Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - March 31, 2026
Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting Summary - March 31, 2026
The Pittsburgh City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. All nine council members were present. The meeting featured the adoption of a resolution calling for state-level regulation of autonomous vehicles, extensive public testimony regarding Black business inclusion in the upcoming NFL Draft, debates over immigration enforcement policies, and the unanimous approval of several city contracts, land transfers, and departmental appointments.
Will of Council: Autonomous Vehicle Regulation
Council Member Erika Strassburger introduced a resolution (2026-0291) calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to investigate and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for driverless rideshare vehicles. The resolution highlighted Pittsburgh's history as a proving ground for autonomous vehicle technology since 2016, its unique infrastructure challenges (steep hills, narrow streets, 440+ bridges), and the need for safety reporting, data transparency, labor transition support, and municipal consultation. Strassburger argued that existing state law (Act 130 of 2022) is "state focused" and "cuts out municipalities from decision making." The resolution was adopted unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- NFL Draft Vendor Inclusion: Multiple speakers, including William Marshall, Andrea Jones (Margo Marshall), Rev. John Welch, Aniece Pettite, and William Anderson (Allegheny County Democratic Black Caucus), urged the Council to ensure Black-owned small businesses are included in the upcoming NFL Draft. Marshall stated the permit for his "Pittsburgh Draft Bash" had been stalled and that Black vendors need to be able to share in the money coming into the city. Anderson argued that with an estimated $215 to $250 million in economic impact, African Americans must not be excluded from entrepreneurial opportunities. Several speakers expressed frustration with the lack of response from elected officials.
- Driverless Vehicles & Rideshare Jobs: Lawanda Adams, a member of 32BJ and a rideshare driver, expressed strong support for the will of council but urged stronger proactive measures. She stated that autonomous vehicles threaten to displace thousands of essential transportation workers, many who are immigrants and people of color, and argued Pittsburgh's terrain is too challenging for safe robotaxi operation without thorough public hearings. Rick Smith supported the resolution, suggesting future iterations include an accounting of economic leakage from local to non-local economies.
- Immigration Enforcement & ICE Cooperation: Reverend Dr. John Welch challenged earlier remarks from a speaker who opposed non-cooperation, arguing the issue is about the tactics of an "unregulated law enforcement group." Another speaker stated opposition to cooperating with ICE, labeling the agency a "new name of the Nazis." Bethani Cameron of Inform Up.org presented community survey data showing 78% support for the amendment preventing visiting police officers from participating in immigration enforcement.
- Community Safety & Infrastructure: William Satterwhite asked the Council to address missing steps on city steps in the Lincoln-Lemington area for safety reasons. Several speakers addressed unruly youth behavior downtown and called for targeted youth programs and economic incentives to give young people "something to look forward to."
Key Outcomes & Final Actions
- Appointments Approved (Unanimous): John McClory was confirmed as Director of the Department of Public Works, Jeff Skalican as Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, and Helen Cestra to the Historic Review Commission for a term expiring January 1, 2028.
- Public Safety & Wellness Committee: Final passage of a $20,000 contract with North Star Leadership LLC for police supervisor development and training (2026-0252) and a $45,000 per year (three-year) contract with Attorney Alec B. Wright for legal services for the Citizen Police Review Board (2026-0253). Both passed 9-0.
- Public Works & Infrastructure Committee: Final passage of several contracts including a $1.36 million design supplement for the California Avenue Bridge project (2026-0302), a $178,939 supplement for Penn Ave Phase 2 reconstruction services (2026-0259), and an ordinance allowing overhead wires on Kinsman Road and Worth Street (2026-0261). The eminent domain resolution for Andover Terrace (2026-0260) to acquire easements for repair and support passed 8-0 with Council President Lavelle abstaining. Warrants for emergency snow removal totaling $591,167 were also approved.
- Human Resources Committee: Final passage of a $23,413 software maintenance agreement with Versaterm for the Office of Municipal Investigations' case-management system (2026-0250) and a $30,000 agreement with the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh for fair housing testing and technical assistance (2026-0251). Both passed 9-0.
- Recreation, Youth & Senior Services Committee: Final passage of a resolution (2026-0268) transferring properties in Upper Lawrenceville to become permanent passive open space as part of the Allegheny River Greenway. Passed 9-0.
