Is that an iPhone or an Android? Did you have >> mine? It's an Android. >> And you don't have any issues with your council email? >> I just lost track. >> We could walk through that after. I'll show you how I set it up. >> I have it set up. No, I don't have it set up on this phone. I had it set up on this phone and I was having issues with
it. I deleted it to read it. >> Mine reads as a Gmail account. So, just that might be the problem. So, I I set it up through the Gmail. >> Well, that's how I had mine set up through Gmail as an exchange. >> Interesting. But it's still not working. >> We'll talk about it. >> All right. Council, are you ready to go?
Hey, Arty. We're about to start. We're about to start the meeting right now. >> Uh, council, am I ready? You guys ready to >> We're live. >> 73. >> Good evening, everyone. I'll ask that everyone rise for the pledge of the flag.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Raymond, Mr. Callahan,
>> present. >> Mr. Cologne, >> present. >> Miss Daniels, >> here. >> Miss >> present. >> Miss Leairard, >> present. Miss Leon >> Pente. Um, moving on to the approval of the minutes. Are there any comments on the minutes from council members?
>> All right, the minutes stand approved. We're going to move on to public comment. We've got a bit of a a full house um tonight. So, I'll just as a reminder, we have a five limit five minute time limit for our
public comment um so that we can get through everyone as they come. And a reminder that public comment is more of a chance to come and address council. I'm happy to stay after the meeting if you would like to engage in a dialogue. Um happy to to hang out, but for the
purpose of public comment, um it's just address council. Uh so we will start with public comment on things not being voted on. The first person I have signed up is Larry Kirk. Good evening, council members.
>> I am here to thank you for closing the new Bethlehem landfill today. That stuff got picked up. Thank you so very, very much. And I drew the short straw to come down here because I wanted to thank y'all. Took us seven
months, but yeah, you did it. It got cleaned up today. Y'all sent the crew over here there and stuff and picked it up. That's why John and Mark and Mike ain't here. Mike asked me to thank the code officer who wrote it, William Santiago, if I said that name right.
>> Please, if y'all see him, I don't know if he's in here. I don't know him, but thank you so much. He took care of that for me. And now, so far the problem's resolved. And now I get to do my impersonation. If it happens again, we'll be back.
Thank you so much, Larry. >> All right, next I have uh Sue Great House. >> Hello, my name is Sue Greathouse. Thank you for having me. And >> is that better? Oh, there. Okay, >> I can hear you.
>> Um, my name is Sue Great House. Thank you for having me. I'm I'm just have a real quickly. I already talked with council member DeLeon. I just have um my neighbors we I have a weed pro problem. Um my neighbors weeds are out of control. There's some poisonous plants.
Um I have pets. They're poisonous to pets. So I'm just wondering if that could a code officer could come out and make sure that it's enforced. And I think that is going to be addressed. So uh thank you. >> Thank you, Sue. Next I have Jessica Anger.
Good evening members of city council. My name is Jessica Anger and my husband Michael is here with me tonight. He was in the Air Force. He and I purchased our home at 246 10th Avenue in January of 2022. I'm here tonight because I want to
explain why the curbing issue affecting my property is not something homeowners on our street created and why many of us feel we are now being held responsible for damage connected to utility work that has gone unresolved for years. When
we purchased our home in 2022, the curb in front of our property was flagged during the approval process for our VA loan. Because a VA loan is federally backed. Property conditions are reviewed carefully. The issue was serious enough
that our loan approval was at risk. At that time, I had to contact the engineering department directly to obtain written confirmation that the existing curbing was was acceptable. Without that letter, my husband and I would likely not have been able to
secure our VA loan or purchase our home. So from the very beginning, we understood the curbing was older, but we were also told it was acceptable. Then in December of 2022, UGI began extensive gas utility on our street. Ex extensive
gas utility work on our street. The digging, excavation, and heavy equipment caused visible damage to already aging curbing throughout the neighborhood. The work continued into 2023 and residents were repeatedly assured that both the damaged asphalt
and curbing would be repa would be repaired once the project was completed. Those repairs have still not happened. To make matters more frustrating, UGI returned and dug up our street again in late 2024, creating even more disruption
and additional wear to the roadway and surrounding infrastructure. Now, homeowners are being told the curbing needs to be replaced despite years of utility excavation and repeated promises that the damage caused by that work would be addressed. I want to be
very clear, residents did not create the situation on 10th Avenue. Many of us purchased homes with existing curbing that the city previously deemed acceptable and then utility work accelerated deterioration that
homeowners had no control over. It does not feel fair for residents to now potentially carry fi the financial burden of infrastructure damage connected to large-scale utility projects that were permitted to proceed, especially when
repair commitments were made and never fulfilled. I understand infrastructure maintenance is important. I understand curbing eventually needs replacement, but accountability also matters. If utility companies damage public streets,
curbs, and sidewalks during major excavation projects, there needs to be followth through on restoration promises before the responsibility shifts onto homeowners. I'm asking council to advocate for residents, hold UGI accountable for the commitments that
were made, and consider the timeline and circumstances before requiring homeowners to absorb these costs. This issue affects not just appearances but property values, financing, neighborhood safety, and trust between residents and
the city. I have that letter from the engineering department um that we had to secure in order to purchase our home. Um I have the email when I received it and then I have the letter. So that's yours to have.
I also have um the I you can have at a later date the appraisal for our home that you know revealed the curbing whatever you need. I have all this information but we would not have been able to buy our home if we had not received this letter and were told at the time that the curbing was
acceptable. That's all I have for you. So, thank you for your time tonight and thank you for listening. Have a wonderful evening. >> Yeah, if you want to bring that up, I'll make sure council gets it. Thank you so much. >> Thank you.
>> The next person that I have signed up is Stephanie Zbo. >> Good evening, council. My name is Stephanie Zabbo and I'm speaking tonight on behalf of several residents regarding a demand by public works for the homeowners to replace curbing on 10th Avenue. We are choosing to speak
publicly tonight, not only for the benefit of our neighbors, but for all Bethlehem residents and interested parties because this issue raises broader concerns about accountability, consistency, and code enforcement, and how homeowners are treated by the very city government funded by our tax
dollars. As my neighbor stated, UGI began work on our street in December of 2022 and had to tear the street up again in 2024. During this time, we were relying on both verbal and written representations from UGI and their subcontractor, SCOD Contracting, that the company would be
responsible for repair of damage to all homeowner property to include yards, sidewalks, and curbing. Since they first dug, all of us have had to throw out sections of curbing that UGI destroyed. Yet now, almost four full years later, we are being threatened with citations and being told we are financially
responsible for repairs to the curbing under threats of fines and/or imprisonment. What is especially concerning is the inconsistency in enforcement. There are numerous streets in Bethlehem where paving projects were completed without requiring homeowners to replace or
repair curbing. The emailed statement, which you are all copied on, from the public works director, is simply untrue. We have pictures of the curbing. We have them tonight and lack thereof on Spring Street between 8th and 11th where the paving was done in 2025. We are struggling to understand why 10th Avenue
is being held to higher standard than our neighbors and only now after four years have passed since UGI damaged the curbing and failed to repair the same. We would also like to point out that city inspectors have been on our street as recently as this year in relation to sidewalk permits, construction permits,
and certificate of occupancy inspections. If the condition of the curbing was noticed as early as 2019, as the public works director stated, why was no corrective action required at that time? We would be remiss if we did not point out that this delay has created
unnecessary financial hardship. As council is undoubtedly aware, thanks to the administration, costs for materials, labor, and fuel have risen dramatically over the past several years. We are now being asked to absorb expenses that could have been addressed earlier and should have been addressed through the
utility company during their gas line replacement project. We do share the desire to resolve this matter cooperatively and we are asking the city to work with residents and UGI toward a fair solution rather than shifting the burden entirely onto homeowners. We do not have collective amnesia. We were
relying on UGI's representations. We urge city council and the mayor's office to fully investigate the timeline of this issue. We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding accountability, fairness, and consistent application of city code enforcement
before allowing public works to unilaterally act against us. We are paying close attention to how this matter is handled. We will remember in 2027, 2028, and 2029. We hope the mayor and council choose to stand with the residents and pursue a fair resolution
rather than stay the course of action chosen by public works. Thank you for your time. I have photos as well. >> All right. Thank you. I'll make sure that council gets all this. Uh, thank you so much, Stephanie. Next, I have
Alex Miller. >> Good evening, council. Alex Miller, at Monoxy Street. Uh, I'm here tonight to speak about police. Um, though not to bash former personnel or reality TV, which the mayor's office seemed to think was a productive use of his effort and attention. Rather, I'd like to return
our focus to a critical civil liberties issue, the threat of automated AI powered surveillance technology, and more specifically the city's continued choice to purchase services from Flock Safety. I and so many others are frustrated that rooms full of elected adults can look at the growing mountain of evidence that flock is at best
irresponsible and negligent and continue to say little or nothing as the surveillance industrial complex continues to grow. I am grateful that some outlets continue to shine light on flocks comedy of errors. Municipalities ought to be informed about the vendors with which they choose to do business. So I want to highlight a few updates
since my last comment on this issue. In Dunwoody, Georgia, 404 media recently reported the revelation that sales employees at Flock access sensitive cameras in the town to demonstrate the company's surveillance technology to police departments around the country. The cameras accessed have included those
in a children's gymnastics room, a playground, a school, a Jewish community center, and a public pool. Last week, 404 media also reported that the city of Dayton, Ohio has covered its flock ALPR cameras with black trash bags because police there are unsure whether the
cameras are still active. And the city also doesn't seem to know whether it is allowed to take the cameras on lease down. In several municipalities, Flock has delayed removal of its leased cameras and in some cases has kept the cameras turned on against the city's wishes. Evston, Illinois, which
interestingly has a population of around 80,000, just like Bethlehem, experienced this last fall and also elected to cover their cameras with trash bags. An Electronic Frontier Foundation analysis of millions of searches of ALPR data by police has uncovered a troubling
pattern. In the absence of a warrant requirement to search ALPR databases, law enforcement agencies have moved beyond specific investigations to use these surveillance networks for virtually any whim. Despite City Hall's refusal to release to me even redacted audit reports of the trove of data
you're collecting on your citizens with this technology, several thousand of your department searches are available for review because your officer searches frequently check systems across the country and end up in those departments released logs. You can visit have I been flocked.com and you'll find dozens of
Bethlehem Police Department searches run with the all too vague justification of investigation, invest, investigate, a spelling error, and several searches related to traffic infractions and littering. Is this is this the right solution? Is this what we should
reasonably expect to endure when we leave our homes? One possible explanation for this government's apparent complacency can be found in your data will be used against you. The latest book from author and George Washington University law
professor Andrew Guthrie Ferguson. Quote, much of the allore of smart surveillance is that it gives police chiefs a way to answer an otherwise unanswerable question. What are you going to do about crime? The truth is that many procaral forces in society would rather prevent short-term property
losses than invest via tax or charitable contributions in long-term structural solutions to poverty and therefore crime. It gets worse. Wired last week reported that the FBI director of directorate of intelligence has begun to publish procurement documents to find a vendor
or vendors that can provide national access to near realtime access to US license plate readers. Any guesses at who the favorite vendor might be for this project? After all, the Department of Homeland Security has been beta testing similar
surveillance capabilities on v vulnerable populations for some time. Its work with Palunteer is well documented. They're synthesizing financial, geographic, and biometric data to follow and arrest immigrants for torture and subsequent deportation. Many of us are privileged with respect to
surveillance because our existence isn't criminalized right now. Supporters of this technology say that if you're innocent, what do you have to hide? But to quote Ferguson again, what is being innocent? The moment the state decides that something you did is a crime and you are now the criminal, suddenly you may not feel so safe under the watchful
eye of a multi-billion dollar industry mediated by a government that may or may not be democratically elected. With these threats looming, with artificial intelligence IPOs on the horizon, with AI infrastructure becoming an ever more salient issue for local leaders, it's clear that we're approaching a tipping
point at which government bodies can no longer refuse to act. This project cost around $85,000 per year in grant funding. The invoice dated May 2024 is certainly coming to expire soon. Um, and it's about time to assess this
unfortunate experiment. know that you're not alone. That other municipalities like yours are rethinking their relationships. Ithaca, Bloomington, Indiana, Mountain View, California, the home to Google, is also reassessing. I hope you'll do the same. >> Thank you very much, Alex.
The next person I have signed up to speak is Diana Rodriguez. Hello, my name is uh Diana Rodriguez. Um I'm here today um to talk about growth, specifically the kind that gives back very little compared to what it demands
in return. And this kind of growth is actually moving faster than our ability to regulate it and is all it forms uh profit-driven overdevelopment warehouses and now data centers. They all have one
thing in common. It is hungry and it is hungry for our natural resources, our green spaces, our water, our tree canopy. And unless we set clear legal boundaries, we too will be consumed by this growth. So today,
I urge the city council to make a list of the natural resources you are not willing to sacrifice any longer for short-term economic incentive. No matter how strong the pressure is, I know it's very strong. And please make ordinances
to protect these resources. And I know we all become very fussy when it comes to regulated in private property. But regulating what people do in private property is not a foreign concept to Bethlehem. Pursuant to the optional thirdass city shutter law, we regulate
what people do in their properties all the time. We tell them how high their buildings can be, how close to other sins that serve bags, their buffers. And we do this not because we have a problem with private property, because we understand that with our legal boundaries, a person's unlimited freedom
becomes another person's laws. So I don't know why when it becomes to natural fissures, we don't feel like we can have the same level of regulation for the safety, the welfare, and the health of this population. And I'm just making the examples of trees here
because they're dear to my heart and also we can all relate. We see them all the time. But I think we're giving it way too much for the little we're getting in return. According to the American Forestry Equity Score Analysis, Bethlehem's existing tree canopy
provides 1.79 millions in annual ecosystem services. It prevents 29.5 millions gallons of storm water runoff every year and it removes the pollution equivalent of 3,88 cars per year which we desperately need
in an area which is among the worst air quality and asthma rates in the US. So the regulation of these natural fissures is not just about keeping a nice cute landscape. This is about saving millions of dollars in infrastructure and protecting public health. We already
know what happens when we don't regulate. All you have to do is look at the southside. We already know, we learned from the climate action plan that that is the hottest, most polluted, higher asthma rates for our children in this city. And then after all of that, this is now a pattern that is spreading
all through Bethlehem. It's already on the west side. And then we also made room for warehouses. And what's coming now? Data centers. We need to have regulations. It's coming. Please, let's protect what we have there. Let's don't take it for granted. And yes, the
pressures is real. We do need housing. We need tax incentive. And a lot of this growth comes with a lot of promises. But they also come with a lot of demands. All of this overdevelopment in all of its forms. requires more firefighters, more police,
more water and electricity consumption, higher utility bills, a less affordable hour life for this population, more pollution, more sick people, more medical bills, and at the end to pay for all of it. How do we pay for it? Now, we need more tax money to be able to pay
for more. And how do we do that? We keep inviting more of the same. How long can we keep up with this cycle for? So, yes, it's a difficult task. is a task for brave people. But we already have cities like Lancaster and Westchester who already enacted
meaningful tree ordinances. We have cities right here in the Lehigh Valley already working in ordinances to protect natural fissures from data centers. And when they come to us, we need to be ready. You know, it's just a matter of time and they're going to put a lot of
pressures in all of you. your job is extremely difficult and if we have legal boundaries in place, we're going to be able to protect what really matters for us to stay here long term. Thank you so much. >> Thank you, Diana.
>> The last person I have to to sign up before I open it up to the general is Harry Faber. Hello, Harry Faber, uh, 321 Georgia Avenue. Firstly, I would like to state how deeply I miss the mayor, Slick Willie. It's been far too long since
I've seen him present at a public comment. Secondly, I would like to commend the speakers who uh went before me, specifically Alex Miller. Thank you for bringing forward such an important issue. Security and surveillance for the wealthy should never come before the freedom and liberty of the working
class. AI is not being used to cure diseases or help distribute necessities to the masses. It's being used for military violence, hyper surveillance, and propaganda. Also, Diana, that was terrific. Thank you. Uh, next, I would like to share with you what is known as the parable of the river. One day, a
group of villagers was working in the fields by a river. Suddenly, someone noticed a baby floating downstream. A woman rushed out and rescued the baby, brought it to shore, and cared for it. During the next several days, more babies were found floating downstream. Soon the whole village was involved in
in the many tasks of rescuing work, pulling these poor children out of the stream, ensuring they were properly fed, clothed, and housed and integrating them into the life of the village. While not all the babies, now very numerous, could be saved. The
villagers felt they were doing well to save as many as they did. Before long, however, the village became exhausted with all this rescue work. Some villagers suggested they go upstream to discover how all these babies were getting into the river in the first place. Had a mysterious illness stricken
these poor children? Had the shoreline been made unsafe by an earthquake? Was some hateful person throwing them in deliberately? Was an even more exhausted village upstream abandoning them out of hopelessness? A huge controversy erupted in the
village. One group argued that every possible hand was needed to save the babies since they were barely keeping up with the current flow. The other group argued that if they found out how these babies were getting into the water further upstream, they could repair the situation up there, that would save all
the babies and eliminate the need for the costly rescue operations downstream. Don't you see? Someone cried. If we find out how they're getting in the river, we can stop the problem and no babies will drown. By going upstream, we can eliminate the
cause of the problem. But it's too risky, said the village elders. It might fail. It's not for us to change the system. And besides, how would we occupy ourselves if we no longer had to do this? What does going upstream look like in
this context? It means looking at the systems of private property, more specifically private ownership over the means of production, the profit motive, the growth imperative, increasing wealth inequality, and the dismantling of welfare, also known as
structural adjustment policies, the systems known as capitalism, colonialism, imperialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy. Uh, I want to tell a joke really quick. Uh I've been inspired by uh the man behind me, you know, let's bring some
humor in. I am getting a masters in economics right now. It's called Degrowth Ecology, Economics, and Policy. And there's this fun joke that I've learned. Two economists are walking in the woods. Economist A and economist B. Economist A sees a pile of dog poop on
the ground and says to economist B, "I'll pay you a $100 if you eat that dog poop." Economist B says, "Hell yeah, I'll take a hundred bucks. I'll eat it." He eats the dog poop. They keep on walking. Economist B spots some more dog poop on the ground and says to economist
A, "I'll pay you $100 if you eat that said dog poop." Economist A obliges. He takes the $100 and eats the dog poop. Now, if both economists do their taxes properly, GDP went up $200 and all the economists did was eat dog poop.
