Calendar of Events

Regular Council Meeting

Description

CITY COUNCIL

Meeting Agenda

REGULAR MEETING                             MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2023

HYBRID MEETING                                                              7 pm

 

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RULES FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AT COUNCIL MEETINGS

Public comment at all meetings of the City Council of the City of Reading shall be governed by the following:

  • Residents and/or taxpayers of the City who wish to make or submit public comment must pre-register utilizing one of three (3) following options:
  1. By calling (610-655-6205) or emailing (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) the City Clerk's Office by 4 pm on the day of the meeting with your name, address and the subject matter or topic to be discussed. If you are not able to attend in-person, instructions to access the virtual meeting app or dial-in telephone number will be provided.
  2. By submitting written public comment to be read into the record at the meeting by submitting an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 4pm on the day of the meeting. The email message must clearly be marked as Public Comment.
  3. By registering in-person at the Council Chambers on the sign-up sheet found on the podium in Council Chambers between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the day of the scheduled meeting, with your name, address and the subject matter or topic to be discussed.
  • No person shall be permitted to speak who is not a resident or taxpayer of the City, except upon permission of the President of Council or a majority of City Council.
  • Public comment will occur only during the Public Comment period listed on the meeting agenda at which time the Presiding Officer will recognize speakers and written comment that properly registered in the order received.
  • All public comment shall be delivered from the podium and speakers may not approach the Council tables at any time.
  • Those individuals registered to speak on agenda matters will be allotted no more than 5 minutes and those individuals registered to speak on non-agenda matters will be allotted no more than 3 minutes.  The City Clerk will control a timer to monitor these time periods.  When the alarm rings, a speaker must immediately end their comment.  If a speaker refuses to comply, the microphone at the podium will be turned off and the next speaker will be given the floor.  These time periods also apply to written comments that are being read into the record such that any written comment may only be read into the record for a 5-minute period for agenda items and a 3-minute period for non-agenda items. The President of Council or a majority of Council may grant an additional period of time in their discretion. 
  • If anyone is present in a group or association, each such group should designate a spokesperson to address the City Council on the group’s collective behalf in order to avoid repetitive public comments.
  • Comments posted in Zoom Chat and on Facebook are not considered public comment and will not be read into the record of the meeting or addressed by City Council.

 

1. OPENING MATTERS

A. CALL TO ORDER

B.  INVOCATION:  Pastor Mynele Padilla Santos, El Cordero De Dios y sus valientes

C.  PLEDGE TO THE FLAG

D. ROLL CALL

E.  EXECUTIVE SESSIONS:  An Executive Session was held before the start of the September 18th COW on personnel matters, after the conclusion of the September 18th COW on contracts and on September 19th on real estate

2. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

3. PUBLIC COMMENT – AGENDA MATTERS:

  • Those individuals registered to speak on agenda matters will be allotted no more than 5 minutes and those individuals registered to speak on non-agenda matters will be allotted no more than 3 minutes. The City Clerk will control a timer to monitor these time periods. When the alarm rings, a speaker must immediately end their comment.  If a speaker refuses to comply, the microphone at the podium will be turned off and the next speaker will be given the floor.  These time periods also apply to written comments that are being read into the record such that any written comment may only be read into the record for a 5-minute period for agenda items and a 3-minute period for non-agenda items. The President of Council or a majority of Council may grant an additional period of time in their discretion. 
  • All public comment must be directed to Council as a body and not to any individual Council member or public or elected official in attendance. Public comment is an opportunity to make a statement only.  It is not designed for questioning and there is no guarantee or requirement for a question presented during public comment to be answered or responded to.
  • Each speaker shall speak clearly and slowly.
  • No speaker shall register or speak more than once at a meeting.
  • A speaker shall not comment in a manner that is disruptive, scandalous, impertinent, redundant, rude, unruly, personally offensive, irrelevant to the registered topic, done for the purpose of preventing the conduct of the business of the meeting or promotion of candidates at an upcoming election, or otherwise in disregard to the rules of order or decorum.  Any such comment will not be accepted or included in the record.
  • In the event that a speaker or written comment violates any of these rules, that speaker or written comment will be deemed to have forfeited their right to public comment and the President of Council or a majority of City Council may direct the City Clerk to turn off the microphone or cease reading the comment into the record, have the individual removed from Council Chambers and/or cited.
  • All persons in attendance are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner that does not disrupt the meeting.  Clapping, calling out, cheering or interrupting speakers or the discussions of City Council during or after a public comment is not permitted.  Those wishing to have conversations should do so in the hall outside Council Chambers in a low speaking voice.

 

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA & MINUTES

A. AGENDA:  Meeting of September 25, 2023

B. MINUTES:  The minutes from the September 11th Regular Meeting and the summations of discussion from the September 11th, the September 18th Nominations Committee meeting and the COW 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 WWTP Laboratory Services to M.J. Reider Associates Inc., Reading, PA in the amount of $61,231.00 for a 3-year period with the option to extend for 1 year. This contract is to provide laboratory work and analyses associated with the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant NPDES permit and the industrial pretreatment program.  All testing requirements are based on, but not limited to, the City's current NPDES permit and industrial waste permits. The number and type of required analysis are estimates and may change due to regulatory requirements, environmental conditions, and any unforeseen circumstances. 

B. Resolution – authorizing the purchase of new systems office furniture for the Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, Auto Theft Task Force office, from Friant and Associates, LLC, San Leandro, CA  in the amount of $41,359.75 from the CIP to replace aging office furniture.

