Good morning and welcome to the regular meeting of City Council on Tuesday, March thirty first, two thousand twenty six.

Mr.

Codhill.

Ms.

Gross.

Mr.

Mosley.

Here.

Mr.

Salonetra.

Here.

Mrs.

Strasberger.

Here.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Mr.

Wilson.

Mr.

Lavelle President.

Here.

Five members present.

For those who are able, please rise for a Pledge of Allegiance.

During our moment of silence, please keep uh Councilwoman Warwick and her family in prayer as they deal with the passing of her mother.

Thank you.

Our next order of business is to amend the agenda.

Is there a motion to amend?

So move.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Our next order of business is going to be public comment.

I would like to remind everyone with Oh, so I apologize.

Our next order of business is actually we have a will of counsel from Councilwoman Strasberger.

Do you want it?

Autonomous vehicles.

In the entirety.

Yes, please.

Councilperson Strasburger presents, whereas autonomous or driverless vehicles are expanding rapidly in cities across the United States with multiple companies now operating or testing commercial robotaxi services in dense urban environments.

And whereas Pittsburgh has served as a proving ground for autonomous vehicle technology since 2016, when Uber's advanced technology group began testing on city streets, followed by Argo AI, Aurora Innovation Active, and most recently Waymo, which began manual test drives in Pittsburgh in December 2025 and secured a Penn Dot certificate of compliance in early 2026.

And whereas Pittsburgh's transportation network includes steep hills, narrow neighborhood streets, over 440 bridges, aging infrastructure, heavy pedestrian and cyclist traffic, and challenging winter weather conditions that present unique considerations for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles.

And whereas, since 2021, autonomous vehicles operating nationally have been involved in reported crashes, roadway obstructions, and software-related incidents, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened multiple investigations into autonomous vehicle safety.

And whereas federal oversight alone has not fully addressed localized concerns related to safety, labor displacement, traffic operations, emergency response coordination, and municipal planning associated with autonomous vehicle deployment.

And whereas thousands of workers in the Pittsburgh region depend on driving-based employment, including taxi, rideshare, and delivery services, and the city of Pittsburgh has among the highest rates of taxi and ride hailing commuting of any major U.S.

city, making the local workforce particularly sensitive to chart to changes in this sector.

And whereas Pittsburgh is also home to a significant autonomous vehicle research and development sector, with companies including Aurora Innovation and Waymo maintaining substantial local operations, and the industry has created an estimated 6,300 jobs in the Western Pennsylvania region since 2015.

And whereas Pennsylvania currently lacks a comprehensive statewide regulatory framework governing autonomous vehicle deployment, safety reporting requirements, data transparency, labor impact mitigation, and coordination with municipal governments.

And whereas state level regulation would provide clarity, accountability, and consistency while ensuring that municipalities like Pittsburgh retain a meaningful role in protecting public safety, planning for infrastructure impacts and supporting affected workers.

And whereas a formal review process conducted by the Commonwealth would allow policymakers to evaluate real-world safety data, labor market effects, infrastructure readiness, and equity considerations before allowing the widespread commercial deployment of autonomous rideshare vehicles.

And now therefore now, therefore be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to investigate and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and guidelines for driverless ride share vehicles operating in Pittsburgh and throughout the Commonwealth, including provisions for safety reporting, data transparency, labor transition support, and municipal consultation and infrastructure impact assessment.

May we have a motion to approve.

So move.

Second.

Any discussion?

Councilwoman.

Yes, so I I appreciate colleagues' support on this.

This is as you can hear, calling on greater transparency and safety protocols and labor protocols as we shift as we see a shift towards more autonomous vehicles operating in cities across the Commonwealth.

And while we acknowledge that Act 130 of 2022, I believe, does create a regulatory framework of sorts.

It's very state focused.

It cuts out municipalities from decision making.

And although there is mandatory safety reporting to Pennot, it doesn't mandate that same reporting to cities.

So I pre again I appreciate Councilmember support of this will of council.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

If not, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The will of council has been approved.

Now our next order of business is public comment.

I would like to remind everyone of the rules of council of state that comments are limited in matters of concern, official action or deliberation, which may be for city council.

Profanity will not be permitted.

Our first registered speaker is Dr.

Ronald and Miller.

Please state your name, provide your neighborhood for the record.

You'll be given three minutes to speak.

Dr.

Ronald and Miller, Pittsburgh, United States of America, Central Lawrenceville neighborhood, where less than seven percent of the people there are dark-skinned individuals of African descent.

Neighborhood, more than 70%, are of African descent.

Ghana UN New York Mission Email.

Info at Ghana Mission UN.org.

Global Intelligence Society candidate for President 2028 ACE, 1448 AH.

Council concerns include a decrease in so-called black white race strife and a decrease in uh carbon emissions.

One of my concerns in relationship to the primary website, which I use is Global Information Intelligence Network.net to decrease the this strife and also to decrease uh carbon secretions and increase carbon sequestration.

Um race carbon link is this.

Uh there um are no black skinned, fully carbonized individuals in this city, in this country or in the world.

Black, ebony, white, ivory, yellow, gold, bronze, brown, red, copper, are all cultural constructs, and anyone can internalize the ideations and images from those cultural constructs.

Whether they're willing to do so or not, is a matter of dispute.

Jazz is an example of how people outside of people who are of black African descent have achieved a very high level of sophistication in jazz.

Using a logic structure, um more than 70 percent of the kids at PPS Westinghouse have trouble with one DS individuals are black.

Two Asian Sri Lanka president, uh NeuroCamara D is dark in.

Therefore, um all those and him, AKD, uh he is, and they are black, right?

I challenge you to consider this very seriously.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Joe Riffa.

Good morning, Pastor Joe Griffo, and I'm here to speak against the ordinance of non-cooperation with ICE.

Bible teaches that the one who states his case first seems right until another comes and examines him.

