PRESIDENT OF COUNCIL
2011 ANNUAL REPORT
City Council conducted more than 23 Committee meetings, adopted
41 Ordinances, and passed 218 Resolutions in 2011.
Ordinances adopted in 2011 included:
- Guaranteed Lease Revenue Bonds in the amount of $17,805,000
- Requiring candidates to file a copy of Campaign Finance
Reports to be put on the City’s website
- Replacing the Emergency Alarm Systems Ordinance along
with Fees
- Establishing a separate account under Council’s
control for tax proceeds for public safety related projects
- Approval of the establishment of the Bethlehem Human Relations
Commission
City Council Re-enacted and amended the Earned Income Tax
Ordinance and adopted a Resolution required to establish conformity
with the Local Tax Enabling Act, to appoint and designate
a liaison between the City, Northampton Tax Collection Committee
and Keystone Collections Group to collect EIT taxes for the
City of Bethlehem. Similar ordinances and resolutions were
passed by all municipalities and school districts located
within Northampton County.
The Police and Firemen’s Pension Fund Ordinances were
revised to comply with various pension fund and IRS regulations.
Various fees were approved in 2011 for Police and Fire exams,
funeral processions, and fire safety and code enforcement
inspection fees.
Council authorized the application and Cooperation Agreement
for ArtsQuest to obtain funds from the Redevelopment Assistance
Capital Grant Program (RACP) of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
to be passed through the City in the amount of $2,000,000
for the purpose of assisting ArtsQuest in the construction
of the Festival Center at SteelStacks.
Authorization was also given for a Lease Agreement between
ArtsQuest and the Redevelopment Authority for lease by ArtsQuest
of property at the Bethlehem Works Redevelopment Area in the
TIF District for the Visitors Center, Levitt Pavilion, and
SteelStacks public plazas.
The Resolution approved by Council between the City and ArtsQuest
for Musikfest in 2011 included a new site at the SteelStacks
area on the South Side for the first time.
Approval was given for an application for an Economic Development
Liquor License for at 1223 West Broad Street for the new Mint
Restaurant, and Council approved Resolutions to file required
forms to obtain financial assistance for Tropical Storm Lee
and Hurricane Irene.
Resolutions were adopted that approved a grant application
to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
for the Monocacy Creek Dam Removal project, and an application
to PennVest for financing sewer system projects.
City Council adopted the Historic Preservation Plan in 2011,
and authorized the Agreement for the purchase of the East
AllenTownship water system.
Authorization was given for a Use Permit Agreement for the
first VegFest that took place along the Greenway in the Fall.
A Resolution was adopted that granted a Certificate of Appropriateness
for a two story addition at the rear of the Kemerer Museum
for a collection storage facility to house thousands of artifacts.
Council authorized its Solicitor, Attorney Christopher Spadoni,
to enter his appearance for City Council and to intervene
in the Zoning Appeal to object to a residential treatment
facility application for 111 Dewberry Avenue.
City Council authorized the execution of an Intergovernmental
Agreement between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department
of Transportation and the City for the State Route 378 project
to implement revised pavement markings and signing to re-establish
parking on the east side of Route 378 from Broadway and Dakotah
Streets to Third Street and Delaware Avenue, and to remove
the left turn lane.
City Council conducted several meetings to review the proposed
new Zoning Ordinance, and final review will take place during
2012. In Council’s approval of the 2012 CDBG and HOME
Programs last November, funding was provided towards the development
of affordable apartments units at the site of St. Stanislaus
Church in South Bethlehem.
In adopting the 2012 Budget, City Council approved Renovation
of the former Dewberry Avenue Fire Station for an EMS Facility
and of the EMS Center on Stefko Boulevard. Personnel changes
were approved for several Departments, and an Energy Savings
Project was presented by the Administration in conjunction
with the 2012 Budget.
Following review of the Rules of Council by the Special Council
Committee, the Members approved amendments to the Rules of
Council and procedures for nomination and election of the
President and Vice President of Council.
Robert J. Donchez
President of Council
January 3, 2012
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