Allentown City Council Meeting: July 15, 2026

The Allentown City Council met on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included the approval of several contracts and change orders, final passage of ordinances including a new vacant property registry, and introduction of bills on paid sick leave and noise regulations. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

• R82: Approved a $10,000 increase (from $40,000 to $50,000 per year) for vehicle suspension, steering, and alignment contracts with Gilboy Ford, Ross Body and Frameworks, and Stengel Brothers. Vote: 6-0 (Ms. Affa not heard).
• R83: Approved cooperative contracts with Johnson Controls and Korski Engineering for goods and services. Vote: 6-0 (Ms. Affa not heard).
• R84: Approved a $156,008.66 increase (from $2.25 million) for HP Construction’s rehab work on Bogart’s Bridge, funded by capital funds and a PennDOT TASA grant. Vote: 7-0.
• R85: Approved a $139,682 increase (from $270,792 to $410,474) for Michael Baker International’s consulting services for the D&L Trail, funded by an additional TASA grant. Vote: 7-0.
• Minutes of the June 3, 2026 council meeting were approved. Vote: 7-0.
• R86: Authorized submission of a PennDOT Multimodal Transportation Fund grant application (~$750,000) for safety improvements on the 15th Street corridor; the 30% match is waived if the application is submitted by December 31, 2026. Vote: 7-0.
• R87: Approved 10 transfers totaling $420,232 within city funds to cover repairs, equipment, and contract services, including $21,140 for fire department reporting software, $117,163 for training tower repairs, $100,000 for a gate control box replacement (risk fund), $30,000 for the new at-risk property registration (CD), $21,330 for an XRF analyzer, $100,000 for consulting services (Urban Design Ventures), and $29,599 for Midway Manor Playgrounds. Vote: 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Asher Shimon (Government Affairs Director, Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors) expressed support for the revised Bill 33, thanking council for incorporating feedback. He offered to help publicize the registry through their newsletter and database.
• Jason Dan Weber (commercial property owner) raised concerns about the 90-day vacancy threshold for commercial properties, suggesting a 6-month threshold would be more practical due to typical tenant turnover. Staff noted that if a property has a pre-sale inspection or active permits, the fee would be waived; they encouraged proactive communication with the city.

Discussion Items

• Bill 33 – Vacant Property Registry (Final Passage): The ordinance replaces the existing at-risk registration with a vacant property registry. Key changes from the original included: eliminating at-risk property classification, clarifying occupied vs. vacant definitions, waiving fees for properties with a recent pre-sale inspection, and allowing the DCED director to waive fees (with appeal to the Blighted Property Review Committee or court). Staff emphasized the registry aims to improve public safety (e.g., identifying vacant buildings with hazardous materials) and reduce blight. Discussion covered data-sharing with first responders, administrative guidelines, fee structure, and transitional provisions. Councilmember Pungo asked about fee scaling for long-term vacancies (e.g., after 3+ years) – staff indicated they would study Chicago’s approach and may add complexity later.
• Bill 49 – Flashing Beacon on 14th Street (Final Passage): A $15,000 increase to the 2026 capital budget for a rectangular rapid flashing beacon at Gross Towers (mid-block crossing). Funded entirely by grants; to benefit students and senior citizens. Vote: 7-0.
• Bill 50 – Budget for Opioid Prevention Manager & Health Director (Final Passage): Amends the 2026 general fund to upgrade the opioid prevention manager and health director positions. Vote: 7-0.
• Bill 51 – Grant Compliance Administrator Title Change (Final Passage): Amends the 2026 general fund to downgrade and rename the HUD grants compliance administrator to assistant grants compliance administrator. Vote: 7-0.
• R80 – Independent Five-Year Financial Analysis (Final Passage): Approved $25,000 from council’s budget for an independent analysis of capital and operational expenses, supporting data-driven decisions. Vote: 7-0.
• Bills for Introduction:
  • Bill 53: Supplemental appropriation of $50,000 from Community Action Lehigh Valley for a HUD loan repayment. Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee.
  • Bill 54: Paid sick leave act requiring certain businesses to provide sick time. A special public hearing set for July 22, 2026 at 6 PM.
  • Bill 55: Police pension service credit for prior service. Referred to Budget & Finance Committee.
  • Bill 56: Noise regulations for continuously operating uses and compliance verification. Referred to Community & Economic Development Committee.

Key Outcomes

• Bill 33 amended and passed 7-0; residential fee reduced from $200 to $150.
• Bills 49, 50, 51 and Resolutions R80, R82, R83, R84, R85, R86, R87 all passed unanimously.
• Bills 53, 55, and 56 introduced and referred to appropriate committees.
• Special meeting on Bill 54 (paid sick leave) scheduled for July 22, 2026 at 6 PM.
• Council committee meetings noted: Budget & Finance (July 22, 2026 at 5:45 PM), Community & Economic Development (July 22, 2026 at 5:30 PM), Public Works (August 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM), Parks & Recreation (no future meetings), Public Safety (none), HR/Admin (August 12, 2026, time TBD), and Rules/Intergovernmental (none).
• Colombian flag raising event announced for Saturday, July 17, 2026 at 2 PM.