Good morning and welcome to the regular meeting of City Council on Wednesday, January twenty first, two thousand twenty six.

Would the clerk please take the roll?

Mr.

Charlin, Mr.

Coghill.

Here.

Ms.

Gross.

Mr.

Mosley?

Here.

Mrs.

Salonetro?

Here.

Mrs.

Strasberger?

Here.

Ms.

Warwick.

Mr.

Wilson?

Mr.

Label President?

Here.

Five members present.

I don't see the question.

Thank you.

Um, for those who are able, please rise to a Pledge of Allegiance, remain standing for a moment of silence.

One nation undergo individual with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Our next order of business is to amend the agenda.

Is there a motion to amend?

So moved.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Our next order of business will be a will of counsel from Councilman Gross.

And Councilman, what is your will wish to come up or joined today by supporters from um the Pittsburgh Action Against Rape, and if you wouldn't mind, Mr.

President, would you mind if we um all gathered at the front for the appreciate it?

Would you mind all those here for the will of council?

I don't have the copy in front of me that has the co-sponsors.

And whereas over the decades, PAR has grown from a volunteer-led helpline and advocacy effort into a comprehensive survivor support organization.

Whereas PAR's mission is to respond, educate, and advocate to end sexual violence, and PAR provides essential, no cost, trauma informed services to survivors of sexual violence throughout Allegheny County.

And whereas PAR serves survivors of sexual assault, rape, sexual abuse, and sexual exploitation or sex trafficking, as well as their loved ones, which includes services to children, teens, and adults of all genders and backgrounds.

Whereas PARS core services include a 24-7 confidential helpline, in-person crisis response, and accomplished accompaniment during hospital forensic exams, and advocacy at police stations and throughout criminal, civil, and campus processes.

And whereas PAR also operates the child and family counseling center, offers specialized services through Project Rise for individuals experiencing commercial sexual exploitation or trafficking, and provides prevention education and training for schools, professionals, and community groups.

And whereas in Allegheny County, Pittsburgh Action Against Rape serves as the sole rape crisis center, providing 24-7 crisis response, medical and legal advocacy, counseling and prevention education to residents across the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities.

And whereas in the past year alone, PAR served nearly 2,500 survivors, approximately 15% of whom were children.

Underscoring both the scale and urgency of the need for these services locally.

And whereas PAR, like all rape crisis centers in Pennsylvania, has not received a state funding increase in six years.

Despite rising costs, workforce shortages, and increasing service demands.

And whereas prolonged underfunding has placed significant strain on staffing and service capacity in Allegheny County.

While centers remain contractually required to maintain continuous emergency response.

Whereas increase in timely state investment is essential to stabilize services in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County while ensuring that survivors across all 67 counties in Pennsylvania can access consistent high quality support when they need it most.

And now therefore, be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh affirms its commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of survivors of sexual violence, recognizes the critical and irreplaceable role of Pittsburgh Action Against Rape and rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and calls upon the Pennsylvania General Assembly to immediately include increased ongoing funding for rape crisis centers in the next Commonwealth budget, and be it further resolved that the City Council recognizes that sustained and adequate investment is required to preserve uninterrupted 24-hour crisis response, trauma-informed care, prevention education, and advocacy for survivors and their families, and acknowledges the leadership and support of the gender equity commission of the City of Pittsburgh in advancing this resolution.

May we have a motion to approve.

So moved.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And I appreciate you.

I appreciate you hearing throughout all of that important information.

Sometimes when we read wills of counsel, we just kind of let it be in the record and don't read through every single line, but I I am really again grateful to all of your work and grateful to the Gender Equity Commission for bringing this forward.

And I'll give you a few minutes to speak, ma'am.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Thank you so much.

First of all, thank you to Councilwoman Deb Gross for taking this on for all of you, Council members for agreeing with this, uh, and to the Gender Equity Commission for making this a priority.

I understand this is the first will of council this year, and we are grateful for the support.

This has been a long fight for us at the state level of receiving an increase in our in our budget, not only for the city of Pittsburgh and for the rape crisis center here, PAR, but for all of our sister centers, which there are 47 rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth.

This is my staff.

These are our directors who lead this team.

They have also have a team of their own.

Some of our board members are here.

We have about 35 staff members, and we serve the entire county of Allegheny.

The work is hard, the work is difficult.

These individuals take this work home with them every single day, and they deserve an increase.

And they deserve an increase.

They deserve an increase in their pay.

And I say all this being very humble in knowing that in Allegheny County and at Par, we take care of our employees.

Some of our sister centers cannot do that in smaller, more rural counties.

