1 Minutes of the Council of the City of Easton, Pa. March 12, 2025 Easton, Pa. Wednesday March 12, 2025 6:00p.m. City Council met in the stated session at the above date and time, in Council Chambers, located on the Third Floor of City Hall, 123 S. Third Street, to consider any business that may lawfully be brought before the body. The invocation was given by Mayor Panto, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto (7) Absent: (0) Also Participating in the meeting were Karen Roscioli, City Clerk; Luis Campos, City Administrator; Joel Scheer, City Solicitor; Jeremy Clark, Asst. City Solicitor; Mark Lysynecky, Finance Director; John Kingsley, Director of Economic Development, Dave Hopkins, Director of Public Works. At the beginning of the meeting there were 40 people in attendance APPROVAL OF AGENDA A motion to approve the agenda was made by Mr. Brown and seconded by Mrs. Rose by the following vote: Yeas: Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, Mr. Brown Nays: None (0) ACTION ON THE MINUTES A motion was made by Mr. Pintabone and seconded by Mr. Brown to approve the February 26, 2025 meeting minutes. The minutes were approved by the following vote. 2 Yeas: Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger Nays: None (0) PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL Mayor's State ofthe City PUBLIC COMMENT - Agenda Items Only 1- Joe Welsh, West Ward: Will speak about the Marijuana ordinance. Executive Director of LV Justice Institute. LV Justice Institute in 2022 released data on marijuana prosecutions in the Lehigh Valley. Their two recommendations were 1-to decriminalization ordinances such as the one on the agenda tonight and 2- any abuse issues with regard to marijuana be handled in a medial setting. Mr. Welsh told Council oft the cases involving marijuana which are clogging the courts. 2- Sue Hartranft-Bittinger, South Side: Happy with the marijuana Ordinance, and raising the fee for smoking in public. 3- Julie Zando-Dennis, West Ward: Thanks Mr. Welsh about facts and history of the war on drugs especially on African Americans. Supports the ordinance. 4- Nicholas Martenz, downtown business owner: Thanks Council for the ordinance on marijuana. CONSENT AGENDA n/a REPORTS RECEIVED BY COUNCIL REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Ken Brown, Chairperson of Finance: Has a change for authorizing leasing of equipment for the credit acquisition, on tonight's agenda Frank Pintabone, Chairperson of Economic Development: this past week held the initial 2025 CDBG application workshop. Submitted two grants total $186,000 for the Comprehensive plan funding and Hooper House renovations. Staff met with Northampton County Parks and Recreation to discuss funding for the Highline Project. Implementation began for improvements to business onboarding and orientation processes. Met with the Easton Main Street to revise the business guide checklist. OF A - E INCORPORATED JAN-12.1881 S EVES 2024 State of the City Mayor Sal Panto, Jr. LOOKING BACK, MOVING FORWARD Thank you for being here. I am SO grateful you are here and that you care deeply about our city, as I do. I'm honored to serve once again as your mayor and couldn't be more optimistic about the path we are on as Eastonians. It is my honor to fulfill my duty under the charter to report on the state of our city. I am 18 years into my administration, I am proud to report that together we have brought positive change to the city of Easton. W00000000e have a clarity of purpose and have focused our work on the people's most pressing challenges resident earned incomed tax, better known as the commuter tax. Let me also say that I wouldn't be here without my family: my dedicated wife Pam who helps me through the tough times and loves our city as well. my 97 year old father, Sal Panto, Sr. my children, grandchildren, brothers sister nieces and nephews. Tonight, my State of the City is one of celebration and gratitude. Sure, 2024 brought its challenges, every day does, but it was also a year of opportunity, innovation and perseverance and growth. "Take a moment and think back to 2008, when I took office. I had more hair, more rested, and I had inherited a city that was stagnant" and fragile When I took the reins of our city in 2008, I declared that the state of our city was fragile. It was was reported at that time in the local newspapers " Easton Mayor Phil Mitman will announce his plan for the 2008 city budget later this week. Easton has been financially strapped for some time. A budget forecast shows the city faces a 4 million dollar deficit by 2010. the State of our City could be summed up in one word - fragile. 1 Fragile - as we navigated the continued uncertainty of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Fragile - as we were on the brink of Act 47. Fragile -Later As we navigated through a global pandemic. Fragile = in the face of a looming $11 million budget shortfall caused by the pandemic; and, Fragile = because of a host of civic issues left unaddressed. Today, Easton is ready! Ready to continue the renaissance that we started. Ready to rebuild. And ready to continue solving the tough problems we face together, every single day! Tonight, we will pull down the curtain in 2024 and have an honest conversation about where we are and more importantly, where we are heading and how we are going to get there. One of our projects for 2025 is to update the comp plan that provides the roadmap of where we want to be. So in 20254 we will begin the public process of updating our Comprenensive Plan. Easton was a great 17th and 18th century city. One of our residents signed the Declaration of Independence and we were the site of the third public reading of that document that became our Birth Certificate; we were heavily involved in the war for independence; we were the site of many treaties with the Native Americans; we were on the forefront of the Industrial Revolution. In 1900 we were the largest of the three cities in the Valley. Our history tells a story of great entrepreneurship and vision. Our buildings and institutions tell a story of great wealth and investment. Like SO many other cities in the northeast, we did not adapt SO well to the 20th century suffering though decades of downsizing and disinvestment and the flight to the suburbs. Finance 2 2025 budget began for the Administration in the mid-summer months and continued through September. The goal as always is to prepare a budget that has no increases to other residents of Easton. The 2025 budget is in excess of $70 million. Of the more than $70 million more than 85% of this is salaries and benefits. Due to Prudent management of public funds General Fund revenues exceeded expenditures again in 2024. Revenues were up in earned income tax and non-resident earned income tax as well as increases in rental licensing, business tax, parking and casino revenue which are stabilizing since COVID. With a solid economic development strategy that continues to increase our assessed value which increases our revenue from real estate taxes. Our pension investments are doing well and therefore for the 2025 budget the Administration recommended, and Council eliminated, the non- And our City wouldn't be here without our City workers and the labor part- ners that represent them. It's a gift to serve alongside them every day. It may be hard to believe but our City Administrator., Mr. Luis Cam- pos, is entering his ninth year with the us. In addition to his regular duties the CA is also directly responsible for Human Resources, Finance and Budg- eting, Information Technology and public communication to our residents. He has shown himself to be able to make tough, and sometimes unpopular decisions. Luis and the entire senior staff are a credit to the city. I would be remiss if I didn't recognized my senior managers. Recognize them And a big thank you to our residents and businesses who stayed the course even in the bad years. 