Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
At a glance: Council sets budget schedule, approves fee changes and certificates; liquor-license recommendation passes 5–1
Summary
The Bethlehem City Council unanimously set the 2026 budget adoption date and approved ordinances raising construction and food‑code fees, along with certificates of appropriateness. Council also recommended (5–1) the transfer of liquor license R61034 to Cigar Page Bethlehem; that recommendation requires PLCB approval.
Bethlehem City Council completed several procedural and policy votes, adopting a budget meeting schedule and approving ordinances to adjust city fees.
Budget schedule: Council moved and seconded a motion to set the date for adoption of the 2026 budget for Tuesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall and approved a sequence of public budget meetings covering water, sewer, public works, finance and community development. The motion passed on a roll call vote, 6–0.
Construction and food‑code fees: The council approved two ordinances to adjust fees charged under the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999) and to raise food‑service licensing and inspection fees (last updated in 2014). City staff said fee increases are intended to recover the cost of inspections and licensing and to support hiring two additional code‑enforcement staff. Council approved both ordinances by 6–0 votes. Administration estimated the food‑fee changes would raise roughly $43,000 annually (from about $160,735 to about $203,670 in projected licensing revenue).
Right‑of‑way ordinance and certificates: The council gave final passage to an ordinance listing right‑of‑way widths for certain city streets (Bill 44‑2025) and approved two certificates of appropriateness for signage and a rooftop seating/pergola project (Resolutions 10b and 10c). Those measures passed on recorded roll calls (each 6–0).
Liquor‑license recommendation: As reported separately, council approved Resolution 10a recommending that Pennsylvania restaurant liquor license R61034 transfer to Cigar Page Bethlehem LLC at 1010 Harvard Ave. That recommendation passed 5–1 and is conditional on PLCB approval and municipal permitting.
Votes at a glance (selected): - Motion to set 2026 budget adoption for Dec. 16, 2026 at 7 p.m.: Passed 6–0. - Ordinance (Bill 44‑2025) — listing right‑of‑way widths: Final passage, passed 6–0. - Ordinance (Bill 45‑2025) — amend fees under Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (Act 45 of 1999): Passed 6–0. - Ordinance (Bill 46‑2025) — amend food‑code regulation fees: Passed 6–0. Projected revenue increase: ~ $43,000 annually. - Resolution 10a — recommend transfer of PLCB license R61034 to Cigar Page Bethlehem LLC: Passed 5–1 (Laird Nay); PLCB approval required. - Resolution 10b — certificate of appropriateness for signage at 23 E. Third St.: Passed 6–0. - Resolution 10c — certificate of appropriateness for rooftop seating/alternate facade materials at 14–36 W. Third St.: Passed 6–0.
Clerk roll calls recorded sponsors and aye/nay tallies in the official minutes; all ordinances and certificates passed unanimously and will proceed to implementation steps specified in the ordinances and permit processes.