So it is our job to advocate for all of us, both here in Allegheny County and across the Commonwealth.

And what this means coming from the city of Pittsburgh and your solidarity to us is so important.

And I will be sharing this with our General Assembly and with all of our supporters, but this means the world to us and is so important.

So thank you so very much for the support.

Certainly.gov.so.

I'm a global intelligence society candidate for president.

Available 24-7.

Two nine six nine seven nine nine seven.

We advocate information and intelligence optimality over ideology.

The PCC time frame between thirty December 2025 and 20 January 2026.

It's 22 days monthly.

PCC availability to Pittsburgh citizens.

Councillor Claymants, yes.

Two, no, three, no, four, no.

Five, yes.

Six, no, seven, no, eight, no, nine, no, ten, no, eleven, no, twelve, no, thirteen, yes.

Fourteen, yes.

Unavailable 86% of the time within a month.

Now, uh you took an oath to be available to us to work for us, and you did not.

You should repay us.

We pay you, the taxpayers pay you more than $90,000 a year.

So take that as a base.

Uh 90K divided by 12, 7500 per month, 7500 divided by four is 1875 per week.

1875 divided by seven is 267 per day.

For 19 days, 19 times 267, 5073 for the older eight counselors for 15 days times um uh 15 times 267, 4,005.

The total for all this uh is 44,589.

Now you uh have broken your oath to us, you have not shown up for us.

You get on your devices for us, you have people leave uh when they are supposed to be uh citizens that are paying attention to us, return the 44,589 to the city controller by the first of February.

We are taking legal action against you if you do not.

Thank you.

Our next register speaker is Bethany Cameron.

Hi there.

Uh it's nice to see some friendly faces.

Um as you may know, my name is Bethany Cameron.

I still live in Overbrook.

And today I'm here with Inform Up, a local news nonprofit, which reports weekly on public meetings and includes surveys so we can uh represent readers' preferences back to their elected officials.

Uh here's the feedback from this past week.

We received 69 survey responses from all nine districts on three items relevant to this week's agenda.

First, regarding the proposed housing data dashboard.

Um we asked what additional information will be most useful to you on the city's housing data dashboard.

Residents rank their top three priorities, and those top three were one assessed property value, two tax incentives for developers and owners, and three affordability levels for income qualified units.

One resident from East Liberty said, I strongly support Charlotte's housing dashboard idea.

We need data on housing and perhaps a full rental registry.

A resident from Polish Hill said, most interested in supporting a vibrant community over affordability, walkability, transportation, support for home buyers rather than subsidized construction.

Streamlined permitting.

A resident from Belts Hoover said it has been 12 years and nothing has been done at Beltuver and the Hilltop.

Homes are sitting vacant 20 plus years.

Second, regarding the budget process timeline, we asked if the mayor doesn't respond to the council approved budget within the required time frame.

What should happen?

Forty-eight percent said the council's budget should automatically take effect.

30% preferred the previous year's budget continue until amended.

13% wanted the process to restart from the beginning.

Third, regarding the police chief search, we asked what qualities or experience are most important to you in Pittsburgh's next police chief.

The top priorities were police reform initiatives, uh, garnered 22% of respondents, community relationship building, another 22%, major incident response experience, 16%, department management, 14%, and a resident from Shady Side said we need to see beat officers in the neighborhood.

When this was the norm, there seemed to be less crime.

Great to see you all.

Thank you all for your time and attention, and of course, a complete survey report with district tables and all verbatim comments will be emailed to your offices later today.

Thanks.

Thank you very much.

Our next registered speaker is Ikahana Halmaukina.

If our next register speaker is Stephanie West.

If not, our next registered speaker is Rake Bay.

Honorable Council members, Rocky Bey, Pittsburgh resident.

Yesterday on Martin Luther King Day, um, we were reminded that his fight for housing justice is unfinished after his assassination in 1968 conference.

Uh Congress passed the Fair Housing Act, making clear that fair fair access, uh disability accommodation and equal protection are settled law, not optional policies.

And today we see gaps in Allegheny County.

Um they have not implemented the policies like Pittsburgh September 3rd, 2025 action adding housing status as a protected class, and neither jurisdiction has a single unified uh framework covering a uh FHA, ADA, behavioral health, disability compliance, MNL exposure.

This fragmentation is how governments drift into noncompliance until litigation forces action.

Cases like Davenport show the consequences where systems like Claire Garrell's leadership is unprotected, and individuals with lived in experience who could prevent harm or exclude it.

The CCRM framework will fill this gap.

It bridges government protects both civil rights and public officials.

It reduces lawsuits before they happen, and most importantly, it embodies the principles that Dr.

