOW, PAYING FOR IT AS COUNSEL. IS THIS COMING TO COUNCIL OR IS THIS THROUGH THE

ADMINISTRATION? I JUST KNOW I'D LIKE TO BE, YOU KNOW, AWARE OF THE FINDINGS. YEAH, YOU'LL ABSOLUTELY BE AWARE OF THE I MEAN, IT DIDN'T EVEN OCCUR TO ME, OCCURRED TO ME THAT WE WOULD WITHHOLD IT FROM

YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE WITHHOLDING. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IF I'M NOT ON THE EMAIL CHAIN CAN LIKE SOMEBODY SHOOT IT MY WAY. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. AND GODSPEED TO MR. SHOOP'S INTERNET PROVIDER.

OKAY. BUT NO, FOR SURE. AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT JUST IT'S A GOOD OVERSIGHT OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO REALLY UNDERSTAND BETTER. YOU KNOW, THIS PORTION OF HOW THINGS ARE BEING DONE IN THE CITY. WE

NEED TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IT AND KNOW ALL THE OPTIONS. SO THANK YOU FOR PUSHING THIS AND GETTING IT TO THIS POINT. ANY GO AHEAD. I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MR. SHOOP. I REMEMBER LIKE, IF IT WAS

TODAY, THE TIME THAT YOU CAME AND SPOKE TO US ABOUT HAVING CONCERNS BECAUSE OF IMMIGRATION. AND, AND NOT ONLY THAT, I MEAN, IT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION. AND WITH THIS INFORMATION WAS GOING. SO I'M GLAD

THAT FINALLY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA WE'RE GONNA KNOW ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK ON THE GROUP. IT'S ALL THERE. I'VE BEEN POSTING FOR MONTHS NOW. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. SO AT THIS POINT, IT

LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD WITH PUBLIC COMMENT. WE WILL CALL THE VOTE. MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE

SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAMES. OKAY. MOVING ALONG, OUR 112 R 112 IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH BROWN DESIGN CORP IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $16,080. TO PROVIDE PLANNING AND DESIGN

SERVICES FOR THE RENOVATION OF WEST PARK. THIS IS A CONSIDERED A WAIVER OF BIDS DUE TO A TIME SENSITIVE SITUATION THAT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE LIFE THREATENING EMERGENCY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR

COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? YES. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WHAT IS THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO WITH WEST PARK? HI. GOOD EVENING. SO WE HAD A STAKEHOLDER MEETING WITH SOME OF THE LEADERS IN WEST PARK, WEST

PARK, CIVIC, TREXLER TRUST, THE PARTNERSHIP, AND SOME LEADERS EVEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOWED UP AS WELL AS CITY OFFICIALS. SO WE STARTED THE CONVERSATION AND THE FOCUS KEPT COMING BACK TO HONORING

THE PAST AND WHAT WAS THERE FROM THE ORIGINAL PLAN OF WEST PARK, BUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC AT THIS POINT IN TIME. SO IT'S FIGURING OUT WHAT THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS AND HOW

TO REPLICATE THAT, BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WEST PARK IS USED DIFFERENTLY NOW THAN IT WAS 100 YEARS AGO. SO THE PRIMARY FOCUS WILL BE TO HONOR THAT HISTORICAL ARBORETUM TYPE PLANTING IN WEST PARK.

SO THIS IS TO LOOK AT THE TREES THAT ARE THERE, HAVE A FIVE, TEN, 15, 20 YEAR PLAN TO HAVE VISUALS OF WHAT WEST PARK WILL LOOK LIKE. AND BASED OFF THE ORIGINAL J. FRANK MEEHAN PLAN WHEN IT WAS

ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED IN THE 1900S, THE EARLY 1900S. SO IT'S LOOKING AT REALLY A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PLAN AND THE THE TREES AND COLLECTING PUBLIC FEEDBACK TO COMBINE THOSE TWO IDEAS OF PAST AND,

AND WHAT WE WANT TO SEE THERE IN THE FUTURE. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, MR. PONGO? GO AHEAD. THANK YOU FOR THAT BREAKDOWN. I GUESS I'M JUST A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT THE TIME

SENSITIVE SITUATION. IS THERE ANY BACKGROUND ON WHAT ABOUT IT IS TIME SENSITIVE? I'M JUST CURIOUS. YEAH. SO THE TIME SENSITIVE NATURE REALLY STARTED FROM THE STORM THAT WENT THROUGH. SO THERE WAS A

MASSIVE LOSS OF I THINK IT WAS 13 OLD HERITAGE TYPE TREES. SO IT'S IN LIKE A STORM RESPONSE. SO THE TIME SENSITIVE NATURE IS THAT THERE. WE WANT TO GET THIS PROJECT MOVING AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER

TO RESTORE WHAT WAS THERE. AND ALSO THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN IN FROM THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW. AND, AND IT IS ALL IN RESPONSE TO THE TREES THAT WERE THERE AND THE TREES THAT WERE REMOVED. AND WHAT'S

GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE THE WOOD OF THOSE TREES? CAN IT BE REUSED IN A, IN A WAY TO THAT CAN HONOR WEST PARK SO MAY BE USED TO CREATE A BENCH. SO SOME OF THESE THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN SOONER THAN LATER

IN ORDER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME DONATIONS OF TREES UTILIZING THE WOOD THAT WAS FELLED AND COLLECTED, THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS ON WHERE THAT'S GOING TO GO. SO THE IMPETUS OF THIS REALLY

WAS THAT STORM THAT HAPPENED WHERE WE LOST A LOT OF THOSE MATURE TREES. SO THAT'S THE TIME SENSITIVE ASPECT OF THIS. OKAY, SO THIS IS JUST THE TREES. AND BECAUSE THE BANDSHELL WAS ALREADY AND SEATING

AND SO ON AND SO FORTH, THIS DOESN'T INCLUDE ANY OF THAT. SO IT'S IT DOES NOT. WE DID ALREADY REPAIR THE WINDOWS AND DOORS IN THE BANDSHELL. WEST PARK CIVIC IS INTERESTED IN ADDING THE BANDSHELL TO

THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY. SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE HISTORICAL ASPECT OF THAT, BUT THAT WILL COME WITH A GRANT THAT WEST PARK CIVIC RECEIVED. SO THIS IS STRICTLY FOR PLANNING, HAVING

COMMUNITY MEETINGS, LOOKING AT THE TREES, DOING A LANDSCAPE PLAN, THAT TYPE OF THING. OKAY. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? MR. BINDER? YEAH. JUST TRYING TO

UNDERSTAND FROM THE TO WHAT COUNCIL PERSON HAD BROUGHT UP FROM THE URGENCY ON THIS ONE, DOING THIS IN A, JUST BECAUSE WE'RE DEVIATING WHAT THE NORMAL PROCUREMENT PROCESS IS BY DOING THIS, IS THERE A

REASON WHY WE WOULDN'T JUST SIMPLY PUT IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET, WHICH WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS? I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE LIFE WELL, NON-LIFE THREATENING, BUT THE

EMERGENT EMERGENCY LIST ON THIS. SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO PROCUREMENT. I MIGHT ASK YOU TO EXPLAIN THAT ASPECT OF IT. BUT WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT BUDGET FOR WEST PARK, IT'S IN A CAPITAL

BUDGET. SO IT IS A PROJECT THAT IS NOT IT'S FROM AN OUTSIDE FUNDER AND IT ISN'T A CAPITAL ACCOUNT. SO IT REALLY IS ALREADY MONEY THAT'S IN THAT ACCOUNT AND WOULDN'T BE IN THE FOREFRONT. I WOULD SAY,

OF THE THE DISCUSSIONS FOR BUDGET IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. SO WEST PARK HAS A HAS A CAPITAL ACCOUNT. THAT'S WHERE WE DID THE REPAIRS TO THE WINDOWS AND DOORS. AND THIS IS JUST WHEN WE COME AND ADD,

SAY, TREXLER MONEY TO THOSE ACCOUNTS, WHICH WE'VE DONE A FEW MONTHS AGO, THAT THAT MOVE HAS ALREADY BEEN MADE. AND THERE IS SOME SOME FUNDING IN THAT IN THOSE ACCOUNTS ALREADY, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE TRESSLER FUND? ARE YOU GOING TO BE USING ANY KIND OF MONEY FROM THERE? YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO BE USING SOME OF THE TRUCKS OR FUNDING THAT WE WE WERE AWARDED. SO IN THE BEGINNING

OF THE YEAR, WE GET A CERTAIN AWARD AND THEN WE GET AN ADDITIONAL AWARD IF THE MARKET DOES WELL. SO THIS IS THAT USING SOME OF THAT FUNDS TOWARDS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, ANY MATCHING GRANTS. IT'S. SO THE

TREXLER IS TECHNICALLY A GRANT SO WE DON'T HAVE TO. BUT THEY DON'T REQUIRE A MATCH FOR US FOR FOR TREXLER. SO. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING. SO THE TIME SENSITIVE PART IS THAT THE

INTEREST. AND BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE FROM THE STORM, WE WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD BEFORE THE WINTER SEASON HITS BECAUSE WE WANT TO CONTINUE THE PROJECT. AND THERE'S AN INTEREST FROM PUBLIC. AND WE

HAVE FUNDING CURRENTLY IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECT. AND THIS VENDOR HAS ALREADY PROVIDED THE SCOPE OF WORK THAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR. SO THAT'S WHY WE WOULD LIKE TO BEGIN THE PROJECT. AND WE USE THAT IN

CERTAIN INSTANCES TO IF WE WERE TO GO OUT AND DO THE PROCESS, IT'S ABOUT 3 TO 6 MONTHS, DEPENDING ON THE AVAILABILITY OF EVERYONE. SO WE WANTED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE RESTORING THE WEST PARK. DID

YOU ANTICIPATE US PLANTING BEFORE WINTER THEN? SO THIS IS THE PLAN. AND THEN THE PLANTING WOULD BE IN EARLY SPRING, LIKE MARCH. SO THIS IS THE PLANNING ASPECT WHICH WOULD HAPPEN THIS YEAR, HOPEFULLY

UNTIL NOW THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR. IF THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE YOU VOTE FAVORABLY, FAVORABLY ON. THANK YOU. OKAY. APPRECIATE ALL THE BACKGROUND. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 112. OKAY.

CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MISS GERLACH? YES, MISS. YES. MR. PONGO? YES, MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS ZAPPA. YES. AND MR. BENDER. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN YEAS AND NAYS. OKAY.

THANK YOU. NEXT UP ARE 113 R 113 IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $105,683.61, WITH MICHAEL BAKER INTERNATIONAL TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN, PERMITTING DOCUMENTS, PLANS AND BID

DOCUMENTS FOR MLK TRAIL PHASE ONE AND PDES PERMIT. THIS ADDITIONAL WORK WAS DICTATED BY THE LEHIGH COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT REVIEW AND PA DEP REQUIREMENTS AND CHANGES IN THE AVAILABILITY OF

LIGHTING FIXTURES. THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS FOR $72,708. THE ADDITION WOULD BRING THE CONTRACT TO A TOTAL OF $178,391.61. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? ANY

COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 113? I WOULD LIKE TO ADD. OH GO AHEAD. OH, SORRY IF YOU'RE GOING TO ADD IT. OKAY. I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT WE WERE INFORMED EARLIER THAT THIS IS ALL GRANT FUNDING. SO SO

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE INCREASE IS COVERED COMPLETELY BY GRANT FUNDS. AND AS MISS ORTEGA MENTIONED, MANDATED BY. LEHIGH COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT AND DEP. SO ANY OTHER PUBLIC. GO AHEAD. JUST

FOR CLARITY ON THAT ONE. THEY'RE NOT MATCHING GRANT FUNDS. IT'S FULL JUST FULL ON GRANT, CORRECT? YES. SO WE HAVE D, C, D GRANTS AND DCNR GRANTS FOR OUR TRAIL PROJECTS. SO THIS WILL BE COVERED BY BY

THE GRANT ASPECT OF IT. SO IT'S STATE FUNDS COVERING A STATE REQUIREMENT BASICALLY. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE WILL CALL THE VOTE MISS. YES, MISTER. YES MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS. SAFFA.

YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS GERLACH. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. WE DON'T HAVE ANY MINUTES FOR APPROVAL, SO WE'RE GOING TO [Communications Pa State Act 205 requires that

the "Chief Administrative Officer" of the pension plans – Director Patel - inform the "governing board" of the municipality the Minimum Municipal Obligation (MMO) for the city’s pension funds. The

MMOs are the City's 2027 bill for the city’s pension plans. The MMOs must be paid by December 31, 2027, with general fund monies or with any General State Aid to Municipal Pensions to which the city

may be entitled to under Act 205. The reports are created by the City’s actuaries to the pension funds, Cheiron, Inc. The MMOs for the pension funds are as follows: Police - $9,558,017; Fire -

$3,690,593; PMRS - $5,462,453 and O and E - $139,692. (There are no active members in O and E.)The full reports are attached to the agenda. Chasers – If you parked in the city lot next to City Hall,

please see the City Clerk for a voucher. ] MOVE ALONG, STARTING WITH TWO ITEMS FOR COMMUNICATIONS. FIRST, ONE, PENNSYLVANIA STATE ACT 205 REQUIRES THAT THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER OF THE PENSION

PLANS, DIRECTOR PATEL, INFORMED THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE MUNICIPALITY THE MINIMUM MUNICIPAL OBLIGATION MMO FOR THE CITY'S PENSION FUNDS. THE MEMOS ARE BASICALLY THE CITY'S 2027 BILL FOR THE CITY'S

PENSION PLANS. THE MEMOS MUST BE PAID BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2027, WITH GENERAL FUND MONIES OR WITH ANY GENERAL STATE AID TO MUNICIPAL PENSIONS TO WHICH THE CITY MAY BE ENTITLED TO ACT TO UNDER ACT 205.

THE REPORTS ARE CREATED BY THE CITY'S ACTUARIES TO THE PENSION FUNDS. CHIRON INC. THE MEMOS FOR THE PENSION FUNDS ARE AS FOLLOWS. POLICE 9558 HOURS. I'M SORRY, $9,558,017. FIRE 3,690,593. PREMISES

5,462,443. AND ONLY 139,692, ONLY TO WHICH THERE ARE NO ACTIVE MEMBERS. THE FULL REPORTS ARE ATTACHED TO OUR AGENDA. ALSO, FOR VISITORS TO CITY COUNCIL, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARK IN THE GOVERNMENT DECK

NEXT DOOR AND TO SEE OUR CITY CLERK FOR A CHASER TO PAY FOR YOUR PARKING. WHEN YOU EXIT ANY OLD BUSINESS THIS EVENING. OKAY, [REPORTS Budget and Finance: Chair Pungo, Mota, Gerlach The Committee has

not met since the last Council Meeting; our next meeting is scheduled for September 30th at 5:30 PM to review the monthly finances, legislation being introduced this evening and the 2025 Annual

Comprehensive Financial Report, prepared by Maher Duessel, as required by the Home Rule Charter. Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Binder, Napoli The Committee met this evening; the

next meeting will be scheduled for October 7th, prior to the council meeting, time to be determined. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Binder, Santos, Affa The Committee met and

forwarded an item on this evening’s agenda; the next meeting is not yet scheduled’ Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Pungo, Binder The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; 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 at 6 PM for an update on

the quality-of-life committee and other issues. Public Works: Chair Mota, Pungo, Affa The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting will be scheduled for October 7th,

prior to the council meeting, time to be determined. 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: The Controller has submitted two reports – June Bank Reconciliation and P-Card Review. The reports are attached to the agenda. Mayor: No

submission. ] WE'LL GET INTO REPORTS. WE'LL START WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED

FOR SEPTEMBER 30TH AT 530 TO REVIEW MONTHLY FINANCES, AS WELL AS LEGISLATION BEING INTRODUCED THIS EVENING AND THE 2025 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT PREPARED BY MARL DRIZZLE, AS REQUIRED BY

THE HOME RULE CHARTER. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND NEXT UP, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR GERLACH. YES. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 7TH,

RIGHT BEFORE THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING. AND THE TIME IS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND APPOINTMENTS, CHAIR BENDER. THANK YOU, COUNCIL PRESIDENT

NAPOLI. THE COMMITTEE MET AND FORWARDED AN ITEM ONTO THIS EVENING'S AGENDA, AND THE NEXT MEETING HAS NOT YET BEEN SCHEDULED. THANK YOU. PARKS AND RECREATION CHAIR SANTOS. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE HAS

NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME. THANK YOU. PUBLIC SAFETY VICE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST

COUNCIL MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR, EXCUSE ME, SEPTEMBER 30TH, 6 P.M. FOR AN UPDATE OF QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AND OTHER ISSUES. THANK YOU. PUBLIC WORKS VICE PRESIDENT MOTTA. THANK

YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER THE 7TH. PRIOR TO THE COUNCIL MEETING. TIME TO BE DETERMINED. THANK YOU.

AND LASTLY IS ROSE CHAMBERS INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND STRATEGY. THIS COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED. NEXT UP, WE HAVE OUR

COMPTROLLER'S REPORT. TWO REPORTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED. AND TAKE IT AWAY, MISS SALGADO. SO WE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING PAYROLL RELATED DISCREPANCIES. ONE PAYROLL ENTRY WAS BOOKED FOR AN INCORRECT

AMOUNT, RESULTING IN A $40 VARIANCE, ONE PAYROLL REFUND TOTALING 85 WAS RECORDED IN THE BOOKS, BUT HAS NOT YET BEEN POSTED TO THE BANK. OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS THAT THE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE

CORRECT ON THE CASH SUB TO ENSURE THAT THE BANK AND BOOK BALANCES ARE PROPERLY RECONCILED, THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE WAS WE ARE STILL WORKING ON RECONCILING THESE ITEMS, BUT AGREE WITH THE

RECOMMENDATION. A SECOND ITEMS. THE FINDINGS WERE SALES TAX AND PAY BEING PAID ON INVOICES. THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN IS A TAX EXEMPT TAX EXEMPT FROM PAY SALES TAX. WE IDENTIFIED TWO CHARGES, ONE FROM THE

