435 Hamilton Street

Allentown, Pa. 18101

Allentown

Minutes - Final

City Council

Wednesday, June 21, 2023

Invocation:

6:30 PM

Council Chambers

Pledge to the Flag

Roll Call

7 -

Present:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Courtesy of the Floor

Courtesy and Privilege of the Floor Rules

Contract Approvals

15-5990

R104

Authorization for Contract with Alloy5, LLC, a small business, in the amount

of $50,000 to provide professional services to facilitate the relocation of

the City’s Police operation to a centralized location, multiple bidders.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R104 - Alloy5, LLC

Assistant Chief James Gress stated that R104 was a contract award for

Alloy5, LLC through the RFP process by committee in which he was a part

of. They reviewed all the documents that were submitted and the contract

was to look at the feasibility of a new Police Station, the plan of where it

would be and the design would be. This is just the first step of many. The

Alloy5 team proposal was incredibly detailed step by step. They have

great success. They built other Police Departments similar to Allentown's

in the area. The award was to select Alloy5.

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Assistant Chief Gress. She asked if they have

any comments from Council.

Mr. Ed Zucal asked how much money did the city just spend revamping the

desk area.

Assistant Chief James Gress stated that he is not exactly sure. He stated

that it may have been about $20,000. The renovation of the lobby was

done through the city's Building Maintenance Department.

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Zucal and asked anybody else. She asked

if there were any public comments or the administration.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that she thinks Ms. McNeil needs to read into the

read the contract approval.

Ms. Sarrah McNeil stated that this was done as RFP 2023-17 and

advertised on March 22, 2023. On April 12, 2023, the public opening was

held and the city received six proposals and one was rejected. They had

both technical and cost evaluations. The proposal evaluated is on the

ability to meet the RFP requirements and after all the evaluations were

conducted, the committee decided not to hold oral interviews. The

committee made recommendations based on the firms qualifications and

overall score. The committee is recommending an award to Alloy5.

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Ms. McNeil and asked if there were any

comments from the dais or the public.

A motion was made by Cynthia Mota that this Resolution be approved. The

motion carried by the following vote:

8 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Joshua

Siegel, Natalie Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30655

15-5991

R105

Authorization for Contract with Construction Master Services, LLC in the

amount of $99,738 to provide repair of the Cedar Creek Vehicular bridge

in Cedar Creek Park, competitively bid and three (3) bids were received.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: R105 - Construction Master Services

Ms. Sarrah McNeil stated that this was done on Bill 2023-26. It was

advertised on May 8, 2023. The public opening was held on June 6, 2023

and they received three bids. After the department reviewed the

proposals, they are recommending the award to Construction Master

Services, LLC.

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

public.

A motion was made by Cynthia Mota that this Resolution be approved. The

motion carried by the following vote:

8 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Joshua

Siegel, Natalie Santos, and Santo Napoli

Enactment No: 30656

Minutes of Previous Meeting

15-5996 June 13, 2023 Special Meeting To Discuss Bill 47 Minutes

Attachments: June 13, 2023 Special Meeting To Discuss Bill 47 Minutes

A motion was made by Cynthia Mota that this Minutes be approved. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

15-5997

June 13, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes

Attachments: June 13, 2023 City Council Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Cynthia Mota that this Minutes be approved. The motion

carried by the following vote:

7 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Communications

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that there is one disclosure and an adjustment of

a disclosure from the last meeting. Both Mr. Napoli and Ms. Santos

disclosed that Jonathan Strauss from Cortex Residential reached out to

them to discuss an affordable housing project.

Old Business: NONE

REPORTS

A Special Meeting for Confirmation of City Solicitor and Human Resource's Director -

will take place on June 28th at 6 PM.

Budget and Finance: Chair Napoli, Hendricks, Gerlach

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

scheduled for June 28th at 5:30 PM.

Community and Economic Development: Chair Mota, Napoli, Affa

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

scheduled for June 28th at 6:45 PM.

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

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

meetings scheduled.

Parks and Recreation: Chair Gerlach, Affa, Mota

The Committee met on June 15th; there are no future meetings scheduled.

Public Safety: Chair Affa, Hendricks, Zucal

The Committee met this evening; a future meeting is not scheduled.

Public Works: Chair Zucal, Santos, Hendricks

The Committee met this evening; there are no future meetings scheduled.

Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations, and Strategy: Chair Hendricks,

Mota, Gerlach

The committee met on June 15th; a meeting will be scheduled soon to review items

being introduced this evening.