3 ADMINISTRATION Human Resources The Administration has maintained full employment throughout 2024 for its 275 positions. Vacancies were immediately posted and filled, and no consid- eration was given to holding positions vacant as a result of budgetary pres- sures as in the past. Like most municipalities across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, retire- ments will add pressure to services as long-time employees retire and new employees take their place. In 2024 Human Resources on boarded 46 new hires. Both Police and Fire Departments have maintained full compliment and we have had the addition of new positions including augmenting platoon strength to 16FF to ease the transition of retirement and injuries. The Fire Department has approximately 34% of its firefighters eligible for retirement. The Administration successfully settled on a four-year contract with the Po- lice Union. The new contract provided for increased wages that would ena- ble the police department to compete with other regional agencies. At the writing of this report the Administration is still in negotiations with the IAFF Local 713 Fire Union, with the aspiration of settling prior to a mid-July Arbitration date. In 2024 three grievances were received and no grievances turned into an arbitration case. 4 Information Technology The city continues to invest and improve city IT operations. Prior to 2008 there was no one on staff in charge of the IT that every department used and very little technology was used. Upgrades were completed to the datacenter at the Police Department with the deployment of a virtualized environment for better performance, scalability and improve IT operations. Wireless Access Points were upgraded at City Hall to make it more relia- ble and secure. New AV equipment was installed for the conference rooms at City Hall for better online collaboration. For the third street garage the IT department installed new security cameras. New printers were installed at City Hall and PD to reduce operating costs by $50,000 annually. Public Communication The Administration continues its effort to increase the City's communication with our residents. With over 25,000 followers on social media many resi- dents are becoming accustomed to receiving City information through the web or email. While traditional methods of communication are rapidly disap- pearing, the increase in electronic communication has been welcomed, but for our senior citizens. 2025 Goals 1. Maintain a balanced budget and communicate issues to the Mayor on a timely basis. 2. work with finance and controller to improve financial management 5 3. Update the City's 5-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 4. Roll out new City-wide Human Resources policy handbook 5. Begin negotiations for new AFSCME contract 6. Negotiate a new lease agreement with the Easton Water Authority or sell Easton's water assets. 7. Augment communications via Newsletter informing residents of mu- nicipal services and important changes affecting the community. 8. Deliver to Council the 2023 and 2024 Audits and work to have the 2025 audit by August of 2026. 9. have digital message boards installed in each neighborhood to keep residents nformed of ongoing issues. POLICE The mantra of our Administration, back to the campaign of 2007, was "Clean and Safe with fiscal responsibility". Tonight, I am pleased to report that, un- like other cities, Easton saw our violent crime rates go down again last year, for the 18th year in a row. Thanks to our police officers our city is safe and we reduced violent crimes each of the last 18 years. Although UCR Part I Crimes increased by 14.93% this was driven up primar- ily to non-violent auto theft which increased 116.67%. UCR Part II Crimes decreased by 11.16% driven mostly by a decrease in weapon offenses and drug offenses and total calls for service decreased by 2.55%. There were no homicides in 2024. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Lawlessness will not rule the day in our city. We Are a nation of laws, not of men. I want to thank our police officers for the job they do every day to keep our residents and visitors safe. 6 In 2024, the Easton Police Department continued further education and training of its officers. We are a professional police department and every sworn officer received the following training; ) Anti-bias training for Law Enforcement ) Anti-harassment in the Workplace O Cultural Awareness and Diversity 0 Active shooter 1 = Phases and Prevention O Active shooter 2 O Ethics in law enforcement O Sexual Harassment in the Workplace 0 Normalizing Common Mental Health Challenges This training and our police conduct following the policies of the department led to the department being declared a Premier Certified Police Department having been accredited five times in a row. In 2024, the Easton Police Department continued to identify and removed approximately fifty illegal graffiti locations throughout the city by utilizing the graffiti removal program. This removal initiative included painting the under- pass and building of Valley Station, located at the base of the South Side neighborhood. While I mention Valley Station, I want you to know that the trestle is being inspected every year and we will be receiving those reports to keep our residents who travel or walk under it many times a day. In 2024, the Easton Police Department also renewed its commitment to the city-wide surveillance system by purchasing nine new license plate recogni- tion camera systems. These new cameras use the latest technology to col- lect data and can be utilized to help solve crimes through their use. The new cameras will be deployed in the city's neighborhoods. 7 FIRE I am very proud to stand here and say that Easton maintains a fully paid professional fire department that answers calls for emergency services within 2 minutes and 4 seconds. Yes it may be $11 million of our budget but you can't place a value on a life. For 2024, I am happy to report that we did not have any civilian casualties. Last year was another year of saving lives and property. In 2024 the fire de- partment year responded to 2265 calls for service They also responded to a multitude of other emergencies including 33 building fires, 38 cooking re- lated fires,530 Emergency Medical Services calls, the balance of responses were for a variety of fire alarms, hazardous materials, motor vehicle acci- dents and public service. We responded 22 times to assist our neighboring Fire Departments with mu- tual aid 1 in West Easton 11 in Wilson, 1 in Forks Township I 5 in Palmer Township 2 in Williams Township, 1 in Bethlehem Township and 1 Phillipsburg NJ. The Easton Fire department is really our fire and rescue department. Our Fire Prevention program covered city schools Cheston, Easton Arts Academy, March, Paxinosa, I.U. 20 and Head Start. Our firefighters in- teracted with ninety-two classes and a total of 2,002 students and 170 Teachers. We also held fire extinguisher training classes to train employees of several businesses in the city. Grants also played a role this year in the fire department, A total of $118,873.00 grant dollars. We received grants from the Office of the State Fire Commissioner ($20,000.00) Tools and Equipment. Fire Prevention and 8 Safety grant from FEMA $98,873.00 for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detec- tors. In 2024 the Fire Department accomplished the following: 1. Trained our firefighters and took delivery of our New Pierce Engine, 2. We expanded our Pre-fire plan program. 3. OSFC 2024 Grant $20,000.00 (to purchase tools and equipment for our new Tiller ladder which is due here in the city April 2025). 4. Took delivery of 4 portable and 2 mobile P25 radios (Monroe County Local Shares $60,000.00. 5. Hired five new Firefighters that completed the academy in June 2024. 6. Upgraded our Fire Reporting Software. 7. Promoted FF. Joesph Leicht to Lieutenant. 8. Took delivery of a new Deputy Chief Vehicle. 9. We were awarded a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety grant ($98,873.00) for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors (to distrib- ute to homeowners 2025) 10. We launched our Community Connect program for residents The Fire Department's goals for 2025 include the following: 1. Hire and train four new Firefighters at the Allentown Fire Academy. 2. Reduce Overtime. 3. Lieutenant and Captain testing (March 2025). 4. Host several NFPA Certification courses. 5. Order the balance of our Fire Service Radios (portables and mobiles P- 25). 6. Apply for a SAFER Grant to increase staffing and safety. 7. Improve Department Technology (New software to aid in responses). 8. Fire Inspection program. 9 9. Take delivery of our 2025 Pierce Tiller Ladder Truck sometime next month. 