Let that sit in the policies that we use, the measurements that we use such as GDP grow GDP growth impact the things that we are doing and moving towards in society. If we are trying to focus on growing GDP, what does that actually mean? It means we're just trying to
focus on shifting money from hand to hand. We're not targeting increasing the flourishing of human life. We're not targeting the just welfare or quality of life. It doesn't do any of that. GDP growth does not have any real correlation with
quality of life improvement. It doesn't have any correlation with distributing the means of subsistence to the most marginalized and needy in society. And uh yeah, I'm going to save the rest for my next comment. Thank you, >> Mr. Faber. I'm just going to take a
moment to remind you that pursuant to rule 3D, council rule 3D, public comment is not to be extended for personal insults, name calling. Yes, >> that is the >> welcome to com. Yeah, welcome to comment on his absence >> just just for future.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah, >> no problem. You're an old pro at this. We'll keep we'll keep going at it. Um so that was everyone who signed up. Uh but I will turn to the member or the community members in the room. So a reminder we're public comment on things
not being voted on this evening. Um everyone in the left has spoken. Does anyone in the broad center want to make public comment? So, I saw Bill Shire first and then I'll I'll go back row by row. >> Bill Shire, 1898 Avenue.
Um, I'm going to follow Harry's parable with an imaginary conversation. It's uh between a citizen, we'll call him John Doe, uh well, maybe he might be dead. We'll call him Joe Blow. And his
mayor, we'll call him Mr. Mayor. Joe goes to the mayor's uh open door policy on the first Mondays of the month from 9 to 9:05 in the morning and says, "Mr. Mayor, I have a question
about this bill I got from the city repeatedly." says on here, um, quarterly storm water user fee $15. That's $60 a year. Uh, Mr. Mayor, could
you educate me as to the nature how this comes about? Well, Joe, and I can call you Joe. We've been friends for a long time. He says, "Joe, um, when it rains, a water falls down
and, uh, some gets absorbed by your property, but some runs off of your property into the gutters, and we have to do something otherwise there would be be flooding in low-lying areas." And so, we have to build and maintain the storm
drains and maybe treat the water a bit. And so that's that's why we have this fee. Um well, Mr. Mayor, as an economist, I'm used to the term
user fee, but it's usually a charge for something I have done. I haven't done anything. The water just comes down and runs away. I mean, now if I put a peel out and collected the water and then dumped it in the street, well, you could
say that was a user fee, but I haven't done anything. It just happens. Uh, well, Joe, um, that's true. I can't disagree with that. And he says, "Well, now look, look, Joe, we've been friends a long time. I'm going to tell you a few
things that got to be private. You understand?" And, uh, Joe says, "Okay, Mr. Mayor." The mayor says, "Now, Joe, stop calling me Mr. Mayor." Uh, so here's the thing, Joe.
If u you have to pay that fee because you own that property. And Joe says, "Yeah, okay. I own the property and I pay a property tax and uh but uh I haven't done anything. It just
happens." Well, uh Joe, that's true. So, but well, here I'm going to be honest with you, Joe. Uh, we can't call it a tax because people don't like taxes
and we so we call it a fee. By the way, this is part one of two. Um, that's why we have the sewer charge, the water charge, and the recycle charge.
Well, what you Well, Mr. R, it wouldn't have to be a new tax. Just fold it into the property tax. After all, it's happening be because I own property. And so, it's a tax on my property really, isn't it, Mr. Bear? Well, yeah. Yeah,
Joe, I'm going to be honest with you. It is a tax because you own the property. And Joe says, "Well, so it's a tax on property but not a property tax." Uh, yeah. Well, Joe, I guess you could say that. Well, quickly, Mr. Mayor, because
we're running out of time. Um, why not fold it into the property tax? Well, Joe, there's something in Washington called you don't touch social security because it's the third rail of politics. Touch it and you're dead.
Oh, so in municipal finances and me remember this could happen anywhere in the country. You raise property taxes. You may not be dead but you would be wounded. Your opponent would say he raised property
taxes. Inefficiency spending things that money on things that aren't worth it. Throw the bum out. So that's why we can't put it into the property tax. But you have to raise property taxes every year for
rising salaries, things you might have to buy. Well, that's true, Joe. And so, what's next? Uh, street light fee, traffic light fee, paved road fee. >> We look forward to the part.
>> Yes, I'm almost done. >> All right. >> And I'm being succinct. >> Are you? Um well uh Joe, you're quite right. We could go on and on like that, but by then I'll be retired. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Sh.
>> Um the next hand I saw was Mr. Karatolla. Mr. Keratollah. >> Hi, I'm Marty Keratollah. 813 Ler Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. A while back, December of 2023,
I was written up by the press, encouraged by three members of city council and the mayor that I made anti-seatic statements. That killed my chances of ever being any kind of elected official.
The Jews totally hate me because I had the audacity to state that in Bethlehem we should live by the one rule
that Jesus Christ placed that we should be an example for everybody to cause the little ones not to sin. That was considered anti-semitic. Then I made some other jokes that were made by Adam Sandler. If you
check on the records, those jokes were made by a Jewish guy who says in one of his songs, "I'll punch out anybody who says anti-seatic statements because I made some of those jokes." I
was considered totally anti-semitic. So anyway, I heard that in some countries, if you make a statement that may insult the Jews, the Jewish race, in any way,
shape, or form, you will be fined and serve up to eight months in jail. When is this going to hit the United States? If it does, so much for freedom of speech. But if it does, we have the
right in the city of Bethlehem to oppose that law, any laws of this nature. But if it does, it should be applied to every race. The afroamericans, Hispanics, Italians, Germans, Irish, every race that makes
any people make any comments against any race at all, not just the Jewish race. Heck, my books have been pulled off the library shelf because the person who's the director is Jewish.
I can't be written up positively into the newspapers because in the morning call that's owned by Jewish people. The heads of Arts Quest are Jewish. You
try to tell me that we don't have kings and queens in Allentown, Betham, and East that are Jewish. We protested no kings. What's wrong with this picture? It should be applied to every race,
even the people from Iran. We are given so much propaganda that they're evil. If they were evil, they would be putting bombs in every waste paper basket in every major building in New York City
and blow up the whole city. They're not evil. We're led to believe just like we're led to believe that we should kill mice if they're in our house. I get humane traps and I'll bring them out in the wilderness. And if they're too
small, I'll raise them. And I have in cages. Not cages, actually. They're hamster critter castles that I paid over $100 for three of them. Each one over $100. And I'm raising those. I raise
those little guys. They're like my family. Thing is the Jewish people are, you know, I want to make a statement. Now, I want to say I'm not saying this. This was quoted by Adolf Hitler. The Jews are
very intelligent and they know how to control people and make them work for them. They know how to make small businesses grow into large corporations. They can control and make money and are extremely dangerous to the safety and
well-being of Germany and the rest of the world. Well, if the Jewish people have the gift, and they do, of knowledge and wisdom that God gave them, the most if you want to win a case, you
get a Jewish attorney. You want to get proper surgery done, you get a Jewish surgeon. >> I honestly, it's free speech and I really wish I could. I completely genu it it's I have consulted with an at I've paused your time and I'm not speaking to
you right now. >> I I promise you this is a very difficult thing. >> You got to get closer to the mic. I can't hear you. >> I'm not talking to you so it's okay. >> Oh, >> it is it's just it is very difficult. >> But because of the nature I do have to allow it.
>> Don't leave. I have to say if you want proper peace in the world, you need to have Jewish attorneys guide the leaders in Israel to negotiate with their brothers and sisters in the Middle East.
>> Thank you, Mr. >> So there is peace in the world and unity. I thank you for interrupting me. God bless you. >> God bless you. Does anyone else in the broad center want to make public comment?
I saw your hand. I You were first on the rose back. So >> Terry, Terry, would you mind coming up? Do you mind coming up, Terry? >> I saw Terry. Steve. >> Yeah. Uh, two meetings ago, I guess it was, we were here and I brought a
petition in. Thank you very much. Two weeks two the sorry, two weeks ago. Anyway, either way, I brought a petition in with 75% of our neighborhood signed this petition to have possible speed bumps, look at the speed limits, um, blinking stop signs at our
intersections. And within two days, thank you again, there was a speed limit, a blinking speed sign put up. It has slowed the traffic down tremendously on our street. I hope it stays there forever because I know if they take it down, people forget about it and just go
again. But it's really been nice. Um I do want to emphasize that we're still waiting on the blinking stop signs and hopefully we'll get those. Um, and also I saw a post on Facebook where Bethlehem police I believe put the post in about
the uh speed limit, the speed sign being put up and all the comments that came back. But they did say in there that we did it the right way. So I encourage all these people who say put one up on my street, put one up on my street, get out there, talk to your people, get backing
behind you and then present it. I mean look what happened to us within two days we had it. So thank you. Thank you, Terry. Mr. Antalix Stephen Antalic, Senator Senator, this is becoming a very interesting evening.
I'm glad I came uh for something real. The city of Bethlehem's periodic publication entitled summer spring 2026 which is free mailed to me announced on
page 10 to Linda Street two-way conversion. This needs to be examined very carefully since the article does not mention a center street project of equal magnitude.
According to the article, during World War II, daily traffic to and from the Bethlehem steel plants needed to be expedited. Consequently, the changing of Lynen and Center Streets into oneway pattern.
Current traffic on a two-way portion of southbound Center Street as it approaches Elizabeth Avenue must turn left or right since Center Street becomes one way to this approaching
traffic. The most logical choice is a left turn to Lynon since it is one way and favorably in and favorably in their direction. A right turn in Lynon then to New or
Main Street would be the other choice. But they are both two-way and both have very busy intersections with Broad Street. Hence Lynen Street becomes the popular choice. Here's the key. What happens when Lynn
becomes two-way? Drivers heading drivers headaches begin and immediately begin to multiply because of the highspeed re retail presence on the west side of Lynon. Many drivers who currently double
park to pick up parcels will force traffic to halt since passing the double parked car would be prevented by oncoming traffic. Do you get get the point? G Street
eastbound from Lynen becomes Penrook Road, a busy order to Stefco Boulevard and the Mississippi Trail Bridge. Traffic southbound Lynon wishing to make a left turn onto gap during the green light can a difficult time because of
oncoming traffic. Just consider that the major headache that will become Lindon street if it's becomes two-way. The problem with the present plan may become clearer if one asks themselves
this question. If the initial changes were done as a pair, why is not the current solution also done as a pair? That's simple logic. In other words, includes center street
along with Lyndon. What does that do? Traffic which is now southbound on Center Street would not re be required to make a left or right hand turn at Elizabeth Avenue as they do now but continue straight
onto center directly to the FA bridge. What a what a marvelous idea. Doesn't it just sound marvelous who dropped the ball? and city council is complicit in a sense
that they seem to have missed this and approved the changing of Lynen without addressing or looking at the problem on Center Street. So, well, let's hope people are more
responsible to the citizens. >> Thank you, Mr. Antalix. Um, the last Yes, sir. Uh, Michael Pipstone. I live at 11:30 West Market Street in Bethlehem. Uh, I'll start by apologizing for speaking out of turn before. Uh, I'm willing to
forfeit some time on the clock um for my outburst. Um, I will, if it is my time to speak, um, just note that I'm a medical physician. Um, and I think there's only one race and it's the human race. Um and uh I would request that the
council consider with its council um the possibility that allowing people to come up and spout Nazi propaganda while being recorded on YouTube is tantamount to amplifying that message. Uh so but that is council's prerogative to review and I
would just hope that we might do better. Um to speak on things that I'm thankful for and try to change and shift the direction of my comments. Um I want to say that I very much appreciate uh the speakers
from my little section over here that I heard as I came in late. Um, I'm very thankful that council and the um architecture and the systems within our city have changed the orientation of stop signs at I believe um 12th and
market have so far improved the safety of that intersection in my neighborhood. Um I want to lift up my um neighborhood bakery from Leno um at about 7th and Spring. Um this is a womanowned bakery
where she's operating out of the um sort of basement level of a home. Um she provides a living wage to her workers um by selling unique baked good to the community in addition to um takeaway items like loaves of bread and buns um
that people can can walk home with, not just fancy pastries and coffee. That kind of store, I think, is what we should be promoting in our community. It's owned by the community. It's a benefit to the community. It lives in
this community. We don't need data centers to be sustainable. We don't need to have private equity come in and buy up all of our homes to give people a nice place to live. I very much appreciate what the last gentleman in the um pre-arranged
speaking had said that GDP does not make improved quality of life. I see that every day in my clinic where every other patient that I see has trauma from the effects of poverty and systemic inequities that damage their
relationships to their neighbors and their family such that people are hurting each other because they are so desperate. I know we can do better and I've seen better happen and I very much hope to participate with you all in that process
and again my thanks for the support that you've given us to improve our community in the ways that you have. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Does anyone else in the broad center want to make public comment? Sir.
>> Hi. Hi. My name isWami and I have a list of questions to ask. Number one, what made you want to run for city council? Oh, I'm I'm going to put a pin in this. Is Is this for a boy scouts? Is this Yes. Um last week I'm
I'm sorry. We're Time out from public comment. Yeah. If if if you can wait till after, I'm more than happy to answer all the questions for his badge. Just uh wait till after and we'll we'll do all that. Yeah. Yeah. No worries at all. Thank you for coming. Call me. I appreciate it. >> I know. I know. I know. It's really
great. >> Hey, what a what a soothing bomb, right? What a soothing bomb. Thank you, Michael. Thank you. Call me because sometimes we need that in the world that we're currently living in, aren't don't we? Um, anyone else in the broad center want to make public comment?
Anyone to the right want to make public comment? All right, that's going to conclude public comment on things not being voted on. We're going to move on to public comment on things being voted on. So, any ordinances or resolutions being voted on this evening? The only person I have signed up right now is Mr.
Faber. Thank you. Uh, I brought up the parable of the river earlier in relation to the proposed drug task force. There's an incredibly long history of police departments and so-called elite task force doing the opposite of their intended purpose. One can look at the
Miami River Cops of the 1980s. The Miami Police Department formed an elite unit to combat the massive influx of cocaine, only for the unit to become a crime syndicate. Members routinely intercept drug shipments, stole the narcotics and cash, and resold the cocaine themselves.
19 officers were ultimately convicted of crimes ranging from raketeering to murder. Another example is the Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force of the 2010s. Originally hailed as an elite squad targeting illegal guns and drugs, the
GTTF was exposed as a racketeering ring that operated similarly to a street gang. Its officers frequently planted drugs and firearms, robbed drug dealers, and stole the stolen narcotics back onto the or sold the stolen narcotics back
onto the streets of Baltimore. Eight officers were convicted, forcing local prosecutors to dismiss thousands of cases. The list goes on. This is not even including the mountains of evidence showing how the policing and prison industrial systems are really just a
means of reinstituting slavery and forced labor into the US economy. The damage done to black and brown bodies and communities by the quote unquote war on drugs initiated during Nixon's administration is so horrific,
immeasurable, and unquantifiable. words cannot do justice to the pain and suffering caused by those racist and violent policies. If you are interested in any resources to learn more about this history, I think a great place to start is the documentary 13th on Netflix. Uh but I also think Angela
Davis's Are Prisons Obsolete is another phenomenal resource. As of 2019, according to the Vera Institute of Justice in Northampton County, black people are incarcerated at 5.82 times the rate of white people. Black people are also living in poverty at a 2.66
times the rate of white people. The Latin X people in this county are incarcerated at 2.41 times the rate of white people and are living in poverty at 2.24 times the rate of white people. The intention and purpose of these laws and task forces is to appear on the
surface as fair and neutral while simultaneously targeting the BIPAC communities. The carc carceral system as we know it is used to maintain the white supremacist, colonialist and imperialist status quo. This task force, it is my
hypothesis, will be no different. In the resolution, it says, quote, "It is the goal of the Northampton County Drug Task Force to establish highly responsive and well-trained drug investigators who will be utilized throughout Northampton County to respond
to the general drug law enforcement needs of the county." End quote. I ask, what are the general law enforcement needs of the county? What measures will be taken or have been considered to ensure this task force will not disproportionately target police and
imprison black and brown bodies? Will this task force be going to the local universities like Lehi where there is a surplus of illegal drugs and illegal drug usage? Trust me, I would know. I was a bouncer on at Molly's. I was a bouncer for OBT. I was a bouncer and
barbec uh some other local bars where which were frequent of the Lehi and Moravian College campus communities. Uh probably not. They probably will not be targeted there because again it's about imprisoning and removing the quote unquote undesirabs.
You cannot in good conscience approve this resolution. The only thing this task force will accomplish is disabling the lives of our most marginalized. Vote no. Thank you. Does anyone else want to make public comment on something being voted on this
evening? Turning to the center. Does anyone in the center want to make public comment on something being voted on this evening? And to the right, does anyone want to make public Okay. All right. Thank you so much. We're going to move on uh with our our agenda. Moving on to
old business. Do any council members have old business that they would like to address? New business. Do any council members have new business that they would like to address? >> You had old business. >> I I'm going to be clear of the old business. So that's not speaking on
things from the last meeting that we did. >> Not things that we voted on, but if there's something that that wasn't addressed that needed to be addressed, like it's something that if I had brought up like I would like to see water in the parks and I saw water in the parks, then it's like, oh, that's something that was previously addressed. >> All right. That's what's voted on tonight.
>> Okay. Yeah, then that'll stay for there. Okay. Um, so moving on to new business. Does any council member have any new business that they would like to address? Starting with Councilman Quitech. >> Thank you. Um, Mr. Alol, um, I'd love to talk more about 10th Avenue if you don't mind coming to a mic.
