Allegheny County Council Meeting – June 23, 2026

The Allegheny County Council held a regular meeting on June 23, 2026, beginning at 10:00 AM. The meeting featured proclamations celebrating the 2026 NFL Draft, debates and votes on two referendum questions to amend the Home Rule Charter, liaison reports, and extensive public testimony on a variety of issues including data centers, paid parental leave, and calls for a councilmember's resignation.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• 13991-26: Proclamation recognizing Allegheny County entities and partners of the 2026 NFL Draft, sponsored by Councilmember Fatulis and all other members. The draft attracted a record-breaking 805,000 attendees over three days, including an all-time single-day record of 320,000 fans. Visitors represented 105 countries, with 43% traveling from outside a 50-mile radius. Total direct visitor spending was estimated between $115 million and $215 million. The event featured 485,000 public transit riders, a 92% hotel occupancy in downtown Pittsburgh, and 60,000 pounds of food redistribution. No serious incidents were reported during the weekend. Representatives from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Visit Pittsburgh, P3R, Pittsburgh Regional Transit, CCAC, Allegheny County Airport, County Police, Emergency Management, and the Health Department spoke to thank the council and highlight their contributions.
• Several additional proclamations were read into the record without further discussion: recognizing the 75th anniversary of the Society of Women Engineers of Pittsburgh, the fifth annual Mount Lebanon Pride Celebration, the Burtner House Restoration Society's 50th annual Strawberry Festival, Dr. James Walsh's retirement from Bethel Park School District, and the 125th anniversary of Munhall Borough.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Catherine Dickey (Wilkins Township): Spoke about the alt-right affiliation of Redeemer Church South Hills, whose lead pastor told her she would "burn in sulfur fire." She urged council to be aware of their presence and to stay for public comment, noting that Councilmember Walton often leaves during comments on potent topics.
• Brendan Wisinger (Rosalint Tosh): Called for Councilmember Pat Katina to resign due to his anti-trans mailer during his state house campaign. He accused Katina of being a coward and not showing up to meetings.
• Seth Davis (Squirrel Hill): Also called for Katina's resignation, arguing that his actions violated political campaign ethics and that council's failure to advocate resignation sets a dangerous precedent. He referenced council's own May 12 statement against attacks on marginalized groups.
• Tom Bailey (Penn Hills): Expressed concerns about a proposed 340-megawatt AI data center in Springdale (former Cheswick Power Station). He argued that the county's economic development office and health department should act as public trustees of natural resources under Article 1 Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, and that the project's diesel generators would harm air quality and the power grid.
• Lucy Rose Ruccio (Squirrel Hill): A nurse practitioner at McGee Women's Hospital NICU, she advocated for paid parental leave, noting that UPMC offers only two weeks while reporting $261 million in profits for the first quarter of 2026. She said inadequate leave worsens the nursing shortage and harms infant and maternal health.
• Cerese Taylor: Claimed her identity was stolen as a child and that she is part of a decades-long fraud investigation. She asked council members if they knew her family and requested prayers for abducted children.
• Jan Martin (Mount Lebanon): Raised concerns about cumulative impacts of AI data centers on the power grid, noise, air quality, and water. She asked the council to establish regional oversight for transparency on grid reliability and public health.

Discussion Items

• Liaison Report – Councilmember Hallam: Reported that the Mayor of Pittsburgh is closing a section of South Side's Carson Street from 10 PM to 2 AM on weekends through September 12, with metal detectors, security drones, and bag searches. She argued this privatizes a public street, disproportionately harms unhoused residents who may have all their belongings searched, and called on the council to intervene.
• Liaison Report – Councilmember Phileology: Praised the Allegheny County Parks Foundation's Twilight Picnic and highlighted the 2018-2026 strategic plan accomplishments. She thanked Parks Director Swedish and Public Works Director Shanley.
• Liaison Report – Councilmember Walton: Celebrated a ribbon-cutting for 26 apartments in Turtle Creek (former St. Coleman's School) for youth aging out of foster care, developed by the Allegheny County Housing Authority under Executive Director Richard Stevenson.

Key Outcomes

• Ordinance 13952-26 (Repeal of Article 3, Section 7F – cap on County Council's annual operating budget): Passed 9-6. The referendum question will be placed on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot. Councilmember Grisbeck made the motion; Councilmembers Walton, Filiaggi, Fatulis, Palmery, Nakaratti Jakis, and Adams voted no. Supporters argued the cap prevents effective oversight; opponents called it an unnecessary tax burden.
• Ordinance 13953-26 (Repeal of Article 3, Section 7C – prohibition on County Council members receiving funding for personal staff, district offices, and fringe benefits): Passed 9-6. Same margin as 13952-26. Supporters said it would allow council to hire additional staff to improve oversight and constituent services; opponents claimed it gives council blank-check authority over taxpayer money.
• New Business: Ordinance 13997-26 (authorizing continued use of county property in White Oak Park by White Oak Animal Safe Haven) was referred to the Committee on Parks. Resolution 13998-26 (supporting McGee Women's Hospital nurses and urging UPMC to negotiate fairly) was referred to the Committee on Health; multiple councilmembers added themselves as co-sponsors.
• Unfinished Business: Three nominations were held until the July 7 meeting at the request of the primary sponsor, under the Committee on Appointment Review.

The meeting adjourned after public comment concluded.