OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting – January 28, 2026

County Council — Wednesday, January 28, 2026
BodyAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
SessionCounty Council
DateWednesday, January 28, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 12:42

Transcript — Verbatim
0:27

Good evening, everyone.

0:28

I'd like to call this meeting of Allegheny County Council to order.

0:31

Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:35

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States.

0:50

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

1:00

Thank you.

1:01

Please be seated.

1:02

Can please take roll.

1:06

Present.

1:09

Here.

1:12

Mr.

1:12

Miyagi.

1:13

Here.

1:14

Mr.

1:14

Ficulis.

1:19

Mr.

1:19

Grisbeck.

1:22

Here.

1:23

Miss Hallum.

1:26

Here.

1:26

Mr.

1:27

Klein.

1:30

Here.

1:31

Miss Madonna Emmerling.

1:35

Here.

1:36

Miss Nakarati Chapkis.

1:40

Here.

1:41

Mr.

1:41

Palmery.

1:44

Here.

1:44

Mr.

1:45

Palmasina.

1:46

Here.

1:46

Mr.

1:47

Rose.

1:50

Here.

1:52

Miss Schulman.

1:56

Mr.

1:56

Walton.

2:00

President Katina.

2:02

Here.

2:02

Fourteen members present and president.

2:05

Thank you.

2:06

Before we begin, it should be noted that Allegheny County is under a state of emergency exists that at this point in time.

2:13

Because of that, um, there's a five-member requirement, or there's a five members that are allowed to join by phone.

2:21

That rural rule is waived this evening due to the state of emergency in Allegheny County.

2:26

Uh at this point in time, we'll begin with proclamations.

2:30

Um we'll begin these are all being read into the record.

2:34

13796-26.

2:36

Proclamation recognizing Ronald Ron Borchak for his exemplary services, manager of Ross Township, sponsored by Councilmember Madonna Emmerley.

2:43

13799-26.

2:46

Proclamation recognizing Kofi Collections for hosting the holiday salon and applauding their commitment to empiring emergency artists sponsored by Councilmember Hallam.

2:53

1380-26.

2:55

Proclamation recognizing Sam Hans Greco for his service as chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, sponsored by Councilmember Schulman.

3:03

13801-26.

3:05

Proclamation recognizing Lawrence Stanley upon the occasion of his 50 years of exemplary service to Skyview Volunteer Fire Department sponsored by Councilmember Adams.

3:12

13802-26.

3:15

Proclamation recognizing Nicholas Vital upon the occasion of his 50 years of exemplary service.

3:22

13803-26.

3:24

Proclamation recognizing Richard Proud upon the occasion of his 50 years of exemplary service from Skyview Volunteer Fire Department sponsored by Council Member Adams.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████75%
Immigration Policy████████14%
Government Reform███████11%
Summary of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting – January 28, 2026

Allegheny County Council convened on January 28, 2026, at 10:30 AM with 14 members present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, a moment of silence, and roll call. The President noted that a state of emergency was in effect, waiving the usual limit on members joining by phone. The agenda included proclamations, approval of prior minutes, appointment referrals, new ordinances and resolutions, a contract notification, and public comment.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of December 2, 2025, and December 16, 2025, regular meetings were approved by voice vote with no opposition.
  • A communication summarizing approved executive actions for December 2025 (13816-26) was received and filed by unanimous consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sharon Bonabiglia, representing the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, urged council to vote yes on legislation to restrict cooperation with ICE in the county. She stated that the rule of law based on justice requires keeping out chaos caused by ICE operations in other locations. She also noted reading names of those who died in the county jail at every Jail Oversight Board meeting.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations (13796-26 through 13805-26): Recognizing individuals and organizations for service (Ross Township manager, Kofi Collections, Allegheny County Democratic Committee chair, Skyview Volunteer Fire Department members, Allegheny County Youth Laureate Program, and a police department member). All were referred to committee without further discussion.
  • Appointments (13789-26 through 13794-26): Councilmember Butter to MWDBE Advisory Committee, Councilmember Schulman to Conservation District, Councilmember Rose to Human Relations Commission, and reappointments of Michelle Payenzo and Wade Farriosteen to the Board of Property Assessment Appeals and Review. All referred to the Committee on Appointment Review.
  • New Ordinances and Resolutions (13808-26 through 13814-26):
    • 13808-26: Referendum question on term limits for the Chief Executive (sponsored by Katina, Hallam, Grisbeg, Rose, Madonna Emmerling) → Government Reform.
    • 13809-26: Codify county services regardless of refugee/immigration status (sponsored by Hallam, Bada, Madonna Emmerling, Schulman, Grisbeck, Rose) → Public Safety.
    • 13810-26: Create Jail Rape Elimination article (sponsored by Hallam, Rose, Madonna Emmerling, Katina) → Public Safety.
    • 13811-26: Amend procurement process for large contracts (sponsored by Hallam, Grisbeck, Rose, Bada, Madonna Emmerling, Schulman, Palmasina, Palmery; Palmery added) → Government Reform.
    • 13812-26: Property tax exemptions for long-term owner-occupants (sponsored by Grisbeck, Hallam, Rose, Madonna Emmerling, Schulman, Adams; Palmery and Kline added) → Assessment Practices.
    • 13813-26: Replace ethics code (sponsored by Katina; Palmery added) → Government Reform.
    • 13814-26: Rename Youghiogheny River Bridge No. 1 (Sudersville Bridge) (sponsored by Chief Executive and Adams) → Public Works.
  • Motion 13815-26: Held to next meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • All proclamations and appointments were accepted and referred to respective committees.
  • Minutes of December 2 and December 16, 2025, and the executive actions summary were approved unanimously.
  • Several new ordinances were introduced and assigned to committees for further review; no votes on substance occurred.
  • The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent after public comments.

Next Steps

  • Committee meetings will consider the referred ordinances and appointments. The referendum on term limits is slated for the May 19, 2026, primary election ballot if council approves the ordinance.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of Allegheny County Council to order. Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States. Please remain standing for a moment of silence prayer or reflection. Thank you. Please be seated. Can please take roll. Present. Here. Mr. Miyagi. Here. Mr. Ficulis. Mr. Grisbeck. Here. Miss Hallum. Here. Mr. Klein. Here. Miss Madonna Emmerling. Here. Miss Nakarati Chapkis. Here. Mr. Palmery. Here. Mr. Palmasina. Here. Mr. Rose. Here. Miss Schulman. Mr. Walton. President Katina. Here. Fourteen members present and president. Thank you. Before we begin, it should be noted that Allegheny County is under a state of emergency exists that at this point in time. Because of that, um, there's a five-member requirement, or there's a five members that are allowed to join by phone. That rural rule is waived this evening due to the state of emergency in Allegheny County. Uh at this point in time, we'll begin with proclamations. Um we'll begin these are all being read into the record. 13796-26. Proclamation recognizing Ronald Ron Borchak for his exemplary services, manager of Ross Township, sponsored by Councilmember Madonna Emmerley.

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