Allegheny County Council Meeting - November 28, 2023

The Allegheny County Council met on November 28, 2023, with 14 members present. The meeting included proclamations, approval of three fiscal year 2024 budget ordinances, a charter-related administrative code amendment, referrals of property conveyances, and public comments on transit service, a plastic bag ban, and homeless campsite legislation. The Council also recognized County Solicitor George Chanosco for his 45 years of service.

Proclamations & Certificates

• Certificates of recognition for the 2023 Shining Star Gala Awardees (sponsored by Councilmember Filadie).
• Proclamation honoring Frances S. Butts on her 100th birthday (sponsored by Councilmember Walton).
• Proclamation honoring Denise White on her 70th birthday (sponsored by Councilmember Walton).

Consent Calendar

• No items were placed on a consent calendar; all actions were taken individually.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Annette Kroll (Bridgeville resident) expressed frustration with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) service, citing bus route cuts, drivers skipping stops, and a three-hour delay due to a driver returning to the garage. She criticized the PRT CEO and board, and opposed the upcoming plastic bag ban, calling it a tax on non-drivers and people with disabilities.
• Rachel Nunes (Executive Director, Thomas Merton Center) urged the Council to act on establishing serviced homeless campsites, warning that prolonged cold exposure leads to hypothermia, frostbite, and other health crises. She stated that people will die if the city does not provide heated tents and called for an end to camp evictions.
• Sam Schmidt (Bellevue resident and outreach worker) supported City Council’s proposed zoning amendment (2023-2197) to create temporary city-maintained homeless shelters with heated tents and services. He noted that outreach workers are already seeing hospitalizations and that the long-term solution is affordable housing, but immediate shelter is needed to save lives.

Discussion Items

• Budget and Finance Committee Reports (Second Reading):
  • Ordinance 12852-23 establishing the 2024 real property tax levy (sponsored by Councilmember Palmasina). The committee met on November 21 and recommended approval. Passed unanimously (14-0).
  • Resolution 12857-23 adopting the 2024 capital budget (sponsored by Councilmember Palmasina). Passed unanimously (14-0).
  • Resolution 12858-23 adopting the 2024 grants budget, special accounts budget, and agency fund budget (sponsored by Councilmember Palmasina). Passed unanimously (14-0).
• Liaison Report: Council President Katina reported that the Board of Elections met on November 28 at 10:00 AM and certified the 2023 general election results, including write-in results posted on the website. He noted that over 1,000 mail-in ballots arrived after the 8:00 PM deadline and were not counted, urging voters to submit mail-in ballots early.
• New Business – Ordinance 12867-23: An ordinance amending the Administrative Code to eliminate reference to the prohibition on council members receiving salaries, aligning with the voter-approved charter change from a stipend to a salary. Councilmember Dewar moved to waive the second reading. The waiver passed 13-1 (Ms. Hallam voted no). The ordinance itself then passed 13-1 (Ms. Hallam voted no).
• New Business – Referrals:
  • Ordinance 12868-23: Approving the sale of a county parcel (Glen Avenue, Wilkinsburg) to Mr. Neil Straub for $400, referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Housing.
  • Ordinance 12869-23: Authorizing a land exchange (0.88-acre county parcel in White Oak Park for a 0.89-acre parcel from A. Keith Staso Revocable Trust), referred to the Committee on Parks.
  • Resolution 12870-23: Providing a temporary property tax exemption for improvements to commercial/industrial property in deteriorated areas of Pittsburgh under the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act, referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Housing.

Key Outcomes

• Votes:
  • Three fiscal year 2024 budget bills passed unanimously (14-0).
  • Ordinance 12867-23 (administrative code amendment) passed 13-1.
• Directives:
  • Council President Katina indicated he would follow up with Annette Kroll on PRT concerns.
  • Public comments on homeless campsites were received; no immediate action was taken.
• Recognition: County Solicitor George Chanosco was recognized for 45 years of service, with his last day on December 1, 2023.