Good afternoon, and welcome to the Standees Standing Committee's meeting for Wednesday, February fourth, twenty twenty-six.

All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website.

And for guest speakers, please do not turn off your microphones.

Our first order of business is roll call.

The clerk please take the roll.

Mr.

Charlotte here.

Mr.

Conkill.

Miss Grows.

Mr.

Laval.

Here.

Mr.

Mosley.

Miss Salonatro.

Here.

Miss Warwick.

Here.

Mr.

Wilson.

Miss Strassberger Chair.

Here.

Seven members present.

Thank you.

Our next order of business is public comments.

I would like to remind all speakers that the rules of council state that comments are m comments are limited to matters of concern, official action, or deliberation, which are or may be before city council, and profanity will not be permitted.

Please state your name and neighborhood for the record, and you will have three minutes to speak.

North never almost always does the president of Mexico start her Mañaneras on time, usually at 7 a.m.

in the morning.

Another one of these is the head of the present government of Japan, Takahichi Sanae.

And she rigorously observes what the Japanese consider to be an almost sacred comic K-A-M-I-C commitment to being on time.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Our next speaker, our next register speaker is Chief Pomaj Chakman Yahalahee.

Good afternoon, Council President, members, and members of Council, and everyone present.

My title is Chief Amai Chakmamia Halehi.

And I'm here today as a strategic independent contractor, an advocacy consultant for upstream Pittsburgh's environmental justice table and the Action Oversight Committee's deconstruction campaign, representing residents and indigenous community members of environmental justice communities.

And as the executive director of SCJ Ministries of North America, Southwest Pennsylvania, to speak in support of Bills 2026, 0039, and 2026 0040.

And just as importantly, I'm here to speak in support of the process being advanced through the public hearing at its core.

Democracy is not only about outcomes, it is about trust.

Trust is built when residents can see, understand, and meaningfully engage in how decisions are made.

These proposed referendums acknowledge a significant shift in our city.

The loss of newspapers in general circulation.

They respond appropriately by placing this question directly before the voters.

That approach respects the Home World Charter and it respects the people of Pittsburgh.

From an environmental justice and faith-rooted advocacy perspective, I want to emphasize the importance of full transparency and sustained collaboration with organizations deeply connected to the pulse of the people.

Any changes to budget approval rules of public notice requirements must narrow access to participation, especially for residents and community members and aboriginal American workers, as well as elders and families.

Communities historically excluded from decision making.

In a post-newspaper reality, transparency must be proactive, multilingual, and rooted in community networks.

This is not uh simply a communication issue, it's an issue of equity.

I appreciate that council is not imposing these changes unilaterally, but instead placing them before the voters.

The integrity of this process will depend on how information is shared, how feedback is incorporated, and how community-based organizations are engaged.

Between now and the May primary, I respectfully urge council to continue working openly and intentionally with environmental justice table, faith institutions, neighborhood leaguers, leaders, advocacy organizations, as this process must move forward in that way.

Transparency must be a lived practice, not a procedural formality, and public participation must be meaningful, not symbolic.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak today.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Ikahana Halmakina.

I'm here to inform you that public trust has been breached.

What will compel you to take action?

People are crying out for change.

People are tired of being ignored.

The one who spoke earlier is right.

You obviously are not with me.

I come here to give a voice to the voicely, and those who have been silent and ignored.

Approximately a year ago or so, take it a study and report it exactly slash population decline in its surrounding area.

To my surprise, Lama was identified as having the highest rate of population decline.

This study prompted me to begin research for reasons as to why.

Once I started fact finding, I uncovered, uncovered the conditions that are causing such a decline.

Cancer is running rampant and it's killing dozens upon dozens of people.

And it's not being given the life that it deserves.

They took it on, said on, and now are methodically bathing out ultra-processed food for our city council to take a look at what they've already implemented.

That should always look them for a precedent.

But I urge you to look into exactly what they're doing to mitigate people dying.

I want to address crime guns.

This first city council looks to regulate and legislate your way out of short-term rentals.

While the rest of us are waiting for you to take a more aggressive approach towards getting these illegal crime guns off of our streets, our children are dying.

It is not the short-term rentals that gives them access to guns.

It's the illegal purchase of guns, allowing young people to easily access these guns that shouldn't be on our streets in the first place.

What the people need to do is take a closer look at the illegal gun trade data.

Thanks to Brady United, they have done all the research for you.

So all you have to do now is to take the necessary steps to access their data and litigate the illegal guns in Allegheny County.

There's been bad actors who have been identified, yet no action to hold them accountable as safe.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Our next registered speaker is Sherry Winston.

We have a Sherry Jennings on the screen.

If that's you, you may unmute and proceed.

Hello?

Yes, we can hear you.

I'm hi.

Good afternoon.

I'm calling in as a concerned parent.

Um, on January 9th, um, I was attending uh Bama High School game along with my daughter and some youth, and um a fight broke out.

I just want to know the protocol for the Pittsburgh police and authorities to use um such excessive uh force towards these youth.

Um I was like, there was maybe two or three other adults present, but I was maced in the process of trying to get my child to safety along with other youth that were there.

Um I just feel like Pittsburgh police need to have a different protocol as well as um some type of standards and guidelines in order to just use this.

They were they they treated those children like animals, as well as myself, and I'm a 50-year-old adult that was coming there to bring my child to safety.

I just feel as better not being held accountable, and there's no one overseeing the overseers, and it needs to stop.

I've went to every extreme there is to make phone calls, no one's returned a phone call.

This is like my resort to hearing someone to hear my voice because this has to stop.

Those are children.

And there wasn't 50 to 60 children congregated here as the media stated.

There was maybe 20 children there.

There were fights all over, they were recorded, but they chose this particular fight or congregation of kids to maul them with pepper spray.

I couldn't even bring my own child to safety because I was sprayed down like an animal.

And I just need to know who's in charge of these police that are policing these children and supposed to make sure that these children are safe.

I just feel there need to be a bigger, a bigger umbrella for these children and safety measures.

You can't tell these children they can't go out and enjoy life.

This is not normal.

What those police did, they need to be held accountable.

And this won't be the last time y'all hear from me because until I see some justice, it won't stop here.