As constituents, we may present our side absolutely, but as legislators, your duty bound to consider all sides of the matter without prejudice or emotion.

Your standard is the constitution and settled law.

At County Council, we were told of mass men plucking neighbors off the street, harassment, detentions, separations, and trauma.

Although technically most are here unlawfully, but nevertheless, nevertheless, and understandably, it is trying ordeal on families and on individuals.

Those accounts have moved you to act, have had you up in arms, have filled you with righteous indignation and contempt, even for federal agents such as ICE.

Now that's one side.

On the one hand, you're up in arms creating ordinances that ban cooperation as some are detained, arrested, and even deported.

Understandable.

Yet on the other hand, there's a deafening silence, a refusal to acknowledge, and a failure to demonstrate even one ounce of compassion, sympathy, concern, or promise of justice to those whose lives have been forever and tragically altered by those here unlawfully.

Those whose daughters and sons are never coming home, those who've endured trauma of the worst sort, even sexual assaults, kidnapping and trafficking.

They're not empty or hyperbolic claims that I'm making.

Simply the truth.

As of July 2024, the House Committee on Homeland Security reported that among non-citizens, nearly 15,000 homicides convicted or charged.

Over 25 20,000 sexual assaults convicted and charged or charged, over 3,000 kidnappings convicted or charged.

Now your high calling and primary duty is to protect and serve the citizens of the city and by extension, county, state, and nation, first and foremost.

Citizens who, because of the actions you're about to take, by definition, become more vulnerable to the crimes mentioned above, not only those crimes, but others as well.

So please consider all sides of the matter because God does, and ultimately you will give an account to him.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Loretta Hoy.

Letterra, I apologize.

Letterra Hoy.

Hello and good morning.

So I'm William Marshall, and I live on the North Side.

First of all, I think I better say that nobody's illegal on stolen land.

So we're here to talk about uh the opportunities for small black businesses to be able to participate in this uh upcoming NFL draft or lack of opportunities.

So we applied with the city of Pittsburgh to get a permit to host our Pittsburgh draft bash, which has been stalled and that acted upon.

It is crucial for black people in the city of Pittsburgh, small businesses and vendors to be able to benefit from the money that's coming inside this city.

And we hope that you guys will support our measures to make sure that we allow our black business vendors to participate in this draft.

They see 215 million dollars is coming into the city.

Black vendors need to be able to share in that money.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Margot Marshall.

My name is Andrea Jones, owner of Zakat Fragrances, a proud small business here in Pittsburgh.

I stand before you today, not only as a business owner, but as a member of this community who votes, works, and invests in this city every single day.

The people of Pittsburgh support this city year-round.

We vote, we pay taxes, we support local events, and we help drive our neighborhoods forward.

In return, we expect transparency, fairness, and equal access to economic opportunities to take place in our own city.

When major events bring reverent revenue and national attention to Pittsburgh, local small businesses should not be overlooked.

We deserve a meaningful opportunities to participate and benefit from the growth we help sustain.

We are paying attention.

Our community wants to see leadership that listens, responds, and ensures fair inclusion for local vendors and black owned businesses.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next speaker is William Parker.

Hello, everyone.

My name is Will Parker, candidate for United States Congress, District 12.

It's official I'm on a ballot.

You can vote for me.

But I'm here today, as always.

I advocate and I fight for economic justice.

I stand on business.

So I'm here to support B Marshall and his attempt to bring this vendor showcase downtown and allow people to see how beautiful our businesses are here in Pittsburgh.

We can't miss this mark.

I'm asking every council member here to put in a word to the mayor, uh, put in the word to Dan Gilman and let them know how important this is.

Uh the draft is going to come and it's going to go.

But guess who's going to be here?

Us, Pittsburghers.

And we're going to remember that we were denied an opportunity to attend.

Some people have been selected, but some people have been left out.

And we're here for those who have been left out.

Like the lady before me just said, we want to participate, and we should be allowed to participate and gain from this economic opportunity that's coming to our city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Roger Welch.

Good morning, members of council.

Uh, Reverend Dr.

John Welch.

I live in the East Hill section of the city of Pittsburgh.

Um, I'm here for two reasons.

One, unexpected, but the expected reason why I'm here is to support the request for B Marshall and for all of the black businesses that have are attempting to vent during the NFL draft.

Um, you may or may not have heard my comments yesterday, but I want to kind of state it in a much larger frame because this situation is a microcosm of a much larger problem we have in the city of Pittsburgh.

And it deals with the fact that um black businesses, black individuals have long been oppressed and economic opportunities suppressed.

And so it goes way beyond just electing a black mayor.

It goes with and it deals with looking at the extensive history of this city, all the way back to the 267 years of its founding and how racism has been allowed to perpetuate throughout the culture, the ethos, and the spirit of this city.

So I urge you to pay attention and look at the history, because perhaps there may be some whose genealogy ties to those slave owners that built this city.

The second thing I want to say is in response to the gentleman who came up here and trying to use scripture and weaponize it to get us to think about or rethink the cooperation with ICE.

It has nothing to do with people who are here illegally.

It has a lot to do with the tactics of an unregulated law for uh law enforcement group.

And so I would caution the gentleman who was here earlier to be careful of how he uses scripture.

Secondly, let's be careful how we label people as illegal.

Because from what I'm seeing, it's the brown folks who are being accosted.

While there are folks who are undocumented that are here in this country, they're from European origins.

So let's be mindful of that as well.

Thank you.

Thank you, River.

Our last register speaker is Bethany Cameron.

Good morning, City Council.

My name is Ethny Cameron.

I live in Overbrook, and I'm here again representing Inform Up.org, a local news nonprofit, which reports weekly on public meetings, asks readers to weigh in on what matters to them and delivers that feedback back to elected officials like you.

Our community survey ran from March 26th through 30th.

A hundred readers answered our survey questions, and all nine council districts were represented.

