OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - February 24, 2026: Proclamations, Budget, and ICE Ordinance Debate

County Council — Tuesday, February 24, 2026
BodyAllegheny County, Pennsylvania
SessionCounty Council
DateTuesday, February 24, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:19:54

Transcript — Verbatim
0:45

Good evening one, everyone.

0:46

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

0:49

Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:04

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

1:14

Thank you, everyone.

1:15

Please be seated.

1:19

Jared, please take roll.

1:20

Mr.

1:21

Adams.

1:21

Present.

1:22

Mr.

1:23

Botta.

1:23

Here.

1:24

Ms.

1:24

Philiagi.

1:25

Mr.

1:26

Fatulis.

1:27

Mr.

1:27

Grisbeck.

1:28

Here.

1:28

Ms.

1:28

Hallam.

1:29

Here.

1:29

Mr.

1:29

Klein.

1:32

Ms.

1:32

Madonna Emmerling.

1:34

Here.

1:34

Ms.

1:34

Nakarati Chapkis.

1:36

Mr.

1:36

Palmer.

1:37

Mr.

1:37

Palmesina.

1:40

Mr.

1:41

Rose.

1:42

Ms.

1:42

Shulman?

1:43

Here.

1:43

Mr.

1:44

Walton.

1:45

President Katina.

1:46

Here.

1:47

At the moment we have 14 members present.

1:49

We'll start with proclamations slash certificates one three eight five six-two six.

1:54

A proclamation recognizing the week of March 1st through 7th, 2026 is Women in Construction Week in Allegheny County, sponsored by Council Members Hallam and Palmasina.

2:30

Well, one of our favorite weeks of the year, it is women in Construction Week, and I am honored to present this proclamation today, declaring Women in Construction Week.

2:41

Whereas Allegheny County, as well as the region of Western Pennsylvania continues to strive for higher levels of construction and development growth.

2:48

And whereas Allegheny County is committed to reaffirming the goals of fair opportunities for women and minorities in the construction industry, and whereas the National Association of Women in Construction is a nonprofit and international organization that promotes and supports the advancement and employment of women in the construction industry.

4:06

Now therefore be it resolved that we, Allegheny County Council members, Bethany Hallam and Bob Palmesina do hereby recognize and commend the women who participate in the construction industry throughout our region and proclaim the week of March first through seventh, twenty twenty-six to be women in construction week in Allegheny County.

4:45

Thank you, Councilmember Hallam and Councilmember Messina, um, for putting forth the proclamation.

4:52

Um County Council members, distinguished guests, and members of our community.

5:00

On behalf of Nay Wick Pittsburgh and the women who build, lead and innovate across Allegheny County and beyond, thank you for this meaningful proclamation recognizing the week of March 1st as National Women in Construction Week.

5:13

This acknowledgement is more than a ceremonial gesture.

5:17

It's a powerful reminder of the contributions women make every day to shape the built environment around us.

5:25

From the job site to the design studio, from project management to the executive table, women continue to break barriers, solve complex challenges, bring strength, precision, and vision to our industry.

5:40

In a field that is not always reflected diversity of our communities, it serves.

5:51

To ensure construction remains a place where women are welcome, supported, and empowered to thrive.

5:57

I have here with me today.

6:17

So we are women working in that industry every day.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Immigration Policy█████████████████████████████████████████████58%
Public Safety████████████15%
Procedural█████████12%
Public Comment████5%
Women in Construction██3%
Budget Equity Analysis██2%
Public Health██2%
Public Engagement█1%
Community Engagement█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Allegheny County Council Meeting - February 24, 2026

The Allegheny County Council met on February 24, 2026, for its regular session. The meeting included proclamations recognizing Women in Construction Week and several individuals, the approval of a budget amendment, introduction of new ordinances, and extensive public comment on a proposed ordinance (13809-26) limiting county cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A motion to reduce public comment time from three to one and a half minutes was passed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Agenda Item Comment (Nicholas Bartell, PennFuture): Urged council to carefully vet nominees for the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee, emphasizing attendance, performance, and public health commitment.
  • General Public Comment on ICE Ordinance (13809-26): Dozens of speakers addressed the council, the vast majority in support of the ordinance. Speakers argued that local cooperation with ICE undermines public safety, violates Fourth Amendment protections, exposes the county to financial liability, and terrorizes immigrant communities. Several attorneys and law students cited constitutional concerns and examples of erroneous detentions. Opponents, including members of the Griffo family, argued the ordinance would subvert federal law, increase crime, and violate biblical principles of order and authority. One speaker quoted Romans 13 and the Supremacy Clause. A majority of speakers urged immediate passage, citing recent ICE operations in the county, including detentions in Oakland, Wilkinsburg, and Allison Park.

