This Week’s Top Agenda Items

This Week’s Top Agenda Items

• Additional paid sick days for City-based employees
• DHS to receive $3.8 million to support job training
• Lot sale sparks tense discussion about Council’s rights

Additional paid sick days for City-based employees ⭐️

• Council affirmed changes to a 2015 act that mandates all people working in the City receive additional paid sick time:
  • Employers with 15 or more employees: 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked (decreased from 35), up to 72 hours for a calendar year (increased from 40).
  • Employers with fewer than 15 employees: 1 hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked (decreased from 35), up to 48 hours per calendar year (increased from 24).
• Council President Lavelle expressed concern on behalf of some Councilmembers about how the change might affect small businesses. He said Council will work with the URA and other potential funders to find grants and loans to help cover the cost.
• Neither Federal nor State law mandates paid sick time.
• The updated act will go into effect January 1, 2026.

DHS to receive $3.8 million to support job training ⭐️

• The Department of Human Services will have access to $3.8 million in grants from the State.
• The 1988 job training effort by the State assists in comprehensive education, training and work services to people receiving government cash assistance (TANF) and food benefits (SNAP).
  • TANF and SNAP both have work requirements. Education and job training count toward that requirement.
• The grant request bill also allows for the Mayor and DHS to enter into agreements with non-profit organizations, private-for-profit businesses, and various agencies related to the program’s scope.
• In the 2023-2024 program year, 436 people in Allegheny County participated. The grant amount was the same.

Lot sale sparks tense discussion about Council’s rights ⭐️

• The proposed bill would allow the City to sell the old Office of Municipal Investigations building in the Strip District to the URA for $1.
• The cooperative agreement allows the URA to sell the building to a desired bidder, which considers both money offered and proposed usage.
  • Buildings sold by the City require sale to the highest bidder. They cannot make a decision that considers the bidder's intended usage.
• According to Council Budget Director McDevitt, the City remains responsible for maintenance until the URA sells the property. The City will receive 20% of proceeds.
• Councilmember Gross expressed concern about Council’s ability to sell to the URA with a simple vote. She said State law mandated that similar properties (for example, Hazelwood Library and Enright Park) had to have a public hearing and a hearing in Orphans Court.
  • Councilmember Gross requested that the Law Department review the bill prior to Council vote.
  • Legislative and Policy Director Geiger said those rules likely do not apply to this property, but the office will check to be sure.
• Councilmember Wilson, whose district the building is in, expressed frustration in delaying the vote.
• Councilmember Warwick wanted to know who was requesting sale of the building and who wants to acquire it. She said it would be “good sense to hang onto a property.”
• By Director McDevitt’s estimate, the building has gone unused for between 10-20 years. It would take “millions of dollars” to restore it for use.
• Councilmember Kail-Smith expressed concern about setting a precedent that would allow for a backdoor deal with a developer.
• Council ultimately affirmed the sale
  • Yes: Councilmembers Coghill, Strassberger, Wilson, Lavelle, Charland, and Mosley
  • No: Councilmember Gross
  • Abstain: Councilmembers Warwick and Kail-Smith