City Council - Regular Meeting

Good morning, and welcome to the regular meeting of city council on Tuesday, 03/31/2026. Will clerk please take the roll?

Mister Shireland. Mister Cockhill. Miss Gross. Mister Mosley.

Here.

Missus Salanetro. Here. Missus Strasburger. Here. Missus Warwick? Here. Mister Wilson? Mister Lavelle president?

Here.

Five members present.

For those who are able, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. During our moment of silence, please keep councilman Warwick and her family in prayer as they deal with the passing of her mother. I pledge allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. Our next order of business is to amend the agenda.

Is there a motion to amend?

So moved. Second.

All those in favor,

say aye. Aye.

Our next order of business is gonna be public comment. I would like to remind everyone with the oh, I apologize. Our next order of business, actually, we have a will of counsel from councilwoman Scharzberger.

Do want it?

Autonomous vehicles?

In the entirety? Yes, please. Council person 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, Aptiv, and most recently Waymo which began manual test drives in Pittsburgh in December 2025 and secured a PennDOT Certificate of Compliance in early twenty twenty six. And whereas Pittsburgh's transportation network includes steep hills, narrow neighborhood streets over four forty 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, ride share, and delivery services and the city of Pittsburgh has among the highest rates of taxi and ride hailing commuting of any major US city making the local workforce particularly sensitive 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 the city of Pittsburgh was not consulted or notified before Waymo announced its expansion into the city in December 2025. 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 in and supporting affected workers.

And whereas a formal review process conducted by the Commonwealth would allow poll 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 rideshare 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 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 one thirty 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 PennDOT, it doesn't mandate that same reporting to cities. There are no labor protections or transition support. There's no infrastructure impact assessment.

Certificate holders self certify, and the preemption at the state level limits councils and and the and the municipalities action here. So I again, I appreciate

council member support of this will of council.

Thank you. Any further discussion? If not, all those in favor, 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 that the rules of council state that comments are limited in matters of concern, official action, or deliberation, which may be before city council. Profanning will not be permitted. Our first registered speaker is doctor Ronald Lynn Miller. Please state your name. Provide your neighborhood for the record. You'll be given three minutes to speak.

Doctor Ronald Miller, Pittsburgh, United States Of America, Central Lawrenceville neighborhood, where less than 7% of the people there are dark skinned individuals of African descent. Kumasi, Ghana, Adum, neighborhood, more than 70% are of African descent. Kumasi is in the Pittsburgh City Ally Network, which I founded, and the the neighborhood Adam in the Pittsburgh City neighborhood network and World Neighborhood Network, which I founded in 2025. Ghana UN New York mission email, info@ghanamissionun.org. Global Intelligence Society candidate for president 2028 ACE, 1448 a h.

Council concerns include a decrease in so called black white race strife, and a decrease in carbon emissions. One of my concerns in relationship to the primary website, which I use is globalinformationintelligencenetwork.net, to decrease this strife, and also to decrease carbon secretions, and increase carbon sequestration. A raised carbon link is this. There 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, it's 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, more than 70% of the kids at PPS Westinghouse have trouble with one, all DS individuals are black. Two, Asian Sri Lanka president Anuro Kamara Dee is dark skinned. Therefore, all of those and him, a k d, he is and they are black.

Right? I challenge you to consider this very seriously.

Thank you. Our next speaker is Joe

Good morning, pastor Joe Griffo, and I'm here to speak against the ordinance of noncooperation 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, you are 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 masked 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. But what's so frustrating and what's very telling is your complete lack of perspective or proportion regarding what's happening in the city, county, state, and nation when it comes to those here unlawfully who continue and have who have and continue to commit heinous crimes, especially in so called sanctuary cities. There's no moral equivalence here.

Your worldview causes you to causes you to ignore significant difference in context, intent, and magnitude. 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. It's not an appeal to emotion or to fear. I'm not being unneighborly racist or anti immigrant, not at all. Simply the truth.

As of July 2024, the House Committee on Homeland Security reported that among noncitizens, 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 speaker is Loretta Hoy. Lattera, I apologize. Lattera Hoy. Miss Hoy is not with us. Our next speaker is b Marshall.

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 the opportunities for small black businesses to be able to participate in this 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 not 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 say two fifteen million dollars is coming into the city. Black vendors need to be able to cheer in that money. Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Margo Marshall.

