07212026 Council

The City of Bethlehem Council held a meeting on July 22, 2026, which included a public hearing on the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding recommendations. The city is set to receive approximately $1.37 million in CDBG funds and $388,000 in HOME funds for various community development and affordable housing projects. The hearing detailed allocations to nonprofit partners and city programs supporting housing rehabilitation, emergency sheltering, food pantry services, and other community services. Council members discussed the number of new applicants and funding recipients, noting a slight decrease in federal funding compared to prior years. Several resolutions were passed to approve the annual action plans for these federal grants, authorize applications for additional state grants including an Emergency Solutions Grant and multimodal transportation funds, and approve budget amendments to support these initiatives. The meeting also covered ordinances related to property inspections and zoning, with discussions on inspection fees and their impact on rental costs. Public comments addressed concerns about homelessness, safety, surveillance technology, and development pressures in the city. Overall, the meeting focused heavily on the allocation and management of federal and state grant funds to support housing, community development, and infrastructure projects in Bethlehem.