Pittsburgh City Council to conduct meetings via conference call

Pittsburgh City Council is closing its meetings to the public but is permitting residents to comment through email and will continue to broadcast live over City Channel Pittsburgh, according to council President Theresa Kail-Smith.

Kail-Smith said she would chair weekly meetings Tuesdays and Wednesdays from City Council Chambers in the City-County Building in Downtown, but all other council members will participate through conference call. Clerk Brenda Pree must also attend the meetings.

“We have to be here to sign papers,” Kail-Smith said. “Otherwise we’d be at home, too.”

Residents can post comments regarding meetings through email at cityclerksoffice@pittsburghpa.gov, Kail-Smith said. They also can watch the meetings live. Comcast subscribers can get City Channel Pittsburgh on Channel 13.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records issued an advisory noting that government meetings should be held in public buildings with open public participation when possible. Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto last week issued an emergency declaration and on Monday the city closed most government offices in the City-County building.

In the case of an emergency declaration, agencies can conduct meetings via electronic methods, but should provide a “reasonably accessible method for the public to participate,” according to the Open Records Office. Officials should explain to the public how it can do that, according to the office.

It also recommends that agencies record meetings and make the recordings publicly available.

City Council meetings are recorded and available on council’s schedule page.