We asked readers about the police leadership academy revenue, the police dog amendment and land bank uh priorities.

Number one, on police leadership academy revenue model.

We explained to readers that exploring becoming a revenue generating program by training officers from other jurisdictions was a possibility.

We asked which outcome matters to you.

Ensuring Pittsburgh officers get priority access to training was uh 36%, and keeping costs low for Pittsburgh taxpayers also got 36%.

7% favored either expanding the program's reach regionally or did not show a strong preference.

A resident from East Liberty said it would be important to me to make sure profit doesn't become the driving motivation for the training program.

It is most important to ensure Pittsburgh officers are properly trained to create better outcomes for everyone they interact with.

Number two, police dog agreement relating to immigration enforcement.

We told readers the city amended the police dog agreement to prevent visiting officers from participating in immigration enforcement while in Pittsburgh.

We asked readers how they feel about the amendment.

78% of respondents somewhat or strongly supported the amendment, 13% somewhat or strongly opposed.

Number three, on land bank priorities.

We asked readers, what would you most prior most want the land bank to prioritize in your neighborhood?

Forty-one percent of respondents prioritize getting properties sold and back into productive use quickly.

32% prioritize ensuring affordable housing outcomes, and 15% favored clearing dangerous or bladed uh structures.

Resident from Squell Hill South said, we need to stop tearing down the fabric of this city and start revitalizing it.

And a resident from the Upper Hill said, start generating money by focusing on what can be sold now.

Let stabilization be a second tier priority.

If staffing is an issue, you clearly can't do both.

As usual, we will send a full report to your offices later today.

Thank you for considering residents' views on these important issues.

Thank you.

That exhausts that exhaust our list of registered speakers.

If there's anyone in chambers wishing to speak, please come forward at this time, provide your name and neighborhood for the record.

Special agent sunshines, the missing child Cerese Taylor.

Homeless but not helpless, forced to be here because of identity theft fraud by Belle.

Prayer, Lord, here I stand on the promises of God.

Thank you for your faithfulness.

The title of my message is Choose Truth.

Stop amending the agenda, Laval, and do what you need to do today because your tomorrow's are now being counted.

Psalm 11930 says, I have chosen the way of truth.

I have set my heart on your laws.

The wisdom for today comes from Mark 42, and it says, for whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

Corrupt government officials, what you do in the dark comes to the light.

How's that same sex ritual you're having before the meeting, Lavale?

How's that working out for you?

Nothing against the pride community, but if you're forcing this pride for same-sex relationships by bullying any of any kind, especially with children, paying them bride money and promising them the moon and the stars like positions like President Lavale's, government positions of any kind, the 100 trillion bolts of lightning that I pray for will come and strike you down in Jesus' name.

No matter how much pride you have, you will not continue to target anybody, especially children by stealing what they inherited from their ancestors and forcing them to be homeless and to become slaves while you live off what does not belong to you.

This is judicial misconduct.

The song for today comes from Kirk Franklin, Revolution.

Do you want one with God?

I don't think you do.

Whoever is living off my trust fund money, living in my state, and has a legal guardianship slash conservatory ship over me.

Kilt me twice on paper, buy fraud and got insurance money for my death twice, along with having me married back fraud, and I'm not married.

I never said I do to any of that.

That would uh you're going to you're going into 100 trillion degrees of fire that I will not stop praying for until you're all exposed in Jesus' name.

Now continue targeting me, bullying me, slandering me, lying on me, and enlightening will come faster.

I promise you.

It's not touching me.

Warwick's mother passing was another backfire from that voodoo.

You better stop in Jesus' name.

Amen.

Next speaker, please.

All right, my name is Anise Bettit.

I'm here.

I'm here on behalf of the black vendors.

I am a vendor myself.

Um personally and on behalf of B.

Marshall's consistency and his persistency on trying to obtain more than 75 vendor black vendor spots.

Um I uh want to read something real quick.

And I've reached out to several politicians to no avail.

That would be Summer Lee's office.

They did call us back, but um there was no um real response given, you know, trying to reach out to some black politicians to help us and assist us.

Um I want to read this real quick.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise and live out true meaning of its creed.

We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal.

Um why do we continue to have to fight after slavery was 400 years we were in slavery and we're still fighting?

Why do we have to continue to um fight for spots, vendor spots or anything that um the black people or minorities um need?

How come we can't just be equal to?

Um why does it have have to be a black white thing?

You know, and we all live here, we're from Pittsburgh.

We we are entitled to the monetary um uh benefits as well as brick and mortar businesses also.

Um I think that um whoever is in charge of the NFL draft or um the procedure need to rethink this thing.

There's 250 million dollars gonna hit this city, and over a hundred vendors have been turned down through B Marshall.

I personally had a plague through the NFL source myself individually back in December and was turned down.

Can't get any politician help.

Um I also reached out to Governor Shapiro, his office said I had to deal with the local government.

I'm okay with that.

I did get an answer from that.

But I think that um whoever's in charge need to rethink this thing.

We're from Pittsburgh.

We live here.

We deserve an opportunity to make money like brick and mortars.

We cannot afford that.

Also, if there's any um young black violence in the city, give them something to look forward to.

Like there's black businesses down here for the NFL draft.

Maybe it'll give them something to have hope for.

You know, if it's all white, then that's what they always see.

Give us a chance, give B.

Marshall a chance, allow us the opportunity to um get monetary um, you know what I mean.

Money, compensation.

Give us an opportunity.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Next speaker, please.

Hi, I'm Ernie B.

One of the first day, they have a new staff member up there at the senior center.

Delightful girl.

She seems to fit in very nicely.

Um the day the day that um there was the macing downtown.

I just happened to be there trying to get to get medicine.

I had mentioned that last week.

But this past weekend I was down there again.

Kudos to the officer who just kept circling market square.

This group of teenagers, one of them has very long pink and white braids down to her kneecaps.

