OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, January 21, 2026
BodyPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, January 21, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 58:09

Transcript — Verbatim
21:26

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

21:31

Would the clerk please take the roll?

21:33

Mr.

21:33

Charlin, Mr.

21:34

Coghill.

21:35

Here.

21:36

Ms.

21:37

Gross.

21:38

Mr.

21:38

Mosley?

21:39

Here.

21:40

Mrs.

21:40

Salonetro?

21:42

Here.

21:43

Mrs.

21:43

Strasberger?

21:44

Here.

21:45

Ms.

21:46

Warwick.

21:48

Mr.

21:48

Wilson?

21:50

Mr.

21:50

Label President?

21:51

Here.

21:52

Five members present.

21:53

I don't see the question.

21:54

Thank you.

21:54

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

22:09

One nation undergo individual with liberty and justice for all.

22:19

Thank you.

22:20

Our next order of business is to amend the agenda.

22:22

Is there a motion to amend?

22:24

So moved.

22:25

Second.

22:25

All those in favor say aye.

22:26

Aye.

22:27

Thank you.

22:28

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

22:32

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.

22:43

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

22:48

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

23:20

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

24:31

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

25:01

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.

25:16

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.

25:34

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.

25:52

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.

26:11

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.

26:28

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

26:39

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

26:45

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

26:53

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

26:58

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

27:05

While centers remain contractually required to maintain continuous emergency response.

27:11

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.

27:28

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.

28:25

May we have a motion to approve.

28:27

So moved.

28:27

Second.

28:28

All those in favor say aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement████████████████████████████28%
Procedural██████████████████████22%
Gender Equity█████████████████████21%
Homelessness████████8%
Public Works██████6%
Housing Data Collection█████5%
Public Safety████4%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Pension Trust Fund███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026

The Pittsburgh City Council held its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. All nine members were present. The meeting included a proclamation supporting Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), public comments from six registered speakers, the introduction of several resolutions, appointments to boards, and a call for a post-agenda on utility coordination.

Wills of Council

  • 2026-0050 – Councilmember Gross and all members sponsored a resolution affirming the City's commitment to survivors of sexual violence, recognizing PAAR's role, and calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to increase and sustain funding for rape crisis centers. The resolution notes that PAAR served nearly 2,500 survivors in the past year (15% children) and has not received a state funding increase in six years. The resolution was adopted unanimously (Enactment No. 2). PAAR leadership spoke in support, emphasizing the need for funding for all 47 rape crisis centers across the Commonwealth.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Ronald Lynn Miller – Claimed to be a global intelligence candidate for president. He criticized council members for their availability, citing specific dates in December 2025 and January 2026 when council was unavailable 86% of the time. He demanded repayment of $44,589 to the city controller by February 1 and threatened legal action.
  • Bethany Cameron (Inform Up) – Presented survey results from 69 responses across all nine districts. Top priorities for a housing data dashboard: assessed property value, tax incentives, and affordability levels. On the budget process timeline, 48% favored council's budget automatically taking effect if the mayor does not respond. For the police chief search, top qualities were police reform initiatives and community relationship building (22% each).
  • Raqeeb Bey (Pittsburgh resident) – Spoke about housing justice on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, criticizing Allegheny County for not adopting policies like adding housing status as a protected class (as Pittsburgh did on September 3, 2025). He advocated for a CCRM framework to bridge compliance gaps and prevent litigation.
  • Carlino Giampolo (Panther Hollow) – Continued his complaints about an illegal skate park in Panther Hollow. He read excerpts from a letter to Mayor O'Connor and quoted a resident who opposes the skate park due to noise, supporting its relocation to Schenley Park.
  • Yvonne F. Brown (715 Mercer Street) – Shared personal grievances regarding housing, threats in her building, and difficulties accessing her husband's food bank. She also referenced past advocacy by Carmen Brown against a developer (Burgess).
  • Special Agent Sunshine – Invoked Martin Luther King Jr. quotes, accused council of forcing homelessness and stealing resources. He prayed for justice and condemned selfishness.

Discussion Items

  • Presentation of Papers (Resolutions Introduced and Referred to Committees):
    • 2026-0042 (Mosley) – Plan revision to sewage facilities plan for 824 James Street, at no cost. Referred to Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs.
    • 2026-0043 (Salinetro) – Reimbursement agreement with PennDOT for East Liberty-Negley Avenue Construction phase, not to exceed $2,571,661. Referred to Public Works and Infrastructure.
    • 2026-0044 (Salinetro) – Agreement with Allegheny Valley Railroad for Herron Avenue Bridge preliminary engineering, $10,000 (100% reimbursable). Referred to Public Works and Infrastructure.
    • 2026-0045 (Salinetro) – Reimbursement agreement for Brownsville Road Safety Improvement Project (preliminary design, final design, construction), not to exceed $4,504,368 plus $26,000 municipal share. Referred to Public Works and Infrastructure.
    • 2026-0046 (Salinetro) – Amended reimbursement agreement for Herron Avenue Bridge (preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way), increasing by $800,000 to $1,521,000 (no cost to City). Referred to Public Works and Infrastructure.
    • 2026-0051 (Strassburger) – Amends 2025 resolution reappropriating $7,000,000 for Pittsburgh Water costs, reducing it by $1,000,000. Referred to Finance and Law.
    • 2026-0047 (Warwick) – Authorizes Parks and Recreation to enter agreements up to $10,000 with performers, instructors, etc. Referred to Recreation, Youth, and Senior Services.
    • 2026-0048 (Lavelle) – Appointment of William Urbanic to the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund Board of Trustees. Approved unanimously.
    • 2026-0049 (Lavelle) – Communication from OMB with grants office status update for week ending January 16, 2026. Read, received, and filed.
  • Unfinished Business:
    • 2026-0025 – Appointment of Sharon Werner to the Equipment Leasing Authority (term to March 31, 2028). Approved unanimously.
    • 2026-0026 – Appointment of Sheldon Williams to the Equipment Leasing Authority (term to June 15, 2026). Approved unanimously.
  • Motions and Resolutions: Councilwoman Warwick called for a post-agenda on utility coordination; approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2026-0050 supporting PAAR and advocating for state funding was adopted.
  • William Urbanic was appointed to the Comprehensive Municipal Pension Trust Fund Board of Trustees.
  • Sharon Werner and Sheldon Williams were appointed to the Equipment Leasing Authority.
  • Communication 2026-0049 was received and filed.
  • A post-agenda on utility coordination was scheduled.
  • The meeting adjourned after approval of minutes.

Meeting Transcript

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.

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