Good morning, members of city council. My name is Andrea Jones, owner of Zuccott 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 invest 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 revenue and national attention to Pittsburgh, local small businesses should not be over 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 leadership that listens, responds, and ensures fair inclusion for local vendors and black owned businesses. Thank you for your time.

Thank you. Our 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, put in a word to Dan Gilman, and let them know how important this is.

The draft is gonna come and it's gonna go. But guess who's gonna be here? Us, Pitchburgers. And we're gonna remember that we were denied a 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 wanna participate, and we should be allowed to participate participate and gain from this economic opportunity that's coming to our city. Thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is reverend Welch.

Good morning, members of council. Reverend doctor John Welch. I live in the East Hills section of the city of Pittsburgh. 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 are attempting to vend during the NFL draft.

You may or may not have heard my comments yesterday, but I wanna kinda 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 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 two hundred and sixty seven 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 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 wanna say is in response to the gentleman who came up here 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 law enforcement group. And so I would caution the gentleman who was here earlier to be careful how to use a 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, reverend. Our last registered speaker is Bethany Cameron.

Good morning, city council. My name is Bethany Cameron. I live in Overbrook, and I'm here again representing informup.org, a local news nonprofit, which reports weekly on public meetings, ask 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 26 through thirtieth. A 100 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, 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. Readers were evenly split between two priorities, ensuring Pittsburgh officers get priority access to training.

It was, 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 most want the land bank to prioritize in your neighborhood? 41% of respondents prioritize getting properties sold and back into productive use quickly.

32% prioritize ensuring affordable housing outcomes, and 15% favored clearing dangerous or blighted structures. Resident from Squirrel 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 exhaust that exhausts 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 Sunshine, the missing child, Therese Taylor. Homeless but not helpless, forced to be here because of identity theft fraud by Lavelle. 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, LaVelle, and do what you need to do today because your tomorrows are now being counted. Psalm one nineteen thirty says, I have chosen the way of truth. I have set my heart on your laws. The wisdom for today comes from Mark four twenty two, 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 sex ritual you're having before the meeting, Lavelle? 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 pride money and promising them the moon and the stars like positions like president Levell's, government positions of any kind, the 100,000,000,000,000 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 of my trust fund money, living in my state, and has a legal guardianship slash conservatorship over me, killed me twice on paper by fraud and got insurance money for my death twice along with having me married by fraud, and I'm not married.

I never said I do to anybody. That one you're going to you're going into a 100,000,000,000,000 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 the lightning 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.

Hi. My name is Anise Petit. I'm here I'm here on behalf of the black vendors. I am a vendor myself personally and on behalf of b Marshall's consistency and his persistency on trying to obtain more than 75 vendor black vendor spots. I 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 there was no real response given, you know, trying to reach out to some black politicians to help us and assist us. I wanna 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.

Why do we continue to have to fight after slavery? It was four hundred years we were in slavery, and we're still fighting. Why do we have to continue to fight for spots, vendor spots, or anything that that black people or minorities need? How come we can't just be equal to? Why does it have have to be a black white thing?

You know, we all live here. We're from Pittsburgh. We we are entitled to the monetary benefits as well as brick and mortar businesses also. I think that whoever is in charge of the NFL draft or the procedure need to rethink this thing. There's $250,000,000 gonna hit this city and over a 100 vendors have been turned down through b Marshall.

I personally had applied through the NFL source myself individually back in December and was turned down. Can't get any politician help. 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 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 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 get monetary, You know what I mean. Compensation.

Compensation. Give us opportunity.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

Next speaker,

please.

Hi. I'm Miranda from each two. I wanted to first

say they have a new

staff member up there at the senior center. Delightful girl. She seems to fit in very nicely. The the day the day that 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. 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 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 take teens this bad before. 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 Kubin family to to the to the Schlitz 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 wanna take out of the schools because we are illegal, not them.

Thank you very much. Next speaker, please.

Good morning. My name is Louana Adams, and I've worked downtown. I'm also a member of thirty two BJ. I'm a cleaner downtown. I use rideshare 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.

I don't wanna ride in one of those cars, and I've had ample opportunity to do so. I did a test drive on a Tesla when they were in Wexford, and she asked me if I wanted to let the car drive us. Absolutely not. 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 the South Side Slopes.

Just driving there alone, it can be challenging. If 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 rideshare 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 911 calls and social media to piece together an understanding of their impact.

