City of Wilkes-Barre Council - Work Session 5.26.26

The Wilkes-Barre City Council held a work session on May 26, 2026, during which several procurement and contract-related matters were discussed. The council reviewed ordinances including the 2026 Action Plan and amendments to parking regulations. A significant portion of the meeting focused on the exploration of the potential sale of the city's sewer system, with financial advisor Scott Shear from PFM Financial Advisors providing an update on the process. The discussion covered the aging infrastructure, regulatory compliance, financial implications, and the timeline for issuing a request for bids (RFB) expected in August 2026. The council also authorized contracts for emergency preparedness equipment, including the purchase of a Zoomero inflatable air beam shelter system from Air Shelters USA LLC for $81,331.88, funded by an epidemiology and laboratory capacity grant, and a digital message board from JTech for emergency communication purposes. Additionally, the council approved temporary suspension of park operation hours for night golf events and addressed local issues such as trash pickup policy enforcement and street restriping progress. Overall, the meeting included key procurement decisions related to emergency equipment and ongoing financial advisory services for infrastructure evaluation.