Because it's unacceptable.

Thanks for hearing me today.

Thank you.

And if you call our city clerk's office, you can uh leave your contact information to get a call or an email back.

It's 412 255-2138.

Uh that exhausts our red shirt speakers.

We will now take comments from those in the audience wishing to speak.

Are there any speakers wishing to come to the podium?

Good afternoon.

My name is Ywan F.

Brown.

I live at 715 Mercer Street.

That's the high rise up at the top of Buff Bedford.

I have my sign here that I continue.

I bring all the time I've had it for years, but each time I've added something that I think we should think about.

Um I say, defend democracy.

Then I have a picture of uh Trump.

Remember, he put his hand up in the ear, and they were saying how brave he was or whatever they said.

When the when the black man that won the Olympics in 60, I think it's 66, 68, uh 68, the Olympics.

They put their hand up in fist, you took their umor away.

You took the the medal away for them putting their hands up in the ear.

And Bush, when he does that, he said how brave he was.

He was scared.

Okay.

And I have here, will he live our freedom?

That's where Bush.

I have a picture of August Wilson.

He says, go back and pick up the ball.

And up here I have a picture of the children.

Carnegie Library used to have a bookmobile bus.

And this is a picture of Brownie's brother Lenny.

Everybody knew Lenny, he used to work for the city and the county, and his sister Marlin.

These are when they were like six and seven years old.

And it one thing I want you to listen to is prevention is the best medicine it is.

If we can prevent something from happening, and I said it's up to us, and I have pictures of the black activist, Celeste, McDonald, and also the homewood ums Hayes.

And I have here confused, don't worry.

You're not alone.

And I want you to know that your life matters.

Here's a picture of Nate.

You remember he um started with the union.

And I wanted you to realize that when Nate, I mean, when Pedudo was running for mayor, he came up to the building, and I was uh introducing them to our social worker, and I said he worked with Nate, and he was also uh up in the um let's forget that part.

Um I just want you to know that when I told the mayor that this council, my counsel, our person had worked with Nate.

Mayor Paduta grabbed the social worker, and he said, I used to be his intern.

I used to be his intern.

There's a lot of things that are happening in this community that some people don't know.

And then I'm still a little upset about Carmen Brown to her family.

I stand on her shoulders.

She was a good advocate.

Excuse me.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Hello, I'm Unique Brown.

And I feel a little better because somebody did come actually open their mouth to me.

But I'm still gonna finish what I came here to say.

And like I said, Allegheny links and all these other agencies that do what they want.

I want to know who is responsible for them, who's responsible for making shorty's system actually help instead of hurting the people that are supposed to support.

This isn't just a request, it's a cry from me and people like secret agents who are tired of being ignored, erased, and retraumatized.

If this council only listens without acting, without accountability, without action, then this isn't public service.

It's institutional failure.

Public service isn't supposed to look like this.

Council, you begged us to vote for you.

You personally, Mr.

Lavelle.

And I told you my mom didn't want me to sign that paper, but I did.

And so when are y'all gonna do the things you're supposed to do?

I'm not ending this again with thank you for listening, because this is our right.

We don't only want you to listen and go hide.

We want you to actually act.

You don't interrupt us to say you'll help us.

You don't interrupt us to say you understand.

We talk about injustice, trauma, homelessness, domestic violence fair, uh, other fears that's going on and get silence.

But the second our time runs out, you interrupt us to end our speech.

And somehow that feels like the most honest response we've gotten, or is silencing us the only response you're willing to give.

If the buzzer is louder than our lives, then this isn't public comment, it's public control.

And I'm finished.

So goodbye.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Thank you for acknowledging me, but I'm not ignored.

I promise you, God is the one who sent me here.

I'm a special agent for him, not the FBI.

They got it twisted as well.

But um, I'm a pray.

This prayer, the Jabez prayer, everybody should say, and connect with the Holy Spirit daily.

Holy Spirit.

Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory.

That your hand would be with me, that you would keep me from evil, and that I may not cause pain.

Earlier, I talked about peace.

I touched on um a little bit about it, the importance of it, but there are six peace robbers, six things that steal your peace.

Lust, guilt, anger, bitterness, self-centeredness, and doubt.

Doubt is a big one because a lot of y'all doubt that God is real, so is lightning, so is his wrath.

All of it is real.

And when you conjure it up, it will come.

It will come with force.

The one I want to talk about, the peace robber.

I want to talk about his anger.

A lot of people are angry about a lot of different things.

This week it was the weather, the ice, the snow, how we can't get around buses around here, so I'm out here.

Why?

I have things to do, places to go with all of my stuff.

I'm dragging it along.

God has me doing it, because he gives me the strength to do it.

But it's to show y'all that without him, I could not do what he has me doing.

But my peace is being disturbed because everywhere I go, somebody's evading it.

My privacy, my space.

I'm being attacked by a lot of different people.

Just because I want to live in peace.

Just because he removed me from the chaos and conflict of other people to live in peace.

I left a lot, sacrificed a lot to live in peace.

I don't want to argue fight with nobody.

I don't.

Romans 12, 18, it says, if it is possible, as far as it depends on you.

Live in peace with everyone.

I know it's hard.

It's hard when people disturb it.

It's real hard when people come for you with a death ritual, lighting candles on your life to take it out.

And all you want to do is live in peace.

Lord, thank you for using me as a vessel to do your will, not mine.

Martin Luther King said, every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

Lavelle always puts your name on the selfishness, Mark, because you're the most selfish person I know.

And it's so sad.

And it's only a projection of how you feel about yourself.

Lord, thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any further speakers?

Any further speakers?

There being no further speakers, we will now move on to our standing committee's agenda.

Our first committee is the Finance and Law Committee.

And we have supplemental new papers Bill 84.

Bill 84, Ordnance Amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title II Fiscal, Article 9, Property Taxes, Chapter 263, Rural Property Tax and Exemptions.

Section 263.02 A, discount in advance.

B one optional triannual payments, and D due dates.

So as to amend the discount date for the 2026 fiscal year.

Motion to approve brief discussion.

Second.

Second with discussion.

