The Aug. 5 Bethlehem City Council meeting was held at 5:30 p.m. instead of the usual 7 p.m. to allow for easier parking and travel time due to Musikfest, which was occurring in the area of the City Hall Rotunda.

During the meeting, a bill to refund the Bethlehem Water Authority was passed 7 to 0. City Administrator David Brong expressed his support for the water revenue bond.

"The time is right to do this," he said. "This takes the lion's share of the water debt and solves the problem. It reduces the base cost of the water fund. It's extremely effective."

According to Authority Executive Director Steve Repasch, the authority will be refinancing much of its existing debt – $64 million out of $98 million – with an additional $5 million for various capital projects, including pump station upgrades, water line replacements and reservoir replacement. Council will vote on the approximate $70 million bond issue Aug. 18.

Also at the meeting, a hearing was held to receive public comment on the transfer of a liquor license from Phoenicia Fine Middle Eastern Cuisine of Easton, to the new Weston Place restaurant (formerly the "Lantern") at 530 Pembroke Road.

Attorney Paul Herrick, speaking on behalf of Weston Place, said the new restaurant's menu will be similar to the Lantern's.

"Weston Place will serve modern comfort food, American food," he said.

Council member Bryan Callahan commended Anthony Spagnola, owner of Weston Place, for remodeling the once-popular Lantern, which had been vacant for several years.

"I drive by and see the weeds are gone and the improvements that have been made," he said.

During the final public comments portion of the meeting, Peter Crownfield of Delaware Avenue addressed council regarding the lack of enforcement of bicycle and car idling laws in the city.

"The signage is confusing and bicycle rules are not enforced," he said. "Cyclists ride the wrong way and on sidewalks. Diesel idling is prohibited in Pennsylvania and I've seen trucks idle 20 minutes in the street and the police do nothing."

In other council business:

ŸA resolution was passed to allow use of the Bethlehem Greenway for the 2014 Bethlehem VegFest Aug. 23.

Ÿ Certificates of Appropriateness were passed for improvements at 1200 Spring St., 201 East Third St., 1324 Prospect Ave., and East Third and Polk streets.

ŸCouncil member Cal-lahan announced that a Community Development Committee meeting is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Aug. 27.