435 Hamilton Street

Allentown, Pa. 18101

Allentown

Minutes - Final

City Council

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Invocation:

6:30 PM

Council Chambers

Pledge to the Flag

Roll Call

6 -

Present:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Courtesy of the Floor

Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules

Contract Approvals

15-7340

R198

Authorization for Contract with Penn Mount Stone, LLC in the amount of

$64,494.42 to provide masonry repair and preservation of a WPA

Staircase and Wall located at the entrance of the Rose Garden for The

Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation. One (1) bid was received,

contract shall be for six (6) months with one (1) six (6) month renewal

beyond the contract expiration period.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R198 - Penn Mount Stone

Resolution #30961

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated to Ms. Baraket good evening.

Ms. Jessica Baraket stated that this was done as Bid #2024-39. It was

advertised on Public Purchase on September 25, 2024. The public

opening was done on October 31, 2024. The city received one bid. After

the department reviewed the Bid, they are recommending an award to the

sole bidder, Penn Mount Stone and the city has successfully done business

with them before.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or any

comments from the public.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Enactment No: 30961

Absent:

Minutes of Previous Meeting

15-7343 August 21, 2024 Special Meeting

System

Sponsors:

Attachments: August 21, 2024 Special Meeting

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Communications

Mr. Santo Napoli stated for visitors of Allentown City Council meetings, you

are encouraged to park in the government deck which is next to city hall.

He stated please see our City Clerk for a chaser card to pay for your

parking.

Dr. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Napoli.

Old Business: NONE

REPORTS

December 11, 2024

5:30 PM Water and Sewer Compliance

6:00 PM Special Council Meeting to Review Budget Amendments

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES: Council President:

On December 11, 2024, at 6:00 PM there will be a Special Council Meeting to Review

Council’s and the Administration’s Budget Amendments

Budget and Finance: Chair Napoli, Hendricks, Gerlach

The Committee has not met since the last Council meeting; the next meeting is

scheduled for December 4 at 5:15 PM to review the monthly finances and Bill 110

transferring Six Million Five Hundred Thousand ($6,500,000) Dollars from the General

Fund unappropriated balance to the Risk Fund for the payment of healthcare claims,

drug prescription benefits, and other employee medical costs for the remainder of

the year. The health care claim amounts are significantly higher this year.

Community and Economic Development, Chair Hendricks, Mota, Napoli

The Committee met has not met since the last council meeting, there are no future

meetings scheduled.

Human Resources, Administration and Appointments: Chair Affa, Napoli, Santos

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting. The next meeting is

scheduled for December 4 at 5:30 PM to discuss Bill 113, Love your Neighbor Grant.

Parks and Recreation: Chair Santos, Affa, Gerlach

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is

scheduled for December 4 at 5:40 PM to discuss Bill 107, legislation changing the

board requirements of the EAC; Bill 112, the Special Event Fees, and Bill 114, a

transfer in Parks.

Public Safety: Chair Zucal, Hendricks, Mota

The committee met this evening; the next scheduled meeting is for December 4 at

6:15 PM to review R202, the contract for Alloy5.

Public Works: Chair Gerlach, Affa, Zucal

The Committee has not met since the last council meeting; the next meeting is

scheduled for December 4 at 6:05 PM to discuss Bill 108, legislation requiring lids on

dumpsters.

Water and Sewer Compliance Meeting, Chairperson Gerlach

The Committee will meet on December 11, 2024 at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers.

Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Mota, Napoli,

Gerlach

The committee has not met since the last council meeting. There are no future

meetings scheduled at this time.

Controller’s Report

Mr. Jeffrey Glazier stated that he doesn't have a Report this evening and wanted to

advise Council that his Audit Manager will be out for a little bit get a knee done.

While the audit work will continue, the Reports will be a little bit slower in coming.

Mayor's Report

The mayor has not submitted anything for the agenda.

15-7356

Controller Reports

Attachments: Bank Rec - 9.30

Bank rec - 6.30

AP Check Review

ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

15-7239

Bill 87

Amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 270 Fees, Article XII Fire

Fees by creating inspection fees and updating the language of the City

Code.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 87 - Fire Fees Amendment

Fire Fees Memo.pdf

Ordinance #16067

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked for any comments from the administration or from

the dais.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that this was before Public Safety tonight. It was sent

favorably 3 - 0 to regular Council.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the public.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Enactment No: 16067

15-7300

Bill 105 Special Committee Meeting, forwarded favorably

Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Sixty

Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) from the unappropriated balance of the

Golf Funds to the Golf Capital Projects fund. These funds will be used for

the bunker capital improvements to enhance the golf course.

