[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6364420,"mediaKeyId","2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c","parentId",2164763,"title","Council introduces ordinances for horses donation, park uses and leaf-composting; refers items to committees","audioSeconds",50,"startMs",3285000,"endMs",3335000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c&start=3285&end=3335","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c/thumbnail_3285000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6364420/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-introduces-ordinances-for-horses-donation-park-uses-and-leaf-composting-refers-items-to-committees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364420-090e1f87b83556c8ff766cec2ba755b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775201278&Signature=K3VpxC9Q3XlRyR8cnRZv69zSQcEaAgIpS5NyO0M2WJaJeEeFIpbRVNijpID3BDGNkDehs0~vR5P60wRnWtQqOz7E0vbcvlsjBN7a4St07kplOvLxgg6ySVaj-Mcegc1IpaT4qXaV8KR1icMlh5hAFNWeCJNq9Tn6aBZJAJnZoa6oUhE~vy9YAVULpO3iCGKvrSD~0wxQTu0hGlQXugT4c4TK7vLVDthSVPtKyHgtkdIKk4saL97GCNlM7tZhANkTJnDK3gbDNTPFjJLLbPz46AYmGNPUf8Lhf9aYrfGJkE~C9MQ9atb21FfMWjkS98vTboxlgY9idmk1Xk~cIIfnKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Allegheny County, PA","date","2025-01-29T11:20:50Z","article","Allegheny County Council on Jan. 28 introduced four ordinances and referred them to the appropriate committees for further consideration.

The measures introduced were: an ordinance authorizing the acceptance of two donated horses for use by the Allegheny County Police's mounted unit (13382-25), an ordinance authorizing the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh to continue using real property in Deer Lakes Park for astronomy-related programs and activities (13383-25), an ordinance authorizing Family Links Inc. to continue using real property in Boyce Park for human-services programming (13384-25), and an ordinance authorizing the North Hills Council of Governments to continue using North Park as a leaf-compost site for nearby communities (13385-25).

Each ordinance was introduced by the chief executive and referred to the committee with subject matter jurisdiction. The horse-donation ordinance was sent to Public Safety; the three park-related ordinances were sent to the Committee on Parks. No votes on final adoption were taken at the Jan. 28 meeting; the items will be considered in the committees named at a later date.

Why it matters: The measures enable ongoing uses of county parkland and a donated asset for the county police unit; committee review will assess details such as terms of use, liability, insurance, and operational impact before the council considers final adoption.

What was not decided: Introduction and referral do not create final authority to proceed; committee hearings and possible amendments remain before any ordinance becomes effective.

For the record: The council read the ordinance titles into the record and noted committee referrals; sponsorship for the items was listed as the chief executive.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Allegheny County Council Regular Meeting - January 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Allegheny County Council on Jan. 28 introduced four ordinances and referred them to committees, including a horse-donation for the county police mounted unit and three park-use renewals.","taxTitle","Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2935,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364425,"Resident urges Allegheny County to reconsider restraint-chair prohibition, citing safety and medical access concerns",215,3357000,3572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c&start=3357&end=3572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c/thumbnail_3357000.jpg","/articles/6364425/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Resident-urges-Allegheny-County-to-reconsider-restraint-chair-prohibition-citing-safety-and-medical-access-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364425-929cd624f632e8a5779bc7800456923a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775201278&Signature=kZHpDITEHlfR9n~BscKWReOvkity7kfmnvw0Pc5gqepptUXcuKHMPSc2J5al40aBc4QWcBqdFPwgOl5oC0YJ5UfS9g9prRnltuA5VH-J~eL~ECYsYmzVtr1oOWD-UzY~Ob2hb~NZsp0WfV3J0VmgjiO8UJdqCcYvl4Q39HwBAOUmcwdOU~4ZI~dFLgRRRBPNhJ1Cmz0mHpIlyDowozB7rSrssQixUKvi4oUF9qAQdY6IJ8pGB9LfsPlQ3p8jZCNXzixaZqlGmPARP2xHG~8JFza~iV013o3MCkzX~7aXy-cG94l3eI4~6~Uve0hCnnOiMMcM~-fD-6JQCrxp0pVOrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident urged Allegheny County Council on Jan. 28 to consider reversing the county's current prohibition on using a restraint chair at the county jail so officers can safely transport and medically evaluate detainees who are actively resisting.

\"The restraint chair allows our officers to transport residents without injury to the resident or to the officers,\" said John Kinstowitz of 828 Jansy Street, who addressed the council during public comment. He said the current prohibition, adopted via a 2022 referendum, forces officers to restrain resisting residents physically, which can result in injury to both staff and detainees and can prevent needed medical evaluations.

Kinstowitz described the restraint chair as a medical-transport tool, not a punishment: \"The purpose of using the restraint chair is to avoid injury and provide the needed medical care, not for punishment.\" He urged monitoring of the device's use to ensure it is not applied inappropriately.

