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From YouTube: Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - 12/21/20
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A
C
A
A
A
No,
no
okay.
So
then
our
next
order
of
business
is
public
comment.
I
would
like
to
remind
everyone
that
the
rules
of
council
state
that
comments
are
limited
to
matters
of
concern.
Official
action
or
deliberation
which
are
or
made
before
city
council
profanity
will
not
be
permitted
and
let
me
get
the
speaker's
list.
B
E
Hi,
so
my
name
is
patrick
wishon
and
I'm
a
resident
of
bloomfield.
I'm
here
asking
you
to
not
give
the
final
approval
for
this
budget
without
amending
it
to
reduce
police
funding
by
at
least
50
percent
and
putting
that
funding
towards
affordable,
democratically
owned
housing.
Additionally,
I'm
asking
you
to
haul
all
police-related
capital
expenditures
like
the
relocation
of
the
zone,
5
police
station
east
liberty
and
to
remove
upmc's
nonprofit
status
so
that
they
have
to
pay
taxes
instead.
E
The
main
question
I
have
for
the
council
is:
what
more
will
it
take?
Why
do
you
disregard
what
over
50
people
have
been
telling
you
for
the
last
three
meetings?
Why
do
you
accept
the
data
provided
by
the
national
association
of
police
chiefs,
but
don't
accept
the
data
that
shows
black
communities
in
allegheny
county
are
overpoliced
provided
by
the
abolitionist
law
center.
Why
are
you
unwilling
to
fight
for
what
your
constituents
are
telling
you
time
and
time
again
that
we
want?
E
Why
did
you
run
for
office
you're
on
if
you
are
unwilling
to
work
towards
change?
Why
are
you
willing
to
accept
the
status
quo
of
a
racist
police
system
instead
of
trying
to
improve
people's
lives?
Why
do
you
say
that
we
can't
be
taken
seriously,
asking
to
defund
the
police
by
50,
but
won't
even
second,
an
amendment
that
would
reduce
their
budget
by
one
percent?
Why
are
you,
okay,
with
letting
the
virus
run
rampant
through
pittsburgh,
killing
our
most
vulnerable
while
the
police
are
given
money
for
more
cars
and
more
guns?
E
F
On
saturday,
when
I
commented
at
the
public
hearing,
I
stated
that
I
didn't
have
time
to
review
the
budget
in
full
due
to
short
notice
after
the
meeting
ended.
I
took
that
time
and
my
following
comments
are
edited
to
reflect
my
insight.
I
understand
that
cutting
the
police
budget
is
not
an
easy
task.
However,
I
agree
with
councilwoman
gross
that
this
is
certainly
a
time
of
great
emergency
that
warrants
a
recognition
and
renegotiation
of
the
limitations
and
legal
concerns
pertaining
to
the
fop
contract.
F
The
council
itself
voted
to
name
racism
as
a
public
health
crisis
in
our
city.
Thank
you.
If
you
do
indeed
see
this
and
the
pandemic
as
a
crisis,
please
vote
along
with
councilwoman
gross,
to
reallocate
funds
from
the
police
to
the
social
services
where
they're
direly
needed
to
address
these
crises
as
councilman
lavelle
mentioned
saturday.
I
recognize
that
teacher
pay
and
lunch
quality
specifically
are
under
the
purview
of
the
school
board,
but
there's
a
city
office
that
influences
these
discussions.
A
plus
schools
has
urged
that
we
protect
high-need
students
and
marginalized
groups
amidst
budget
cuts.
F
According
to
the
budget,
part
of
the
role
the
office
of
equity,
whose
budget
is
being
cut
by
24.3
percent
compared
to
the
police
budget,
cuts
of
2.9
percent
is
to
partner
with
education,
child
and
youth
serving
organizations
to
improve
the
educational
outcomes
and
healthy
development
of
young
children
in
pittsburgh.
The
office
of
equities,
dolly
parton
imagination,
library
by
my
approximation.
F
It
says
it's
only
serving
4
000
students
so
far
by
my
approximation.
According
to
census
data,
there
are
4
234,
black
indigenous
latinx
and
mixed-race
kids
under
the
age
of
5
in
pittsburgh.
I
can't
find
your
city's
race
demographic
information
for
the
imagination
library
program
publicly
posted,
but
since
the
program's
open
to
all
city
residents,
including
white
residents,
I
can't
imagine
that
among
the
4
000
children
currently
enrolled
all
of
the
black
and
brown
youth
that
have
a
higher
chance
of
being
funneled
into
the
preschool
to
prison
pipeline.