Um, they stand out.

They were harassing the the restaurants that are around Market Square.

He went over, he told the kids he doesn't want you here.

So they moved down further.

There's an ice cream shop.

I sat there and I watched these teens harass people going in and out the door just to get ice cream.

When they came out, they were harassing them.

I've never, I am a defender of Market Square of downtown Pittsburgh.

Usually you had Marty Griffiths crying and exploiting the homeless.

This is bad.

And I don't know what the answer is.

I don't know if we can get if you can get pictures, send them to the schools, have the schools identify who they are, bring them in with their parents, find their parents every single day that their kids are out in the streets.

I don't know what the answer is.

But I don't know how this is going to mesh with the NFL people coming into the city.

It's gonna be bad.

I've never seen teens this bad before.

Um to this so-called pastor.

I think I am grateful that this city is not cooperating with ice.

I will be the first to say that ICE is nothing more than a new name of the Nazis.

I grew up in Mount Lebanon.

I heard the stories from the Kuban family to to the to the Schwitz family who shared with me that their mothers had to be put.

My best friend's mother had to be put in a wooden crate with her cousin and shipped out of Nazi Germany just to live.

And I am very proud that this city is not cooperating with the Nazi ICE.

I'm sorry, this right here.

I'm illegal.

The Mexican, we need to go back and look at the history books that they want to take out of the schools because we are illegal.

Knockdown.

Thank you very much.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

Um, my name is Lawana Adams, and I work downtown.

I'm also a member of 32BJ.

I'm a cleaner downtown.

Um, I use ride share apps to supplement my income, and I'm here today because to me, it's crazy that we are even talking about allowing robots to do something as important as drive people around in Pittsburgh.

Um I don't want to ride in one of those cars, and I've had ample opportunity to do so.

Um I did a test drive on a Tesla when they were in Wexford, and she asked me if I wanted to uh let the car drive us.

Absolutely not.

Um Pittsburgh's roads are already present enough challenges for human drivers.

We have the steep hills, the narrow winding streets, sudden weather changes, and unpredictable construction zones as part of the daily life, and we all probably know about uh the South Side Slopes.

Uh just driving there alone, it can be challenging.

Um experienced local drivers have trouble.

How can we trust that autonomous vehicles programmed from afar will safely handle these unique risks?

You need sense to drive here, not programming.

In cities like San Francisco and Phoenix, studies have shown that the rollout of autonomous taxis lead to reduced earnings for ride share drivers such as myself, which could push push some of us out of those jobs altogether.

In San Francisco, the transport authority has to fight to get data from robo tax companies, relying on 9-1-1 calls and social media to piece together and understanding of their impact.

And only data on collisions is recorded as safety data, meaning incidents like the blocking of emergency vehicles are not uh comprehensively recorded or analyzed.

Legalizing autonomous ride share drivers threatens to displace thousands of essential transportation workers, many of who are immigrants and people of color who rely on this work to support their families and community.

While big tech companies like Waymo Prot prioritize their own profits, the city must prioritize community safety and families' ability to earn a living.

We have the power to ensure that out-of-stake tech billionaires do not take over our city even more than they already have.

I urge the Pittsburgh City Council to take concrete steps to protect our community.

This means pausing the rollout of autonomous vehicles until thorough public hearings can be held to assess the real impact on safety and local jobs.

I am also asking you to require strong protections for Pittsburgh ride share drivers so that working family families are not left behind.

Thank you so much for passing the WILLF Council.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

You're not children to me anymore.

Children actually have hearts.

Every time I come here, I notice one thing.

That's consistence.

Y'all laugh, y'all shrug, and y'all make little sad comments after someone speaks.

I didn't realize people coming to speak about real issues was y'all entertainment.

It's as rolls and chuckles fix problems, this city would be perfect by now.

But they don't.

They don't go away because they're delayed.

I want to talk to you about something that's easy my soul, and y'all know what it is.

The way y'all responded to that white woman that I brought.

Nobody ever gave me a packet.

I don't know who tapped me on my shoulder and say call the office.

Like that was just really corny.

Don't y'all try to act like y'all cared about me when y'all really cared about her.

And come and find out she lied about what she was going through.

But I didn't.

But y'all still ain't checking on what's going on with me.

It's questions that can be easily answered.

Y'all can easily call and get something fixed.

Oh, wow, am I boring you?

Like, I'm over this way.

Why do we got to face y'all and y'all don't even look at us?

What is he doing?

Like sleep.

Anyway.

This isn't just about policies.

It's about where my children have to grow up.

And her voice should matter.

Delays don't just slow things down, they expose priorities.

I'm done calling you children because honestly, that's an insult to children.

Children care.

Children grow.

Children learn from their mistakes.

And they have empathy.

What you are is people who know better and choose not to do better unless a white woman comes up here.

At this point, I'm not sure if this is really a council or a masterclass on how to avoid responsibility.

You want to hear some jokes though, since y'all want to laugh at me?

If ignoring problems was a job requirement, you all be otherwise.

At this point, I'm starting to think that the agenda is just to listen, laugh, and do nothing.

Y'all don't miss a chance to laugh at the disrespect.

Y'all, y'all don't miss a chance to laugh and disrespect us, but somehow you keep missing chances to lead.

This isn't a comedy show.

But if it was, the joke would be accountability.

Because y'all do nothing.

Nothing.

Y'all didn't do nothing for me.

I'm gonna do it for myself.

But this is ridiculous.

And you over there, you don't make nothing.

We over here, sir.

What the hell?

Next speaker, please.

Um, good afternoon, council.

My name is William Anderson.

I live at 7035 Chaucer Street in Pittsburgh 15208.

I'm also the chair of the Allegheny County Democratic Black Caucus, and I'm chief of staff for the Democratic National Committee Black Caucus.

