[00:00:03] YOU? I WAS GOING TO ASK, DID YOU. OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO KICK OFF. THANKS, EVERYONE. WE'RE [Invocation:] GOING TO KICK OFF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TONIGHT, OCTOBER 7TH, 2026. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH AN INVOCATION. SO IF EVERYONE CAN, PLEASE RISE FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE. SORRY. [Pledge to the Flag] THANK YOU. AND PLEDGE OF THE FLAG. PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS. ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. OKAY, WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE ROLL CALL, PLEASE. MISS GERLACH [Roll Call] HERE, MISS SANTOS HERE. MR. BENDER, PRESENT. MISS MODA HERE. MR. NAPOLI HERE, MR. PONGA HERE, MISS SAFA HERE. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU'RE ALL HERE. THANK YOU. WE'LL WE'LL START WITH COURTESY [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. ] OF THE FLOOR. JUST A QUICK RECAP ON OUR POLICIES. OUR COMPLETE SET OF COUNCIL RULES ARE POSTED ONLINE AND 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 COUNCIL RATHER THAN TO INDIVIDUAL COUNCIL MEMBERS. COUNCIL STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE CITY'S ADMINISTRATION OR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. DURING THIS MEETING, PUBLIC 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. MR. ORTEGA, WE HAVE SOME COURTESY FOR HARRY CRAPSER. WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS HARRY. JUST LIKE TO ASK ABOUT THE SPEED BUMPS. I HEARD THAT ON THE 1500 BLOCK OF LINDEN, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE INSTALLING THEM. I WOULD LIKE TO STRONGLY URGE WHOEVER IS ON THE PROJECT TO PLEASE INCLUDE TWO STREET, THE 1500 BLOCK OF TWO STREET. THE NEIGHBORS ARE WORRIED ABOUT SPEEDING CARS DAY AND NIGHT, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. ONE CAR AFTER ANOTHER, SPEEDING ON ONE CAR FOR PARTS OF THE STREET, RACING EACH OTHER TO GET TO 16TH AVENUE WHERE THERE'S A STOP SIGN. SOMETIMES NOT EVEN STOPPING AT THE STOP SIGN GOING RIGHT. AND SO IN THE LAST 40 PLUS MILES AN HOUR, YOU COULD SEE THE WEIGHT OF LIGHTS ARE DOWN. EVEN BUSSES AND THE BUSSES AND SCHOOL BUSSES, SOMETIMES WITH KIDS ON SCHOOL BUSSES. IT'S TOO FAST FOR THE CONDITIONS AND THE SIZE OF THE BUSSES, BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT TAKES LONGER FOR THEM TO STOP AND THEY ARE GOING FASTER THAN IT SHOULD. SO PLEASE INCLUDE THE PROGRAM LIKE LINDEN AND TONY STREET BECAUSE THE NEIGHBORS, I ASKED THEM AND THEY ALL AGREE THAT WE NEED TO SLOW DOWN THE TRAFFIC BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS HURT. IT'S A BIG ACCIDENT. WHILE THEY'RE DOING LINDEN, A TINY PIECE. BUT INCORPORATE JEWISH STREET BECAUSE THAT'S LIKE A MAIN STREET FOR. YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TO GO THROUGH. OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. THANK YOU. AND I ALSO WANT TO I'D LIKE TO ADD, LAST WEEK I DID FORWARD YOUR CONCERNS REGARDING PARKING TO OUR STREETS DEPARTMENT. WE COPIED MISS ORTEGA AND THERE WAS AN OUT OF OFFICE, BUT THEY REPLIED BACK. AND YOU WILL BE GETTING A PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE REGARDING YOUR CONCERN FROM YOUR LAST MEETING. SO AND THAT THAT PERSON MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH SOME OF YOUR CONCERNS THIS EVENING. SO I'M SORRY, THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL? NO, IT WAS REGARDING PARKING. YEAH, WITH THE LEFT HAND SIGNAL. I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT. OKAY. WELL, WHEN THEY CALL YOU ABOUT THE PARKING, WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE LIST. AND AGAIN, THEY HAVE YOUR INFORMATION. AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT WAS PASSED ALONG. YOU'RE WELCOME. THANK YOU TO KYLE. EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS KYLE [00:05:06] ROBERTS. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY HERE TONIGHT. MY NAME IS KYLE. I'M CHAIR OF ALLENTOWN'S ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COUNCIL. I KNOW WE GOT A LARGE AGENDA TONIGHT, SO I WILL BE BRIEF. I JUST WANT TO RAISE AWARENESS TO A FEW ITEMS RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES HERE IN THE CITY. FIRST WE HAVE AN OPENING ON THE EC. SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED, PLEASE ENCOURAGE THEM TO APPLY OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT ALLENTOWN. EC OR EC@GMAIL.COM. THE NEXT MAJOR THING I WANT TO SHARE ARE SOME UPCOMING VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LITTLE LEHIGH WATERSHED STEWARDS. THEY'VE BEEN DOING SOME TRULY AMAZING WORK HERE IN THE CITY SO FAR. THEY'VE PROVIDED US WITH SOME INVALUABLE RESEARCH AND DATA RELATED TO OUR WATERWAYS, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE IMPACTS AND POLLUTION ASSOCIATED WITH ROAD SALT IN THE WINTER. I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT SNOW REMOVAL HERE TONIGHT. SO JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER, WHEN YOU PUT YOUR SALT DOWN, IT DOES HAVE TO GO SOMEWHERE AND IT TENDS TO GO INTO OUR WATERWAYS. SO THE FIRST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY IS ACTUALLY COMING UP THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10TH FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON. WE'LL BE PLANNING 150 TREES NEAR 1475 MACK BOULEVARD, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY CONSERVANCY. THEN, ON OCTOBER 17TH, FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON WILL BE PLANTING ANOTHER 50 TREES OPPOSITE OF 1676 KEYSTONE ROAD, UPSTREAM FROM THE FISH HATCHERY. THIS PROJECT IS BEING FUNDED THROUGH A LITTLE OR THROUGH A LEHIGH VALLEY GREENWAYS GRANT FROM THE DELAWARE AND LEHIGH NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR. AND FINALLY, ON NOVEMBER 14TH, FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON, THERE WILL BE A STREAM CLEANUP AT TROUT CREEK PARK. BRISK ONE THERE. IT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE COLD, BUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THESE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT THEIR WEBSITE, LITTLE LEHIGH.ORG, OR REACH OUT TO PAUL DOT R DOT YOUNGER. THAT'S YOUNGER@GMAIL.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION. AND A FINAL NOTE I'D LIKE TO SHARE IS JUST A SINCERE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN SO FAR. I'VE BEEN VERY IMPRESSED BY THE LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE MEETINGS, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BY THE PASSION OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE SHARED FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY. I CAN'T THANK OUR PARTNERS ENOUGH, ESPECIALLY OUR AMAZING CITY STAFF, INCLUDING VERONICA AUSTIN, WHO HAS REALLY CARRIED THE TORCH ON THIS WORK FOR ACTUALLY YEARS AT THIS POINT. WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A DRAFT OF THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN FOR REVIEW SOMETIME EARLY NEXT YEAR. AND ANOTHER INDICATION OF HOW SUCCESSFUL THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN. JUST IF YOU WERE TO BE AWARE OF IT IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS ON OCTOBER 24TH, WE HAVE BEEN SELECTED TO PRESENT WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT THE PROCESS AT THE STATEWIDE PENNSYLVANIA EAC CONFERENCE, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO SHARE SOME OF WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED HERE IN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME HERE TONIGHT AND FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT SOME OF THESE UPCOMING EVENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, STEVEN WEISS. HI. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. MY NAME IS STEVEN WEISS. I LIVE AT 876 NORTH KEARNY STREET ON THE EAST SIDE. IT WAS NICE TO HEAR THAT WE HAVE THE NOTORIETY OF BEING VERY PROUD OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, WHICH INDEED WE ARE. BUT I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT AN ISSUE THAT'S AFFECTING MYSELF AND MY NEIGHBORS. I'M THE GUY WHO'S BEEN SENDING OUT THE EMAILS ABOUT A NIGHTCLUB THAT OPERATES ON THE CORNER OF UNION BOULEVARD, 1038 UNION BOULEVARD, CALLED MAMAJUANA CURRENTLY HAS A CLUB THAT RUNS INSIDE CALLED AFTER DARK. THEY ARE CODED, I THINK ARE ZONED TO BE A RESTAURANT AND A HOOKAH LOUNGE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO BUSINESS. THERE IS NO SALES OF FOOD. DURING THE WEEK THERE WAS NOONE IN THE PARKING LOT. IT'S OPEN ON FRIDAY. WELL, IT WOULD BE SATURDAY MORNING, SUNDAY MORNING, MONDAY MORNING FROM 2:00 IN THE MORNING UNTIL FIVE IN THE MORNING. SO FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS WE'VE HAD A CLUB OPERATING WITHIN ABOUT 50FT OF MY NEIGHBOR NEXT TO ME. SO THE ISSUE IS, AND I DON'T WANT TO MAKE THIS ABOUT ME OR MY NEIGHBORS, I WANT TO MAKE IT ABOUT SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT BIGGER. WE DON'T WANT ANY OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE A VICTIM OF ANOTHER VIOLENT CRIME. OKAY? AND WE DON'T WANT THEM TO BE DRIVING AROUND DRUNK AFTER COMING FROM A BAR AND THEN GOING TO AN AFTER HOURS CLUB, AND THEN LEAVING THE AFTER HOURS CLUB EVEN MORE INTOXICATED, POSSIBLY, AND THEN HURTING SOMEBODY ON THE WAY. OKAY. SO WE ARE WORRIED. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE ANOTHER PERSON MURDERED. 2019. WE HAD THE LARGEST MASS SHOOTING AT AN AFTER HOURS CLUB. 2022 RONNIE M DEL BARRIO KILLED AT A NIGHTCLUB. 2023 JANUARY 22ND AT THE CLUB THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT, [00:10:13] 28 YEAR OLD BLESSING TAVAREZ WAS MURDERED AND THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS INJURED. 2023 KEVIN TARAFA MURDERED AT SYNERGY HOOKAH LOUNGE. UNION BOULEVARD 2025. 32 YEAR OLD IVAN DIAZ JR MURDERED THREE OTHERS SHOT AT BK. K. THAT IS, THREE MURDERS AND FOUR SHOOTINGS SINCE 2023 IN THAT CORRIDOR ON UNION BOULEVARD. SO I'M ASKING FOR YOUR HELP. I'M ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT. OUT OF MOSTLY CONCERN AND NOT ANGER. AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH ME. I KNOW THAT THE CHIEFS WORKING WITH ME. THANK YOU, MISS CARABELLA. THANK YOU, MISS KESSLER. AND THANK YOU. THANK YOU. APPRECIATE IT. OKAY, SO THAT WRAPS UP OUR COURTESY OF FLOOR. MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COURTESY THE FLOOR AS WE [Contract Approvals: The general idea for approving contracts is that the council acknowledges that proper procurement procedures were followed pursuant to the city code. ] APPROACH AGENDA ITEMS. NEXT UP, CONTRACT APPROVALS ARE 122 IS THE AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS TO PROVIDE THE CITY WITH VARIOUS GOODS AND SERVICES WITH HOROWITZ TRUCKS, INC. BETHLEHEM TRUCK AND BODY, THOMAS FORD INC. AND ANCHOR FENCE COMPANY, INC. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? OR THE PUBLIC ON R 122. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE? MISS SAFIR YES, MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN YEAS AND NAYS. THANK YOU. NEXT UP, R 123. R 123. IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR CONTRACT WITH FILE BANK INC IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,842.20 TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DIGITIZATION SERVICES TO CONVERT AND SCAN PHYSICAL, LEGAL DOCUMENTS AND OFFICIAL RECORDS MAINTAINED BY THE CITY CLERK, INCLUDING ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND MINUTES INTO ACCESSIBLE, SEARCHABLE AND SECURE DIGITAL FORMATS WHILE PRESERVING THE ORIGINAL CONTENT. 20 PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED, SIX WERE REJECTED. THE CONTRACT TERM SHALL COMMENCE UPON FULL EXECUTION AND SHALL CEASE ONE YEAR THEREAFTER. UPON WRITTEN AGREEMENT FROM THE CITY, THIS CONTRACT MAY BE EXTENDED FOR UP TO ONE ADDITIONAL YEAR TERM BEYOND THE CONTRACT EXPIRATION PERIOD AT THE SAME ANNUAL TERMS OF THE INITIAL TERM. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I'D LIKE TO MENTION THAT THIS THIS PROJECT, I THINK, HAS BEEN GOING SINCE SPRING, AND IT'S BEEN A PROJECT THAT OUR OUR STAFF HAS BEEN REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND FOR GOOD REASON. IT'S AND I CAN LET MR. HANLON SPEAK TO IT, BUT IT'S IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE. SO I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY THANK OUR CITY CLERK, MIKE HANLON, GENESIS ORTEGA, JERRY ANTHONY, MELISSA VELEZ, ERICA DELEON, MARTIN SCHULTZ, ALONG WITH DANIELLE EMERY AND SARAH MCNEIL FROM PURCHASING, BECAUSE THEY REALLY PLAYED A PART IN GETTING THIS TO THE FINISH LINE. AND IF YOU DON'T MIND, MR. HANLON, IF YOU CAN MENTION EVERYONE, WHAT THIS REALLY MEANS, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE, I WOULD SAY, LIKE ALL CITY CLERKS, YOU TURN YOUR MICROPHONE. WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF WE WERE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE. AND SO TO DEAL WITH THE SPACE, WE NEED THE STATE TO CHANGE THE LAW TO CERTAIN TYPES OF PDF DOCUMENTS THAT WOULD BE PERMITTED. THEY FINALLY DID THAT. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF DOCUMENTS IN HERE IN CITY HALL FROM 1927. AFTERWARDS, THEY'RE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE. THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF THOSE DOCUMENTS. AND THEN THE DOCUMENTS BEFORE THAT BASICALLY DATE BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR, THEIR HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENTS, THEY'RE OVER WITH THE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. THEY'RE VERY INTERESTING IN A CLIMATE CONTROLLED PLACE. THIS WOULD FREE UP A LOT OF SPACE FOR THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE AS WELL. TOOK THE STATE A LONG TIME TO CHANGE THEIR REGULATIONS. NO, I THINK IT'S GREAT. AND AGAIN, IN DIGITIZING ALL THESE DOCUMENTS, I THINK ALSO DOES A GREAT SERVICE FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE FOLKS WORKING HERE GOING FORWARD TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE DOCUMENTS ARE PRESERVED AND AVAILABLE TO FUTURE CITY STAFF AND GENERATIONS. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES? MR. PONGO? GO AHEAD. YEAH. THANK YOU. I GUESS I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT THE THE SCOPE AND PURVIEW. SO I KNOW IT SAYS IT'S FOR ONE YEAR. IS THE INTENT TO TRY TO GET AS MUCH PRESERVED IN THAT SINGLE YEAR. AND THE INTENT OF POTENTIALLY PASSING IT ON FURTHER WOULD BE ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS OR I'M JUST CURIOUS OF, OF THE DURATION, IF THIS IS SOMETHING, IT'S ESSENTIALLY A ONE TIME OR UNTIL IT GETS DONE TYPE OF CONTRACT, MY UNDERSTANDING WOULD BE THESE WOULD BE FOR THE DOCUMENTS POST 27. THAT'S IT. SO THAT'S WHAT THEY BID ON THE [00:15:07] DOCUMENTS BEFORE. THAT WOULD BE VERY COSTLY, I THINK, TO DIGITIZE. AND YOU WOULD NEED STATE HELP STATE GRANTS. I BELIEVE SOMEBODY WILL GET THERE AFTER WE DO THIS. OKAY. OKAY. MR. BINDER, GO AHEAD. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS IN SCOPE FOR THIS QUESTION, BUT HOW ARE WHERE ARE THEY BEING STORED? SO I'M ASSUMING AFTER THIS IS DONE, I KNOW YOU HAVE PRESERVING THE GO OVER TO. THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUT IN BANKER'S BOXES AND BE STORED AT BRIDGE WORKS. OKAY. AND THEN WHAT WHERE IS THE DIGITAL FORMATS GOING TO BE STORED IN AND WHAT MEDIUM IN JERRY ANTHONY'S COMPUTER SOMEWHERE. I WILL I'LL FORWARD THE QUESTION TO JERRY THEN. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANKS. WE'LL HAVE THEM ON OUR DRIVE. OKAY. AND THESE ARE ALL DOCUMENTS FROM 1927 THROUGH TODAY, ALL CITY DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE. CANDIDA. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? ALL RIGHT. THANKS AGAIN TO OUR STAFF. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC ON OUR. 123. OKAY, MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN [Minutes of Previous Meeting] DAYS AND NO NAYS. THANK YOU. NEXT UP ARE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS. THIS IS FOR THE AUGUST 5TH CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES ON BILL 52. MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS. SAFFA. YES. MR. BENDER. YES. OKAY. ON THIS YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. WE ALSO HAVE THE AUGUST 5TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, MISS SAFA. YES, MR. BENDER. YES. MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES, MISTER. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT. YES. SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS ON THAT. AND THEN YOU HAVE THE AUGUST 25TH SPECIAL MEETING TO INTERVIEW AND ACT ON THE CONTROLLER CANDIDATES MEETING MINUTES. SO ON THAT MISS AFFA. YES. MR. BENDER YES. MISS GERLACH. YES. MISS. YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. SEVEN YEARS AND NO NAYS. SEPTEMBER 2ND. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. MR. BENDER. YES, MISS. GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MISS. SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA. YES. SEVEN YEARS AND NAYS ON THAT. AND LASTLY, THE SEPTEMBER 9TH SPECIAL MEETING ON THE DROP. MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS. SAFFA. YES. AND THE SEPTEMBER 16TH CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS. YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. SEVEN YEAS AND NAYS ON THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. MOVING ALONG TO COMMUNICATIONS, [Communications] I HAVE TWO EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT. CITY COUNCIL HELD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION ON SEPTEMBER 16TH WITH COUNCIL'S AND THE ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR TO DISCUSS ONGOING LITIGATION. ALSO FOR VISITORS TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO PARK IN THE GOVERNMENT DECK NEXT DOOR AND TO SEE OUR CITY CLERK FOR A PARKING CHASE, OR TO PAY FOR [Old Business] YOUR PARKING ON OLD BUSINESS. ONE ITEM THERE WAS AN OMISSION IN A CONTRACT APPROVED AT THE LAST MEETING, CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING SEVERAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASES. ONE OF THE ITEMS WAS A BLANKET PURCHASE OF ROAD SALT FROM THE STATE CONTRACT. THE ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENT ON THE RESOLUTION INADVERTENTLY MISSED THE REFERENCE THAT THE BLANKET PURCHASE WOULD EXTEND INTO 2027, NOT JUST 2026, AND THE PRICE WOULD BE $653,287.70. NEXT UP [REPORTS Budget and Finance: Chair Pungo, Mota, Gerlach The Committee met on September 30th and forwarded an item on this evening’s agenda; the next meeting is scheduled for October 21st at 5:30 PM. Community and Economic Development: Chair Gerlach, Binder, Napoli The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for October 14th at 6 PM. Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Binder, Santos, Affa The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for October 21st at 5:45 PM Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Pungo, Binder The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is scheduled for October 21st at 6:15 PM. Public Safety: Chair Affa, Mota, Santos The Committee met this evening, there are no future meetings scheduled. Public Works: Chair Mota, Pungo, Affa The Committee met this evening; the next meeting is scheduled for October 14th at 5:30 PM. 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 process flows: Special Events and Procurement. Mayor: No submission. ] ARE REPORTS. WE'LL START WITH BUDGET AND FINANCE CHAIR PONGO. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE MET ON SEPTEMBER 30TH AND FORWARDED AN ITEM ON THIS EVENING'S AGENDA. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 4TH AT FIVE. WELL, THE TIME I'LL HAVE TO CONFIRM, BUT YEAH, NOVEMBER 4TH, I BELIEVE. THANK YOU. OKAY, I HAVE OCTOBER 21ST ON. WE DID MAKE AN [00:20:03] ADJUSTMENT. OKAY. GOT IT. OKAY. NO PROBLEM. ALL RIGHT. NO PROBLEM. CHANGE THE SECOND AGO. OKAY. IT'S NO PROBLEM. SO THE CORRECT DATE IS JUST FOR THE PUBLIC. BE THE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH. OKAY, COOL. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE'S CLEAR ON THAT. THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHAIR GERLACH. YES. THANK YOU. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE AN IMPORTANT ONE, IS SCHEDULED ON OCTOBER 14TH AT 6 P.M. IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN THE ENCAMPMENT ORDINANCE OR YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WORKFORCE HOUSING, THAT'S GOING TO BE THE MORE CONVERSATIONAL MEETING. SO SHOW UP TO THAT AND MY COLLEAGUES AS WELL. THANK YOU. OKAY. THANK YOU. HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND APPOINTMENTS, CHAIR BENDER. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. THE COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 21ST AT 5:45 P.M. GREAT. THANK YOU. PARKS AND RECREATION CHAIR SANTOS. THANK YOU. THIS COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AND OUR NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 21ST AT 6:15 P.M. THANK YOU, PUBLIC SAFETY CHAIR. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING. THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETING SCHEDULES. THANK YOU. PUBLIC WORKS VICE PRESIDENT. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. THE COMMITTEE MET THIS EVENING, AND THE NEXT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 14TH AT 5:30 P.M. THANK YOU. AND RULES CHAMBERS INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS AND STRATEGY. THIS COMMITTEE HAS NOT MET SINCE THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING. THERE ARE NO FUTURE MEETINGS SCHEDULED. NEXT UP IS OUR COMPTROLLER'S REPORT, MISS ELGATO. HELLO. I'LL MAKE IT QUICK. AND I HAVE A SHORT TIME. SO OUR OFFICE OUR OFFICE RECENTLY CONDUCTED A REVIEW OF THE PROCESS FLOW FOR SPECIAL EVENTS. THE BUREAU OF SPECIAL EVENTS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LARGE SCALE SPECIAL EVENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY. THIS INCLUDES JUNETEENTH, 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS AND FIREWORKS, HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL CLASSICS, FESTIVAL CLASSICS AND CRUISERS ON HAMILTON STREET, VETERANS APPRECIATION MONTH AND LIGHTS IN THE PARKWAY, WHICH IS ALSO CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2026. SO YAY! GET OUT AND SEE THE LIGHTS ON THE PARKWAY! OKAY, SO THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS REVIEW WERE TO DOCUMENT THE PROCESS FLOW FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND TO IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL RISKS AND WEAKNESSES. THE PERIOD SELECTED FOR TESTING WAS 2025 AND THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026. WE REVIEWED 15 SPECIAL EVENT SPECIAL EVENT VENDORS FOR COS APPROVALS AND FOUND THAT THREE OF THE VENDORS, WHICH IS 20%, WERE MISSING THE APPROVALS FROM RISK DEPARTMENT ON TEAMS SPECIAL EVENT RESPONSE WAS THEY AGREED TO OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND WOULD WORK CLOSELY WITH RISK DEPARTMENT TO REVIEW AND ASSESS FURTHER RISK RESPONSE WAS. THEY'LL DISCUSS ADDING THE COS AND TO MUNIS AND IDENTIFY THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY RISK MANAGER. THE RISK MANAGER HAS NOT BEEN ADDING THE COI IN MUNIS AS OF YET. WE ARE. IN THAT REVIEW. WE ALSO FOUND THAT FOR THE VENDORS, WHICH IS 27% DO NOT HAVE VALID BUSINESS LICENSES WITH THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, ALL VENDORS AND THEIR AND THEIR CITY OF ALLENTOWN BUSINESS LICENSES MUST BE APPROVED BY THE REVENUE AND AUDIT. ALSO. VENDORS FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSE APPROVALS AND NOTED THAT SIX VENDORS. 