F
If
they
have
low,
literacy
rates
are
being
served
by
the
program.
Yet
the
critical
communities
manager
position
is
one
that
was
cut
from
the
office
of
equities
2021
budget.
This
role
addresses
overall
health
and
wellness
of
communities
as
a
liaison
for
the
mayor's
office
to
organizations
and
initiatives
engaged
in
homelessness
food
policy,
disabilities.
F
One
of
the
stated
goals
of
the
police
budget
for
2021,
is
to
increase
the
development
of
youth
programming
in
pittsburgh,
public
schools.
So
why
can't
the
city
budget
support
youth
program
development
more
heavily
in
other
critical
city
offices,
rather
than
passing
the
responsibility
off
onto
the
school
board?
F
The
10
10.9
cut
to
the
human
relations
committee
includes
a
cut
for
personnel
as
well.
This
office
has
a
stated
goal
to
create
a
youth
engagement
strategy,
again
critical
program
creation,
not
supported
with
a
capacity
cut,
the
18
percent
cut
to
the
department
of
human
relations
and
civil
services,
critical
for
workforce
development
and
including
the
city's
diversity
and
inclusion
office
itself
includes
a
70
cut
in
personal
funding.
F
The
20
cut
to
the
city's
planning
office
cuts
a
community
affairs
manager
and
a
zoning
manager,
while
stating
goals
about
increasing
community
engagement
in
lower
capacity
neighborhoods,
so
they
can
participate
in
future
neighborhood
planning
and
goals
to
make
zoning
code
amendments
that
are
necessary
to
increase
the
number
of
affordable
housing
units.
These
are
just
a
few
of
many
ways
that
the
current
version
of
the
budget
is
not
demonstrating.
G
Hello,
I
want
to
thank
the
council
for
holding
this
public
comment
before
the
2021
operating
budget.
I
just
want
to
say
I
applaud
the
council
and
seek
integration
of
the
office
of
community
health
and
safety
to
address
public
safety
and
manners
beyond
policing,
but
I
asked
why
is
this
not?
Why
is
this
office
not
adequately
funded
in
the
2021
budget?
We
cannot
allow
this
office
to
fail,
and
I
asked
the
council
and
specifically
councilman
burgess,
to
consider
a
reduction
of
the
booth
policing
budget
to
go
towards
special
spending.
G
A
reduction
or
reallocation
in
police
overtime,
pay
alone
could
help
fund
the
new
office
of
community
health
and
safety
for
other
and
other
much
needed.
Social
spending
and
also
reduction
of
funds
could
lead
to
the
demilitarization
of
the
police.
That
is
greatly
needed,
as
we've
seen
this
summer.
I
understand
in
order
to
do
extensive.
Reform
regarding
policing
remain
a
reduction
of
renegotiation
of
the
fraternal
order
of
police
contract,
but
the
council
must
do
what
is
needed
to
rein
in
police
dominance
in
the
budget.
G
I
speak
as
a
young
black
resident
of
district
9
and
I
understand
the
concerns
of
black
residents.
Fearing
a
reduction
or
reallocation
in
police
spending
would
mean
negligence
when
needed,
and
that
is
a
concern,
but
it
cannot
be
used
as
a
crutch
to
not
to
to
not
pursuing
a
people-centered
budget.
So
I
asked
council
to
support
amendments
by
the
councilman
gross
to
reallocate
some
police
budget
away
from
police
over
time
to
go
towards
the
office
of
health
community
safety.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
your
time.
A
Thank
you
that
exhaust
our
list
of
registered
speakers.
Thank
you,
madam
clerk.
We'll
now
move
on
to
the
pres
our
next
order
of
business,
which
is
presentation
of
papers,
councilman,
reverend
burgess.
Oh
wait!
I'm
sorry,
chair,
chair
of
urban
recreation,
no.
A
Thank
you,
councilman
councilwoman
gross
chair
of
intergovernmental
affairs.
L
Presents
bill
number
1019
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
public
safety,
on
behalf
of
the
city,
to
enter
into
a
professional
services
agreement
and
or
a
contract
with
cultural,
humility
and
equity.
Collaboratives
llc
for
the
purpose
of
creating
a
cross-cultural
training
for
public
safety
officials
to
better
bridge
divides
between
public
safety
officials
and
members
of
our
immigrant
immigrant
refugee
and
international
communities
in
an
amount
not
to
exceed
fifty
thousand
dollars.
