Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - April 14, 2026

The Allegheny County Council met on April 14, 2026, with 14 members present. The meeting featured a series of proclamations recognizing community organizations, public safety telecommunicators, and student achievements, followed by a lengthy debate on a proposed term limits ordinance. Public comments addressed the Family Care Act, homelessness, and property reassessment. The council voted to advance a term limits referendum to the November 2026 ballot, among other actions.

Proclamations

• Allegheny County Conservation District 80th Anniversary (13899-26): Recognized the district's work in soil and water conservation since 1946. Sponsored by Council Members Rose and Geiger Schulman and the Chief Executive.
• Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (Alcosan) 80th Anniversary (13900-26): Celebrated Alcosan's regional wastewater treatment services since 1946. Sponsored by President Katina and the Chief Executive.
• Fair Housing Month (13901-26): Declared April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in Allegheny County, highlighting protections beyond federal law. Sponsored by Council Members Hallam and Nakarati Chakkis and the Chief Executive.
• National Library Week (13902-26): Recognized April 19–26, 2026 as National Library Week, with themes including Right to Read Day and National Library Workers Day. Sponsored by Council Member Filiagi.
• National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (13903-26): Declared April 12–18, 2026 in recognition of 911 dispatchers, noting that in 2025 the Allegheny County 911 center answered over 1.6 million calls (1,182,490 police, 127,634 fire, 295,377 EMS). Sponsored by multiple council members.
• Volunteers of Community Care (13904-26): Recognized volunteers from One Hood Media who provide food, clothing, and support to unhoused individuals and those re-entering after incarceration. Sponsored by Council Member Hallam.
• Black Maternal Health Week (13916-26): Proclaimed April 11–17, 2026, citing that Black women in the U.S. are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Sponsored by Council Members Geiger Schulman, Rose, and Grisbeck.
• OLSH Forensics State Championship (13906-26): Congratulated students Bridget Fogle and Sophia Moyo on winning the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Championship in duo interpretation. Sponsored by Council Members Madonna Emmerling and Palmasina.
• Additional Proclamations: Recognized Eagle Scouts (Gavin Mitchell, Jasmine Munheir Kilji, Michael Coleman, Sean Catlin), award recipients (David Blaner, Judge Michael McCarthy, Julie Lewis), Empower Her Grant recipient Paton McCoon, officers Joe Bureck and Dan Garfield for life-saving actions, and Lords Church of Monroeville’s 40th anniversary.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Agenda Items (Term Limits and Family Care Act):

• Corey Roma spoke in support of the term limits ordinance, arguing that three terms (12 years) is sufficient for elected officials, citing polls showing 87% of Americans favor term limits. He criticized a previous comment by Council Member Walton that term limits are racist, calling it "ludicrous."
• Jean Stone (SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, nurse at Magee Women’s Hospital) testified in support of the Family Care Act (HB 200). She noted that Allegheny County has higher rates of preterm births and low birth weights than the state average, and severe maternal morbidity rose 55% between 2016 and 2022. She said 85% of 800+ survey respondents called for more paid parental leave.
• Claire Duffus (SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, nurse at Magee Women’s Hospital) also supported the Family Care Act, stating that nurses at Magee receive only two weeks of paid parental leave. She noted Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without a paid leave program, and 66% of workers in the state have no paid leave.
• Marshall Robinson (SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, high-risk postpartum nurse at Magee) shared personal stories of patients who were readmitted with preventable complications due to lack of paid leave. He emphasized that the Family Care Act would improve maternal and infant health.

On General Items:

• Diane Balcom (Parkinson Foundation, Western Pennsylvania) highlighted that Allegheny County is a "hot spot" for Parkinson’s disease, with higher incidence than other parts of the country. She requested the council help spread awareness of early symptoms (e.g., loss of smell, depression, balance issues) and invited council members to invite them to health fairs and events.
• Nicholas Curiazi (North Side resident) complained about homelessness and drug paraphernalia in his neighborhood. He proposed resurrecting a workhouse model similar to the Allegheny County Workhouse (1869–1971) and suggested enforcing trespassing laws after three offers of shelter.
• Juliet Savon spoke about the need for regular property reassessments, noting that Pennsylvania is the only state without a mandate. She argued that the current system of frozen assessments and spot appeals is inequitable, and urged the council to act.