10. Complete the facility evaluation and make the necessary up- grades or re-locate the facility. COMMUINIY AND ECONOMOIC DEVELOPMENT It is often said that population growth is the ultimate judge of a city's success. All the things you do to build a city ultimately boil down to whether people want to live there or not. The most recent Census data released in May reflects that our population is increasing for the first time in 50 years. When we took office In 2008 Easton had a population of just bovver 26,000 and today Easton has a population of 30,506 and growing and when I leave office in 2027 we will top 33,000. Still less than the 1950 mark of 35,000 but this growth proves that people and families want to live in Easton. Economic Development in Easton has topped the $1 Billion mark due to many factors but one is the fine professionals we have in our DCED. Economic development was achieved with support and grants from our state, county and federal partners. This year we witnessed the completion of the Commodore and WaterMark developments, the commencement of construction of the Marquis, the Confluence and the Great Square Hotel and several others that we are currently working on which will be announced in a few weeks. We are excited to make the announcement but for several reasons I can't do it tonight. Yes, today Easton is greater, oetter and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us in 2008. We hit the ground running, and as Governor Shapiro says "we got stuff done." Dedicated city employees of this city 10 make it all possible. Your early mornings, late nights where I see some of you and double shifts keep us moving, keep us healthy, keep us safe. Our economy is recovering, and our stores and restaurants are full. Our children have improved parks and recreation programs. Our State Theater is thriving and our Crayola Experience is attracting more visitors to our city. Our restaurants are fully booked and Eastonians are back to work. In the next few months we will announce not one but WO new attractions, and possibly three, to our city. I am proud of our achievements, and I want to thank all of you who worked SO hard to get us to this moment today. I stand before you here at the in these Chambers in the city where I grew up, home to an international working-class community, to say to you my fellow Eastonians: the state of our city is strong. In 2008 Easton' unemployment rate was in the double digits. Our current unemployment rate is 3.3% below the current Lehigh Valley rate of 3.5% and lower than our November 2024 rate of 3.7%. And last but not least, our partners in elected positions in the state. Our governor. You see him on stage, you see him delivering his vision for our Commonwealth. You see him visiting our city. You are seeing real leadership in this governor. This governor is the steady hand we need at the wheel right now. Thank you, Governor Shapiro. He's fighting for us in Harrisburg, making. And I can't forget our senior Legislators Senator Lisa Boscola and Representative Bob Freeman; and our county officials like County Executive Lamont McClure: Thank you for your partnership and helping us make Easton a great city again. PUBLIC WORKS The Easton Public Works Department has an annual budget of roughly $17 million. The Department consists of the following Bureaus: Highways, Parks, 11 Public Buildings, Parking Facilities, Engineering and Traffic Services, Recrea- tion & Neighborhood Programs, Fleet Management, Wastewater Treatment, Storm Water and Sanitary Sewer Utilities, and Urban Forestry. Its the de- partment most of our residents see everyday. The Department also provides a diverse array of residential services includ- ing trash and recycling pickup, municipal recycling drop-off & e-waste events, youth recreation, neighborhood programming, special events sup- port, street sweeping, and curbside leaf and brush removal. 2024 saw the completion of: the Wood Avenue Corridor Rehabilitation à the City's Active Transportation Plan the Cattell Street Corridor Safety Improvements Project Intersection Realignment and Re-Timing Improvements for: 13th & Bush- kill, 4th & Northampton, Larry Holmes Drive & Northampton, Larry Holmes Drive & 3rd I Bushkill, Snyder & 3rd, 7th & Northampton, Centre Square e Completion of (3) MS4 Installations at Cheston School, County Parking Lots, and Mauch Chunk Park Ongoing Environmental work for the Easton Iron and Metal Site Continued work on the City's Climate Action Plan Initiative including adop- tion of the Climate Mitigation Plan Addendum and a 2050 Net Zero carbon emissions goal the Northampton Street Decorative Lighting Phase to 13th Street Coordination of the Bushkill Creek dam removals in the City of Easton Coordination with Easton Area School District for improvements to Vanderveer Park Completion of Concept Study for a new downtown bicycle pump track and mountain bike facility located in Hackett Park 12 Reconstruction and upgrade of the Hackett Park hardball infield Installation of Centre Street lines driver feedback displays for traffic calm- ing Coordination of Improvements for Centennial Park and Vanderveer Park e Coordination of Improvements for West Ward pocket parks Coordination of Nesquehoning Memorial Park Committee and park im- provements design Installation of Citywide in-situ sanitary and storm system improvements Wastewater Treatment Plant Capital Projects 200 Street Tree Plantings PLANNING AND CODES Thanks to our Economic Development Plan development and redevelopment has continued throughout the city and across the four neighborhoods. In 2024 we saw a continued increase in construction permit applications. The reduction in buyer notification inspection requests is expected in 2025, as the real estate market is showing signs of low inventory in the city. The department received and processed 1,421 construction permits, a 3.72% increase over 2023. The continued development and redevelopment over the past couple of years resulted in a total of 3,706 construction inspec- tions in 2024. A minor rise in property transters resulting in 388 buyer notifi- cation inspection requests, a 23.6% increase over 2023. Other applications processed include 90 Certificate of Appropriateness, 350 Zoning, 63 Zoning Appeals, zero Property Maintenance appeals, and seven Building Code ap- peals. 13 The OpenGov Citizen services software has continued to allow the depart- ment to better serve citizens through ease of access to staff to provide com- plaints and follow-up. Code officers investigated 2,428 cases. The state of this city is strong. It is unwavering. It is undaunted. Easton doesn't have a NIZ or a CRIZ - we do it the old fashion way We work hard and shape our own destiny. We took the helm of Easton in a challenging time in our city and nation. Violent crime was up. Violent activity and shootings were prevalent throughout the city; street walkers walked throughout the downtown;- people had a negative outlook on Easton. Visitors weren't coming. Restaurants opened and closed within 6 months. Things weren't good for Easton, but I just won't ever accept that we have to settle for the way things have always been. We keep challenging the status quo. We don't want to revert to the 20th century. Today, I am proud to stand here and speak to you about not only our accomplishments of the past year, but also what we are mostly looking forward to for the next year. My friends, our best days are ahead of us, because for the first time in years, all of us in this room believe that the Easton of the 20th century is in the rearview mirror. I refuse to be pessimistic about our future. We are a city of innovators, of dreamers, and doers. Easton's story has always been one of resilience, determination and reinvention; I This is not the time to slow down. It's time to double down. 14 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, leaders of the past, present and future when we look back on our accomplishments of the year and years gone by, and as we aspire to achieve even greater goals in the years to come; as we re-new our commitment to one another, and as we strive to elevate all of Easton = assessing the state of our City, I can observe with great faith and confidence, that the State of our city is unyieldingly strong. Today, the City of Easton is safer, stronger, and healthier financially than we were last year. And next year, we'll be safer, stronger, and nealthier than we are today," We've taken the historic American Rescue Plan funds from the Biden- Haris administration, and we are putting them to work for Easton. Based on the Mayor's Affordable Housing Task Force we budgeted $4 million for affordable housing. But it is more than the state of our city It's about the state of your household. It's about the state of mind of our residents. It's about the state of your neighborhood. Do you look over your shoulder when walking after dark? Do you feel pride in your local park? Do you have peace of mind be- cause you can actually pay the rent? When the answer is yes, then we can say the state of our city is strong. In 2025 we must: Rise to the challenge of addressing chronic homelessness. It's a national is- sue and the federal government must provide the founding, especially for mental health. Mental health and addiction are often at the core of homelessness, behavioral health, mental health, and treatment for substance use disorders are all services that are supposed to be provided by county government. The 15 City of Easton does not have a Health and Human Services Agency. But we will do our part. In 2025 we will see the expansion of the Safe Harbor homeless shelter into a second building with larger space to accommodate more individuals. To be clear: I'm SO passionate about this because it affects the bottom line at the City. Every dollar this City spends responding to the lack of action from the County, or the State is a dollar not being spent on fixing our roads, upgrading our stormwater systems or supporting public safety. In 2025 we will rise to build more housing to bring down the costs of hous- ing and rise up against the urge to say "no" because change is scary. Rising to meet the expectations of all our neighborhoods. Rise to confront the climate crisis. Rise to reach every resident with opportunities to grow and thrive. Rise above doubters to deliver real solutions to the most intractable prob- lems we face. Rise beyond what we have been to become what I know we can be a truly great city that works for all of us. Rise up against those that speak ill of our city Don't be afraid to confront them with your positive experiences. Real change comes from community, SO I knew my first and most important job as mayor was to build the team Easton deserves. That team is here to- night and needs to be recognized intro Cabinet. It is a team of profession- als in their respective areas. They are not political appointments of people that will be loyal to me. They are people who are loyal to Easton. Under extraordinary circumstances, our team has refused to settle. This team works hard every day to make Easton a better city for all residents. 