>> Um, I uh, thank you for coming. Um, you were one of the mayor the neighbors that I didn't get to meet the night that I um, did stop by on 10th Avenue. I spoke to a couple of folks um in some of your responses to us. You indicated um that
you know you you believe that the the damage um existed already and now we're learning that there's an engineers letter that uh you know allowed the allowed the the mortgage to be uh to go
through. um in terms of the the residents who are here tonight and uh I'm just concerned I I know that um UGI does fund some of the the you know the um street overlay work that comes as a
consequence of their work. So, I'm just wondering, you know, quite a few neighbors have told me that UGI and their subcontractor made these representations that this would be taken
care of. And is it possible that UGI and their and their subcontractors were thinking it would be taken care of in the context of the street overlay project? And that's basically
>> they wouldn't they would not be um curb work would not be included with the cost sharing agreements that we have with UGI is the curb ramps would be but not uh budding property curbs. They're
not anticipated to be impacted by their work. And if they're impacted by their work, they're supposed to make it whole and repair those curves. If they made promises to the residences, we would help the residents pursue UGI to make
good on their promises. Um, we have reached out to UGI to ask them what, you know, to to to investigate whether they did impact any or or some of the curbing in that area for some of those properties and and if they've made
promises to make restorations so that we can pursue that. I'll have to check to where we are and what the response has been from UGI, if any has been received to date. I know we reached out to them and we sent them a in writing a request
to answer us. If the residents have any communication with them to that effect, we would love to have it so that we can pursue it. >> It looks like there could be a um a text message. So, we'll make sure that that information gets to you as well. >> It would allow us to obviously validate
the claims and insist that UGI follow through. >> Thank you. That was that was my main question was really um you know what kind of conversations might be taking place with UGI. So I appreciate your um response to that and um and we'll just
keep keep in touch with us about it please. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Mike stay here for a minute. >> Uh wait wait wait hold on. Did you have any other questions? She has the floor. So before we move on >> chief isn't here so I'll follow up with
her um separately. >> Yeah. Uh, Deputy Chief Mike's here if you >> Oh, um, I I'm sorry. I don't see him. Oh. Oh, hi. Sorry. I was expecting you to be over there. Could you come to the mic for just a minute? >> Thanks. >> Hello. Thank you. Um I just wanted to
check in on the flock situation and I am curious about when our um contract is up and is you know what the process is in deciding whether or not to renew it. >> Uh it's up this year for renewal. >> Okay. What is >> the decision of to continue with it or
not? Um year by year it's about $41,000. It's in the budget book was approved last year as part of this year's budget. >> Right. Okay. Um when when this year do you know? >> Uh around July I believe. So that's >> soon. >> Soon. Okay.
>> All right. That was my only question. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Anything else? Council. >> Oh, I'm sorry. No, no problems. All right. All right. Starting at my left, Councilman Calhan. >> I unfortunately have about two meetings worth of stuff to bring up, so
buckle up. Um, Mr. talk real real quick. We um over the years UGI has done a lot of damage to our roads. Sometimes they went back and fixed it up. Sometimes they
didn't. And sometimes when they did fix it up, it wasn't to our standards, I think. You know, a lot of times it's, you know, the uh the risers weren't put in, you know, for the additional pavement. Um, so I just find it very difficult to believe that all these
curbs in the same area here got damaged at the same time. And it just it it just seems to me that um someone damaged and did all this damage. So, if you could just check into it and I know you already said to Miss Qu that you would
check into it, but I would just appreciate it if you know if you got back to us, you know, in the next month hopefully and that you can possibly contact whoever's contacting them and threatening them with fines or whatever, uh, you notified them through the
appropriate channels with Mr. Spur and tell them to back off because there's a an issue that's being investigated. I don't want them being pressured uh into feeling like they're going to get punished for not doing something that they might not be responsible for. That's all I'm asking. >> We've already spoken to staff to work
with the residents to try to address this issue. Unfortunately, and we've also explained this, there's certain boilerplate communications that we have to follow for enforcement purposes, but we've indicated a willingness to try to
accommodate as much as possible and try to work through this until in order to accomplish and what's prompting all this is a need to pave the road. Otherwise, we wouldn't be pursuing this matter in this at this time. Is it is it >> we also we we we
also are not saying that UGI didn't damage any curbing on 10th Avenue at all. uh the reference to the two the to 2019. We simply just looked at the aerial a street view of the aerial
um on Google uh for 2019 which predated any work by UGI on that street and it showed significant amount of deterioration for curving all along that street. Some may have additional damage may have
been may have occurred. Uh that was just to indicate that there was already some deficient curbing on that street. >> And the reason it wasn't pursued is because we weren't like we also explained, we don't proactively go after and and look for deficiencies and notify
residents to address them. We trust and rely on residents to make upkeep their curbing and their sidewalk in safe and and and good condition. We only get involved if we're doing a project that abuts that infrastructure. And if and only if it's absolutely necessary to
address that infrastructure prior to our projects being able to be completed or someone specifically complains about a specific property, then we have to get involved and try to resolve that issue per our per per our ordinance. That's basically it.
>> All right, Miss Collins, it can you let your department know? I I would assume it's your department that's sending out the letters. >> No, no, it's public works. >> Public works. >> Yes. >> All right. So >> sidewalk is public works, >> right? But the your department was the
one that was sending out the letters that they have to that they're being threatened >> by, you know, lawsuits or whatever. >> Send the boiler plate. >> Yeah. Just just tell everybody whoever's sending them out to calm down until the the issue is resolved, please. I mean,
I'd appreciate that. All right. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um, I'm not sure if the the the ladies here that was talking about the data centers. Um, if both solicitors could chime in on this. I I from what I understand, if the
state of Pennsylvania all and I'm against data centers coming in. They're the main reason why we're having these huge electricity uh pricing increases. And I'm I would never vote for a data center coming into the city of Betham.
But I also know that, and I hope both solicitors would correct me if I'm wrong, by state law, if the state allows a usage in the in the state, every city and burrow and township has to somewhere
allow that usage to be um put somewhere in their city. Is that correct? What I'll say is that they are specifically provided for in our zoning ordinance and permitted in the light industrial industrial and planned industrial districts. They are subject to the
requirements of those districts. There are massing requirements. There's um lot size requirements, setback requirements, and all of those things to control the impact.
But the we can't uh we can't make an ordinance to not allow them in the city. >> Generally you have to provide for um for uses and presently presently our
ordinance specifically provides for the use. >> Is it possible for us to come up with an ordinance to ban them in the city or would that be illegal? Mr. Ber you know also >> yeah
you have to provide for every lawful use >> somewhere >> somewhere >> somewhere in the city >> you can't outlaw apartments can't outlaw >> that that's what I thought it was I didn't I didn't want >> Are you the one that brought up
>> I I apologize I personally can tell you and assure you that if it ever something came to me I would never vote for a data center area but I also know that um it we can't stop it because it had it's a permitted use by the state then every by
law we have to allow it somewhere in the city whether we like it or not. So I just wanted to let you know that before you left. Um as far as Mr. Favor's concerned I I don't know where Mr. Reynolds is again
tonight. But I mean, this is uh this is um getting to the point where I don't know if we've ever had a mayor who misses more meetings. And I don't know if you can send a message is I don't know if he's if if if it's a health issue, I I
you know, I wish him well and I understand, but if it's not a health issue, you know, he needs to be here. I don't know why he would have ran for a second term if he doesn't want to show up to the meetings. But he's missing more meetings than he's attending. And I just wish you'd you know, I'm sure
he's going to find out tonight or tomorrow, but it it's getting to the point where I mean, he he he was criticizing some police officer for resigning, which he has the right to do. And I understand the frustration uh that
he has and in the police police department leadership has in training people and spending the money to train people and now he leaves. But you know it's it is their right to you know to go pursue some other type of of job and uh
he has a job and he he's not even showing up. >> I mean uh real quick I just want to point out not to detract from your point they are not mayors are not legally obligated. not detracting from your point, but I just want to make sure that mayors are not legally obligated to attend in this type of structure that we have. East's different,
>> right? But I also know that um I don't know if there's ever a mayor who's ever missing more meetings than Mayor Reynolds. >> Yeah. Not to not to dract from your point, I was just making sure that the legality >> I mean I I get we all go on vacations. We all have personal things, but it's like he's missing more than he's
attending. So I miss him, too. So anyways, um we had a fire event at the uh at the garage. Is there any new um I know it wasn't a fire, but it was Is there any new information on that
at the new Walnut Street garage? Uh no, no additional developments other than what we discussed uh in our phone call last Friday. So it was just gases. It I said it was >> there was a fire department response just correct. Thank you. Uh there was a fire
department response because of a concern of an an odor that was in the building. >> Right. >> And there's there's been no changes or developments since our phone conversation. >> Right. I I I never said it was a fire. I said specifically there wasn't a fire, but there was a fire event where they were uh the fire department had had to
go there because the the street was shut down for a while. Right. >> That's possible I wasn't there. >> So what was it again? I I just want to let everybody know here. So, there was an issue of an odor being uh um reported for numerous days and then the from the
businesses that are in those um storefront sidewalk businesses, somebody was complaining about an o an odor. So, we we went there to check out the odor and it was the odor was detected somewhere in we it wasn't a hazardous odor. It wasn't life-threatening.
Correct. >> That's correct. Right. But it was found it was somewhere in the the water sprinkler room where where where the the fire retardant system is. That is correct. Okay. Thank you. That's what I wanted to know. So just just to clarify
a couple points there though. Uh the representative maintenance representative from the parking authority was alerted to this issue somehow. I don't know how. out of an abundance of caution, they notified the fire department and requested that we come and analyze the area and make sure there was no hazard.
>> So that that's how the fire department received the call. Right. Right. That's all I can attest to. >> I appreciate that. I just wanted to make sure that everybody was was aware because in at our next meeting >> um there's going to be some people coming here to talk about their
sprinkler system. I've been asking for almost four months now for um to have a uh a subcommittee meeting um uh for our city clerk and the chairperson for that subcommittee has been putting it off,
putting it off, put it on off, putting it off and I think it's time especially after this next meeting coming up when I have some information going to be presented that we need to look into what's going on over there. I would suggest attending a parking authority >> public meeting. >> Yeah.
>> I I'm not sure what I I decision to do. It would be a vote. This is not a vote. I know what the perview is to bring it here. Go there and >> address it directly. That's >> I have I have >> I have I I went to the uh parking authority director and the solicitor and
I asked for some you know the the specs that the parking authority presented, right? And then I asked for the specs of what what what was built and what was installed completely different. And when I asked for that information, you know what they told me? Go file a right to
know request. That's what they told me. So I went and did it. Then they tried to charge me $750 a city councilman for the the the documents. And I told him, if you think you're going to charge a city councilman
that's looking into an issue, and I'll tell you what, and snaps, we're going to get into it in depth at the next meeting, but I don't want to go into it tonight, but the gist of it is you, all of us in here decided, hey, we're going to get our kitchen remodeled.
We asked in our quote, the parking authority asked in their quote for granite or quartz countertops and the contractor charged for quartz granite countertops and installed fl mica and we paid for the quartz flamica
I mean quartz granite. The piping was changed and it was never ever there was never any documentation from the contractor asking to change the specs to a cheaper piping made in China.
And this odor is coming from that room. Now I'm not I don't know what >> was that where it's from. Are you >> That was one of the areas that was investigated for a complaint. The riser room where the control valves are built. >> Yeah. So, I have some people coming at the next meeting that are going to speak on this that are experts in it. And we
have pictures of the of what was installed and what was and I have also the exact specs that were asked from the parking authority. It's it it wasn't we didn't ask for it. The parking authority asked for these specific specs. So, I don't want to get into because it's going to be a long drawn.
>> That's why I'm saying why is that coming here then? Why don't you take it to that meeting to that board >> because decision on that solicitor >> where they're stalling? They're stalling >> for what? >> That's what I like to know. >> Why would we Why would we pay why would
they pay for the higher quality piping and know that the higher quality piping wasn't installed and then wash it under the rug? That's I just want to I that's what I'm that's the only question. And
when I when I heard from the fire department that they were called into this room and it was the room where the sprinkler system is, it just raised, you know, cuz they know that I've been going the the firemen that reported it to me called me. I didn't even know there was
a vent over there. So that's why I'm bringing it up now because I'm asking Miss Quietitech if we could if we could have a a committee meeting. >> Yeah. I I yeah I'm just not sure why it happens here not >> well >> at that board that decision I'm not sure that they're going to
>> do any of it contract so I'm not sure >> why can't we have it here transparency here >> why what >> why can't we have transparency here >> I that's what I don't understand why are we hiding >> towards that but >> I prefer it here >> I prefer them to come here and answer
questions that all of us might have because after the next meeting I think it's going to be really clear from the documents that I had file a right to no request on. It's very clear that something's a miss. And I've all I want to do is ask the parking authority because some of their
properties, their uh structures are funded by city dollars with the backing of city dollars. Not all of them, but some of them. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Some. So, all I'm asking for I'm asking Miss >> Quiet. We weren't We didn't fund any of
their structures, though. Some of theirs are are backed by city bonds. Trust me. >> No, not Wness Street. >> Not years ago that we guaranteed there was no funding, right? >> Guaranteed that all the guarantees were released, right? Small amount,
>> but it's still under city council and in a city's purview. >> But it's not. And we've we've gone through that. We've we've discussed that >> the parking authority is a commonwealth agency. It is not a city agency. It's not a city department. And so they
contracted with the contractor individually for the construction of the parking garage and it is their contract to enforce. And if they don't want to take up the issue, if they're satisfied
with the construction of with the performance of the contract, the substantial performance of the contract, then that's within their purview. That does that does not extend to
the the power of council to investigate and to review matters does not extend to Commonwealth agencies. >> We uh the mayor appoints the director, council votes on them, the mayor appoints the board members and council
votes on them. So there is some oversight there. So, all I'm asking for is a public meeting just to review what's happened and get it out in the open. That's all I'm asking for is transparency. And I'm I'm asking for Miss Quiet to arrange with uh our city
clerk to have a committee meeting so we could find out and have these questions asked in an appropriate um uh forum with uh cameras and documentation. That's all I'm asking for. I don't want to go to a a parking authority meeting and be shut
down by them. Uh because the questions I why this happened the way it is is very suspicious to me. And I'm not saying um there's anything un unlawful going on. But it in other areas and other
cities things like that have turned out where people were on the take. uh somebody paid someone they asked for this specific piping, no substitutions and they were not given it and there was
never a form filled out by the contractor to change the spec which they were supposed to do and nothing was even looked into until I started digging into it and then I got the runaround and I've been asking four months now to have a committee meeting on it. So, I would ask
uh that Miss Quietitech um you know, let's have a meeting on it and let's bring the parking authority director in here and let's just ask some some plain questions, I think. And I I don't want to do it between the next two weeks because I want to wait till the next meeting when everything's presented to
everybody and we can all see what what exactly happened. That's all I'm saying. So, thank you. Anyways, um Miss K, you got a minute. M on the gateway project on the south
side, we're spent. If I'm wrong, just just help me. >> Sure. >> And uh correct me on this. How many units are going in in in the gateway? 100. It's >> a two-phase project. 120 units total. Twothirds of them are affordable and a third are market rate.
>> So there's 120 units. >> Correct. >> And how much is the total project? >> Uh you have it in front of you. >> I think I think it was 50 million. >> Sounds about right.
So, the land was given to us for free, correct? >> Yeah. Well, first I'll just clarify. The city is not building the gateway project. We are not putting out $50 million. So, it's a um the property was purchased by Lehigh Valley Industrial
Park. Um they they decided that they were interested in in addition to doing like the industrial type development they've done for a long time expanding their own mission looking at doing housing. They purchased this property in particular because it's near where the industrial park currently
exists where they've got a lot of um um you know interest in that general area. Uh and they also have experience with challenged sites obviously as they've worked with um sites that are on the former steel land that have had a lot of environmental challenges which is
similar to this site. So they purchased the property they put out um you know they were interested in finding a affordable housing developer to do the project. So they are donating the land itself. There's a nominal purchase
price. Uh there's a private developer. It's Penrose. They're a national um affordable housing developer who will be doing the project. Um we are supporting the project as you've probably seen in some of the materials that Sarah sent and that we've talked about previously.
Um, you know, we are committing from the city side both support and seeking out public grant dollars, um, support in like their LITC application for example, and then also a commitment contribution from the city that includes a combination of our annual entitlement,
our HUD home dollars, um, the LERA affordable housing dollars and some from the civic expense affordable housing account. And the total project cost is not on the city and it's you know it's a project that we're deeply involved in and we've been involved in for a very long time. But I just want to clarify
that um like nobody donated the land to us for example. >> Yeah. But but the land there's no charge on to Penrose for the land. In fact I you know if I'm wrong >> there is a purchase price associated but it's >> very very small. Right.
>> Yeah. Yeah. The LVIP has has done a lot to contribute to the project, >> but they also asked for and surprisingly got reszoning along 412 for for for those new warehouses along 412 that was reszoned. >> They did not get they did not get any
resoning. >> I'll look at it. I'm talking about the warehouses. >> Did city council see a resoning request? >> This is years ago years ago that they they were giving. So the the property along 412 there >> Yeah. Uh if you're heading towards
Helertown South on the left hand side, I thought that was zoned for just um uh not warehouses. It was it was zoned for like strip malls or whatever. >> No, it's always >> but All right. Well, I'll look it up. >> I'm not familiar with the reasoning of that property. >> So, anyways,
the land's basically for a very small amount of money. The first 60 units are going to be done first. The first 60 then 60. >> Correct. It's a two-phase project. >> All right. And how much money do we have right now for the first 60? >> How much money do we have?
>> Yeah. So it's 50 million total, right? >> Sure. >> Okay. So it's 25 million for the first 60. Is that correct? >> I I don't I don't recall exactly what the full the full development cost is for the first. >> We only have the Do we have enough money for the first?
>> It is fully funded. >> For the first 60 units >> for the first phase is fully funded. >> How about the second 60? >> It is not yet fully funded. How much are we lacking on that? >> I don't know what the current gap is. I'd have to talk with the developer about that. >> Can you get back to us on that? Is it
more than 10 million or or 15? >> Well, so so so both phases are intended to be funded in part by the low-income housing tax credits. So there's application processes associated with that. So they did receive an award for
the first phase of low-income housing tax credits in this past round, which is a really big deal. We haven't had one in the city of Bethlehem since 2013. Um, and I think there were only a few awarded in the region. So, we were really excited to get the the tax credit award. It's a 9% tax credit, which is
the most competitive um of the two options. So, you know, that amounts to about 16 to$18 million of the total project cost. So, for the second phase, Penrose is considering a capital stack that
would include either, you know, the full 9% low-income housing tax credit award. They may consider what's called a twinning deal where they go in for part of 9% credits and part in 4% credits. Um, that's something that they're still working out. Um, in either event, there
is still a gap that that will exist. Um, but so, you know, part of the analysis will be what other funding sources are available. So, we're considering, for example, obviously that the governor has put forward his housing action plan and is starting, you know, we're we're tracking very closely what kind of money
is being put behind that plan. Um, and what sort of programs are opening up at the state level that might help fill that gap and that, you know, those are the sorts of factors that will influence um what how the tax credit part of the deal might be structured and then what
other sources they might be looking for. >> Okay. So, >> so it's it's a it's a it's a dynamic formula, I guess, is what I would say. So, it's I I >> So, as of right now, we have the full funding for the first 60 units. We have the full funding for that.
