[00:00:01]
          IT. IT'S LIKE, IT'S IT'S SLOW TO GET BACK TO YOU, WHICH IS GOOD. YEAH. OKAY, EVERYONE, 
          [Invocation:]
WE'RE GOING TO WE'RE GOING TO KICK START THIS CITY COUNCIL MEETING. SO WELCOME EVERYONE. 
          AUGUST 19TH, 2026. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN INVOCATION AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. 
          [Pledge to the Flag]
AND A PLEDGE TO THE FLAG. I 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 DO A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? MISS GERLACH HERE, MISS SANTOS HERE. 
          [Roll Call]
MR. BENDER, PRESENT. MISS MODA HERE, MR. NAPOLI HERE. MISS SAFFA HERE. AND MR. PONGO IS ABSENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'RE GOING TO GET STARTED WITH CONTRACT APPROVALS. FIRST ONE 
          [Courtesy of the Floor
See Council and Courtesy of the Floor Rules under reference materials at the end of the agenda. 
]
ON OUR LIST IS R 100. YOU HAVE COURTESY. OH, I'M SORRY. COURTESY OF THE FLOOR. I'M SORRY. DO WE HAVE ANY. WE HAVE ONE. WE HAVE CATALINA AVILA OCASIO. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. 
          WELCOME. HI. MY NAME IS CATALINA OCASIO AND I AM A RESIDENT IN ALLENTOWN. AND TONIGHT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THIS MICROPHONE TO YOUR MOUTH. THANK YOU. AND TONIGHT I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF THE FE FOUNDATION. AS A RECENT GRADUATE OF THE FE FOUNDATION, I JUST WANT TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE PROGRAM AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PROVIDES FOR OUR YOUNGER GENERATION. THE FOUNDATION GIVES STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE MORE THAN SIMPLY LEARNING ABOUT ENTREPRENEURSHIP. IT ALLOWS US TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS, DEVELOP SOLUTIONS, CREATE, CREATE BUSINESSES, AND WORK WITH OTHERS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SPACE. 
          THE PROGRAM GOES. IT IS A PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CONFIDENCE, COMMUNICATION, RESPONSIBILITY, TEAMWORK, AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM INTO THEIR SCHOOLING, CAREERS AND EVERYDAY LIVES. WHAT MAKES THIS PROGRAM ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT IT GIVES STUDENTS THE SKILLS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE, OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE, MAKE DECISIONS, TAKE INITIATIVE, AND LEARN FROM THE RESULTS. DURING THIS PROCESS. 
          IT ALLOWS A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP, REMINDING THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE OLDER AND ESTABLISHED TO CREATE AN IMPACT IN THEIR COMMUNITY. FOR MANY STUDENTS, A PROGRAM LIKE THIS CAN BE THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE AN IDEA OF THEIR OWN AND DEVELOP IT INTO SOMETHING IMPACTFUL. THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK WITH MENTORS, PROFESSIONALS, AND CONNECT WITH PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF THEIR USUAL CIRCLES. IT ALLOWS THEM TO GO FROM THE MINDSET OF WHAT IF? MY IDEA CAN CREATE A DIFFERENCE TO WHAT CAN I DO NEXT? WHEN DEVELOPING THIS CONFIDENCE AND EXPERIENCE, IT CAN BE TAKEN BACK TO THEIR SCHOOLS, COMMUNITIES AND WORKPLACES, ENCOURAGING OTHER YOUNG ADULTS TO TAKE INITIATIVE TO THEIR IDEAS AND HELP CREATE A GENERATION THAT IS MORE PREPARED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PLACES THAT THEY CALL HOME. WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM MENTORS, LEAD AND CREATE, WE START THINKING BEYOND OUR INDIVIDUAL SCOPE, BUT THE TRUE IMPACT WE CAN MAKE AROUND US. I HOPE THAT BY BRINGING AWARENESS TO THE FE FOUNDATION THIS EVENING, MORE PEOPLE WILL ACKNOWLEDGE THE IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAMS LIKE IT AND THAT IT WILL HELP YOUNG ADULTS RECOGNIZE THEIR POTENTIAL. IT CANNOT BE OVERSTATED THAT PREPARING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE GLOBAL COMPETITIVE MARKET GOES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM. WE NEED TANGIBLE OPPORTUNITIES TO HONE OUR SKILLS AND BY AND BY EXTENSION, SHAPE OUR COMMUNITY. 
          THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY, SO JUST THAT ONE. OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE 
          [Contract Approvals]
ON TO CONTRACT APPROVALS. WE'LL START WITH R 100, PLEASE. R 100 IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN $40,000 TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES FROM BLUE MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, LLC, LEAVITT MACHINE AND TRUCK EQUIPMENT, THOMAS FORD INC. T M FITZGERALD AND ASSOCIATES, CDW INC. AND SEAGRAVE FIRE APPARATUS, LLC. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS 100 OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MISS SAFIR? YES, MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH. 
          [00:05:07]
YES, MISS. YES. MR. PUNK WAS ABSENT. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX YEAS AND NO NAYS. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT UP, R 101. R 101. IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CONTRACT INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF $41,397.14 FOR A CONTRACT WITH F, A BARTLETT TREE EXPERT COMPANY TO PERFORM STREET TREE PLANTING, TREE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PLANTING SERVICES WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ALONG RIDGE AVENUE AND SECOND STREET. THE CONTRACT SUM BEFORE THE CHANGE ORDER WAS $105,710. THE ADDITION WOULD BRING THE CONTRACT TO A NEW TOTAL OF $147,107.14. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? SO THIS IS GOING TO BE RICH AVENUE AROUND RICH AVENUE. THAT'S EXCITING BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THEY DON'T HAVE A LOT OF TREES AROUND THERE. AND SECOND STREET. NADA. SO I'M GLAD. BUT WHY IS IT SO EXPENSIVE? I MEAN, IT'S JUST IF YOU. SO THIS IS PART OF THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDED URBAN COMMUNITY FORESTRY. WE DID THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING THE TREE PLANTINGS BY NEIGHBORHOOD. AND WE DID THIS NEIGHBORHOOD LAST FALL AND A LITTLE BIT THIS SPRING WHEN THE CONTRACTOR WAS GOING AROUND, WE FOUND A COUPLE OTHER HIGH PRIORITY TREES THAT HAZARD TREES THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED. SO THIS INCLUDES, I THINK, A HANDFUL OF HAZARD TREES THAT WILL BE REMOVED, SOME STUMP GRINDING TO BE HAZARD TREES, TREES, IT, TREES THAT POSE SOME SORT OF PUBLIC SAFETY RISK. SO MAYBE THE TREE IS DEAD OR IT HAS LARGE LIMBS, OR IT'S CLOSE TO BEING DEAD AND IS POSSIBLY GOING TO, IF IT FALLS, FALL ON A HOME OR A VEHICLE OR A PROPERTY WITHIN THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY. OKAY, SO THIS WILL INCLUDE THOSE HAZARD TREE REMOVALS, SOME STUMP GRINDING AND TREE PLANTINGS. OKAY. THANK YOU. GO AHEAD, MISS HOFFA. WHAT IS WHAT IS THE REASON FOR THE $41,000 INCREASE FROM THE ORIGINAL BID? THESE ARE ADDITIONAL TREES THAT TREE PLANTINGS, REMOVALS AND STUMP GRINDING IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. $1,000 MORE. SO WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DOUBLING THE WORK THAT WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY JUST TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT. BUT WHAT I'M NOTICING IN PROBABLY SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE, WE GET A BID AND THEN WE ALWAYS HAVE A, A LARGE AMOUNT OF EXTRA MONEY THROWN IN THERE. THE CONTRACTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE COMING A HABIT. YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME WE TURN AROUND, WE BID THE LOWEST BID, WE HAVE THE BID, AND THEN WE ASK FOR AN INCREASE. AND I'M GOING TO QUESTION EACH AND EVERY ONE. EVERY TIME WE HAVE ONE. THERE'S I WANT TO KNOW THE REASON WHY THEY GET THE BID, THE BIDS FINE. AND THEN WE HAVE A CHANGE IN THAT. SO THIS IS WHY I'M QUESTIONING IT. SO THIS IS BECAUSE YOU GOT MORE TREES. YES. THESE ARE MORE THESE ARE ADDITIONAL TREES THAT ARE IN THE SAME AREA. SO WE'VE BEEN ORGANIZING THESE BIDS BY NEIGHBORHOOD. IN THE BEGINNING, YOU HAD CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TREES. 