Just wanted to say thank you to the councilwoman, the administration and the finance department.

We've gotten lots and lots of calls asking for this.

So appreciate the quick the quick turnaround and getting this done.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Moving it back a week due to the disruption of mail service that we experienced during the snowstorm for a week.

And this is the finance department, OMB to thank 100% for this, and the mayor for this.

I had nothing to do with it.

So other than being a vehicle for my committee.

So I also want to express my thanks on behalf of my residents and the residents of the city.

Yes, second round.

I I have a quick question.

Is that so would you like to call?

I mean, sure, sure.

Yeah, just to just to make sure that it's clear for everybody.

And I neglected to thank our city treasurer as well.

Good afternoon.

I'm Jen Gula, the finance director, and I'm Bill Orbanic, City Treasurer.

So yes, you can pay online and receive the discount date.

In fact, if you go to the online payment platform, all you'll see is the discount date, then it'll automatically prompt you to pay that at discount, whether you pay the gross or the first installment.

Okay, so there's no extra fee to online.

So there is an extra fee to pay online.

Okay.

The credit cards charge.

I think there's a 25 cent fee, and then there it's a percentage of however much your tax is that you're paying.

However, if you use an e-check, which is what we consider to be an electronic funds transfer, which means you put in your bank checking account information, it's a flat fee of 50 cents.

50 cents it's cheaper than a stamp.

Okay.

And it gets we honor like the it's like using the postmark.

We honor that date, but it gets processed.

And easy peasy, lemon squeezy.

You don't have to worry about your mail getting lost, getting to us, or waiting to be processed.

It's already done.

Okay, so credit cards and debit cards, you're gonna get an additional percentage fee.

Yes.

But if you do direct transfer with your bank info, routing number and account number, I assume just a 50 cents cheaper than a stamp.

It's 50 cent flat fee.

Okay.

Mm-hmm.

Thanks.

Um Councilman Coghew.

Yep, thank you.

Uh I'm surprised how many people pay early.

That's that's really really good sign.

And I did get a lot of phone calls regarding this as well.

So um thank you for for being on it.

Um you look you look familiar.

Welcome back, though.

Yeah, it's good to see you at this table again.

Uh, I know you're familiar, so um, but but yeah, so so we extended a week.

Um the postals, I guess they missed four days or so, do we know?

But the week is covers any days that the post office may have missed.

Yeah, I think it depended on where you live.

Some people didn't see their mail for about five days, others were still waiting, like at the beginning of this week.

So, and these bills actually come from the West Coast, like the mailing and the print vendors on the West Coast.

So, even though they had the information in time, you have to consider too that they didn't even get to Pittsburgh yet because this weather event hit not just us on the East Coast, but it stretched over like 35 states.

So there was potentially a delay there as well with them getting even into the area to be distributed, and then obviously our own local mail is held up.

So even the postal workers deserve a break in nor rain nor sleep nor whatever the saying is.

And our council members a break too, maybe.

So thanks.

Thanks.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 84, please indicate by saying aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Thank you.

We're actually going to switch it up a bit and move to the public safety committee.

And Bill read if it's possible, Madam Clark, supplemental new papers and new paper together.

Bill 72 and 57.

Bill 72.

Resolution authorizing pursuant to Chapter 210, acceptance of gifts to the city of the City Code.

The mayor and the director of the Office of Management and Budget to accept a donation from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in the amount of 10 million dollars to purchase emergency medical service vehicles and equipment.

And bill number 57.

Resolution amending resolution number 958 of 2024 entitled Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's local share accounts statewide to provide funding to purchase two ambulances.

The grant proposal includes an ask of one million dollars for this stated purpose to accept the grant and authorize expenditures.

Second.

I'd like to call Chief Gilman to the table, please.

And uh your first trip up here since the new administration.

I'm equally as glad to see you back as I was Villa Bank.

I will tell you.

We've gotten a lot of work done and we're already moving on a lot of things.

So I'll just give you a chance to boast a little bit here.

I'll have no questions about the you know the actual monies that uh the mayor secured here.

Uh I have no gripes and won't hear any arguments from me.

But if you just want to give us a rundown as to um anything that you feel like the public should know, please.

So the the second grant, the second bill, the million dollars for the two ambulances, uh that's a grant that was applied for last year uh and received at the end of the year that we'll process through from the state.

Uh and it's very specifically applied uh the local share account, the LSA.

So that is very set on two ambulances uh to buy it with uh and Chief Olzinger and from an in their team uh have led the effort on that.

The UPMC uh donation is ten million dollars.

Uh it is five million dollars uh of vehicles this year, five million dollars of vehicles next year.

This year we'll be buying, and of course it'll depend on pricing we get, eight or nine uh additional ambulances plus a new rescue unit.

Uh and in fact we were thanks to Deputy Chief Tremel, we've actually identified a rescue unit uh that is a stock unit.

Uh so instead of the usual two two and a half years and one point three, one point four, we've been able to uh acquire one for under a million dollars that should be here by this summer or fall uh with that, and and that couldn't have done it without the the backstop of the the dollars coming in from the outside.

Uh and we should be able to do a similar number of vehicles next year with the five.

At this point, I don't want to say the exact number of evidence because it could be that working with the chief in the union, we need to do motorcycles, or we need you know, to replace the supply truck or a boat.

So the value is the same, but whether it'll be ambulances or mess more rescue or the mini rescues, you know, we'll work with the the Bureau to determine that.

Uh and and I will say, because I want to be clear and I I know I've talked to many of you about this.

I'm to be clear to the public, this is a one-time ten million dollar donation.

It is separate, and as our press release in quotes made very clear, in addition to ongoing conversations with many other partners, including UPMC uh and others about uh longer term commitments and partnership in the city.

This is totally separate in a one-time uh given the crisis we are in.

Uh and by able by being able to do that, we could shift money that was going to buy ambulances in the ELA co-op to allow us to buy more public works trucks.

And and I believe there's another bill coming up on the agenda related to that gift, which added even more on that.

Uh so it it's a win-win.

It's the EMS vehicles, but it's the public works vehicles as well.

I'm I'm over the moon about it, okay.

The mayor kind of ran on this as one of his campaign promises and uh to deliver in such early part of the year when it was so desperately needed.