- Intergovernmental & Educational Affairs Committee: Final passage of several items, including adding $157,175 for Land Bank personnel to PAYGO funding (2026-0254), lobbying contract extensions with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney ($589k over 10 yrs) and Malady & Wooten ($627k over 10 yrs, 3 months), and an amended intergovernmental police cooperation agreement for the 2026 NFL Draft (2026-0290). Passed 9-0.
- Legislative Referrals: New legislation was introduced and referred to committees, including a capital budget transfer for slope failure remediation ($134,831), land bank acquisitions in Ward 9, and a temporary parking enforcement ordinance for the NFL Draft (2026-0312) which was waived under Rule 8.
Upcoming Schedule
The Council announced an executive session on litigation matters later that afternoon, a special Finance and Law committee meeting on the budget reopening, and a briefing on the Pittsburgh Water Customer Assistance Program for the following day (April 1). Council offices will be closed on Friday, April 3, in observance of Good Friday.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the regular meeting of City Council on Tuesday, March thirty first, two thousand twenty six. Mr. Codhill. Ms. Gross. Mr. Mosley. Here. Mr. Salonetra. Here. Mrs. Strasberger. Here. Mrs. Warwick. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Lavelle President. Here. Five members present. For those who are able, please rise for a Pledge of Allegiance. During our moment of silence, please keep uh Councilwoman Warwick and her family in prayer as they deal with the passing of her mother. Thank you. Our next order of business is to amend the agenda. Is there a motion to amend? So move. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Our next order of business is going to be public comment. I would like to remind everyone with Oh, so I apologize. Our next order of business is actually we have a will of counsel from Councilwoman Strasberger. Do you want it? Autonomous vehicles. In the entirety. Yes, please. Councilperson Strasburger presents, whereas autonomous or driverless vehicles are expanding rapidly in cities across the United States with multiple companies now operating or testing commercial robotaxi services in dense urban environments. And whereas Pittsburgh has served as a proving ground for autonomous vehicle technology since 2016, when Uber's advanced technology group began testing on city streets, followed by Argo AI, Aurora Innovation Active, and most recently Waymo, which began manual test drives in Pittsburgh in December 2025 and secured a Penn Dot certificate of compliance in early 2026. And whereas Pittsburgh's transportation network includes steep hills, narrow neighborhood streets, over 440 bridges, aging infrastructure, heavy pedestrian and cyclist traffic, and challenging winter weather conditions that present unique considerations for the safe deployment of autonomous vehicles. And whereas, since 2021, autonomous vehicles operating nationally have been involved in reported crashes, roadway obstructions, and software-related incidents, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened multiple investigations into autonomous vehicle safety. And whereas federal oversight alone has not fully addressed localized concerns related to safety, labor displacement, traffic operations, emergency response coordination, and municipal planning associated with autonomous vehicle deployment. And whereas thousands of workers in the Pittsburgh region depend on driving-based employment, including taxi, rideshare, and delivery services, and the city of Pittsburgh has among the highest rates of taxi and ride hailing commuting of any major U.S. city, making the local workforce particularly sensitive to chart to changes in this sector. And whereas Pittsburgh is also home to a significant autonomous vehicle research and development sector, with companies including Aurora Innovation and Waymo maintaining substantial local operations, and the industry has created an estimated 6,300 jobs in the Western Pennsylvania region since 2015. And whereas Pennsylvania currently lacks a comprehensive statewide regulatory framework governing autonomous vehicle deployment, safety reporting requirements, data transparency, labor impact mitigation, and coordination with municipal governments. And whereas state level regulation would provide clarity, accountability, and consistency while ensuring that municipalities like Pittsburgh retain a meaningful role in protecting public safety, planning for infrastructure impacts and supporting affected workers. And whereas a formal review process conducted by the Commonwealth would allow policymakers to evaluate real-world safety data, labor market effects, infrastructure readiness, and equity considerations before allowing the widespread commercial deployment of autonomous rideshare vehicles. And now therefore now, therefore be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby calls on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to investigate and establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and guidelines for driverless ride share vehicles operating in Pittsburgh and throughout the Commonwealth, including provisions for safety reporting, data transparency, labor transition support, and municipal consultation and infrastructure impact assessment.
openpublica.com