MAYOR'S OFFICE WITH SALES TAX OF $35.33, ONE CHARGE IN POLICE FOR $5.81. THE RESOLUTION IS THAT THE MAYOR'S OFFICE IS GOING TO SEEK REIMBURSEMENT FOR 2298. THE PURCHASE WAS MADE ONLINE THROUGH A THIRD

PARTY APP, AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE WILL NOT BE REQUESTING A REFUND FOR THE 1235 TAX PAID AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE PURCHASE WAS ORDERED ON A PERSONAL ACCOUNT AND THEY WOULD NOT BE. THEY WILL NOT

ACCEPT THE CITY'S TAX EXEMPTION. WE HAVE CREDIT CARD FEES PAID, ALLOWING A SURCHARGE OF UP TO $10. THE IDENTIFIED TWO FROM LAW CHARGES, WHICH INCLUDE A CREDIT CARD FEE TOTALING $46.50, ONE POLICE

COMMUNICATION CHARGE FEE OF $16.65. THE RESOLUTION IS TO RECEIVE THE EARLY BIRD PRICING AND SAVE $75. THE PAYMENT HAD TO BE MADE DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR VENDOR'S WEBSITE. HOWEVER, PAYMENTS MADE THROUGH

THE WEBSITE WERE SUBMITTED TO A CREDIT CARD PROCESSING FEE. AS FAR AS POLICE COMMUNICATION, IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE VENDOR JUST STARTED. IT WASN'T REALIZED AT THE TIME OF PAYMENT. MOVING FORWARD WILL

HAVE AN ONGOING BLANKET FOR THIS VENDOR TO ELIMINATE THE SURCHARGE RESOLUTION. THE BUREAUS WERE ADVISED OF THE ISSUE AND WILL MAKE THE CORRESPONDING JOURNAL ENTRIES FOR CORRECTIONS. OH SORRY, THAT WAS

FOR THE INCORRECT EXPENSE ACCOUNTS. ONE IN POLICE, ONE IN EMS, AND ONE IN RECREATION. WE ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTS NOT ATTACHED IN MUNIS RESOLUTION. VIEWERS WERE ADVISED OF THE ISSUES AND SCAN THE PROPER

DOCUMENTATION, AND THEN THE ATTACHED REPORTS ARE THERE. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO APPRECIATE THAT. AND THOSE REPORTS ARE ALSO ATTACHED TO OUR AGENDA FOR ANYONE IN THE PUBLIC WHO WANTS TO ACCESS

THOSE REPORTS. NEXT UP, WE HAVE ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE. [ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ] WE WILL 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.

THANK YOU. AND THIS CAME OUT OF CHAIR BINDER'S COMMITTEE. AND ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES. OKAY. GO AHEAD, MR. BINDER, SIR. SO THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. SO WE DID. I DID BRING UP A

COUPLE OF QUESTIONS AT THE LAST COMMITTEE MEETING, AND I DID REACH OUT TO THE CONTROLLER, ASKED SOME QUESTIONS RELATED TO PREVIOUS TRANSFERS THAT WE'VE DONE, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT THAT INFORMATION WAS

RECEIVED. I ALSO MET A WEEK AGO OR LAST WEEK RATHER, WITH DIRECTOR PATEL AND DIRECTOR KANE TO KIND OF GO OVER SOME OF THESE THINGS. AND THIS IS A THIS IS A RECURRING THEME LAST THREE YEARS. JUST

LOOKING AT THE DATA HERE IN 24, WE TRANSFERRED 6.5 AND 25 AROUND 9.36 MILLION. AND THEN THIS YEAR, LOOKING AT ANOTHER 6.5 IN, IN, IN MEETING, I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE USING WHAT WOULD BE. AND I'M

FORGETTING THE NAME OF THE CRITERIA FOR WHAT YOU'RE USING FOR THE ORGANIZATION TO ESTIMATE THESE. BUT WE ARE WE ARE DOING THAT, BUT WE ARE ROUTINELY, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, FALLING SHORT OF WHAT

WE WOULD WHAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING WITH RESPECT TO THE HEALTH CARE COSTS. THEY HAVE BEEN GOING UP. I MEAN, IF WE LOOK AT IN 2023, WE WERE AT 19 AS THE FINAL AND 19 MILLION. AND AT THIS POINT WE'LL BE

AT 29 IF THIS APPROVES TONIGHT. AND AND ALTHOUGH THESE THINGS DO NEED TO TO PASS BECAUSE WE NEED TO OBVIOUSLY FUND THESE THINGS, IT IS A CONCERN, I THINK GROWING. I WOULD I WOULD IMAGINE MOST OF US,

IF WE'RE IF WE'RE FREQUENTLY HAVING TO DO THESE LARGE TRANSFERS. SO I DID I DID RAISE THESE CONCERNS WITH. DURING THAT MEETING, I BELIEVE THAT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WAS, ARE WE EVALUATING WHAT THE STOP

LOSS LIMITS ARE? I KNOW THAT THERE'S CONSIDERATION FOR THAT, AS WELL AS IF WE SHOULD BE EVALUATING WHAT THIS IS FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW, IN THIS PROCESS

THAT IF WE BUDGET TOO HIGH, THEN WE END UP HAVING TO INCREASE TAXES AND ACCOMMODATE FOR THAT AND MAYBE WE DON'T NEED IT. SO THAT IS A CONCERN. YOU KNOW, IT'S A IT'S A FLUID THING, BUT I JUST WANTED TO

JUST CALL OUT THAT THIS INFORMATION THAT I RECEIVED ON THIS ONE, I THINK DIRECTOR PATEL IS GOING TO COMMENT ON IT. BUT YEAH, SO THAT'S THE INFORMATION I RECEIVED. THANK YOU FOR FOR THAT BACKGROUND.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES, MR. PONGO? GO AHEAD. I GUESS I'LL JUST MAKE A QUICK COMMENT IN THAT I DO HAVE A QUESTION, AND I HOPE THAT DIRECTOR PATEL, IF SHE'S GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS, CAN

ANSWER MY QUESTION, BUT IF NOT, I WILL ASK AFTERWARDS. SO, OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE ADMINISTRATION? IF YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING, LET ME SO LET ME LET ME START OUT BEFORE THE ACCOUNTANTS GET YOU AND

