Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees Meeting - March 18, 2026
Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees Meeting - March 18, 2026
The Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees met on March 18, 2026, starting at 10:00 AM, with all nine members present. The meeting covered public comments, multiple committee agendas, and included key discussions on the comprehensive plan termination and creation of a fleet vehicle fund.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jim Craig (South): Expressed concerns about a rape problem in the city.
- Carlino Giampolo (Panther Hollow): Accused Councilmembers Warwick and Charland of complicity in illegal skate park activities, threatening legal action if harm comes to residents.
- Yvonne Brown (Bedford Avenue): Criticized Tim Stevens for controlling question selection at police review meetings and questioned funding.
- Special Agent Sunshine: Alleged fraud by the government, claiming identity theft and homelessness, and called for divine intervention.
- Unique Brown (Janique Brown) (White Sap Road): Criticized the system for not listening, shared personal experiences with a shelter CEO lying, and demanded city council investigate.
Discussion Items
Finance and Law Committee
- 2026-0006 & 2026-0007 (Termination of Comprehensive Plan Contracts): Councilmember Coghill explained negotiations that resulted in $750,000 from the Heinz Foundation and $250,000 refund from the previous administration, for a total saving of $1 million. The funds will allow completion of the plan with remaining $1.5 million. The bills were tabled (9-0 vote) to free up funding.
- 2026-0016 (Fleet Vehicle Fund): Councilmember Warwick highlighted the city's fleet crisis: 40 snowplows broke down during a storm, $400,000/month in repairs, and a need for $20 million/year over 10 years. The bill was held for six weeks to allow the budget reopening process to address fleet funding.
- 2026-0227 (Warrant for Court Reporting Services): Approved by affirmative recommendation.
- Invoices and P-Card Approvals: Councilmember Gross raised concerns about Cyclops Technologies’ PlateSmart software, which allows license plate searches, and confirmed no data sharing with federal law enforcement. Invoices and P-cards were approved.
Public Safety and Wellness Committee
- 2026-0222 (Police Vehicle Repair): Approved.
- 2026-0223 (Major Cities Chiefs Association Dues): Councilmember Coghill inquired about benefits; Lt. Cunningham confirmed participation in conferences. Approved.
Public Works and Infrastructure Committee
- 2026-0113 (Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory): Councilmember Warwick explained it will guide pedestrian infrastructure improvements after snowstorms. Approved.
- 2026-0225 (Natural Gas Service for Riverview Park): Approved at no cost to city.
- 2026-0226 (Spring Hill Park Stormwater Covenant): Christopher Hortzlan confirmed it is a routine requirement for development permits. Approved.
- 2026-0243 (Crafton Borough Eminent Domain): Approved.
Human Resources Committee
- 2026-0221 (Police Recruit Examination Services): Contract with I/O Solutions for $151,980 over three years. Approved.
Land Use and Economic Development Committee
- 2026-0228 (Greenway Signage Grant from Trust for Public Land): $25,000 grant. Approved.
- 2026-0229 (CDBG-CV Reallocation to Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank): Amended to reduce the amount from $55,692.60 to $30,000 after determining the food bank could only spend that. Approved as amended.
Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs Committee
- 2026-0224 (ALCOSAN Monitoring Boreholes Easement): Councilmember Mosley moved to hold for four weeks to address community concerns. Approved.
Key Outcomes
- 2026-0006 & 2026-0007: Tabled (9-0).
- 2026-0016: Held in committee for six weeks.
- 2026-0227: Affirmatively recommended.
- Invoices and P-cards: Approved.
- 2026-0222, 2026-0223, 2026-0113, 2026-0225, 2026-0226, 2026-0243, 2026-0221, 2026-0228: All affirmatively recommended.
- 2026-0229: Amended, then affirmatively recommended.
- 2026-0224: Held in committee for four weeks.
- Executive Session: Motion approved to hold an executive session on litigation matters.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the standing committee's meeting for Wednesday, March 18th, 2026. All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website. And for guest speakers joining us at the table, please do not turn off your microphones. Our first order of business is roll call. Would the clerk please take the roll? Mr. Charland. Mr. Cogheel. Miss Gross. Mr. Lavell. Mr. Mosley. Here. Miss Salonetra. Here. Miss Warwick. Here. Mr. Wilson. Miss Strasberger Chair. Here. Five members present. Thank you. Our next order of business is public comment. I would like to remind all speakers that the rules of Council State that comments are limited to matters of concern, official action, or deliberation, which are or may be before City Council. Provanity will not be permitted. Please state your name and neighborhood for the record, and you will have three minutes to speak. No, it's kind of Jim Craig South. It's terrible. We have a rape problem here in this city and beyond. Thank you. Our next speaker is Sherry Winston. Sherry Winston with us. Okay, we will move on to those in the audience wishing to speak. Carlino Giampolo, Panther Hollow. Council members Barbara Warwick and Bob Charling will be held personally accountable to the fullest extent of both civil and criminal law for any harm to longtime residents or homeowners of Panther Hollow by any skateboarder or their supporters relating to the illegal skate park in our neighborhood. I had already experienced 11 harassment incidents brought about by their illegal activities, yet these elected officials continue to choose to do nothing to prevent further occurrences. This past Friday, I experienced a 12th harassment incident. The serious question becomes what higher level of tragedy are these elected officials waiting to occur before they end their complicit conduct in this criminal activity. Their complicity by their inaction and silence absolutely undermines the heroic efforts of the director of public safety, Sheldon Williams, police chief Jason Landos, and Zone 4 acting commander Eugenio Peary to make Pittsburgh a safer place to live. Council members Warwick and Charlotte are responsible not only for their own actions but also for the consequences thereof in facilitating the harassment. They have emboldened skateboarders to do whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want, and to totally disregard longtime residents and homeowners' quality of life as if we are meaningless and don't matter. With the support of these two elected officials, skateboarders now have an extremely dangerous attitude of entitlement that this skate park is theirs and will continue to conduct criminal activities to keep it. I invite everyone to visit or revisit the website, Pantherhollow Playground.com to gain a deeper understanding of this issue. The focus of the approximately 7,000 words has been to awaken dignity, heal our community, and move on to the path of dignity to make positive change with harm to none. These two council members and those who support them for any reason are choosing to disregard those approximately 7,000 words and continue to be on the path of tragedy. On the other hand, I feel confident that the people I have met in Mayor Corey O'Connor's administration are on the path of dignity and will shut down the skate park. Further criminal activity by skateboarders and their supporters are a likely possibility.
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