Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - September 24, 2025

The Allegheny County Council convened on September 24, 2025, with 14 members present. The meeting included proclamations recognizing National Preparedness Month and Week Without Driving, public testimony on jail restraint policies and health department funding, approval of appointments and park-use ordinances, and referral of new business items to committees.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• 13660-25: Proclamation declaring September 2025 as National Preparedness Month in Allegheny County. Councilmember Nakarati Chapkis (Public Safety Chair) presented the proclamation to Assistant Chief Steve Mberlina of Allegheny County Emergency Services. Mberlina discussed the importance of community resilience, noting recent severe weather events (e.g., January cold snap, April storms with power outages affecting two-thirds of the county, summer heat, and drought).
• 13661-25: Proclamation recognizing the week of September 29 to October 5, 2025, as Week Without Driving in Allegheny County, sponsored by Councilmembers Grisbeck and Hallam. The proclamation highlighted Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) ridership statistics (over 120,000 daily trips in 2024, 38% riders of color, 28% Black) and warned that a proposed 35% reduction in bus and T service would affect 19 municipalities and three Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The proclamation encouraged use of transit, walking, biking, and carpooling. A representative from Pittsburghers for Public Transit invited councilmembers to a press conference on September 30.
• Three additional proclamations were read into the record: 13662-25 (Joey Fabus Superhero 5K), 13663-25 (National Recovery Month, honoring Unity Recovery), 13664-25 (Pittsburgh Recovery Walk), and 13665-25 (Northside Christian Health Center's 30 years of service).

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Kensowitz (first public comment period): Urged council to approve a citizen initiative (13669-25) to allow leg shackles on hospital runs at the Allegheny County Jail. He stated that voters who approved the 2023 solitary confinement referendum were unaware it prohibited leg shackles on hospital details. He cited the officers' life expectancy of 61 years and said the initiative would save officers' lives. He also requested a meeting with the County Executive.
• Brian Englert (President of the union representing jail officers): Supported the initiative, arguing the referendum had an unintended consequence of a sharp rise in escape attempts during hospital details. He provided statistics: in the last 10 years across 62 county jails, there were 15 total escape attempts; Allegheny County had 14 escape attempts in 18 months. He noted the county is the only one in Pennsylvania not permitted to use leg restraints on hospital details. He refuted opposing arguments about torture, voter will, and cost, stating the sheriff's office solution would cost 84% more.
• Jacob Poole (second public comment period): Testified about personal struggles with employment resources (CareerLink, etc.), alleging he was brought to the U.S. as a child from Eastern Europe under coercive circumstances. He described being surrounded by false records and claims of human trafficking, and requested help from the county.
• Nicholas Bartell (Clean Air Campaign Manager, Penn Future): Addressed the underfunding of the Allegheny County Health Department's air permit program. He cited a recent controller's audit showing six Title V permits awaiting decision for over 18 months, and noted that despite a fee update in 2022, inflation has eroded funding. He thanked President Katina for committing to take up a fee resolution in November and urged council to act.
• Julia Kent (member of Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, District 2): Supported full funding for the ACHD air quality enforcement. She thanked President Katina for his assurance of movement on the fee resolution and urged council to bring the bill to a finish line, emphasizing the needs of Mon Valley residents, especially children with asthma.

Discussion Items

• Approval of Minutes: Motion to approve the minutes of August 26, 2025 regular meeting was made, seconded, and passed by voice vote.
• Unfinished Business – Appointments:
  • 13614-25: Approval of Angel Ivy to the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review (BPAR) for a term expiring September 8, 2026. Passed by voice vote.
  • Five appointments to the Allegheny County Government Review Commission (13607-25, 13611-25, 13637-25, 13639-25, 13642-25): A single motion to approve all five was made and seconded. Roll call vote: 13 yes, 1 no (Councilmember Hallam). Passed.
• Committee on Parks – Second Reading:
  • 13634-25: Ordinance authorizing South Park Boxing Incorporated to continue use of property in South Park for boxing and fitness training. Passed 14-0.
  • 13654-25: Ordinance authorizing Western Pennsylvania Police Athletic League to continue use of property in Boyce Park for boxing and fitness training. Passed 14-0.
• Liaison Reports:
  • Councilmember Filiagi thanked President Katina and Councilmember Walton for convening an emergency preparedness committee meeting on September 19. He contrasted it with the County Executive's roundtable that excluded county officials, stating council is doing its part to keep constituents informed.
  • Councilmember Walton (Chair of the Special Committee on Emergency Preparedness) reported that the committee will hold another meeting on October 8 to hear from municipalities hit by the April 29 storm, then finalize a report to council and the executive before the budget process. He emphasized the need for collaboration and noted that mitigation costs should not fall solely on the county.
  • Councilmember Hallum (or another member) thanked Warden Wingard for a tour of the jail on September 16 and extended an open invitation for other councilmembers to tour.
• New Business – Ordinances and Resolutions (first reading, referred to committees):
  • 13667-25: Ordinance accepting donation of chlorine training housing and decontamination trailer (to Public Safety).
  • 13668-25: Ordinance authorizing Dept. of Public Works actions on permits, easements, etc. for 2026-2027 (to Public Works).
  • 13669-25: Ordinance amending solitary confinement code to allow leg shackles on hospital runs (citizen initiative) (to Public Safety).
  • 13670-25: Resolution ratifying year-end transfers (to Budget and Finance).
  • 13671-25: Resolution amending grants budget (to Budget and Finance).
• Notification of Contracts: 13672-25 communication summarizing executive actions for August 2025. Motion to receive and file passed.

Key Outcomes

• Approved minutes of August 26, 2025 meeting.
• Approved appointment of Angel Ivy to BPAR.
• Approved appointments of Mark Forster, Evan Frazier, Michael Witherall, Rob Vescio, and Gretchen E. Moore to the Allegheny County Government Review Commission (13-1).
• Approved ordinances 13634-25 and 13654-25 granting park-use authorizations (both 14-0).
• Received and filed contract notifications.
• All new business was referred to the appropriate committees for further consideration.