Controller's Report (3 minutes)

NONE

Mayor's Report (3 minutes)

NONE

ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

15-5761

Bill 23

Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Allentown by allowing

Elementary or Secondary School in an I3 zoning district if the subject lot is

immediately adjacent to or directly across the street from a residential

zoning district, and providing for a repealer clause, a severability clause,

and an effective date.

Attachments: Bill 23 Zoning Amendment

ACPC Action

Referral Letter from Mike Hanlon regarding Bill 23 - Allowing

Elementary or Secondary School in an I3 zoning district

Merged Envelopes

The Morning Call Ad 7438458

Rezoning Posting - 2268 S 12th Street

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Letter regarding Elementary

Schools in I2 and I3 Districts

Exhibit Submitted by Attorney Szczesny

Exhibit Submitted by Attorney Szczesny Part II

Exhibit Submitted by Attorney Szczesny Part III

Ms. Cynthia Mota asked if anyone had any comments from the dais.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks directed a question to Ms. Kistler regarding our

rewrite. They are in the process of doing a review and rewrite of possible

amendments of our current zoning ordinance. He asked if this is correct.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated yes. She stated that Mr. Hendricks is asking if the

city is in the process of a zoning rewrite and the answer is yes. They are

hoping for a public first draft in the fourth quarter of this year.

Mr. Daryl Hendricks thanked Ms. Kistler and stated that is all.

Mr. Michael Hanlon stated that Mr. Hendricks asked if the Planning Bureau

working on a rewrite and Ms. Kistler said yes. They are working on a

rewrite and that will be done in October. For the record, the Community

and Economic Development committee forwarded this Bill unfavorably

pending the zoning rewrite.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that the zoning rewrite will not be done. It will be

available in first public draft in the fourth quarter of this year. The draft for

public comment and input will be available in the last quarter, but the whole

rewrite will not be finalized. They have a ton of public comments and input

from Council to consider in the rewrite.

Ms. Cynthia Mota asked if it would be too premature to say that the rewrite

will take place a year from now. She asked for a rough estimate.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that obviously it would depend on how much the

public provides input to the draft and how much we debate that input or if

everyone is in agreement. There won't be a debate. They hope to finalize

this certainly within 2024. Ideally within the first half of 2024, but certainly

within 2024.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that the important thing to recognize is that the city has

to act on what is current. What may or may not occur in the future. We

heard at this point it was recommended unfavorably.

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Zucal and asked anyone else from the dais,

the administration or the public.

Mr. John Vanluvanee, stated that the only comment he would like to make

is that the passage of this ordinance is not going to change the

neighborhood. A new ordinance generally, even if the changes the zoning

or the permitted uses. You are not going to change the usage that

presently exists in the zoning district. It might make some of them

nonconforming, but it isn't going to change the residential look across the

street and won't change the fact that it is a vacant office building. It may or

may not address this issue for the Adaptive Reuse of existing buildings. A

new ordinance is not going to address the facts that you have before you

tonight in considering whether or not what is being proposed is or is not a

reasonably good idea. He stated that his understanding from Mr. Schmehl

that this ordinance has been under consideration at some level, not by

Council, but at some level by staff for quite a long time. There is no

guarantee and you just heard it very appropriately. There is no guarantee

when you are going to have a final draft or if you will have a final draft and

there is no guarantee that you are going to adopt it even if you do have a

final draft for consideration. It could be one year or two years or three years

or another five years. It may never happen. The ordinance of the type that

is being drafted is a different concept then you are used to now. It is a form

based zoning. It is not a new concept, but over the last 20 years or so. It

isn't going to change what you have here. There is no reason to delay. You

can't put the entire community on hold for a period of two to three years

while you consider this, especially since you have not resolved as a Council

yet to take action and you don't even know what the product is going to look

like. In his view, Council has an obligation to the public to act on what's in

front of you. You have a fact. You know this neighborhood and know what's

there and no matter what this ordinance says, it is not going to change the

neighborhood. The houses are still there. The vacant office buildings will

still be there and the existing industrial uses will still be there. The zoning

ordinance will have no effect on any of that. There is no reason to defer

action based on something that may or may not happen.

