City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting 5/11/26 | City of Reading, PA

The City Council Committee of the Whole meeting for the City of Reading, PA, held on May 11, 2026, focused heavily on county facility renovations and downtown development projects. Key procurement-related discussions included the county's preliminary negotiations to purchase the 600 Penn building for relocating non-judicial county departments, with a potential closing date of September 30, 2026. The county outlined extensive renovation plans for the courthouse and services center, highlighting significant infrastructure challenges and a phased timeline extending to 2031-2032. The council also reviewed several contract awards and budget amendments, including a $375,000 five-year contract with Urban Design Ventures for loan guarantee program consulting, a $44,256 contract for atrium updates with artificial plants, and a $500,000 congressional grant application for small business development technical assistance. Additionally, the council adopted guidelines for a downtown housing development pilot grant program with grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, delegating grant award authority to a review committee to expedite funding. Policy updates regarding city hall meeting space usage were also approved. The meeting included discussions on potential impacts of county property acquisitions on city tax revenues and ongoing efforts to support downtown revitalization.