Committee reviews City of Bethlehem 2026–2030 capital improvement plan; no vote taken

City of Bethlehem officials reviewed the draft 2026–2030 capital improvement plan at the Committee of the Whole meeting, emphasizing that the session was informational and that only the 2026 non-utility capital budget will be voted on during the upcoming budget hearings. Kathy Fletcher, director of planning and zoning, told the committee the planning commission unanimously recommended approval at its Sept. 11 meeting and reminded members that, under Article 121.06 of the city’s codified ordinances, changes to the five-year plan require an affirmative vote of five council members.

The administration presented the plan’s structure, funding sources and timeline. Eric Evans, business administrator, summarized funding lines shown in the spreadsheet included with council packets: remaining bond proceeds from prior series, a lost-revenue replacement allocation tied to ARPA, capital reserves, potential future bonding, federal and state grant sources, county grants, Pennsylvania liquid fuels allocations, the stormwater fund, recreation fees and other identified or yet-to-be-determined sources. Evans said the administration intends to propose using capital reserves to fund projects for 2026–2029 and to revisit funding decisions for 2030.

The plan covers projects across public safety, public works (traffic, streets, stormwater, facilities, grounds), parks and recreation, trails and community and economic development initiatives. Fletcher and departmental staff described supporting documents included in the packet: a funding spreadsheet that maps projects to funding lines and a narrative document explaining each project. The administration noted that only the first year of the plan is typically enacted; the out years indicate intended direction and remain flexible because many projects depend on outside grants or matching funds.

Council members were briefed on the review schedule: the 2026 non-utility capital budget will have first reading at the Nov. 18 council meeting and final reading at the Dec. 16 meeting (dates as presented). The administration encouraged council members to use the packet materials during the next budget hearings and to raise questions during budget season.

The session was informational and recorded; no motions or votes were taken at the Committee of the Whole meeting.