King champion equal access, dignity, and equal house equal access and uh opportunity housing.

Um failing to do so in 2026 is indefense indefensible.

Um honoring MLK Day requires more than statements, it requires courage and um to close decades old policy gaps.

It will take courage.

So all communications regarding these issues are welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our last registered speaker is Nick Marchup.

Nick Marchup.

If not, that exhaust our list of registered speakers will now take comment from those in chambers wishing to speak.

Please come forward, provide your name and neighborhood for the record.

You'll be given three minutes to speak.

Carlino Giumpolo, Panther Hollow.

I have come before this council on 14 previous occasions to bring to your attention the illegal skate park in Panther Hollow.

In the interest of integrity and transparency, I come before you today with an update.

January 5th, 2026.

At the evening party following Mayor Corey O'Connor's inauguration, I had a brief conversation with Councilmember Bob Charlie, who represents Panther Hollow.

I mentioned that I hoped he would show support for the Panther Hollow community.

He replied that he supports the skateboarders.

Councilmember Charlot Charlin was quoted as saying, quote, it's a great example of the community coming together and taking a very, very, very underutilized structure and making it positive.

End of quote.

However, notably, a longtime resident of Panther Hollow shared his thoughts in the commentary section below the online edition of the article.

This resident's home is not immediately near the state park, but up the street, well over 100 yards away.

He said, quote, I have lived here for 43 years.

If people think it is such a great idea, move it next door to you.

Every day in the summer, you hear these wheels banging against the concrete.

I am moving to the Hill District because it is quiet.

This should have never been placed in a residential neighborhood.

Move the skating park into Shenley Park.

Up on the hill where the other outside activities are located.

Build a first class skating park for the skaters and not in a residential neighborhood.

As I have this afternoon at the standing committee meeting, I will read excerpts of my January 12th letter to Mayor Corey O'Connor.

Thank you for your attention.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

My name is Yvonne F.

Brown.

I live at 715 Mercer Street.

That's the high rise at the top of Befford.

First, I know last week I had spoke about Tomlin.

And I want the people to see that I said Mike, Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh.

Thank Pittsburgh, thanks you.

193 wins.

I believe you hung with the best, and now you can rest.

193 at the end.

Boy, oh boy, Mike, you can grin.

Then I believe when you see something, you remember it.

If you hear it, you might forget it.

But I want this.

I was rushing this morning, as you can see, I was late.

But I want the people to see this sign, and it says family.

On July the 15th of 2019, my daughter unique that was here had turned on the on the teeth on her phone.

And it was who who was there, but Carmen Brown speaking during public comment.

She's one of the ones.

I stand on her shoulder.

Well done, my sister, in the struggle.

It really hurt me that Carmen passed.

I didn't know that she was sick.

But I want her family and everybody else to know that I stand on her shoulders.

She sued Burgess and she won.

And when Burgess was getting ready to get a million dollars to take and put in the church to say it was the community, she said, Yvonne, you got to go to that meeting.

You have to stop it.

Now the planning committee, it was a woman, and I told her, look into it.

Look into it.

He's taking the money, the citizens don't know.

And she stopped him.

Well, I believe because of that, he took when my grandbaby was here, five years old.

When she got things for it's not the time or the place, you know, he really.

She's in the program.

I seen the lady, and I said she wouldn't speak.

She said, Oh, yes, she could.

You hurt my grandchild.

And when you hurt my grandchild, you hurt me.

But also, we're up in the building.

Mr.

Lavelle, listen to this.

We're up in a building where we got a big huge black man that's that's threatening the gay white man.

He had them crying.

He calls us women bees.

He tells us to suck his penis, but the gay man was crying so hard.

He said, leave me alone every time you see me.

So I'm telling you, not only are we black women getting beat with hammers and sticks, we got a black man that's now attacking white people.

So I bet you'll do something about him because he's white.

But I'm black.

I lived here, been living there for 10.

10 years.

I can't even get my husband's food bank.

Okay, they told me that we need to watch who's getting it.

Because I'm not, they refuse to give me my husband.

Thank you, Miss Brown.

Food bank.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning, special agent sunshine.

Lord, thank you for a king.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Who stood for our civil rights?

Oppression.

He stood for a lot.

I wrote down a few of his quotes.

Tell me share with you.

Thank you for using me as a vessel, Lord.

In Jesus' name, amen.

The first one I want to say is.

Force us to be homeless.

I'm saying that's because I'm one of those you stole from.

Billions of dollars.

Force me to be homeless.

And you live Lala Vita and go to Cayman Islands for years and years.

You go to Dubai and live it up, huh?