Subject
to
appropriation.
A
A
And
myself,
the
chair
of
hearings,
I
have
one
communication.
L
Council
president
kell
smith
presents
bill
number
1020
communication
from
the
residents
of
the
city,
requesting
a
public
hearing
before
city
council
relative
to
the
proposed
2021
budget
at
a
time
accessible
to
people
who
work
during
the
day
prior
to
its
final
vote.
The
petition
is
invalid,
in
accordance
with
the
home
rule
charter,
due
to
the
time
requirements.
H
A
L
Councilman
lavelle
presents
bill
number
1012
report
of
the
committee
on
finance
and
law
for
december
16
2020
with
an
affirmative
recommendation.
Bill
number
866,
ordinance.
Amendment
supplement
in
the
city
coded
title
ii:
fiscal,
article,
1
administration,
chapter
219,
operating
budget,
section,
21902
five-year
plan
in
order
to
temporarily
decrease
the
minimum
fund
balance
requirements
in
response
to
the
fiscal
pressures
imposed
by
the
city
by
the
covet
virus.
Bill
number
878
resolution
making
appropriations
to
pay
the
expenses
of
conducting
the
public's
business
of
the
city
and
for
meeting
the
debt
charges
thereof
for
the
fiscal
year.
L
For
the
2021
fiscal
year,
bill
number
882,
okay,
bill
number
882
resolution
authorizing
the
city
to
participate
in
applicable,
cooperative
purchasing
agreements
for
goods,
materials,
equipment
supplies,
services,
professional
services
or
construction
as
authorized
by
the
commonwealth
procurement
code
and
the
pennsylvania
intergovernmental
corporation
law
for
the
2021
fiscal
year.
Bill
number
883
resolution
authorizing
city
council
to
approve
intra-departmental
transfers
throughout
the
2021
fiscal
year.
L
Number
961
resolution
amending
resolution
881
of
2020,
which
authorized
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
city
planning
to
enter
into
many
grant
reimbursement
agreements
for
the
2020
love
your
blog
program.
In
order
to
add
financial
account,
information
for
projects
completed
in
2020,
as
well
as
projects
that
were
postponed
due
to
the
covet
19
pandemic
at
a
cost
not
to
exceed
51
582
dollars
and
two
cents.
L
Bill
number
962
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
finance
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
mgt
consulting
group
for
the
purpose
of
providing
support
services
for
the
preparation
of
the
annual
indirect
cost
allocation
reports
in
accordance
with
federal
office
of
management
and
budget
circular,
a
87th
total
cost
not
to
exceed
six
hundred
eighty
dollars
for
three
years
and
thirty,
four
thousand
dollars
for
the
two
additional
option.
Years.
L
Bill
number:
nine.
Sixty
three
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
finance
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
clark
hill
to
serve
as
bond
council
for
the
purpose
of
rendering
any
and
all
necessary
opinions
with
respect
to
the
bonds
and
preparing
such
additional
documents,
as
may
be
necessary.
L
Total
cost
not
to
exceed
127
thousand
six
hundred
and
fifty
dollars
over
a
three
year
period:
2021
22
and
23,
with
two
one-year
options
to
extend
the
contract
for
a
total
of
two
hundred
and
twelve
thousand
seven
hundred
and
fifty
dollars
and
shall
be
paid
using
proceeds
from
the
debt
issuance
bill.
Number
964
resolution
designating
banks
and
lending
institutions
to
act
as
depositories
for
the
year
2021.
A
K
So
I
have
actually
two
amendments
before
members
on
two
separate
bills.
The
first
bill
is
bill
878.
K
This
amendment
corrects
the
amount
within
our
general
fund
balance
and
it
also
corrects
the
amount
being
transferred
from
our
paygo
budget
into
our
capital
budget.
So
motion
to
amend
second.
I
K
I
Thank
you,
mr
lavelle,
and
while
I
have
you,
I'm
also
looking
to
find
the
number
of
the
actual
operating
budget.
That's
8.79
right,
the
one
that
I
posed
last
week,
because
there's
so
many
bills
that
were
just
read
and
the
titles
aren't
actually
super
clear.
I
think
it's
bill.
Are
you
talking
because
you're
muted.