And only data on collisions is recorded as safety data, meaning incidents like the blocking of emergency vehicles are not comprehensively recorded or analyzed. Legalizing autonomous rideshare 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 community. While big tech companies like Waymo prioritize their own profits, the city must prioritize community safety and family's ability to earn a living. We have the power to ensure that out of state 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 rideshare drivers so that working family are not left behind. Thank you so much for passing the will of council.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

Good morning, counsel of delayed responses. You're not children to me anymore. Children actually have hearts. Every time I come here, I notice one thing that's consistent. 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 your entertainment. If Asgirls 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 eating 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 said call the office. Like, that was just really corny that y'all tried to act like y'all cared about me when y'all really cared about her. And come to 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 gotta 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 has to grow up, and their 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 master class on how to avoid responsibility. You wanna hear some jokes, though, since y'all wanna laugh at me?

If ignoring problems was a job requirement, you all could be overthrown with that. 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 miss a chance to laugh and disrespect us, but somehow, we keep missing chances to leave. 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 no we over here, sir.

Thank you. Al?

Next speaker, please. Good

afternoon, council. My name is William Anderson. I live at 7035 Charles 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 $250,000,000 coming into the city.

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 in areas and things like this, and we all know that poverty is the greatest, you know, cause of balance 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, 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 a million dollar industry that is coming to 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 a 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 taxpayer dollars are used to bring and to seek out these type of events. Right? As we are going to be a showcase for the world, it is not gonna 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 $250,000,000, 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, 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 that 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 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 thank you. Next speaker, please.

Hi, everyone. My name is Patrick Robinson. I'm a citizen in Pittsburgh, live on the Hill District. Also come down here to this morning to address the situation about the kids, about the kids meeting up downtown Pittsburgh this week in, 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 was a part of a gang, which I would have never been a part of the Crips. I'm now artist. I'm now a entrepreneur. I'm now famine.

I want to bring something to these kids. As famine, we can put a series together for at least twenty 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, We start at home with our kids. I have 10 kids, six daughter, four sons. I've been shot in the head, the wrist twice in the back and the leg, five holes in them. I'm not too apart. Where do it stops We have to stop right here. We have to start right here.

We got funds with we got we got grants, big grants with them. While we can't target the FEM and grants, let's get these kids the incentive from 300 to $5,000. We target the ones that have this criminal mindset of irrational. We take that. We give them some.

They want something. We have to give them something. My whole thing is my church, we have the community development up here on the Hill District. We got plenty councilants all across four sides of town, the West Side, East Side, South Side, the West, the East Side. East Side of town, we can reach out to each one of these individual with public safety, give them some type transportation because they're taking over Port Authority. They're getting out of school. They're deep. I'm out on the transit. So that that time frame, why can't we just come together, give them something, take up the time of downtown, not just downtown of the NFL draft. I'm a small business.

I would love to get funds to help these kids and to stop the extra shenanigan 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 course for golf carts, for the veterans, for the handicaps. I've been reaching out to golf courses to get these courts. I'm on the Hill District. There's plenty of areas up there.

We have plenty of churches coming together because RV vans are coming in. They wants 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 six o g mail. I'm willing to help the kitty the kids out. Thank you.

Thank you. You. Next speaker, please.

Good morning. My name is Chad Ringgloom from the South Hills. Jonah three four through six says, Jonah began to go into the city going a day's journey and he called out, yet forty days and 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 you guys try to tackle. I'm very tempted to go in the opposite 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 d h DHS is doing in their approach to 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 the honest way. That's reprehensible. And I'm willing to admit it. It's reprehensible. We're not 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

High rise. I've got you to support him. Here. He run from my Everybody in the room, he's a citizen. Do you understand what I'm saying? $600 to and 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 a a hearing?

Oh, just give me $600, and let me have a hearing. And I would take and make signs. I would have all type of stuff to show you that I'm using your money for this meeting. But anytime that Tim is the only one 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 there's a female coming. And when I talk to her, I'll tell her the same thing. But I found out oh, yeah. He gets money for the I mean, he he gets a salary.

He gets a salary for his 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 but I I believe I'm gone. I'm gone. I'm gone. Thank

you. Next speaker, please.

Hello. I'm Rick Smith from North Oakland district eight. Comment on the will that was just passed. Grateful for the breadth, depth, and scope of that. It was pretty comprehensive. Comprehensive. And I would like to offer for your consideration in any future wills having to do with the upcoming 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. So thank you.