16 And we have the resources, the resolve, and the responsibility to make it even stronger. And we have two and a half years to do that. As we look to the year ahead, our administration is focused on building a green and growing city for everyone. Economic and Community Development When the "Easton Redevelopment Authority" was created nearly 70 years ago, its purpose was singular: to clear the way for new development, even if that meant displacing thousands of working class. Today its mission is to create jobs and expand the tax base and address the nousing crisis. Over the last tWO decades, Easton saw the largest building boom in genera- tions: cranes in the sky and jobs on the ground. But that growth wasn't har- nessed for the benefit of all our communities, especially our neighborhoods SO we developed the motto to "develop the whole town not just the down- town! Our Southside neighborhood was awarded a 10-year designation as a Blueprint Community and the committee meets every month to plan for sta- bilization of the neighborhood and the expansion of locally owned business in neighborhood services. One of its goals is to bring Pride of place to SS resi- dents. The West Ward seeing an upgrade in all of their parks and the plan- ning for youth and senior center SO young and old don't have to recreate on the streets And our seniors can socialize in a face to face environment. The State of our City is very strong. Our local government is strong. And our conviction to continue this momentum is strong. Blessed with a diverse and robust economy, there is very little that cannot be accomplished in Easton. Time and again, we prove that we are on the right track. And we DO 17 what is right to continue to move everyone in our community toward pros- perity. Prosperity is a workforce issue AND an economic vitality issue. Fertile ground that has been plowed by Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." That resonates with me as I reflect on Easton and the great people who live here, now and in the past. Fix the small things and her big things will be easier to address. Economic Growth It is more than a cliché, the term "a rising tide lifts all boats" is a philosophy that Eastonians not only embrace, we prove its veracity. Easton's economy continues to be fundamentally strong. We continue to see growth in most sectors of the local economy. Easton's great advantages include modest but steady population growth, a real economy that provides positive outcomes for middle- and working-class residents. And of course our location. City Council will be focused later this year on the community's economic future as the City begins work on a comprehensive plan to identify the community's priorities for economic vitality, neighborhood preservation and land use. We will need your help, as the comprenensive plan requires extensive public input. This is your opportunity to help shape Easton's future. What is important to you? Your children? Your grandchildren? This planning process is important and asks the question "What do we want Easton to become in the next ten years. I want to reflect a moment on where we go from here = and I would like for you, too, to dream a minute about how we embrace a grand vision for 18 Easton, real and attainable? First, we must decide what we want our city to be and then we must go out and make that dream a reality. We must have a bias toward action. We must not give up. We must all come to the table together to make Easton great. The bar is now raised incredibly high. But, SO is the level of inspiration. Our cooperative spirit, our can-do attitude, our non-stop focus on ideas and arts and entrepreneurship and innovation. We are poised on the precipice of a new destiny for our city, our people. Destiny is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. Your belief = and tremendous work - have been instrumental in what we have accomplished and the work we will continue to do together. Because of you-Easton is seeing real progress. As we celebrate the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter, he said what I know many of us know and feel everyday. He said "I have learned that our greatest blessings come when we are able to improve the lives of others." That is our work in municipal government. It's hard work. it's every single second of every minute, every day. But it's important work. I'm proud to report not only on our work and our success from the past year, but our path forward as we welcome 2025. I frequently have the opportunity to engage with mayors from all across the country. 19 It has been a great learning experience to be able to meet up with these mayors, some with cities hosting millions and some with just a few thou- sand, and, on many occasions, troubleshoot challenges all cities face. Without fail, and because inherently mayors want to open the door SO they can brag about their own city, the question they always ask is-tell me about your city. Eighteen years ago, Easton was a place with hundreds of dilapidated struc- tures. It was a place with a downtown that had seen better days. It was a city that needed to invest in our riverfront, our parks, our roads and our recreation. It was a city that needed: (1) to prepare financially for a rainy day. Laston has never been in such a financially sound position and we always assumed that our rainy day would never come and then COVID hit. (2) upgrade infrastructure SO we have a safe city I'm proud we've tackled these challenges and more. In eighteen years, we have secured more than $100M in grant funding, because of our amazing relationships with our U.S. Senators, and elected state officials and because of their deep commitment to ensuring every city in the Commonwealth thrives. Just as good and affordable housing is necessary for a community, the space for our families to play and grow is vital. 20 For many of our families, our parks are the only place for their kids to play. For others, it's an extension of a backyard. And for some, it's a place to lis- ten, to learn, and find their very first friend. Easton's story is still evolving. Our focus should be on the future. How will our children and grandchildren talk about their city? I hope our grandchildren talk of a place they feel joy, where they have deep connections, where they found someone or something special, and where they have created a life. I'm proud to have been a small part of our progress over these past 18 years and I am looking forward to the next. One of the notable aspects of being mayor is becoming aware of some of the city's hardest moments. I can absolutely assure you that Easton's heart is full of courage and love. From the police officer who saved victim a gun shot wound, even though he knew he was a wanted man, to the firefighter who reversed an overdose, to the teacher who intervened in a dangerous situa- tion, from the community organizer who helped a family avoid homelessness to the ousiness owner who poured everything she had into a new venture, I see that your hearts are full of courage and love and I know that the state of our city is ready for a bright future whatever comes our way. Cities are the economic engine of our nation. I want to make sure that it is more affordable. It's all about affordability It comes down to one simple thing building more housing will drive down the cost of housing. 