I'm here to address what other speakers prior to me have spoken about this NFL draft and the lack of opportunity for African Americans to profit and benefit from what is pledged to be 250 million dollars coming into the city.

Um, as African Americans, we know as because of all the studies that were done in the past that we are worse off in the city of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh region than anywhere else in the country, right?

We complain about our youth, you know, misbehaving downtown and areas and things like this, and we all know that poverty is the greatest, you know, cause of violence in you know bad behaviors, right?

A lot of their parents have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet and don't have the proper um you know security and things like that to be able to properly take care of their children.

And if we were to give opportunities like this for their parents and people in their family to be able to make money from uh million-dollar industry that is coming into our city and bringing hundreds of thousands of people that would send a message both to our community and to the children that we actually care about them and their parents.

So I'm asking for greater opportunity for African Americans to benefit from the NFL draft that is coming to our into our city that we have spent millions of taxpayers' dollars to prepare for, that we have you know advertised and that we are highlighting to the world that you know Pittsburgh is the most livable city, but we must make sure that Pittsburgh is not just only the most livable city for some, but is the most livable city for all, and that all residents of the city are able to benefit from things that come into this city, especially when taxpayers' dollars are used to bring and to seek out these types of events, right?

But we must make sure that Pittsburgh is not just only the most livable city for some, but is the most livable city for all, and that all residents of the city are able to benefit from things that come into this city, especially when taxpayers' dollars are used to bring and to seek out these types of events, right?

As we are going to be a showcase for the world, it is not going to be a good look for the world to see that African Americans in a 20 that are 24 to 25% population of the city of Pittsburgh are you know purposefully excluded from profiting from and benefiting and creating their own businesses and expanding those businesses through a 250 million dollar you know entity that is coming to coming into the city.

So I'm asking that you know the council of the city of Pittsburgh, that um, you know, the county council and all of our elected officials do their due diligence and do as much as they can to make sure the African Americans are not just being employed by the NFL draft, right?

As we know that most of the players that play in the NFL are African Americans, that we are able to be employers and be able to expand our networks and to be able to help build generational wealth as other you know entities are being able to do.

So thank you for your time.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

My name is uh Patrick Robertson.

I'm uh citizen in Pittsburgh, live on the Hill District.

Also come down here to this morning to address the uh situation about the kids, about the kids meeting up downtown Pittsburgh this weekend, and actually for the rest of our life.

We have to stop this city, Pittsburgh.

I actually was born in Compton, California, raised in Birmingham, Alabama.

I've was a part of a gang, which I would have never been a part of the cribs.

I'm now artist, I'm now uh entrepreneur, I'm now famine.

I want to bring something to these kids as famine.

We can put a series together for at least 20 years to take up the time when they get out of school, when they over the weekend, we have spring break coming.

We also have the summer coming.

We also we also have the winter coming.

Therefore, the ski masses we at downtown.

We got all across Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.

We starts at home with our kids.

I have 10 kids, six daughters, four sons.

I've been shot in the head, the wrist, twice in the back end of leg, five hoes in them, not two parked.

Where do it stops at?

We have to stop right here.

We have to start right here.

We got funds with f we got we got grants, big grants with femme.

Why we can't target the feminists.

Let's get these kids the incentive from 300 to 5,000 dollars.

We target the ones that have this criminal mindset of irrational.

We take that, we give them something.

They want something.

We have to give them something.

My whole thing is my truck, we have the uh community development up here on the hill district.

We got plenty of cash all across four sides of town, the west side, east side, south side, the west, the uh east side, east side of town.

We can reach out to each one of these individuals with public safety, give them some type of transportation because they're taking over port authority, they're getting out of school, they're deep.

I'm out on the trend.

So that that time frame, why can't we just come together, give them something, take up the time of downtown, not just downtown or the NFL draft.

I'm uh small business.

I would love to get funds to help these kids and to stop the extra shenanigans within the kids.

Another thing is with the NFL draft.

I feel like all over Pittsburgh within the city, we need to come together with some type of golf courts for golf carts for the veterans, for the handicaps.

I've been reaching out to golf courses to get these cars among the hill district.

There's plenty of errors up there.

We have plenty of churches coming together because RV vans are coming in.

They want to really like give these people's convenient room to actually sleep in the city.

With that being said, you can find me at Trust T-R-U-S-T L-O-C-C 6-0 Gmail.

I'm willing to help the kitty, the kids out.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Good morning.

My name's Chad Brainground from the South Hills.

Jonah 3, 4 through 6 says, Jonah began to go into the city going a day's journey, and he called out, yet 40 days in Nineveh will be overthrown.

And the people of Nineveh believed God.

They called for a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them.

I confess to you.

Whenever God calls me to bring bring his word to bear upon the issues that you try you guys try to tackle.

I'm very tempted to go in the opposite direction as Jonah did.

When I look at this on the surface, it's depressing.

It's a depressing thought that I that I come and speak truth, and you'll harden your hearts as you did with your ordinances, making Pittsburgh a sanctuary for child sacrifice and what you call gender affirming care.

Now you seek to make Pittsburgh a sanctuary for the illegal immigrant.

There are obvious problems with what DH DHS is doing in their approach to it to deporting illegals.

One practice I find particularly damning is showing up to the immigration court to arrest people who were trying to go about it the honest way.

That's reprehensible.

And I'm willing to admit it.

It's reprehensible.

We're not here, believe it or not.

We're not here because we're partial to ICE or partial to Donald Trump.

We're here because we advocate for true justice.

The true foment chaos between law enforcement, God sent him.

I rise, I should support him.

Ready for mass.

Everybody in the room, he's a citizen.

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Six hundred dollars have to let's hide it down for him to okay it.

Come on, think about that.

He's a regular citizen like me.

How come I can't have uh uh hearing?

Oh, just give me six hundred dollars and let me have a hearing.

And I would take an umpe signs, I would have all types of stuff to show you that I'm using your money for this meeting.