I'LL. AND I'LL JUST BROADLY, BECAUSE I HAD TO UNDERSTAND THIS AND I DON'T REALLY. I'M NOT AN ACCOUNTANT, YOU KNOW, SO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, WE, WE ASSUME AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, WE

ASSUMED THAT WE WOULD SPEND $35 MILLION ON. WE PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD SPEND $35 MILLION ON EMPLOYEE HEALTH CARE, BUT WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT $35 MILLION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THERE. YOU

KNOW, YOU DON'T START THE YEAR WITH YOUR WHOLE BUDGET. SO AS MONEY COMES IN, WE TRANSFER. SO WE SCHEDULE A TRANSFER OF ABOUT 2.4 MILLION EVERY MONTH INTO THE INTO THAT FUND AS WE GET MONEY. BUT WE

ALSO HAVE A MINIMUM. WE ALSO HAVE WE ALSO OPERATE UNDER THE POLICY THAT WE NEED TO RETAIN TWO MONTHS OF, OF SPENDING IN THAT, YOU KNOW, TWO MONTHS EXPENSES IN THAT FUND. SO WE HAD A BIG CLAIM THAT

CAUSED US TO TO VARY FROM THAT. SO THAT IS WHY NOW WE'RE PUTTING IN SEE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PUT 6.5 MILLION IN RATHER THAN THE 2.4 THAT WE WOULD HAVE PUT IN. RIGHT NOW, OUR BALANCE IS 1.7. AND

THAT'S HOW WE MEET THAT THRESHOLD. I MEAN, THERE ARE PROJECTIONS, BUT THAT IS WHAT WE SPENT LAST YEAR, THE 35 MILLION. AND THAT IS WHAT WE PROJECT TO SPEND THIS YEAR. SO DID I GET THAT RIGHT? YES,

ABSOLUTELY. SO WHAT I WOULD ADD IS THAT FRANK JUST DISCUSSED THE FUND BALANCE POLICY. SO IN 2024, WE IMPLEMENTED A FUND BALANCE POLICY TO BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE. SO WE DO HAVE THAT IN PLACE, WHICH

IS STATES THAT WE MUST HAVE FUND BALANCE WORTH OF TWO MONTHS EXPENDITURE BASED ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S EXPENDITURES. SO OUR EXPENDITURE IN 2025 FOR RISK FUND WAS $35 MILLION. SO IF YOU TAKE THE TWO

MONTHS WORTH EXPENDITURES COMES BETWEEN 6 AND $7 MILLION. NOW WE ARE SELF-INSURED. IN SELF-INSURED WORLD. WE ARE NOT EVER CERTAIN WHEN WE WILL WHERE THE EXPENDITURES WILL COME IN, BUT WE CAN USE OUR

BEST HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE AND ESTIMATE BASED ON THAT. WE DO USE PWC. THAT COUNCIL PERSON BINDER WAS REFERRING TO. PRICEWATERHOUSE. COOPERS PROVIDES US THE INDUSTRY TRENDS AND WHERE THEY DO THE

PROJECTION FOR FUTURE YEARS. SO THEY COME OUT DURING THE SUMMER TIME JUST BEFORE THE BUDGET STARTS. AND WE DO TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE 2027 AMOUNT FOR HEALTHCARE THAT'S

BUDGETED, THAT'S ALMOST 9% INCREASE AT THE COST IN THE BUDGET IS BUDGETED AT 9% INCREMENT THAN THE 2026. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUDGET MIGHT BE AN ISSUE, BUT IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO PROJECT

BECAUSE WE ARE SELF-INSURED, BUT WE DO BUDGET APPROPRIATELY BASED ON HISTORICAL DATA AND THE PROJECTION FOR THE FUTURE YEAR BASED ON THE INDUSTRY PROJECTIONS. AND YES, SO WE DO HAVE THE RISK FUND

TRANSFERS HAPPENS IS THE RISK FUND DOESN'T HAVE ITS OWN MONIES. IT RECEIVES MONIES FROM OTHER FUNDS. SO WE CLOSED 2025 WITH 5.5 MILLION CASH IN THE FUND. AND THEN WHEN THE REVENUE COMES IN, WE

TRANSFER FUNDS INTO IT. SO WHEN IN A PROPERTY TAXES, OUR BIGGEST REVENUE, ALONG WITH EARNED INCOME TAX, BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE TAX, SO ON AND SO FORTH. SO WHEN THE REVENUES START COMING IN, WE

SYSTEMATICALLY DIVIDE THE THE BUDGET THAT WE HAVE CREATED BY 12. SO ON A MONTHLY BASIS, AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WE MAKE THAT TRANSFER. SO THE RISK ONE RECEIVES THE MONIES TO MAKE THE PAYMENT FOR THE

INVOICES THAT WE RECEIVE. NOW WE WE ARE SELF-INSURED AGAIN. AND THEN WE RECEIVE A HIGHER INVOICE INVOICE AND A HIGHER AMOUNT. WE HAD TO PAY THAT AND IT HAPPENED TWO MONTHS IN A ROW. SO THEN THE CASH

PART DEPLETED. THE BUDGET IS STILL THERE, THE CASH PART DEPLETED. SO NOW IT HAD THAT FUND BALANCE POLICY. IT'S NOT MEETING THAT 17% OF THE EXPENDITURES. SO THAT'S WHY. AND IF YOU I JUST I LOOK AT THE

CASH EVERY SINGLE DAY. SO TODAY FOR RISK ONE, I HAVE $1.7 MILLION. AND I'M AFRAID IF ANOTHER INVOICE THAT COMES IN, I DON'T HAVE MONEY IN THE RISK FUND TO MAKE THAT PAYMENT. AND THAT'S WHY WE ARE

TRANSFERRING THE CASH. CAN I ASK YOU, WILL THIS BE THE LAST TRANSFER? IF IF EVERYONE VOTES YES, OR DO YOU GUYS GOING TO COME BACK AGAIN AND ASK US FOR MORE? I WOULD LIKE TO SAY YES TO YOU, BUT I DON'T

KNOW. SO WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM IS THE PROBLEM, THE MEDICATION. I MEAN, I KNOW THAT WITH HIPAA, I MEAN, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT SINGLING. YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO KNOW IS IS