B
A
K
The
second
we
did
vote
on
the
amendment,
so
the
second
amendment
is
bill
888,
and
this
is
an
updated
fee
schedule
for
the
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure.
A
J
A
M
M
Yeah
operating
915
for
the
clerk's
office.
M
I
had
sent
that
this
morning.
I
can
send
it
out
again.
C
A
M
Operating
amendment
number
15
increase
the
clerk
and
assistant
clerk,
and
this
is
amending
bill
number
879
we'll
also
make
a
technical
amendment
to
bill
number
878
as
a
result
of
the
vote
on
this.
This
is
a
presented
by
councilwoman
smith,
sponsored
by
all
members.
It's
an
increase
in
the
clerk's
office
city
clerk,
35
e
to
35
g
assistant
clerk
28e
to
28
f.
The
total
amount
is
and
14
dollars,
which
is
also
taken
care
of
by
increasing
the
amount
of
anticipated
july
first
workforce
reductions.
C
I
I
I
think
that
the
I
understand
from
our
many
budget
hearings
that
the
mayor
instructed
directors
to
only
eliminate
open
positions,
but
I
also
heard
from
many
directors
that
over
the
course
of
this
long
year,
they
were
not
able
to
fill
positions
that
were
open
and
that
the
loss
of
those
positions
in
this
budget
is
going
to
immediately
negatively
impact
services
to
neighborhoods,
and
those
services
are
the
kinds
of
things
I
heard
our
constituents
asking
for,
and
we've
heard
lots
of
testimony
about
concerns
to
the
office
of
equity
concerns
about
services
to
neighborhoods,
to
invest
in
communities.
I
In
my
experience,
communities
when
communities
need
something
they
are
really
needing
it
from
pli
from
planning
department
and
from
dpw,
and
I
was
also
very
moved
by
the
testimony
from
parks
and
rec
about
how
they've
adjusted
to
fill
neighborhoods
needs
during
this
pandemic,
especially
delivering
250,
000
meals,
and
I
hope
that
we
do
more
of
that
in
the
coming
weeks
and
months,
and
we
can
do
that
by
adding
just
seasonal
workers
is
what
the
director
said.
These
are.
These
are
the
kinds
of
workers
that
are
like
lifeguards,
but
that
he
needs
more
hands.
I
I
Yes,
we
are
under
financial
constraints.
We
are,
in
fact,
in
a
budget
crisis,
which
is
why
I
believe
that
we
do
have
the
power
to
reallocate
physicians
from
departments,
even
the
department
of
police
to
other
departments
in
order
to
meet
the
needs
of
our
citizens,
especially
the
ones
when
they're
being
so
vocally
asking
for
them,
and
I
I
hope
that
we
continue
this
conversation
as
we
reconvene
in
the
new
year.
We
still
have
six
weeks
to
work
on
this
budget.
I
I
think
that
we
have
in
our
last
report
that
there
are
975
officers
on
payroll
and
I'm
wondering
why
that
looks
different
than
the
2020
budget,
where
council
budgeted
for
900
officers-
and
I
it's
very
confusing
very
for
the
public-
for
the
media
and
for
ourselves
to
figure
out
what
is
that
ratio
between
recruits
and
actual
sworn
in
officers,
and
it
fluctuates,
and
so
I'm
going
to
be
opposing
this
budget,
and
I
am
going
to
bill.
I
H
Yes,
I
just
wanted
to
remark
on
the
pay
raise
for
the
clerk.
Madam
clark,
I've
not
worked
with
any
other
clerks.
I
don't
know
anymore,
but
I
think
you're
worth
your
weight
in
gold.
You
and
kim,
and
your
whole
team
I
think,
do
a
fantastic
job
anytime.
I
need
them.
They
are
there
to
answer
even
the
silliest
of
questions
that
I
might
have
for
them.
So
I
wholeheartedly
support
that.
That's
all.
A
K
C
B
B
Thank
you
on
bill,
878
879.
That
would
be
eyes.
Eight
knows
one
other
all
other
bills,
eyes:
nine,
no,
zero.
L
For
a
sum
not
to
exceed
181
thousand
dollars,
bill
number
995
resolution
authorizing
the
issue
of
a
warrant
in
favor
of
humane
animal
rescue
in
an
amount
not
to
exceed
33
400
for
animal
care
and
detention.
Services
provided
by
the
city
bill
number
996
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
public
safety
to
enter
into
a
licensed
agreement
between
the
city
and
plaza
at
grand
view,
owners
association
at
a
cost
not
to
exceed
104
thousand
four
hundred
dollars.
