Allegheny County Council Meeting – April 9, 2024

The Allegheny County Council held its regular meeting on April 9, 2024, with 11 members present initially, later 12. The meeting opened with a moment of silence and reflection, followed by roll call. The agenda included proclamations, public comments on agenda items, approval of minutes, a vote on a tax increment financing resolution, committee referrals, a liaison report on elections, and public comments on general items.

Proclamations

• Recognized April 2024 as Fair Housing Month (sponsored by Councilmember Walton).
• Recognized Teresa Marguerite Valicente upon her retirement from the Allegheny County Treasurer’s Office after 48 years of service (sponsored by Councilmember Nacaretti Chapkis and all members).
• Recognized Vietnam War Veterans Day (sponsored by Councilmember DeMarco).
• Declared April 12, 2024 as 412 Thrive Day (sponsored by Councilmember DeMarco and all members).
• Proclaimed April 7–13, 2024 as National Library Week (sponsored by Councilmember DeMarco).
• Recognized four Eagle Scouts: Alec Matthew Richards, Nathan Robert Galan, Pranav Kunjupari, and John Paul Renone (sponsored by Councilmembers Katina and Grisbeck).

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the February 20, 2024 regular meeting by voice vote.
• Approved minutes of the March 5, 2024 regular meeting by voice vote.
• Received and filed Communication 3001-24 summarizing approved executive actions for March 2024.

Public Comments on Agenda Items

• Juan Lingau (constituent of Councilmember Walton) advocated for the Complete Streets Bill, stating that comprehensive biking infrastructure benefits public health, safer streets, thriving local businesses, and property values, with a positive cost-benefit even in the short term. He urged the council to prioritize the bill.
• Thomas Allen (Lawrenceville resident) spoke in favor of the Complete Streets Bill, describing a difficult bike trip to McCandless that required walking his bike on McKnight Road. He argued that a lack of connected infrastructure locks people into car dependency.

Liaison Reports

• Councilmember (Mr. Chairman) reported that over 110,000 mail-in and absentee ballots had been sent out. Six ballot return sites will be open Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., staffed by elections office employees. A Board of Elections meeting is scheduled for April 15 at 3 p.m.

Discussion Items

• Unfinished Business: Resolution 1512979-24, authorizing participation in the Waterfront Apartments Tax Increment Financing District (Wilkins Area Industrial Development Authority), was reported favorably by the Committee on Economic Development and Job Creation after its March 26 meeting. A motion to approve was made and seconded.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 1512979-24 was approved by roll call vote: 12 yes, 0 no, 2 absent (passed).
• The following appointments were referred to the Committee on Appointment Review:
  • Dora Walmsley (Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County, term through April 24, 2029)
  • Diamante Walker (multiple authorities: Industrial Development, Hospital Development, Higher Education Building, Residential Finance, and Improvements in Municipalities, term through April 9, 2029)
  • Kyle Chintilopoli (multiple authorities as above, term through December 31, 2028)
  • Michael A. Gable (Professional Services Review Committee, term through December 31, 2028)
  • Jennifer M. Liptak (Retirement Board of Allegheny County, term through December 31, 2028)
• New business ordinance 12999-24 (amending grants budget for 2024) was referred to the Committee on Budget and Finance and the Committee on Economic Development and Job Creation.
• The prime sponsor of an unfinished business item (unrelated to the approved resolution) requested referral back to committee; the item was sent to Economic Development and Job Creation.

Public Comments on General Items

• Ivy Lenowitz (representing Girl Scout Troop 2808) advocated for a ban on single-use plastic bags, citing that the U.S. throws away an estimated 100 billion plastic bags annually, that a ban could eliminate over 300 single-use bags per person per year on average, and that plastic bags take over 500 years to decompose. She emphasized environmental and waste management benefits.
• Ali Assad invited council members to Eid al-Fitr celebrations the following day, noting the end of Ramadan and the diversity of the Muslim community in Allegheny County.
• Taiwan LaRue (political organizer with One PA) delivered nearly 2,000 petition signatures demanding accountability from Councilmember Sam DeMarco for his role as a fake elector in the 2020 election, calling it a violation of public trust and a threat to democracy. He demanded DeMarco step down from the county council and elections board.
• Jacob Poole testified about child trafficking from Eastern Europe to the Greater Pittsburgh area in the late 1980s and 1990s, describing personal experiences of being trafficked, forced labor conditions, and isolation. He called for awareness and action.
• Elise Pinter thanked Councilmembers Hallam, Prizio, and Grisbeck for their vote on Resolution 1295-24 for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and release of all hostages. She also expressed concern about racist remarks made at the March 5 meeting, urging council members to seek understanding of why those remarks were harmful.