OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - June 18, 2024

County Council — Tuesday, June 18, 2024
BodyAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, June 18, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:01:11

Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

Good evening, everyone.

0:21

We'll be starting momentarily.

0:23

So we're just gonna be a few minutes delayed just to let everyone know.

0:26

So thank you.

1:06

Members on the phone, president dismissed.

1:08

We're gonna be a few minutes behind schedule, so hang tight.

1:26

We're gonna get started this evening.

1:28

We're just gonna do things a little bit out of order.

1:30

So we'll begin.

1:31

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:35

I pledge allegiance to the flag at the United States of America.

1:47

Please remain standing for a moment of prayer or silent reflection.

1:55

Thank you.

1:55

Please be seated.

1:56

Jared, please take roll.

2:00

Mr.

2:00

Bikowski.

2:02

Here.

2:03

Mr.

2:03

Bonarati.

2:04

Here.

2:05

Mr.

2:05

DeMarco.

2:06

Here.

2:06

Ms.

2:06

Filiotti?

2:07

Here.

2:07

Mr.

2:08

Fatulis.

2:09

Mr.

2:09

Grisbeck.

2:10

Here.

2:10

Ms.

2:10

Hallam.

2:13

Here.

2:15

Mr.

2:16

Klein.

2:18

Here.

2:19

Mr.

2:20

Macy.

2:21

I am here.

2:23

Ms.

2:23

Dakarati Chapkis.

2:26

Here.

2:28

Mr.

2:28

Palmery.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Mr.

2:30

Palmasina.

2:31

Here.

2:31

Ms.

2:32

Prizio.

2:33

Mr.

2:34

Walton.

2:34

Here.

2:35

President Katina.

2:40

So I'm here.

2:41

Thank you.

2:42

We have 15 members present.

2:48

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Education███████████████████████23%
Community Engagement█████████████████████21%
Procedural██████████████14%
Historic Preservation██████████10%
Public Engagement███████7%
Public Works███████7%
Public Comment██████6%
Disability Rights█████5%
Religious Holidays███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - June 18, 2024

The Allegheny County Council met on June 18, 2024, with 15 members present. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of prayer. The council proceeded out of order due to delays, starting with proclamations, then appointments, new business, and public comment. The meeting adjourned to reconvene for executive session on pending litigation.

Proclamations and Recognitions

  • Eaton Park 75th Anniversary (13094-24): Councilmember Fatulis sponsored a proclamation recognizing Eaton Park Hospitality Group's 75th anniversary. He shared personal memories and read the proclamation highlighting the company's growth from a single car hop in 1949 to 56 locations (24 in Allegheny County), employing nearly 10,000 team members. The company has raised nearly $10 million for UPMC Children's Hospital and will award $75,000 grants to food banks. Representatives Jordan Steward (President of Restaurant Division), Courtney Caprera, and Brooks Broadhurst accepted, with Steward expressing pride in the company's community involvement.
  • Ted Puzak Retirement Board Service (13097-24): Councilmember Macy sponsored a proclamation honoring Ted Puzak for 24 years on the Allegheny County Retirement Board. Puzak, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, was hospitalized and unable to attend. Walter Samanski accepted on his behalf.
  • Anary Sheth G - U.S. Presidential Scholar (13095-24): Councilmember Filyagi recognized Anary Sheth G, a North Allegheny senior, as one of 161 Presidential Scholars selected from 3.7 million students. Sheth G's achievements include research at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, publishing a children's book, and a full scholarship to NJIT. She thanked her family, school district, and the city of Pittsburgh.
  • Lindsay Downs - Educator of the Year (13096-24): Councilmember Filyagi presented a proclamation to Lindsay Downs, librarian at Sewickley Academy, for receiving the 2024 Alan C. Miller Educator of the Year Award from the News Literacy Project. Downs emphasized the importance of news literacy and critical thinking. She noted that Pennsylvania is not yet one of the states implementing news literacy education.
  • Additional proclamations were read for Renton Volunteer Fire Department (75th anniversary), Pogo Palooza (20th anniversary), Jeff Scargo (law enforcement service), Earl "Father" Hines (music legacy), Castle Shannon and Clairton Memorial Day celebrations, and Eagle Scout achievements for Brady Ellis, Brena Collery, Samuel Kelly, and Nicholas Jesso.

Appointments

  • The clerk read a list of appointments referred to the Committee on Appointment Review, including nominees to the Pittsburgh Regional Transit Board, Southwest Pennsylvania Commission, Juvenile Detention Board of Advisors, and Allegheny County Conservation District.
  • Second Reading – Friends of South Park: Nine appointments and reappointments to the Friends of South Park (terms through July 6, 2027) were approved unanimously via a single motion by Councilmember Nakarati Chapkis, with no discussion.

New Business – Ordinances and Resolutions

  • 13108-24: Ordinance amending prior authorization for Department of Public Works actions on temporary occupancy permits, highway occupancy permits, and easements for county projects (referred to Public Works).
  • 13109-24: Ordinance authorizing up to $198 million in general obligation bonds (Series C80) and up to $247 million in refunding bonds (Series C81) (referred to Budget and Finance).
  • 13110-24: Ordinance approving sale of Demler Street property in North Fayette for $5,500 to Edward Dander (referred to Economic Development and Job Creation).
  • 13111-24: Resolution amending the grants and special accounts budget for 2024 (referred to Budget and Finance).

Public Comment

  • Salesha Williams (disability rights coalition): Urged reconsideration of the decision to eliminate the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Behavioral Health Education Specialist position. She argued the decision was based on incomplete analysis and would harm students with disabilities. She requested a one-year delay for a comprehensive review.
  • Yaf Azuni: Requested the council proclaim June 8th as a day of memory for the 34 U.S. servicemen killed in the 1967 USS Liberty attack by Israel. He also urged the council not to adopt the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism, which he said could label criticism of Israel as anti-Semitic.
  • Helen Gerhardt (Climate Action Plan and Environmental Justice Coalition): Supported the climate action plan process but urged the Department of Sustainability to hire inclusive service providers, create a community advisory board with real power, and hold accessible public meetings. She submitted documents with 32 organizational signatories.

Key Outcomes

  • All Friends of South Park appointments were approved unanimously.
  • New ordinances and resolutions were introduced and referred to appropriate committees.
  • The meeting adjourned to executive session for discussion of pending litigation.

Note: No consent calendar was explicitly identified; routine approvals of appointments were handled by unanimous vote.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. We'll be starting momentarily. So we're just gonna be a few minutes delayed just to let everyone know. So thank you. Members on the phone, president dismissed. We're gonna be a few minutes behind schedule, so hang tight. We're gonna get started this evening. We're just gonna do things a little bit out of order. So we'll begin. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag at the United States of America. Please remain standing for a moment of prayer or silent reflection. Thank you. Please be seated. Jared, please take roll. Mr. Bikowski. Here. Mr. Bonarati. Here. Mr. DeMarco. Here. Ms. Filiotti? Here. Mr. Fatulis. Mr. Grisbeck. Here. Ms. Hallam. Here. Mr. Klein. Here. Mr. Macy. I am here. Ms. Dakarati Chapkis. Here. Mr. Palmery. Here. Mr. Palmasina. Here.

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