Sep 16, 2026 City Council

[00:00:01]

VERY. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING. I'M SORRY FOR THE DELAY, BUT

[Invocation]

[Pledge to the Flag]

[Roll Call]

[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.]

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

[00:05:02]

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]

[00:10:12]

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

[00:15:05]

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

[00:20:03]

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

[00:25:04]

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. ]

[00:30:05]

[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. ]

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

[00:35:01]

[ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On): ]

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

[00:40:02]

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

[00:45:06]

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

[00:50:04]

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.

[00:55:08]

[CONSENT AGENDA]

[RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):]

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) ]

[GOOD AND WELFARE]

[01:00:01]