Allegheny County Council Meeting - June 20, 2023

The Allegheny County Council held its regular meeting on June 20, 2023, with 15 members present. The meeting featured the Chief Executive's quarterly address, proclamations, committee reports, and a lengthy debate on overriding the Chief Executive's veto of Ordinance 12345-22, which would establish a minimum wage of $18/hour for county employees by January 2024, rising to $20/hour by January 2026. The council voted 10-5 to override the veto. Other actions included approval of several routine ordinances and motions, and public testimony on air quality and homelessness.

Consent Calendar

• 12722-23: Approved sale of county property at 83 Union Avenue, North Versailles, for $3,300 to Royal Penn Realty Group LLC (15-0).
• 12697-23: Approved a tax exemption program for improvements to the former YWCA building in Pittsburgh (15-0).
• 12698-23: Approved a tax exemption program for redevelopment of an 8-acre brownfield in Clairton (15-0).
• 12715-23: Ratified amendments to Health Department rules on the Needle Exchange Program (15-0).
• 12716-23: Ratified amendments revising Section 2105.73 Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (air pollution controls) (15-0).
• 12717-23: Ratified amendments on Universal Blood Lead Level Testing (15-0).
• 12712-23: Authorized exclusive use of Exhibit Building No. 8 in South Park to Jurassic Alcove Incorporated (15-0).
• 12713-23: Authorized renaming of Squaw Run Bridges numbers 1-8 in Fox Chapel and O'Hara (15-0).
• 12714-23: Authorized extinguishment and grant of easement to Monroeville Municipal Authority at Boyce Park (15-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Lisa Graves Marcusi (Environmental Integrity Project) and Anna Hoffman (CMU Create Lab) presented 18 months of benzene monitoring data in the Mon Valley, finding benzene at all eight residential sites, with three exceeding long-term exposure thresholds. They called for fence-line monitoring at U.S. Steel's three Mon Valley plants, estimating costs at $200,000/year.
• Tom Bailey (Valley Clean Air Now) urged the county to temporarily close plants for testing.
• Zach Barber (Penn Environment) requested a council hearing, increased Health Department funding, and fence-line monitoring under Article 21.
• Dr. Adrianne Young noted increasing air quality warnings and called for action.
• Kim Meachum (Clairton resident) described family health issues (cancer, respiratory) linked to benzene and demanded accountability.
• Jay Walker (Clean Air Council) supported residents' call for fence-line monitoring, noting it is required at Shell's Beaver County plant.
• Tanisha Long criticized councilmember comments on intersectionality and advocated for the living wage ordinance.
• Aubrey Plesh (Director, Smithfield UCC shelter) stated the shelter would close at 7 AM the next day, disputing CEO numbers: 608 unique individuals in May, 544 in June, 156 through doors last night, estimated 60 with nowhere to go. She confirmed the shelter has working AC and called the 188 offers duplicative.

Discussion Items

• Chief Executive's Quarterly Address: Reported on parks (pools opened on time with 200 lifeguards; Hartwood Acres sculpture garden; concert series), job openings (over 50,000 in region, 1,600 county vacancies), airport developments (1.4 billion terminal; Breeze nonstop to Orange County, Raleigh-Durham, Long Island, Jacksonville, Portland; British Airways to Heathrow six days; robotics/aviation summit), blight removal program ($1.5 million available, applications through June 23), mosquito spraying (50 wetlands, 20 municipalities), EPA grant ($10 million for zero-emission buses), air quality (third year of attainment, monitors ahead of 2022), renovation of youth shelter on Fifth Avenue, CCAC/CNA training program, HomeTown Hoops (33 camps), Marbles Tournament winners, Public Defender's Project Rehabilitate (215 hours, 160 clients, 433 cases, 224 warrants cleared), and PRT ridership recovery.
• Councilmember Questions: CM Macy highlighted Allegheny County Airport operations exceeding Harrisburg's; asked about direct flight to Ireland. CM DeMarco asked about hydrogen hub update (federal $8 billion competition). CM Walton thanked administration for resolving elevator issues at Wood Street Towers in Wilkinsburg. CM Futolis questioned plans for unhoused people after Smithfield closure; CEO cited 181 offers, but no specific plan for those remaining on the street.
• Former Councilmember Jim Byrne spoke in favor of overriding the veto, referencing a 2001 living wage bill sponsored by then-Councilmember Fitzgerald, and urged council to assert its independence.
• Living Wage Ordinance Veto Override Debate: Supporters (Bennett, Dewar, Hallum, Naccaretti-Chapkis, Pritzia, Katina) argued that county employees deserve a living wage, noted the disparate impact on Black women and women, and stated the bill reaches only $41,600/year after two years. Opponents (DeMarco, Filiaggi, Futolis, Macy, Walton) cited legal concerns, wage compression, cost to taxpayers (estimated $10-30 million), impact on union contracts, and questioned council's authority. President Katina noted the MIT living wage calculator shows a single parent with two children needs $43.45/hour in Allegheny County.
• Motion 12727-23: Urged exploring the former VA Hospital in Highland Park as a low-barrier shelter. Passed by voice vote.
• Motion 12728-23: Urged the General Assembly to allow mental health excused absences for students. Passed by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Override of Veto (12729-23): Passed 10-5 (Ayes: Bennett, Bukowski, Dewar, Hallum, Klein, Naccaretti-Chapkis, Palmery, Palmasina, Pritzia, Katina; Nays: DeMarco, Filiaggi, Futolis, Macy, Walton). Ordinance 12345-22 becomes law: $18/hour minimum wage for county employees by January 1, 2024, increasing to $19 in 2025 and $20 in 2026.
• Consent Calendar items: All 9 ordinances approved unanimously (15-0).
• Motion 12727-23: Approved (voice vote).
• Motion 12728-23: Approved (voice vote).
• Motion 12730-23: Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services.
• Notification of Contracts (12731-23): Received and approved (voice vote).