Office Of The Mayor
Thomas M. McMahon


Mayor’s Report To City Council
September 12th, 2005

McMahon Plan for Reading

This administration will continue to address issues coming to the forefront of my attention in terms of the four major tenets of the McMahon Plan. The major elements of the plan are:

1. Crime and Public Safety issues
2. Economic Development
3. Building neighborhoods
4. City Finances

Crime and Public Safety

1) Chief Broad and I rode with the Pa State Police Liquor Enforcement Bureau along with our police vice squad on a early morning raid which resulted in shutting down an after hours, unlicensed liquor operation. I want to thank all those involved in this action, and commend their professionalism during the entire operation. Again, I remind council that ride-alongs with the police are encouraged and I urge council members to avail themselves of the opportunity to see first hand what our RPD officers are dealing with.

2) The monthly summary of complaints received and action taken was delayed due to a short medical leave for Mr. Khokar who returns to work later this week.

3) The first meeting of the Explorer Post for law enforcement was held at 11th and Pike Playground last week. Enrollment is still open to young men and women of ages 15-20.For more information call Lt Carter at 610-655-6276.

4) The police policy of “take 40”; 40 minutes out of every shift for the officers to walk the beat and meet people is working. Officers have received positive feedback and solid information on current neighborhood problems.

5) The RPD was audited by the Pennsylvania agency CLEAN (Commonweath Law Enforcement Assistance Network) and received a commendable rating. This rating was based on gun records, missing persons records, wanted records, stolen vehicles and criminal histories. The department was commended for an excellent filing system and good record keeping.

Economic Development

1) The Goggle Works opens this week with the public open house and tours of arts centers on Sept 18 from 10 until 5 pm. All are invited to attend and see the wonderful building and meet the artists who will be moving in this week.
Riverfest is happening the weekend of Sept 23, 24 and 25. Fireworks display at the Penn Street bridge on Saturday, Sept 24 will be spectacular. The Reading Eagle is sponsoring a pull out section in the daily paper which will detail entertainment times and venues on the various stages. I encourage all to come out and help us establish new attendance records.

2) The final report from the ICGR is now out, and a community celebration is scheduled for this Friday Sept 16 at the Wyndham from 5-7. All are invited. Please sign up by calling the Berks County Community Foundation so they have a good count on the attendees.

3) I testified to the State Transportation Commission last month on a request for $10M for the rehabilitation of the Penn Street bridge. We asked to have it placed on the 12 year plan and the 4 year TIP. I have asked that it be a priority as the bridge is 100 years old, and is the gateway to our city. Citizens and council can help by contacting state and federal legislators to encourage them to help find funding for this project.

4) I served on an awards jury the weekend of Aug 26 to review and recommend awards for the upcoming waterfront conference in Washington. Over 70 entries were received and we obtained many ideas for our own riverfront development.

Neighborhoods

1) September marks the start of neighborhood meetings again after a summer hiatus. Click on the neighborhood meetings link on the city website readingpa.gov.

2) Pendora Park: we met with the citizens of the 200 block of S. 18th St about a situation with parking on the block. A petition was sent to city council requesting a change in the ordinance to allow permit parking. Letters are also being sent by the recreation department and the mayors office to the Eastern Baseball League to advise them of the concerns of the neighbors regarding parking and other behavior in the area.

3) Bids are due next week for the replacement lighting of the 160 lollipop lights on S 4th and S 5th Street. The increased illumination will help the safety of the area. Council and the citizens may also view the new lighting at Penns Commons on 11th Street.

Financial

1) I look forward to the City Council’s positive action on the debt refinancing on tonight’s agenda. This transaction is one piece of a multi-faceted approach to restore the City’s financial health. The immediate benefit is the foregoing of an upcoming $1.4 million bond payment. The long-term benefit is the debt restructuring that lowers the City’s debt service for the next several years, and pays the City’s 2002 bond issue by 2016 rather than 2022 for overall savings. This transaction coupled with interest rate swap earlier this year along with various real estate sales allows the City to use one-time revenues for strictly deficit reduction. None of these revenues are proposed to be used for the City’s operating budget.

2) The City recently determined that $1.7 million in CDBG program income is currently available. These are funds that have been paid back to the City usually in some form of loans. These funds are available to perpetuate the CDBG activities, and some are necessary to mitigate the impact of a 6 percent reduction from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The 2006 CDBG Budget will be presented to the City Council in the near future.

Miscellaneous

1) The broadcast of the program “Now” on PBS, originally scheduled for taping on September 13th in Reading at the Sovereign Performing Arts Center has been postponed for the coverage of a town meeting in Louisiana on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We hope to have it rescheduled soon.

2) Our program committee on Cops and Kids will meet again this week. We have begun collecting children’s books at Boscov’s Department Stores and the committee is working to find storage spaces. The committee is looking for volunteers to sort, distribute and read to the children. We addressed the PA Association of Retired Educators at the meeting in Fleetwood last Saturday and the response was excellent. For more information, please contact the mayors office

3) Hurricane Katrina update: the Mayor’s Office received a call from the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities regarding a survey to find how many housing units could be available in Reading and Berks County. Thanks to the Reading Housing Authority, Metropolitan Management, Berks County Community Development, and many citizens who have called our office, we have more than 170 units being made available, as well as offers of donations of furniture. I understand that the Salvation Army is in need of furniture and will come to collect it if they are called. We have passed the list onto the state and are awaiting instructions regarding whether the housing units we have identified will be needed or not.

Additionally, local businesses are coming to the rescue with needed funds and goods being provided. I commend our local businesses, such as Sweet Streets and Berks Packing, along with others who are aiding the many victims of Katrina.

4) We are leasing the space in the Pagoda formerly used by the Berks Arts Council to the not for profit “Readings Musical Voices”. They have agreed to man the first floor during hours of operation of the Pagoda until we can find a commercial enterprise to lease the spaces: ideas include a coffee shop, expanded gift shop (including the Pagoda- Skyline Organization) and other potential uses.

5) We participated in the ceremony Sunday honoring the heroes of Sept 11, 2001. My thanks to the Fire Chief and his staff, along with members of the fire department, and the police department honor guard for their involvement in this ceremony.

6) The Mayors prayer breakfast is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Tuesday Sept 13th at the Sheraton Hotel. Over 425 have responded so the crowd is too large to have at the Wyndham Hotel.