READING, Pa. – Reading City Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting late Monday afternoon to discuss matters that will come up at next Monday’s voting meeting. It adjourned at 5:30 p.m. and Council President Donna Reed commented it was the shortest committee meeting she had ever attended.

The main item for discussion was a briefing by Jamar Kelly, Reading’s finance director, regarding amendments to the city’s agreement with the Reading Parking Authority, originally dated March 1, 2021.

The main thrust of the new agreement is to revise the payment schedules for the Parking Authority’s payments to the city. According to the proposed revision, the Authority shall retain all funds it collects pursuant to the powers granted hereby, including but not limited to its enforcement of on-street parking regulations on behalf of the city.

It goes on to say the Authority shall make an annual payment of $1,250,000.00 to the city in 2026, and each year thereafter, payable in monthly installments, and shall not make any other payments to the city unless separately agreed in writing.

In addition, the Authority shall also make an annual payment of $511,000.00 in 2026, and each year thereafter, towards its existing bond debt, which shall be in addition to and above the annual required debt service of the Authority for the bond debt. The Authority shall confirm to the city its current required debt service for the bond debt and shall provide proof on an annual basis that it has paid $511,000.00 over and above the required debt service for the bond debt. Proof of the additional debt service payment shall be provided no later than January 31 of each year.

This agreement shall have an initial term of three (3) years starting on the effective date Kelly noted. The agreement shall renew for an additional three-year term on March 1, 2024 and for continuing three-year terms thereafter unless either party provides notice of its intent to terminate the agreement no later than 90 days prior to each renewal date or as otherwise agreed in writing by the Parties.

The agreement also deals with the city’s need for parking for its employees. It states that upon each renewal term, the authority shall have the right to increase the monthly charge for each parking space provided to the city to reflect any increases in the authority’s standard garage rates, but not to exceed five (5%) percent. The authority shall make 250 parking spaces available to the city at the authority’s Poplar & Walnut Parking Garage, located at 700 Walnut Street. The city shall be required to pay the authority for a minimum of 250 parking spaces at the Garage on a monthly basis for the entire term of this agreement. The city agrees to pay the Parking Authority, without demand, on a monthly basis, $87.00 for each of the 250 parking spaces, which is $21,750.00 per month. This shall be the minimum, total amount due per month for the entire term of this Agreement.

Councilor Vanessa Campos asked Kelly how much debt remains from the original bond issuance and was told that it is around $32 million to $33 million.

At next week’s voting meeting, council will vote on an ordinance amending Section 180-702, Section 302.1.1 of the International Electrical Code to revise the minimum qualifications which will allow the PA Dept of Labor and PA UCC certification of the Electrical Plans Examiner to be obtained within the 180-day probationary period of employment in an attempt to fill said vacancies. During the probationary period, electrical plans would be examined and approved by a contracted consultant until said certification is obtained by the newly hired employee.

Kelly commented that the amendment is needed to give the city some “breathing room” when it hires and trains new electricians.

Also, council will vote to authorize a budget amendment for the city’s parking expense as charged by the Parking Authority, increasing Parking Expense by $18,270 and decreasing City-Wide Employee Training by $18,270

Responding to PennDOT’s recent decision to ban parking on Hampden Boulevard, Council will vote on providing a six-month moratorium on fines associated with the No Parking Zones on Hampden Blvd at the following intersections – College Avenue/Richmond Street, Amith Street, Perry Street and Robeson Street.