Uh and it just made sense, you know.

UPMC were delivering their patients, right?

And for them to put in for ambulances.

And I I believe I saw the mayor, you know, um being interviewed and said they were concerned.

They they want it just to go to that pot, obviously.

So um and they don't want to come in our general fund because they're they might be afraid of us to not this administration spending habits, but past administration spending habits, you know, just uh you know, we we have to honor what they what they give it to.

So great work.

Uh I love it.

Um I I am on the equipment leasing authority board, as you know.

We call it a special meeting for Friday.

Um you can't wait to buy some vehicles.

So uh sorely needed.

It was just a injection that we needed at the right time, and um good work by you in the mayor's office and everybody else that was involved.

Fantastic.

Thanks.

Thank you, Councilman.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Warwick.

Yeah, thank you.

Um yeah, so um, yeah, congratulations.

I echo the councilman, this is a big deal.

Um definitely uh a good first step.

Uh so just so I'm clear.

So I I guess I didn't realize that it was five million one year and five million dollars.

The next.

Oh, sorry, thank you.

Uh so that means that this year, so between this five million plus the two million from PNC, so we originally had 10 million allocated to vehicles.

We did a tax increase right at the end of last year that allowed us to do an additional 10 million for vehicles.

And so, and now UPMC is giving five and PNC is giving two.

So that is a total of 27 million for vehicles in 2026.

And then we have five million pending for 2027.

Is that correct?

Correct.

Yes.

We have five million already in in the kitty for 27 plus whatever we work together to budget.

Right, right, great.

And so, and I do, you know, um and I I'm I'm glad to hear you say that this is a first step, right?

Because you know, we do know that you know, were UPMC to pay taxes on it, it's probably in the ballpark of 14 million.

So, you know, the Pittsburgh taxpayers have ponied up, and I'm glad to see this process starting right with our large nonprofits.

So, and I hope the other large nonprofits take note.

Um just as far as vehicles go, you know, and you know, as we all know, there's a proposal on the table for a 20 million dollar a year vehicle fleet trust fund, um, which is what we have been, you know, from public safety directors, PPW directors, the ELA, uh our budget office, um, et cetera, um, is sort of like the baseline for what we need to be investing to keep our heads above water with these vehicles.

So, even more so that we need these investments from the large nonprofits to keep coming in, right?

So, like five million for 2027 is a good start, but it's not quite where we need to be, right?

So, so um I'm glad that those conversations are continuing.

And also just to just for the public, you know, when we talk about vehicles, right?

And we talk about sort of, you know, we urgently need this or we urgently need that at any given time.

Everything we do here at the city requires, right?

Whether it's DPW Streets Division, our forestry department, our environmental services, and the garbage trucks, which are also starting to break down.

Um, you know, EMS we've heard, our fire trucks, which take years, you know, need lots of planning and money out ahead of time.

Our animal control folks, our police, um, PLI, DOME, even city parks, right?

They all all of these organizations need vehicles to do.

So there's there's really nothing that we do at the city that does not require our personnel um to have functioning vehicles um, you know, so that they can do their work.

And also functioning vehicles so that we are not paying out the nose to constantly repair, constantly repair.

So um that's more of a comment.

Welcome to, you know, and and anything you'd like to add, but um yeah, just congratulations on this, and I am definitely looking forward to uh seeing more and and where that goes from here.

Thank you, Councilperson.

I appreciate the partnership.

I will say, uh as you rightfully noted, this need runs deep across all departments.

I I receive weekly reports from every director that I take home in a binder and read over the weekend, and one of the questions I put in since taking this role was a breakdown of every vehicle that's in the shop and where it is.

And they're not just the ones that make the newspaper.

I mean, city planning has several down.

It it's across the board.

Uh we know, you know, for different reasons, including the weather, but it's also the vehicles.

We're not finishing all of the the refuse routes every day to the point uh that you raised.

The positive thing about these donations, of course, is money becomes fungible uh to move into some of those areas that you know may not align with the mission uh of the donation, but it frees it up.

Uh and I will say, yes, the conversation very much continues uh with our nonprofit partners, but also our other partners, foundations, corporate.

We've got a real uphill battle as a city right now financially.

Uh both some challenges unique to Pittsburgh, some that are very much a challenge for every city in America.

The headwinds are strong.

Uh and we've been very clear as we've talked to to CEOs and executive directors and board chairs, uh, that this is a everyone gets in and rows in the same direction moment for Pittsburgh, and it's critically needed.

And so we're having really nice conversations about rec centers, parks, uh programs for kids, little leak fields, football programs, all the different things we need and who aligned lighting downtown, you know, main street support, uh, all of those things and what aligns with each business's kind of charitable mission or their foundation stated goals so that we can raise more money from the outside to match the great work you've done in the budget.

Great.

Yeah.

Further discussion.

Second round, councilwoman.

I just wanted to be clear.

I've had talks with the firefighters and I talked to the mayor about this too.

I just want to you could publicly reassure.

Um, you know, you see ambulances, they see public works and and and the firefighters as councilwoman Warwick pointed out, they have a longer, you know, delivery time I think four four years or something like that.

So in my talks with Ralph, and I know he spoke to the mayor, uh, just to assure them that we haven't forgotten the fire.

Uh we know how valuable, how important it is.

And we know that their fleet is also uh hurting.

Uh absolutely 100%.

I've also had direct conversation uh uh with the union and the administration as well.

Very much not forgotten, uh, looking for uh securing outside sources for that as well, uh as well as some creative ideas on how we might acquire them that uh Ralph and I have talked about what the new structures might be uh to get things faster at a more affordable rate or getting more.

So looking at both more money and new new measures.

And coming off the success that you've had, first of all, with the uh our nonprofits uh recently.

I love when I hear you talk about going into the foundations and forming partnerships with the foundations because what many people don't realize um Pittsburgh is not the glitz and glamour of Miami and everything, but Pittsburgh has old money and has old foundations with lots of money who want to be partners, you know.

I don't remember past administrations reaching out to them, but again, on the headwinds of your success, um, get into those foundations and their interest areas, they all have their own interest areas.