Attorney Loren Szczesny, on behalf of the Allentown School District, stated

consistent with the testimony that we presented from Tom, our Planner at

the Public Hearing. They would ask that City Council not approve the

ordinance that is presented for your consideration. Simply consistent with

our testimony. It is just not good planning to propose the school use in the

I2 and the I3 Industrial Districts of the city. They would simply ask

consistent with the recommendation from the Community and Economic

Development committee. It was an unfavorable recommendation or

forwarded to Council unfavorably. They asked that Council not approve the

ordinance this evening.

Ms. Cynthia Mota asked if there were any other comments.

A motion was made by Cynthia Mota that this Ordinance be approved. The

motion failed by the following vote:

7 -

No:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Michael Hanlon asked if anybody would like to take these off the

Consent Agenda.

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

7 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

15-5983

R106

Certificate of Appropriateness for work in the Historic Districts: 1611 ½ W.

Turner St., 941 W. Turner St., 614 N. Law St., 604 N. 6th St., 449 N. 10th

St.

Attachments: R106 HARB Resolution

449 N 10th St Final Review

604 N 6th St Final Review

614 N Law St Final Review

941 W Turner St Final Review

1611.5 W Turner St Final Review

Enactment No: 30657

15-5994

R107

Cancels the July 5, 2023 Council Meeting

Attachments: R107 Cancels July 5th Council Meeting

Enactment No: 30658

RESOLUTIONS FOR FINAL PASSAGE (To be Voted On):

ORDINANCES FOR INTRODUCTION (To be referred to Committee with public

comment prior to referral)

15-5967

Bill 61

DIRECTING THE LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO PLACE

A REFERENDUM QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN

VOTERS ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

TO AMEND THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN HOME RULE CHARTER TO

LIMIT THE TERM OF THE OFFICE OF CITY CONTROLLER TO TWO (2)

TERMS

Gerlach and Mr. Zucal

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 61 City Controller Term Limits

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Hanlon and asked if there were any

comments from the dais or the public.

REFERRED TO THE RULES, CHAMBERS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONS AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE

15-5966

Bill 62

DIRECTING THE LEHIGH COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS TO PLACE

A REFERENDUM QUESTION BEFORE THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN

VOTERS ON THE NOVEMBER 7, 2023 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT

TO AMEND THE CITY OF ALLENTOWN HOME RULE CHARTER TO

LIMIT THE TERM OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL TO THREE (3)

TERMS

Gerlach and Mr. Zucal

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 62 City Council Term Limits

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Hanlon and asked if there were any

comments from the dais or the public.

REFERRED TO THE RULES, CHAMBERS, INTERGOVERNMENTAL

RELATIONS AND STRATEGY COMMITTEE

15-5989

Bill 63 CED, Recommended Favorably, with amendment

Amending the 2023 General Fund & HUD Grants Fund budget to

accommodate a reorganization of positions to allow the Department of

Community and Economic Development to enhance current operations for

both HUD and non-HUD grant funding and administer grants more

efficiently cross-departmentally while remaining in compliance with the

home rule charter.

Administration

Sponsors:

Attachments: Bill 63 Grants Staff Reorg

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Hanlon and asked if there were any

comments from the dais or the public.

REFERRED TO THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMITTEE

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

A motion was made by Ed Zucal, seconded by Candida Affa, to Suspend The

Rules to introduce and vote on Resolution 108 that Supports Administrative and

Legislative Action to prohibit after hours establishments except for restaurants

and enforce the nuisance abatement law.

7 -

Yes:

Candida Affa, Cynthia Mota, Daryl Hendricks, Ed Zucal, Ce-Ce Gerlach, Natalie

Santos, and Santo Napoli

Councilperson Zucal:

Request to suspend the rules to introduce and vote on a resolution that: Supports

Administrative and Legislative Action to prohibit after hours establishments except

for restaurants and enforce the nuisance abatement law.

Someone would need to make a motion to suspend Council RULE IV - AGENDA

A. Submitting Agenda Items - relating to introducing legislation to introduce a

resolution and refer the resolution to committee; you need four votes. The resolution

would be referred to the Public Safety Committee. Have the Clerk read the bill into

the record; ask for comments from the public; then refer the legislation to

committee.

15-5998

R108 if introduced

Supports Administrative and Legislative Action to prohibit after hours

establishments and enforce the nuisance abatement law.

Affa, Hendricks and Mr. Zucal

Sponsors:

Attachments: R108 Public Safety

Ms. Cynthia Mota thanked Mr. Hanlon.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that it is his wish to have it sent to Public Safety.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated on. Let's send this to Public Safety.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that the administration would like to make a

comment.