A
A
C
A
L
Councilman
coghill
presents
bill
number
1014
reported
the
committee
on
public
works
for
december
16
2020,
with
an
affirmative
recommendation.
Bill
number
952
resolution
authorizing
the
city
through
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
bakery
square
two
office
holdings
for
the
purposes
of
granting
a
perpetual
exclusive
easement
solely
for
the
purpose.
Installing
and
maintaining
signal
equipment
on
the
properties.
Bill.
L
Number
953
resolution
authorizing
the
city
through
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
mobility
and
infrastructure
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
l,
o
r
e
p
p,
a
b
k
squared
three
having
for
the
purposes
of
granting
a
perpetual
exclusive
easement
solely
for
the
purpose
of
installing
and
maintaining
signal
equipment
on
the
properties.
Bill.
L
At
a
cost
not
to
exceed
36
000,
an
increase
of
fifteen
thousand
dollars
bill
number
nine.
Eighty
four
resolution
providing
for
an
agreement
with
zatola
construction
for
construction
services
associated
with
the
allegheny
circle,
phase
two
construction
project
and
providing
for
the
payment
of
costs
not
to
exceed
2
million
638
thousand
dollars.
A
A
L
The
analysis
will
provide
a
review
of
national,
regional
and
local
employment
trends,
opportunities
and
market
factors
in
employment
forecasting.
An
inventory
of
billable
employment
land
and
resulting
demand
for
employment
land
through
2040,
an
identification
of
land
use
strategies
and
workforce
development
needs
to
focus
on
equitable
economic
development.
Ensuring
alignment
with
fortune
pgh
the
city's
comprehensive
planning
effort
and
provide
for
the
payment
of
the
costs
thereof,
not
to
exceed
105
000.
A
B
D
B
A
L
Bill
number
968
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
innovation
and
performance
on
behalf
of
the
city,
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
ost
inc
for
short-term
emergency,
professional
I.t
staffing
resources
as
needed
to
fulfill
a
number
of
critical
I.t
and
device-related
projects
for
a
term
of
up
to
one
year.
It'll
cost
not
to
exceed
two
hundred
thousand
dollars.
L
Forty
two
thousand
eight
hundred
twenty
four
dollars
and
thirty
eight
cents
bill
number
one
thousand
resolution
amending
resolution
number
729
of
2019,
which
authorized
the
city
to
extend
a
contract
or
agreement
with
pittsburgh.
Community
television
for
public
access
television
services
by
extending
the
term
of
the
agreement
until
march
31st
2021
bill
number
1001
resolution
authorizing
the
mayor
and
director
of
the
department
of
city
planning
to
enter
into
an
agreement
with
malka
to
provide
a
building
benchmarking
management
platform.
Software
solution
for
acer
not
to
exceed
twenty
thousand
dollars
for
one
year.
C
G
A
Thank
you
seeing
none.
The
bills
are
not
ready
for
action.
All
in
favor
of
the
passage
we'll
vote
when
the
name
is
called.
Those
opposed
will
vote
no
with
the
clerk.
Please
call
the.
J
A
A
A
The
legally
required
number
of
votes
are
finally
passed
that
moves
us
on
to
motions
and
resolutions
have
a
few
immediate
announcements
that
members
will
stay
join
us
for
the
till
the
end
of
the
meeting.
We
also
have
the
budget
addressed
by
councilman
level.
So
that's
my
meeting
announcements.
Our
council
will
meet
this
afternoon
at
1.
30
council
will
meet
for
the
final
standing
committees
meeting
of
2020.
A
to
register
to
speak.
Please
call
the
clerk's
office
at
412-255-2138
by
12
30
pm
today
or
email.
Your
comments
to
clerk's
office
at
pittsburgh,
pa.gov
and
I
will
say
the
clerk's
office
has
been
forwarding
us
a
lot
of
comments,
a
lot
of
emails.
So
thank
you
to
the
public
for
sending
those
in
tomorrow
at
10
30
a.m.
A
The
cable
cat
who
have
a
cable
cast
post
agenda
discussion
is
scheduled
via
the
zoom
platform
on
the
implementation
of
the
mayor's
community
task
force
on
policing
reform
and
that
is
will
be
hosted
by
councilmen
chaired
by
councilman.
O'connor
and
council
will
meet
next
monday
december
28th
at
10
a.m.