C. Award of Contract – for a storm sewer improvement project at Liggett Ave., Hancock Blvd., and Wyomissing Blvd. to Jurich Inc., Glen Mills, PA in the amount of $1,891,987.00 funded through PW stormwater funds and Liquid Fuel funds

D. Award of Contract – for Strategic Planning Management Program and 5 Year Financial Planning to PFM, Philadelphia, PA in the amount of $125,000 for the purpose of the program is to establish short and long term financial and managerial objectives that will strengthen the fiscal capacity of the municipal government along with the integration of long-term community and economic development strategies that strengthen the area’s tax base.

6. ORDINANCES FOR FINAL PASSAGE

A. Bill 83-2023 – authorizing the execution of the Second Addendum to the Lease between the City and The Rotary Park Association for an exchange of the continued leasing of Rotary Park located within the Sherman Tract in Lower Alsace Township for an additional 10 years Introduced at the Aug 28 regular meeting; tabled at the Sept 11 regular meeting

B. Bill 85-2023 – authorizing the transfer of funds in the amount of $200,000.00 from Consulting Services to Light and Power in the Sewer Fund to cover increased costs from an unanticipated provider and rate change, created by the bankruptcy of Talen Energy in April 2022. Introduced at the Sept 11 regular meeting

 

C. Bill 86-2023 – authorizing the amendment of the Capital Improvement by increasing Fire Suppression, Vehicles by $878,981, from Fund Balance for the purchase of a 2023 Pierce Saber Heavy Duty Rescue Truck Introduced at the Sept 11 regular meeting

D. Bill 87-2023 – authorizing the of the transfer of funds within the Public Works Budget from Maint/Repair Traffic Signals to Repairs to Vehicle Accident Damaged Property in the amount of

$50,000 due to unexpected accidents and the rising cost of parts and repairs, overall accident repairs are more significant. Introduced at the Sept 11 regular meeting

7. INTRODUCTION OF NEW ORDINANCES

 

A. Ordinance – to eliminate the Residential Parking Permit zone in the 400

block of Douglass Street, as per the recommendation of the Parking Authority and the submission of a petition making the request and the results of the required public hearing

B. Ordinance – amending City Code, Chapter 23 Blighted Property Review Committee, Part Section 23-903 Creation, Members, Duties and Expenditures by reducing the number of members from seven to five and creating two alternate positions as set forth in Exhibit “A”

 

C. Ordinance – authorizing the amendment of the General Fund Self Insurance Fund 52 in the amount of $820,000 from Fund Balance budget line item #521100 39001 so that funding is available for the funds expenses through the remainder of 2023.

D. Ordinance – authorizing the amendment of the General Fund Self Insurance Fund 52 in the amount of $820,000 from Fund Balance budget line #011491 49060 so that funding is available for the funds expenses through the remainder of 2023.

E. Ordinance – authorizing the amendment of the Agency Fund Budget to appropriate funding for receipt and distribution of pass-thru RACP award for the Alvernia CollegeTowne project in the amount of $4M.

 

F. Ordinance – authorizing a budget amendment to transfer $53,000 into the Solid Waste Division’s Recycling Tipping Fees Account budget by transferring $53,000 from Recycling General Plant Supplies and Trash Contracted Services to cover the unanticipated tipping fee increases through the end of the year 2023

 

G. Ordinance – authorizing an amendment to the Capital Budget in the amount of $78,378 from the Fund Balance for the replacement of a Fire and Rescue Services Training Lt’s Staff Vehicle (from 2022) that was missed in the 2023 Budget and that had add-ons at time of purchase which was a 2022 Ford F150 for the Department of Fire, $45,541, plus Rescue Services Training Lt. work done by 911 Rapid Response in the amount of $21,939.  Budget amendment is also needed for the Fire Marshal’s staff vehicle that went over budget by $10,898, for a total budget amendment of $78,378.

H. Ordinance – amending City Code Chapter 7, Part 7 City Revitalization Improvement Zone Authority by changing the appointment process to require 3 representatives to be appointed by the Mayor, the State Representative from the 127th District and the Senator from the 9th Senatorial District with all appointments to be approved by City Council

I. Ordinance – authorizing the amendment of the Agency Fund by transferring the $10,000 grant received from PA Emergency Management Agency for the purchase of a Medicine Vending Machine to be used by the EMS division in the expense line item.

8. RESOLUTIONS

Pending – define initiatives prior to adoption

Resolution 45-2023 – adopting and committing to the implementation of the Downtown Plus Strategic Master Plan as a guideline for the specified Downtown core areas described in the plan. Tabled at the April 10th regular meeting

 

A. Resolution – reappointing Ed Stock to the Police Civil Service Board

B. Resolution – authorizing a member(s) of City Council to attend the Special Zoning Hearing Board meeting scheduled for October 4, 2023 to provide testimony and/or written evidence to support the body’s position on the application for 78 residential rental units at 1400 Hill Road (former Central Catholic High School).

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

Library Board – Melissa Adams, Executive Director and Alan Carman, President of the Board of Trustees

10.  COUNCIL REPORT

 

11. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT

Attached

12. REPORT FROM OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR

Attached

 

13. COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

 

Monday, October 2

Nom & Appts Committee – Penn Room – 4 pm

Special Meeting – Council Chambers – 5 pm – introduction of the GF Budget, Capital Budget, Position Ord & all associated tax and fee ordinances

COW Budget Review– Council Chambers – at the conclusion of the Special Meeting

 

Monday, October 9

Committee of the Whole – Council Chambers – 5 pm

Regular Meeting – Council Chambers – 7 pm

 

Wednesday, October 11

COW Budget Review  – Council Chambers – 5 pm

 

Monday, October 16

COW Budget Review -Council Chambers – 5 pm

 

15. ADJOURN