>> And if you can just get back to me on letting me know how much how short are we on the >> on the other 25 million for the second 60 units, I appreciate. What I what would probably make more sense is to give you a couple like options and scenarios of how the capital stack could play out
>> based on these factors. >> So it's 50 units for for 50 million for 60 units, right? >> It No, it's I'm sorry. >> It's 50 million for 120 units.
>> That comes out to $416,000 a unit. >> Yeah. It's really expensive to do affordable housing. >> It is. It is. So why if Penrose specializes in affordable housing, why? I'm assuming that they're charging so much because they want the profit up
front. They're not going to keep the units in >> actually deferring their developers fee for the first phase. >> Well, I know that's part that's part again part of the how the capital stack sometimes works out depending on the project. >> I just think $416,000
a unit. And how much is the rent going to be on those on those uh affordable housing units? >> Um so there there's a um there's a diversity of rental like rental types along the spectrum. >> I'm talking on the not the market rate ones the affordable
>> but even Yeah. Sure. So even on the affordable side some of them are at like very low at 30% AMI other at 60% others are at 80%. I have not memorized. I honestly haven't memorized, but some of the lowest rents
at 400 very low. They they would be about >> for $46,000 $400. >> Okay. >> So, but I I I mean, I will say, >> you know, the numbers that we're seeing are obviously high, but they're consistent across the board. And there are a number of factors that contribute to affordable housing development being
so high, including that it's really difficult to do these sorts of projects without public funding. And if you're using public funding, you're automatically triggering either prevailing w prevailing wage or Davis bacon, which jacks up costs significantly. If you're using federal dollars, which they are in this case,
and most do for home dollars. Um the HUD requirements about around Baba, the Build America by America um legislation also increase construction construction cost significantly. very well-meaning, but you have to source all of your steel, all of your iron, all of your
development, like basically everything, wood, any like any any products um for the I mean, not any, but most expensive. >> Most of what goes into a project like that has to be um sourced in the United States, which often brings higher cost.
Um and just >> No, I agree with I'm not trying to play play guy. I I'm just trying to zero in on all the numbers. Yeah. >> The reason why I do this because it's very expensive to do housing in this day and age. >> It is. I agree. >> It is. And um so my my my second So I
think it's fair to say that affordable housing is a very important thing to you and the mayor's administration and all of us on city council. We've all talked about affordable housing for a long time and and housing in general, right? So, I had sent last week uh an article out to
everybody, which I I sent it to everybody on council, but I asked our city clerk to send it out to the mayor and yourself and administration. I didn't I was just sending it out for an informative purpose and then I got your first response back, you know, kind of
like which I felt was like a little bit of an attack, you know, like on on the article, you know, but all I was trying to say is >> no, I thought it was a very well-ritten article. I think I think it was summarizing in a really good way a lot of the things that we've talked about for a long time and that was the point I was making. >> Right. So, and I'm I appreciate you
saying that information because I actually did sit down and I think I I've talked to uh President Leon and I think we all agree that we'd like to have a sub a committee meeting to go over this. You know, I appreciate that you want to
go out and show and talk to the public about it, but that's not it's not our job to go out to those meetings. It's your your job as administration to come in here and and I think if it's such an important policy of and uh and program within your own administration, I think
it's really important that probably maybe once a year minimum, you know, you guys come in and give us an update on it. And so that's that's one of the things >> and we've never turned down a request to come to a meeting in front of council and in fact then ultimately we requested that this >> Yeah. So I will interject here as it was
a conversation that was had uh it was Sarah's idea. I thought it was a great idea. I've had other conversations with other council members in the spirit of the the fair hearing that's coming up. It it is a priority for everyone. um having an annual or bianual meeting uh regarding any affordable housing updates
um is a reasonable request and I feel like it is something that we are going to do as a council going forward. So >> yeah, I I just felt and and if you didn't if this wasn't your intent, I I apologize, but I felt like it was a little dismissive of of of my questions
and also of my sending out the the the article to everybody just as an informative piece. Uh, and then after you replied, I replied back to you and then I you pawned it off on Miss Satulo to get back to me. So I I I you don't
have to respect me. I don't have to respect you, but I respect your position. I would hope that you would respect my position as a council member to ask questions. That's all. So the the the if the if >> I appreciate you sending the article. I do think it's a very good article and I made my point that I I I thought the
article laid out pretty clearly things that we talk about routinely. I think that are in the plan itself. We talk about housing production a lot. A lot of what we're doing is related to housing production and I I appreciate you saying that the community meetings matter. I they really do and a number of council
members do come and and and participate in them. Um I've never seen you at any of our housing related meetings ever. Well, I would prefer they they be done here on record in front of the people so we have transparency. You know, >> we also we we post the meetings as well.
We post the meeting materials. So to suggest that we're somehow not transparent andor not providing information is just it's just flat wrong. >> No, I I just think it's important that your presentations are done here also and not just out in the public. I think we can agree. I I think we can agree on that point that the community meetings
are important and they are recorded and available and that council would like to see meetings here as well. We can move on from that. >> I I'd agree with that. I'd agree with that. Thank you. So, we the the Wish Street garage project,
right? How many units is that? >> I believe it's 107. >> And how many Now, that was our land city land. >> What's Councilman Callahan? I just wonder how many points you're going to go through because if this is better for the housing meeting then we should have this discussion during >> the problem with the housing meeting
it's not going to be until October maybe. So I I doubt that >> I I need a couple minutes. That's all >> you've you've had a couple but >> I know but but there's no time limit on either. >> No, there isn't. I'm asking politely just to so I can open up to the council members. >> Yeah. So anyways,
how many units are going in the the Wii garage? >> We are doing that now. >> Yeah. So how many units are going in the Wii garage? I believe it's 107 >> and that was our land, right? It's >> not our land. It was by the parking authority. >> Parking authority, right? But we had this >> I believe we've talked about that there's a difference between the parking
authority and the city just starting point. >> How many unit affordable housing units are going in there? >> I believe it's currently planned as fully market rate. >> Fully market rate, isn't it? Why would Why wouldn't we want to have some affordable housing units in if it's such an important uh policy of yours? Why
wouldn't we? I mean, the mayor controls the parking authority. he appoints the park and authority director and all the board members. Why wouldn't we, if it's such an important thing, why wouldn't we put affordable housing in there? >> Yeah. So, I will say one of the other things that we're working on right now, which we've talked about as well, is
putting together a revolving loan fund. We're doing a lot of work with the Center for Public Enterprise, looking at our market and the incentives that would be required to really make one of these projects pencil because, as you pointed out, it is extremely expensive to build affordable housing units. So just
putting a mandate that affordable housing units be built doesn't necessarily make a lot of sense. It would be cost prohibitive in most instances to do so without a combination of supports. The gateway project is one example that
I just talked through the comp the complexity of the capital stack. So, we're looking at how you pair a variety of different incentives like funding sources, you know, revolving loan fund, for example, that would would work to make
it feasible to actually build the units. A lot of the work that we're doing. >> Yeah. I don't want to take much time. I I have some things I want to go over. So, anyways. >> Okay. So, you asked the question, but I'm not allowed to answer it. >> Well, I >> I'm just I'm just understand how this is supposed to work. You can go as long as you want as long as I'm not being timed
anymore by you know by by here because I I have some things you had sent to me your link to the um opening doors. I watched it in detail and took notes. I want to go over a couple things. Sure.
>> A year and a half ago you you had stated that we're city of Bethl alone is a thousand units short deficient. Right. Right. in in rental units. Correct. >> Go ahead. >> Good. In the link you just sent me, now
you're saying we're 1300 units short. Correct. >> That's what was stated in the link. 1300 units. That's >> in the l the plan link. >> The link that you sent to me of you and Sarah talking in public. >> Where's the So the
>> we're third this this was the the wording. We're currently in the city of Betham is currently third deficient 1,300 rental units. That's that's in the >> we'll have to double check when you're citing. >> Okay. And if if you're citing, for
example, when we completed the opening doors plan in 2023 and the data that we had in the MVA, we may have subsequently cited the data that is coming out of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission where their housing production tool looks by municipality and has both current
deficiency and deficiency out to 2050. I will be honest, I don't remember the exact numbers from 2023. >> I'll find the exact time so you can look at it in in in the video you sent me of your presentation. You guys stated, 1300 units. That's what you guys stated.
>> Yeah. >> So >> that may be the program that may be the more recent Lehigh Valley Planning Commission number. >> Yeah. So that that means we're 300 more in the whole than we were a year and a half ago. And I would I would be an educated
I think it'd be an educated uh um opinion to say that we don't how many units do we have right now uh in the last three years since the opening doors out of the ad how many ADUs we have? One now there's one ADU
>> one pilot ADU. >> Yeah, there's one. How many do you project in the next three years to be online up and running? So there's both the ADUs that are coming out of the partnership with Lehigh University and Community Action and New Bethany.
>> I'm just looking for a number. >> There's two different numbers. So I'm just explaining what they are. So the units that are coming out of that program specifically, I believe that their grant is funding between three and five. Three and five units. >> We are also point number two. We are
also working on a zoning text amendment update that would open the zoning and allow for individual property owners to have more flexibility to build ADUs themselves. So those wouldn't be funded with our dollars necessarily, although we might build some incentive packages
associated with those, but those would be ones that would be funded separately by property owners by opening zoning to more readily allow for ADUs, >> right? which which I I think >> in our plan I believe we cited somewhere between 30 and 50 that may be possible.
>> Yeah. So we're up to grand total of 80 possibly and and that's still that that those numbers that you're talking about we have one right now in the last three years. I'm talking in the next three years before you guys are out of your administration. So what I'm what I'm
saying is this. I I applaud um your admin you and and the mayor's administration's uh pursuing these these programs. It's it's admirable, but I think it's it's pretty apparent uh that
they are not capable of addressing the monumental uh housing problem presented in the city right now. We're 13. We're we went up from 1,000 to,300 according to what you guys said in the video. From 1,000 units short to 1300. I'm assuming
we're probably going to in the next two years or year, year and a half, two years. We might even be be more because in the presentation you you sent these are all the points that that you guys said. You you and Mr. >> Make a couple points in response to that.
>> Hold on. So, the city has a five the the city has a $5 million community recovery fund and Miss Collins indicated that the city has no sustaining source of general fund affordable housing funding and they strive to stretch the five million. Was that the five million investment? Didn't
the city council didn't we uh vote on like $5 million going towards the >> That's what that is in reference to. >> Right. Correct. So, so council gave you five million. >> Yeah. A onetime allocation of $5 million. Yes. That's that's referring to. >> So then um I I've asked many times over
the last few few years uh the status and a discussion for with the owners of Martin Tower. Uh and I'm asking for an update again on it. Martin Tower is zoned for a thousand units. At one point there was discussion to put 1,600 units 6700 which the owner doesn't even want
to do anymore. So, right now they're zoned for a little over I think it's 10 1080 which could nearly solve the total current housing shortage in the city with one project. We got 50 acres over there sitting there growing growing
weeds on top of that if we gave them a lura and what is what's in and tell me because I'm not an expert in it. What what is Alerta for? Is it is it to help hard developed uh land or hard developed
properties to become uh real and and and to put them on the tax ro is that what alert I mean I'm just asking what the what the purpose of alerta is. So Alerta the state authorizes the LERA legislation local economic
revitalization tax abatement program and it one of the criteria like a fundamental uh threshold criteria is that an area or a property be designated as distressed I think that's the word that the yeah
distressed property right >> so yes there's criteria then within the statute for the types of properties that are meant >> and that property is is designated uh blighted, right? >> Didn't didn't the the RDA or uh >> RDA did they designated it under the
AHOOT, the affordable housing >> unit, >> right? >> Tax abatement. It's under a separate piece of authorizing legislation. But yes, the RDA did make that assessment. >> So, we have a property over there. It's the big We have no land. The city has no land to build on affordable housing.
Correct. At this point, >> am I allowed to go back and answer some of the other questions? >> No, I because I want to get I want to keep this moving. We can go over this, but I'm just asking a question though. We at at this point right now, we don't have any land. >> I mean, okay, really quick. No, no, wait. Wait, please. To be fair,
>> this discussion with you. >> Yeah. Well, no. To be fair, you're asking a complex question. >> You've asked me on other times not to bring certain things up. And I told you, I know, but I've told you. Okay. But at a certain point, this needs to be addressed. >> Yes. And you're addressing it now, but
you're not giving her the chance to answer questions. You're asking question. I'm asking Very simple. I'm asking a simple question, >> but the answers aren't simple, Brian, and you know that. >> I'm asking right now, very simply, uh, how many how many units I asked you how many units we've done already in ADUs?
One. >> You asked me how many units in ADUs, which is one strategy of 10 in the affordable housing plan, right? So, that's one point. And we also sent Sarah sent a link to a spreadsheet that includes every strategy and the number
of units that are planned for each of those strategies and the number of individuals and and and households assisted. >> Right? >> So if you would add to your 80 number, I would just go ahead and add the 120 gateway. I would add the 425 from the choice neighborhoods project at PM at
Penrook. I would add at least five units. >> When you proceed, when you see those >> still when are they going to get done? still talking. Brian, >> I know, but when are they going to get done? >> Let her finish her statement. Like, just just let her finish. >> You can't rattle off numbers and say they're going to be done in 10 years from now.
>> You've asked a question. >> Five to six units at the Western Gateway project. If you want to count as well in the homelessness space, bees is going to have 85 beds. Packer Avenue will have 11. We can talk about each of these projects in their timelines. Packer
Avenue, for example, we just interviewed with the firms to do design and engineering to get them started in the next couple of months. Construction by next year. Gateway shovel should be in the ground December of this year for the phase one. I will also point out just as
a general matter on construction that this is not a long timeline for building housing units. If you think about any market rate project, even the ones that you see currently under construction, 128 East Third Street, that project, I
think 2021 that got approval. The High Hotels project, originally a housing project, also 2021. Four to five years is average for any project, including ones that your brother builds. You could ask him how long it takes to build housing units. When he did 510 flats, he
announced that, I think, in 2014. and he didn't build it until 2018. This is how long construction takes. There's other projects that have received approvals up on Center Street. Uh sorry, Lynen. Um
what is that? Lynon and Buttown. That was a project that was approved before I arrived. I just saw that there's a uh backhoe up there finally, but I think that was approved 21 2022. This is the timeline for building units. >> Oh, okay. I will also add that so you
mentioned the number of units that were short. We are also there's continuing to be market rate production. So since 2018, I pulled some numbers. I had a feeling we were going to go here. Since 2018, our planning and zoning bureau has
approved 2,90 units. If you want to go back just to 2020, that number is about 1,800. You want to go back just to 2022. Since we started, 1,068 units have been submitted, approved, or under construction and built since that time. So, there's also market rate production
happening that is going into those unit counts. >> All right. So, there's there's as of right now. Okay. Tell me the units in the that will be breaking ground in the next three years. How many units do you think off the top? I'm not going to hold
you to it, but just an a rounded number. the units that are specifically affordable units coming out of the housing plan. I I would say certainly the 120 from the gateway project. I would say a portion of the Pemrook choice, at least the
first phase. I don't know what that phase will look like. We're still working through that with the housing authority and the developer. >> Just guess a number. >> If it's the numbers that you've just rattled off, I I added them. It's about 726 units. Yeah. So >> I will say all of Penrook Choice will
not be built in the next 3 years. >> That's what I was thinking. So let's subtract 120. So 600 and six units. >> So 120 at the gateway. Where else? 100. How how many at the >> Penrook? The Penrook number is smaller.
It is smaller than even half. >> It didn't even half. Okay. >> It it really it really depends on >> in the next three years. I'm just curious like >> the spreadsheet. You said >> what do you think? I sent this the spreadsheet has the total numbers. I haven't broken it out by the next three years. >> Quite frankly, I will just say I'm not
comfortable making >> 100. I will I'll prepare that number for our >> You think it'd be 100 >> 100 >> 100 units >> three years at least. Absolutely. >> 100. >> All right. >> At least >> where else?
>> Where else in the city? Oh, I >> again this is a committ >> Western Gateway will be completed in that time. >> How how many is that? >> Five to six units. >> Five or six. >> Yep. >> All right. So, if I add them all up, we'll probably at the top maybe four or 400 units. Okay. And they won't probably
be done for the next three years. I would assume in the next three years, an educated guess if we went from a,000 units a year ago to,300 units now, which is what you or Sarah said. I'm not sure which one. >> That's total units. That's not just affordable units built by or through the opening doors program. Then you would
add in those other numbers that I just mentioned which are >> market rate production that are >> my whole point in doing this is that we got a property the largest property over there that is already zoned for a thousand units. >> They could build a thousand units today
if they want to. >> Yes. But the numbers don't work and you know that. I know that. Everybody on council knows that the numbers don't work because of the property had to be uh remediated of a speesus had to be it had to be knocked down and then it was
it was uh designated as a blighted property. So Alerta to me the re and and it one thing I'll say about the mayor I never ever I always thought that he would always do what is right for the city and then I read a letter from the
one of the owners at the tower site Mr. Heric that details over maybe seven, eight pages of everything that happened between him and and the mayor. And I found out that the
mayor's pissed off at him because there was a threatened lawsuit years ago. Okay. And >> I feel like that's that's a sign of motive. >> It it No, it's not. No, it's not. >> Was it delinated in I don't I don't believe >> and and you know this too. I didn't see I read the letter, but I
>> Yeah, you read the letter. So, my point my point is this. >> We have 50 acres over there. It's the largest undeveloped land in the city of Bethleam for housing. >> It can hold it's already zoned for a thousand units. On top of that, how much money how much money do we have right
how much land do we have right now city have for affordable housing? Zero, right? >> Correct. We do not own any land that we're >> How much money do we have for affordable housing right now? >> We sent we sent you the spreadsheet. >> Zero.
>> 5 million. >> So we have zero land and zero money. Now we have a guy over here who's willing to do this project. 50 acres,000 units would be a we're we're nickel and diamond five here, eight there, which is good. I I understand it. But
>> the fact that we're not having excuse me >> having any affordable units in that project? No, no. I'm talking about unit because >> that's different math. >> Well, no. The 1300 units is not affordable housing. It's 1300 units total. Your number is 1300 total. This
would be a,000 units. And guess what? On top of the th,000 units, which would make a huge dent in our lack of of of of housing units in the city, they're willing to give $5 million of new revenue, brand new revenue that we don't
have. $5 million which could go to affordable housing. >> Could we use $5 million for affordable housing right now? >> We could use units. We could use >> Could we use That wasn't a question. Could we use $5 million for affordable housing?
