Allegheny County Council Meeting – July 1, 2025

Allegheny County Council met on July 1, 2025, to handle proclamations, approve minutes, act on two second-reading bills, and take up a motion to pull a term-limits referendum from committee. The meeting included public comment on the term-limits question and on jail policy. Several items were scheduled around the upcoming July Fourth holiday and Council summer recess.

Proclamations

• Proclamation 13586-25 recognized the 25th anniversary of the Allegheny County Music Festival (sponsored by Councilmembers Pritzio, Macy, and all members).
• Proclamation 13587-25 honored the Estelle S. Campbell Boys and Girls Club on its 25th anniversary (sponsored by Councilmember Botta).
• Proclamation 13588-25 honored Exercise Warehouse for 40 years of service (sponsored by Councilmember Botta).
• Proclamation 13589-25 honored John Dinascenzo on his 100th birthday (sponsored by Councilmember Nacarati Chakis).
• Proclamation 13590-25 celebrated the 30th anniversary of Randy Land and recognized Randy Gilson’s positive influence on Pittsburgh’s cultural identity, tourism, and neighborhood revitalization (sponsored by Councilmember Botta).
• Proclamation 13591-25 congratulated Visit Pittsburgh on its 90th anniversary (sponsored by Councilmember Botta and all members).

Filming Ordinance Referral

• The chief executive introduced an ordinance allowing filming for a television series on county-owned property in North Park, with filming to begin this month. Because of the July Fourth holiday and Council summer recess, Councilmember Bikowski agreed to hold an Economic Development and Job Creation committee meeting tomorrow (July 2, 2025) at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the bill. The chair referred the ordinance to that committee so a final vote could occur by the July 8 regular meeting.

Approval of Minutes

• Council approved the minutes of the June 3, 2025 regular meeting by voice vote.

Unfinished Business: Duquesne University Bond Resolution

• Bill 13580-25, a resolution approving a project for the benefit of Duquesne University of the Holy Spirit, financed by the Allegheny County Higher Education Building Authority through revenue bonds not to exceed $145 million, was approved. The resolution states that Allegheny County’s taxing power is not obligated. The Economic Development and Job Creation Committee had recommended approval on June 26. Roll call: 12 yes, 0 no.

Unfinished Business: Public Works Condemnation

• Bill 13560-25, authorizing the county through the Department of Public Works and Law Department to acquire by condemnation a permanent right-of-way and fee simple and a temporary construction easement over parcel identified as Block and Lot 374 H176 for the Greensburg Pike lateral support project in Wilkins Township, was approved. The Public Works Committee had recommended approval on June 26. Roll call: 12 yes, 0 no.

Liaison Report

• Councilwoman Hallum reported that the jail oversight board meets Thursday. The employee welfare subcommittee is recommending a vote on the sheriff’s office taking over transports to the jail. She said she expects the vote to be unanimous and will report back after Thursday.

New Business: Motion to Pull Term-Limits Referendum

• Motion 13594-25 would pull Bill 13470-25 (an ordinance directing a referendum on term limits for a single elected county official to the November 4, 2025 general election ballot) from committee for an immediate vote. Councilmember Grisbeck said referendum measures must be passed by next week to appear on the November ballot, and that his goal was to meet that timeline, not bypass the government reform chair. He moved to hold the motion until the July 8 regular meeting. The motion to hold passed 11 yes, 1 no (Mr. Bekkowski voting no). The underlying bill was not discussed.

Public Comments & Testimony

Comments on Agenda Items

• Corey Roma (Crafton Borough) strongly encouraged council to vote in favor of the term-limit referendum (called Resolution 1394-25 in the transcript). He called it a good-government, common-sense resolution for the public to vote on in November.
• Theron Gilliland Jr. (North Side, Allegheny Center) supported Councilmember Grisbeck’s bill, arguing that term limits address officials who do not respect the will of the people and that name recognition alone keeps incumbents in office.

Comments on General Items

• John Kenstewitz spoke about an initiative by jail officers to bring back leg restraints on hospital runs. He said officers and their families believe delaying is too risky for residents, hospital staff, patients, the public, and officers. He described a petition process: after three weeks of signature gathering, the clerk has up to ten days to review signatures and the law department up to ten additional days, then council has up to 60 days to schedule a vote, with a possible presentation in late August or September. He said pregnant females would always be excluded, and that Dr. Josh Ellsworth, a PhD criminologist and former police officer, has been hired as a consultant. He claimed the initiative would have at least ten council votes by the time of the vote. He alleged officers work 75–80 hours in five days and said officers were encouraging petition signatures and contacting council members.
• Laura Gallagher (First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, part of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network; Scott Township resident) thanked council for allowing her remarks. She said she wanted to meet Councilmember Palmasina about Allegheny County Health Department permit fees and full staffing, and referenced resolution 13229-24. She urged council members to remember their constituents’ commitment to health and safety, including future generations.
• Tanisha Long (Crafton Heights) spoke in favor of pulling Councilmember Grisbeck’s bill and supported term limits as a way to encourage new voices in government. She said she did not want officials serving for many terms and believed local politics drives national change. She also raised concerns about leg shackles at the jail, noting she had seen someone fall while shackled and that directly impacted people were missing from the public safety discussion. She thanked the council for listening.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the June 3, 2025 meeting minutes.
• Approved Bill 13580-25 (Duquesne University bond resolution) by a roll call vote of 12–0.
• Approved Bill 13560-25 (Greensburg Pike lateral support project condemnation) by a roll call vote of 12–0.
• Referred the North Park filming ordinance to the Economic Development and Job Creation Committee; a special committee meeting is scheduled for July 2, 2025 at 5:30 p.m.
• Held Motion 13594-25 (to pull the term-limits referendum bill) to the July 8, 2025 regular meeting by an 11–1 vote.
• One councilmember announced an upcoming sustainability committee meeting on July 2 at 4:00 p.m. to discuss Councilmember Palmary’s cleanup bill, an update on the climate action plan, and a possible permanent recycling center with the Pennsylvania Resources Council.