Municipality of Bethel Park

This document outlines the Bethel Park Comprehensive Plan Update, integrating strategic planning principles to guide the municipality's long-term development. It establishes goals and objectives across eight key initiatives: Future Land Use, Physical Development, Housing, Economic Development, Infrastructure, Environmental, Administrative Services, and Community Services and Facilities. The plan emphasizes managing growth, promoting diverse housing types, fostering economic opportunities, enhancing public infrastructure, ensuring environmental sustainability through community beautification and energy efficiency, and improving community services, with a strong focus on smart growth and smart transportation principles.

The Bethel Park Active Transportation Plan aims to create a safe, accessible, and connected network for non-motorized travel within the Municipality of Bethel Park. Utilizing the 'Six E's' framework (Engineering, Evaluation and Planning, Equity, Education, Enforcement, and Encouragement), the plan addresses current car-dependency and infrastructure gaps. It envisions a vibrant community where active transportation is integrated into policy and daily life, with goals to enhance safety, expand connectivity to key destinations, improve accessibility for all users, support environmental and public health, and foster community engagement and equity.

The Bethel Park Active Transportation Plan is a strategic guide aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and connectivity for non-motorized travel within the municipality. The plan envisions integrating walking, cycling, and other active transportation modes into policy, infrastructure, and daily life to create a vibrant, safe, and accessible community. Key goals include enhancing safety for all users, expanding and connecting active transportation infrastructure, integrating active transportation into municipal policy, increasing accessibility for all residents, promoting active transportation as a viable travel option, supporting environmental and public health benefits, fostering community engagement, and prioritizing equity in transportation planning. The plan's recommendations are structured around the 'Six E's' framework: Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, Evaluation & Planning, Equity, and Engineering.

The meeting commenced with council roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by an executive session concerning real estate issues. Reports from officials included an update from the Public Library Director detailing upcoming programs such as job searching assistance, teen events, gift wrapping workshops, and a gingerbread house workshop, along with information on accessing library apps and ongoing fundraising efforts. The Police Chief's report covered upcoming Crime Watch meetings, recognition of the Crime Watch founder, participation in the DEA drug takeback program, and the completion of the child identification program for the year. The Deputy Fire Chief provided the October report, noting increased fire calls, details on ongoing fire training simulations utilizing fog, and an update on the progress toward adopting the agreement for the new fire department facility following the successful May referendum. The Mayor's report acknowledged Veterans Day activities and recognized senior citizens celebrating birthdays, including several residents turning 90 or older. Council then approved minutes from the regular meeting of October 14, 2013, and the public hearing of October 28, 2013, regarding the 2014 municipal budget, as well as bills and payrolls. Under General Policy and Finance, the council adopted the ordinance setting the 2014 fiscal year tax rate and the ordinance enacting the 2014 municipal budget, despite one council member voicing strong objections regarding the legality of the process leading to the May referendum. In Planning and Zoning, Waste Management requested a postponement of the joint bid award for solid waste collection services (2014-2018) to allow time for Bethel Park to consider automated cart recycling conversion. Additionally, significant discussion occurred regarding the Spencer Family YMCA conditional use proposal, with an attorney arguing against the proposal based on inadequate variances and inappropriate use within the Conditional Use District boundaries.

The meeting commenced with an announcement regarding an executive session held earlier concerning police personnel issues, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The police chief's report announced a forthcoming drug take-back event in partnership with the DEA and provided updates on the 2011 Citizens Police Academy and LEAP program applications. The fire chief's report detailed the August call statistics and provided reminders about annual chimney cleaning. The mayor's report acknowledged individuals turning 90 or older and proclaimed October 9th, 2010, as White Cane Day in recognition of the Bethel Park Lions Club's community service. Discussions included the approval of minutes from a previous regular meeting and a special meeting concerning a councilman's resignation, which generated significant debate regarding procedural timelines and solicitor consultation. Council adopted a resolution opposing forced mergers and consolidations of local governments in Pennsylvania and authorized the implementation of a procurement card program with Easy Procure LLC and PNC Bank. The preliminary 2011 municipal budget was announced, noting no tax increase but the use of reserves, with public hearings scheduled.