>> That's my answer to your question is we could use built units. >> They're not doing that there because it it's not afford it's not affordable. You $416,000 at the gateway project. You just said it's not affordable. It's very expensive. This is not a a public
partnership. It's a private partnership. And and if if they got the >> publicly supported project if they get a public tax incentive, >> right? But they're given $5 million of money for affordable housing. How you and the mayor are not having a discussion with these developers over
there when we're 13,300 units short and we can knock a thousand. Now, if if they broke ground today, which they're not obviously not going to, it'd be two years before it's done. We're probably going to be another 300 in the hole. I'm just saying like some someone's
going to start using their their brains here. We we we fell 300 more units uh in the hole of 30 another 300 units that we don't that we need. That's what you or Miss Satula said and I'll look at the I'll I'll videotape it and play it here.
So, my point is this, and I just want to go over it and then I'm done. I I don't any more questions. Um, the Marty Lura would generate an additional $5 million. It's not It's all $5 million of new money that goes
straight to affordable housing. In my opinion, assisting the residential portion of the M Martin Tower development will have an immediate and meaningful impact that is far greater than anything the opening doors pro program will will do. The opening doors
program is not going to do 13 a thousand units. There's no way. And give us $5 million. So these are the comments. These are from Miss Satulo. It is acknowledged. She acknowledges in your presentation,
"The housing crisis is caused by supply and demand imbalance. There's no single solution." She said, "Betham's unit count deficiency has increased from a,000 units to,300 units." This is right off the video. It is acknowledged that
the the the only she acknowledges that only high-end projects are economically viable. Market rate projects can finance 60% to 80% of the cost. Affordable projects can only finance about 30% of the cost due to low rents. These are her
words, not mine. The Gateway project could not happen without the LVIP land donation. There are 10 different funding sources. A few more still needed to be uh complete the financing. These are all her words. Obtaining low-income housing
tax credits can take multiple applications of multiple years. Annual allocation is limited. The alley house pilot program, the ADUs, we have one pilot project in West Betham, one unit
owner agreed to rent it for 20 years and after 20 years as affordable. After 20 years, it's not affordable. It's a market rate now. And New Bethany will manage it. How many ADUs are pro are are projected right now? How quickly could they materialize? That's my question to
you if you could get back to me on that. How many ADUs are projected in the next three years and how quickly can they be on the market the ADUs? Uh as far as the ADUs are concerned, zoning ordinance would need to be
amended to permit the ADUs. And if we are doing that, what is the status of amending the the zoning? And does the administration expect any push back from the neighborhoods like we did the last time when there was 400 people out at the uh at the church on Center Street?
Re uh I'm not even going to get into the revolving loan program because I don't waste anybody's time right now. But uh below market construction loans provide a short-term benefit while the cost of affordable housing is long-term. what happens if the project cannot be uh re
refinanced to pay off the revolving loan portion and in Allentown Josh Seagull commented Allentown has 4,700 units on the drawing board eastn the downtowns of Allentown and east six
east 600 plus units that are going to be breaking ground in the next year will benefit for the growth of their cities while Bethlehem languishes our stores and restaurants and offices language. All I'm asking you to do is this.
Have a discussion with the guy over there because the property has obviously already been zoned uh or or has been determined to be um what was the term that it >> blighted. It was a blighted property.
So, it's already a blighted property. We already know it's the most expensive land in northeast Pennsylvania because of all the things that had to be done there. the knocking down of the of the building, the uh the the carrying cost of the building, they could not lease it. They had it on Kushner and Wakefield
for 10 years. That's why we all agreed and and and Mr. Evans was on council at the time and so was Mr. um Reynolds and we all voted to knock it down because it was going to sit there. It's not generating any money right now in taxes
and it will generate over $10 million in taxes of new revenue of which five million if they if they if they if we got Alerta for that Tower site if we all got our heads together. Think about what we could do. We could build a thousand
units over there over the next three years. It's already zoned. There's no zoning issues. And on top of that, we get $5 million of new revenue upfront. And for the mayor or anybody else to to to
step in that way and not and not even have the discussion with the owners over there is beyond me over a personal grudge within with the ownership. And I don't want to release >> that's actually a motivation. So I'll just call that out. >> Yeah,
>> that is. And I'll release the letter. So my point is nickel and dimming nickel and dimming is not getting you anywhere. We're already 300 worse than we were a year and a half ago. And in another three years before you guys are out of office, it'll
probably be another 300 to 400 units that we're behind because the bottom line according to Miss Satulu is supply and demand. And if if there's and if and I think you've even said this or she said it that a lot of people want to
live here in the city of Bethlehem and the more people that want to live here with the less supply what happens to the rental cost and the housing costs in that situation in supply and demand. Miss Collins, what happens? Does the price go up or does it go down?
>> Oh, that was a real that was a real question. >> I I'm asking you what what happens in that scenario? prices go skyrocketing. >> Are you asking me how supply and demand works, Brian? >> Right. Well, if >> you don't know, Brian, >> if you I'm asking you that if we got a
thousand units there that we could put in there, that's going to be a huge supply of new housing in the market in the city of Betham. If we don't add to the housing stockpile, the the more people that are going to
move here, and you said it in the video, a more people want to live here. And if there's not enough housing, the prices go up and that kills the affordable housing uh crisis. That increases it, makes it worse. And we are all here. I'm in
agreement. I've talked to everybody here. And I know you're in the same thing. I know you think the same thing, and so does the mayor. We all want to help the affordable housing crisis, but we're doing nothing to do it to to help it. There's a thousand. You got a thousand units you could put here and
get $5 million the date alert assigned and you don't even have a discussion because of a personal v vendetta. I'm just telling you >> I know the motive. I've heard it. >> Please don't assign motive in your comments against the rules.
>> Miss Counsel, I wish you luck with it. I I'm going to be very interested to see where we are in three years in and and and I I hate to say this, but the weeds are going to keep growing over there because you won't even have a discussion with the owner about how we can work
this out and negotiate and get this thing going. It doesn't pencil. You You've talked about things penciling that $416,000 a unit for affordable housing at the Gateway project and that was free land. That's not free land over there. that cost millions and millions
of dollars to get it to where it is. It's not what it's not like they went over and and bought farmland where they had to do a lot spend millions and millions of dollars to get it where it is with the aspesus removal, the blow blowing up of the tower, the removal of all the remains and then flatten it out.
The the the two medical buildings over there made sense because they're being leased. Now we got the rest of that property growing weeds and nothing's even being discussed in your department or with the administration and the mayor and you got a thousand units sitting there and $5
million that we could have for affordable housing. And that's disgusting that that that we're not even having discussions with them. >> Out of respect for city council and everyone else, I will not respond to all the things that you just said that are incorrect. But if you want to talk about it at the committee meeting, we can talk
about M Martin Tower in more detail at the committee meeting. I I look forward to it. >> Okay. >> So, can I piggy back real quick? Still on new business. So, yes, you >> It's not even 9:00 yet.
>> It's late. >> It's not >> I've sat here too on that clock. I've sat here till 1:00 in the morning. >> Far less. >> Thank you. Um I just have one a two-part question in reference to gateway on fourth. um the 60 units that are going
to be part of the first phase. Are they all affordable or mark is market rate going to be mixed in there as well? >> There will be a mix. It's the same as the overall project mix. So it'll be 2/3 um affordable and one/3 will be market rate.
>> Okay. Um is there any way of having that all market rate the first phase? I mean all affordable I'm sorry. The first phase we have we have market rate. Um, >> we need we need the affordable >> and I I completely agree with that point
that we need as much affordable as possible. The way that these projects work, you'll very rarely find a 100% affordable project, at least not in this like lit >> area where you're building capital stacks with LITC and public funding
sources because you do still need at least some of that market rate rental income. >> Gotcha. >> To support the overall >> All right. um stack and and to get the financing that you need um to to make the project happen. >> Okay, I gotcha. Um New Bethany, the two
homes up on West Third Street, they look phenomenal from the outside with the the work that's been done uh thus far, when is that expected to be completed? Do we have >> the Western Gateway project? Uh >> I I don't actually have >> That's okay.
>> In my brain right now the timeline on that one >> and that's all I have. Okay. Any other council members have new business that they would like to >> Thank you. >> Thank you, President Leon. Just just a couple things following up on a few things we already
heard tonight. One, I just want to draw attention to our public works department, Mr. Alol's here, but to his uh bureau heads, his staff, because they're not here from earlier, but we heard favorable comments about the installation of a blinking speed limit
light. And we also heard um positive feedback about the stop sign at 12 in Market. And I just think it bears mentioning thank you Mr. Alcohol and to all your staff because I know you do a lot but you don't do everything. So please share as
I'm sure you would echo their comments to those that that are out there reviewing these intersections, installing the signs and and maintaining infrastructure. Um, as it relates to public comment in general, President Leon, I commend you because I know it's not in I don't envy the being in the
center anymore, but as we hear um comments that doesn't look like anyone from the public is here anymore, but we're we're talk we're hearing about things that happened years ago and then are still hearing about them and still
perpetuating the same um type of I won't even call it dialogue just throwing fire from the the lect turn and I know that as our solicitor referenced as it relates to the first amendment it's a it's a delicate position to be in but I
I think a few of us had said years ago that sympathy nor support will come from this body then I know there's a couple new members now and I would think the same remarks still stand uh as it relates to attacking not even members of council or the administration
just broad sections of our community, which I don't I wouldn't see how anyone could think that any kind of favorable response or outcome is going to come from that. The uh question for Solicer Stewart as it relates to the parking authority, which
we heard about, and then the city again guaranteed bonds. I know for the South New Street garage, we're talking about another garage in a world where any we'll talk about the parking authority, but any authority, if they engage in a contract and the contract is not to the
satisfaction of the terms, does the city even have standing to bring suit forward if there's some deficiency in delivery of the contract or executing the contract? >> No, it does not. It's not a party to the contract. Again, the parking authority
is a um state agency and it is the it and its developer or builder were the parties to the contract. >> Understood. And and I will state which has been stated before, the parking
authority has a board. So they have an executive director of course which has been referenced, but they also have a board that is appointed by council. But that doesn't give us implicit power to then oversee their actions. >> No, there are no oversight um there's no
oversight authority related to those appointments. >> Understood. Thank you. And then the last thing I'll mention and I'll I'm not going to get too long-winded as we'll save furthering these conversations when we have our committee meeting whenever that is scheduled.
But I will just note over the last I I'll say two years, we've heard different comments from up here about well if we put development in the if we put a new project downtown next to the garage it's going to open the floodgates and we're
going to have all this development we don't want. If we have something on the avenues that's going to jeopardize the neighborhood. As we talk about Martin Tower, which is such a unique property and and part of this city, which is undeniable, we're talking about zoned
for a thousand units, adding potentially more, advocating for more. We can't now turn a blind eye to the push back. I mean, I live on the west side, other members of council either live on the west side, recently have, even if you don't, you drive by it. I
would have to assume that should we start meeting about reszoning something that's going from X to X plus 20% or even if they operate even if they start building within their permitted use a thousand there's going to be people in
that neighborhood that are unhappy. So I think it's kind of bears mentioning we can't only say this part of town is going to have if they have a new project now it's going to be catastrophic but putting on and I will ask Miss Collins
one question or just you could you know nod or it's about 50 acres over there Martin Tower remind me what's the acreage say again 53 just just so the microphones pick it up and looking at even a thousand units um let's say it's
00 occupants. Just a simple Google search will tell you Freeman'sburg burrow had an estimated population of about 2,800 people in 2020. So even with what they're zoned for, and we can talk about affordable housing and the economics and this and that, but if we
want to act like it's some saving grace, there's still going to be a a segment of this city that's going to say, "Hey, spread that out rather than put 70% of Freemansburg burrow next to my property or in my backyard or where, you know, my
kids traverse to come home from Nichman or whatever it would be." So I think it's just bears mentioning that like anything as we talk about the vast issues we we talk about here. There is no magic bullet. There is no magic solution. And I I think we have to
if we're going to shine a spotlight on challenges or or reasons to push back in one neighborhood or one particular project that we just have to continue to have that conversation about balancing the needs of the city and and what that means for everybody. Thank you, Council
President. >> Thank you. Anyone to my right? Uh, Vice President Lar. >> Thank you. Uh, first question would be for uh, Solicitor Spur. Um, so in January we voted on um,
uh, I believe it was a tech a lease agreement uh, for the hotel being built over on third with access to the greenway uh, and the a bit of that land. And we discussed that there would be like a
drop off zone there and how um it was assured that that would remain accessible for public access to the greenway and that people could be dropped off for or picked up for greenway use, not just hotel use there. Um at that time you said that uh you and
the owner could uh drop some sort of addendum to the lease uh that would put that in writing. Um, I was out for a bit having had a child and just wanted to follow up on that. I did try to call uh
or had the clerk's office call um the office and didn't hear back yet. >> Yeah. No, this is the first I heard the question and I I don't know. I'd have to check with my staff. That wouldn't have been something I would have necessarily been involved in. >> Okay. >> I'll check with the office parallegal,
but I did not get a message from my office in that regard. I didn't know that question was coming. >> Oh, okay. Thank you. Uh yeah, if you could just let me know um okay in terms of um
the flock cameras. Um so we are hearing a lot about this more and more um that particular company and we've addressed concerns about flock system in the past um with Chief Cot.
She sent a memo to council uh assuring us that the um data is owned by the city uh and used just for um the approved purposes. Um, I am curious, uh, if I'm
I'm hoping you could send as we think about when the contract comes up for renewal, uh, with that company, um, the privacy terms that come along with it. Um and
uh you know the basically the the statement of work, how things are hosted, uh all of those those details about what um our agreement specifically with the company um you know outlines um and especially um I
guess any regulation surrounding um like do we grant access to the cameras just for marketing purposes, things like that, if we're owning that. That was just cited as an example. Um I haven't read that article specifically myself, but just curious,
um you know, it does our contract allow for that type of use, um etc. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um and then Miss Collins, um sorry to have you hop back up. I was trying not to jump out of line before
while you were standing there though. Um, for council members who may not have an understanding >> of some of the basics of um the economics surrounding housing issues
such as there there were questions about supply and demand um and you know what that means in terms of housing. Um, I know that there's a lot of information in the opening doors plan about the specific strategy that the city is employing. Do you have a recommendation on a primer
that our council members could review before the committee meeting so that we're sure that we're not spending um valuable time answering basic uh things that we would assume to be given. >> We could send some along before the
meeting. I I think our plan would be to send materials specific to the opening doors work in advance of the meeting so that you also have that before we get here, but we could include in that packet um like a a primer or a couple primers that might be >> Sure. Or even just links. Yeah. Like not
asking you to recreate the the basics. >> Yeah. No, I won't write a but yeah, I could I could look through some materials that we have or that we utilize or that people have gotten in different settings and pick out some of the best ones and send those over. Um, thank you. I recognize that the questions tonight did not come from a
new council member, but we do have a lot of new council members who may not be as familiar with um, you know, the different specifics surrounding the strategies and economics behind it. So, thank you. >> Um, that was my only question for you. I
just needed it on the mic. Um, and I think that that was that was the extent of my questions tonight. Thank you. >> Right. Thank you so much. We're going to move on to communication. >> I have I have one more thing. One more
thing. Um, ju just just for uh uh a point of matter. Um it's also important for everybody to understand it. Uh while there would be at the max a thousand units at the Martin Tower site, uh when
the tower was built, they had 2500 people a day going into the tower site. I walked by it every day going to Nichman. I lived in Kwin Avenue, walked right by it. And not only was there 2500 people coming out of the tower site, I
think Mr. Evans's uh dad was one of them. Um there was also 200 people coming out of the Derky site, the Derky plant where the Lowe's is every day, every three shifts. And the roads
the way they are now are extremely um a lot more efficient and new and wider and there's multiple turning lanes versus when the tower site was there and the Derky site was there. So, we have a
great area to do this development. It has easy access to 378 and Shainersville Road in 22. And um I think that all of us on this council and hopefully the administration
realizes that this can make a significant dent into the housing shortage in the city. And more importantly, and this is what I want, is the $5 million that the developer would give us upfront in new revenue for
affordable housing. And I told President uh Leon that if we ever did um come up with an or a new LERA for that area, I specifically want it in the LERA that that $5 million does not go to
the general fund. It goes straight to affordable housing. And there's no other use for that $5 million than putting it into the affordable housing fund to help Bethlehem build more affordable housing units. We have zero money right now and
zero land. The city has zero land, zero money. We could add a th000 units and get $5 million upfront. And for us not to look into that as a serious issue to help the affordability problem in the city and help alleviate
some of the pressure of of the housing market is derelict on all of us if we don't look into it. No matter how much you don't like the owner or the person. >> Moving on to communications. Uh communication um 6A
>> May 11th 2026 memorandum and proposed resolution from public works director Michael Alall. Mr. Round call recommends an agreement with Herbert Roland and Rubik Incorporated of Clark Summit to provide design and engineering services, construction materials,
um, correction, construction drawings, bid documents, and support during construction for each of Bernie Fritz, Madison, and Clear View parks upgrades. The cost is $324,925 985. The estimated completion date is
November 30th, 2027. There are no renewals. Six proposals were received from selected firm being with the selected firm being the lowest and most cost effective. >> Sorry about that. Resolution 10A is on the agenda. Communication 6B.
