Regular Council Meeting

CITY COUNCIL

Meeting Agenda

REGULAR MEETING                             MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 2022

HYBRID MEETING                                                              7 pm

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RULES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL MEETINGS

The Administrative Code, Section § 5-209 defines public participation at Council meetings. 

1. Citizens who wish to make public comment must pre-register following the instructions in Agenda #3 Public Comment on this agenda.
2. Citizens attending Council meetings are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner that does not disrupt the meeting. 
3. Those wishing to have conversations should do so in the hall outside Council Chambers in a low speaking voice.
4. Public comment will occur only during the Public Comment period listed on the agenda. Comment must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Clapping, calling out, and/or cheering when a speaker finishes his comments is not permitted.
5. Citizens may not approach the Council tables at any time during the meeting.
6. Any person making threats of any type, personally offensive or impertinent remarks or any person becoming unruly while addressing Council may be called to order by the Presiding Officer and may be barred from speaking, removed from Council Chambers and/or cited.
7. Failure to abide by these regulations could result in your removal from Council Chambers and/or a citation. These regulations are meant to avoid disruptions at the meeting and they are not meant to interfere with public participation.

1. OPENING MATTERS

A. CALL TO ORDER

B.  INVOCATION:  Rev. Jeremiah Sassaman, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church

C.  PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

D. ROLL CALL

E.  EXECUTIVE SESSIONS: There was an executive session held after the July 25 COW meeting on real estate and litigation and at the beginning of the August 1^st COW to consult with legal counsel.

2. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

3. PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA MATTERS:

Public Comment Instructions:

• To comment at a Regular Business Meeting, citizens can register by calling or emailing the City Clerk's Office by noon on the day of the regular meeting. Instructions to access the virtual meeting app or dial-in will be provided upon registration. Call 610-655-6205 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Public comment for Regular Business meetings will also be accepted in writing by 4pm on the day of the meeting through an e-mail to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The message must clearly be marked as Public Comment. The comment received in writing will be read into the record at the Regular Meeting.
• Those wishing to provide in-person comment at a Regular Meeting in the Penn Room must register with the City Clerk no later than 4 pm on the day of the meeting by calling 610-655-6204 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  The procedure to register to comment by signing a registration sheet before the start of the regular meeting will be suspended until the meetings are fully opened with everyone gathering in Council Chambers.
• Public speaking rules adopted by Council allow those speaking on agenda matters to speak for 5 minutes and 3 minutes for non-agenda matters.
• Comments posted in Zoom Chat and on Facebook are not considered public comment and a response may not occur.

All remarks must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Any comment that is personally offensive or impertinent will not be read into the record. Comments on agenda matters are limited to 5 minutes in length and comments on non-agenda matters are limited to 3 minutes in length.

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA & MINUTES

A. AGENDA:  Meeting of August 8, 2022

B. MINUTES:  July 25 Regular meeting along with and the summations of discussion from the July 25, July 28 and August 1^st COW meetings and the August 1 Nominations & Appointments Committee meeting

5. Consent Agenda Legislation

The Consent Agenda is designed to provide efficient approval of non-controversial legislation that does not require discussion/debate by giving approval via acclimation when the meeting agenda is approved.  The President of Council will call Council’s attention to the list of Consent Agenda legislation at the meeting before action is taken, which allows Council to remove a piece of legislation for separate consideration. 

A. Award of Contract – for the purchase of 1-(6 Set) Drying Unit from PAC Industries, Inc. Harrisburg, PA  in the amount of 11,795.00 from the Capital Budget.  PAC Industries Inc., is a PA COSTARS Vendor and the purchase is reflective of the COSTARS pricing. The Drying Unit will be placed at the Reading Hose Fire Station located at 614 Franklin St for drying of Firefighters Personal Protective Equipment in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Standard NFPA 1851 Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting. 

B. Award of Contract  - to Overhead Door, Reading PA in the amount of $78,400 from Capital for the weatherization  of all PW garages. The project is to repair and or replace weather seals on the PW garage doors which will promote heat retention in the winter as well as prevent other weather infiltration to all PW Garage Bays.