Assistant Chief of Operations Michael Becker stated that first and

foremost, thank you for the opportunity to speak. He stated that the Police

is looking forward to working with Council to boaster the presence and

hammer this issue that we are having here. It is frustrating. Chief Roca

was not able to attend tonight and has spoken about this since he has

become Chief of Police. The city departments are engaging in and have

been engaging in operations targeting these establishments. Some they

can talk about and some they can't talk about at this time. They are looking

forward to identifying new ways, if possible to address these clubs. He

gave details of what they do at the Allentown Police Department. They

work with other city departments: Zoning, Health, Code, and the Fire

Department and have been for the last year targeting these establishments.

They also, Allentown Police Department have details that go out there and

will focus on Nuisance Complaints outside the clubs. That is drunkenness,

disorder, and DUIs. In fact, this past weekend, we had a detail out there at

Synergy the night of the homicide. Our officers were right outside when that

happened that were on that detail. Liquor Control Enforcement is involved.

They had a conversation with Liquor Control as well. in addition to the

details that they conduct, our officers that are on patrol and often hang out

at those establishments when there is no call. They are directed patrol.

They are there all the time. He stated that the eastside officers are

frustrated. He gets calls and texts about it all the time. He stated that he

can speak on behalf of himself for the officers. They take great pride of

their work, their job and this is frustrating for them and the officers out there.

He knows especially for the community it is around these clubs. He stated

that he looks forward to work with City Council and Chief Roca and

everybody here to see what they can do.

Mr. Ed Zucal asked Solicitor Kloiber what is being done from the Law

office standpoint on enforcement of the Nuisance Abatement and the

Codified Ordinances that we have in place currently.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated that the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance

was drafted in a way that sets it up that the investigations into nuisances

are done through the department of DCED. He stated that DCED is

working with all the different departments and identifies and when there is

evidence that they can proceed with it, they would come to the Solicitor's

office and they would initiate the proceedings. The Nuisance Abatement

Law in which they talked about a few months back provides means that

they can take immediate action and seek preliminary injunction relief if

necessary and also a permanent injunction for relief. They are driven by the

work of the departments. As Assistant Chief Becker says they are

gathering the data and doing all sorts of things. They are ready to proceed

when the circumstances are there. The Solicitor's office enforcements are

driven by the departments.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated he is glad Attorney Kloiber used the word injunction. Is

that something that Council can look at collaboratively and get together with

all the different departments as sort of an immediate relieve for these

establishments.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated that the Nuisance Abatement laws and

part of a draw in doing that is because it does enable the means of

seeking immediate relief. They have to have the evidence and when they

go to court, they can present it and can withstand the scrutiny of that. But,

part of the draw is that it can seek immediate relief within the tool house of

what Council can do.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated a better way of asking that is if they can immediately

go for a Court Order to shut the place down.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated that injunctions allows if there is evidence.

They would have to see the evidence. If the evidence is presented to the

Solicitor's office, they will and presents a case to the court. They have to

get the evidence to do that.

Ms. Candida Affa asked who does the DA (District Attorney) play in all of

this. How does he get involved in this?

Attorney Mattew Kloiber stated that under the Liquor Code, there are

provisions that allows a Nuisance Abatement Provisions under the Liquor

Code. The city can, in certain instances actually purse those, but what they

are typically done is through the District Attorney's office.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that it is through the District Attorney's office.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated that the District Attorney handles that and

in part of the discussions through the years because this is a topic that has

been covered whether it has been members of the administration or

members of Council. They also had the DA's office be a part of that under

the Liquor Control Ordinance.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that they don't have a Liquor License so there is

no Liquor Control Board involved in these after hours clubs.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated to Ms. Affa that her questions was how the