>> A May 13, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor Johnsburg Jr. with an attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permit is Arts Quest and the event is the 2026 Taco Fest. The action is to ratify approval involving activities that occurred from noon to 6:00 p.m. on
May 31st. The premises was First Street from Pulk Street to the Eastern Terminus and Founders Way between First and Second Streets. >> Resolution 10B is on the agenda communication 6C. >> May 13th, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John of Spark Jr. with an
attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permiti is the Portuguese American Club of Bethlehem and the event is the 2026 Portuguese Heritage Day Festival. Activities will be from 10 p from noon until 10 p.m. on June 6th. Premises will be Rink Street from
Broadhead Avenue to the end of Portuguese American Club parking lot as shown on the exhibit map attached to the agreement. >> Resolution 10C is on the agenda. Communication 6D. >> A May 13, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John F. Berke Jr. with an
attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permit is Christmas City Spirits LLC and the joining party is the redevelopment authority of the city of Bethlehem. The event is the 2026 Pride Party Palooa. Activities will be from 1
to 6:00 p.m. on June 14th. The premises will be the Nevin Place right ofway and West Walnut Street parcel both adjacent to the Sun and Courtyard as shown on an exhibit map attached to the agreement. Additional location will be the redevelopment authority owned parcel as
specified in the joiner addendum to the agreement. >> Resolution 10D is on the agenda communication 6E. >> A May 13, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John of Spur Jr. with an attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permit is the Bethlehem
Vintage Market. Subermites are Sango Kura LLC and Pizza Bre doing business as wishful thinking brewing company. The event is the 2026 Bethlehem Vintage Market. The action is to ratify approval involving activities that occurred from
11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 31st. Premis was the Bethlehem Rose Garden at 1001 West Union Boulevard. Resolution 10E is on the agenda. Communication 6F, >> a May 12th, 26, 2026 memorandum with an attached resolution associated
intergovernmental cooperative agreement uh from John from city solicitor Jonas Spur Jr. Solicitor Spark recommends an agreement titled Northeast Interceptor Capital Improvements with Bethlehem Township, the Bethlehem Township
Municipal Authority, the Burrow of Freemansburg, and 1600 Freemansburg Avenue LLC. >> Resolution 10F is on the agenda. Communication 6G, >> a May 6, 2026 memorandum and proposed resolution from Joseph Lawk, director of
financial services, requesting the destruction of records for his department. Mr. Velasc has reviewed the Municipal Records Retention Act and the records listed on the exhibit accompanying the memo fall within the categories where destruction is permitted. >> A resolution will be placed on the June
16th council agenda communication 6H. >> The May 7th, 2026 memorandum and proposed ordinance from assistant city solicitor Matthew Dashler. Attorney Dashler recommends amending article 1731 involving inspections in a section of
article 119 relating to registration, sale, and transfer of real estate to ensure consistency with article 1731. >> This proposed ordinance will be placed on the June 16th agenda for first reading. Communication 6 I >> May 13, 2026 memorandum and proposed
ordinance from assistant city solicitor Matthew Desler. Attorney Dashler recommends amendments that would modify the definition of hotel in the zoning ordinance so as to include transient guests and related matters. Specifically, the amendments would have the effect of excluding short-term
rentals in residential districts where hotels are prohibited along with proposed other proposed amendments. I will accept a motion and a second to schedule a public hearing for 7 p.m. on July 7th in town hall to consider these zoning ordinance amendments and to forward these proposed changes to the
city's planning commission and the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission for the recommendations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion on the motion. The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Callahan >> I. >> Mr. Cologne. >> I. >> Miss Daniels. >> I.
>> Miss Leairard. >> Hi. >> Mr. Raymond. >> I. >> Miss Leon. >> I. And the motion passes 70. Communication 6J >> May 14th, 2026 memorandum with an attached resolution and proposed agreement from Laura Collins, director of community and economic development.
Miss Collins recommends an agreement with the Bethlehem Economic Development Corporation to carry out the programs and/or targeted activities of Bedco, including administration programs and activities, wave rightway fees, and compensation for other
projects as assigned in connection with the execution of city sponsored events on an asneeded basis. Cost is not to exceed $15,000. The contract runs through December 31st, 2026, and there are no renewals. Resolution 10J is on the agenda.
Communication 6K. >> An April 14th, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John Furke Jr. with an attached resolution agreement and memorandum of understanding for the city and its police department to participate in the Northampton County Drug Task
Force. >> Resolution 10K is on the agenda. Communication 6L. >> A May 27th, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John Jr. with an attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permitee is the Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church and the event is the
2026 Holy Infancy Cultural Celebration. Activities will be from 5 to 10:00 p.m. on June 19th and noon to 1000 p.m. on June 20th. Premises will be Lawer Street between Pierce and Buchanan Streets and Pierce Street between East Packer Avenue
and East Fifth Street. >> Resolution 10L is on the agenda. Communication 6M >> a May 27th, 2026 memorandum from city solicitor John Fsburg Jr. with an attached use permit agreement and resolution. Permit is arts quest and the
event is the 2026 soccer fest. The agreement lists numerous activities that occur on various times and dates between June 11th and July 19th depending on the outcome of play. premises will be first street from Pulk Street to the eastern
terminus and Founders Way between First and Second Streets and First Street from Founders Way to the Eastern Terminus. >> Resolution 10M is on the agenda. Moving on to reports. The committee of the whole met on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 for ethics training provided by the state
ethics commission in accordance with article 104. This meeting was forformational purposes only and no actions were taken. Um on a less formal note, um I will be absent from the next
two, three, maybe four meetings for health issues and council vice president Colleen Leard will be chairing the meetings. I appreciate all of your patience uh as I recover and I hope to be back soon. This was in no way spurred on by this evening's meetings. Um,
mayor's report. Does the mayor have anything to report? >> Yeah, of course, the last meeting was cancelled due to the the the power outage, but just before that, it was Saturday. Wanted to report on an excellent outing we had at Friendship Park. Uh,
the ribbon cutting, something you all supported, then that the administration put together with the work of a lot of people in city hall for number of days, weeks, and months leading up to that. And uh throughout the fall and in the spring, the final touches and the the turnout on May 16th for those of you were that attended were able to witness
it. It was just a fantastic Bethlehem day. The weather was perfect. The splash park was in play that time of year. That's not always the case, but it was it was kids um of all ages were there. Meaning, you know, even the girls were having fun and playing basketball, everything that was there, which was
plentiful activity. And that activity has also continued on that particular park. And that's why we're so excited to as we embark on the 40 and 10 plan to continue moving on the next parks and the next parks that we have lined up and that we're teeing up even some we'll be talking about a little bit tonight once
we get um if we get to the business of the of the meeting which hopefully will come up here soon that uh we did want to report on that and and the second part of this with the parks and recreation and the summer season starting we can report that the pools will open as scheduled on Saturday. school gets out
Friday and most of the workforce are school age kids so they will take their jobs as lifeguards. All five pools will be open. The weather is supposed to be great so I'm sure we'll have a great turnout at all of our five parks, our five pools within the city. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you. Uh pass along birthday wishes to the mayor from council. >> Yes. >> We have no committee reports this evening. We have no ordinances for final passage and we have no ordinances for new passage. So we will move on to resolutions. Resolution 10A.
>> It resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and the controller and/or such other city officials deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute an agreement with Herbert Roland and Grubic Incorporated to provide design and engineering services for
Bernie Fritz Madison and Clear View parks. Resolution is sponsored by Miss Quietitech and Mr. Aean. >> Discussion. Yes, I have a few questions on this. Council Daniels, >> um, Miss Collins, we had gone did a
little back and forth via email regarding this and let me just preference my comments and questions with uh I am in no way I'm in no way looking to take from any
park within the city. Uh I believe all of our parks um should be up to you know good standards as far as equipment and all of the different program that can be added uh things of that nature. The reason why I'm going to question what
I'm questioning is looking at the final uh plan. Um there seems to be a very large gap in what I consider equal uh you know each park somewhat
getting the equivalent uh new renovations. And I understand some parks are larger, some parks are smaller. But when you look at the presentation um pages 22 through 24 of that final report,
you have a Google Earth view of each park for Clear View, Bernie, Fritz, and Madison. And Clear View and Bernie Fritz. Um the design, the overlays for the design and and the legends of what's to come. Um, everything looks phenomenal
on that. When you look at Madison Park, it doesn't have the same sentiment. It doesn't share the same potential design elements. Um, it looks very much like an afterthought. Like, let me let me finish. And I'm not saying that's what
it is, but that's what it comes across as. Um, coupling that with the potential spend for each park. and you had made note in the email that I wasn't able to view before
uh the meeting because of timing. You're saying that when I questioned the anticipated cost range for each park based on comparable projects completed within the last five years, you stated that the plan uh does lay out cost estimate ranges on page 162. Um, but
getting to the meat of it all, uh, both Bernie Fritz and Clear View Parks have $3 signs, which is the equivalent of a minimum of a million dollars. Madison, $2 signs, which is the equivalent of $250,000
to a million dollars. Now, when I look at what's taken place with Clear View, uh, which is more closer in size to Madison than Bernie and and and Clear View, uh, Clear View was 1.4 and that was pretty much a complete rehab, I
believe. >> Am I correct in that? >> I mean, Friendship Friendship Park, I'm sorry. >> That was 1.4. >> And that was a pretty much a complete rehab. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, 1.4 4 million for Fair View.
Um, and again, >> Friendship, I'm sorry. I don't know why I keep saying Fair View. 1.4 million for Fair View. And again, when you look at uh Madison Parks on your plan uh from the final report,
it's abysmal. And I I I'm sorry for that wording, but that's just what comes to mind, top of mind. Um, >> can I make one clarifying point just because I think it will be helpful and I I appreciate the point. And I understand the confusion, but so in the 40 and 10
plan, we do look at all 40 parks and there are recommendations for elements at each park. >> And you can see that throughout the plan, but certainly in some of the last pages where like by network, by you, northeast, south, central, west, it'll show we've done an inventory of what
features currently exist and what would be recommended. >> And we do that for all 40 parks. Then we did like illustrative concept drawings for just a handful. Not because like they were the most special parts or they're the most important, but we just
we asked the firm to show us and help people understand like can you draw up pretty concept pictures so that we can demonstrate what does a nearby nature feature look like? Like what will it look like as part of your experience? What would the paths look like? And
we've done that for a few parks. We happen to have done that for both Bernie Fritz and Clear View as part of the planning process. And we just didn't do Madison's like pretty pictures. >> So, it's not that Madison is getting >> less attention or less features.
>> It's just that we don't we and but I I completely see what you're saying. In the presentation that we did publicly, we saw showed Bernie Fritz and Clear View with pretty pictures and then Madison with just like a like an above kind of like handdrawn text >> like like little box and and that's just
by virtue of the fact that that was not one of the parks that we had selected for like the illustrative pictures to demonstrate how the plan would lay out. But it's actually not a reflection of the amount of amenity or the the type of care that
would be put into the park. We just didn't have pretty pictures associated with it. >> Okay. Um I'll take that into consideration. Um that was a big part of it. That's what got my mind running on this to be honest with you. >> Yeah, that's it's a fair because >> I can see how it wasn't clear.
>> Yeah. And even with that being the case, you know, the illustration not being equal to Bernie Fritz and Clear View, uh, what could potentially become of the park, um, is still not equal. And not that everything is going to be apples to
apples, um, but it's way off. So, and I'm just going to I'm going to try and go through this quickly because we we spent a lot of time talking tonight. Um, but just for example, Clear View, which is the largest, I think that's over nine acres. Um the illustration is beautiful.
Um I noticed because I did a driveby there, there's trees already planted along the street. Um but the legend uh reconfigured basketball courts, pickle and tennis ball courts which are already there. I guess they're going to be updated. Um the drinking fountain, a
water walking loop with benches that's going to be part of it. sensory groves, extended ecological restoration, um a temporary stage platform, adventure nature play, water play, uh probably going to update the existing pool, expand parking, existing community gardens, and a future walking loop
expansion, and just updating everything else in between when you go. And Bernie Fritz is similar. Bernie Fritz doesn't have as large of a play area. It's not as large as a park. I think it's two and a quarter acres. um a shaded sports
field seating area, potential future sidewalk pathway, improved parking lot, ADA sidewalk and swing seating, existing memorial, existing ball fields, which I'm assuming will be refreshed and updated. Uh, and then you go to Madison,
and Madison, um, doesn't have the legends because it wasn't part of the plan, I guess, initially, but textbox were put in on the, uh, Google Earth overlay, uh, to reconfigure the slope at
the fence line, which is a non-factor as far as I'm concerned. Uh, a water bottle refill station looks like it may be added. uh an ADA wellness loop and uh a potential splash pad.
Um a court mural for the basketball court and a refresh of the mural. So when I'm looking at that in comparison to what the other two parks are getting, it's way off. Um, and I'm I have to
bring this to the attention of everybody here because within the past 5 years, the city has put more than $7 million into the parks and the pools on the other side of town and the southside has gotten a little over 200,000. So, that's
a huge gap. Huge gap. Um, and it's just not fair. It's not equal. There's no way that Clear View and Bernie Fritz will be any less, especially Clear View will be any less than 2 and a half three million
in my opinion. Um, considering where Friendship Park came in at 1.4 and a much smaller park. uh Clear View will probably be upwards of $2 million with the well maybe a million and a half because they have more of the fields
that take up the bulk of the land there than the actual play areas. So, I would love for council um and again I want all the parks to get attention. I just want it to be fair and equal. And as it stands from what I'm seeing right now,
it's not going to be fair and equal in both the scope of the work that's going to be done and the dollars to be spent. So again, we're looking at a potential $5 million plus on the other side of town to 250 to1 million for one park on the south side. $5 million on the
southside could take care of Madison uh Enix Park, which is it's so sad how that park has fell into disrepair. And it was put in place by the community through petition for a very well-known and loved uh person of the of the
community uh an advocate for the community. And that too looks like an afterthought. Magnamera is just I don't even know why Magnamera is even there. It's just it's the Southside parks need help and I understand you may
have gotten community feedback on you know what park should be first and this that and the other and the community should have a say in what takes place but at the same time I think a need needs to be injected in there as well. Where is the need? Um, and I can go on
and on as to why I feel this way. I don't want to go off the deep end. Um, but I would love to be able to um, put this on hold um, till the next meeting. I would love for city council members to consider what I'm saying. Take a look at
the 40 and 10. I'm sure you've all looked at it, but take a look at pages 22, 23, and 24 that shows these overlays for these parks. visit the parks, do drivebys on, and I've done almost every
single park at this point. Um, and a lot of them do need refreshing or complete overhauls, admittedly. Uh, but the southside parks are in bad repair, period. Point blank. And I know a little bit of work has been done here and there to Yasco um over the
years. The splash pad was I think that was eight, nine years ago that was put in. Um, but murals and uh, you know, throwing some paint on a basketball court and putting in a a fountain isn't going to do it.
>> If I I just have a a few thoughts if that's if that's all right. I didn't want to cut you off. Um, so one of the things I'll say I have a couple things, but the contract itself is for final design and engineering. And so >> that to me I will I'll you know it does
leave open the possibility for additional input on design. I'm not just leaves open the possibility that's built into >> that's built into the contract itself. >> Um and there's already planned community engagement if the contract does go through and we are able to move forward
with these three parks. You know, we're planning to be out at Bernie Fritz on Bernie Fritz night, uh, planning an event with, um, at Clear View and planning an event at Madison with Community Action. And, um, Anna Smith, I believe, is going to be helping us put that together for additional community
feedback to take what is a very rudimentary um, preliminary concept and we'll we would have HRG work up a better concept from that, but then also get additional community feedback. And so what's there is not set in stone. But what I will
also point out about what is there importantly is a splash pad. And that was based specifically on feedback um you know that we everybody wants water features, but you know understanding that >> um you know Yasco does have a pool and
have a splash pad but it is not easy to get to from that part of the southside and having like a free water feature at Madison would be a big deal. Mhm. >> Um but because you know it is not a large park. There's not a lot of opportunity to do a lot more. But the
splashpad feature is a is a pretty significant one. Um and you know pretty costly and it's something that I think we would prioritize there probably more than you know even the others which you know there are other places that have splash pad recommended but I I think
this is one that's important there. Um, and on the cost estimates, I think your predictions are a little bit high for the other two parks. Um, I understand where you're coming from, but I I I don't think the disparity in overall dollar amounts just between these three
parks you've identified is is is going to be that large. And I think like we are very much committed to doing like as much as possible and stre but also you know stretching our resources but distributing them equitably which is something that we talk about really throughout the entire plan and was you
know it's part of why we did the plan because we don't want to be making park improvement decisions just based on like how we're feeling or who we're hearing from. We want to be thoughtful and strategic. And then we made sure that in creating the plan we were using an equity lens and an equity framework which is why we also used like the
environmental justice zones um and made sure that that was an important part of like how we were deciding what we were doing at different parks and how we were prioritizing. So um I don't I don't I just I don't think that the disparity in contributions to
these parks is as as much as you might be predicting. Um, I also will say, you know, the plan is a 10-year plan to address all parks and you've raised other comments about Southside Parks and, you know, all of those are part of the plan as well. You know, these are
the first three that we're doing. There's four networks identified in the parks plan in the 40 and10 plan, northeast, central, west, and south. >> And we, you'll see in this first round, we've chosen one from northeast, one from west, and one from south. Um, and I
think we, you know, did feel that that was important as well. You know, in each of the networks, we're building around the concept that you have both anchor parks and then you have small community spaces. Um, we also have regional parks. We have four of those. That's Illix Mill
and Sand Island, um, the Rose Garden and Sen. And those were approaching with even more thoughtful direct design probably about 10 I think the plan estimates $10.7 million into the regional parks in their entirety which includes sckin. So although we don't
have a dollar amount you can imagine for sake if you just break that down by four it's that's going to be a lot right and that's that is part of the plan and that is >> um you know something that we're simultaneously moving forward we have that grant out for DCNR. We've had great conversations with our DCNR rep and he's
very excited about >> the planning process and for Sen as well. So, you know, on that track, there's lots of additional money thought about and planned for and and already like in the works for, you know, another Southside Park Sen and our regional parks. But in thinking about what are
the three that we're doing in the in the next year with our capital dollars, we did want to spread that out in the networks. In part because the network concept is one where like we're not promising that every single park is going to feel exactly the same as every other park, but that within each
network, like within each area, you're able to find nearby you >> the same experiences. Like because we know that we can't create the same experience from park to park to park. We don't have the resources for that. nor would you really want to. Like some parks are for youth more like youth
playing and some are for more like nature play and some are some are larger, some are smaller. And so um you know any packet of three parks that we'll get from here on out, I would never expect them to all have exactly the same features or exactly the same contribution because we're all we are
also thinking about them in terms of how they fit within the overall network. >> Understood. Understood. And I appreciate that explanation and um you know I understand that like I said each park is not going to have the same experience.
Um Madison is a very small park as all all of the parks on the southside are very small in comparison to Clear View and Bernie and other parks um across the city. Again, my concern is just the
equity um and the spend um and it doesn't even have to be Clear View um or it doesn't even have to be Bernie Fritz um because those are two larger parks and especially Clear View.
