Meeting Summary
Altoona City Council heard extensive public comment about homelessness and the proposed urban camping ordinance, public gathering and event-permit rules, recovery houses, local cooperation with ICE, and the transfer of City property to the Redevelopment Authority.
Council approved street reconstruction, parking lot, road-material and stormwater contracts and rejected the bid received for the Juniata Gap pedestrian lighting project; a separate repository property bid was also rejected.
Council adopted the urban camping ordinance by a 5–2 vote, approved changes to police physical-agility testing unanimously, and adopted the public gatherings ordinance by a 6–1 vote. Proposed changes to the recovery-house licensing ordinance failed 0–7, while the transfer of 320 East Chestnut Avenue to the Redevelopment Authority was approved unanimously.