But any time Tim is the only one who can make a decision on what questions are asked.

Come on.

That got to be changed.

Now I know he's no longer president.

There's a female coming, and when I talk to her, I'll tell her the same thing.

But I find out, oh, yeah, he gets money.

I mean, he gets a salary.

He gets a salary for his um organization.

I'm gonna try to start one.

Can I get a salary too?

Can I get a salary too?

I'm sort of joking now, but I I believe um I'm gone.

I'm gone.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Hello, I'm Rick Smith from North Oakland District 8.

Um, comment on the will that was just uh passed.

Grateful for the breadth depth and scope of that.

It was pretty comprehensive, and I would like to offer for your consideration in any future wills having to do with the upcoming um automation that we're likely to experience, is to include an accounting for the impact of money that used to flow through our local economy and is now flowing through economies not here.

Um thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

My name is William Sadway, and good morning to council.

I'm from Lincoln Limited's exam of town over East Leopardney.

Um I just like for my community of Lincoln Limiton to be um safety, there's a safety issues just in this in the city steps.

Just like six sexes of city steps, and they're missing steps.

So I'm just saying safety first, okay.

That's just something simple.

You know, I know you guys got a lot to take care of, and you know, so little things, y'all should just take care of them.

Mr.

Bosley, you know, something like that.

The city steps missing steps.

That's that's a little much.

But um, other than that, um, my name is William Sal.

Like I said, I graduated from CCAC, I played baseball for two years.

After that, I went to the serve for eight years.

I produced commercials, I worked on Wall Street, and I was an individual painter at my own company.

1251, now I'll be 62 next month.

And so I'm just trying to just make sure that my community is safety first.

It's it's this is I can't say it's a shame because I can't put nothing on you guys' shoulders, you know.

So like I said, no, you got a lot of things to take care of, and I'm just taking a little uh pointing out a couple things that go on in my community about the safety.

Okay.

Yeah, nice and God bless y'all.

Thank you.

Next speaker, please.

Next speaker, please.

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

New papers, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Carky, Chair of Public Safety and Willness.

Uh no new papers, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman McGross Chair of Innovation Performance Asset Management and Technology.

No new papers, Mr.

President.

Thank you, Councilman Mosley Chairman, Government Educational Affairs.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Mosley presents bill number two ninety-seven.

Resolution amending resolution 857 of 2023.

Effective December 27, 2023, entitled Resolution Adopting and Approving the 2024 Capital Budget, the proposed 2024 Community Development Program, and the 2024 through 2029 Capital Improvement Program by transferring 134,831 dollars and twenty-five cent from neighborhood initiatives fund to slope failure remediation.

Bill 298.

Resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement or agreements with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh in order for the City of Pittsburgh to have access to parcel 50 C 350 behind former Fort Pitt Elementary School in relation to a redevelopment project known as the Fort Pitt Park Master Plan at no cost to the city.

Bill 307 resolution authorizing the Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire all the city's right title and interest, if any, and into the publicly owned properties in the 12th ward of the city of Pittsburgh, designated in a D Registry Office of Allegheny County is block 173A Lot 206, which is 1365 Paulson Avenue, Council District 9.

Block 173A, Lot 207, 1367, Pulson Avenue, District 9.

Block 173E, Lot 287, 7117 Lemony Lemmington Avenue, District 9.

Block 173 Lot 17, 7305 Lemmington Avenue, District 9.

Block 173F, lot 246, 1556 through 1558, Broadhead Street, Council District 9.

And block 173A, Lot 32, which is 7112 Wilkesy Street, Council District 9, at no cost to the city.

And Bill 308.

Resolution authorizing the Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire all the city's right title and interest, if any, in into the publicly owned properties in the 12th ward of the City of Pittsburgh, designated in the D Registry Office of Allegheny County is block 125 H Lot 142, 0 North Mertland Street, District 9.

Lot 144, Fielding Way, Zero Fielding Way, District 9.

Lot 163, 0 Fielding Way, District 9.

Lot 164, 0 Fielding Way, District 9.

Lot 166, 7001 Idaho Street, District 9.

Lot 167, 0 Adawal Street, District 9.

Lot 168, 0 Atleo Street, District 9.

Lot 168A, 0 Fielding Way, District 9.

Lot 169, 0 Ottawa Street, District 9.

Lot 170, Fielding Way, District 9.

Block 125D, Lot 69, 0 Monetolo Control Monicello Street, District 9.

Lot 71, 0 Monticello Street, District 9.

Lot 7110 Monticello Street, District 9.

Lot 712, 0 Monocello Street, District 9, and Lot 713 0 Monticello Street, District 9, at no cost to the city.

And Councilwoman Salonetro, Chair of Public Works and Infrastructure.

Thank you, Council President.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Salonetro presents Bill No.

299, resolution amending resolution 657 of 2025, authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement or agreements with Tree Pittsburgh for a restoration project known as Rising Main 3, consisting of a deforested corridor in Highland Park at a city cost not to exceed 275,257.04 cent over a period of five years by revising the payment schedule over a period of four years.

Bill 300, resolution providing for the issuance of a warrant in favor of A.

Folino Construction Inc.

Any amount of 481,320 for the purpose of emergency snow removal at various locations and providing for the payment of the cost thereof over one year.

Bill 301 resolution providing for an agreement or agreements with TRC Engineers Inc.

for costs associated with construction inspection and contract administration for the Pittsburgh City Steps Project, providing for the payment of the cost thereof not to exceed $1,448,949 and 42 cent reimbursable at 80%.

And Bill 302.

Resolution providing for a supplemental agreement or agreements with MS Consultants Inc.

for costs associated with the preliminary engineering and final design phases of the California Avenue Bridge Project providing for the payment of the cost thereof not to exceed $2,256 and 96 cent and increase of $1,360,896 and $95 cent from the previously authorized agreement reimbursable at 100%.