I don't you know looking at Friendship again if you're spending 1.4 four to million and a half at friendship. I don't see how clear view is going to be any less than that. I mean, with the trees that you've planted thus far and
the plethora of additional trees that look like would like to be planted, what what was the spend on the trees that was planted so far? >> Do you have any idea? >> I'm not sure. I don't >> because it it goes all the way down. I mean, completely around what is this?
Pinehurst Road. they were planted up onto Abington the entire length of the uh the park. Um so you know >> 500 to a,000 a tree probably is what okay cost.
>> So on a on a small end maybe 5,000 on the larger end maybe 10,000 to spend on trees alone. Um, and that's just the start because there seems like there could be another 20 trees to be planted
if not more. Um, so the reason why I would like to put a halt on this, and I know we won't have final figures until the actual design concept is is completed, um, but at any rate, these two parks,
Bernie Fritz and Clear View, are going to be well above the spend at Madison. Uh Madison isn't getting a complete overhaul. It's not getting a complete renovation. Uh it's more of a refresh outside of the splash pad in the
water fountain where potentially and I know you know once the community meetings happen, but Madison is a small park so you can only do so much. Uh unless you do tear it all the way up and redo things, the basketball court, which could actually need a a refresh um a
redoing actually. Um, I would like to see either Clear View or Bernie Fritz, and I hate to say this, um, possibly done away with in a more
equitable park. And it could be on the other side of town as well. I'm not saying we have to put everything on the south side um put into the mix. I just I have a problem with millions of dollars being spent um
in this situation. I just do I would like for us to take a deeper look at the whole park layout and what free parks could potentially get redone next year. And I know that's a big ask um coming in here at the 11th hour.
Um but I think if we think of our all of our communities um I want all of the parks you know over the next 10 years to be well renovated and taken care of. Um, but you know, Madison
might get 250, 500. I don't know. What do we know what the cost of the splash pad at um, Friendship Park ran? >> That would be 80 or something like that. >> Oh, I thought it was more like 250. Could be wrong. >> Maybe that was just the equipment and
then the work on top of this. 250. >> I'm sorry. So 250 are we saying? Okay. So, with that and a water fountain, the basketball court being painted, a new mural, new play equipment. Depending on the play
equipment, that could go anywhere from 10 $15,000 on up to the tens of thousands of dollars. >> Um, so I'll put it on the high end at 400,000. And that's still well above I mean well below
what Bernie and Claire View would get. I want it to be equal, guys. That's all I'm looking for. I I need more equality. >> Procedurally, you could make a motion to postpone this. >> I would I would ask that you not make
that because once there's a motion on the floor, council members cannot speak anymore. So, if you do want to make a motion, I would ask that we hold off on making any motions till every council member has an opportunity to speak. >> That That's true. >> Just making that procedural point because this is this is what's been taking place historically with the park
upgrades. Um >> can I I I have some questions also. Are you going to >> um if >> Yeah, if you're ready to um >> I'll let you know. Um but yeah, so if we could take a look at that and again I don't want to take
anything from any park. We all, you know, the kids need the parks, the adults need the parks. Um great way to relieve stress, get exercise in, take in the sunrays and etc, etc. Um I just need it done in a more equitable way. You can
speak now, Hillary. >> Thank you. Yeah, >> if I may be recognized. May I be recognized? I'll take you. >> Thank you very much. Um so Miss Collins, let's talk about Friendship Park. Um can you tell me a little bit more about why North Side Alive is North Side Alive?
>> Sure. So um in like starting with 2017 and creating the uh North Side 2027 plan, um you know u a number of community members, community partners came together and thought about this
neighborhood and also looked at it. We looked at it from um a HUD perspective. It's a >> That's the part that I was curious about. >> Yeah, it's a um neighborhood revitalization strategy area. It's a it's a NERSA designated area. Um and what that means is that HUD has you
based upon our application certified that it is an area that demonstrates a sufficient level of need. Um and also the census tracks and the you know income levels, poverty levels, um need in the community are such that HUD
designates it as needing um additional supports through like our HUD programs. And so we've committed as a city to um uh carrying out the North Side Alive plan essentially to support improvements
around you know economic revitalization, housing stock, um neighborhood quality of life and and those sorts of factors because if what you're getting at it probably is um that just because Friendship Park is in the north side
does not mean that it is in an area that is particularly affluent or um you know it it it is a neighborhood in the city that has um census tracks that are um you know low low to moderate income. >> That was that was my point and and one
of the you know one one of the factors in us being able to get some funding for it and things like that. I mean it was also a contributing factor in the funding model of of that. Um the the um the other thing that I I wanted to ask
about is what we're actually voting on tonight. This is actually the design process. Now there are some suggested designs. There are some proposed designs and those designs that are in the 40 and 10 plan are really meant to
be illustrative of this network concept. the idea of different amenities for different places so that you get this whole experience in your in your area. Um the way the mayor described it um the
idea is design one year build the next year and I would imagine that that next year when you're starting to build you're also identifying the next three parks to design. So, it's going to be three three three for about 10 years, 40, something like that.
>> That's the goal. Yes, >> that's the goal, right? Um and and so we're actually probably going to see a lot more activity beyond these three parks, you know, going forward. And I, you know, I don't disagree that the it was
unfortunate that the that the two parks on the north side had more sort of mapped out prettier pictures and Madison did not. But my understanding is that community engagement is a big piece of the design process and and that's the
way that we will get a park that meets the needs of the community um around Madison. Right. So there is going to be this night there's going to be and and a lot of that happened at friendship also. I was there for those those nights where people were able to look at the boards
and look at the ideas and take take the little dots and and say I like this. I like this. And there there were like a million dots on the splash splash park. I'll never forget that. It was just like every dot was on the splash park. It was like well that's got to happen you know. Um, so, so what we're what we're looking
to vote on here is actually what moves forward the the chance for the community engagement where we really get to on the ground see what people who live there and use this park would like to see in their park. >> Yeah, that's true. Yes. >> Okay. And if Mr. Alco wants to talk more
about the design process. >> Yeah. I mean, as Laura said, what's presented in the 4010 was looking at the whole park system at all the parks. As you can imagine, not a lot of time was devoted to each park, but it was the
idea was to provide illustrative concept for each of the parks. Uh but as we move on from that phase to now doing the actual preliminary design and final design, we'll get another cut at exactly
and specifically in detail what is the most feasible and possible amenities that can be introduced or upgraded at each of the parks. So in other words, we're going to get another cut at with feedback from the community as as to
what gets designed and then eventually constructed. And what we're asking for tonight is a contract for the first three parks only so that we can do that preliminary design during which we'll have an opportunity that community can to provide input on the specific details
of what's going to happen at each of those parks. The other thing other thing I say and I think that's understood everybody knows is there's feasible amenities that differ from park to park. I mean, we didn't The idea is
to maximize what can happen at each park, including obviously Madison. Um, fortunately or unfortunately, there's going to be some parks that you can do more if that's the right thing to do, if that's what the community wants to do, if that fits into the overall objective
of the plan. and others maybe not as much and we may have to pursue some other you know the other challenge like Madison Park there's no other opportunities lands that we could >> acquire to make it bigger
>> do something else for for the community there and it's not because of a lack of desire to do so there was a focus to try to do that >> and I don't I don't have it in my hands and I know that Miss Daniels did but um talk uh the the mention of um sort of
grading by the fence or something like that. Did that have to do with like flooding or like do do we do we know >> No, that's okay. Or was it to increase usable? >> Maybe to create more space opportunity for something or to address a deficiency
or structural concern. I don't remember specifically. >> Okay. Omni that's all right >> did that and introduced that and >> um the project engineer will probably know off the top of their heads but I I don't have that detail here. >> Okay. >> All right.
>> According to the plan she still has the >> slope >> reconfigure slope >> fence at hillsides. So if we reconfigured the slope, we would potentially be regrading and making more usable >> land. Is that what a reconfiguring the
slope would would do? >> And so okay, so that could actually be a way to get some more space. But that's the kind of thing that will happen in this process when we >> correct. That's the thing that's what would be looked at in more detail. and and sometimes when you delve into it and you do the grading plan, you might
discover more opportunities or more obstacles that may alter the concept that's envisioned before the final design. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Now I'm done. Thank you, >> Councilman. >> Thank you, President Leon. I just want to clarify as we talk about what we're
voting on and potential actions council could take. This resolution is to award the contract to uh the firm HRG. Yeah, HRG. Thank you, Mr. Alcohol. Which responded based on parameters that were put out in an RFP
for these particular parks. So, council's desire to have different parks included or taken out or anything like that. I think that point is moot to postpone because that's that's outside the scope of what that changes that changes that wouldn't be this
resolution. And if Miss Collins or Mr. Al disagree with me, feel free to chime in. But I think postponing it, like at the end of the day, it's either this or it's not this. >> There there's no adding a new park, taking out a park because they these
firms responded to the scope of what was given to them, which impacts the price. >> These are the first three parks that we're tackling. >> Yeah, understood. But I just wanted to make that point for the floor that it's either this or not this. There's no coming back in two weeks and changing
language in here because this is this is >> changing parts. >> Yeah. This is just confirming the responses that the firms gave. >> So you're Thank you. I'm sorry. >> Oh, >> are you done? >> Are you >> I'm done with my point. >> Okay. All right. And uh procedurally,
just so we all all remember um council members have two times to talk and a third. I'm just pointing that out because if you have a lot of things to say, I want you to be able to say all of them. Well, I want to be able to speak on WHAT THEY'RE SAYING. >> You want to hear what everybody else has to say first and then >> we can do that. >> Okay, we can do that. >> All right. Does any other council member
have anything to say regarding this? Vice President Lair, >> thank you. Um, so I I do know that um I'm just going to preface this by saying that the this project has uh been near and dear to my
heart as everybody's worked on it um since I was on the steering committee and um you know it's it's it's great to see it coming to life. I do want to be sensitive to equity and I think that you know in our steering committee meetings
and whatnot there was that was I think the largest steering committee meeting that I that I've or steering committee I've served on with just how many people were at the table. Um, I I do hope that in the future as we're
working on presentations, I think it it is a valid point that, you know, making sure that the equity that we're seeking to uh develop and employ throughout the the community is represented in what we're showing could
help even even in this situation, you know, help uh avoid miscommunication or misunderstanding. So, as we're selecting what gets the pretty pictures, even if it is just the pretty pictures, that's a a quiet show of equity.
>> I I will say we we do have pretty pictures for a Southside Park. It's Magnamera Park. It's just not one of the first three that we're doing. >> Understood. >> So, likely in a future year, you'll get one pretty picture for a Southside Park and then >> Right. Understood. >> Pretty pictures. Um
so uh now my my questions um would be for um I see the estimated completion date is November 30th um of 27. So is that for the
um their deliverable to us or for our approval and acceptance of the deliverable? How like what >> on this contract you mean or construction of construction? I believe it's >> yeah the end of each year is the completion of the design work under this contract so this could be prepared and
ready to bid and bid and construction commence next spring which is spring the 27th and complete in the fall >> and the right thing >> no you're correct the the firm's contract exists through the end because part of their service is construction me construction
>> okay so my question would be um taking off the I was involved in helping make the plan and putting on the parks direct committee hat. Um, will the can the It's not a question. I would like the committee to have the chance to review
the plan um as it's being put together. we can talk about where that would fall in the process whether it's reviewing and commenting on it or because I understand we're not operational um but the parks and rec committee
exists for oversight of how the dollars are spent right so um in some capacity or another so can we make sure to schedule uh a committee meeting to at the very least review and comment on the
plan that's put together for all three of the parks. Um is that >> there's going to be preliminary designs prepared for each of the parks. >> Yes. >> Um that's when the concept is firmed up and that's when that's really what's
going to go in each park. >> Um Right. And as we discussed before, there's going to be community input. Yes. Into those design. >> In addition to that, we want to have a committee meeting to review them. Is that what we're >> I'm saying to see like what they're
handing over so that just like with the plan we we reviewed the the whole 40 and10 plan on committee. Um so I'm I would anticipate and hope that the community feedback would happen
before that. I would hope you know that maybe there's some focus groups uh that are happening. There's the evening that we've talked about etc. I'm asking for the deliverable from the consultant because and I don't think that it should
be for every set of three. That would be unsustainable. Um this is the first one we're looking at. And so my hope is that the committee could see, okay, we're setting forth on 10 years of this cycle and rhythm and
looking at sets of three at a time. Um, is your thought that it would be just an informational presentation or as like part of the engagement process? Because I think that would matter in terms of like timing and how it were structured.
>> I think I could could see both having a place. Uh, but I think because we are not an operational body, we're a legislative body uh and budget oversight body. I think informational with the ability to comment uh as we do in any
meeting um would be what I would be seeking. Um I'm also curious uh inter well >> I will also say I mean the point at which the I think this is correct the point at which the final design is
finished as a deliverable it then becomes the document that we put out for bid and then there is a construction contract which then you do see >> right we see the construction contract I yes I'm aware of that >> I I'm saying the deliverable of for this
phase just to have eyes on it. Um, is there a concern that I'm missing? >> Personally, I'm just try um, it would just matter in terms of what level of feedback you want to give because if if they get to the point where they produce the deliverable and it comes to council
and you say we hate it, fix it that then that's not built into it. feedback or opportunity for feedback for review >> probably should occur at the completion of the preliminary >> design. >> Sure. Okay. If that >> once the preliminary design is done that
is the design it's called no flaw that that is a fixed that's what's going to happen. Those are the features being introduced but they just haven't been finalized but all the details have been worked out to make sure they're feasible they're constructable that's what's going to happen barring some feedback so
that's would be the opportunity to change it add to it or revive >> sounds great allow it to go >> I don't know enough about the details of the the planning cycle to say it should be so I will >> and we're going to have community input into that phase >> yeah right >> so I don't know if it'd be more
efficient to incorporate that into that or have a additional meeting. >> Yeah, I guess that might >> that's completed to bring before committee or >> Yeah. So uh I am comfortable saying that we can work out when the parks and rec
committee can be engaged and whether that I think because of the nature of it being a committee it needs to be a meeting not just we show up at the community things which I I do you know I go to them anyway but um at the point
you're at at where that happens I will trust your input on where it's most appropriate. I'm not trying to slow things down at all. Like literally no intent to do that. Um here's my other question with the RFP that went out
um the um were there budget guidelines set for each of the three parks for them to or is it just like was that part of the RFP that went out to say >> budget for construction or >> Yeah. Like did you tell them to design
to certain budget points? >> We we told them to they're going to be designing based on the concept with the additional input that we're talking about. >> Okay. So they weren't told spend x amount on this or spend it. >> No. So there is an opportunity >> inclusion of the preliminary design.
They're supposed to provide opinion you know cost on opinion opinion cost. So if the community feedback and needs reflected through the design process show that there should be more investment in
a smaller park dollar for you know cost per square foot basically that's possible or cost per acre I don't know how you do it for outdoors but >> cost be affected. Yeah. >> Yeah. Okay. So there there is a possibility for um you know equitable
even beyond equal spending on these these three parks >> right to bring it up if we we all that >> if it's feasible >> desirable >> there's there's no dollar amount budgets locked in for any individual park okay
thank you um so I would like to continue the conversation you know on where we could make sure that uh the parks and rec committee he gets um some some additional insights uh as part
of the process. Thank you. >> Any other council member wanted to make comment before we take second by the app? >> Uh Councilman Daniels, >> so um let me ask this. Um community engagement, when I questioned how the
decision-m process took place, uh the response was community feedback. uh through surveys, public meetings, focus groups, pop-up events uh that help identify priorities and desired improvements. Um
I guess this all took place last year or the year before. I don't I don't know. >> Yeah, earlier this year. A bit of last year. It's been over the past two years maybe. >> I can't remember what month it is right now, but yes, >> opposed to this year. Mostly last year
there's been like small level conversations at places like public and green space uh committee and some of the pop-up meetings that happened at Cathedral um and uh the artist loft. So it's been mainly through there were there were city the city ran ones that
they used with omnis but that it was also presented at some of the community uh the community action meetings >> the the community meetings at cathedral >> there were yeah we we've had some discussion so it wasn't a concerted effort from from the city to be there but there was uh Corey has come to some
of those meetings and presented >> okay so that's what I I mean uh a concerted effort as far as the community meetings are concerned um on the south side. We do have our community meetings. Um I'm sure there
was something at uh Knackak on the south side. Um but what took place on the north side? North side Alive has a coordinator from what I understand based on the job description I got. Um meeting with the residents and businesses as part of
that. Was that person involved to this capacity as far as the parks were concerned? She participated in the parks plan. Yes. >> Okay. Yeah. >> Um and that's fine, but we don't have that same type of coordinator, so to
speak, on the south side. Now what I mean by that we have community action that I know but as far as that person is concerned was she actively engaging outside of
or facilitating these public meetings these community meetings >> did I I don't believe Selena >> I I don't think in any other capacity no she she didn't but she she did in the same capacity that Anna did. And I'm
only chiming in here because it's important context. Uh that North Side Alive used to exist, not completely, but that role existed under Community Action. Uh the director of community action at the time. There were some
things and it kind of fractured. So the north side component of it was taken out of community action at that time. That was a couple years ago. Um, and that was put over here so that North Side Alive, the Friendship Park, could get the the >> attention that it deserved because
Southside has had community action. And so the role that Selena kind of fills over on the north side is the role that Anna fills on the south side. So the input that she would have had on the parks over there would have been the same input that Anna had on the parks on
the southside. So they kind of work in tandem. Even though one is umbrella under the city, it was because of a split at community action and not necessarily because the city took North Side Alive as like this is ours. It was more like Community Action
was like take this. So that that's I think that that's the most >> um that's the simplest explanation for the the split with the north side alive not being under community action anymore because it's not it's community action Bethlehem not community action south
Bethlehem but it's acted as South Bethlehem because that component >> bro I actually had a brief conversation with Anna about that last week. Um I just wanted to clear that piece up. And as far as Friendship Park is concerned, you mentioned a HUDbased application that took place for that.