C. Award of Contract  - for a Co-Stars Purchase to replace the Plum and Franklin Fire Station roof to Sensenig Company of Ephrata in the amount of $171,660 from the Capital budget

D. Award of Contract - for school crossing guards to All City Management Services Inc of Santa Fe Springs, CA, at the submitted price not to exceed $634,077.00.  This company will be responsible for providing crossing guards at 47 locations specified by the City and/or School District. Crossing Guard Program is funded in a 50/50 split with the Reading School District.

• The proposal includes field supervision and the possibility of substitutes.
• It also included orientation, training, recruitment and staffing.  The Contractor shall provide the City with proof of certification/training upon request.
• Must provide drug screenings and criminal background checks.

• Crossing guards must be required to obtain their Child Abuse Clearance through the state of PA and must be renewed every 3 years.
• The Contractor shall provide experienced field supervisors that oversee the operations at all times the guards are on duty.
• The Contractor shall provide a 24 hour answering service (voicemail).  
• The current school crossing guards must be given an opportunity to seek employment with the new Contractor.  Should the Contractor decide to not select any of the current school guards, a written report should be sent to the Police Department’s designee explaining the reason(s).

6. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Attached

7. REPORT FROM OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR

Attached

8. REPORT FROM DEPT. DIRECTORS, BOARDS, AUTHORITIES, & COMMISSIONS

Reading Public Library Board – Dennis Skayhan, Chair and Melissa Adams, Executive Director

9. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE

Pending Legislation

Bill No. 50-2022 – amending the Charter Board Ordinance by making various alterations such as eliminating Advisory Opinions, creating an administrative body, eliminates the confidentiality of complaints, etc. to establish reasonable guidelines on Charter Board spending Introduced at the May 23 regular meeting; Tabled at the June 13, June 27, July 11, July 25 regular meetings

A. Bill 72-2022 – amending City Code Section 5-207 relating to the attendance of the

Council Solicitor and City Solicitor at Council meetings Introduced at the July 25 regular meeting

B. Bill 73-2022 – authorizing an appropriations transfer in the amount of $200,000 to Zoning Contracted Services to help expand the processing capacity of the Zoning and Planning Office Introduced at the July 25 regular meeting

10. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCES

A. Ordinance – authorizing the transfer of $37,237.00 from the Agency Fund Budget.

to purchase medical supplies for the EMS Division.

B. Ordinance – appropriating $5,197,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to following organizations as outlined

ARPA Review Committee Recommendations – total $3,177,000:

1. Goggleworks – Committee Recommendation $500,000 – Pandemic Funds Recvd $700,000 – Financials Provided – Public interactive art park on campus - County ARPA Award $500,000
2. Habitat – Committee Recommendation $500,000 – Pandemic Funds Recvd $136,000 – No Financials Provided – Affordable housing project in the 9^th & Windsor area - County ARPA Award No
3. Hope Rescue Mission – Committee Recommendation $500,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $198,00 – No Financials Provided – County ARPA Award $500,000
4. Berks Community Health Center – Committee Recommendation $400,000 - $6.5M in Pandemic Funding, Financials Provided – No Lost revenue – assist to purchase Oakbrook location - County ARPA Award $500,000
5. New Journey Community Outreach – Committee Recommendation $125,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $15,000 – Financials Provided – fund facility & Equipment upgrades with Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry - County ARPA Award No
6. The Village of Reading – Committee Recommendation $195,000, No Prev Pandemic Funding, No Financials – Request 1 year Street Outreach/Violence Interruption - County ARPA Award No
7. Centro Hispano – Committee Recommendation $500,000 – Pandemic Funds Recvd $182,000 – Financials Provided – Revenue replacement for Youth Violence Program - County ARPA Award $353,248
8. The Real Deal – Committee Recommendation $50,000 – No Pandemic Funding Recvd – No financials provided – programming for SCAT – Thru Gun Violence - County ARPA Award No

Mayor’s Additional Recommendations – total $2,020,000:

1. CARE Inc - Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – No Prev Pandemic Funding – No Financials, No Lost Revenue – $100,000 House of Good Food & $100,000 Youth Ending Substance Abuse - County ARPA Award No
2. Berks History Center – Mayor Recommendation $20,000 – Pandemic Funds Recvd $135,000 - Financials Provided – didn’t lose revenue from 2019-2020 - County ARPA Award No
3. Visitors Bureau – Mayor Recommendation $50,000 – Pandemic Fund Recvd $150,000 – Financials provided – website design, marketing research; small business grant? - County ARPA Award No
4. Berks Latino Chamber – Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – No Pandemic Funding – Some Financials – Lost Revenue (more info needed) – small business grant? – County ARPA Award No
5. I-LEAD - Mayor Recommendation – Pandemic Funding Recvd $640,000 – Financials Provided – Lost revenue re ACE program lost $940,000 - County ARPA Award No
6. Million Youth Chess Club – Committee Recommendation $2,500 – No Pandemic Funding Recvd – Financials Provided - $2,530 in lost revenue; program activities - County ARPA Award No
7. Olivet – Committee Recommendation $404,500 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $66,000 + PPP – Financials Provided – Can support $225,000 in Lost revenue - County ARPA Award $475,000
8. Prospectus – Mayor recommendation $200,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd Millions – No Financials provided - County ARPA Award No
9. Reading FilmFEST – Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – Pandemic Fund Recvd None reported – No Financials provided – 1/3 year operating budget requested - County ARPA Award No
10. Reading Pride – Mayor Recommendation $30,000 – No Pandemic Funding Recvd – No Financials provided – no support for lost revenue - County ARPA Award No
11. Reading Science Center – Mayor Recommendation $20,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $35,000 – No financials provided - County ARPA Award No
12. Star City Boxing Co – Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – No Pandemic Funding Recvd – No Financials provided – COVID reimbursements $27,000, Revenue Loss $31,631, 1 year of programming $103,832, Relocation Costs $54,000, Can Support $26,00 in COVID expenses and $31,000 lost revenue - County ARPA Award No
13. Salvation Army – Mayor Recommendation $100,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $8,000 – Financials Received – Cannot support lost revenue - County ARPA Award $8,139
14. NHS – Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $452,000 – No Financials Provided – Fund proposed La Familia Fed Credit Union - County ARPA Award $250,000
15. Rdg Symphony Orchestra – Mayor Recommendation $100,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $365,000 – Financials provided - County ARPA Award No
16. Schuylkill River Greenway Assoc – Mayor Recommendation $100,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $365,000 – Financials provided – ½ cost of Phase II construction of SRT RACC Bridge to Penn St - County ARPA Award No
17. YMCA – Mayor Recommendation $200,000 – Pandemic Funding Recvd $1.1M – Financials provided – HVAC equipment in 4 areas, eligible project - County ARPA Award $403,739

E. Ordinance – ARPA allocation for additional City Capital projects - Public Works-Mt Penn Preserve Trail study -$115,000, Reading Recreation Commission facilities/programing -$352,200 and Reading Public Library equipment - $100,139

F. Ordinance –allocating $1,500,000 in additional ARPA funding to the Reading Fightin’ Phils for use in construction/renovations of the FirstEnergy Stadium due to inflation as required by the MLB.

G. Ordinance –setting the salary of the managing director at $148,522.32

11. RESOLUTIONS

A. Resolution 112-2022 – forgiving in its entirety the $1,475,000.00 loan originally extended to the previous owner of River Oak Apartments and assumed by River Oak Development LLC aka Reading Housing Authority by that certain Assignment of Amended and Restated Promissory Note and Mortgage dated September 17, 2008 and to release the mortgage securing said loan Tabled at the July 11 and July 25 regular meetings; Discussion held at the August 1 COW meeting

B. Resolution – reappointing Lee Olsen to the Planning Commission

C. Resolution – appointing Rodney Ridley to the Planning Commission

D. Resolution – appointing William Heim as Managing Director

E. Resolution – approving the Conditional Use application for a banquet hall at 46 S

5^th Street

12. PUBLIC COMMENT – GENERAL MATTERS

Please see public speaking rules on second page

13. COUNCIL BUSINESS/COMMENTS

14. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

Monday, August 15

Committee of the Whole – 5 pm

Monday, August 22

Committee of the Whole – 5 pm

Regular Meeting – 7 pm

Monday, September 5

**City Hall closed – Labor Day Holiday**

Tuesday, September 6

Nominations Committee – 4 pm

Committee of the Whole – 5 pm