I got that, whether it be a baseball field or a playground.

That's that's really really good news.

And um, I look forward to seeing some some fruit from that as well.

Absolutely.

Uh we are second most charitable giving uh out of foundations in America per capita outside of Seattle, who has one individual who excuse those numbers in Seattle.

Uh so uh our foundations are key partners.

No, Mayor O'Connor was very clear when he ran that his approach to all of this is partnership uh and reaching across whatever divide may exist and that that we need that.

So as I said, it's it's nonprofit for profit foundation, nonprofit, corporate.

You you name the entity, the state, the feds.

Right.

Um the mayor and I were in here for the first time.

Whatever trees you have to shake, basically.

Funding, yeah.

So we're yeah, exactly.

I will shake any tree that will help.

I knew you will.

That's that that's that's really really fantastic.

And um, yeah, I look forward to it.

And and I I will note we spent the last four years in lawsuits and costs the city, I want to say somewhere around a million dollars, costs us a million dollars to try to get proceeds from our nonprofits.

They just wanted to be treated like partners, I think, in the end.

And to be 10, 12 million dollars in on our first month there is uh stark difference, and again, really really good work on on the administration's part.

Thank you.

Further discussion?

Well, I'll just pile on and say nothing new that someone no one else has said, but um congratulations as finance and law chair uh saw for the last two years, just the desperate need uh for non-taxable revenue, and this is very welcome given some of the the holes that we excurrently have in the budget, even with uh uh tax increase.

And so, as the councilwoman said, um, you know, when we're putting this on the um on the taxpayers, um we should also expect the same from some of our nonprofit and corporate partners.

So this is really welcome news.

And I see I look forward to seeing how this either separate or you know fitting into a um a larger strategy with those same partners.

So thank you for your work.

Thanks to the mayor for his work.

And uh any further discussion?

Seeing none.

All those in favor of bill bill seventy-two and fifty-seven, please indicate by saying aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

PNC.

We can move on to the public works and infrastructure committee.

New papers, Bill 81.

Sorry about that.

I didn't warn you.

Bill 81 resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into an agreement or agreements with the PNC Foundation for the purpose of receiving grant funds and the amount of two million dollars for the purchase of snow removal equipment.

Motion to approve a discussion.

Second.

Yeah, this is great news, obviously.

And um could not come at a better time considering the storm we just had.

And I guess I would like to say, you know, congratulations and thank you for all your hard work on it.

Um and can you give us some idea of how many vehicles this this buys us?

Because this is what people want to know the nitty-gritty of how much are we going to get for this two million dollars?

So thank you, Councilwoman.

This two million dollars buys 15 vehicles.

Uh when you combine the money that council already had in the budget this year with the money we are able to add by shifting the EMS money to the UPMC donation and the PNC money, we will allow us enable us to buy 50 snow removal vehicles this year for public works all all total.

Uh and I will add to that uh we've also identified uh some prior year funding to use that and I'm gonna turn around and look that will allow us to update 18.

Is that my right number?

20.

20 uh vehicles that were purchased uh in previous years that are uh in the DPW fleet but are not upfit to do snow removal.

Okay.

So while it'll be 50 new vehicles, we will add 70 snow capable vehicles to the fleet.

That's a great deal.

All right, thank you.

I'm just thank you so much for your hard work.

And and it's it couldn't have come at a better time.

But uh it's great work.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Warwick.

Um yeah, so just so 50 specific snow vehicles that will be just used for snow, or will they be capable to do other things as well?

They absolutely they're year-round, they do different things.

Great.

This ranges from small pickups to large pickups to two tons to ten ton dumps.

That there's a whole array uh of vehicles.

We had asked uh public works on day one to put together a an okay plan, a really good plan, and a fantastic plan.

Uh and I'm pleased to say that we're able to fund the fantastic plan.

So this was kind of the the DPW dream plan that they put together for us for a year.

That's great.

So for folks who live on those narrow little streets, right?

There will be smaller trucks for you all as well.

That's great.

Um, you know, and and as far as our corporate partners, because you know, we don't really talk about them much, but again, like all of these things, you know, it makes it Pittsburgh a better place to live, and it makes uh talented people want to come work for you and your company and come and live in our city.

So, you know, the the contribution is it's it's it's a gift, but it's also it's a gift for all of us, right?

And it it benefits the you know these companies as well as as everybody else.

So absolutely, and full credit to uh Bill Demchak and the PNC leadership.

They called.

We didn't we didn't call.

I was sitting in Snow Command, I got a text from you know one of their top executives that says, Can you call me?

And they said this is what we want to do, send me the plan.

So this was all proactive on their part and deeply appreciated.

Yep.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Councilman Cogheel.

They must have felt bad for us when we lost those 37 trucks.

So cool on their hard strings.

But um they also want to get back and forth to work and they want their workers to get back and forth to work.

So uh my only question is this um again just great news.

Any any money's come in.

Great news.

Um the retrofitting the the extra 20 to be that's just fitting them for plows, I guess.

Is that all it is?

Is that the difference, Fireman?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, so if you want the specifics, I'd encourage either Ferman or John McClory to come to the table.

Right, wait necessary.

Just because we have vehicles that uh have snow and plow capabilities.

We have some that have only plows, some that have only salt, and some that can do neither.

Uh our goal is that within reason, everything have as much as possible full snow and salt capabilities.

Wonderful.

And that is, you know, one of the challenges I will say that we have learned through the storm that Director McClory and I have talked about is as we track where vehicles are, or we hear about where vehicles are the snowplow tracker, we get the calls from offices and we look and it looks like a truck did it or a truck says they did it.

But if they only had one of the two functions, it's not done done.

And so, you know, if we can be sure that a truck that goes down has all the capabilities we want it, it'll make us much more efficient.

Right.

And let me use the opportunity to plug.

We have the public works new people don't think about Pittsburgh as building things, but we are gonna be completing after eight years at venture.

You and I started out on eight years ago.

Finally to come into fruition by winter.

We should have we hope to have new trucks in.

And a brand new uh, you know, public works division and and not in uh it's it's you know servicing my district.

So that's really gonna be great.

And I we mentioned Director McClory, who I see over here.