For
the
last
regular
meeting
of
2020.
A
and
what
that
says?
Is
there
anything
from
members?
A
Okay,
seeing
that
we're
going
to
move
on
to
councilman
level
for
his
for
his
comments
as
the
budget
chairperson,
I
just
want
to
the
chair
of
finance
alone.
I
just
want
to
thank
you
councilmember,
because
you
did
a
spectacular
job.
You
were
really
amazing
throughout
this
year,
and
I
think
you
made
us
all
very
proud
of.
A
K
Thank
you
very
much,
madam
president,.
K
With
that
so
2020
found
america
in
our
city
affected
by
dual
crises:
the
covet
19
pandemic
and
an
economic
crisis,
and
a
racial
and
social
equity
crisis
sparked
by
the
documented
deaths
of
black
people
at
the
hands
of
police.
K
Both
crises
have
affected
this
year's
budget
and
will
have
long
lasting
impacts
due
to
the
national
pandemic.
The
city
of
pittsburgh
has
52
million
less
in
revenue
than
what
was
anticipated
last
year.
In
fact,
due
to
the
impact
of
covet
19
pandemic,
we
are
slated
to
lose
over
130
million
in
anticipated
revenue
over
years,
2020
and
2021,
and
more
than
240
million
in
the
five-year
plan.
K
However,
while
vacant
positions
are
eliminated
in
this
budget
and
there
there
are
no
layoffs
of
employees
contemplated
until
july.
First,
although
the
elimination
of
these
unfulfilled
but
needed
positions
will
limit
management's
delivery
of
services,
unfortunately,
it
has
become
fiscally
necessary
as
a
result
of
our
current
reality.
K
This
will
begin
to
change
how
we
look
at
public
safety,
with
a
focus
on
prevention
by
addressing
mental
health,
homelessness
and
other
circumstances
that
should
lie
outside
of
policing
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
We
look
forward
to
working
with
the
administration
and
the
community
in
the
in
developing
these
vital
efforts.
K
Residents
have
spoken
loud
and
clear
to
council
that
the
budget
is
a
reflection
of
our
moral
values
that
our
city's
moral
values
need
to
address
the
crises
affecting
our
city.
I
believe
this
year's
budget
begins
to
do
just
that,
while
not
easy.
This
year's
budget
demonstrates
our
ability
to
see
the
light
amidst
the
darkness.
K
Today,
city
council
passed
a
564
million
operating
budget
and
a
125
million
dollar
capital
budget.
To
be
clear,
the
budget
passed
today
is
a
stop
gap
measure
to
assure
we
can
pay
our
bills
beginning
january
1st
2021,
and
continue
a
minimum
level
of
services
to
the
citizens
of
pittsburgh.
Having
a
balanced
budget
in
place
by
december
31st
is
our
legal
requirement.
K
The
budget
is
currently
balanced
by
the
elimination
of
hundreds
of
employees
citywide
beginning
july
1st.
If
there
is
no
federal
or
other
revenue
assistance
by
june,
those
reductions
will
have
to
be
implemented.
This
would
include
a
potential
reduction
of
8.8
million
in
police
salaries
and
other
vital
public
safety
services.
K
However,
if
not
for
the
fiscal
responsibility
of
this
and
previous
councils
and
administrations,
the
potential
july
1st
layoffs
would
have
begun
january.
1St,
the
strong
fiscal
policies
and
best
practices
city
council
put
in
place
has
allowed
pittsburgh
to
accumulate
a
healthy
fund
balance.
This
fund
balance
enabled
the
city
to
continue
to
pay
our
bills
and
provide
services,
even
when
a
large
negative
impact
on
our
revenue
due
to
the
coronis
violet
coronavirus
pandemic.
K
During
this
year's
budget
process,
residents
rightfully
demanded
actions
to
address
the
many
issues
we
face.
However,
there
are
limitations
to
what
can
be
done
within
our
system.
For
example,
residents
have
repeatedly
requested
that
we
tax
our
large
non-profits.
Unfortunately,
state
law
prohibits
us
from
doing
so.
Moreover,
although
the
city
did
ask
the
state
to
include
nonprofits
in
the
payroll
preparation
tax
in
2004,
this
request
was
denied.
K
K
The
significance
of
these
state
statutes,
among
other
reasons,
is
we
are
forbidden
to
fire
police
unless,
for
budgetary
reasons,
given
we
just
voted
on
a
balanced
budget,
the
state
statute
does
not
allow
us
to
currently
eliminate
police
positions
towards
this
end
and
in
addressing
other
issues
limited
to
us
by
the
state.