          WHEN DID YOU DECIDE WHO DECIDED TO GET MORE TREES? SO WE HAVE MONEY FOR ABOUT 300 TREES TO BE PLANTED BY A CONTRACTOR. WE'VE PLANTED ABOUT 150 OF THEM. AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE HAVE AN ADDITIONAL. WE HAVE GRANT FUNDING FOR AN ADDITIONAL 150. SO THIS WAS THE VERY FIRST BID THAT WE DID. SO WE HAD. THIS BID WAS IN THE FALL. WE HAD ONE IN FRANKLIN PARK, AND WE HAVE TWO MORE THAT WILL BE COMING UP LATER THIS YEAR TO SPEND THAT ENTIRE AMOUNT OF GRANT FUNDING. 
          WE HAVEN'T WE'VE BEEN THE FIRST BID THAT WE DID. WE WEREN'T SURE HOW THE CONTRACTORS WERE GOING TO RESPOND. THE ASKING. A LOT OF TIMES CONTRACTORS WANT TO DO THE TREE REMOVALS, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO DO THE TREE PLANTINGS. BUT WE HAVE THE MOST AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR TREE PLANTINGS. SO WE'VE BEEN DOING THEM IN SMALL CHUNKS TO SEE HOW THE CONTRACTORS ARE RESPONDING, AND THEN ORGANIZING THEM BY NEIGHBORHOOD. SO WHILE WE WERE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD, WE FOUND THERE WAS A LOT OF OTHER SPACES AND TREES THAT COULD BE DONE. SO IT'S THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDING PER TREE. IT'S NOT LIKE WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE A CERTAIN AMOUNT, BUT BY THE TIME WE GOT THERE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT AMOUNT. IT'S THE SAME. EACH TREE THAT'S PLANTED IS THE SAME COST. EACH TREE THAT'S REMOVED FOR THE MOST PART IS THE SAME COST. THE STUMP 
          [00:10:02]
GRINDING IS THE SAME COST. THIS IS JUST ADDITIONAL TREES IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THE EXPLANATION. AND I THINK FROM NOW ON WE WE NEED TO HAVE EXPLANATIONS AND BROKEN DOWN ON THE REASON. SO. BUT THANK YOU, I APPRECIATE IT. AND I DO AGREE WITH YOU, MISS MISS SAFIR. IT'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS THIS IS A GREAT CAUSE, THOUGH, BECAUSE I MEAN, WE NEED A TREE IN THAT AREA. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. WE SHOULD ALWAYS QUESTION. YEAH. NEVER ASK ME. NO THANK YOU, MISS HOFFA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS, MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. YEAH, JUST REAL QUICK, JUST SO I'M UNDERSTANDING FOR CLARIFICATION, WE'RE WITHIN THE GRANT FUNDING. 
          SO THIS IS AN ADJUSTMENT, BUT IT'S WE'RE STILL WITHIN. THERE'S NO ANTICIPATION OF GOING OUTSIDE OF THAT. GRANT. IS THAT CORRECT? NO. THIS IS ALL GRANT FUNDING AND THIS WILL GET US TO ABOUT 40% OF THAT GRANT FUNDING. SO WE STILL HAVE MORE OF THAT GRANT FUNDING TO SPEND. WE HAVE IT. THE FULL GRANT AWARD WAS A LITTLE BIT SHY OF $1 MILLION. WE HAVE UNTIL JUNE OF 2028 TO EXPEND THOSE FUNDS. OKAY. AND THEN THIS IS JUST A, I DON'T KNOW WHO DID THE FRANKLIN PARK ONE, BUT JUST IN NOTING IN DRIVING THROUGH THE AREA, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN THAT WAS HAPPENING, WHEN THE TREE BALLS WERE JUST SITTING ON THE STREET, THE TREE SIDEWAYS FOR SOME PERIOD OF TIME. AND I KNOW THAT THE I, I'M NOT AN ARBORIST, BUT THE GATOR BAGS WERE NEVER REALLY EVER FILLED. SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S INTENTIONAL OR SUPPOSED TO BE, BUT I GUESS FEEDBACK FOR WHOEVER'S DOING THIS FORWARD, IT JUST IT SURPRISED ME. BUT THEN AGAIN, I'M NOT A TREE PERSON, SO I DON'T KNOW. YEAH, IT WAS IT WAS THE SAME CONTRACTOR. SO I WILL PASS THAT, THAT FEEDBACK ALONG. AND WE DO HAVE WITH THESE CONTRACTS, WE HAVE A ONE YEAR MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT. SO THEY ARE, THEY SHOULD BE THEY'RE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THOSE TREES ARE STILL ALIVE A YEAR AFTER THE CONTRACT ENDS. OH, OKAY. SO IF THOSE TREES DO DIE, IT'S ON THE CONTRACTOR TO GO IN ON THEIR OWN COST IN ORDER TO REPLACE THOSE TREES. AND THEN WE HAVE A MAINTENANCE BOND. SHOULD THEY FOR SOME REASON NOT NOT DO THAT. WE CAN, WE HAVE FUNDING THAT WE CAN GO OUT AND REPLACE THOSE TREES. THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOU'RE WELCOME. I AGREE. THANKS FOR SHARING THAT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON OUR ONE ON ONE? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MR. YES. MISS. GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. 
