Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - March 21, 2023

The Allegheny County Council held its regular meeting on March 21, 2023, at 5:00 PM in the Gold Room, Fourth Floor, 436 Grant Street, Pittsburgh. All 15 members were present. The meeting included the Chief Executive's quarterly address, multiple proclamations, public comments, appointments, unfinished business, new business (ordinances and resolutions), and general public comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of minutes from December 6, 2022 regular meeting (motion 12612-23).
• Presentation of appointments: James Kuhn to Friends of the Park for Boyce Park; Phyllis J. Anderson to Allegheny County Conservation District Board; Kellie Ware, Esq. to Human Relations Commission; Alan Shepard and Timothy E. Chesleigh to Community College of Allegheny County Board of Trustees. All referred to committee without objection.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Zachary Barber (Penn Environment): Supported the resolution urging EPA to lower the annual average fine particulate matter standard, noting that Allegheny County has some of the dirtiest air in the country and that a stronger federal standard would help the county overcome legal challenges.
• Matthew Mahalek (Breathe Project): Detailed a severe air pollution spike on the morning of March 21, with the Liberty monitor reaching an AQI of 170 (red, unhealthy for everyone) by 9:31 AM, attributed to the Clairton Coke Works. Urged council to demand EPA set the annual standard at 8 micrograms per cubic meter and strengthen the 24-hour standard to 25 micrograms per cubic meter, plus use a rolling average. Also called for an independent audit of the health department.
• Laurie Davidson (33-year public servant in Mon Valley): Described her worsening reactive airway condition due to air pollution, noting she had to take the year off because climbing stairs is too difficult. Urged adoption of the stronger standard to protect children.
• Joy Bronstein (Clean Water Action, Squirrel Hill resident): Supported the resolution but urged lowering to 8 micrograms per cubic meter and including a 24-hour standard. Stressed the importance of this action for public health.
• Jay Ting Walker (Clean Air Council): Requested amending the motion to urge EPA to adopt an annual average of 8 micrograms per cubic meter and a 24-hour standard of 25 micrograms per cubic meter measured as a rolling average. Cited EPA's Integrated Science Assessment and World Health Organization guidelines.
• Public Comment on General Items:
  • Jacob Poole: Spoke about human trafficking, labor exploitation, and his personal history as a victim. Requested assistance and awareness.
  • Lynn Thompson (Fighting Back): Announced a new organization aiming to reform the criminal justice system, particularly focusing on eliminating restitution payments and ending extended probation from as far back as 1983.

Discussion Items

• Chief Executive's Quarterly Address: County Executive Fitzgerald reported on administrative changes (new county manager Jennifer Liptak, acting health director Patrick Dowd), election department recognition, air quality attainment (third year in a row), 80% reduction in hazardous air pollution over 12 years, discounted PRT fares program (over 14,000 enrolled), $50 million violence reduction commitment, parks statistics (e.g., 20,000 visitors at Boyce Park slopes, $600,000 revenue), road paving (41 miles in 2022), bridge improvements (from 72 poor bridges to single digits), airport expansions (Southwest flights to Austin and Phoenix, Breeze Airways to four cities), and Monongahela Incline reopening after $8.2 million renovation.

• Unfinished Business: Ordinance 12578-23 (Jail Staff Residency Exemption): An ordinance to exclude Allegheny County Jail staff from the county residency requirement. Sponsored by Councilmembers Hallam, Bennett, Macey, Futules, and Catena. Affirmatively recommended by the Committee on Public Safety on March 15, 2023. Passed 13-0 with two members absent.

• Unfinished Business: Motion 12610-23 (Shuman Center Study): A motion requesting a historical overview of the former Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, formation of a juvenile justice study group, and an assessment of juvenile detention facility needs before any decision on the Shuman site. Sponsored by Councilmembers Catena, Palmosina, Naccarati-Chapkis, Bennett, and Klein. The Committee on Public Safety returned it without recommendation. Debate over amendments:

  • Amendment Walton: Sought to remove several