Thank you. Next speaker, please.

My name is William Sadoway, and good morning to council. I'm from Lincoln Lumberton, Jackson, South of town, over a celebrity. I just like for my community of Lincoln Lemington to be safety because of safety issues just in this just in the city steps. Just like six sections 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, especially, you know, something like that. The city steps, missing steps, that's that's a little much. But other than that, my name is William Sal.

Like I said, I graduated from CCAC. I played basketball for two years. After that, I went to the surf for eight years. I produced commercials. I worked on Wall Street, and I was an individual painter at my own company. Total 55. I'm 61, and 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 on you guys' shoulders. You know? So like I said, I know you got a lot of things to take care of, and I'm just taking a little pointing out a couple things that go on in my community about the safety. Okay? You have a nice day, 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 Charlott, chair of human resources. No new papers, mister president. Thank you. Councilman Calkhill, chair of public safety and wellness. No new papers, mister president. Thank you. Councilman McGroes, chair of innovation performance, asset management, and technology. No new papers, mister president. Thank you. Councilman Moseley, chair of the end of government education affairs.

Thank you, mister president.

Thank you.

Councilman Mosley presents bill number two ninety seven. Resolution amending resolution eight fifty seven of 2023, effective 12/27/2023 entitled resolution adopting and approving the 2024 capital budget, the proposed 2024 community development program, and the twenty twenty four through 2029 capital improvement program by transferring $134,831.25 from Neighborhood Initiatives Fund to slope failure remediation, bill two ninety eight. 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 three zero seven, 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 the d registry office of Allegheny County is Block 173 A, Lot 206, which is 1365 Paulson Avenue, Council District 9. Block 173 A, Lot 2071367 Paulson Avenue, District 9.

Block 173 E, Lot 2877117 Lemon Lemington Avenue District 9. Block 173 L, Lot 177305 Lemington Avenue District 9. Block 173 F, Lot 2461556 Through 1558 Broadhead Street, Council District 9, and Block 173 A, Lot 32, which is 7112 Wilkesie Street, Council District 9 at no cost to the city. And bill three zero eight, 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 the d registry office of Allegheny County as Block 125 H, Lot 1420 North Merlin Street, District 9. Lot 144, Fielding Way, 0 Fielding Way, District 9.

Lot 1630 Fielding Way, District 9. Lot 1640 Fielding Way, District 9. Lot 1667001 Idyllwild Street, District 9. Lot 1670 Idyllwild Street, District 9. Lot 1680 Idyllwild Street, District 9. Lot 168 A, 0 Fielding Way, District 9. Lot 1690 Attawala Street, District 9. Lot 170 Fielding Way, District 9. Block 125 D, Lot 690 Monticello C Mono Monticello Street, District 9. Lot 710 Monticello Street, District 9.

Lot 7110 Monticello Street, District 9. Lot 7120 Monticello Street, District 9. And Lot 7130 Monticello Street, District 9 at no cost to the city.

And councilwoman Salanetro, chair of public works and infrastructure.

Thank you, council president.

Thank you.

Councilwoman Silanekret presents bill number two ninety nine resolution amending resolution six fifty seven 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 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, in the 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 three zero one, 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 $1,448,949.42 reimbursable at 80%. And bill three zero two, resolution providing for 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 $2,205,692.96, an increase of $1,360,896.95 from the previously authorized agreement reimbursable at 100%.

And councilman Strausburger, chair of finance and law.

Thank you, mister president.

Thank you.

Councilperson Strasburger presents bill three zero three, resolution amending resolution seven forty one 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 not to exceed amount of $120,000 over two years. Bill three zero four, resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Comer Miller LLC for expert legal services in connection with litigation matter in the US district court for the Western District Of Pennsylvania for an amount not to exceed $17,844.16 over one year. Bill three zero five, 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 A Lot 50 G 345 to Mary Sauer relating to the full and final settlement of a case filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and bill three zero six resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Karen Williams in an amount not to exceed $7,496.63 over one year in full and final settlement of a claim for damage to her parked vehicle on Beacon Street near Whiteman Street from a city ES vehicle on 04/01/2025.

And councilman Wilson, chair of Land Use Economic Development.

Thank you, mister president. Thank you.