And Councilman Strasberger, Chair of Finance and Law.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Council Person Strasberger presents Bill 303.

Resolution amending resolution 741 of 2025, which authorized the mayor and the city solicitor to enter into a professional services agreement with Block and Associates for legal services in connection with the current city construction project and other legal services by increasing the contract amount by $60,000 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $120,000 over two years.

Bill 304, resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of comer miller LLC for expert legal services in connection with litigation matter in the U.S.

District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania for an amount not to exceed $17,844 and 16 cent over one year.

Bill 305, resolution authorizing the execution of quick claim deeds conveying all of the city's right, title, and interest in and to the city-owned property located at 708 North Pacific Avenue, 10th Ward City of Pittsburgh, and designated in a deep registry office of Allegheny County as Block and Not 50 G 345 to Mary Sauer, relating to the full and final settlement of the case file in the Allegheny County Court of Common Please, and Bill 306, resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Karen Williams and an amount not to exceed $7,496.

From a city ES vehicle on April 1, 2025.

And Councilman Wilson, Chair of Land Use Economic Development.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Wilson presents Bill 310.

Resolution approving the recommendation made by the Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure that the concrete portion of 7th Street from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Liberty Avenue be paid with asphalt in accordance with Section 41706 of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances.

Bill 311, resolution approving the recommendation made by the Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure that the concrete portion of 9th Street from Fort Duquesne Boulevard to Penn Avenue, heading north towards the north side, be paid with asphalt in accordance with Section 41706 of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances and Bill 312 Ordnance Amending and Supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances Title 5 Traffic Article 7 Parking Chapter 543 Parking Meters and Chapter 549 Residential Parking Permit Program to Implemary Enforcement and Penalty Provisions for Specified Areas during the NFL draft.

Council Wilson.

Motion to waive rule eight on Bill 312.

So the appears on tomorrow's standing committee agenda.

Second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Bill 312 will be on tomorrow's Senate committee agenda.

And for myself.

Council President Laval presents Bill 309.

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 weekend March 27, 2026.

So move.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Bills have been received and file.

Uh that takes us to unfinished business.

We have three appointments.

Bill 230.

Resolution appointing John McClory as a director of the Department of Public Works.

Bill 231.

Resolution appointing Jeff Scaliken as the director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure.

And Bill 233.

Resolution appointing Helen Sestra as a member of the Historic Review Commission for a term to expire January 1st, 2028.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The three appointments have been approved.

Our next order of business is report subcommittee for final action, beginning with Councilman Anthony Coghill presenting the Committee of Public Safety and Wellness.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Councilman Coghill presents Bill 292.

Reported a committee on public safety and wellness for March 25th, 2026 with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill 252, resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of public safety to enter on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh into an agreement or agreements with North Star Leadership LLC for police supervisor development and training.

Total cost not to exceed $20,000 over one year.

Bill 253, resolution authorizing the Citizens Police Review Board to enter into an agreement or contract with attorney Alec B.

Wright of O'Brien Coleman and Wright LLC for professional services to assist in the legal representation of the Citizens Police Review Board for a period of three years.

Said agreement or contract shall not exceed 45,000 per year for 2026, 2027, and 2028, subject to the annual allocation by city council.

You've heard the reading entire bill.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, the bill is now ready for final action.

All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye.

Remember is called.

Those opposed will vote no.

With a clerk, please take the roll.

Mr.

Charland.

Aye.

Mr.

Coghills.

Aye.

Ms.

Gross.

Aye.

Mr.

Mosley.

Aye.

Mrs.

Salonetro.

Aye.

Mrs.

Strasberger.

Aye.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Aye.

Mr.

Wilson.

Aye.

Mr.

Lavelle, President.

Aye.

Nine ayes, zero no's.

The bill having received the legal required number of votes is passed finally.

That takes us to Councilwoman Kim Selenetro presenting the committee of public works and infrastructure.

Councilwoman Science.

Bill number 20 on public works and infrastructure for March to permit recommendations.

Mayor and the director of mobility infrastructure of the city of Pittsburgh to enter into a supplemental agreement project design management services and reviews and connect various workers to add funding for the preliminary engineering phase, increasing the total amount not to exceed $3,900,463 and 19 cent.

An increase of 100,000 cent reimbursable at various rates.

I mean an increase 178,939.11 cent from the previously executed agreement, reimbursable at 80%.

Bill 260, resolution authorizing the taking, appropriating and condemning by the City of Pittsburgh of certain easements necessary for the completion of repair and support of Andover Terrace in the fifth ward for public transportation purposes through eminent domain and further authorizing the payment of just compensation and necessary and incidental acquisition costs related thereto at an amount not to exceed $35,000.

Bill 261 Ordnance Amending Ordnance 223 of 1911 in order to grant the city's Department of Mobility and Infrastructure limited authority to permit installation of overhead wires or poles on certain portions of Kinsman Road on Warth Street, located in the 14th ward of the City of Pittsburgh.

And Bill 2C2 resolution providing for the issuance of warrant in favor of melee landscape contractors in the amount of 109,847.58 cent for the purpose of emergency snow removal at various locations in providing for the payment of the cost thereof over one year.

Seeing none, the bill is not ready for final action.

All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye to re name is called.

Those opposed will vote no.

With a clerk, please take the roll.

Mr.

Charland.

Aye.

Mr.

Coghill.

Aye.

Ms.

Gross.

Aye.

Mr.

Mosley.

Aye.

Mrs.

Salinette Salinetro.

Aye.

Mrs.

Strasberger.

Aye.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Aye.

Mr.

Wilson.

Aye.

Mr.

Lavelle, President.

I have to abstain on Bill 260.

Aye on all other bills.

Nine ayes on bills two fifty-eight, two fifty-nine, two sixty-one, and two sixty-two.

And eight ayes, one abstention on bill two sixty.