21 We are building a catalytic future for Easton that not only embraces our growth but seizes the opportunity to cement our identity as the center for tourism, dining, entertainment and culture in our region. The future we are building - together - is deliberate. It's intentional and positions our city for even greater success. While other urban centers are losing population, Easton continues to defy trends, outpacing state growth. While my administration may not see the opening of the West Ward Community Center, we will lay the foundation, identify the funding and start construction for this transformational neighborhood project. As we grow as a city, we know the number of people who are most vulnerable is also growing. We know the emergency shelter system must increase capacity to meet immediate needs. But like when Safe Harbor was founded, we need more than shelter the shelter needs to have GED classes; job skill training; job interview prep. Skills that enable individuals to provide for themselves. We're building, a lot. Roads, water and sewer lines, gas lines, bridges, canal locks, housing, parks, and more. Updating infrastructure is inconvenient but it must be done Easton is on a path that is catalytic, driving excitement and energy into our communities about our legacy and our history and gold-medal future as an entertainment, dining and cultural powerhouse. As we embrace this future and welcome more neighbors and visitors today, tomorrow and in 10 years, I know we will be proud of the decisions we made. 22 We will be proud of the partnerships we built. And we will be proud of the in- itiative we took to ensure Easton thrives for another century. While there is SO much violence and hatred that threatens to turn us against one another, there is SO much opportunity here at home that brings us together. We all want the same basic things for ourselves, for our children and for our neighbors. I want to ask the residents of Easton to stand together. To stand up and take collective action that will make our city a cleaner, safer, more compassionate place. And when we've done that together, there is no stopping what Easton can become! Sustainability Coordinator Project Manager Sustainability Coordinator Project Manager Project Manager Security at Festivals Blueprint Community designation Comp Plan Community Center "Soon, we'll be asking for financial investment. And when we do, we'll have a detailed plan-like we did with the streets bond--spelling out what core services the funds will be used for. 23 Skate Park Bike Pump Park Trees Home" is SO much more than a house--though it's a good start: Add a park down the street for kids to run around in. Make it a place you can put down roots, knowing they'll blossom. Surround it with schools that inspire and connect. Home is all the little points of light that give tomorrow its glow. It's the place-and the people-you refuse to give up on. Thank you, to all of you, for making Easton your home. 24 3 The Landlord tenant training was pulled from the Agenda from a request by the LV Association of Realtors to exempt their members from having to take a 10- minute test to help better serve Easton. When we didn't exempt anyone, we heard from their attorney. We pulled it and we will work on the training and bringing it back. Mr. Pintabone spoke of an incident at Pioneer park. Crystal Rose, Chairperson of Planning and Codes: Zoning update proposal at planning last week. Received calls from residents sharing opinions. What are the next steps? Mayor Panto stated it will come to Council, second meeting in March. Mr. Scheer also stated at t he Planning Commission was announced that at the April meeting it was going to come before the Planning Commission for it's recommendations. They would complete their role first then go in front of City Council. That means at the first city council meeting in April would be ready for public hearing. Next Zoning meeting will be March 17, 6pm. Mrs. Rose stated on Friday she attended the Lady Boss Women's Summitt, held at nurture nature center. Kim Kmetz was awarded the Marishka Michener Award. Roger Ruggles, Chairperson of Public Safety: still pursuing the LIDAR. Very soon we will hold the onsite training course for the drone and the LIDAR attached to that. James Edinger, Chairperson of Public Works: moving two resolutions one for relining storm stewer pipes and the other to reserve spaces in the Larry Holmes lot for drilling for the new sewer main. Taiba Sultana, Chairperson of Administration: passed out a packet "intrepid". A couple of months ago counsel presented by intrepid open access network. Council requested more information of Intrepid working with other municipalities. Mrs. Sultana Report of the Mayor: was in Washington DC and was elected to the Vice Chairmanship ofthe National League ofCities Advisory Board of Directors. Mayor stated he hopes the Council finds the Hologram Zoo lease to their liking. It is market rate rent. Report of the City Solicitor: Project proposed off Morrison Ave. Planning Commission recommended against special exception, zoning hearing denied. The developer appealed it and the court upheld denying the special exception. Report of the City Administrator: last week Mr. Campos, police and HR attended PELLRAS conference. He will submit a report to the clerk and will include classes he attended. Labor law related. Would be helpful to review some of the coursework. In future it may be good idea for council member to attend at least one day. On the agenda, an invoice to order a pumper for fire truck, it's important a four year turnaround time. We lock into that price before steel price goes up. He will send out a detail list of our fleet, we have 12 vehicles in fleet, the oldest ranging 28 yrs old. We maintain and keep vehicles. One pumper was manufactured in 1996 another in 1998. They are in reserve and will provide in email to council. 4 Announcements: the Marquis sidewalk will be completed this week. Untortunately, a lot of underground work needs to be done, with road closures. Repair work happening in the 3rd St. garage. We are operating at 2/3 capacity. We had 15-20 open spaces during the day. Staffis parking at 4th St garage. Cons will last till end of April. At the Mayor's request, Mr. Hopkins explained the work being done in the garage. CORRESPONDENCE n/a UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bill No. 45 (Ord. 5893)-An Ordinance Granting Permanent. Easement to the EAJSA for installation ofnew sewage pumping main, was approved on a motion by Mr. Edinger, seconded by Mr. Pintabone by the following vote: Yeas: Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone (7) Nays: (0) th Mrs. Sultana, stated she would like to say something for the next Bill. She was told she would have to wait for discussion. Bill No. 46 (Ord. 5894)-An Ordinance adding Chapter 581 - relating to the use and possession ofmarijuana, was approved on a motion ofMr. Pintabone, seconded by Mr. Edinger by the following vote*: Discussion: Mrs. Sultana states she: is calling a motion to table the ordinance in light of allegations against one ofthe officials, brought to her attention recently regarding the position of marijuana. Council members asked what the concern is. Mrs. Sultana again stated she would like to table the Ordinance until the concern brought to her attention is addressed. Mayor Panto stated he will second that motion but would like to preface that with some remarks. Mayor Panto stated he is in full support ofthe intent of this ordinance but must be consistent. He stated he has taken on council member Sultana with her cease fire resolution, because that is the federal government. We are going to enact a law in the City of Easton that is counter to a law in the state of Pennsylvania. He agrees we should be passing a resolution urging the state legislators to decriminalize marijuana in the state of Pennsylvania. Mayor Panto stated he realizes there are 17 municipalities that have done SO. He agrees with everything everyone said, and Mr. Welsh said it eloquently. The mayor is in agreement and doesn't think a person should be denied a job, etc. 40 years after a drug possession charge. He is not against the intent; he needs to be consistent. Mr. Pintabone asked Council to reject the table position tonight. He stated there is a big difference between this ordinance and the ceasefire ordinance. The ceasefire ordinance was us 5 getting involved in a country issue. Dr. Ruggles interjected that we are just talking on the table with Mr. Pintabone replying, we are still in discussion which he is doing. Mr Pintabone told a story ofa resident and the consequences he still faces from an arrest for a small amount of marijuana 20 some years ago. Mr. Pintabone stated he wants to move forward with a vote and not table this ordinance. Mr. Brown stated he doesn't see why we should table this. He further stated he will be voting no for this because he has a real concern someone is going to push that envelope. Mr. Scheer stated the motion to table should be a focused motion on whether to table the entire discussion on the merits. The only thing to discuss now is whether there is a good reason to put it off to another meeting. If you're going to table, it's important to indicate when you're tabling it to. Mr. Brown had a question in asking for it to be tabled is based on a person that is affected by it, they want to bring that off the table. Mr. Scheer, stated the reason you table something is because you want more time to find more information about the issue. Mrs. Sultana stated she does support the ordinance and has shown her support before. She stated she needs more time to make her