Standard Committee Meeting Summary - December 22, 2025
Standard Committee Meeting Summary - December 22, 2025
The Standard Committee convened on December 22, 2025, to address routine administrative resolutions, public welfare initiatives, and infrastructure agreements. The meeting featured significant public commentary regarding equity and religious policy, a unanimous approval process for numerous funding resolutions, and a series of public remarks honoring Chief Financial Officer Patrick Cornell upon his retirement. A solemn moment of silence was held to honor the late father of Deputy Director of Public Safety, David Jones.
Consent Calendar
- Bill 2678: Resolution authorizing a warrant payable to Era Mark Sports and Entertainment for a recognition luncheon, capped at $5,764.
- Bill 2621: Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code regarding debt management policy.
- Budget Resolution: Reappropriation of $7 million from 2025 funds to 2026 to cover Pittsburgh Water service cuts.
- Bill 2667: Resolution establishing the Stop the Violence Fund, including an amendment to pause the fund schedule for 2026 and resume in 2027 (Motion passed 5-1).
- P-Cards: Approval of credit card transactions for the committee.
- Bill 2654: Agreement with Eastern Research Group Inc. for recycling education outreach services ($100,000 over one year).
- Bill 2655: Agreement with Pittsburgh Public Schools for permanent access to a portion of parcel 50F296 for Fort Pitt Park.
- Bill 2676: Agreement with Experience for third-party unemployment administration ($37,000).
- Bill 2645: Extension of the UPMC Benefit Management Services agreement for Employee Assistance Programs ($148,500 total).
- Bill 2677: Agreement with SMIGO LLC for GIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online support ($49,900).
- Bill 2682: Condemnation and preservation of Homewood House (7130 Frankstown Avenue) to prevent displacement of low-income residents.
- Bill 2647: Cooperation agreement with Allegheny County and HAP to manage Home ARP program services.
- Bill 2648-2652: Series of resolutions authorizing the Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire city-owned properties in various wards (12th, 13th, 15th, 24th) with specified block and lot numbers.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dr. Ronald Lynn Miller (United States, 2028 Global Information Intelligence Network):
- Expressed opposition to the City Council's current interpretation of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), characterizing it as "anti-diversity, anti-inclusion, and anti-constitution."
- Stated that inviting Christian and Jewish clergy to oath-taking ceremonies disproportionately highlights the faith of Jesus (Yeshua) and calls out a perceived inequity regarding taxation of "the haves" to assist "the have nots."
- Affirmed that information and facts remain valid regardless of the race, ethnicity, gender, or wealth of the source.
- Councilwoman Smith: Expressed full support for existing community programs led by Sister Mary and Keisha Gomez (Hope for Tomorrow), noting their capacity-building needs and dedication to families facing addiction and domestic violence. She advocated for foundations to fund organizations actually working on the streets rather than politically expedient choices. She noted that while these organizations are not currently listed as anchor institutions under the new resolution, the new funding model would help break down silos.
- Councilwoman Warworth: Expressed concern regarding the selection of specific organizations to act as "anchor institutions" in her district and requested a community meeting to clarify how different organizations, such as Center of Life, will interact and coordinate under the new structure.
Discussion Items
- Bill 2678 (Luncheon Costs):
- CFO Patrick Cornell explained the luncheon recognized over 150 staff members for Pittsburgh Futures process improvements; costs exceeded the original grant limit, necessitating a warrant from the Mayor's Office (Office of Management and Budget) funds rather than the initial grant.
- Councilman McGross noted that while the action was good, "these costs add up" and should be monitored amidst budget belt-tightening.
- Councilman Charlotte and Councilman Mosley offered public testimonials regarding Councilor Wilson's upcoming retirement, praising his professional conduct and contributions.
- Councilman Charlton, Councilman Mosley, and Councilman Wilson delivered personal tributes to CFO Patrick Cornell, acknowledging his role in the Citizens Leadership Academy and his work on the joint financial task force.
- Bill 2646 (Stop the Violence Fund):
- Assistant Director David Jones and Dr. Solomon Armstead explained the selection of five "anchor institutions" to support the violence prevention ecosystem through mentorship, data collection, and capacity building for smaller non-profits. They clarified that the funding structure is shifting from grants to contracts.
- Councilwoman Smith highlighted the work of Sister Mary and Keisha Gomez, suggesting the anchor model could alleviate capacity barriers for smaller organizations like them.
Key Outcomes
- Bill 2678: Approved unanimously.
- Bill 2621: Approved unanimously.
- Budget Reappropriation: Approved unanimously.
- Bill 2667 (Stop the Violence Fund): Approved with one amendment (Motion: 5 in favor, 1 opposed).
- Bill 2646: Approved unanimously; the committee accepted the transition from grants to contracts for anchor institutions.
- Bill 2669 (Zoning): Bill 2467 (West End Trolley Trail Accessory Parking District) was held for three weeks to allow a new councilperson to review it.
- Holiday Announcement: Council and Clerk's office confirmed closure from December 24 to December 25 (Christmas); next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, December 29 at 10 a.m.
- Moment of Silence: Held for Mr. Wade Jones, father of Director David Jones.
Meeting Transcript
And welcome to the standard committee meeting on Wednesday, December twenty second, two thousand twenty-five. Mr. Charlotte. Mr. Cockle. Miss Gross. Mr. Laval. Here. Mr. Mosley. Here. This is Cal Smith. Yes. Here. Five members present. Thank you very much. Our next order of business is public comment. I would like to mind everyone the rules of Council State. They comments are limited some matters of Cassidy official action or deliberation, which may be for City Council profanity would not be permitted. After you were called, please restate your name, provide your neighborhood for the record. You'll be given three minutes to speak. Our first registered speaker is Dr. Ronald Lynn Miller. United States, 2028. Global Information Intelligence Network.net. Housing is a concern of City Council. Houseless, homeless, does not equal less intelligent. Does not equal less well informed. One plus one is two for Elon Musk. One plus one is two for all the rest of us. One plus one equals two is not more true because EM says so. It is not less true because a person who is homeless or jobless says so. Information, verified facts, um, is valid regardless of the race, ethnicity, gender, or wealth of the informer. Shared information is in my view at the core of equity or equality. Now do you, counselor and mayor, um office claimants, all Democratic Party, really believe in DEI equity? You favor, and I think wrongly, I think it's anti-diversity, anti-inclusion, and anti-constitution, the religions of Christianity and Judaism in your office, oath-taking ceremonies by inviting ministers, priests of the Christian religion, and rabbis of the religion of Judaism to participate. You will do so as you have done for all the time that I've ever come to these meetings in January 2026. The probability I think is way over 0.9. In doing so, you call attention to Yeshua the Jew, Yeshua the homeless, Yeshua the jobless, Yeshua from Nazareth, whose Jewish followers believe that he fulfilled the messianic expectation of classic Judaism, the Christ. Yeshua who said that the have nots, the praise would inherit the earth. What would your Jesus that you will call in here directly and indirectly? Jesus the Jew do about inequity in our neighborhoods or between our neighborhoods. I think he would declare it iniquitous. Dare you, all of us, to tax the haves in our city to help the have nots in our neighborhoods. Thank you. Our next registered speaker is Ikahana Hamakina. He is not online. So that exhausts our list of registered speakers. If there's anyone in chambers wishing to speak, please come forward at this time.
openpublica.com