Allentown  
435 Hamilton Street  
Allentown, Pa. 18101  
Minutes  
Monday, November 13, 2023  
5:15 PM  
Environmental Advisory Council  
Old Business  
1. Approval of September Minutes (no meeting in October)  
2. Status updates on goals from leads  
a. Plastic bags (Julie)  
b. Status of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives (municipal and residential) (Tinku)  
c. Working with LCA and US Water Alliance on water equity (Tinku)  
d. Bird Town -- Allentown Public Library Children’s education (Tinku)  
e. Letter of Support to Master Gardeners (Maria)  
3. Muhlenberg internship (Tinku)  
4. Air Monitor Project (Maria)  
5. Report on environmental notice letters (Jennifer)  
1. Approval of September Minutes (no meeting in October)  
The minutes were approved unanimously.  
2. Status updates on goals from leads  
a. Plastic bags (Julie)  
After great deliberation among community members and firsthand experience  
at the recent Real Recognize Real cleanup event downtown, it has been decided  
that the contribution of plastic bags to the litter problem downtown is minimal.  
Many stores are removing bags on their own, and the EAC should not prioritize a  
plastic bag ordinance; however, the issue of litter in general is still a considerable  
problem. In an effort to appeal to the communities we cleanup and give  
neighborhoods a sense of agency, a new community based cleanup model is  
proposed.  
This new model, based off the EAC’s success at the recent trout creek cleanup,  
involved door to door communication and tabling in the neighborhoods where  
cleanups occur. The goal is to get the individuals involved and invested in keeping  
the community clean to prevent a return to normal when the cleanup is over.  
Potential issues such as language barriers need to be addressed. There were talks  
of this model already, and considerable progress was made with local non-profit  
Promise Neighborhoods, but due to a variety of undeclared reasons, the  
PromisCorps initiative is on hold. Despite this, their organization may still be able  
to assist with volunteers as well as Muhlenberg College’s enACT club. This model  
should be prioritized in the 2024 EAC goals.  
b. Status of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives (municipal and  
residential) (Tinku)  
Tinku and Allentown community member Jon Zeller attended a PA  
sustainability conference last week. The individuals they spoke to from PA DEP  
indicated that Allentown is likely to get a shared energy manager, we will be  
notified in the coming weeks. Hopefully after we have them, we can address a few  
of the initiatives we have already cooked up. Tinku has confirmed that that city is  
proceeding with their application for the energy efficiency block grant valued at  
170k. It’s already been allocated to the city, but they need to formally apply  
declaring how the funds will be used.  
c. Working with LCA and US Water Alliance on water equity (Tinku)  
The focus of this is similar to last years energy equity project, except this time  
with water bills. This is complex issue so far due to the variety of stakeholders  
involved. An example of a difficult scenario would be an individual with a leaky  
plumbing appliance who has loose communication with their landlord. LCA has  
noted another complex aspect of this is associated with the massive difference  
between infrastructure necessary in the more suburban areas of the city versus the  
more densely populated downtown. Also, the major topic of discussion/focus for  
LCA right now is associated with the massive lead pipe replacement project. While  
the PH of the water in Allentown will not cause the lead pipes to be problematic,  
the EPA regulations will call for all lead pipes to be replaced - so we must do it  
anyways. LCA does not know where the lead pipes are and is utilizing a survey to  
assist.  
d. Bird Town -- Allentown Public Library Children’s education (Tinku)  
The Allentown EAC has received a $500 budget from the Bird town organization  
to fund a teaching program at the Allentown Public Library focused on  
environmental stewardship and birds. We will have a Muhlenberg Intern focused  
on the planning and organization of this but will ultimately need more volunteers  
to speak and coordinate. The kids that will be part taking in the program are from  
the community we are trying to help - this will be great for us down the line for  
future engagement. This initiative will be included in the 2024 goals.  
e. Letter of Support to Master Gardeners (Maria)  
The letters of support were sent twice. There is a program at Penn State that  
has the goal of bringing some native plants to the Allentown Public Library. The  
hope is to utilize it as an educational experience.  
3. Muhlenberg internship (Tinku)  
We got one ! They will be in contact with the EAC and starting work soon.  
4. Air Monitor Project (Maria)  
This project has been temporarily on hold, but progress will continue. Maria will  
resume conversations with involved parties at Lehigh University. The hope is to  
have an in-person event sometime in February, potentially a roundtable or panel  
discussion, where the data can be assessed properly. We will need a location to do  
this (Muhlenberg College).  
5. Report on environmental notice letters (Jennifer)  
No update  
New Business  
1. AEAC Comments on Sustainability Coordinator Position  
2. LED Street Lights  
Barbara Malt has put forth a concern about the effects of LED Lights in the area: it disrupts the  
birds, insects, and people. Should AEAC research this topic for a report and recommendations to the  
City?  
Housekeeping  
1. Select January date for executive session  
2. Maintaining Mailing List  
3. Filling AEAC vacancies  
1. AEAC Comments on Sustainability Coordinator Position  
Good job everyone who showed out on Saturday Nov 4th to speak on behalf of the  
position! Another avenue to explore that other municipalities used was to  
repurpose a current position in economic development to sustainability. It would  
be a much better location than Parks. The COA put it in the Parks budget due to the  
recent award of approximately 900k regarding tree equity.  
2. LED Street Lights Barbara Malt has put forth a concern about the effects of LED  
Lights in the area: it disrupts the birds, insects, and people. Should AEAC research  
this topic for a report and recommendations to the City?  
Due to a variety of factors, the EAC decided to postpone the decision on this until  
the January meeting.  
3. Capstone Project with PA DEP  
Hoping to investigate this more to potentially update our Greenhouse Gas  
Emissions in the future. Might be a project with multiple universities  
involved/interns. This was voted on and approved.  
Housekeeping  
1. Select January date for executive session  
The executive EAC member session will occur January 8th, and the regular  
public meeting will take place on January 15th.  
2. Maintaining Mailing List  
Maria will send Kyle an excel with names to be cleaned up and set up.  
3. Filling AEAC vacancies  
Maria will be in contact with the Mayor’s office on the status of the vacant EAC  
position. Additionally, a motion was made by Tinku and seconded by Maria to  
suggest to council president Daryl Hendricks he appoint Ce-Ce Gerlach to be the  
council liaison for the EAC so they can be compliant with the city ordinance. She did  
not attend the meeting and did not share input with the group on any EAC  
initiatives.