Attachments: Bill 105 - Golf Funds Appropriation

Ordinance #16068

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Enactment No: 16068

15-7301

Bill 106 Special Committee Meeting, forwarded favorably

Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Two

Thousand Nine Hundred Thirty-One Dollars and Fifty-Six Cents ($2,931.56)

from the Jordan Greenway Trail Capital Project into the MLK Trail Capital

Project. These funds will be utilized for the construction of the trail.

Attachments: Bill 106 - MLK Trail Allocation

Ordinance #16069

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Enactment No: 16069

15-7355

Bill 111

Amending page 462 of the 2024 Federal Grants Fund budget to accept

Seventy-Seven Thousand Two Hundred Eighty-One Dollars and

Eighty-Eight cents ($77,281,88) from the FY 2024 General Fund

Department of Community & Economic (DCED) Director’s Bureau budget

for the SPARK program administration.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 111 - Fed Grants SPARK reallocation (003).doc

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that you can just flip this to Ordinance for

introduction.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked the administration to explain this then.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated what Mr. Hanlon suggested is that rather than ask

for a motion to Suspend the Rules, this will move in the Agenda for

ordinances for introduction. Per the discussion, there will be an inability to

Suspend the Rules with the number of Councilmembers present.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that we will introduce that Bill when we get to

ordinances for introduction.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked Mr. Hanlon if he could repeat that again.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that the intent was if they had enough people to

vote, you were going to wave the 14 days between introduction and Final

Passage. You don't have that so there is no need to look at it under

Ordinances for Final Passage. You can look at it for Ordinances for

Introduction and then it to Mr. Hendricks committee (Community and

Economic Development Committee).

Dr. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Hanlon.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated Bill 111 amends page 462 of the 2024 Federal

Grants Fund budget to accept Seventy-Seven Thousand Two Hundred

Eighty-One Dollars and Eighty-Eight cents ($77,281,88) from the FY 2024

General Fund Department of Community & Economic (DCED)

Director's Bureau budget for the SPARK program administration. He

stated that this will basically be referred probably to the Community and

Economic Development Committee.

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated ok. So that probably will be Mr. Hendricks.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks stated that will be him and said thank you.

REFERRED TO COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMITTEE

CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated right now, it will be flipping to the Consent

Agenda. He stated that they have two items on the Consent Agenda.

Certificates of Appropriateness for work in the Historic Districts at 728

Liberty Street, 1118 Chew Street and a Certificate of Appropriateness for

1028 W. Chew Street.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there are any request to remove any items from

the Consent Agenda. She stated that she guesses not and asked if there

were any comments from the dais.

Mr. Santo Napoli stated very quickly, he commended Ms. Kistler and the

CED department. This was something that came up in Mr. Hendricks

committee meeting. They worked with the property owner and found an

amicable solution and they are voting on it tonight. He just wants to say

thank you for all the work involved in getting this situation resolved. He

stated that you were a part of that also President Mota. She asked if there

were any comments from the public.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

15-7345

R199

Certificate of Appropriateness for work in the Historic Districts:

•

728 Liberty St.

•

1118 Chew St.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R199 HARB - 728 Liberty 1118 Chew

FINAL 728 Liberty St Solar Panels-Pre-Reveiw

FINAL 1118 Chew Street - Accessible Entry-Review

Resolution #30962

Enactment No: 30962

15-7344

R200

Certificate of Appropriateness – 1028 W. Chew Street

Re: Legalization of unauthorized 3rd floor addition, roofing, siding.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R200 HARB - 1028 W Chew

FINAL Review 1028 W Chew Updates

Resolution #30963

Enactment No: 30963

RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

15-7336

R201

Approves transfer: (1) $89,000.00 in Human Resources needed to be

moved because 2023 Q4 Unemployment was Paid in 2024 Leading to

Higher Than Budgeted Unemployment Expenses in 2024.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R201 Transfer Funds

2023 Q4 Unemployment Was Paid In 2024

Resolution #30964

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or any

comments from the public. This will be referred.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that this is for Final Passage.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated for Final Passage.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated by way of explanation, this is pretty much a timing

issue. They accumulated unemployment expenses in the end of 2023 that

were paid in 2024. it just hit the 2024 budget.

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated ok. Let's do the vote.

6 -

Yes:

Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Natalie Santos, Candida Affa, and Santo

Napoli

1 - Ce-Ce Gerlach

Absent:

Enactment No: 30964

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public

comment prior to referral)

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated Bill 112.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated this is where we have to flip back to Bill 111

because you are going to have the votes.

