Bethlehem City Council Meeting – June 2, 2026

The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance, roll call, and approval of the previous meeting's minutes. Public comments covered a wide range of issues including landfill cleanup, weed enforcement, curbing damage from UGI utility work, concerns about Flock Safety surveillance cameras, calls for stronger natural resource protections, critiques of GDP-driven growth, and opposition to the Northampton County Drug Task Force. During new business, council members discussed the 10th Avenue curbing issue, the Flock contract renewal, affordable housing strategies (including the Martin Tower site), the Walnut Street Garage odor incident, and the 40&10 Parks Plan. Several resolutions were passed, including the award of a design contract for three parks, renewal of the drug task force agreement, and various use permits.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes (no comments).
• Several resolutions were grouped and passed without discussion: 10B through 10E, 10L and 10M (use permits for various events); 10G through 10I (certificates of appropriateness); 10N through 10Q (certificates of appropriateness).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Larry Kirk – Thanked the city for finally cleaning up the New Bethlehem Landfill after seven months; praised code officer William Santiago.
• Sue Greathouse – Requested code enforcement for neighbors' overgrown weeds, including poisonous plants dangerous to pets.
• Jessica Unger – Explained that the curbing in front of her home was deemed acceptable by the city in 2022, then damaged by UGI utility work in 2022–2024. She stated that residents were promised repairs that never happened and are now being held financially responsible. She urged the council to hold UGI accountable.
• Stephanie Zabo – Echoed the curbing issue, noting that UGI and its subcontractor promised repairs. She criticized the city for inconsistent enforcement and for threatening fines, while other streets (e.g., Spring Street) were not required to replace curbing. She asked for a fair resolution and for the city to work with residents and UGI.
• Alex Miller – Expressed strong opposition to the city's use of Flock Safety surveillance technology. He cited recent reports of sales employees accessing cameras without authorization, cities covering cameras with trash bags, and police searches of ALPR data without warrants. He urged the council not to renew the contract, which expires around July 2026 at $41,000 per year.
• Deanna Rodriguez – Urged the council to adopt ordinances protecting natural resources (trees, water, green space) before data centers and overdevelopment consume them. She noted that Bethlehem's tree canopy provides $1.79 million in annual ecosystem services and removes pollution equivalent to 3,808 cars per year. She called for proactive regulation.
• Harry Faber – Used the “parable of the river” to argue that the city should address root causes of social problems rather than simply rescuing downstream victims. He criticized GDP growth as a measure of well-being and opposed the drug task force, citing historical abuses. He also urged the council to reject the drug task force resolution.
• Bill Shire – Questioned the nature of the stormwater user fee, arguing it is effectively a property tax but called a fee to avoid political backlash. He suggested folding it into the property tax.
• Artie Curatoli – Made lengthy remarks about alleged anti-Semitism in the city, claiming that Jewish people control media and institutions. He also quoted Adolf Hitler, leading to tension. Council President Leon reminded him of rules against personal insults, but allowed him to finish.
• Terry – Thanked the city for installing a blinking speed limit sign on her street after she submitted a petition with 75% of neighbors. She requested additional blinking stop signs and encouraged others to follow the same process.
• Stephen Antalix – Expressed concerns about the planned Linden Street two-way conversion, warning that it would cause traffic congestion and safety issues on Center Street. He argued that the council did not consider the impact on Center Street traffic.
• Michael Pipestone – A medical physician, he apologized for an earlier outburst and asked the council to consider the impact of allowing Nazi propaganda during public comment. He praised the neighborhood bakery At Lehigh and the improved stop sign at 12th and Market. He urged the city to focus on community-owned businesses rather than data centers and private equity.
• Kwame (Boy Scout) – Approached the podium but was told public comment time was over; council members offered to answer questions after the meeting.

Discussion Items

• 10th Avenue Curbing – Councilman Kuyatec asked Public Works Director Alcall about UGI's responsibility for damage. Alcall said the city has reached out to UGI and will help residents enforce promises. Councilman Callahan requested that enforcement letters be paused while the matter is investigated. The administration noted that the curbing was already deteriorated before UGI's work.
• Flock Safety Cameras – Councilwoman Laird asked about the contract renewal (July 2026, $41,000/year). Deputy Chief Michels confirmed the contract is up for renewal. Councilwoman Laird requested a copy of the contract terms, privacy provisions, and use policies before renewal.
• Walnut Street Garage Odor – Councilman Callahan reported that a fire department response was due to an odor in the sprinkler room. He raised concerns about the garage construction, alleging that the contractor substituted cheaper materials than specified (e.g., Formica instead of granite countertops, inferior piping). He requested a committee meeting to investigate. The city solicitor noted that the parking authority is a commonwealth agency and not under council oversight, but Councilman Callahan pressed for transparency.
• Martin Tower / Affordable Housing – Councilman Callahan argued that the city should pursue the Martin Tower site (zoned for 1,000 units) which could generate $5 million in new revenue for affordable housing. He criticized the administration for not engaging with the developer due to a personal dispute. Director Collins responded that the project is not economically feasible without incentives and that the city is focused on other strategies (e.g., gateway project, ADUs, choice neighborhoods).
• 40&10 Parks Plan – The council debated Resolution 10A to award a design contract for three parks (Bernie Fritz, Clearview, Madison). Councilwoman Daniels expressed concern about equity, noting that Madison Park (on the South Side) appeared to receive less investment than the two North Side parks. She wanted to postpone the vote. Other council members explained that the resolution could not be amended; it was either pass or fail. After discussion, the resolution passed 7-0. Councilwoman Laird asked that the Parks and Recreation Committee review the preliminary designs.
• Drug Task Force – Councilwoman Kuyatec voted against renewal, citing concerns about civil liberties and disproportionate impact on communities of color. The resolution passed 6-1.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes approved without objection.
• Resolution 10A (Parks design contract with HRG, $324,925.98) – Passed 7-0.
• Resolution 10K (Northampton County Drug Task Force agreement) – Passed 6-1 (Councilwoman Kuyatec voted no).
• Resolutions 10B–10E, 10L–10M (use permits for events) – Passed 6-0 (Councilman Callahan absent for roll call).
• Resolutions 10F (Interceptor capital improvements agreement) – Passed 6-0.
• Resolutions 10G–10I and 10N–10Q (certificates of appropriateness) – Passed 7-0.
• Resolution 10J (BEDCO agreement) – Passed 7-0.
• Other communications – A public hearing was scheduled for July 7, 2026 to consider zoning ordinance amendments regarding short-term rentals and hotels.
• Future meetings – Council President Leon announced she will be absent for health reasons; Vice President Laird will chair the next meetings.