concern addressed. Mr. Brown asked Mrs. Sultana if someone in the community that is affecting this decision of yours or is somcone on the Council affecting that decision, he stated he doesn't understand. Mrs. Sultana stated this decision will not affect anyone, but she needs time to make decisions. The recent concerns brought to her attention make her think more about this legislation. She stated she will not be able to vote on this tonight. Mrs. Rose stated she would like to see the vote go forward and would request everyone consider voting in support of this ordinance because it's the right thing to do. Would hate to see someone young or old, medically challenged who has a small amount of cannabis possession see this go on their record. Mr. Scheer stated there should be a discussion. Ifit's not tabled and the vote is against tabling, then it's on the table and everyone discusses the merits. Ifyou're finished discussing the motion on tabling and Mrs. Sultana would have the last right to speak on it and call the question on whether or not to table it. Mr. Pintabone asked Mrs. Sultana if she could tell Council what her issues are or questions. Mrs. Sultana replied she already mentioned the issue and cannot speak more of that. A motion to table the Ordinance was made by Mrs. Sultana, seconded by Mayor Panto by the following vote: 6 Yeas: Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mayor Panto, (4) Nays: Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Mr. Brown (3) Motion to Table the Ordinance is denied. Dr. Ruggles addressed council with his opinions and concerns with this ordinance. Mr. Pintabone and council members also spoke again. *Bill No. 46 was denied by the following vote: Yeas: Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose (3) Nays: Dr. Ruggles, Mr. Brown, Mayor Panto (3) Abstain: Mrs. Sultana Mr. Scheer advised council this bill can be re-introduced at a later date. NEW BUSINESS The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Approving Outdoor Dining Program Guidelines The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Pintabone 32-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mayor Panto seconded by Dr. Ruggles by the following vote: Yeas: Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles (7) Nays: (0) 11 Bill No. 50 - An Ordinance Approving a five-vear lease between the City ofl Easton and 28Fortune LLC d/bla Hologram Zoo Lehigh Valley was introduced by Mr. Pintabone and ordered processed for adoption. Mr. Pintabone asked about the admission fees and requested they keep in mind to have something good for our residents and not just visitors. Mr. Campos stated we can bring them in for a presentation. 7 I## # Bill No. 51 - An Ordinance detailing the proposed 2025 remaining ARPA Budget funds was introduced by Mr. Brown and ordered processed for adoption. The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Authorizing Easton DCED to apply for the Community Conservation Partnerships Program for the Easton Highline Acquisition Project The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Edinger 33-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Edinger seconded by Mr. Pintabone by the following vote: Yeas: Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana (7) Nays: (0) The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Approving a proposal from Insituform to re-line storm sewer pipes under the 800-900 blocks ofl Lehigh Street The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Edinger 34-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Edinger seconded by Mr. Brown by the following vote: Yeas: Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown (7) Nays: (0) ITTTT ii The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Allowing EAJSA to reserve 31 parking spaces along Larry Holmes Drive during construction to install new sewage main The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Edinger 8 35-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Edinger seconded by Mayor Panto by the following vote: Yeas: Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger (7) Nays: (0) The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Authorizing equipment lease line ofcredit for the acquisition of Essential equipment for the Fire, Police, Public Works & other departments The following Resolution was introduced by Mr. Brown 36-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Mr. Brown seconded by Mayor Panto by the following vote: Yeas: Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto (7) Nays: (0) The next item on the Agenda is a Resolution Authorizing the purchase ofa 2029 Pierce Enforcer Pumper Fire truck The following Resolution was introduced by Dr. Ruggles 37-2025 The above Resolution was approved on motion by Dr. Ruggles seconded by Mr. Pintabone by the following vote: Yeas: Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mrs. Sultana, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mayor Panto, Mr. Pintabone (7) Nays: (0) PUBLIC COMMENT - On any matter 9 1-Joe Welsh, West Ward, inviting everyone to a symposium March 20 at Northampton Community College for the first day oft the annual peace and justice conference The title is : Intersection of Mental Health and Criminal Justice. 2-Brett Weber, 120 Morrison Ave. Congratulated the Mayor on a detailed and positive report on the city. There is a special conference, LV Rail Briefing at Lafayette College on March 20 8am to 12pm 3-Ronald Johnson, Washington St: thanked city council for being accessible. Honor the life of a sacred and beautiful 11 r old Joselyn Rojo Karanza, who was murdered by bullies claiming her family was here illegally. Mr. Johnson spoke ofbeing bullied for being an illegal and ofhis personal experience. 4-Asher, LV Realtors: love to hear more inventory coming to Easton. Thanked council for the landlord engagement. Realtors requested an exemption and wanted to clear their name to council and the public. Their attorneys stated this ordinance is illegal. Sent it to city solicitor which then the ordinance was pulled. Mrs. Sultana addressed Council for the record. She fully supports the decriminalization of marijuana that is why she requested to table it. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:50pm on the motion ofl Dr. Ruggles and Mr. Brown Yeas: Mrs. Rose, Dr. Ruggles, Mayor Panto, Mr. Brown, Mr. Edinger, Mr. Pintabone, Mrs. Sultana (7) Nays: (0) utrepid January 21st, 2025 - - OF / Easton, PA Introduction to Intrépid Proprietary a Confidentiality Statement: The initialf fibere designo containedy withint this documentis not tob bes shared with any pers son orpersons outside oftheg governmento ofthec City ofe Eastonv without the expressp permissiono ofh Intrepid Fiber Netwarks, spersonnel. itrepid Intrepid FberNetworksisa Intrepid At a Glance Fberto-the-Premises platform witha Wholesale OpenAccess Model, similarto open-access frameworks in Europe Launchedin 2021 by Brookfield. Asset Management, ourmissioni isto deliver +140 5M+ world- class fiber to communities Cumulativey years Feetoff fiber throughoutthe United States to meet the ofleadership constructed broadband demands ofthe future experiende bylntrepid PR Basedi in Broomfield, Colorado, and led by CEOJackWaters, Intrepid has builta strong F executive leadershipteam: with extensive / experience in fiberdeployment 11 - 3.5M+ 1 Number ofmonths Horiési inp pipeline Oper. Access fromi inceptiont to Network groundbreaking 6 A Proprietary & Confidentiality Statement: Thei initial fibera designo containedw withint thisa documentisnott tob bes shared witha any person orp persons outsideo oftheg governmento ofthec City ofE Eastony withoutt thee express permission afintrepidF Fibern Natworks spersonnel. Team of Seasoned Executives Comprised of industry veterans that bring a wealth of telecommunications experience - Long tenured groupoff forward-thinking telecorn operators witha solid track record in develaping and deploying fiber networks Jack Waters CEO Tim Bruny CFO Jeff Polachek CCD Dave Cooper CFO Decades ofi industry experience combined with zayo Level(3 LUMEN Level(3 LUMEN Levef(3 CUMEN € fhiwitivning strategic ndustryreationsnps across key regions of the country Tremendous market knowledge with proven ability to execute on detailed growth plaris Christopher Marsh Rob Macaluso VP, Shane Peverill CIO Oparatiofis VP, lwaneDwalognan COMCAST * Cable Vime zayo CONGRUEX Proprietary 8 Confidentiolity stute ent The tial fiber des ign on within thit docu ment 1ot o be hared with ny perte orpertone Jutside fihe goverriment / the Ity f fastor without the express permistion f Intrepid Fiber Vetwork pers onnel Significant Achievements Since Inception FoundedinD Dec 2021 Obtained ICapproval Achleved initial Broke groundi In. Annourided Ltleton, Raised $290 under a wholesale, from Brookfieldf for subscriber Bloomington, lafayaite, million inc debt opena access inauguralcities activation within 18 Minnesota Westminsterca and financing framework months