DA would be involved in the enforcement of Nuisance for clubs. That is

how they get involved in this. The city's Nuisance Abatement Ordinance as

it was drafted was set because it provides a significant amount of relief for

the city. If they can show the evidence and the key is that they have to go

before a court and be able to have a judge that is going to look at this and

say it meets the standards that we have to have in order to do that. The

definition and the change that Council did back in February and in

changing the Nuisance Abatement Ordinance was to in a way create more

ability for the city to take action.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that the city goes through all these channels. First,

the police department sighting. It goes to the District Attorney's office.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated for them to pursue a Nuisance Abatement,

it does not have involve the District Attorney's office for that. That is

something that this legislation enables them to do. What they have to do is

and has multiple means if there is a Nuisance Complaint. He is going by

how the Ordinance was phrased. He stated that he will take a step back

just to remind everyone that the Ordinance was picked and the language

was chosen because it is drawn from the Third Class City Code. The

Third-Class City Code has Nuisance Abatement Provisions. The city just

adopted them and in doing that we know these types of laws have not been

challenged. It withstood scrutiny. We know it is going to pass scrutiny. We

know that the courts rely on this Nuisance Abatement language. It setups a

standard that is defensible and that it is going to work. What they do need

when they go to court is evidence. If you are going to convict someone of a

crime, you have to have evidence of the crime and be able to proof that.

What we are going to do here is establish there is a Nuisance. Different

citations coming from different locations help to establish that. The way

that the ordinance is setup is that Nuisance Complaints are investigated by

DCED. DCED is sort of the prime mover of the department that does that

in coordination of all the other departments in the city that is involved in all

the enforcement process. He went over the process again.

Ms. Candida Affa asked if the landlords and owners of the building be held

if we have a DCNR and have a problem with the tenant. The landlord then

has a responsibility also. In these establishments, the owners and the

landlords can they also be held for some kind of citation. She asked if that

is a possibility also.

Attorney Matthew Kloiber stated that the idea is that you want to have as

many kinds of weapons as you can to combat this. If it is citations, make it

challenging for the landlord to maintain something in order to maintain a

particular tenant there. The landlord itself may be inspired to take action. It

is a multi-prong of attack. It is not just the city acting, but the individuals in

their own self-interest can act and say we don't want this sort of business

here because of the problems. There was an effort to create a Nuisance

Abatement Ordinance and then through the enforcement mechanism with

that the various administrations identified ways that we could address it

and approve it. Council itself adopted a Bring Your Own Beverage

Ordinance a few years back. It was an interest in wanting to do what

Bethlehem did. At that time, it was a different Chief, but came forward and

supported that. That is one weapon that Council adopted already. There is

a Nuisance Abatement Provision or other means that Council decided to

try and address this. There are multiple ways to do this. He thinks that they

were always trying to identify additional tools to be able to accomplish the

end of making things safe.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated to Ms. Affa that if she can interject. They are

looking forward to discussing this in committee with you and going through

what they are currently doing as well as what they love to be doing in the

future.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that in July they are planning to have a meeting.

What would be the pursue of this meeting?

Ms. Candida Affa stated informational. Exactly what they are asking here.

They will ask Ms. Kistler with the Nuisance Abatement and the Police

Department. She thinks Council needs to be educated from top to bottom

on exactly what the Nuisance Abatement and what legislation we can

provide with the knowledge that they will get from all the departments.

Mr. Ed Zucals stated that they mentioned the landlords. He should have

bookmarked it to say it word for word. On a good note, he read on

Facebook today the landlord of Synergy said that he was going to go today

to District Justice D'amore to have those folks evicted. From what he

gathered from the article, they were supposed to be out June 14 or 24 and

for some reason it was an extension to July 2 that they were supposed to

be removed from the building. He was actually going to go today and have

them removed immediately. In this case, it should be shut down this

weekend the way it sounds to him based on the landlord's effort.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that it is so important to have a clear expectation.

This whole law is difficult to understand. It is important to clarify.

Ms. Candida Affa asked Assistant Chief of Operation Micheal Becker if he

said there was a patrol right outside the building where the man was

stabbed.

Assistant Chief of Operation Micheal Becker stated that there was a

operation detail there that night. They were literally outside the venue.

Ms. Candida Affa asked if the stabbing took place inside the

establishment.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated that she knows it will be a whole committee on

this. Isn't it a desire by some is to eliminate the establishment of Afterhours

clubs in general. On the agenda she sees the language is there. Then on

the Resolution that is not one of the Therefores. To have an ordinance to

straight up eliminate Afterhours clubs.

Mr. Ed Zucal stated that they have to go through the Resolution first and

then create an ordinance.

Mr. Mattew Kloiber stated that part of having a meeting to discuss and

when it will be brought up is a number of different things that could be

looked at and discussed with some detail. That sort of action is something

that could be discussed.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated that she brings it up because the only way to

prevent 11 shootings or stabbings at these clubs. If that is the case, you

can hire 100 more cops, but boom they are right outside. If the club doesn't

exist then the stabbing doesn't necessarily happen there.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that they have been trying since she has been on

Council. Bethlehem does not have After hours clubs and she doesn't think

Easton does either. We are not able to say we don't have any. We are not

able to do that. We are not able to make legislation that we can say that

we prohibit.