>> Yeah, it's a it's a >> and that was specific for >> neighborhood revitalization strategy area. It's specific for the north side 2027 neighborhood area. >> The north side in its entirety, not >> so the north side 2027 or the north side alive area. It's um if you start at
Broad and you go north to Elizabeth and you start at Maine and go >> direction is that east. um basically uh a little past Lyndon. Yeah. >> And that actually that mirrors Southside's NPP. So as as you're
familiar because of your conversation with with Anna, not all of South Bethlehem is within an MPP, but there is a corridor that that is within the MPP and the MPP corridor gets concerted additional funding from community action. So that's the the version on the
southside. The north side version is that that north side alive track and they qualify because of income socioeconomic status. They qualify for the same types of incentives that the southside tomorrow >> and okay and I need to um discuss that a little bit further with you outside of
this. >> Yeah. Yeah. Let's have more comments. >> Believe me, I understand that the southside isn't the only part of town that has um pockets of uh lower income residents. Um the southside is
unfortunately the more predominant side of town that that that's affected like that. But um you know, Friendship Park and again every other park deserves it. I just have a hard time understanding
how we can spend whatever the spend is going to be. Three, four, $5 million versus a half a million dollars. Um, I have a hard time understanding that. And it's again, it's >> I think we're going to struggle though
if we go park by park everywhere along the way because every park is is different and has different features and has different possibilities. But when looking at the plan as a whole and and and not the presentation but the actual plan like the plan document
>> when you're looking at each park within each network like that I think is the framework by which you're going to see how the equity plays out like you frankly you can't pick out two parks one on the north side and one on the south side and say this is getting more than
that one and therefore the south side's not getting its fair share because it's just it's not it's not it's not how the plan is set up. The plan is set up to look at the networks and create equity within and as between the networks. >> How many parks do we have on the south
side? Not including soccer. >> We know what is. >> So in the in the plan also we break things down by regional park, anchor park and community parks. So we have one
regional park on the south side which is Sen. We have anchor parks. One, two, three. We actually have five of our 12 anchor parks are southside parks. And then one, two, three,
seven, eight, nine of the 42 community parks. So nine, five, one, 15 >> out of 40. And outside of Sen, what would be the largest park on the south side?
>> If as a linear park, it would be the the greenway as a linear park >> including the greenway. Yasco. >> Yeah, Yasco would be the largest park. >> Okay. >> I think per usable square footage, but I think if you look at all it, it probably be the disc park up the mountain because that's that's massive. >> South Mountain.
>> South Mountain. >> That part is pretty huge. Okay. Mainly nature, >> I guess. And yeah, um, South Mountain is another great >> It's over the hill. I can >> I don't I when I'm thinking of parks, I guess I'm just thinking of the neighborhood parks. I'm not thinking
about the greenways and South Mountain. I'm thinking about the parks that our children go. I don't have kids, but that the kids go to on a daily basis. >> I think if we viewed it that way, and I'm sorry, I'm getting into the conversation just for this for this purpose. >> No, like I I agree with you. I think if we viewed it that way, then we would need to break up the city through the
three regions and not necessarily north side and southside. I think that it would be the southside or north the north side corridor, the west end and the southside because you that geographically that's that's how it is. We're about onethird of Bethlehem, not one half. So I think if you probably looked at it at how many parks were per
square footage and I'm realizing that we're just having a conversation, it is probably better to do this after. So I'll whatever questions you have or whatever comments you have um because I would like to continue this conversation. >> We I mean I put it I'm sorry I am freezing. I'm literally shivering teeth. It
>> is a little cold in here. Yeah. >> 8:30 meetings. >> I will say >> in in looking at what we were doing this round, we wanted to be geographically diverse and then also we wanted to see what makes a big impact early on, right? And so if you look at the anchor parks
and the southside anchor parks, you have we identified the skate plaza, Madison, the Greenway, South Mountain Park, and Yasco. And as you've pointed out, like >> Yasco are the only two I would >> that you would think about, right? And Yasco already has a pool and a splash pad and like understanding that water
features are an extremely important part of this conversation. Like I think Madison jumped out immediately as like the the park that makes the most sense and and one where like there there can be impact here in ways that the the
other anchor parks on the southside aren't actually positioned necessarily for that. in part because Yasco already has the pool in the splash pad. >> Okay. So, let's say this. It's been suggested that there's nothing that I can do to halt this for this evening. Is
that the case? >> Everyone would have to vote for it. >> Yeah, it's it's either a yes or a no because if it's a if it's a table would be tableabling back to the same resolution. Changing the resolution changes the fundamental uh the fundamental contract itself. So it is
either a yes or it would be either a yes or a no to this specific contract this week or a yes or a no to this specific contract in two weeks. >> The terms of the contract >> cannot. Yeah, we we wouldn't be able to change the terms of the contract. So it's a supporter or a not. >> Okay, understood. I'm not going to push
that point any longer. Then I am going to state though um I want Madison Park to like be phenomenal. He's got to blow it up. Um it's it's it can't be what I'm seeing in this uh in the plan. Um and
again I'm just we'll have further discussions outside of this uh forum um where I can give you a little bit more insight into how this runs. >> Um but I just, you know, it's all about
equity for me. That's that's all it is. Yeah. And we're we're always available as well and happy to set up a meeting and talk through this plan or or others in in great detail. >> Okay. All right. Thank you for your time, everyone. >> Councilman, you have
>> Yeah, I'll I'll I'll try to be brief. I I I was hearing Councilwoman Daniels and and and whomever that might be able to answer. I was hearing a lot of numbers and certainly non-crete numbers. I'm just curious from Councilwoman, were there specific numbers that you were referring to? because I I've just been
looking at like the the appendices, the presentations, etc. And I'm not seeing any numbers regarding those three parks. Was that were those numbers you were estimating or that numbers that the administration has put forward in terms of what they're estimating to spend on those parks? >> Yeah. So, the the plan itself, it just
lists out for each park like we use like a generic um like a range. So, like if something had $1 sign, it was like a dollar to $250,000. If it had two dollar amounts, $2 signs, it was $250,000 to a million. If it had three dollar signs,
it was >> anticipated. Understood. Yeah. >> But we don't have specific dollar amounts associated with the concepts and the like the very preliminary ideas for each of the parks. We don't have specific dollar amounts associated. >> Yeah. >> Um that that is what would come out of
this design and engineering process that the contract would kickstart. >> So the other numbers like 1.4 is the real number at Friendship Park. like the all-in completed cost and I think the other numbers we were talking about were were
>> based on estimates based on the concepts and those other >> I'm just careful to speculate in terms of like construction cost doing you know plenty of projects that I've been a part of like it's it's very hard to do that and so and I'm with you in terms of equity like you have someone right
beside you on this side of the table I'm with you I I do think we need to have a conversation then whether we're talking about equality or equity like those are two incredibly different things. And if we were going to discuss equality, we're not comparing apples to apples on a 2 and a half acre plot versus a half
of an acre plot. And so to the conversation that we have in terms of like what what are these investments look like when we do have concrete dollars that if we're spending half a million dollars and I'm not talking about any park. If we're spending half a million dollars on a halfacre park and a million half dollars
on a 2 and a halfacre park like there is then the next step of conversation of what does equity look like in terms of the cost per acreage? And I know you used a different term but I'm just throwing that out there because that's I'm not smart enough to know what you know. um to have a conversation about equity and the impact to that specific
area. Each specific area can still have a great an equitable amount of impact despite the fact that it wasn't an equal investment. And so, um I I hear your point and and I and I'm right there with you. I do think there's a nuance conversation in terms of whether we're talking about equality, whether we're
talking about equity, or even if we take the next step and talk about justice and what all three of those things look like as we have conversations around this work that we're doing. and it's all critical. I would say next steps as as after we take this vote and I I don't want to assume how this vote's going to go, but regardless, I hate to be like
the utopian world person here and new to council, but like I I do feel hearing these conversations and like the the amount of of of conversation that's happening here and even education that's happening here that it's just like there I I feel there's such a disconnect in
the conversation from what is happening in community meetings, maybe the administration, and maybe in council. that there there are things happening in so many different pockets and I just think that it's incumbent upon all of us from from sitting council members uh you know that's my responsibility first and
foremost so as my identity as a sitting council member but also you know members of the administration and and community members to engage with this information to make sure we're educating ourselves and having these discussions um to make sure they're they're fully informed and
that we're using you know our offices uh to gather this information and so I can only speak from my experience that uh a lot of questions that I've had and and making sure the education is taking place like you know I I've I've had the luxury of you know wasting you know Eric's time on several occasions and and
Mike's and Laura's and and and I appreciate those opportunities and the votes always go you know are going to go how they go but like I know that's always open and so I think there needs to be an intentional reach out and I'm not saying it's us I'm not saying it's the administration I'm not saying it's community but I think moving forward
there does need to be an intentional reach out on what the plan looks like in terms of a design process to to Vice President Lair's point. What part of that design process? I don't know what that looks like, but I think getting materials on a Friday and thinking we're going to, you know, make an educated
vote on this, it does a disservice to the community, to us, and to the administration to not have a more comprehensive conversation between folks that I think are all coming from this um from a place of good and believing they're doing the best for their community and like-minded or great minds
uh can disagree, reasonable minds can disagree, but um I I think it's incumbent upon us to have those productive conversations and make sure we're engaging with one another in a proactive, productive, and positive way because we owe that to our community. >> Right. Thank you, Justin. Um uh and so I
would like to call the the role of I looked over there three times and say that. Go ahead. No, I just want to say that um what what Councilman Am was saying is that that I think and it's incumbent upon the administration to come to
council and present things to us, not just on this issue, but on everything. We're the ones voting on it. It's not our job to go out and do additional research. If we want to, we can. But you guys are the ones that need to come here and get four votes from us. You can't do
anything without four votes. So come here and educate all of us on what you want to get done. That's what I'm talking about with the Martin Tower site or with the parks or whatever we're getting into. You know, it's not our job to go to all out to all these other uh meetings and sub meetings and you know,
community outreach meetings. You know, if people >> in this instance, we had a committee meeting on the parks plan specifically, which you walked into at the very last minute, >> right? I I know I'm not talking about I'm not talking about that. I'm not I'm not talking about this meeting because I know you did that. But what I'm saying
is you need you need to come here on a regular basis and inform our council. We're the voters. >> So when do you have to show up then? Not to the community meeting or the city council committ chair. Like at the end of the day that was a conversation on an impending vote and my conversation was
very much about and I feel like we should be speaking about >> the broad topic. Yep. >> What is on the table? Miss Counsel, I don't know what you're referring to, but I was uh I looked over >> again just a call of order >> call of order that point of order that like we are talking about a specific vote right now and the conversation is
surrounding the vote. Not that this stuff doesn't matter, but a call to order about the vote that's impending. >> Okay. All right. I think I'm going to the the only thing before we call this vote, I think there's just a general desire to have more committee meetings, more conversations in general, and we
will proceed with that as the the parks chair. Um the only other thing I will say, Director Collins, might be helpful is especially when it comes to the parks in general, we're looking at Southside parks. It's going to be a conversation. Um you have two Southside residents who are probably going to come from the same
place on this. And it is there are things that exist in the southside that do not feel like they are for the southside. Um Arts Quest is one of them. The Greenway is one of them. And those are that is not a lack of city effort. That is not that the city didn't plan those things well. It's just that they
are destinations. Um so they don't tend to feel like Southside parks. So when we talk about Southside investment, even though if you look at the past 10 years uh between the the acquisition of the greenway, the the construction of the greenway, the skate park, there has been a ton of money invested in South
Bethlehem, it's not going to feel that way to Southside residents. So as we're continuing to have these conversations, when we're talking about the lens of equity, more more specifically, justice, the the lived experience is what's going to matter. So, I think that that is an important component um going forward to to consider that when we're having
conversations. Um so, I would like to uh call the votes on this. So, if the clerk will call the role, >> Mr. Callahan, >> I was I was out the bathroom when What are we voting? >> We're voting on on the parks. Was there
Yeah, but she didn't propose anything in >> No, she she didn't. >> Yeah, he he resol. Yep. And he said I So, we can go on to >> Mr. Cologne. >> Hi, >> Ms. Daniels. >> I >> Miss Quiet. >> I >> Miss Lar.
>> Mr. Rayman. >> I >> Miss Leon. >> I passes 70. I will accept a motion a motion and a second to group 10B through 10E and 10 L and 10 M. Uh >> so moved. >> Yeah. >> Second.
>> Okay. So we've got a motion in a second. Any discussion on the motion? The clerk will call the role on the motion. >> Mr. Callahan. >> I. >> Mr. Cologne. >> Um Miss Daniels. >> I >> Miss Quitech. I, >> Miss Leard, >> I,
>> Mr. Raymond, >> I, >> and Miss Leon. >> I passes 6. The clerk will read the resolutions and call the role. I apologize. >> 10B. Be it resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city
officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor hereby authorized to ratify execution of a use permit agreement with Arts Quest for the 2026 Taco Fest 10C. Be it resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed
appropriate by the city solicitor hereby authorized to execute a use permit agreement with Portuguese American club of Bethlehem for the 2026 Portuguese Heritage Day Festival 10D. Be it resolved by the council of the city account of Bethlehem that the mayor and
controller and/or such other city officials deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute a use permit agreement of Christmas city spirits LLC and joining party redevelopment authority of the city of Bethlehem for the 2026 Pride
Party Palooa 10E. Be it resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor hereby authorized to ratify execution of a use permit agreement with Bethlehem Vintage
Market for the 2026 Bethlehem Village market vintage market 10L be resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to
execute a use permit agreement with Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church for the 2026 Holy Infancy Cultural Celebration and 10M. Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the
city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute a use permit agreement with Arts Quest for the 2026 Soccerfest. Resolutions are sponsored by Miss Quiet and Mr. Aean. All right. Since none of them were identified to pull out for conversation, then the clerk, you can
call the role on the resolutions. >> Mr. Callahan, >> I. >> Mr. Cologne, >> Miss Daniels, >> I. >> Miss Quiet, >> I. >> Miss Leard, >> I. >> Mr. Raymond, >> I. >> And Miss Leon, >> I passes 6010F.
Beet resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials as deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute an agreement titled intergovernmental cooperation agreement northeast interception interceptor
capital improvements. The resolution is sponsored by Miss Quiet and Mr. Raymond. >> Discussion. The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Callahan. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cologne. >> Miss Daniels. >> Hi. >> Miss Quiet. I >> Miss Leairard >> I Mr. Raymond
>> I >> and Miss Leon >> I passes 6 I will accept the motion in a second to consider resolutions 10G through 10 I as a group >> so move >> second right any discussion right the clerk will call the role on
the motion >> Mr. Callahan >> I >> Mr. Cologne >> I miss Samuels >> I miss quite >> I >> miss >> I >> Mr. Raymond >> I >> and Miss Leon >> I passes 70. The clerk will read the resolutions and then proceed to calling
the role. >> Certificates of appropriateness under the provisions of the act of the Pennsylvania legislature Bethlehem resolution are hereby granted for 10G 56 East Market Street to repaint the main house yellow and the trim white to restore the building to its original
colors. 10H 91 and 97 West Broad Street to paint the rear of the buildings to match surrounding buildings. and 10 I 36 East Wall Street to install a federal style brass light on the front-facing facade of the building. Resolutions are
sponsored by Miss Quiet and Mr. Raymond. >> You can proceed to call the roll. >> Mr. Callahan, >> hi. >> Mr. Cologne, >> I >> miss Daniels. >> Hi, >> Miss Quiet. >> Hi, >> Miss Lair. >> Hi, >> Mr. Raymond. >> I >> Miss Leon, >> I passes 70.
>> Are you caught up with everything? I don't want to rush you. >> Good. Okay. All right. 10J. >> Be it resolved by the council of the city of Bethle that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to
execute an agreement with Bedco carry out programs and activities is assigned in connection with the execution of city sponsored events. Resolution is sponsored by Miss Quiet and Mr. Raymond. >> Discussion. Clerk will call the role.
Mr. Callahan. >> Hi. >> Mr. Cologne. >> Hi. >> Miss Daniels. >> Hi. >> Miss Quiet. >> I >> Miss Leard. >> I. >> Mr. Raymond. >> I. >> And Miss Leon. >> I passes 70 resolution 10K.
It resolved by the council of the city of Bethlehem that the mayor and controller and/or such other city officials is deemed appropriate by the city solicitor are hereby authorized to execute an intergovernmental agreement involving the Northampton County Drug Task Force. Resolution is sponsored by
Miss Quiet and Mr. Raymond. >> Discussion council vice president Lair. Um, so I am wondering here, um,
is this is, if I'm recalling correctly, a agreement that we are basically renewing, is that correct? >> Yes, it's a renewal. >> It's a renewal. >> Deputy Chief Michael, I believe that this is a renewal. >> Yeah, we've been part of the task force for years. This comes up with new
district attorney. So, it's a new district attorney. You know, he's been office for a while. Took a while for this just to come forward. So, there's nothing new in here. We have part-time officers on the drug task force. We have for decades. This just allows us to get paid for overtime that for work that takes place outside the city.
>> Um, is there any change in the structure with the current um like federal or uh you know administrations or anything that trickles down in terms of how things are enforced or anything like that? >> Nope.
>> Right now. Okay. Thank you. Any other discussion? >> The clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Callahan, >> I. >> Mr. Cologne, >> I. >> Miss Daniels, >> I. >> Miss Quiet. >> Nay. >> Miss Leairard. >> I.
>> Mr. Raymond. >> I. >> And Miss Leon. >> I. Passes 61. I will accept a motion and a second to group 10 N through 10 Q together. >> So moved. >> Second.
Discussion. Second was Councilman Callahan. >> Any discussion on the motion? Clerk will call the role. >> Mr. Callahan. >> I. >> Mr. Cologne. >> I. >> Miss. Daniels. >> Hi. >> Miss Guy. >> I. >> Miss. Leairard. >> I. >> Mr. Aman. >> I. >> Miss. Leon.
>> I. The motion passes 70. The clerk will read the resolutions and then call the role on the resolutions. Certificates of appropriateness under the provisions of the act of the Pennsylvania legislature Bethlehem resolution are hereby granted for 10 N 211 Mechanic Street to
rehabilitate the building facades 10 O 313 East 3rd Street to re rehabilitate the front facade 10P 330 East 4th Street to construct a new mixeduse building with one commercial space and four
dwelling units and 10 Q 335 through 339 West 4th Street to demolish the existing three-story annex in order to construct a new fourstory annex building. Resolutions are sponsored by Miss Quiet and Mr. Aemon.
>> Mr. Callahan, >> I >> Mr. Cologne. >> Hi, >> Miss Daniels. >> Hi, >> Miss Quiet. >> Hi, >> Miss Leard. >> I >> Mr. Raymond, >> I >> and Miss Leon, >> I passes 70. That concludes city business for the evening. Thank you, everyone.
>> All right. Nice job, folks. Let's go.