Minnétonka, MN utrepid Brookfield & a 2 O 2021 2022 2023 2024 . NIA Archor Tenant Brokeg ground InPueblo Received first grant Announced Minnesota Firstin market fully Executed Wholesale andN Northglenn, co eward. expansion withs St Cloud and constructed- access agreement with within 12 months Eden Pratrie Northglenn, C TMobile Announced: 16n new markets across co& MN Propritarya Confidentiality Statement Thel initialf Aberd design containedw within thisic documentien not tol hes shared withe any perdon orpersons outsideoftheg governmnento ofthed Cityo ofEastonw without the express permissions ofl Intrepid FberN Networkspersonnel Brookfield + utrepid Intrepid Fiber Networks is backéd by Brookfield Asset Management, one of the worid's largest inivéstors E Brookfield brings an established récord of deploying global data infrastructure and stable financial backing "US$1T 240,000 2,700+ 100+ Assets Under Management Operatingh Employees Investment Professionals Vaars of Operating Expertise a P Renewablepower Anfrastructure Private fquity Feal Estata Credit Insurance! Solutions Transition $100B $191B $131B $268B $305B $47B Proprietary & Confidentialitys Statement: Thei initialf fiber designe containedv withint thisd documentisn not tok bes sharedy witha any person or persons outsidec oftheg governmento oft the City of Eastony withoutth thee express permissionc ofl intrepidF Fiber Networksp personnel. Open Access I Networks align Municipality incentives for all AC community with moderna andi future-ready parties to bridge the infrastructure, 100% privately financed digital divide E ISPs utrepid Consumers Focused on service provided Open-Access! Neiwork Receive choice, service and toc custorners pricing flexibility No! build, upgrade, or Little disruption,! Increased maintenance burdens quality Proprietary & Confidentiolity: Statement: Thel initial! lherd design contuinedy within thise docume ot to e hared withe any per orpersons outideo oftheg governmentothed Cityoffastony withoutt thec xpress, permission fintrepid! Fiber Networks personnel. Greater Work From Home, Virtual Reality, Gaming, Capacity Smart Homes/Smart Cities Apps Better Fibercar cover much greater distances Quality and protide better quality Value of Fiber More FENET C stages and less maintenance Rehable Residents and businesses have started to demand fiber as the capacity, reliability, and security of their broadband network quickly becomes a needed utility Secure Uses light and is e apl to brcaches service Fiber Speeds 20x Faster on Average than Cable Internet lllustrative Pricing with No Contract 20Mbps 100 Mbps 1Gbps Movie 7minutes 80 econda Bseronds 500Mbps 555/month Songs 2seconds 04seconds 0004second. 1Gbps S70/month High Res Photo 4second; 08seconds 0008sconda 2Gbps 310/month & Confidentiofity Statement: The initialf fiber designe contained within this documentk of to be hared with dny pers E outsidec oftheg governmente ofthec Cityo offastonw without the express! permission ofintrepidH berA Networks perionnel Deployment 2225 & Installation Proprietary - Corfidentiolity Statement: The nitia! fiber design contaln within this docun ot e hared with any person persono outside ofthed jovern ntoftie City Easton without the xpress erm mission Intrepid fiber Network ks perionnel Intrepid is currentlyi in construction in 22 cities simultaneously a Construction huge achievement for a fiber company that is three years old is in progress Deployments have been moving swiftly, with Intrepid bringing its network tot thousands of new homes every month in cities across Colorado and Minnesota 9 Colorado Minnesota 90 Broomfield Arden Hills Dacono Bloomington 2 Frederick Cottage Groven Fortl Lupton Eden Prairk e 99 Louisville/lafayette Mapfewood 9 Littleton Minnetonka Northglenn Moundsy View Pueblo - New/Brighton Superio Oakdale Westrgnster Shoreview 1 9 St. Cloud Woodbury Proprietary & Confidentiality Statement: Theinitial fibers designe containedw within thise docunenti is nott to besi shared witha anyp personorp personso outside oft thes government oft the citye of Eastons without thee xpress permissione ofl IntrepidF Fiber Networksy personnel. Expert oversight combined with constant communication and collaboration Intrepid has extensive experience in fiber deployments and has developed a track record of on-time project delivery Oversight Construction &6 Intrepidy wants to ensure that Intrepidh bpilds 1009ofits distribution thep processi is seamlessi for all petwork soi ifcans servelcustomers involved, most importantly, the city immediately after order andi itsr residents - During design and permitting, Intrepid andi its Projects have local management and partners, work with the city to mitigate fields stafft to oversèe andi inspect conflicts construction à Wei install fiber along designated routes, Ensuringg çommunity andr resident ensuring proper connectivity: andr minimal safetyisouri highest priority disruption Construction! begins with thel backbone network, which connects OLTS, then the feeder network that connects neighborhoods, before bringingi itt toe every home Proprietary & Confidentialitys Statement: The initial fibero designe containedy within thisa documentisn nottobes sharedwitha any person ar persons outside oftheg governmento ofthe City ofEastons without thee express permission ofintrepidF Fiber Nehworkspersonnel Aerial Underground Intrepid will perform aeriald construction which is the fastest, Intrepid will also install its network underground in the public right- -of-way, cleanest, and least disruptivé method of installation available following any permitting and constructlonrequrements Attached toexisting utilty! poles, lollwng xisting overheadlnes ndergoundinstaletet methods: Preferred Directionalboring Intrepidf follows uite ts as outlined by the NESC, pole Secondary Micro trenching awner, anda any other applir. able rules regulations Vaults andhandholes: are installed via oper XE avation along the conduit pathi in Intrepidinstalls t network US ng I attachment on the utility pole, the ROW installing strands, cables, fiber tr ge. andt terminals toa accesst the network Residential accéss via 9" handholesi iristalleda at thep propertyline Restora ration: andc cleanupi is Putemdmmsawywb-ige construction completion Installation types Proprietary & Corfide ly ater ent The Initialf fiber des gn his of with person persons outs de fthes govern nment ofthe City of fasto the AEsS trepid Iber Vd nel OLT Cabinet Beay part of the sory! The Optical Line Terminal (OLT) is our only piece of above-ground hardware, with each OLT serving approximately 6,000 homes We collaborate with municipalities to strategically position OLTS in inconspicuous locations and offer beautification upon request Praprieiory A fonfide ty The nitic at libet Jes gn lus for arperions autiided f thes government of thelity ofEaston th out he press nis sa sion Intre Ver fworkss penso onnel Community Outreach fiden ntiality Stater The iter gn of o dny pehont outside ofthe governme nt he tyof faston vithout the apress permissio Intrépid iber Netwi works s Intrepid has developed a comprehensive community outreach and notification plan intrepid Our aim is to create awareness, educate, and communicate - - our plans to residents and offer prompt resolution of - - potential issues - - Intrepid's Community Notification Plan: - InformationHotline at (844)380-8090 itrepid EAST Intrepid Websiteat https: Mmpnteadfibecom Community Engogementa andOutreach Door hangers Vardsigns Contractor signage and branding Restoration instructions Project website with! FAQS Issue Resolution and Tracking 4. 180.8093 Proprietary & Confidentiolity Statement: Thel initial! fiber design contained within thisd document not tobes shared with any person orpersons outsides aftheg govetn nt fthe City flastony without the eapress permission ofl Intrepid fiber Nefworks peronnel Issue Response and Resolution vtreg Intrépid has a Procéss and System in place to intaké issués, track progress, and ensure timely résolution intaké via Hotlines ànd Websites BA as a Cesutis son Création of response ticket SAN PSRER tpyw- Réview of résponse ticket actions Ma a i RMe viris Smy l yAs - spkw Mes a EAST Timely resolution of repairitems rdan -EEX RIZEA s P - 1e a a EAANSS ufa Targéted response within 24 hours and resolution in 48-72hours Proprietary &G Confidentialitys Statement: Thei initial fiberd design containedw within this documentisn not tobes shared with anyp person orp persons outside oftheg government ofthe City ofEastonw without thea express permissiono ofintrepidF Fiber Networks, personnel. Easton, PA Network Scope a Intrepid has created a preliminary high-level design of Easton to illustrate how the network will be deployed PP Intrepid's current network plans to cover approximately 12k homes and businesses across the city boundaries The network will consist of approximately 279k feet of fiber, with 237k ft of aerial installation and 42k ft of underground installation The approximate