Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Allegheny County Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, with 15 members present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of reflection, followed by proclamations, public comment, council liaison reports, new ordinances and motions, and adjournment. No agenda or minutes were provided, so this summary is drawn from the raw transcript.

Proclamations

• 14055-26 – Slovak Constitution Day (sponsored by Councilmember Grisbeck): Councilmember Grisbeck recognized September 1, 2026, as Slovak Constitution Day in Allegheny County. Joe Senko, Slovak Honorary Consul for Pennsylvania since 1997, said more than 650,000 people of Slovak heritage live in the United States, Pennsylvania ranks first with over 30% of those residents, and the Pittsburgh metropolitan area has over 100,000, making it the largest Slovak-heritage community outside Slovakia. He also noted the Pittsburgh Agreement is displayed at the Heinz History Center.
• 14056-26 – Ross Guidotti retirement (sponsored by Councilmember Katina): The council recognized KDKA-TV reporter Ross Guidotti upon his retirement after 25 years at KDKA and more than 30 years in journalism. The transcript spells his surname inconsistently as Quidati, Kadotti, and Godti. Guidotti, a Marine Corps and Desert Storm veteran, received three Emmys, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, a 2003 Associated Press Award, and a Golden Quill; his last day was noted as September 18, 2026.
• Love Your Library Month (sponsored by Councilmember Filyagi): The council recognized September 2026 as Love Your Library Month and the 11th anniversary of the Love Your Library campaign. Library advocates said donors have contributed more than $12 million since the campaign began, and September donations are partially matched by the Jack Buncher Foundation. Speakers encouraged visits and donations through ACLA Libraries.org.
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (sponsored by Councilmember Hallam): The council proclaimed September 2026 as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The proclamation cited an estimated 21,001 new U.S. ovarian cancer cases and 12,450 deaths in 2026, a five-year relative survival rate of about 50%, and the lack of an effective screening tool. Ten-year survivor Dr. Stephanie Archer urged residents to learn symptoms and risk factors and invited the public to a North Park walk on Sunday, September 13.
• 14059-26 – Recognition of filmmaker Ime (listed as M.I. Alaquevo in the proclamation; sponsored by Councilmember Madonna Emmerling): The council honored the filmmaker for his awards and for The Ebony Canal, a documentary spotlighting Black maternal health narrated by Viola Davis. The film debuted at the 2026 Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase and won three top honors. Councilmember Emmerling cited U.S. Black infant mortality of 10.55 per 1,000 live births versus 4.36 for white infants, and 14.1 per 1,000 in Allegheny County. Speakers included a mother featured in the film and the film's chief medical officer, who discussed the dangers Black mothers face in the county.
• Read into the record: 14060-26 recognized Joseph Bidinger's retirement after more than 30 years with Allegheny County's Division of Real Estate; 14061-26 honored Judge Warren Watson for lifetime achievement in music; 14062-26 recognized William B. Schlefer and the Malloy Schlieffer Funeral Home for 50 years under the Schleifer family; and 14063-26 recognized Jim Zmachesky for his leadership and contributions to the borough of Millville (as transcribed).

Public Comments & Testimony

• On agenda items, five commenters spoke:
  • Sharon Bonavolius, on behalf of PIN (Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network), thanked council members for serving and referenced motion 14051-26.
  • Tanisha Long supported motion 14051-26, saying the sheriff's office is not doing hospital runs, which forces incarcerated people to choose between hospital care and out-of-cell time and has led to jail lockdowns. She said the amendment would restore sheriff's hospital transport duties, avoid costly corrections-officer overtime, and restore programming; she noted she runs a creative writing program for youth ages 14 to 17 in the jail.
  • John Hanrahan supported the Hallam jail-transport motion and expressed support for the new generative-AI political-disclosure ordinance introduced by Councilmembers Chris Beck and Rose, calling it a good way to discourage harmful uses of AI.
  • Diana Hall, representing PIN, said ACJ lockdowns are harming incarcerated people and staff, increase suicide risk and mental health issues, and deny access to programming, especially for young people.
  • Karen Burns or Tigliano (as transcribed), representing PIN, said the sheriff's refusal to perform chartered hospital transport and prisoner-watch duties must be reversed; if a budget gap exists, it should be proven and addressed by council. She said diverting corrections officers forces inhumane lockdowns and unsustainable 16-hour and even 24-hour overtime.
• On general items, no speakers appeared. After calling three names with no one present, the council moved to adjourn.

Council Reports & Administrative Items

• Roll call showed 15 members present. The council approved the minutes; there were no appointments and no unfinished business.
• Councilmember Hallam gave liaison reports. She said the sheriff recently pulled deputies from guarding incarcerated people admitted to hospitals, which the introduced jail-transport bill addresses. She also reported that the Board of Elections voted to expand satellite voting to five locations and twelve ballot return sites, where voters can apply for, complete, and submit mail-in ballots in one stop and can be reissued a ballot if it was not received. The board also approved a resolution allowing county election staff or a nonpartisan organization to register new citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
• 14054-26, a communication summarizing approved executive actions for August 2026, was received and filed by voice vote.

New Business, Ordinances, and Motions

• 14050-26 – Generative AI in county elections (sponsored by Councilmembers Chris Beck and Rose): An ordinance to create Chapter 218, County Elections, to establish guidelines for use of AI-generated content in campaigns for county elected office. Referred to the Committee on Government Reform.
• 14051-26 – ACJ medical transport clarification (sponsored by Councilmembers Hallam, Katina, and Rose): An ordinance amending Chapter 205, Allegheny County Jail, to clarify existing legal standards for transporting jail residents off-site for medical treatment. Referred to the Committee on Public Safety.
• 14052-26 – Litigation-related invoice payment (sponsored by the Council President): Authorized payment of invoices for extraordinary professional services in litigation involving council. The Council President explained the litigation was the sheriff's lawsuit against council and the resulting appeal. The motion passed 14-1, with Councilmember Walton voting no.
• 14053-26 – Public hearing authorization (sponsored by Councilmember Palmasina): Authorized the Council President to hold public hearings on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and Thursday, October 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. in the Gold Room of the Allegheny County Courthouse. Councilmember Palmasina confirmed these are the budget hearings and set them at 5:00 p.m. to allow people attending after work. Approved by voice vote.

Key Outcomes

• Approved 14052-26 by a 14-1 roll-call vote.
• Approved 14053-26 by voice vote, scheduling two public budget hearings for October 21 and October 29, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
• Referred 14050-26 to the Government Reform Committee and 14051-26 to the Public Safety Committee.
• Received and filed 14054-26 by voice vote.
• Recognized all proclamations and read four additional proclamations into the record.
• Adjourned by voice vote after no general public comment speakers appeared.