VERY HIGH, AS YOU KNOW, MR. BENDER SAID. BUT IS IT BECAUSE OF THE MEDICATION? YOU KNOW, THE WHAT SEEMS TO BE THE PROBLEM? I DON'T THINK I DON'T THINK THIS IS PRETTY HIGH. BUT BUT I MEAN, I DON'T THINK

THERE IS A PROBLEM. WE ASSUME THAT WE WOULD SPEND $35 MILLION. WE ASSUME THAT WE WOULD TRANSFER IN PERIODICALLY MONEY. THIS IS A THIS IS AN INCREASE BECAUSE OF A BIG CLAIM, MOSTLY. BUT IT'S NOT REALLY

A PROBLEM. I MEAN, WE PLAN TO EXECUTE EVERY I THINK EVERY AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH, WE EXECUTE ONE OF THESE TRANSFERS RATHER THAN PUT THE ENTIRE AMOUNT IN THE BEGINNING, BECAUSE WE DON'T WE DON'T

HAVE IT. WE GET THE MONEY AS TAX REVENUE COMES IN. CAN I ASK A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION? SO SO IN OTHER WORDS, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE THE LAST TRANSFER OF THE YEAR. I MEAN, THERE'S NO

CERTAINTIES. BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS WE HAVE WHAT I HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST, YOU KNOW, LAST FEW YEARS IS THAT WE HAD SO LAST TWO MONTHS, WE RECEIVED A HEALTHCARE INVOICE AND A HIGHER AMOUNT THAN WE

ANTICIPATED. IT HAS IN THE PAST YEARS NORMALIZED ALSO. AND THEN IF THAT HAPPENS, WE WILL MAKE THE. SO THE SYSTEMATIC TRANSFER THAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH. I WOULD HOLD OFF ON THE LAST

TRANSFER AND THEN GENERAL FUND WILL KEEP ITS OWN FUNDS. AND MY LAST QUESTION IS, A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I REMEMBER THAT THERE WAS LIKE A PROGRAM WHERE LIKE WHEN PEOPLE GET SICK, INSTEAD OF GOING IN

INTO SEEING A DOCTOR, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT? WE'RE HUMANS AND YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN WHEN PEOPLE, PEOPLE GET SICK, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST PART OF LIFE. BUT

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU CALL YOUR DOCTOR ON A, ON THE PHONE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE SMARTPHONES NOWADAYS. AND INSTEAD OF YOU GOING IN, YOU TALK TO THEM ABOUT YOU SYMPTOMS. AND I HEARD THAT THAT WAS

GOING TO SAVE US MORE MONEY. DO YOU RECALL THAT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO? DO WE STILL HAVE THAT PROGRAM? AND IF WE IF WE DO, HAS IT BEEN EFFECTIVE? YES WE DO. I BELIEVE YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE NAME OF

THAT WAS TELADOC, WHERE YOU CAN CALL IN AND RECEIVE THE SERVICES VIA TELEPHONE. AND I THINK THAT BECAME MORE DURING COVID TIME. AND WE CONTINUE PROVIDING THAT OPTION TO OUR EMPLOYEES. YOU CAN WOULD

YOU LIKE TO COMMENT? YOU PRESS THE BUTTON ON THE TOP. HI, I'M MICHELLE BENNETT, THE RISK MANAGER. SO YEAH, WE DO HAVE A TELADOC PROGRAM WHERE THE EMPLOYEES CAN CALL IN AND GET MEDICAL ADVICE INSTEAD

OF GOING IN, OR THEY'LL MAYBE TELL THE PERSON, LIKE WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR TO SEE IF THEY NEED TO SEE. BUT THIS IS PRIMARILY DUE TO HIGH DOLLAR CLAIMS THAT WE GET IN WHEN, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN

THEY'RE HITTING. NOW WE DO HAVE THE STOP LOSS THAT ANY CLAIMS THAT ARE OVER $260,000, OUR STOP LOSS KICKS IN AND WE GET REIMBURSED THE REST OF THE AMOUNT OF THE CLAIM. IT'S NOT A QUICK PROCESS. SO WE

DO GET THAT MONEY BACK. IT TAKES A BIT, AND THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW FOR SOME OF THESE HIGH DOLLAR CLAIMS THAT HAVE COME IN. OKAY. THANK YOU, MR. PONGO. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU.

SO I GUESS I THINK THERE'S ONE BIG CLARIFYING QUESTION THAT I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD ANSWER. SO I BELIEVE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THE TRANSFERS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST. SO THIS IS A TRANSFER. IS

IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME WE'RE NOT SAYING AND WE CANNOT NECESSARILY CONFIRM. IT'S NOT A $6.5 MILLION OVERAGE AT THIS POINT. IT'S ONLY A TRANSFER DUE TO THE SCHEDULED REIMBURSEMENTS INTO THE FUND. YES,

ABSOLUTELY. SO THAT'S I WANT TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION. IT'S NOT A BUDGET ISSUE. IT'S A CASH ISSUE BECAUSE THE INVOICE CAME IN. TWO INVOICES CAME IN AT A HIGHER THAN ANTICIPATED AMOUNT. SO THE CASH

THAT WE TRANSFER ON A MONTHLY BASIS, WE WE CANNOT BECAUSE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE REVENUE TO COME IN. SO THAT'S WHERE THE TIMING IS THE ISSUE HERE. IT'S NOT THE BUDGET ISSUE. IT'S A CASH ISSUE.