          MISS SAFFA YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. NEXT UP ARE 102 R 102. IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR A CHANGE ORDER IN THE AMOUNT OF $25,000 WITH MA DUSSEAULT TO ASSIST WITH THE PREPARATION AND REFINEMENT OF A FIVE YEAR GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL PROJECTION TO SUPPORT THE CITY'S 2027 BUDGET PROCESS AND TO HELP INFORM DECISION MAKING RELATED TO CAPITAL FINANCING, PENSION CHANGES AND THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF STORMWATER RELATED REVENUE. THE ORIGINAL CONTRACT WAS FOR $498,700. THE ADDITION WOULD BRING THE CONTRACT TO A NEW TOTAL OF $523,700. THANK YOU. AND I JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS THIS WAS INITIATED BY MY COLLEAGUES. SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT CAME FROM COUNCIL. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS, MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. YEAH, I'LL JUST JUST REITERATE THAT ONE FOR CLARIFICATION. BECAUSE OF THE CHANGE ORDER QUESTION YOU HAD HAD, THIS WAS THE RESOLUTION WE PASSED TWO WEEKS AGO FOR THE FIVE YEAR PLAN TO BE ABLE TO HAVE AN OUTSIDE RESOURCE ASSESS WHERE WE ARE WITH THE WITH THE HEALTH OF THE CITY, WITH A LOT OF THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OTHER CHANGES, AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE A REUSABLE DOCK OR REUSABLE. WE'LL GO WITH SPREADSHEET SO THAT THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CAN PLUG IN VARIABLES AND SHOOT THAT OUT FOR THE FIVE YEARS TO SEE WHERE WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE WITH THE HEALTH OF THE CITY. SO THAT'S WHAT THIS THAT'S WHAT THIS CHANGE ORDER IS FOR. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. BENDER. NO OTHER COMMENTS. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MISS GERLACH? YES. MISS MOTA, YES. MISS SANTOS? YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFIR. YES. 
          AND MR. BENDER. YES, SIR. PRESIDENT. YES. SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. THANK YOU. AND LAST ONE IS R 103. R 103. IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF A COOPERATIVE CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF GREATER THAN $40,000 TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES FOR CWCDW INC. OKAY. 
          ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM COLLEAGUES OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 103? OKAY, SO I'M JUST REFERRING THIS TO WHERE WE VOTING ON THIS, OR AM I REFERRING TO THE COMMITTEE REFERRING IT TO? YEAH. OKAY. JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR. SO THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION APPOINTMENTS. THAT'S CHAIR BINDERS COMMITTEE. 
          [Minutes of Previous Meeting]
          [00:15:01]
THANK YOU. OKAY. AND NEXT UP, IT LOOKS LIKE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING. THIS IS FOR THE JULY 22ND SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. MISS MOTA. YES. MISS SANTOS? YES. MR. NAPOLI. 
          YES. MISS SAFIR. YES. MR. BENDER. YES. AND MISS GERLACH. YES. MR. PRESIDENT. YES. SIX 
          [Communications]
DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND AS ALWAYS, VISITORS TO 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 VOUCHER TO PAY FOR YOUR PARKING. ANY OLD BUSINESS. OKAY. ROLLING INTO REPORTS. 
          [REPORTS 
President Napoli: Allentown City Council has scheduled a special meeting on August 25 at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers to review and act on applicants to fill the City Controller vacancy.
Budget and Finance: Chair Pungo, Mota, Gerlach
The Committee met on August 12 to hear presentations from the Controller’s interns; there are no future meetings scheduled at this time. 
Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Binder, Napoli
The Committee met this evening, the next meeting is scheduled for August 26th at 6 PM to discuss city policy related to the housing fund and draft legislation on affordable housing.  
Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Binder, Santos, Affa
The Committee met on August 12th, and reviewed city policies related to travel; the next meeting is scheduled for September 2 at 5:30 PM to review resolution 103 and discuss the city website. 
Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Pungo, Binder
The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for September 2 at 6:15 PM to review two bills being introduced this evening. 
Public Safety: Chair Affa, Mota, Santos
The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for August 26 where we will give an update on the quality-of-life committee and entertain questions on the City’s ‘flock’ technology. ]
FIRST ONE. ALLENTOWN CITY COUNCIL HAS SCHEDULED A SPECIAL MEETING ON AUGUST 25TH. IT'S A TUESDAY AT 5:30 P.M. IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS TO REVIEW AND ACT ON APPLICANTS TO FILL THE CITY COMPTROLLER VACANCY. NEXT ONE IS BUDGET AND FINANCE. THE COMMITTEE MET ON AUGUST 12TH TO HEAR PRESENTATIONS FROM THE COMPTROLLER'S INTERNS. THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED AT THIS TIME. COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR GERLACH. YES. 
          THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING SCHEDULED. I BELIEVE IT IS. NEXT WEEK. WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT HOUSING AND SUPER, THE HOUSING FUND IN PARTICULAR. AND SOMETHING REALLY EXCITING IS A DRAFT LEGISLATION ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND APPOINTMENTS. CHAIR BINDER. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. THE COMMITTEE MET ON AUGUST 12TH AND REVIEWED CITY POLICIES RELATED TO TRAVEL. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2ND AT 5:30 P.M. TO REVIEW RESOLUTION 103 AND DISCUSS THE CITY'S WEBSITE. 
          THANK YOU. PARKS AND RECREATION CHAIR SANTOS. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING, AND THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 2ND AT 615 TO REVIEW TWO BILLS THAT ARE BEING INTRODUCED THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 26TH, WHERE WE'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMMITTEE AND AND ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS ON THE CITY'S FLOCK TECHNOLOGY. THANK YOU. PUBLIC WORKS VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULED. AND LAST IS ROLLS CHAMBERS INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND STRATEGY. THAT COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED FOR COMPTROLLER REPORT. THERE WAS A P CARD REVIEW AND THAT IS AVAILABLE ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE 
          [ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ]
AND THE MAYOR'S REPORT. THERE'S NO SUBMISSION. SO WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE. WE'LL START WITH BILL 57. BILL 57 AMENDS THE 2026 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THE UPGRADE OF THE PART TIME CLERK, THREE CONFIDENTIAL POSITION IN FIRE ADMINISTRATION AND OPERATIONS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE PART TIME CLERK THREE CONFIDENTIAL POSITION WILL REMAIN AT THE SAME PAY GRADE AS FIVE, BUT BE UPGRADED TO A FULL TIME POSITION TO BETTER ALIGN WITH THE JOB DUTIES AND ALLOW FOR CONSISTENT STAFFING AND FIRE ADMINISTRATION AND OPS. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS WAS IN CHAIR OFFICE COMMITTEE. YES, IT WAS MOVED FAVORABLY. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. YEAH. AND THIS, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, IS UNRELATED TO THIS SPECIFIC POSITION CHANGE. BUT DURING THIS PROCESS, HONESTLY, IT WAS REVEALED. BUT WE WERE DISCUSSING SOME OF THE SOME OF THE CODES RELATED TO RECLASSIFICATION. AND I MET WITH THE ADMINISTRATION JUST RELATED TO THE RECLASSIFICATION COMMITTEE. WE'RE TRYING TO ALIGN TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE CODE IS SAYING WITH THAT PROCESS. SO GOING FORWARD, ALL POSITION RECLASSIFICATIONS ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT COMMITTEE BODY THAT WILL RESULT IN US HAVING TO DO A COUPLE POTENTIALLY SOME MINOR CHANGES TO THE THE CODE TO REFLECT EFFICIENCIES, WHICH WE'LL LOOK AT THAT, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING WHAT THE CODE IS SAYING WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING. SO WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT GOING FORWARD. AND THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT. AND ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS ON BILL 57 OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. MR. ORTEGA, MISS SAFIR. 