The bill having received a legal requirement of votes is passed finally.

That moves us to Councilman Robert Charlotte, presenting the committee of human resources.

Councilperson Charlotte presents Bill No.

294.

Report of the Committee on Human Resources for March 25th, 2026 with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill 250, resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Office of Municipal Investigations to enter into a software maintenance agreement or agreements with Versa term to extend the current agreement for OMA's electronic case management system, IA Pro for a period of three years in an amount not to exceed $23,413 and 48 cent.

Bill 251 resolution providing for a professional service agreement or agreements with Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh to provide fair housing testing, housing analysis, and technical assistance to the Commission on Human Relations at a cost not to exceed $30,000 over one year.

You have heard the reading and title of the bill.

Is there any discussion?

Seeing none, the bill is now ready for final action.

All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye.

No.

Where clerk please take the roll.

Mr.

Sharland.

Aye.

Mr.

Clockhill.

Aye.

Ms.

Gross.

Aye.

Mr.

Mosley.

Aye.

Mrs.

Salonetra.

Aye.

Mrs.

Strasberger.

Aye.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Mr.

Wilson.

Aye.

Mr.

Lavelle, President.

Aye.

Nine ayes, zero no's.

The bill having received the legally required number of votes is passed finally.

That moves us to Councilwoman Barbara Ward, presenting the committee of recreation youth and senior services.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Councilwoman Warwick presents bill number two ninety-five.

Report of the committee on recreation, youth and senior services for March 25th, 2026 with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill 268, resolution providing for the designation and transfer of certain public properties within the upper Lawrenceville neighborhood to become permanent public passive open space included in the Allegheny River Greenway.

It's part of the Greenways for Pittsburgh program.

You have heard the reading and title of the bill.

Is there any discussion on the bill?

Seeing none, the bill is not ready for final action.

All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye with name is called.

Those opposed will vote no.

But a clerk please take the roll.

Charlotte.

Aye.

Aye.

Mr.

Mosley.

Mrs.

Salonetro.

Aye.

Mrs.

Strasberger.

Aye.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Aye.

Mr.

Wilson.

Aye.

Mr.

Lavelle, President.

Aye.

Nine ayes, zero no's.

The bill having received the legal required number of votes is passed finally.

And finally, Councilman Carry Mosley presenting the committee on intergovernmental educational affairs.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Councilman Mosley presents bill number two ninety-six.

Reported a committee on intergovernmental and educational affairs for March 25th, 2026 with an affirmative recommendation.

Bill 254.

Resolution amending resolution 930 of 2024, which authorized the mayor and the director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into an agreement or agreements with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for the administration of the 2025 PAY-GO funded projects and programs by adding the land bank personnel deliverable and increasing the total not to exceed amount by 1575 cent to 1,257,175.

Bill 255.

Resolution adopting plan revision to the City of Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities plan for 120 Cecil Place at no cost to the city.

Bill 256.

Resolution adopting plan revision to the City of Pittsburgh's Official Sewage Facilities Plan for 403, 407, and 413 Shelf On Street at no cost to the city.

Bill 257.

Resolution approving execution of a contract for disposition by sale of land between the URA of Pittsburgh and Margaret Elizabeth Graham for the seller block 50F lot 144 in the 10th ward city of Pittsburgh Rosetta Street District 9 at no cost to the city.

Bill 274, resolution amending resolution 352 of 2025, which authorized a professional service agreement annual contract with Buchanan, Ingersoll and Rooney PC for consulting services for federal government affairs and legislative services by extending the term through the second quarter of 2026 and increasing the approved amount by $15,500 for a new total cost not to exceed $589,000 over 10 years.

Bill 275, resolution amending resolution 353 of 2025, which authorized professional services agreement and or contract with Malay and Wooten Inc.

for consulting services for state government affairs and legislative services by extending the term through the second quarter of 2026 and increasing the approved amount by $16,500 for new total cost not to exceed $627,000 over 10 years and three months.

Bill 290, resolution authorizing the director of the Department of Public Safety to enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and various government agencies and municipalities for the purpose of cooperative police and public services during the 2026 National Football League draft.

You've heard the reading of the bill.

Councilman Strasberg.

This is this reflects the conversation at the table last week.

A full um explanation of the amendments made was along with the amendment.

But language was sent to council members yesterday afternoon.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

Seeing none, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Bill two ninety has been amended.

Any further discussion on the bills.

If not, the bills are now ready for final action.

All in favor to pass the bill before I run as called.

Those opposed will vote.

No, we're clerk, please take the roll.

Mr.

Sharland.

Aye.

Mr.

Coghill.

Aye.

Ms.

Gross.

Aye.

Mr.

Mosley.

Mrs.

Mrs.

Salonetra.

Aye.

Mrs.

Strasburger.

Aye.

Mrs.

Warwick.

Mr.

Wilson.

Aye.

Mr.

Lavell President.

Aye.

Nine ayes, zero no's.

The bill haven't received a legal card of the vote.

It's passed finally.

That takes us to motions and resolutions.

Or is there anything for members?

If not, that takes us to meeting announcements.

This afternoon at one o'clock, Council will hold an executive session on bills 304, 305, and 306.

Also, this afternoon at 130, Council will hold a special standing committee's meeting for finance and law as it pertains to the reopening of the budget.

Speaker Registration will close at eleven thirty.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1st at 9 30, Council will hold a pre-agenda interview for the public parking authority of Pittsburgh with Council Standing Committee meeting to follow at 10 a.m.

Speaker registration for the standing committee meeting will close at 9 a.m.

Also tomorrow afternoon with sessions at 1 30 and 2 30.

Council will hold a briefing relative to the Pittsburgh Water Customer Assistance Program.

Also to note that this Friday, April 3rd, City Clerk and City Council offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday.

With that, we're going to motion to approve the minutes and adjourn a meeting.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

We are adjourned.