15-7342

Bill 112

Amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 532 Special Events,

Sections 2-14 by updating the language around permitting and fees and

amending Part II General Legislation, Chapter 270 Fees, Section 62

Special Event by increasing certain special event fees.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 112 - Special Events Fee Amendment

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or any

comments from the public.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the public. She

asked Mr. Hanlon to call the vote. She then stated that this will be referred

to Park and Recreation.

REFERRED TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

15-7341

Bill 113

Amending the 2024 Grant Fund budget to accept Fifty-Thousand Dollars

($50,000.00) from Bloomberg Philanthropies through Johns Hopkins

University for the Love Your Block Grant.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 113- Love Your Block Grant

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or any

comments from the public.

REFERRED TO HUMAN RESOURCES, ADMINISTRATION AND

APPOINTMENTS COMMITTEE

15-7357

Bill 114

Amending the 2024 Capital Fund Budget to provide for a transfer of Nine

Thousand One Hundred Forty-Five Dollars ($9,145.00) from Irving Pool

Improvements capital project into Fountain Park for installation of a mural

on the pool house building.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 114 - Irving Park Transfer.docx

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais or the

public.

REFERRED TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

RESOLUTIONS FOR INTRODUCTION (Can be voted on or Referred to Committee):

15-7339

R202 Refer to the Public Safety Committee

Authorization for Contract with Alloy5, LLC in the amount of $1,473,000.00

to provide architect/engineer (A/E) consultants to be part of a team to

perform professional services for the design of the new Public Safety

Headquarters and the renovations for the existing Public Safety building.

Seven (7) proposals were received; however, two (2) proposals were

rejected due to cost being included in the technical proposal. Contract shall

be for two (2) years with one (1) one (1) year renewal beyond the contract

expiration period.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R202 - Alloy5, LLC

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated ok, Mr. Zucal.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated ma'am, it is unusual to see a contract in the

section titled Resolutions for Introduction. Typically, we see Contract

Approvals in the Contract Approval Section. He stated that Ms. Baraket is

here to explain the process in which we came to this contract. If you would

like.

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated definitely.

Ms. Jessica Baraket stated that this was done as RFP2024-44. It was

advertised on Public Purchase on September 25, 2024. There was a

public RFP open where the Purchasing department received seven

proposals. There were both Technical and Cost Evaluations done by the

Evaluation Committee. All the proposals were evaluated on the ability to

meet the RFP requirements and all the evaluations were conducted. The

committee decided not to hold oral interviews. The committee made the

recommendation to award based on the firms qualifications and overall

score and the committee is recommending an award to Alloy5. The city

has successfully done business with Alloy5 in the past.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any comments from the dais.

Mr. Ed Zucal asked who were the other individuals that applied.

Ms. Jessica Baraket stated that they received seven proposals. Two of

them were rejected because they included cost information. Two of the

proposal had to get rejected. She started that she can pull that information

up for him. She stated that they normally don't provide that to Council which

is why it is not on there. She can get that to them very quickly.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that he is a little concerned because they did the actual

contract when they did the Engineering part of it for the plans. He stated

that's all.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that Alloy5 presented the Feasibility Study that

was presented to members of Council and to the Public Safety Committee

prior to the next step is when the city hired the construction management.

He stated that this is a separate contract that is a part of the road too the

city's renewed Public Safety building.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that he doesn't mean to interrupt him, but is a little

concerned that there were five other people. She stated that no oral

interviews were done because they have done work with them before. He

wants to make sure they are not making it look like.

Ms. Jessica Baraket stated that how it is traditionally done is if there is

usually based off scoring and if there is enough gap between the first and

whoever going to be second in that scoring process then at that point there

is no need to do oral interviews because of the scoring and the way that

scoring happened. It is not going to bring somebody that may be in second

place or third place up high enough to beat the first ranked respondent.

That typically makes the determination. It is not just because we've done

business with them in the past. That is what makes the determination not

to do this proposal.

Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that part of the procurement process is always led

by the Purchasing Team in the City of Allentown which is not just certified

and decorated for their accomplishments in Purchasing.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that normally it would be referred to a committee, but

he doesn't want to risk any issues with the money here, so obviously

Council can vote on this tonight. He made a recommendation that they do

that.

Dr. Cynthia Mota stated let's do this then.

Mr. Michael Hanlon asked about the public.

Dr. Cynthia Mota asked does the public have any comments.

A motion was made by Ed Zucal, seconded by Candida Affa, recommended that

Council vote on R202 this tonight.