Allegheny County Council Meeting - March 10, 2026

The Allegheny County Council met on March 10, 2026, in the Gold Room. No agenda or minutes were provided, so this summary relies solely on the meeting transcript. The meeting opened with Irish heritage proclamations, followed by hours of public comment, several procedural votes, approval of appointments and parks legislation, and final passage of Ordinance 13809-26, which codifies county practices regarding services without regard to immigration status.

Administration and Procedural Votes

• The initial roll call showed 14 members present; Councilmember Klein arrived later, bringing the total to 15.
• A motion to limit public comment to one minute per speaker failed 6-8. Several members argued that the large public turnout on the main ordinance meant comments should not be shortened; others supported the limit because of the busy agenda.
• A motion to discuss all properly submitted amendments at the meeting passed 14-0.
• The minutes of the February 10, 2026 regular meeting were approved by voice vote.

Proclamations

• Three proclamations honored the 2026 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Court Maidens, Kennedy Aaron Elizabeth Kunz of Oakdale and Sidney Ann Hoover of South Fayette. Both were recognized for academic achievement, community service, and Irish heritage. The transcript spelling of the first honoree’s name varies.
• Molly McKenna of Mount Lebanon was recognized as the 2026 Miss Smiling Irish Eyes Queen. The proclamation noted her 4.9 grade point average and her 2023 competition at the All-Ireland Championships.
• Patrick J. Byrne was recognized as the 2026 Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshal. The proclamation highlighted his Garfield upbringing, 34-year City of Pittsburgh career, long membership in Irish organizations, and lifetime of parade participation.
• Peg Sheridan Bond was honored as the 2026 Allegheny County LAOH Hibernian of the Year, and Bill O’Neill as the 2026 Allegheny County AOH Hibernian of the Year.
• The council recognized the Irish Society for Education and Charity Inc. and the Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. The parade representative said the event draws over 300,000 attendees and more than 20,000 participants and is run entirely by volunteers.
• Three additional proclamations were read into the record: the University of Pittsburgh Political Science Student Association, the 70th anniversary of the Lawrence Welk Show, and the 2026 Mount Lebanon Residence Academy recipients.

Public Comments & Testimony

• More than 60 public comments were registered, and most speakers addressed Ordinance 13809-26. The chair warned that heckling, applauding, or disruptive behavior would be grounds for removal.
• Supporters, including residents, members of the Pittsburgh DSA, the Young Democrats of Allegheny County, the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network, union representatives, graduate student workers, and immigrant-rights organizations, urged passage of the ordinance without amendments. They described ICE actions as terrorizing communities, violating constitutional rights, and harming both undocumented residents and U.S. citizens. Speakers cited deaths in ICE custody, warrantless arrests, racial profiling, the detention of citizens, and the case of a Minneapolis poet killed by ICE.
• Several supporters emphasized legal and financial risks. One speaker cited New York City’s $92.5 million liability after collaborating with ICE; another cited data that 77% of ICE arrests involved people with no criminal record; another said 11 people have died in ICE-related custody this year. A speaker with the Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network noted that ICE detainers are civil requests, not legally binding warrants, and that non-cooperation protects county taxpayers from lawsuits.
• A speaker from PennFuture did not discuss the immigration ordinance. Instead, he asked the council to scrutinize appointments to the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee, noting that five of twelve recent meetings failed to reach quorum and no meeting had full attendance since at least 2024.
• Opponents of the ordinance argued that preventing county cooperation with ICE would protect undocumented residents who commit additional crimes, undermine public safety, and defy what they described as a God-given duty to protect citizens. Some cited specific cases, including an MS-13 murder case in Maryland and the death of a Dormont motorcyclist in a hit-and-run crash involving an undocumented driver. One pastor offered to debate supporters of the ordinance.
• A 16-year-old speaker asked council members to publicly support the bill, saying children of immigrants fear their parents will be taken by ICE. At the end of public comment, council allowed several unscheduled speakers to participate, including one who sang the Mr. Rogers theme song and urged the council to stand up to the administration.