Why it matters: The speaker framed the issue as a public-safety and health concern, saying jail health-care staff and correctional officers have reported that, when residents resist, some detainees go unexamined for medical problems because staff cannot safely transport them for evaluation.

What was not decided: Kinstowitz's remarks were delivered during public comment; council members did not record action, a motion or a vote on changing the referendum at the Jan. 28 meeting.

Next steps mentioned by the speaker: Kinstowitz said he would present a path for changing the referendum in a future presentation but provided no dates or formal petitions during this meeting.

For the record: The concerns summarized here reflect statements made by a public commenter; the council did not debate or adopt any policy changes in the session's public record.","A public commenter at the Jan. 28 Allegheny County Council meeting urged council members to revisit a 2022 referendum that prevents the county jail from using a restraint chair, saying the tool is needed to transport resisting residents for medical care without injuring staff or detainees.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6364429,"Residents and advocates urge council to approve higher industrial air permit fees to fund county program",0,3552000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c&start=3552&end=3552","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2164763-1a945396ca20f154a42396d24a63c00c/thumbnail_3552000.jpg","/articles/6364429/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Residents-and-advocates-urge-council-to-approve-higher-industrial-air-permit-fees-to-fund-county-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6364429-8eb9db25d737bdf58d32f6b370f03441/orig.mp4?Expires=1775201278&Signature=hm4ahC5H8ExyhU84eFOahM5Ejd42SWL1ZeREzlaar1IM79h3IEIyN3MfXpCzCSxTxFv1BK7RPEKMHOvrzq27IalZ7d0FyoeK-F~5Oolja95BBYAhTcUH-ZoKv9YJkP8VcqsVkDwxEwHY1qSbVTNhUOxffkW-DJsJJsLugIDzlNIDxx8hZ7GglrQQ9guLlhk-P95Jeply51AWWBpby-u1fnxz5Dw~ZIFPaP3zoQL6vJ7hRy~7g1k~~4JA3MR2e6VYlENyhxQqZl8hZzMl5-Jqw8HcWMKXvcbrQqkJyLWJrrTZashwTQujo8kfaFhIriSk4ufGP48ypALHVbwWyZ081Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Allegheny County Council heard public appeals on Jan. 28 to approve proposed increases to industrial air-permit fees so the Allegheny County Health Department can fully staff and operate its Title V air permitting program.

Advocates told the council the department is underfunded and that higher fees on major polluters are needed to address a backlog of permitting and enforcement work. \"The health department's operational budget shortfall of nearly $1,850,000 threatens the health of Allegheny County residents,\" said Jay Ting Walker, outreach coordinator for the Clean Air Council.

Walker said the fee adjustment would require industrial operators to cover a larger share of the costs of permitting and enforcement. \"An adequately funded department is critical to protecting health,\" he said, citing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2018 audit that recommended fee adjustments to sustain the county's Title V program.

Why it matters: Speakers said the county's air program has a heavy workload and limited staff, leaving the health department unable to review permit applications, issue permits and conduct enforcement at the level needed to protect public health. Walker also noted that shifting program costs to permittees protects taxpayers from paying for increased public-health impacts tied to pollution.

Margaret Fisher, Democratic committeewoman for the 14th Ward, described personal health concerns linked to local pollution and urged council support. \"Please vote yes to increase the fees to cover the cost of establishing permitting and forcing clean air laws so Pittsburgh can live up to being the most livable city,\" Fisher said, describing respiratory and neurological harms she connects to toxic exposures.

Speakers cited specific financial figures during remarks. The county health department's shortfall was identified as $1,840,920 in public comment; Walker rounded that to \"nearly $1,850,000.\" He also disputed industry claims about the proposal's severity, noting that under the proposed fee schedule US Steel's total Title V fees for its Allegheny County facilities would be about $165,000 a year versus reported 2023 earnings of $2,140,000,000.

What was not decided: The council did not take a vote on the fee proposal during the meeting; the comments were delivered during the public-comment period and aimed at the council and the Health and Human Services Committee, which would consider the policy. No formal committee action was recorded at the Jan. 28 session.

Context and next steps: Speakers asked council members to back the Allegheny County Health Department's proposal and stressed that the EPA previously recommended fee adjustments after reviewing the county's Title V program. If the council or the responsible committee advances the proposal, any change would alter permitholder fee schedules and aim to fund additional staff and technical review capacity.

For the record: Remarks at the meeting came from local advocates and residents; no county vote or formal directive on the fee schedule was recorded on Jan. 28.","Public commenters at the Jan. 28 Allegheny County Council meeting urged support for an Allegheny County Health Department proposal to raise permit fees on large industrial polluters to cover a nearly $1.85 million budget shortfall in the county's Title V air permitting program.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council introduces ordinances for horses donation, park uses and leaf-composting; refers items to committees

Resident urges Allegheny County to reconsider restraint-chair prohibition, citing safety and medical access concerns

Residents and advocates urge council to approve higher industrial air permit fees to fund county program