timeline for construction is 12- 16 months depending on permit size and rate of approval OLT Locations Backborte Underground Proprietary personorp personso a Confidentially outside oftheg Stutement: governmento Thel Inkial oft the Fberd city ofe design Easton containedy without withln the exprersp this permtisione documentis ofA noth Intrepid tobes sharedu Fiber Networks withe any Aerial personnel Ify you need any additional information, please reach out to: Shane Peverill VP, Business Development Intrepid is excited with the acasatcadtston 760 481 4088 opportunity to partner with the Michael Schroer City of Easton and bring a future- Business Development Coordinator proof, next-generation network to AtIeAuNSICe 303 502 2160 your residents. Alex Williams Business Development Manager cwlsmsonipatwscon 303-912 6287 hoprie ry fty Me l e wi th any pena orpersr ns outsid he jover nt het ityn of Taston without thes eAprrss, jermis nlrepid Hbei Vebwarks perioinel. - 35 Next Steps to build Fiber-to-the-Home in your city Complete Preliminary Design and Finalize Project Kickoff with Begin! Engineering Begin Design of City Permit Pilot Area Agreements City andPermitting Construction Prugpietaty tirfidentinlity Stutement flie hnithalhrr let y thi dde it be pers r prtains sdvdler Vile rvenmant thet ity dffaitony vithout the expresi permi sicn 4vpidiballetovks parsdnnel utrepid www.intrepidhiber.com Proprietary & Confidentiality Statement: Thei initial fiberd designe contained within this documentis not tobes sharedy witha any person or persons outsidea oftheg government oft the City of Eastonw withoutt thee express permissiono ofintrepid FiberA Networks personnel. Eden Prairie, Minnesota 1. Overall Experience: How has the partnership with Intrepid Fiber been progressing from both a technical and community standpoint? Overall, the experience has been positive they have been working in the Cityfor the last 2 summers. They have several layers of folks and the permitting, installation and project management folks have all been very responsive. For the most part the public response has been positive. The way the install group works is actually pretty amazing and there have only been a few issues and they are handled immediately. We have been extremely impressed with the installation process, they hand dig their pits and only dig what they can finish in a day. By the end of the day it looks just as it did prior to them coming though. They are now our standard in how we expect other companies to perform. For the first year we would only provide them with 1 active permit at a time. We are now comfortable having them hold 3 permits at once. 2. Successes: Are there any notable positive outcomes or achievements from this partnership that have benefited the city or residents? Honestly, would not call it a partnership. Any utility company is allowed to preform work in the public right of way to provide services to residents as long as they meet the City's requirements. For these City wide projects, we required a Bond or Letter of Credit, Pay for permits via ACH and permits must be paid ini full prior to us releasing them. 3. Challenges or Issues: Have there been any challenges or difficulties encountered with the implementation or services provided by Intrepid Fiber? Some of the higher up folks are harder to get a hold of but the folks doing the work are the ones it is most important to be able to get a hold of quickly. We ask that they notify residents prior to working in their neighborhood but this doesn't always happen. We have needed to beef up our website to explain what ROWis and who can use it as well as putting information on our social media pages about the fiber project. Another issue is that some of our residents let their personal views know to us and to the installers that they do not want people that are not native English speakers working on "their" property which it technically is not their property in the first place. Our public is very engaged SO we expected some of these issues and provided that nformation to Intrepid. Intrepid is very good at managing and resolving those issues. 4. Feedback from Residents: How has the community responded to the deployment and use of Intrepid Fiber's services? Most are excited to have the option of having another service to choose from. Pricing is lower than other options and from what - hear the residents that utilize their services are happy. Please note when I say Intrepid, - am mostly referring to their suD-contractors that are actually on and in the ground. We have very little contact with the higher ups which is good because it means they are doing a good job. Let me know if you have any additional questions. Lesley Cain Engineering Support Specialist 952-949-8407 Northglenn, Colorado - Jason Loveland, Deputy City Manager 1. Overall Experience: How has the partnership with Intrepid Fiber been progressing from both a technical and community standpoint? The overall experience has been positive and they've been a partner willing to listen to concerns from the city and public and make adjustments, as needed. 2. Successes: Are there any notable positive outcomes or achievements from this partnership that have benefited the city or residents? The city does not utilize the fiber installed by Intrepid, nor have we heard much feedback from the community that it has been installed. With that, there have been a few mentions from the public that they're happy it is an option. Nothing overwhelming to note though. 3. Challenges or Issues: Have there been any challenges or difficulties encountered with the implementation or services provided by Intrepid Fiber? During implementation there were communication challenges with the public about when/why/how installation was taking place on private property, sO there were some conversations from the city to Intrepid on how to improve their operation. They obliged and were successful with the installation and remediation efforts of private property and city rights-of-way. 4. Feedback from Residents: How has the community responded to the deptoyment and use of Intrepid Fiber's services? As mentioned, there has been limited, to no, feedback from residents. One may assume that is a good thing that folks are not upset with the service, but nothing definitive. Response from Jeff Aruthur - PW Directors - City of Lafayette, Colorado 1. Overall Experience: How has the partnership with Intrepid Fiber been progressing from both a technical and community standpoint? Intrepid Fiber's deployment in Lafayette is not structured as aj partnership. Intrepid asserted a legal right to use public rights-of-way and easements under federal/state telecommunications law. We do not have a "franchise agreement" or other partnership where the community receives certain benefits in exchange for use of public rights-of-way. The City and Intrepid entered into a license agreement which outlines general terms for occupation of public rights-of-way and management of construction related impacts. There was not a community process given that the City's role was limited to its regulatory authority under the law. 2. Successes: Are there any notable positive outcomes or achievements from this partnership that have benefited the city or residents? The City is not a direct beneficiary of the installation and is not involved with provision of service to residents. Construction is underway, but I do not have information on whether service is available to customers at this time. 3. Challenges or Issues: Have there been any challenges or difficutties encountered with the implementation or services provided by Intrepid Fiber? implementation has been a challenge for the City. We are a small City with very limited staffing and a rudimentary permitting system built in-house. The Intrepid project has required the City to hire an outside engineering consultant to support plan review, permitting, and inspection. We have also hired a contract utility locator to keep up with workload. Intrepid did agree to reimburse the City for reasonable costs as part of the license agreement. Thus far, challenges and difficulties associated with design and construction have been similar to those experienced with other providers. We are not involved in the provision of actual services to customers. 4. Feedback from Residents: How has the community responded to the deployment and use of Intrepid Fiber's services? Community response to deployment impacts has generally been similar to what we experience on other projects. believe most of Intrepid's work to date has been limited to public rights-of- ways. We anticipate that we may: see an uptick community interest in areas where work will occur in easements across private property. In some areas of the City, telecom/electric facilities are in front yard and/or backyard easements on private property outside of the street/sidewalk area. Public impacts to date have largely been associated with traffic control and pavement restoration.