Appointments

• The nomination of Daniel Brip Brickmont to the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee, listed as 13846-26, was withdrawn and was not voted on.
• All remaining appointments were approved 15-0: Joe Mastrangelo to the Community College of Allegheny County Board of Trustees; Ed Newser to both the Tri-Cog Land Bank and Pittsburgh Land Bank boards; Councilmember Aaron Adams to the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission; and James Schmidt, Gary E. Steinbauer, Randy Sargent, Ann Lewis, Jody Hirsch, Dr. Gabriel Cisneros, and Michelle Boyce to the Air Pollution Control Advisory Committee. Several council members abstained from votes on their own appointments.

Parks Items

• Ordinance 13861-26, authorizing continued use of Allegheny County-owned land in Harrison Hills Park by Harrison Township as a leaf composting site, passed 15-0. Councilmember Fatulis noted that Harrison Township has a three-year contract for composting.
• Ordinance 13862-26, amending the Parks and Recreation rules and regulations in the county code, passed 15-0.

Ordinance 13809-26: County Services and Immigration Status

• The ordinance amends the Allegheny County Administrative Code by creating a new Part 13, “County Services,” to codify the county’s practices related to providing services without regard to refugee or immigration status. The sponsors were Councilmembers Hallam, Botta, Madonna Emmerling, Geiger Schulman, Grisbeck, Rose, and Klein.
• The clerk summarized five submitted amendments:
  • Adams 3.1 would have added a sunset provision causing the article to expire on January 1, 2029, unless renewed.
  • Filiagi 2 would have required county employees to consult with the Allegheny County Law Department before responding to ICE requests, except in immediate statutory or court-ordered situations.
  • Filiagi 3 would have treated violations as county policy violations subject to remedial action.
  • Filiagi 4 and Adams 5 would have removed the sheriff, district attorney, controller, treasurer, and other offices from the definition of county agency, deleted the database-access prohibition, and removed training and notification requirements.
• After debate, Adams 3.1 failed 6-9. Supporters said a sunset would force a future council to revisit the policy; opponents said laws should not carry expiration dates, that the ordinance could simply be amended in the future, and that a future council might decline to renew it.
• Filiagi 2 failed 5-10. Opponents argued that it would allow an unelected law department to override legislative policy. The sponsor said it was a check-and-balance to protect county employees.
• Adams and Filiagi then conceded the remaining amendments without further votes. The council proceeded to a final vote on the ordinance as introduced.
• The final roll call was 11 yes, 3 no, with 1 abstention. Voting no were Councilmembers Adams, Filiagi, and Walton. President Katina did not cast a vote on the ordinance.

President Katina Statement

• During the final roll call, President Katina, participating by phone from home, disclosed that he had received a death threat against his child earlier that day. He said the threat was reported to law enforcement, that he would not be intimidated, and that he abstained from the vote so the threat could not influence the outcome. He said threats would never decide votes in Allegheny County.
• The council agreed to issue a letter condemning the threat and expressing support for President Katina and his family.

New Business

• Resolution 13879-26, urging the Pennsylvania General Assembly to invest in community-led violence prevention programs, passed 13-1. A waiver of the second reading was approved, Councilmember Adams added himself as a co-sponsor, and Councilmember Walton cast the only no vote. President Katina did not vote.
• Ordinance 13880-26, allowing King Street Productions Incorporated to use county-owned real and personal property for filming a television series, was referred to the Parks Committee.
• An additional ordinance, 13881-26, was referred to the Committee on Health.
• The Board of Elections was scheduled to meet Friday, March 13, to certify the results of the special election in House District 42.

Key Outcomes

• Motion to limit public comment failed 6-8; motion to discuss all amendments passed 14-0.
• All non-withdrawn appointments were approved 15-0.
• Both parks-related ordinances passed 15-0.
• Ordinance 13809-26 passed as introduced, 11-3-1, with no adopted amendments.
• Resolution 13879-26 on community-led violence prevention passed 13-1.
• Two new ordinances were referred to committees, and the council directed a letter supporting President Katina after he reported a threat against his child.