40% WERE MISSING APPROVAL FROM THE REVENUE AUDIT. WE DID MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS RESPONSE WAS. THEY AGREED, AND WE WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH REVENUE AND AUDIT TO REVIEW AND ASSESS FURTHER TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS. RECOMMENDED CORRECTIVE ACTION, MISSING HEALTH LICENSES AND APPROVALS. WE REVIEWED 13 FOOD AND DRINK SPECIAL EVENT VENDORS FOR THE PROPER HEALTH LICENSES. ONE VENDOR WAS MISSING A TEMPORARY HEALTH LICENSE FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND WE NOTED THAT FOR VENDORS, 31% WERE MISSING THE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR VENDOR APPROVALS. HEALTH'S RESPONSE WAS THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE LICENSE GAP AND WILL WORK WITH SPECIAL EVENTS TO ENSURE IT IS TRACKED PROPERLY. SPECIAL EVENTS RESPONSE WAS THEY AGREE AND WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH HEALTH TO REVIEW. ALSO, THE 2026 APPLICATION FEES ARE $300 FOR LARGE SCALE EVENTS AND 100 FOR SMALL SCALE EVENTS. WE REVIEWED 15 APPROVED EVENTS AND NOTED ONE EVENTS APPLICATION FEE WAS WAIVED. THERE IS NO FORMAL DOCUMENTATION PROCESS FOR EVENTS THAT HAVE APPLICATION FEES WAIVED. WE DID MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS AND SPECIAL EVENTS AGREED AND WILL REVIEW AND ASSESS FURTHER. THERE'S ALSO A SPECIAL EVENTS LATE APPLICATION FEE. WE REVIEWED 15 EVENTS. 11 OF THE EVENT APPLICATIONS WERE LATE. NONE OF THE LATE APPLICATIONS WERE INVOICED FOR THE LATE APPLICATION FEE. THIS RESULTED IN A $2,750 LOSS IN REVENUE. JUST TO ADD TO THAT, THE LATE APPLICATION FEES ARE $250. SO [00:25:09] WE MADE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS AND THEY ARE GOING TO LOOK INTO THAT FURTHER. SO ALSO THERE IS AN ORDINANCE FOR DENIED SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATION FEES. WE REVIEWED EIGHT APPLICATION FEE INVOICES FOR EVENTS THAT WERE TENTATIVELY APPROVED, BUT SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED. ONE EVENT WAS NOT INVOICED FOR THE APPLICATION FEE, WHICH WAS $100. TWO EVENTS WERE INVOICED FOR THE APPLICATION FEES, BUT THE FEES WERE NOT COLLECTED, WHICH WAS $200 AS WELL. FOUR EVENTS WERE NOT INVOICED FOR THE APPLICATION FEE TOTALING $1,000, AND ONE EVENT WAS INVOICED THE LATE APPLICATION FEE, BUT THE FEES WERE NOT COLLECTED. AGAIN. THAT'S $250. LIMITED TIME, SO I'LL ZOOM RIGHT OVER. WE ALSO DID A PROCESS FLOW FOR PURCHASING. SO THIS PERIOD FOR TESTING WAS THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2025. AND THE FIRST QUARTER FOR 2026. THIS IS TO DEVELOP A PROCESS FLOW CHART NARRATIVE FOR THE PROCUREMENT, USING THE PROCESS FLOW CHART AND NARRATIVE TO IDENTIFY THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND DEVELOPING THE APPROPRIATE TESTING OF THE RISK AREA. REVIEWING THE CONTROLS FOR THE PROCESS AND IDENTIFYING THE POTENTIAL WEAKNESSES FOR 2020 611 BIDS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE PURCHASING FOLDER. ONLY TEN WERE NOT PROCESSED IN POWER APPS PER PROCUREMENT. THEY'RE HAVING ISSUES WITH DOWNLOADING, SAVING AND APPROVING IN POWER APPS. WE REVIEWED 11 BIDS FROM THE PURCHASING FOLDER TO ENSURE THAT THE PAYOFFS WERE ATTACHED TO THE BID. TWO DID NOT HAVE THE PIMS ATTACHED TO THE BIDS. OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE TO WORK WITH IT TO IDENTIFY THE POWER APPS IS WHY POWER APPS IS CAUSING ISSUES. PROCUREMENT PROCUREMENT SHOULD EITHER WORK WITH POWER APPS OR IDENTIFY NEW SYSTEM TO PROCESS. THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE WAS THEY AGREE, AND WILL WORK TO MOVE AWAY FROM POWER APPS, AS IT'S NOT USER FRIENDLY AS ORIGINALLY THOUGHT TO BE. WE REVIEW SIX NON-EMERGENCY PURCHASES AND ONE EMERGENCY PURCHASE THAT REQUIRED BID WAIVERS, AND NOTED THE EMERGENCY PURCHASE REVIEWED WAS NOT SUBMITTED TO PROCUREMENT WITHIN THE FIVE REQUIRED BUSINESS DAYS. BID WAIVERS WERE NEVER SUBMITTED TO THE CITY CONTROLLER. THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE WAS THEY AGREE AND WILL CREATE AN ESCALATION POLICY FOR EMERGENCY WAIVERS TO BE SENT OUT TO DEPARTMENTS. PURCHASING AGENT WILL FORWARD WAIVER FORMS TO THE CITY, CONTROLLER, CONTROLLER'S OFFICE NOTED. ALSO NOTED THE LACK OF P CARD FRAUD FRAUD PROCEDURE WE REVIEWED FOR FRAUDULENT P CARD TRANSACTIONS WITH THE DEPARTMENT, AND NOTED THERE IS CONFUSION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT AS TO WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN WITH FRAUDULENT P CARD TRANSACTIONS. THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE WAS THEY AGREED TO CREATE WRITTEN PROCESS ON HOW TO MANAGE FRAUD. I GUESS THAT'S IT. OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THAT REPORT. ANY COMMENTS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON MISS VICE PRESIDENT, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. IT WAS VERY THOROUGH, BUT I'M JUST CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID. 2727 VENDORS THAT DIDN'T HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. THAT'S THAT'S CONCERNING. 27 LET ME SEE HERE. SO. I DON'T THINK 2020 WAS IT 27% PERCENT? YES. 27%. THAT IS THAT. YEAH. WE DID MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON I BELIEVE IT'S SPECIAL EVENTS COORDINATOR MUST ALSO GO WITH THE REVENUE AND AUDIT DEPARTMENT. SO THEY ARE GOING TO COORDINATE A LITTLE BIT MORE. AND THEY ACTUALLY SHOULDN'T EVEN BE AT THE EVENTS WITHOUT THAT. DEFINITELY. YEAH. AND I I'M ONE THING I'D LIKE TO MAYBE FINDING A WAY AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION, RIGHT. SORRY, MAYBE FINDING A WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION. ONCE THEY APPLY, I GUESS SOMETHING SHOULD BE FLAGGED. SO WE RECOMMENDED HAVING THEM UPLOADED TO MUNIS. THAT WAY THEY ARE VISIBLE. AND IF THEY'RE NOT, THEN WE CAN SEE WHO'S NOT UPLOADING THEM TO THE PROCESS. ALSO, I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT THE LATE FEES. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE REALLY NEED TO BE COLLECTING. THERE IS A TIMELINE, WHICH I KIND OF JUST BREEZED OVER IT, BUT THERE IS A TIMELINE. WE REALLY SHOULDN'T BE ACCEPTING ANY APPLICATIONS IF THEY'RE AFTER THE 30 DAYS BEFORE THE EVENT. SO THERE ACCORDING TO THE ORDINANCES, THERE ARE TIMELINES TO GET THESE APPLICATIONS IN. AND IF THEY WANT TO AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN, EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH US, RIGHT? AND OUR SPECIAL EVENTS, YOU WANT TO GET THAT. I THINK THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO APPLY LATE TO PAY THE LATE FEES, YOU SHOULD PAY THE LATE FEE. YEAH, DEFINITELY. AND WHAT ABOUT THE FOR FRAUDULENT, LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WITH THAT? SO THAT'S [00:30:01] THE P CARD PROCESSES. WE DID GET SOME OF THEM. I THINK WE DID GET SOME OF THEM REFUNDED BACK TO US. BUT THERE REALLY IS NO PROCESS FOR THE FRAUDULENT TRANSACTIONS. SO LET ME ACTUALLY GO TO THE RIGHT. HERE. IT IS FOR THE PROCESS. SO THERE'S A CREDIT CARD DISPUTE FORM THAT THEY SHOULD BE COMPLETING. THEY NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE BANK TO ISSUE A NEW P CARD AND RECEIVE A PERMANENT REFUND. SO THAT'S JUST SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING. AND LIKE I SAID BEFORE, THERE WAS SOME CONFUSION ON HOW TO HANDLE IT. SO THERE REALLY WAS NO PROCESS IN PLACE. BUT I THINK THAT THE, I THINK THE COMPTROLLER'S DEPARTMENT MADE SOME REALLY GOOD RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THEM. THEY SHOULD CREATE A WRITTEN PROCESS MANAGING THE P CARD FRAUD. IT'S GOING TO INCLUDE IDENTIFYING ROLES AND TIMELINES. SO THE WRITTEN PROCESS SHOULD ALSO BE DISTRIBUTED TO ALL DEPARTMENTS AND POSTED ON SHAREPOINT TO ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBLE CONFUSION. SO WE ARE HOPING THAT THAT CAN BE DONE AS WELL. OKAY. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE GUIDANCE PROCUREMENT WILL CREATE. THEY DID RESPOND BACK WITH POSITIVE RESPONSES THAT THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE FOR CARDHOLDERS, AS THEY'LL HAVE TO VERIFY THEIR TRANSACTIONS WITH TD BANK ONCE THE NOTICE OF FRAUDULENT CHARGE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS GERLACH. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? YES, JUST ON THAT 27%. I'VE GOT TO ONCE AGAIN BRING UP THE IDEA OF HAVING VENDORS WHO ARE ONLY GOING TO MAYBE VEND AT THAT ONE EVENT, NOT HAVE TO PAY THE FULL BUSINESS FEE LICENSE. I WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE SOME VENDORS NOT PARTICIPATE, BECAUSE NOW THERE'S EVEN MORE OVERHEAD TO PARTICIPATE. SO CLEARLY WE HAVE AN ISSUE. 27% OF FOLKS DON'T HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE. IT SEEMS LIKE THE EASIEST ANSWER WOULD BE JUST TO REQUIRE THEM ALL TO GET A BUSINESS LICENSE MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE ANSWER MIGHT BE SOME CREATIVITY THAT COULD HAPPEN SO THAT WE COULD STILL MAINTAIN THE LEVEL OF DIVERSE VENDORS. AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEIR LICENSE AND PAYING THEIR TAXES AND DOING ALL THAT GOOD STUFF. I DID HAVE A QUESTION. SO IF SOMEONE APPLIES TO HOST A SPECIAL EVENT, BUT THEY'RE DENIED, THEY, THEY, WE DON'T LIKE RETURN THEIR MONEY. NO, THAT'S WRONG. YEAH. I MEAN, IT IS A $300 TO JOIN FOR THE LARGE EVENTS AND THEN 100 FOR SMALL EVENTS. THAT'S WRONG. AND I THINK THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE. THAT'S LIKE LANDLORDS WHO CHARGE LIKE ALL THESE APPLICATION FEES TO RENT AN APARTMENT. I THINK THAT'S INCORRECT. AND THEN THEY DON'T GET. BUT THE QUESTION IS, WHAT WOULD THEY GET DENIED? I THINK WE SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT IT BEFORE WE MAKE ANY DETERMINATIONS. I MEAN, WE SHOULD LEARN WHAT THE PROCESS IS AND, AND WHAT WHAT THE REASONING IS, JUST TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. I DON'T NEED TO UNDERSTAND IT BETTER. I THINK IF YOU FILL OUT AN APPLICATION AND YOU'RE DENIED, WHAT WHAT ARE YOU PAYING FOR? IT COULD BE, IT COULD BE FOR CITY STAFF TO ACTUALLY DO THE WORK TO PROCESS THE APPLICATION. AND I'M NOT SPEAKING FOR CITY STAFF HERE. I'M JUST KIND OF THINKING IT THROUGH. SOMEONE HAS TO DO THE WORK AND THEN FOR WHATEVER REASON, IF IT'S DENIED, WE DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER OF WHY IT WOULD BE DENIED. SO AGAIN, I WOULD WANT TO LEARN MORE BEFORE WE REALLY HAVE A DISCUSSION ON THAT, BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T EVEN BE TALKING ABOUT IT. I DON'T REALLY KNOW, BUT I'M JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S THE REASON. I HEAR YOU, IT'S A SURFACE LEVEL. IT JUST SEEMS WRONG. YEAH. THAT'S FAIR. YEAH. I MEAN, OUR OFFICE CAN LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT FURTHER IF YOU'D LIKE SOME ANSWERS ON THAT. I MEAN, THERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES, LIKE THEY HAVE TO HAVE THE, YOU KNOW, COS WITH $1 MILLION COVERAGE. SO THERE'S CERTAIN GUIDELINES AND, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE TO PASS A HEALTH DEPARTMENT. SO THERE COULD BE SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY WHERE EACH DEPARTMENT GOT DENIED. I DON'T HAVE THOSE SPECIFIC ANSWERS HERE, BUT I MEAN, I CAN WORK ON GETTING THAT FOR YOU IF YOU'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHY SOMEONE WOULD BE DENIED. OR WE CAN JUST TELL YOU IF YOU IF YOU WANT TO KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT TONIGHT. WE COULD ALWAYS MAKE IT PART OF MISS SANTOS PARKS, PARKS AND REC COMMITTEE. IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT AN AGENDA ITEM OR IF YOU WANT TO DO IT NOW, IT'S YOUR CALL. SURE. SO I CAN GIVE A AN EXAMPLE OF WHY. AND ONE OF THEM COULD BE INSURANCE, OR IT COULD BE TWO EVENTS ON THE SAME DATE. SO IF SOMEONE APPLIES AND THERE'S ALREADY A SCHEDULING DOESN'T WORK OUT AND AN ALTERNATE DATE MAY NOT WORK OUT OR THE VENDOR, THE APPLICANT DECIDES THAT THEY DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE EVENT. IT COULD BE A MULTITUDE OF THINGS. SO I THINK WHAT YOU FOUND IN THE AUDIT WAS THAT I WANT TO SAY FIRST THAT THIS IS A RECENTLY CHANGED SPECIAL EVENTS ORDINANCE IN THE LAST YEAR. SO WE HAVEN'T BEEN AS CONSISTENTLY COLLECTING LIKE LATE FEES. AND ALSO AS [00:35:01] COUNCILPERSON GERLACH WAS SAYING, LIKE, WHEN IT COMES TO BUSINESS LICENSES, MOST BUSINESSES THAT HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR, THEY HAVE A BUSINESS LICENSE. AND ALL OF OUR FOOD VENDORS HAVE BUSINESS LICENSE AND HEALTH LICENSE, BUT SOME OF THESE SMALLER VENDORS THAT ARE SELLING LIKE SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, CRAFTY OR HOMEMADE, LIKE WE HAVEN'T YET BEEN AS STRICT WITH THAT. SO I THINK IT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT THAT ORDINANCE AND SEE HOW WE CAN MAKE IT. WE WANT THE PROCESS TO STILL BE ATTRACTIVE FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER VENDORS WHILE STILL MEETING THE ORDINANCE. SO SINCE THE ORDINANCE WAS REWRITTEN, IT MIGHT BE A TIME TO TO LOOK AT IT, TO SEE HOW WE CAN WRITE IT, TO MAKE IT FAIR TO SOME OF THE SMALLER, SMALLER BUSINESSES. SO IT IS A NEWER, NEWER ORDINANCE AS WELL. WE ARE WORKING ON A NEW PROCESS THAT HAS BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE WORKING WITH REVENUE AND AUDIT FOR THE BUSINESS LICENSES AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT THAT MEANS IN MUNIS. SO EVERYONE CAN KIND OF SEE WHERE THESE APPLICATIONS ARE AND WHAT'S MISSING. SO THAT'LL BE HELPFUL TO OUR TEAM BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A SMALL TEAM AND THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO COLLECT FOR SOME OF THESE EVENTS, ESPECIALLY THE LARGER ONES. SO, SO I THINK LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS LICENSE, MOST OF THEM DO HAVE IT IF YOU HAVE A BRICK AND MORTAR, BUT HOW DO WE HELP THOSE BUSINESSES THAT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, AREN'T USED TO THE PROCESS? SO THAT'S SORT OF A LONG ANSWER TO WHY SOME OF THESE HAVE BEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE LESS COLLECTED IN THE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE WE WANT TO REALLY WORK WITH SOME OF THESE SMALLER EVENT VENDORS. SO THEY GET USED TO THE NEW NEW ORDINANCE AND WHAT IT MEANS AND, AND HOW TO EVEN GET A BUSINESS LICENSE IF MAYBE THEY'RE JUST DOING THIS AS A ONE OFF AS, AS MISS GERLACH SAID. SO, BUT YEAH, THERE COULD BE A LOT OF REASONS WHY A PERMIT WOULD BE DENIED. BUT USUALLY IT'S IF THEY DECIDE THEY DON'T WANT TO PURSUE IT OR THERE'S AN EVENT, ANOTHER EVENT ON THAT SAME DATE THAT'S LIKE ALREADY GOT THEIR APPLICATION IN FIRST AND THEY CAN'T FIND A DIFFERENT DATE THAT MIGHT WORK FOR, FOR THEIR EVENT. I HAVE A QUESTION. COULD MAYBE LIKE, IF THEY'RE PAYING $300 FOR A LARGE EVENT OR $100? AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD HAVE TO, OF COURSE, BE UPDATED. COULD THAT BE LIKE THEIR, THEIR DAILY BUSINESS LICENSE? CAN THEY JUST GET ONE FOR THE DAY AND NOT HAVE TO MAKE IT THE WHOLE LIKE, LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, CAN WE JUST DO THAT? LIKE, I MEAN, THAT'S A BIG, IT'S A LOT OF BIG FEE, $100 OR THREE. IT IS. WE'RE LOOKING I MEAN, THROUGH THE BUSINESS OFFICE, WE'RE LOOKING AT FIGURING OUT A WAY TO DO A SINGLE USE BUSINESS LICENSE. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE MAYBE WE CAN INCLUDE IT INTO THAT APPLICATION, BUT THERE ARE THINGS YOU HAVE TO, YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE, YOU KNOW, INSURANCES AND SOME STUFF WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WE WANT PARTICIPATION. WE WANT ALL THESE SMALL VENDORS TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE. SO THAT'S OUR GOAL TOO. I MEAN, WE DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE CUMBERSOME PROCESS THAT THE SAME PROCESS THAT, YOU KNOW, COUNCIL PRESIDENT NAPOLI HAS TO GO THROUGH TO GET HIS BUSINESS LICENSE FOR A BRICK AND MORTAR RETAIL OPERATION. YOU KNOW, AND KEEP IN MIND THAT THERE'S ALSO OTHER MUNICIPALITIES LIKE IN BETHLEHEM WHEN WE WHEN WE DO WORK IN BETHLEHEM, I JUST GET A BUSINESS LICENSE FOR JUST ONE DAY AND IT'S NOT THAT COMPLICATED. SO MAYBE WE SHOULD LOOK INTO THAT. OKAY, THANKS AGAIN FOR THE REPORT. AND I THINK WE ARE GOOD. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ALONG. SO WE'LL MOVE INTO ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE. FIRST ONE IS BILL 62. BILL 62 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $1,100,000 TO FUND THE IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT ON TILGHMAN STREET AND UNION BOULEVARD. AS PART OF THE SS FOR IMPLEMENTATION GRANT, THE CITY WAS AWARDED. THIS GRANT IS PARTIALLY REIMBURSABLE AND REQUIRES MATCH FUNDING. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THIS CAME OUT OF VICE PRESIDENT MOTO'S COMMITTEE THIS EVENING. YES. AND IT WAS PASSED FAVORABLY TO ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS. OKAY, GREAT. ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES ON BILL 62? OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. MISS SAFFA YES, MR. BENDER. YES, MISS GERLACH. YES, MISS MODA. YES. MR. POGO. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. AND MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. NEXT UP, 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 THE 2027 BILLING RENEWAL AND REMOVING LANGUAGE IN SECTION SIX VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. OKAY. AND THIS CAME OUT OF BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE. YES. THANK YOU. AND IT WAS FORWARDED TO COUNCIL. I THINK THIS KIND OF GOES BACK TO THE CONVERSATION WE WERE JUST HAVING WITH COUNCILPERSON GERLACH ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WE WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE THE FEE IN ORDER TO GET OUR CITY, YOU KNOW, REIMBURSED FOR THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING IN ORDER TO PROCESS THESE BUSINESS LICENSES. BUT THERE IS A [00:40:01] GREATER CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW CAN WE, YOU KNOW, ADJUST THE PROCESS TO ACCOMMODATE AND ALLOW FOR MORE ENTREPRENEURSHIP FROM OUR RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO MAYBE START A BUSINESS BUT DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, IMPOSE THAT. SO THIS SPECIFICALLY JUST UPDATES THE FEE. BUT MOVING FORWARD, I THINK THERE IS A GREATER EFFORT TO WANT TO RELOOK AT THE THE BUSINESS LICENSE STRUCTURE AND SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP PUSH SMALL BUSINESS. AGREE. AND I'M PLEASED TO HEAR OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR TO SPEAK ABOUT LOOKING AT FINDING OPPORTUNITIES OR SOLUTIONS ON, ON THAT EFFORT. SO THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO IT. AND ALSO TO MISS PATEL AND YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR TRYING TO WORK TOWARDS THAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON BILL 65 FROM COLLEAGUES? OKAY. FROM THE PUBLIC? ANY COMMENTS? OKAY. CALL THE VOTE, MR. BENDER. YES, MISS. GERLACH? YES, MISS. YES. MR. YES. MISS SANTOS. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MISS SAFFA YES. [CONSENT AGENDA: The Consent Agenda is for items that are considered ‘no brainers’ – no need to have the administration explain anything the objective is to vote on all the resolutions at one time if there are no issues. The President asks if there is any request to remove any item from the Consent Agenda. If not, the clerk will read the titles of the resolutions. The President will ask for public comments, prior to council voting on the bundle. ] MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN YEAS AND NO NAYS. THANKS. NEXT UP IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. WE HAVE SOME MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE RESOLUTIONS. YES. OUR. 124 ERIC BERNARD APPOINTING ERIC BERNARD TO THE PLUMBERS EXAMINING BOARD WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF OCTOBER 8TH, 2029. OUR 125 ROBERT BRINKER ALSO TO THE PLUMBERS EXAMINING BOARD WITH THE SAME EXPIRATION DATE OCTOBER 8TH, 2029 AND OUR 126 SEAN FENNAN TO THE PLUMBERS EXAMINING BOARD WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF OCTOBER 8TH, 2028. OUR 127 MICHAEL PRAZDNIK PLUMBERS EXAMINING BOARD THROUGH OCTOBER 8TH, 2028 R 128 MICHAEL MILLER TO USCITA WITH A TERM END DATE OF JANUARY 1ST, 2030. R 129. SYLVESTER NOVAK TO USCITA ONE ONE, 2030 TERM DATE OUR 130 IS THE LITTLE LEHIGH PHASE TWO SEWER PLANNING MODULE. OUR 131 IS 301 NORTH FRONT STREET. MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT SEWER PLANNING MODULE. OUR 132 PARK LOFTS, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT SEWAGE PLANNING MODULE. OUR 133 IS 337 TO 343 BARBER STREET. SEWAGE PLANNING MODULE. OUR 134 WEST ALLEN MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT SEWER PLANNING MODULE AND OUR 135 RS RESIDENCES, MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT SEWER PLANNING MODULE. OKAY, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM MY COLLEAGUES ON ANY OF THOSE OR FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. MISS GERLACH, YES, MISS SANTOS YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS MODA. YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PONGO. YES. MR. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, [RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):] SEVEN YEARS AND NO NAMES. THANK YOU. AND NEXT UP IS RESOLUTIONS. FOR FINAL PASSAGE, WE'LL START WITH R 136. OUR 136 APPROVES THE SUBMISSION OF THE FORMAL APPLICATION FOR THE LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT ON BEHALF OF THE ALLENTOWN SYMPHONY ASSOCIATION, INC. TO SUPPORT REPLACEMENT OF ROOFING SYSTEMS ON 23 NORTH SIXTH STREET. THE FUNDING COMES FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN IS SUBMITTING A FORMAL APPLICATION TO THE PA DEPARTMENT OF CITY FOR $416,000, AWARDED FROM THE LEHIGH AND NORTHAMPTON LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT FUND THAT WILL SUPPORT THE REPLACEMENT OF ROOFING SYSTEMS AS THEY ARE NEARING THE END OF USEFUL LIFESPAN AND IN NEED OF REPLACEMENT. THIS RESOLUTION IS AN APPLICATION REQUIREMENT. THE APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2026, WITH THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS RESOLUTION WILL BE FORWARDED WHEN AVAILABLE. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS? QUESTIONS FROM COLLEAGUES? OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 136. OKAY. MISS AFAR YES, MR. BENDER YES, MISS GERLACH YES, MISS MODA YES. MR. PONGO YES. MISS SANTOS YES. MR. NAPOLI. YES. MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. OKAY. LAST ONE IS R137R137. APPROVES FIVE TRANSFERS, $221,000 FOR EMS AND FIRE, $110,000 FOR TRAFFIC PLANNING AND CONTROL, $75,000 FOR BUILDING, PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL ENFORCEMENT, $48,000 FOR TRAFFIC PLANNING AND CONTROL, AND $22,000 FOR ENGINEERING. OKAY. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE DAIS? OR FROM THE PUBLIC ON R 137. OKAY. CAN YOU CALL THE VOTE, PLEASE, MR. NAPOLI YES. MISS SANTOS YES. MR. PONGO YES, MISS MODA, YES, MISS. GERLACH. YES. MR. BENDER. YES. MISS SAFFA YES, MR. PRESIDENT, YOU HAVE SEVEN DAYS AND NO NAYS. [ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public comment prior to referral) ] [00:45:04] THANK YOU. NEXT IS OUR ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION, AND WE'LL START WITH BILL 66. BILL 66 AMENDS THE ALLENTOWN CITY CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 130 ALLENTOWN OUTDOOR ENCAMPMENT RESPONSE ORDINANCE, ESTABLISHING REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE CITY'S RESPONSE TO OUTDOOR ENCAMPMENTS ON CITY OWNED PROPERTY. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BILL 67. BILL 67 AMENDS THE 2026 GRANT FUND TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $500,000 FROM THE PADCED LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT. THESE FUNDS ARE A PASS THROUGH GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE RIPPLE COMMUNITY, INC. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON OUR BILL 67? OKAY. THIS WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. BILL 68, BILL 68 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $560,000 TO FUND THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL AT HANOVER AVENUE AND LINDEN STREET. THIS IS GRANT FUNDED THROUGH THE PENNDOT MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION FUND PROGRAM, WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC THAT WE'RE OVERLOOK IS RIGHT? YES, YES. OH. ABOUT TIME. COOL. THAT'S LONG OVERDUE. YEAH. WOW. NO COMMENTS. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO VICE PRESIDENT MOTO'S COMMITTEE, PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. WELCOME. NEXT UP IS BILL 69. BILL 69 IS AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENDITURE OF CERTAIN MONIES RECEIVED BY THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN UNDER TITLE ONE OF THE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 1976, AS AMENDED. THE HOMELESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RAPID TRANSITION INTO HOUSING ACT OF 2009 AND TITLE TWO OF THE NATIONAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT OF 1990, AS AMENDED, FOR THE PURPOSE OF UNDERTAKING PROGRAMS OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CITY. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 69. THIS WILL ALSO GO TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT UP, BILL 70, BILL 70 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $705,938.84 FROM THE AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAMS CLASS ACTION AWARDS TO OFFSET THE COSTS OF ANY PFAS REMEDIATION SYSTEMS THE CITY IS REQUIRED TO INSTALL UNDER FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS. THIS THREE M SETTLEMENT PAYMENT WILL BE MADE IN TEN SEPARATE INSTALLMENTS THROUGH 2033. THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SETTLEMENT FUNDS THE CITY HAS RECEIVED THUS FAR THROUGH ITS PARTICIPATION IN PFAS AFFIRMATION LITIGATION, IS $4,480,903.96. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? OKAY. I'M GOING TO REFER THIS TO VICE PRESIDENT MOSES COMMITTEE, PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU. WELL, CC AND I, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF WORK, THAT'S FOR SURE. AND NEXT UP IS BILL 71. BILL 71 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $350,000 IN REIMBURSEMENT FUNDING FROM THE ALLENTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND ISDA TO CAPITAL PROJECT NUMBER 2040 HAMILTON STREETSCAPE. THERE IS NO CITY MATCH REQUIRED. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 71? AND THIS WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO VICE PRESIDENT MOTO'S COMMITTEE PUBLIC WORKS. OUCH. THANK YOU. AND BILL 72, BILL 72 AMENDS THE 2026 GRANT FUND TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $384,048 FROM THE PADCED LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT. THESE FUNDS ARE A PASS THROUGH GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE CIVIC THEATER OF ALLENTOWN. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 72. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. AND BILL 73, BILL 73 AMENDS THE 2026 GRANT FUND TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $29,400 FROM THE LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT. THESE FUNDS ARE A PASS THROUGH GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT PLANNED PARENTHOOD. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 73. THIS WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE. I TOLD YOU. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, I TOLD YOU TWO BIG BILLS. WOW. WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, MR. [00:50:08] PRESIDENT? AND WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A FUN WEDNESDAY, TWO WEDNESDAYS FROM NOW. WOW. SO I WENT ON VACATION. YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE. AND. WOW. WELL, THAT MISS ORTEGA. CATCH YOUR BREATH FOR A SECOND. SO IT'S A LOT OF READING. YES. NEXT UP, BILL 74. BILL 74 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $600,000 TO FUND THE APPROVED PUBLIC WORKS CAPITAL PROJECT TO REPLACE THE SALT SHED AS PART OF THE 2026 CAPITAL. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 74. THIS WILL GO TO VICE PRESIDENT MOSES COMMITTEE PUBLIC WORKS. DON'T WORRY. ONLY MORE TO GO. OH, YEAH. YEAH. NEXT UP, BILL 75. BILL 75 AMENDS THE 2026 GOLF FUND TO ACCOMMODATE AN UPGRADE OF THE GREENSKEEPER POSITION AND THE MAINTENANCE MECHANIC THREE IN THE GOLF FUND'S GROUNDS MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. THE GREENSKEEPER POSITION, CURRENTLY AN M-16, WOULD BE UPGRADED TO A PROPOSED PAY GRADE OF M-21 AND RETITLED TO ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT. THE MAINTENANCE MECHANIC THREE POSITION, CURRENTLY AN M 14, WOULD BE UPGRADED TO A PROPOSED PAY GRADE OF M20 AND RETITLED TO GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT TECH. THESE UPGRADES ALLOW FOR A PAY STRUCTURE THAT BETTER REFLECTS JOB DUTIES WHILE MAINTAINING CONSISTENCY WITH COMPENSATION FOR SIMILAR ROLES ACROSS THE REGION. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 75. OKAY. THIS WILL GO TO MY COLLEAGUE, MISS SANTOS, PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT UP IS BILL 76. BILL 76 AMENDS THE 2026 GENERAL FUND BUDGET TO ACCOMMODATE THE UPGRADE OF POSITION 234-012. PRESENTLY, A RECEPTIONIST WITHIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AND PAY GRADE S5 TO THAT OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES SPECIALISTS WITH A REVISED PAY GRADE OF S 11. THIS WILL ENTAIL THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM BETWEEN ACCOUNTS WITHIN THE HUMAN RESOURCES BUDGET TO COVER COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INCREASED SALARY FOR THAT POSITION OVER THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 76. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO MY COLLEAGUE, MR. BENDER, HUMAN RESOURCES APPOINTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. YOU'RE WELCOME. NEXT UP, BILL 77. BILL 77, AMENDS CITY CODE, CHAPTER 75 PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT. ARTICLE THREE POLICE PENSION FUND, SECTION 75-30 ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPOINTMENTS AND TERM AND SECTION 75-31 ASSOCIATION OFFICERS TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, CITY COMPTROLLER AND FINANCE DIRECTOR TO SELECT DESIGNEES TO SERVE IN THEIR PLACE ON THE POLICE PENSION FUND. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 77. OKAY. THIS WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO MR. BENDER, HUMAN RESOURCES APPOINTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. NEXT UP IS BILL 78. BILL 78 AMENDS THE 2026 GRANT FUND TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $1,300,000 FROM THE STATE OFFICE OF THE BUDGET REDEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CAPITAL PROGRAM. THESE FUNDS ARE A PASS THROUGH GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT RESURRECTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FACILITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 78. OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. BILL 79, BILL 79 AMENDS THE 2026 GRANT FUND TO PROVIDE FOR A SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION OF $855,000 FROM THE PADCED LOCAL SHARE ACCOUNT GRANT. THESE FUNDS ARE A PASS THROUGH GRANT THAT WILL SUPPORT THE ALLENTOWN ART MUSEUM. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 79. OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE CED THANK YOU. AND BILL 80, BILL 80 AMENDS THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET TO PROVIDE FOR AN INCREASE OF $296,000 TO FUND SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AND ACCESSIBILITY AT SOUTH 10TH STREET AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DRIVE. BY INSTALLING 80 COMPLIANT RAMPS, HIGH VISIBILITY CROSSWALKS, AND UPGRADED TRAFFIC MEASURES TO ENHANCE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY. THIS IS GRANT FUNDED THROUGH THE TRANSPORTATION ALTERNATIVES SET ASIDE PROGRAM WITH NO MATCH REQUIRED. ADDITIONALLY, AMENDING THE 2026 CAPITAL FUND BUDGET FOR A TRANSFER OF $14,000 FROM ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRAFFIC SIGNALS UPGRADE AND $33,135.45 [00:55:02] FROM ACCOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STREET LIGHTING UPGRADE TO THE 10TH STREET AND MLK SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. OKAY, THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR ALL THE KIDS THAT UTILIZE THOSE PARKS DOWN THERE, SO I THINK THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 80. OKAY. THIS WILL GO TO VICE PRESIDENT MOSES COMMITTEE, PUBLIC WORKS. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT. AND THE LAST ONE, BILL 81, BILL 81 AMENDS ARTICLE FIVE CITY COMPTROLLER BY REMOVING LANGUAGE, ASSIGNING RESPONSIBILITY FOR PREPARING AND RECONCILING ALL CITY ACCOUNTS TO THE CITY COMPTROLLER IN ORDER TO ALIGN THE ORDINANCE WITH THE CITY'S CURRENT PRACTICE AND MAINTAIN A SEPARATION BETWEEN THE PREPARATION OF BANK RECONCILIATIONS AND THE COMPTROLLER'S INDEPENDENT REVIEW AND OVERSIGHT OF THOSE RECONCILIATIONS. OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 81, MISS GERLACH, I JUST WANTED TO REINTRODUCING BILL 82 TONIGHT. IT'S ON THE PUBLIC, ON THE ONLINE AGENDA. IF IT IS, I MISSED IT. YEAH. OKAY. OKAY. YEAH. SO SO ANY ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON BILL 81? OKAY. THIS WILL BE REFERRED TO MR. BENDER, HUMAN RESOURCES APPOINTMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT NAPOLI. AND LAST ONE IS BILL 82. BILL 82 AMENDS THE ALLENTOWN CITY CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 653 WORKFORCE HOUSING TO PROMOTE THE THE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKFORCE HOUSING WITHIN THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN BY ESTABLISHING AFFORDABILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN FOR CERTAIN MULTIFAMILY RENTAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING TEN OR MORE DWELLING UNITS THAT RECEIVE TAX ABATEMENTS UNDER THE CITY'S LERTA PROGRAM RECEIVE AT LEAST $250,000 IN CITY HOUSING TRUST FUND FUNDING, OR ACQUIRE OR UTILIZE PUBLICLY OWNED OR CONTROLLED LAND, SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS. OKAY. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? BILL 82. OKAY. THAT WILL BE REFERRED TO CHAIR GERLACH'S COMMITTEE, COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. AND. WE HAVE NO RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION. [NEW BUSINESS] ANY NEW BUSINESS? YES, I WILL GO AHEAD. I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE I WAS I WAS LOOKING AT THE NEWSPAPER AND I WAS IN SHOCK WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT AT THE 1812 PIANO LOUNGE IS GOING TO BE CLOSING. AND IT WAS IT WAS SHOCKING FOR ME. I WAS REALLY SAD AND SURPRISED TO HEAR THE NEWS. IT'S SO PLEASED. IT WAS A SMALL PLACE, VERY INTIMATE WITH LIVE MUSIC, I MEAN PIANO. I REMEMBER THAT SOME OF US DID KARAOKE THERE. A GREAT PERFORMANCE, GREAT FOOD. IT WAS VERY QUIRKY AND AND IT WAS VERY UNIQUE TO THE LEHIGH VALLEY, THAT PLACE. YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, SPEAK OUT OF TERMS OR, YOU KNOW, SPECULATE. BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS A REMINDER THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO, TO WORK WITH OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE, NOT ONLY TO MAKE IT EASIER TO OPEN A BUSINESS IN ALLENTOWN, BUT TO MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE, TO STAY OPEN AND SUCCEED, YOU KNOW, HERE. HOW WAS THAT? I MEAN, THAT PLACE WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS IT WAS FUN. AND HE HAD A LOT OF MEMORIES. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE REALLY ENJOYED THAT PLACE. AND I WANT TO THANK THE OWNER AND THE STAFF FOR INVESTING IN ALLENTOWN AND BRINGING SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. THEY CERTAINLY WILL BE MISSED. RIGHT. MISS CANDIDATE FOR. YES. AND A LOT OF THE TIMES YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IT'S NOT OUR COMMUNITY, IT'S NOT OUR CITY THAT'S TO BLAME. SOMETIME THE OWNERS HAVE HAD ENOUGH OR THERE. ARE THERE MANY REASONS WHY PEOPLE. I MEAN, HER BUSINESS SEEMED TO BE GREAT. OH YEAH. IT WAS WELL, YOU KNOW, WELL KEPT. YOU TREATED HER WELL. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. AND HER PERSONAL REASONS. SHE'S A BUSINESSWOMAN AND WHATEVER, BUT WE CAN'T BLAME OURSELVES FOR THAT BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS FROM THE DAY SHE OPENED. SO WHATEVER HER REASONS ARE, SHE'S A BUSINESSWOMAN. AND IT'S SAD BECAUSE THAT WAS AN ADULT BAR AND I MENTIONED THIS. I REALLY ENJOYED IT. I MENTIONED THIS BUSINESS. YEAH, I WAS THERE LAST NIGHT AND SHE SPOKE TO ME. AND SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A DECISION OF THE YEAH. YOU KNOW, AND I MENTIONED THIS BUSINESS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ONE. YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S MANY OTHERS. YEAH, YEAH. YOU JUST HAD A GOOD CONCEPT AND A GOOD BUSINESS AND SHE RAN IT. [GOOD AND WELFARE] WELL, OKAY. THANK YOU. ANY MOVING ALONG, ANY GOOD AND WELFARE, MR. BENDER? GO AHEAD. [01:00:03] OH, JUST A REMINDER THAT OCTOBER 19TH IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE. 27TH IS THE LAST DAY TO APPLY FOR MAIL IN. AND OF COURSE, ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 3RD. OKAY. THANK YOU MISTER. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER, JEREMY. AND I JUST WANT TO ALSO PUT IT OUT THERE. WE DID HAVE THE ALLENTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY VISIT US AND TELL US ABOUT SOME GREAT OPPORTUNITIES. THERE ARE TWO LOW LIKE BELOW MARKET RATE PROPERTIES CURRENTLY FOR SALE. FOR ANY LOW INCOME RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN. PLEASE MAKE SURE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED, IF YOU KNOW ANYBODY WHO'S LOOKING FOR A HOME AND MAYBE WOULDN'T QUALIFY FOR THE TRADITIONAL LOANS AT A MARKET RATE PROPERTY, THESE ARE INCREDIBLE PROPERTIES AND THERE'S TWO MORE COMING ONLINE SOON. SO AGAIN, JUST TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THESE PROGRAMS THAT ARE OUT THERE FOR OUR RESIDENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR THANKS FOR CALLING THAT OUT. OKAY, SO IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE GOOD THERE. WE'RE GOING TO * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.