Ms. Vicky Kistler stated that again, she thinks that this merits a deeper

conversation regarding what truly is happening in clubs as they are

business permitted. Restaurants pretending to be restaurants versus

being a restaurant. Being a legitimate club versus not. They discussed all

of that in fuller detail in order to come up with a comprehensive strategy

where they all work together on a common goal.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that these are glorified Speakeasies. She knows

the law as far as LCB. At 2:00 AM with a license you must close. At 3:00

AM, it is club license. BYOB restaurant, you must close at 12:00 AM.

There is nothing in the state of Pennsylvania that allows anyone to have

liquor in an establishment after 3:00 AM. Whether they are selling, bringing

it or buying it or whatever. Back int he 60s and 70s, we just had places

here and there that had speakeasies. This is nothing more than that.

There is alcohol in those places and without the Liquor Control Board being

able to raid them, they have no control over that. It is up to us to see what

we can do as far as closing them down.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that the issue is that there is no public opinion

right now.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that the issue is that there is no public opinion

right now.

Ms. Ce Ce Gerlach stated that it is being introduced.

Attorney Charles Smiths stated that it should be public comment prior to

referring it to a committee.

Owner of Secrets Hookah Lounge and it is funny how everybody being

confused on what's going on. He stated ask him. He is here and have all

the answers that are needed. He knows that they should be working

together and not against each other. That is what it sounded like. That is

not constantly, especially not at his establishment. He can't speak for

anybody else's establishment. He was at Council six months ago, back in

January and spoke. Nobody reached out to him ever since then. Nobody

contacted him. He believes that they need assistance. He bought a metal

detector. he has been established for two years and counted twice when

an officer assisted them. He felt that is what he needs. He did not create

his business for violence. He did not put a boxing ring in the middle of his

club.

Ms. Candida Affa asked what do you serve. At three o'clock in the morning

or four o'clock in the morning when you are having a celebration, there is no

alcohol in your place.

Owner of Secrets stated Hookah. We are a hookah lounge. It is a sober

down time. They come in and smoke hookah and hang out. They have

DJs.

Audience members (No name given) stated that he is a little bit up in age

and all he has seen as a youth is speakeasies. When we are talking about

the things that are happening now, it is not the police job to handle that. It is

his job and anyone that has jobs that are around those alcoholic

beverages. It is to get them out. He stated that 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock, we

are done. It should be done regardless of what. He enjoyed those days

back then. This is 2023 and it is too much now. It is time to cut them out

and go home after 3 o'clock. It is time for us in the community to do our job.

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

Ms. Alexina Galarza (sp), stated that she is here listening to all of this as a

business owner. She also works at a mental health facility. She knows

personally from working at a mental health facility, and she is a director.

She has clients that get drunk at Wawa at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. She

read about eight articles from Allentown city at 6th and Liberty at 7 and 11

PM, 6 PM or 8 AM. These things happen all hours of the day. Sadly, after

hours have been segregated. They don't get support from the city. The

police is supposed to protect and serve. She doesn't think that they protect

and serve the after hours. She stated that she is a mom and has two

children. When her husband says they do not serve alcohol. We do not

serve marijuana is because she does private events, mostly for children.

She feels that they need the support from the city. She asked what should

they do next, shutdown. Her family should not eat or they should not be able

to grow their livelihood for their children. She does not think that is fair.

She is here for support and options.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that what she thinks Ms. Galarza (sp) doesn't

understand is they support her business. They don't support after hours.

What kind of birthday parties or showers do you have.

Ms. Alexina Galarza (sp) stated that they are not in the after hours.

Ms. Candida Affa asked if it is open after 3:00 AM.

Ms. Alexina Galarza stated yes, we are.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that is what we are trying to shut down.

Ms. Alexina Galarza (sp) asked why. Do you think violence only happens

during those hours because it doesn't.

Ms. Candida Affa stated yes, it does.

Ms. Cynthia Mota stated that this is what they are planning to do. She

asked Ms. Galarza (sp) to let them know which day is it that Council is

having this meeting.

Ms. Candida Affa stated that it is not for the public. Mr. Michael Hanlon

stated that they will have a public meeting and everyone will be notified.

REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE