Committee advances Bill 11 to move $480,000 for Trexler staircase repairs

The Allentown City Parks & Recreation committee on record advanced Bill 11 to the full council, approving a motion to forward the measure that transfers $480,000 from the Trexler operating budget into the Works Progress Administration capital project account and the Trexler Monument capital project account.

A presenter read the bill into the record, saying, "Bill 11 amends to 2026 capital fund budget to provide for a transfer of $480,000 from the Trexler operating budget into the Works Progress Administration capital project account and Trexler Monument capital project account." The parks department representative (identified in the transcript as Toledo) told the committee the funds are being placed in the correct accounts to prepare for work during the 2026 Trexler year and that the project manual is finished and the design is nearly complete.

The parks representative said the transfer specifically supports renovation of a staircase in Lehigh Parkway that has "some structural deficiencies," and that moving the money now is an administrative step so the department can proceed to bidding and contractor selection. When a committee member asked about timing, the parks representative said bidding and contractor qualification are expected to begin in about "a month or two," and that physical work likely will not begin until several months after that.

Chair proceedings recorded a motion "to move this forward favorably to full council," which the transcript identifies as "Motion from mister Bender" with a "Second of mister Pungo." The chair called for the ayes and the motion advanced by voice vote; the record does not show a roll-call tally.

The committee did not receive any public comment on Bill 11 during the meeting. Next procedural steps are for the full council to consider Bill 11; the transcript indicates staff will move forward with procurement preparations once the account transfer is complete.