Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - April 22, 2025

The Allegheny County Council held its regular meeting on April 22, 2025, with 14 members present. The agenda included several proclamations, approval of minutes, appointments, public comments on air quality permit fees, introduction of new ordinances, and a farewell to Councilmember David Bonarotti. The meeting coincided with Earth Day.

Proclamations

• 13505-25: Proclamation declaring April 2025 as Fair Housing Month in Allegheny County, sponsored by Council Members Hallam and Grisbeck. Councilmember Hallam read the proclamation, and a representative from the Department of Economic Development accepted it, pledging continued work for equitable, safe, and affordable housing.
• 13507-25 to 13512-25: Additional proclamations read into the record, including congratulating the Borough of Bradford Woods on its 110th anniversary, welcoming Shen Yun Performing Arts, celebrating Carnegie Library of Homestead’s summer youth programming, declaring Dr. Jonas E. Salk Day (April 12, 2025), recognizing UPMC Children’s Hospital Critical Care Transport Team Day (April 24, 2025), and recognizing Serena Sloan. All were sponsored by various council members.
• 13506-25: A proclamation recognizing Councilmember David Bonarotti for his service was initially held but later brought back for presentation after public comments. Councilmember Nick Vitolis and others gave farewell remarks. Bonarotti read a passage from James Baldwin and offered advice: “Change is possible as long as you don’t submit.”

Consent Calendar

• Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2025 regular meeting (13499-25) was approved by voice vote.
• Appointments: A single vote approved all appointments under unfinished business. The clerk read 18 appointments/reappointments to various boards and commissions, including the Friends of the Park for Hartwood Acres, Community Services Advisory Council, Mental Health Intellectual Disability Advisory Board, Friends of North Park, Friends of South Park, Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, and CCAC Board of Trustees. Councilmember Vitolis abstained from the vote on his own appointment (13476-25). All were approved by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Edward Renn: Spoke briefly in favor of the permit fee increase for polluting facilities, urging council members to prioritize public testimony over private lobbying and to vote to save lives. He also criticized Donald Trump and called for Republican council members to speak out against him.
• Natalie Davidson (Penn Future): Urged council to vote yes on the air permit fee increase, stating the Allegheny County Health Department’s air quality program faces a $1.8 million budget deficit and the proposed fee increase is an administrative necessity to fully fund permitting, enforcement, and monitoring.
• Teya (CMU Climate Action Campaign): Representing a campus chapter with over 35 volunteers, she spoke in support of funding for clean air programs, noting the $544,000 deficit from 2024 and the need to raise permit fees on major polluters rather than taxpayers. She cited 640–1,300 deaths per year in Allegheny County from air pollution.
• Andrew Song (CMU student): Highlighted that Pittsburgh consistently has worse air quality than similar-sized U.S. cities and that the proposed fee increase would make the program self-sustaining.
• Audrey Weiss (CMU student): Representing youth voices, she implored council to vote yes to fund the air quality program, noting the disproportionate health effects on marginalized communities and the need for local governments to protect residents amid national deregulation.
• Sophia Famular (CMU student): Asked council to stop delaying and vote to fund the ACHD’s air programs, citing underfunding and inability to keep up with inspections.

Discussion Items

• New Business Ordinances/Resolutions: Several items were introduced and referred to committees:
  • 13497-25: Ordinance to improve objectivity of the assessment appeals process by separating it from the Office of Property Assessments (to Committee on Assessment Practices).
  • 13500-25: Ordinance to provide a publicly accessible listing of county properties available for sale (to Committee on Public Works).
  • 13501-25: Ordinance accepting a financial donation from the United States Golf Association (to Budget and Finance).
  • 13502-25: Ordinance authorizing use of Hartwood parking facilities for the U.S. Open Golf Tournament (to Committee on Parks).
  • 13503-25: Ordinance allowing Rare Leo Productions LLC to use county property for filming a motion picture (to Committee on Parks).
  • 13504-25: Motion expressing support for increasing the cap on the Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit Program to $300 million annually, sponsored by Councilmember Katina. Approved by voice vote after Councilmember Katina spoke about the benefits of the film industry for jobs and local businesses.
• Councilmember Klein’s Remarks: On Earth Day, Councilmember Klein urged action on the climate crisis, stating that sacrifice is necessary and that “business as usual” is not sustainable. He thanked the CMU students and Dr. Renn for their advocacy and noted an upcoming “Sun Day” event on September 20–21 for collective solutions.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes (13499-25): Approved by voice vote.
• Appointments: Approved by a single voice vote, with one abstention (Councilmember Vitolis on his own appointment).
• Motion 13504-25 (Film Tax Credit): Approved by voice vote.
• Proclamations: All read into the record; Fair Housing proclamation accepted; Bonarotti farewell presented.
• No final vote: The air quality permit fee increase (referenced in public comments) was not voted on during this meeting. Several speakers urged council to bring it to a vote, but no action was taken.
• Adjournment: Motion to adjourn approved by voice vote.