Bethlehem City Council Meeting - October 21, 2026

The meeting convened on the evening of October 21, 2026, approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes late, as apologized by the council president. Agenda items included a public hearing on a federal grant, public comments, reports, and votes on several ordinances and resolutions. Key discussions centered on street safety on Stefco Boulevard, police recruitment standards, and upcoming city initiatives.

Public Hearing: Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG)

• The city proposes to use a $16,711 JAG grant to fix, replace, or expand the existing city camera network. No public comments were made. A resolution will be placed on the November 4, 2026 council agenda.

Approval of Minutes

• The minutes from October 6, 2026, were approved without discussion.

Public Comments

• Frank Corpix (owner of Classic Car Wash, 50-year business on Stefco Boulevard): Expressed concern that the proposed Stefco Boulevard redesign would completely block the sole entrance and exit to his business. He described traffic patterns and accidents in the area and requested the council's help. Councilmembers noted that his concerns were heard at a prior community meeting and that the design is still in early conceptual stages.
• Lisa Andersitz: Complained about a neighbor raising chickens, which is not permitted in Bethlehem. She had previously contacted zoning and police without resolution. The police chief agreed to speak with her after the meeting.

Discussion Items

• Stefco Boulevard and Complete Streets: Councilwoman Quitek attended a community open house and stated that slowing traffic is the goal because Stefco is a “deadly boulevard” with recent fatalities. Mayor's report: The mayor emphasized that the Complete Streets initiative aims to slow cars and improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and children. He noted that Stefco Boulevard has had multiple fatalities and is too wide. The designs are only sketches; no engineering or funding is secured yet. He acknowledged the business owner's concerns but stressed the need for trade-offs for public safety. A Complete Streets reveal is scheduled for Thursday, October 22, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the CANT building.
• Mayor's Additional Remarks: The city received the statewide planning award for the 40/10 plan. He urged council to pay attention to the Bethlehem Area School District's upcoming design process meetings (early November), as elementary schools are community anchors and boundary changes will have long-term impacts on neighborhoods and equity.
• Public Safety Committee Report (Councilman Ayman): The committee met on October 20 and reviewed a city-initiated study on fire and EMS operations. Discussions were robust and will continue.

Communications

• 6A: Proposed agreement with Tri-State Financial Group to collect and enforce certain local taxes (Act 511).
• 6B: Proposed amendment to civil service rules to remove the requirement for police applicants to hold an associate's degree or 60 college credits.
• 6C: Proposed support for Touchstone Theatre's participation in the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Creative Communities Initiative, with a city match of $2,500 per year for up to four years.
• 6D: Proposed use permit for the 2026 Christmas City Village on Main Street.
• 6E: Proposed destruction of certain department records.
• 6F: Proposed zoning amendment to regulate accessory dwelling units, update workforce housing incentives, and increase building coverage limits.

Ordinances – Final Passage

• 8A (Data Centers): Amends zoning code to regulate data center uses. Passed 6–1.
• 8B (Budget Amendment): Amends the 2026 general fund budget. Passed 7–0.
• 8C (Budget Amendment): Amends the 2026 general fund budget. Passed 7–0.

Resolutions

• 10A (Tax Collection Agreement with Tri-State Financial Group): Passed 7–0.
• 10B (Civil Service Rules Amendment – Police Education Requirement): Removes the requirement for police applicants to have 60 college credits or an associate's degree. Passed 5–2 (Councilmembers Laird and Quitek voted nay). Debate centered on concerns about lowering standards versus the critical need to expand a shrinking applicant pool. The police chief provided data showing only two conditional offers from the last cycle and 11 vacancies. He argued that the existing hiring process (background checks, polygraph, psychological exam, etc.) is robust and can identify quality candidates without the degree requirement. The resolution is a permanent change, but the chief committed to reporting recruitment and hiring statistics to council after the next cycle. The civil service board had previously approved the amendment.
• 10C (Touchstone Theatre Support): Passed 7–0.
• 10D (2026 Christmas City Village Use Permit): Passed 7–0. Councilwoman Quitek noted accessibility challenges with last year's hut placement and requested the administration work with the chamber to improve access for people with disabilities and strollers.
• 10E (Certificate of Appropriateness – 403 Center Street): Passed 7–0.

Key Outcomes

• The zoning ordinance for data centers (8A) was adopted.
• The police education requirement was removed via resolution 10B; the department will track outcomes and report back.
• The city will move forward with the Complete Streets plan for Stefco Boulevard, with further community engagement on Thursday, October 22.
• Council was urged to participate in school district design meetings due to their profound impact on neighborhoods.
• The Christmas City Village permit was approved with a reminder to address accessibility.