Um I just want to say you did a really, really great job through that snowstorm.

I know we all get beat up on it, you know what I mean.

But boy, I'll tell you, your trucks were out there the first night.

It was unbelievable.

I couldn't believe the job that you all were doing.

So you were really put to the test your first uh week, I guess.

But uh the good news is he he's been through it.

You know what I mean?

So we got somebody from within the department who's you know with years of experience, so I just want to compliment the job that you did.

I can't wait to see what you do.

We'll be able to eat off these streets with these new vehicles that he's got coming in soon.

We're good.

Uh I did call his wife this weekend and apologize that I talked to them more than she got to uh for the last month.

I'd be afraid to call her.

Okay, but again, thanks.

Good job.

I thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Gross.

Thank you.

Um apologies.

I'm traveling today to a conference.

Um, thank you all.

Um, on that same note, um, since we've gotten so much interest and attention, uh, more uh constituents, I think, are paying attention to exactly what kinds of vehicles we have and what kinds we need.

Um I'm hoping that we'll be able to track these purchases a little easier online.

And I just for the public various council members have really championed detailed policy discussions at the table.

We've had um several different post-agenda discussions, and those are all on the legislative record.

Um you do are able to access the equipment leasing authorities minutes um uh the city website, the agendas in the minute spit.

Sometimes it's difficult for the public and council members to really see the kind of like line item purchases, and there's a lot of a lot of excitement and attention.

Um, so this is just a request that we make it a little like easier to find.

Um, as we and the answers that you just gave, I also received those kinds of questions about like, well, if we're buying just snowfalls, what do they do the rest of the year?

And this is a once in a three-year storm.

So I think having that someplace um readily available available would be helpful to people.

I appreciate it.

Thank you, Councilman.

We we absolutely will work with you on that, and even after this ELA meeting, I can work with Councilman Cockhill and our team to put out a more detailed kind of minute to report that council can post on their website or other places as well that share that information.

Thank you.

That's a lot of head on and chair.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

I just I just wanted to add one thing.

Um to Councilwoman Warwick and Councilwoman Gross's thing.

Yes, these trucks are versatile.

Where they're not just sitting in the warehouse waiting for it to snow.

I know as a general contractor for 30 years, my roofing truck could be a landscaping truck, my landscaping truck could be a plumbing truck, whatever.

We will utilize these vehicles year-round.

None of them will be sitting.

The plows may be sitting there for I don't know how hopefully we can keep them there, but uh, you know, so um yeah, just reassure the public that yeah, this is not that we're not buying vehicles at you know, six, seventy thousand dollars a clip and having them sitting.

They will be used in the parks will be used everywhere.

So thank you.

Uh Councilwoman Salonetro.

Just one quick question.

I know that uh some of the public safety um vehicles take quite a bit of time.

Um where's the turnaround time for how when can the public expect to start seeing some new vehicles?

When do we expect them into the fleet?

So it's you know, we will be doing some bidding and and hopefully driving down price and and competition on on speed with such a a large order.

Um I don't want to make a promise uh until I have it wrappy to tell you, but uh not this winter.

Uh but obviously all all hope would be that they are in place for next winter.

Uh but it would not be for this winter.

Yeah, that's what I fear.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 81, please indicate by saying aye.

I've affirmative recommendation.

Thank you, Council.

Thank you.

That moves us on to new papers.

We'll continue with this committee and then we're and then move back to the beginning of the agenda.

Uh new papers, bill sixty.

Resolution.

Resolution authorizing pursuant to chapter 210, except acceptance of gifts to city of the city code, the mayor and the director of the department of mobility and infrastructure to accept a donation from Michael Baker International in the amount of six thousand dollars to purchase items for Safety Town and Safe Roots to School Programming.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 60, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Bill 61.

Resolution, amending resolution 972 of 2024 in title resolution authorizing the mayor, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the director of the Department of Public Works to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Developments, local share accounts statewide to provide funding for the Shinley Heights Pavilion Construction Project.

The grant proposal includes an ask of one million dollars for this stated purpose to accept the grant, decrease the amount and authorize expenditures.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 61, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Bill 62.

Resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh to enter into an agreement to provide membership dues with the National Association of City Transportation Officials, Inc.

from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026, not to exceed $35,000.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 62, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Bill 63.

Resolution granting a vacation of Eshelman Street from Perrysville Avenue to its terminus at no cost to the city 25th ward first council district motion to approve.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 63, please indicate by saying aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

That will move us to the top of the agenda, the Finance and Law Committee.

Supplemental new papers bill Oh, sorry, we covered that one already.

So deferred papers 39.

Ordinance directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to place before the qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh at the 2026 May primary election.

A referendum question.

Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter, Article 3, legislative branch be amended by changing the budget approval rules to ensure timely passage at the end of the legislative session?

Motion to approve with discussion.

Second.

I'm gonna make a motion to hold for one week.

I just want to explain it.

We're still in conversations with the administration and the law department on the most appropriate language.

Um so we'll have that next week.

Next week, however, once we amend it, we will need to recess our meeting on Tuesday, our regular meeting, so that we can amend this at the standing committee meeting and then pass it finally at our at our regular meeting.

So I just wanted to be on transparent with members because if we don't, then we'll miss the deadline to get this over to the county to have it on the ballot.

So uh now motion to hold one week.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of a one-week hold on bill thirty-nine, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Bill will be held for one week.

Bill 40.

Bill 40 ordinance directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to place before the qualified voters of the City of Pittsburgh at the 2026 May primary election.

A referential question Shall the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter Article 3 Legislative Branch be amended by changing public hearing notice requirements to adjust the public hearing notice requirements in light of the loss of both newspapers of general circulation in the city.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of a one-week hold for bill forty, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Bill be held one week.

Bill 51.

Bill 51, resolution amending resolution 880 of 2025, which reappropriated 2025 funds in the amount of seven million dollars into the 2026 to pay for 2025 Pittsburgh water service costs when true up calculations are finalized by reducing the amount reappropriated by one million dollars.

Motion to approve.

Second.

With discussion, so I'll just um this was held from last week.

I know in particular, Councilwoman Gross had a question.

We do have budget director McDavitt um here today, but uh uh if it helps first, I'll say that this is um removing the one million dollars that was being reappropriated from uh 2025 water utilities line item to the 2026 water utilities line item because the 2025 utilities line was um over budget and there was not one million dollars to transfer.

So um this bill removes that funding to reflect legislatively that six million dollars is available from um the that particular bond line that particular finance in the interest expense bond line.

Um but I we have council budget director Peter McDevitt to explain further if anyone has questions.

I guess the only question I have is so this is costing a million dollars less because of the balance between us and PWSA or is it costing us a million dollars more?

It's a reappropriation, but we can um get the specific City Council Budget Director.

Um it it this does not reduce the amount we owe Pittsburgh Water.

This is just the amount that we had available to pay for the water.

So what uh council person is.

Yeah, okay.

And um this this is really just to close the loop legislatively because the money only six million dollars was transferred because that million dollars isn't there, so um that's all that was transferred over to uh by the controller's office from OMB, so this just kind of closes the loop on everything.

Okay, and just explaining real quickly, true up what it means.

Uh correct me if I'm wrong.

Um PWSA now charges us for their water, our fire department polls, you name it.

Yeah.

And in turn, they we do services for them.

Yeah, so there's like cost sharing back and forth.

Um a lot of it is how much they pay us for employees who still pay into the city's pension system.

So they give us some money for that, but there's also like permitting fees that um they they didn't pay that we had to charge them on the back end or vice versa.

Um so it at the end of the year they they usually true that up.

I think it came around to like three million dollars uh this year.

Uh I don't have those specifics.

Three million dollars in services, the city, whether payments or services and they ended up paying us back.

I think.

Yeah, okay.

I probably shouldn't say basically take it off the bill.

Or did they actually pay us?

So I think we ended up paying oh I shouldn't give you exact numbers because I'm not asking for exactly that's fine.

I just kind of wanted people to understand what our relationship with PWSA now, because it's changed.

It's uh Yeah, and and like we didn't pay our bill at all last year.

Yeah, yeah.

I see Ed Barker at the gym every now and then and he asked me about it every time.

So okay.

Okay, uh thank you, Director.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Any further discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of bill fifty one, please involve it.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Oh, and Strasburger, I was struggling with my buttons on the problem.

Didn't see your hand up.

Please proceed.

Um yeah, didn't I understand it there?

So I'm trying to read the text file, and so just to restate it one more time so I can get sure I understand it.

We passed legislation that said we were moving 27 million dollars in 2025 into 2026.

Correct.

There wasn't seven million.

No, there were it was supposed to be six million from the debt service line for uh insurance on on our our debt, and one million from the water utilities line, but the utility lines in DPW was there was not a million dollars available in that to transfer.

So they okay.

So we're just making so councilman Strasbourg said there was a transfer, and this language is just making transparent and putting it to the legislative record, but the transfer, like the the actual transfer mount, which was unfortunately at million dollars less than we hoped.

Correct.

Okay.

Okay, I follow you now.

Thank you.

Yep.

That's all.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 51, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Thank you.

That moves us on to invoices.

Is there a motion on invoices?

Motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Discussion on invoices?

Yeah, I'd like to make a motion to strike CLEO consulting from the invoices.

Thank you.

Discussion on the motion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of striking CLEO consulting for $5,000 from invoices, please indicate by saying aye.

Motion is approved.

Any further discussion on invoices as amended.

Seeing none, all those in favor of invoices, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Invoices are approved.

That moves us on to P cards.

Is there a motion on P cards?

So moved.

Second discussion.

Seeing none.

All those in favor of P cards, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

P cards are approved.

And that moves us on to Human Resources Committee chaired by Councilperson Charland.

Okay.

I forgot we did it so give me.

We're bouncing all around today.

Bill number 56.

Resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Human Resources and Civil Service to enter into an agreement with the Good Will of Southwestern PA for administrative services related to the 2026 Learn and Earn Summer Youth Employment Program at a cost not to exceed 200,000.

We have a motion.

Discussion.

Yeah, I guess I just had a question because I know that this used to be partner for work and now it's goodwill.

Is that correct?

If anyone wants to come up to speak?

Yeah, thanks.

Hello, everyone.

Uh I'm Chris Borns.

Uh youth program supervisor, human resources, civil services, Pittsburgh Partnership.

And uh partner for work does still have the Learn and Earn program.

Okay.

That funding through goodwill is for it takes up a majority of our temporary eligibility staff that helps go through all the applications to get the children eligible and stuff like that.

Oh, okay.

So so they're share so it's two groups then.

Yeah, so we we go through the goodwill to hire all the staff needed to go through.

We use usually see anywhere from two thousand to three thousand applications this summer.

Okay.

Great.

Thank you.

That's all.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 56, please indicate by saying aye.

I'm not sure.

Affirmative recommendation.

Thank you.

That moves us on to Innovation Performance and Asset Management Committee and Technology Committee chaired by Councilwoman Gross.

Bill number 58 resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Innovation and Performance on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh to enter into an agreement or agreements or amendments there too with solutions for networks for network support services to provide information technology consulting services and resources as needed for on-site or remote engineering design and support, including firewall, core networking, and edge networking support, cost not to exceed 44,835 over one year.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 58, please indicate by saying aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

That moves us on to Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs Committee chaired by Councilman Mosley.

Supplemental new papers, Bill 73, resolution authorizing a cooperation agreement or agreements providing for the transfer of funds not to exceed 20 million 188,019 to the City of Pittsburgh equipment leasing authority for the purchase and leasing of vehicles, equipment, and accessories.

Equipment support infrastructure and professional services for use by City of Pittsburgh departments.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Discussion.

Councilwoman Warbeck.

So just to clear sorry, just to clarify which money this is.

Is this the if you all want to come up?

Yeah, sure.

If this is the the money we just got or new money or a combination.

Good afternoon, Jennifer Olzinger, Chief Procurement Officer for the City.

So this is the annual co-op for the $21 million that is currently in the 2026 budget.

So the original 11 and then the council amendment adding another 10.

Um you will be seeing coming before you two separate uh pieces of legislation to accept to transfer those grant monies to the ELA to be used for their specific reasons.

Um those will be coming later after those resolutions you just approved are fully executed.

Okay, you'll probably be seeing those next week.

Okay, great.

So 21 million from the city, ten of which is from the new taxes, the tax increase, and then coming soon will be five million from UPMC, two million from PNC, and then next year five million, or will we get those that ten million?

So okay, so that will then come next year.

Got it.

Okay.

Thank you.

Councilman Cock out.

Yes, so we'll have seven additional million coming as the councilwoman just pointed out.

This year.

BPMC, five million committed to next year, but that won't show up until next year.

So yeah, it's what's just it, like twenty-seven, twenty-eight million dollars.

Twenty-eight million right now.

Twenty eight million right now.

You look a lot more at ease these days.

Yeah, and I don't believe it.

Uh you were like one of the last people, other than the snowstorm being the director of public works.

Uh you have the second most stressful job in the current conditions we just came from.

So we're just thrilled.

Yes, so am I going to be able to do that?

So we can't be happier.

My life in the past few weeks have been consumed with nothing but you know, figuring out how we spend this money and allocated, but it's wonderful problem to have.

Yeah, and you and I go back years now talking about the fleet and you were you know warning me and you know the dire straits we had post agendas and everything else.

But no, it really really lifts a lot of stress off.

City of Pittsburgh and I think our taxpayers they of course they want to see us buying vehicles and for basic things that we need it for, whether it be EMS fire, you name it.

So uh and I know that especially our team but also the departments really appreciate uh the change that they you guys made at the end of the last year uh allotting that additional money from the tax increases uh it was it was the best Christmas present ever sure was yeah so yeah but thanks for all you do who's you know stressful times but you know uh boost guys on the horizon.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Further discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of bill seventy-three, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

New papers, bill fifty-nine.

Resolution adopting plan revision to the city of Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities plan for one twenty-two through one forty Auburn Street at no cost to the city.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of bill fifty-nine, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

That exhaust our official agenda.

Yes, Council President Lavell.

Thank you.

Our legislative director sit uh whispered to me there was a cleaner way to do what I was attempting to do as opposed to trying to recess our meeting next week.

It was his suggestion that we vote these bills through today and then amend them at our Tuesday meeting.

Um, which I can certainly work with the administration to get those to you.

So I will make a motion to rescind uh rescind the mo a motion to rescind the motion to hold.

Second.

On bills, sorry, Madam Clerk.

On bills thirty-nine four and forty.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion to rescind the motion to hold on bills thirty-nine and forty, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

And then I'll now make a motion to approve bills thirty-nine and forty, and I'll work with the administration to ensure prior to Tuesday's meeting you all actually have the formal amendment to it.

So motion to approve bills thirty-nine and forty.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion to approve bills thirty-nine and forty, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Affirmative recommendation.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh thank you, Sean.

Council thank you, Sean.

Uh Councilwoman Salonetro.

Yes.

I need to make a motion to rescind council's uh September 17th, 2025 previous motion to refer bill 2025 uh dash 2224 to the planning commission.

Second discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of the motion to essentially bring back bill 2025-2224 from the planning commission.

Please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Bill is being on the table on the agenda.

I need to make a motion to um amend by substitution to swap the original version.

We're changing from a special permitted uh district to a residential permit, an RP, which is here.

Do we have a second?

Second.

Yes.

Is there any discussion on the bill or the amendment by substitution?

Seeing none, all those in favor of amendment by substitution for bill twenty twenty-five twenty-two twenty-four, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Okay, and one more motion to um refer Council Bill 2025, 2224 as amended to the planning commission for report and recommendations.

Second.

Discussion.

Seeing none, all those in favor of sending this bill to the planning commission as amended, please indicate by saying aye.

Aye.

Thank you.

That exhausts our council meeting agenda.

We do have meeting announcements.

Friday at 10 a.m.

Council will hold a cable cast public hearing on bill 2025-2385 relative to a waste transfer station.

Speaker registration will close at 8 a.m.

the day of the hearing.

Next week, council will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, February 10th, along with a pre agenda interview for Lisa Zeidner Marcus for City Solicitor at 1 30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 11th at 10 a.m.

Council will hold their standing committees meeting.

To register to speak at these meetings, please fill out the sign up form from the council meeting web page by the deadlines, and you may also call the clerk's office at 412, 255, 2138.

Is there anything from members?

Council President.

Yes.

I was unable to notify all members prior to the controller sending out a notification to her staff.

So I just want to notify all members now that we will be losing our current budget director, Peter McDevitt, as he will be transitioning to the controller's office in two weeks to be the deputy controller.

So I want to certainly congratulate him.

It's a good move for him.

I don't think we're necessarily losing him as he'll be right downstairs, and I believe will be an ally to work with us and assist us.

But what I do want to say is just publicly thank him for the time that he served us, and I believe he served us very well.

And I especially want to thank him for last year's work in getting us through uh consensus is not the appropriate word.

Um difficult, thank you.

Arduinous, difficult budget season.

Um he was very, very instrumental.

Um so I just want to thank him for his work and congratulate him on his next move.

Thank you.

Councilman Cogell.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

I didn't realize that, Peter.

Congratulations.

That's wonderful.

So you were over there now.

You're here.

And now you're gonna go so you're just working your way through every body of city government.

Is that what we're gonna do?

Yes, that's good.

You'll understand it all anyway.

Um my biggest question is this doesn't mean that I'm not gonna be able to beat up on you in the golf course.

Is that right?

Okay, good.

So we'll still keep those dates.

All right, good deal.

So thanks.

Congratulations.

Good job.

Thank you.

Anything further from members.

I'll pile on as well and just public publicly thank I know there'll be more thank yous, but uh publicly thank our budget director, Pete McDevitt, um, for all the work that he and his office have done in his time with us, but particularly the last two budget cycles.

Um, I don't know how I would have seen myself through those, you know, those those those years and those um, particularly the the budget season without your work and without your guidance.

So thank you so very much and glad that you won't be far away.

Anything else?

Seeing none, I'll take a motion to excuse the absent members, approve the minutes, and adjourn the meeting.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Meetings adjourned.