Discussion Items

  • Proclamations: Approved proclamations for Women in Construction Week (March 1–7, 2026) and recognized Caleb Alexander Anthony (Eagle Scout), Chief Thomas Scott Dick, Mike Zurcher, and Tyler Walters.
  • Appointments: All nominations (13844-26 through 13855-26), including council member appointments and Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee positions, were referred to the Committee on Appointment Review.
  • Unfinished Business: Resolution 13844-26 (amending the 2026 grants and special accounts budget) was approved on second reading after a unanimous 15–0 roll call vote.
  • New Business: Introduced ordinances:
    • 13861-26: Continued use of county land in Harrison Hills Park as a leaf composting site (referred to Parks Committee).
    • 13862-26: Amending Parks and Recreation rules (referred to Parks Committee).
    • 13863-26: Creating residential tenant protections from retaliation (referred to Housing and Homelessness Committee).
    • Motion 13864-26: Urging PJM Interconnection to expedite project interconnection for new energy generation (referred to Economic Development and Job Creation Committee).
  • Public Comment Time Reduction: Councilmember Fatulis moved to reduce public comment time from three minutes to one and a half minutes due to the large number of speakers. The motion passed after a roll call vote—the chair announced the motion carried; the recorded tally showed at least seven yes votes (Adams, Villiagi, Fatulis, Klein, Paul Mary, Palmasina, Katina) against six no votes (Botta, Grisbeck, Hallam, Madonna Emmerling, Rose, Shulman).

Key Outcomes

  • Public comment period for agenda items reduced to 1.5 minutes (motion passed).
  • Budget amendment (13844-26) approved unanimously (15–0).
  • All appointments referred to committee.
  • New ordinances referred to appropriate committees; no final votes taken.
  • Ordinance 13809-26 (limiting ICE cooperation) was not voted on; a public safety committee meeting was scheduled for March 2, 2026, to discuss it further. Councilmember Adams noted the next meeting would also address 13810-26.
  • Proclamations and certificate recognized as read into the record.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening one, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of Allegheny County Council to order. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Please remain standing for a moment of silent prayer or reflection. Thank you, everyone. Please be seated. Jared, please take roll. Mr. Adams. Present. Mr. Botta. Here. Ms. Philiagi. Mr. Fatulis. Mr. Grisbeck. Here. Ms. Hallam. Here. Mr. Klein. Ms. Madonna Emmerling. Here. Ms. Nakarati Chapkis. Mr. Palmer. Mr. Palmesina. Mr. Rose. Ms. Shulman? Here. Mr. Walton. President Katina. Here. At the moment we have 14 members present. We'll start with proclamations slash certificates one three eight five six-two six. A proclamation recognizing the week of March 1st through 7th, 2026 is Women in Construction Week in Allegheny County, sponsored by Council Members Hallam and Palmasina. Well, one of our favorite weeks of the year, it is women in Construction Week, and I am honored to present this proclamation today, declaring Women in Construction Week. Whereas Allegheny County, as well as the region of Western Pennsylvania continues to strive for higher levels of construction and development growth. And whereas Allegheny County is committed to reaffirming the goals of fair opportunities for women and minorities in the construction industry, and whereas the National Association of Women in Construction is a nonprofit and international organization that promotes and supports the advancement and employment of women in the construction industry. Now therefore be it resolved that we, Allegheny County Council members, Bethany Hallam and Bob Palmesina do hereby recognize and commend the women who participate in the construction industry throughout our region and proclaim the week of March first through seventh, twenty twenty-six to be women in construction week in Allegheny County.

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