ABSOLUTELY. AND I GUESS THERE'S THE OTHER COMPONENT OF, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'RE WE'RE DIVIDING IT IN TWELFTHS. AND I THINK IF WE HAVE THE HISTORICAL DATA, YOU KNOW, AND WE CAN SAY LIKE USUALLY AROUND

AUGUST, SEPTEMBER, WE SEE A SPIKE, IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO MAYBE PRORATING SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, REIMBURSEMENTS INTO THE FUND DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR? I UNDERSTAND THAT MAYBE FOR ALL INTENTS AND

PURPOSES, IT TRANSFERS A TRANSFER. AT THE END OF THE YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO GET WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET TO THE FUND, VERSUS WE'RE GOING TO SPEND WHAT IS GOING TO BE SPENT. I THINK IT MIGHT BE INSTEAD

OF TALKING IN TERMS OF PREVIOUS TRANSFERS, IT MIGHT BE MORE ENLIGHTENING TO UNDERSTAND THE FULL OVERAGES YEAR OVER YEAR AS OPPOSED TO THE HIGHEST TRANSFERS, WHICH I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'VE MAYBE NAILED

HERE IN THIS CONVERSATION. SO I THINK A SIMILAR SITUATION HAPPENED IN THE PAST. AND SO IF I IF I MAY EXPLAIN THE TWO YEARS WE DISCUSSED 2024 WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE WERE HIT WITH A UNANTICIPATED

THE TIMING ISSUE INVOICE. SO THE DECEMBER TRANSFER THAT WOULD HAPPEN INTO RISK FUND WAS WITHHELD BECAUSE THEN BY THEN THE RISK, THE STOP LOSS PAYMENT HAD KICKED IN. SO WHAT THE $260,000 THRESHOLD.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE RECEIVED AN INVOICE, INDIVIDUAL CASE INVOICE OF 500,000, ANYTHING BEYOND 260,000 WILL BE COVERED BY THIS STOP LOSS INSURANCE. SO OUR COST STOPS AT 260,000. BUT

THAT IS A PROCESS. SO WE DO NOT RECEIVE THAT STOP LOSS REIMBURSEMENT IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE TO. THAT IS A CLAIM THAT GETS FILED AND THE PROCESS HAPPENS. THEY DO THE VERIFICATION. WHAT WERE ALL OF THE

CORRECT PROCESSES FOLLOWED? ONCE THAT INSURANCE, THE STOP LOSS INSURANCE HAS VERIFIED ALL OF THE INFORMATION. WE RECEIVE THE PAYMENT. SO THAT IS THE TIMING ISSUE THAT'S HITTING US. AND THAT'S WHAT

HAPPENED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS. SO IT WAS NEVER A BUDGET ISSUE. IT WAS ALWAYS A CASH ISSUE. UNDERSTOOD. AND I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE IN THE CONVERSATION OF BUDGET ISSUES, I THINK IT

WOULD BE GOOD TO SPEAK IN TERMS OF YEARLY OVERAGES. YES. THANK YOU. OKAY, MR. BENDER, GO AHEAD. AND I APPRECIATE YOU POINTING THAT OUT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT CLARIFICATION IS IMPORTANT. I THINK WHEN I

WAS LOOKING AT THE GRID HERE. SO WHAT IS OUR BUDGETED AMOUNT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE. THIS FOR 2026 2026 IS 30,000,600 000 SOMETHING, 697 I THINK 30. SO IT'S 30,000,697. I BELIEVE IT'S 3000 PER $30,033

PER FULL TIME EMPLOYEE. OKAY. SO IF OUR BUDGET IS 30 MILLION, THEN IF APPROVED TONIGHT, THIS WOULD MEAN THAT WE HAVE TRANSFERRED 29.8 MILLION INTO THE FUND. SO THEN ARE WE STILL GOING TO BE TAKING THE

2 MILLION OUT FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR? OR WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? OKAY, THAT'S WHAT I ASKED IF THEY WERE GOING TO BE ANOTHER TRANSFER. YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.

NO. SO WE ARE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BUDGET. THIS IS TRANSFERRING THE CASH INTO THE FUND AND THEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE. SO. TIMING OF THE INVOICE IS AN ISSUE HERE. RIGHT. SO WE WE WE WILL MAKE THE

TRANSFER AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER. IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS. WE WILL MAKE A TRANSFER OF ABOUT $2.4 MILLION. I THE NUMBER I GAVE YOU WAS FOR 2027 BUDGET, BUT WE WILL MAKE A TRANSFER AT THE END OF THE MONTH

UNTIL THE STOP LOSS PAYMENT COMES IN. THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER INVOICE COMING IN FOR HEALTHCARE, FOR AUTO LOSS, FOR OTHER INSURANCES. BECAUSE WE ARE INSURED, WE PROVIDE INSURANCE FOR MORE THAN

HEALTHCARE TO PAY FOR THOSE INVOICES, THOUGH THE TIMING IS ISSUE. SO WE NEED MONEY TO TRANSFER AND WE DON'T. WE CANNOT JUST TRANSFER WITHOUT COUNCIL'S APPROVAL. SO I'M I'M ASKING FOR YOUR APPROVAL TO

TRANSFER THE CASH. CAN I, CAN I AN ACCOUNTANT ALSO THAT I THINK WHAT I WHAT I THINK YOU SAID IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO GET $1.7 MILLION OF THE 2.1 MILLION CLAIM BACK. SO ALTHOUGH WE HAVE 29.9 THAT WILL

BE IN THE FUND NOW, WE'RE GOING TO BE REIMBURSED FROM OUR STOP LOSS, LIKE AT 1.7. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? WE HAVE TO FLOAT THE MONEY, WE HAVE TO PAY OUR BILL AND THEN WE'RE REIMBURSED BY THE STATE AND

FEEL FREE. SORRY, I'M JUST GOING TO THROW ONE LAST CLARIFICATION. I THINK, TO COUNCILPERSON BENDER'S POINT IS, IF WE'RE SHORT, JUST PUTTING IT LOWER ROUNDER NUMBERS, IF WE'RE SHORT 500 NOW AND EVERY

MONTH WE'RE GOING TO THROW IN $100 SINCE WE'RE THROWING 500 NOW, DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE GOING TO STOP PUTTING IN 100, OR ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THE SAME SCHEDULED VALUE? AND THEN MAYBE AT THE END OF THE

YEAR, WE RECTIFY WHAT WE TOOK OUT. SO AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHEN THAT SUFFICIENT FUNDING IS RECEIVED, WE DO NOT MAKE THE LAST PAYMENT, LAST TRANSFER. AND THAT'S WHAT WAS DONE IN 2024, THAT THERE WAS

SUFFICIENT REIMBURSEMENT. THE CASH WAS THERE. WE DID NOT MAKE THE LAST SCHEDULED TRANSFER INTO THE CASH TRANSFER INTO THE FUND IN THAT CASE, SPECIFICALLY FROM THE STOP LOSS, THERE WERE VARIOUS. YES.