Discussion Items

Term Limits Ordinance (13808-26) – Second Reading The council debated an ordinance to place a referendum on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot to amend the Home Rule Charter to establish a uniform lifetime limit of three terms for all county elected officials (county executive, council members, and row officers).

• Amendment Katina 1 was proposed to split the single question into three separate ballot questions (one for executive, one for row offices, one for council). After discussion, the amendment passed 9-5 (with one member absent).
• Debate on the Bill as Amended:
  • Council Member Bada stated he opposed the bill on process and substance, arguing the government review commission should handle such changes. He also noted that 5 of the 15 council members are new.
  • Council Member Howell defended the process, stating that the council has the authority to pass laws and that the government review commission is an unelected body. She accused opponents of using procedural excuses to hide their opposition to term limits.
  • Council Member Adams opposed term limits, calling the effort "BS" and noting that the council previously changed rules to allow members to run for other offices without resigning, undermining claims of purity.
  • Council Member Palmasina said he opposed the substance and process, but appreciated the amendment splitting the questions.
  • Council Member Fatulis questioned what is "broken" in county government that requires fixing, and accused the bill of being retaliation against long-serving members.
  • Council Member Grisbeck cited statistics that 89% of incumbents win contested races in Allegheny County, and argued that term limits bring fresh perspectives and prevent power accumulation. He noted that the bill would grandfather in all current members, giving them 12 more years from the date of passage.
  • Council Member Klein pointed out that term limits do not eliminate continuity because terms are staggered.
  • Council Member Palmer noted he has been elected four times despite opposition, and he supports the bill as long as it is split into three questions.
• Vote on the Bill as Amended: The bill passed 10-4 (with one member absent).

Other Business

• Liaison Reports: Council Member Filiagi reported on the County Climate Action Plan technical advisory group meeting, praising the steps toward net zero. Council Member Hallam reported that incarcerated workers at the Allegheny County Jail are now being paid $5 per day, a change she had worked on for six years.
• New Business Introduced:
  • Ordinance 13919-26 (Walton): Establishing standards for law enforcement personnel in Allegheny County. Referred to Public Safety Committee.
  • Resolution 13920-26 (Geiger Schulman, Grisbeck): Urging the Pennsylvania Senate to pass HB 200 (Family Care Act). Referred to Health Committee.
  • Resolution 13921-26 (Chief Executive): Amending the grants and special accounts budget for 2026. Referred to Budget and Finance Committee.
  • Motion to amend agenda added a resolution (Botta) urging Pittsburgh Regional Transit to study a new Eastern Light Rail Corridor. Referred to Economic Development and Job Creation Committee.
• Motions Approved:
  • Motion 13922-26 authorized four public hearings on assessment bills.
  • Motion 13923-26 urged the Pennsylvania Senate to pass HB 453, adding emergency call takers and dispatchers to the definition of emergency responders. Approved without discussion.
• Notification of Contracts: Communication summarizing approved executive actions for March 2026 was received.

Key Outcomes

• Term Limits Referendum Advances: The council voted 10-4 to approve Ordinance 13808-26 (as amended by Katina 1), which places three separate referendum questions on the November 3, 2026 ballot to establish three-term lifetime limits for the county executive, row officers, and county council members. The amendment passed 9-5.
• Family Care Act Resolution Introduced: Resolution 13920-26, urging passage of HB 200, was referred to the Health Committee.
• Public Hearings Scheduled: Motion 13922-26 authorized four public hearings on assessment bills.
• Emergency Responder Recognition: Motion 13923-26, urging the state to recognize 911 dispatchers as emergency responders, was approved.
• New Ordinances/Resolutions Referred: Multiple items were sent to committees for further review.