          YES. MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH. YES. MISS MOTA, YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. NEXT UP, BILL 58. BILL 58 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR A TRANSFER OF $277,683 FROM THE TREXLER BUDGET INTO ROOSEVELT PARK, FOUNTAIN PARK AND WPA CAPITAL PROJECT ACCOUNTS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE UTILIZED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF THE SPRAY PARK AT ROOSEVELT BATHROOM AND PARK 
          [00:20:04]
DESIGN AT FOUNTAIN AND THE WPA PROJECT MANUAL FOR PONDS AND WALL. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS CAME OUT OF CHAIR SANTOS COMMITTEE, CORRECT. THIS WAS FORWARDED FAVORABLY FROM MY COMMITTEE. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS REGARDING BILL 58? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 58 OKAY. MISS GERLACH? YES, MISS SANTOS YES. MR. BENDER YES. MISS MOTA YES. 
          MR. NAPOLI. YES, MISS SAFIR YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. MOVING ALONG. 
          [CONSENT AGENDA]
CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE ONE ON OUR LIST FOR OUR 104 R 104 IS THE SEWAGE PLANNING MODULE AT 856 TO 860 NORTH VAN BUREN STREET. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 104? OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MR. BENDER? YES, MISS. GERLACH YES, MISS. YES. 
          MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. YES, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. 
          [RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):]
NEXT UP ARE RESOLUTIONS. FOR FINAL PASSAGE. WE'LL START WITH R 105. R 105. AUTHORIZES THE SUBMISSION OF A FORMAL APPLICATION FOR FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT GRANT OPPORTUNITY IN THE AMOUNT OF APPROXIMATELY $3 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT AN OLDER ADULT HOME MODIFICATION PROGRAM. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. MISS GERLACH? YES, MISS. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. 
          MISS SAFIR. YES. AND MR. BENDER. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SIX DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. 
          [ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ]
NEXT UP, ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION. WE HAVE TWO. WE'LL 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. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 59? OKAY. THIS IS GOING TO BE REFERRED TO OUR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE CHAIR SANTOS. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS BILL 60. BILL 60 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND AND GENERAL FUND OPERATING BUDGETS TO PROVIDE FOR A TRANSFER OF $20,000 FROM THE 2026 PARKS AND REC AQUATICS OPERATING BUDGET INTO THE ITHACA PARK CAPITAL BUDGET FOR THE PURCHASE AND INSTALLATION OF A NEW PAVILION AT ITHACA PARK. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 60? OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO ALSO REFER THIS TO CHAIR SANTOS COMMITTEE, PARKS AND RECREATION. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. AND WE DO NOT 
          [NEW BUSINESS]
HAVE ANY RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION. ANY NEW BUSINESS, MISS GERLACH? GO AHEAD. YEAH. 
          AND I'M SORRY TO IT'S JUST I JUST WAS THINKING ABOUT HONESTLY, I PERSONALLY I NEED I HAVE TREES THAT I NEED TO WE WERE TALKING ABOUT TREES THAT I NEED TO STORE AND I DON'T HAVE A SAW. AND I'M THINKING HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE CITY, YOU KNOW, THEY GET THESE VIOLATIONS FOR MAYBE A TREE. YOU'VE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THIS, MISS APHA. AND THEN WE'VE GOT PEOPLE WHO GET VIOLATIONS FOR LIKE TALL GRASS AND THEY JUST DON'T HAVE A LAWN MOWER. 
          AND THEN SO I QUIT GOOGLE AND APPARENTLY THERE'S LIKE TWO BORROWING PROGRAMS THAT OTHER CITIES, IN SOME CASES, LIBRARIES OPERATE WHERE YOU CAN BORROW A TOOL FOR FREE. YOU GOT TO BE A CITY RESIDENT, YOU GOT TO SIGN PAPERWORK THAT SAYS IF YOU DIE, YOU CAN'T SUE US. AND IF YOU STEAL IT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE HELD LIABLE. SO I AM JUST SAYING THIS NOW AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY TO MYSELF, TO THEN FOLLOW UP ON THIS, WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS INSTEAD OF JUST ISSUING FINES TO PEOPLE FOR NOT MOWING THEIR LAWN THAT DON'T HAVE LAWN MOWER, WE SHOULD HAVE A LAWN MOWER FOR SOMEONE TO USE INSTEAD OF JUST SAYING, HEY, CUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO PRUNE YOUR TREE AND THEY DON'T HAVE A I DON'T HAVE IF I GOT A FINE. SO IF THE CITY WANTS TO COME BY MY PROPERTY, I DON'T HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY THE PROPER EQUIPMENT. WE SHOULD HAVE SOMETHING FOR PEOPLE TO USE. SO I JUST WANTED THAT. I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. NOW UNDER NEW BUSINESS TO HOLD MYSELF ACCOUNTABLE. AND THEN ALSO GOOGLE TOOL LENDING CLOSET TOOL, A TOOL BANK. IT'S NOT A NEW 
          [00:25:08]
IDEA. WE SHOULD HAVE ONE. I'M SURE THERE ARE TOOLS THAT ARE STILL USABLE, BUT WE REPLACE THEM AS A CITY JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT THE BEST. BUT THEY COULD THEN BE PART OF A TOOL BANK THAT A RESIDENT COULD USE INSTEAD OF JUST FINDING THEM. SO OKAY. THANK YOU. I LIKE THAT IDEA. IF I CAN ADD ON TO THAT, MISS GERLACH, THE ONES I UNDERSTAND. BUT WHEN I OWNED A HUGE TREE, I COULD NOT CUT IT MYSELF. WELL, I COULD, BUT IT HAD TO BE THEIR SPECIFICATIONS. 