We
encourage
those
passionate
residents
to
assist
us
in
lobbying
for
the
needed
change
in
pennsylvania
state
law.
K
To
be
clear,
this
council
is
supportive
of
the
many
demands
placed
upon
us
by
residents.
However,
in
order
to
make
the
necessary
changes
being
asked
for,
we
need
your
active
support,
we
have
been
and
will
continue
to
lobby
harrisburg
for
these
necessary
changes.
We
ask
you
to
work
with
us
in
doing
so.
K
This
council
has
and
continues
to
allocate
what
we
can
to
these
important
functions
and
will
continue
to
work
with
entities
such
as
the
county,
the
school
board,
the
housing
authority,
the
urban
redevelopment
authority
and
others
to
enhance
services
and
meet
our
municipal
obligations
as
well.
As
an
example,
council
just
moved
more
than
two
million
dollars
to
supplement
the
10
million
dollars
in
housing,
opportunity
fund
created
by
council.
K
That
has
been
essential
to
sustaining
many
residents,
small
businesses
and
homeowners
during
the
pandemic,
which,
to
date,
has
kept
close
to
200
homeowners,
either
in
their
home,
or
help
acquire
an
affordable
home
again.
While
we
just
had
our
final
vote
on
the
2021
budget,
we'll
be
revisiting
this
budget
to
make
significant
changes
within
the
next
few
months.
Hopefully
that
will
be
to
add
additional
revenue,
positions
and
programs
back
into
a
new
amended
budget.
K
Despite
the
economic
crisis,
exasperated
by
exasperated
by
the
racial
and
social
equity
crisis,
all
members
of
this
council
have
demonstrated
their
commitment
to
the
economic
and
social
well-being
of
all
our
residents.
This
year's
budget
proves
that
more.
So
this
year's
budget
proves
we're
able
to
provide
one
of
the
most
important
things
we
all
need
during
these
trying
times
compassion
with
that.
I
first
want
to
thank
the
administration
for
working
with
council
through
this.
During
these
times.
K
I
want
to
thank
our
budget
office
both
in
the
administration
but
also
ours,
on
city
council,
for
the
wonderful
assistance
they
provided
me
and
this
council
to
get
through
this
process.
I
also
want
to
thank
the
clerk's
office
for
all
they
have
done,
including
leading
up
to
this
morning
accepting
budget
amendments
at
the
very
last.
Second,
I
apologize
for
that
and
then.
K
J
So
what
we
just
witnessed
here
is
the
epitome
of
present
and
future
leadership
and
I'm
proud
to
be
associated
with
this
council.
I
am
proud
to
be
associated
with
councilman
lavelle,
as
our
finance,
chair
and
councilwoman.
Kale
smith
is
our
council
president.
J
This
has
been
an
extremely
difficult
year
for
all
of
us,
collectively,
whether
we
hold
elected
office
or
whether
we
have
been
financially
impacted
by
pandemic
or
physically,
spiritually
or
emotionally
affected
by
pandemic,
but
we
collectively
we
come
together
because
of
strong
leadership
and
and
we
lead,
as
we
are
required
to
do
by
the
offices
that
we
hold
so
councilman
lavelle.
I
would
ask
if
you
would
please
distribute
your
remarks.
J
I'd
like
to
post
them
on
our
social
media.
I
think
it's
a
perfectly
concise
summary
of
the
year
that
we've
just
experienced
and
I
think
they
need
to
be
shared
in
a
larger
platform,
and
I
would
also
ask
our
clerk
if
she
could
please,
as
long
as
the
councilman
is
willing
to
post
the
councilman
summary
on
our
media
pages,
whether
they
be
through
the
administration
through
council
or
through
both,
because
they
do
think
again.
It
is
a
it's.
A
very
concise
and
professional
summary
of
the
year
that
we've
just
had
so.
F
D
J
A
I'm
just
going
to
double
check.
Okay,
saying
done,
I
just
want
to
thank
you
again,
councilman
level,
it's
been
great
working
with
you
and
reverend
burgess
and
all
the
members
of
council,
but
your
speech
was
amazing
and
I'd
like
to
see
it
shared
on
our
social
media
sites
as
well.
But
that
said,
can
I
have
a
motion
to
excuse
any
absent
members
adjourned?