Councilman Wilson presents bill three ten, 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 paved with asphalt in accordance with section four seventeen o six of the Pittsburgh code of ordinances. Bill three eleven, 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 paved with asshole in accordance with section four seventeen o six of the Pittsburgh code of ordinances, and bill three twelve, ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh code of ordinances title five, traffic, article seven, parking, chapter five forty three, parking meters, and chapter five forty nine, residential parking permit program to implement temporary enforcement and penalty provisions for specified areas during the NFL draft.

Council Wilson. Motion to waive roll eight on bill three twelve. So it appears on tomorrow's standing committee agenda.

Is there

a second? Second.

All those in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Bill three twelve will be on tomorrow's senate committee agenda. And for myself.

Council president Navelle presents bill three zero nine, communication from Rhea Price, acting director of the office of management budget, submitting to city council the attached status update from the grants office for the week ended 03/27/2026.

Motion to read, receive and file. So

so move.

Second.

All in favor, say aye. Aye. Bill submit read receiving file. That takes us to unfinished business. We have three appointments.

Bill two thirty, resolution appointing John McClory as the director of the department of public works. Bill two thirty one, resolution appointing Jeff Scalakin as the director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. And bill two thirty three, resolution appointing Helen Sestra as a member of the Historic Review Commission for a term to expire 01/01/2028.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor, say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The three appointments have been approved. Our next order of business is reports of committee for final action, beginning with councilman Anthony Coghill presenting the committee of public safety and wellness. Thank you, mister president. Thank you.

Councilman Coghill presents bill two ninety two, reported to committee on public safety and wellness for 03/25/2026 with an affirmative recommendation. Bill two fifty two, 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 two fifty three, 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.

We've heard the reading in time of the bill. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the bill is now ready for final action. All in favor the passage of the bill will vote aye when your name is called. Those opposed will vote no. Will the clerk please take the roll?

Mister Charland? Aye. Mister Coghill? Aye. Miss Gross? Aye. Mister Mosley? Aye. Missus Salanetro? Aye. Missus Strasburger. Aye. Missus Warwick. Aye. Mister Wilson. Aye. Mister Lavelle, president.

Aye.

Nine ayes. Zero nos.

The bill, having received the legally required number of votes, is passed finally. That takes us to councilwoman Kim Selinetra presenting the committee of public works and infrastructure.

Councilwoman Spence, bill number 20 on public works and infrastructure for March affirmative recommendation to mayor and the director of mobility of the city of Pittsburgh to enter into a supplemental agreement project design management services and reviews and connect various parks to add funding for the preliminary engineering phase, increasing the total amount not to exceed $3,900,463.19, an increase of 100,000 and cent reimbursable at various rates. The director of the department of mobility in Invertersburg to enter into agreement is consult during construction for the avenue phase two recon project at a cost thereof not to exceed $5 and 50 excuse me, an increase $178,939.11 from the previously executed agreement, reimburse at 80%. Bill two sixty, 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 5th 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 two sixty one, ordinance amending ordinance two twenty three 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 Wharf Street located in the 14th Ward of the city Of Pittsburgh.

And bill two c two, solution providing for the issuance of warrants in favor of Melee Landscape Contractors Inc. In the amount of $109,847.58 for the purpose of emergency snow removal at various locations and providing for the payment of the cost thereof over one year.

You've heard the reading and title of the bill. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the bill is not ready for final action. All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye if your name is called. Those opposed will vote no. Will the clerk please take the roll?

Mister Charland? Aye. Mister Cockbill? Aye. Miss Gross? Aye. Mister Mosley?

Aye.

Missus Salinatro? Aye. Missus Strasburger? Aye. Missus Warwick? Aye. Mister Wilson? Aye. Mister Lavelle, president?

I have to abstain on bill two sixty. 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 Charlton presenting the committee of human resources.

Councilperson Charlene presents bill number two ninety four. Reported a committee on human resources for 03/25/2026 with an affirmative recommendation. Bill two fifty, resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the office of municipal investigations to enter into a software maintenance agreement or agreements with Versaterm to extend the current agreement for OMS electronic case management system, I a pro, for a period of three years in an amount not to exceed $23,413.48. Bill two fifty one, resolution providing for 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've heard the reading and title of the bill. Is there any discussion? Seeing none, the bill is not ready for final action. All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye if your name is called. Those opposed will vote no. Will the clerk please take the role?

