Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development Main Street topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
South Side business owners and residents press city on sidewalks, trees and local tax use
Summary
Multiple public commenters told council that broken sidewalks, dead street trees and downtown maintenance are harming businesses and neighborhoods; councilmembers and staff discussed grants, cost‑sharing and city responsibilities.
Business owners and residents from Bethlehem’s South Side urged council to address long‑running sidewalk and tree maintenance problems and asked whether city revenues could be used to help downtown merchants, speakers said during public comment and a later council discussion.
Why it matters: Property owners in Bethlehem are legally responsible for sidewalk and street‑tree upkeep. Several entrepreneurs at the meeting said the cost of repairs and inconsistent maintenance are hurting foot traffic and business during an important tourism season.
What speakers said Anthony Spagnola, who identified himself as an owner of several downtown businesses, said he and other merchants pay the city’s business privilege tax and asked whether those revenues could be used to improve sidewalks and trees on the South Side. “I pay … that’s the greatest thing I do,” Spagnola said, and asked city staff to look for ways to keep improvements in‑house rather than contracting out.
Charlene Jenkins, a South Side resident, urged investment in neighborhood youth facilities and local park fields, saying the community’s youth programs receive less attention than other neighborhoods.
Council and staff response Planning Director Collins, Public Works staff and other administrators described existing tools and limits: sidewalks are generally the property owner’s responsibility, the city has used Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and other grants in the past for sidewalk replacement, and city crews have limited capacity for extended sidewalk reconstruction projects.
Collins and staff said the city can pursue grant funding and partner with the Downtown Business Association (DBA) and other stakeholders on targeted investments; she also said the city is exploring replacement of downtown light poles and other infrastructure that would enable consistent decorations and signage. Staff noted that some cost‑sharing programs in the past left outstanding balances when property owners did not pay their agreed shares.
Next steps and context Council members asked for a prioritized list of short‑term and long‑term downtown improvements from the DBA and merchants so the city can evaluate targeted uses of available funds during the next budget cycle. Staff said some one‑time grant or reserve funds could be considered but cautioned that mid‑year budget changes carry risks and that sustainable funding plans are preferable.
Ending: Councilmembers and staff asked downtown merchants to compile priorities for short‑term fixes and longer‑term investments; staff committed to report back on potential grant opportunities and feasibility.