SO FOR INSTANCE, IN 2025, OUR GROSS CLAIMS WERE 16.8 MILLION AND WE RECEIVED 1.1 MILLION BACK IN THE STOP LOSS. SO THE AT LEAST THE WAY I'M UNDERSTANDING IT, BASICALLY, YES, WE COULD DO THE TRANSFER.

NOW, CHANCES ARE IF WE GET PAID BY THE STOP LOSS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, THE TRANSFER THAT WOULD BE DONE IN DECEMBER WOULD BE REDUCED BY THAT AMOUNT. YEAH. BUT WE'RE STILL TO TO ADHERE TO YOUR FUND

BALANCE POLICY. WE'RE STILL DOING 2 MILLION A MONTH FOR WHAT WILL BE OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND THEN MAYBE DECEMBER. SO THERE'LL STILL BE ANOTHER 4 MILLION IN ADDITION TO THE 6.5 THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE

APPROVED TONIGHT. IS THAT CORRECT? WELL, YES. AND YOU ALREADY HAVE APPROVED THE OTHER SYSTEMATIC TRANSFERS WERE APPROVED. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO. BUT YES, YOU'RE YOU'RE THE THINKING IS IN THE CORRECT

LINE THAT, YES, WE'LL MAKE THAT SYSTEMATIC TRANSFER UNTIL WE SATISFY THE FUND BALANCE POLICY REQUIREMENT. WE HAVE ENOUGH FUNDS TO MAKE THE PAYMENT ALSO. AND THEN WE WITHHELD THE LAST PAYMENT. OKAY.

THANKS. OKAY. ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ON BILL 61? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE? MISS ZAFAR? YES, MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH, YES. MISS

MODI. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE [CONSENT AGENDA] SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAMES. OKAY. NEXT IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE FIVE THIS EVENING. SO OUR 114 IS

THE APPOINTMENT OF TRENT SEAR TO THE ZONING HEARING BOARD, WITH THE TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 19TH, 2029. OUR 115 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF ABIGAIL SIMMONS OF THE ARTS COMMISSION WITH A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER

16TH, 2031. R 116 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF KYLE EDWARDS TO THE ARTS COMMISSION, WITH HIS TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 16TH OF 2031. HOUR 117 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF LEWIS HOLTZMAN TO THE ARTS COMMISSION, WITH A

TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2031, AND R 118 IS THE APPOINTMENT OF EMILY STRONG TO THE ARTS COMMISSION, WITH A TERM ENDING SEPTEMBER 16TH, 2031. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE DAIS ON

OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING? OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MR. BENDER? YES, MISS GERLACH? YES, MISS MODA, YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR.

NAPOLI. YES. MISS ZAFAR. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO [RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):] NAMES. OKAY. MOVING ALONG. RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE, WE'LL START WITH R

119. R 1119. APPROVES THE SUBMISSION OF THE FORMAL APPLICATION FOR THE LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT. ON BEHALF OF THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA OF PENNSYLVANIA CHILDREN'S CENTER TO SUPPORT ONGOING REPAIRS TO

THEIR BUILDING ON 730 WEST UNION STREET, ALLENTOWN. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? R 119 OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY, MISS GERLACH? YES, MISS MODA, YES. MR. PONGO, YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR.

NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA YES. AND MR. BENDER. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN YEAS AND NAYS. OKAY. AND NEXT UP ARE 120 R 120 APPROVES THE SUBMISSION OF THE FORMAL APPLICATION FOR THE LOCAL SHARE

ACCOUNT GRANT ON BEHALF OF COMMUNITY BIKE WORKS TO SUPPORT THE PURCHASE OF A USED PASSENGER VEHICLE LOCATED AT 614 SOUTH CARLISLE STREET IN ALLENTOWN. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES

OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 120. OKAY, MISS MODA YES, MR. POGO YES, MISS SANTOS YES. MR. NAPOLI YES. MISS. SAFFA YES. MR. BENDER YES. MISS GERLACH. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS.

OKAY. AND LAST ONE IS R121R121. APPROVES THE SUBMISSION OF THE FORMAL APPLICATION FOR THE LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT ON BEHALF OF PHOEBE MINISTRIES TO SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION AT PHOEBE APARTMENTS, LOCATED

AT 1901 WEST LINDEN STREET IN ALLENTOWN, OKAY? ANY COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES? QUESTIONS? OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 121? MISTER. YES, MISS SANTOS YES. MR. NAPOLI YES, MISS SAFIR YES. MR. BENDER YES. MISS

SCURLOCK YES, MISS MODA, YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. THANK YOU. LAST WE'RE GOING TO [ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to

referral) ] LASTLY, ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION. WE'LL START WITH BILL 64. BILL 64 AMENDS THE 2026 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $15,000 FROM THE PA HISTORICAL AND

MUSEUM COMMISSION TO FUND YEAR TWO OF THE CONTRACT ON PRESERVING AND PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT RECORDS THAT DOCUMENT THE DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE

CITY OF ALLENTOWN. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 64? OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND LAST

ONE IS BILL 65. BILL 65 AMENDS PART TWO, GENERAL LEGISLATION, CHAPTER 196 BUSINESS LICENSE, SECTION THREE 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 SIX. VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 65? OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO BUDGET AND FINANCE

COMMITTEE CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION. ANY NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT, MR. VENDOR? SORRY. I'M SORRY. OKAY. [GOOD AND WELFARE] SO NO NEW BUSINESS, GOOD AND

WELFARE, MR. BINDER. YEAH. JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT. SO SEPTEMBER 14TH, A COUPLE DAYS AGO WAS THE FIRST DAY TO RECEIVE ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS. AND THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IS GOING TO BE

THE. SHOULD I MAKE SURE I'M CORRECT? IT'S 15 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION. SO JUST CALLING THAT AS WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO ELECTION TIME HERE, IF YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY REGISTERED TO VOTE, THERE'S

THERE'S YOU CAN GO DOWN TO THE VOTER REGISTRATION IN THE COUNTY OR VOTE.PA. SO THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND WITH THAT, I'M G * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed

Captioning.