Mister Charland. Aye. Mister Cockhill. Aye. Miss Gross. Aye. Mister Mosley? Aye. Missus Salanetro? Aye. Missus Strasburger? Aye. Missus Warwick? Aye. Mister Wilson? Aye. Mister Lavelle, president?

Aye.

Nine ayes, zero nos.

The bill having received illegally required number of votes is passed finally. That moves us to council member Barbara Ward presenting the committee of recreation youth and senior services.

Thank you, mister

Councilwoman Warwick presents bill number two ninety five, reported a committee on recreation, youth, and senior services for 03/25/2026 with an affirmative recommendation. Bill two sixty eight, 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 as part of the Greenways for Pittsburgh program.

You've heard the reading and the title of bill. Is there any discussion on the bill? Seeing none, the bill is now ready for final action. All in favor of the passage of the bill will vote aye. Your name is called. Those opposed will vote no. Will the clerk please take the role?

Charland. Aye. Rose. Aye. Mister Mosley. Aye. Missus Salanetro. Aye. Missus Strasburger. Aye. Missus Warwick. Aye. Mister Wilson. Aye. Mister Lavelle, president. Aye. Nine ayes, zero nos.

The bill having received the legal requirement of votes is passed finally. And finally, councilman Karimozi presenting the committee on intergovernmental educational affairs.

Thank you, mister president.

Thank you.

Thank you,

madam clerk. Councilman Moseley presents bill number two ninety six, reported a committee on intergovernmental and educational affairs for 03/25/2026 with an affirmative recommendation. Bill two fifty four, resolution amending resolution nine thirty 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 Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh for the administration of the 2025 PAYGO funded projects and programs by adding the land bank personnel deliverable and increasing the total not to exceed amount by $157.175 to $1,257,175. Bill two fifty five, 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 two fifty six, resolution resolution adopting

plan revision to the city of Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities plan for 403407, and

413 Shelbourne Street at no cost to the city. Bill two fifty seven, resolution approving execution Cecil of a contract for disposition by sale of land between the URA of Pittsburgh and Margaret Elizabeth Graham for the sale of Block 50 at Flight 144 in the 10th Ward City Of Pittsburgh, Rosetta Street, District 9 at no cost to the city. Bill two seventy four. Resolution amending resolution three fifty two 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 2026 and increasing the approved amount by $15,500 for a new total cost not to exceed $589,000 over ten years. Bill two seventy five, resolution amending resolution three fifty three of 2025, which authorized professional services agreement and or contract with Melody and Wooten Inc.

For consulting services for state government affairs and legislative services by extending the term through the 2026 and increasing the approved amount by $16,500 for new total cost not to exceed $627,000 over ten years and three months. Bill two ninety, 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 two thousand twenty six National Football League draft.

You have heard the reading and entire bill. Is there any discussion on the bill? Councilman Schlossberg.

Mister president, I would like to make a motion to amend bill two ninety with a copy in front of members. Second.

Any discussion?

Full this is this reflects reflects the conversation at the table last week. A full 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, 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 of the bill before aye, renew my call. Those opposed will vote no. Will the clerk please take the role?

Mister Charland. Aye. Mister Coghill. Aye. Miss Gross. Aye. Mister Mosley. Aye. Missus sorry. Missus Salinicher. Aye. Missus Strasburger. Aye. Missus Warwick. Aye. Mister Wilson. Aye. Mister LaVelle, president.

Aye.

Nine ayes. Zero nos.

The bill haven't received the legal requirement of the votes. Is passed finally. That takes us to motions and resolutions, or is there anything from members? If not, that takes us to meeting announcements. This afternoon at 01:00, council hold an executive session on bills three zero four, three zero five, and three zero six.

Also, this afternoon at 01:30, council 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 11:30. Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1 at 09:30, council hold a pre agenda interview for the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh with council standing committee meeting to follow at 10AM. Speaker registration for the standing committee meeting will close at 9AM. Also, tomorrow afternoon with sessions at 01:30 and 02:30, council will hold a briefing relative to the Pittsburgh Water customer assistance program.

To register to speak at any of these meetings, please fill the sign up form on the council meeting webpage or call the clerk's office at (412) 255-2138. Also to note that this Friday, April 3, city clerk and city council offices will be closed in observance of Good Friday. With that, I need a motion to approve the minutes and adjourn the meeting.

So move.

Need a second.

Second.

Second. All those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

We are adjourned.