          IN OTHER WORDS, IF I WANTED TO REALLY BRING IT BACK, I COULDN'T DO THAT. IT HAD TO BE BY THE CITY'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS IS WHY I. I AM SO ADAMANT ABOUT HOMEOWNERS KNOWING EXACTLY THE RESPONSIBILITY THEY HAVE. WHEN YOU PUT A TREE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOME AND IF. IF I HAD THE EQUIPMENT, I COULDN'T EVEN DO. IT HAD TO BE TO THEIR SPECIFICATIONS AND I HAD TO GET A PERMIT FROM THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO IT. SO I LOVE THE TREES. BELIEVE ME, THEY'RE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS. BUT I THINK, LIKE SHE SAID, THERE'S MANY PEOPLE CAN'T MAINTAIN. AND I MORE OR LESS A CONNOISSEUR ON ON THE BIG TREE THAT CAUSED ME A PROBLEM FOR 25 YEARS. SO EVEN IF THEY GIVE US THE EQUIPMENT, WE HAVE TO GET THE PERMIT. SO IT'S EASIER JUST TO HAVE THEM DO IT. BUT I AGREE WITH YOU. I THINK THAT THERE'S THERE'S MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE. AND I JUST DON'T HAVE THAT'S A THAT'S A GOOD PLAN. YEAH. AND I THINK LIKE THOSE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE MASSIVE TREES THAT NEED TO BE COMPLETELY. THAT'S A WHOLE OTHER THING. BUT LIKE, I'M JUST THINKING WHERE I'VE GOT BUSHES AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY TREES AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEN A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CENTER CITY, LIKE WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TREES, BUT WE'VE GOT BUSHES, WE'VE GOT WEEDS, WE'VE GOT LITTLE PATCHES OF GRASS. AND IT'S JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE A TREMOR. YOU KNOW, I THINK IT WOULD BE NICE FOR PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, WHERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF A LOT OF YOUTH WHO CAN GET INVOLVED, YOU KNOW, EVEN THE SCHOOLS, THE SAME THING THAT I WAS DOING WITH THAT, THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING WITH THE WITH THE SNOW, SHOVELING SNOW, YOU KNOW? YEAH. JUST WANTED TO THROW IT OUT THERE MAINLY FOR MY OWN ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEN FOLLOW UP WITH THE RIGHT DEPARTMENT. I THINK WE SHOULD TALK THE, YOU KNOW, IN DEPTH ABOUT THAT LATER ON. OKAY. THANK YOU. NO PROBLEM. 
          [GOOD AND WELFARE]
AND ANY OTHER NEW BUSINESS, MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. OKAY. GOOD. AND WELFARE IS NEXT. GO AHEAD. 
          YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO CALL OUT THE THE GRANT FOR THE THAT SENATOR NICK MILLER AND REPRESENTATIVE MIKE SLOSSBERG. I GUESS AWARDED OR IS IN PROCESS FOR THE TREXLER PARK AND THE ROSE GARDEN CONNECTOR. SO I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT THING FOR OUR CITY. SO I JUST WANTED TO CALL THAT OUT AS A, I DON'T KNOW, IT'S A THANK YOU, BUT IT JUST I'M HAPPY THAT IT'S GOING FORWARD. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT. AND LET'S GO TO WELFARE AT
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.