Well, we're forced to be homeless.

You live off our resources.

It will stop.

The one other quote I want to read from him.

I have several, but there's a lot.

The man was amazing.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

And I'm putting your name on it because you're the most selfish person I've ever met in my life.

In my life, you have not helped me, not once.

Because it was you.

You were the first person that told I wasn't dead when I got to this town.

And ever since then, all my communications still being blocked.

Still.

My mail still being stolen.

So that I don't come up like any kind of way.

I'm just gonna stay homeless, huh?

You think what is homeless look like?

And I still live in peace.

Amen.

Isaiah 117 says, learn to do right, seek justice, encourage the oppressed, defend the cause of the flawless, and plead the case of the widow.

In Jesus' name I pray for them all.

Amen.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Next speaker, please.

Seeing no further speakers, we'll turn to the presentation of papers, beginning with Councilman Sharlin, Chair of Human Resources.

No new papers, Mr.

President.

Councilman Calkill, Chair of Public Safety and Wellness.

No new papers, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Gross, Chair of Innovation Performance, Asset Management and Technology.

No new papers, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Mosley, Chair of Intergovernmental Educational Affairs.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Councilman Kahari Mosley presents Bill 42 Resolution Adopting Plan Revision to the City of Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities plan for 824 James Street, Pittsburgh 15212 at no cost to the city.

And Councilwoman Salonetro, Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Kim Sala Netro presents Bill 43.

Resolution providing for a reimbursement agreement or agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for costs associated with the construction phase of the East Liberty Negley Avenue implementation project and providing for the payment of the costs thereof not to exceed $1,571,661.

Bill 44.

Resolution providing for an agreement or agreements with Allegheny Valley Railroad for costs associated with the preliminary engineering phase of the Heron Avenue Bridge Project, providing for the payment of the cost thereof not to exceed $10,000 reimbursable at 100%.

Bill 45 resolution providing for a reimbursement agreement or agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for costs associated with the preliminary design, final design, and construction phases of the Brownsville Road Safety Improvement Project and providing for the payment of costs thereof not to exceed $4,500, 368, and the municipal share of commonwealth incurred costs at a cost to the city of Pittsburgh not to exceed $26,000.

And Bill 46 resolution providing for an amended reimbursement agreement or agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for costs associated with the preliminary engineering, final design, and right-of-way phases of the Heron Avenue Bridge Project, providing for the payment of the cost thereof not to exceed $1,521,000, an increase of $800,000 from the previously executed agreement.

This resolution serves to authorize only the amended reimbursement agreement or agreements at no cost to the city of Pittsburgh.

Future resolutions will authorize the project-specific service agreements.

And Councilwoman Schraussberger, Chair of Finance and Law.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilperson Erica Strasberger presents Bill 51, resolution amending resolution 880 of 2025, which reappropriated 2025.

And Councilwoman Warburg, Chair of Recreation Youth and Senior Services.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Barbara Warwick presents Bill 47.

Resolution authorizing the mayor and director of the Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into agreements in individual amounts of ten thousand dollars or less with performers, instructors, artists, referees, and persons with specialized skills in connection with the department's recreational and instructional programs and special events services.

Payments for individual vendors meeting the above criteria are authorized through on contract payments, departmental invoices, and P cards.

And Councilman Wilson, Chair of Man Usa Economic Development.

No new papers, Mr.

President.

And I have two.

If we could first do the appointment.

Councilman Ordenia Lavelle presents Bill 48.

Resolution appointing William Urbanic as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund.

We need either a motion to interview or a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The appointment has been approved.

Next is a communication.

Bill 49.

Communication from Rhea Price, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, submitting to City Council the attached status update from the grants office for the week ended January 16th, 2026.

And we need a motion to read receive and file.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

The bill has been read, received and filed.

That takes us to unfinished business.

And we have two appointments that were interviewed on the 20th for the ELA board.

Uh Sharon Werner and Shoton Williams.

We need a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Any opposed?

The appointments have been approved.

There are no reports of committee for final action today, so that takes us to motions and resolutions.

Is there anything for members?

Councilwoman Warwick.

Um, I would like to call for a post agenda on um utility coordination.

Second, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

We'll work with the clerk and the councilwoman's office to get that scheduled.

Anything else, members?

If not, we have one meeting announcement this afternoon at 1 30.

Council will hold our standing committee meeting.

Speaker registration will close at 1130 a.m.

this morning.

To register the speaker to meet, please fill up the sign-up form on the council meeting webpage or accord a clerk's office at 412, 255-2138.

With that, uh motion to approve the minutes and adjourn the meeting.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

We are adjourned.