Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees Meeting - April 20, 2026

The City of Pittsburgh's Standing Committees met on Monday, April 20, 2026, at 1:30 PM in Council Chambers. All nine council members were present. The meeting covered routine approvals, public comment, and substantive discussions on youth sports infrastructure, grant applications, NFL Draft funding, and a budget amendment. Several resolutions were recommended favorably to full council.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Ronald Lynn Miller spoke about his ongoing concerns regarding local government primacy, citing a book on football and brain health. He advocated for Pittsburgh City Libraries to hold presidential papers, requested pay for translators of his books (listing African Hausa, Asian Nahongo, Japanese, South American Espanol, and European Deutsch), and urged the city to establish a sister city relationship with an African nation. He also mentioned founding the Pittsburgh City Aline Network and the World Neighborhood Network, claiming they include invitations for immigration of 200,000 to 300,000 people.
• Rick Smith (North Oakland, District 8) thanked Councilperson Warwick for a proclamation recognizing Ann Belser and East End Print, and commended council members for budget work, including Councilperson Gross (food and privacy), Warwick (fleet protection), Strassburger (climate action and periodic budget reviews), and Coghill (managing costs of the comprehensive plan). He noted a discrepancy in the number of vendors to be added under agenda item 392 (as printed: 58 vendors; supporting document: 12 vendors) and expressed concern about the cap increase to $226 million, requesting clarity on the underlying Resolution 389 of 2025, which he could not find online.

Discussion Items

• Finance and Law Committee – Approved four settlement warrants (Joseph Knitz – $85,000; Foster & Foster – $17,850; Sargent’s Court Reporting – $11,078.50; Ronald Talarico – $17,726) and a capital budget amendment (Bill 370) transferring $50,000 from Facility Improvements – City Facilities to Lower Heths Run. A technical amendment corrected the JDE number; it was noted the money was always intended for that purpose. Also approved invoices, P-cards (with an explanation from the budget director about two large P-card charges: Blue Pearl Pet Hospital totaling $6,400 for separate animal services, and Pittsburgh Tire Service totaling $9,422 for heavy equipment tires), intradepartmental transfers ($1,470 for a chair for City Planning), and P-card reports.
• Public Works and Infrastructure Committee –
  • Bill 388 (Smithfield Street Reconstruction): Amended reimbursement agreement with PennDOT, increasing by $236,000 to a total not to exceed $10,126,000, 80% reimbursable; municipal share $45,000 (no increase). Approved.
  • Bill 300 (Emergency Snow Removal – A. Folino Construction, $481,320): Held in committee for two weeks because a detailed invoice had not been received; the director said they had called but got no response and would follow up.
  • Bill 335 (Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory chapter renumbering): Approved.
  • Bill 354 (Donation from Laborer’s District Council – $300,000 for scoreboards at youth sports fields): Approved with brief discussion. Chief of Staff Dan Gilman noted the donation will fund approximately 10 new scoreboards this year.
  • Bill 355 (Pirates Charities grant – $300,000 for youth baseball/softball field upgrades): Extensive discussion. Chief Gilman explained the funds would provide new DuraEdge infield mix, home plate tarps, portable mounds, hitting pads, and a laser grader for the city. Approximately 20 fields will be improved this year. Councilmembers asked about drainage, specific fields (McGee, Heths), and the possibility of turf infields. Gilman stated baseball should be played on dirt for safety and environmental reasons, but if this approach proves insufficient, other materials may be considered. Councilman Mosley praised the partnership and suggested a Major League Baseball Urban Youth Academy. Approved.
  • Bill 356 (DCNR grant – Emerald View Park Tree Implementation, $500,000 total, 50/50 match): Approved.
  • Bill 357 (DCNR grant – Three Rivers Heritage Trail repaving, $500,000 total, 50/50 match): Approved.
  • Bill 358 (DCNR grant – Fort Pitt Park renovation, $1,000,000 total, 50/50 match): Approved.
  • Bill 359 (University of Pittsburgh grant – $5,000,000 for parks, capital improvements, URA Main Street, public safety, etc.): Discussion about flexibility and transparency. Councilwoman Gross expressed concern that a large, undefined fund should require council approval for specific expenditures. Chief Gilman assured that future spending would be included in the annual budget process and reported to council. Approved.
  • Bill 360 (Agreement with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson for RAISE grant construction inspection, $1,116,034.87, 80% reimbursable): Approved.
  • Bill 369 (DCNR grant – Allegheny Riverfront Trail Connectivity Planning, $100,000 total, 50/50 match): Approved with technical amendment correcting JDE number.
• Human Resources Committee – Approved Bills 347 ($320,000 for 2025 Pittsburgh Partnership Employment Program) and 348 ($3,828,594 for Joint Jobs Initiative EARN program).
• Land Use and Economic Development Committee – Bill 320 (Capital budget amendment moving $400,000 from Facility Improvements – Recreation and Senior Centers to Remediation of Condemned Buildings). Councilwoman Gross explained the funds were expiring federal money, and she could not vote yes because it removed all funding for Bloomfield Park improvements, but she understood the urgency. Approved 8-1 (one no from Gross).
• Innovation, Performance, Asset Management, and Technology Committee – Bill 349 (Warrant for InsightSoftware, $5,499.90 for auditing technology services): Approved.
• Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs Committee –
  • Bill 350 (Amendment to NFL Draft Funding Agreement with VisitPITTSBURGH): Resolution authorizing receipt of up to $2 million from VisitPITTSBURGH for reimbursement of certain city expenses from the 2026 NFL Draft, amending the prior agreement that authorized up to $1 million in city funds over three years. Extensive discussion on financial impact. Chief Gilman and Finance Director Jennifer Gulla clarified that the $2 million is a state grant to reimburse overtime and other draft-related expenses; the city had already committed $1 million. Projected overtime costs are about $1.8 million, leaving a $200,000 buffer. Councilmembers noted that the city will not see a direct financial boon – revenue from parking tax, local services tax, etc., is expected to be minimal, possibly a wash. The goal is exposure. Councilman Coghill stated there is a verbal agreement that if costs exceed $2 million, the state will cover the overage. Approved.
  • Bill 351 (Acceptance of deed from Pittsburgh Regional Transit for parkland at Brookline Memorial Park, no cost): Approved.
  • Bill 352 (Agreement with Housing Authority of Pittsburgh for tree planting and trail establishment, city cost not to exceed $1): Approved.
  • Bill 353 (Approval of URA land sale to GaiaScape LLC for Rosetta Street parcels, no cost): Approved.
• Post-Agenda – Councilman Mosley moved to schedule a post-agenda hearing on “flash crowd disturbances, also known as teen takeovers and flash mobs.” The motion was approved.

Key Outcomes

• All Finance and Law items (Bills 361-364, 370, invoices, P-cards, transfers) received affirmative recommendation.
• Public Works and Infrastructure Bills 388, 335, 354-360, 369 all recommended affirmatively; Bill 300 held for two weeks pending invoice detail.
• Human Resources Bills 347 and 348 recommended affirmatively.
• Land Use Bill 320 recommended affirmatively (8-1).
• Innovation Bill 349 recommended affirmatively.
• Intergovernmental Bills 350-353 recommended affirmatively.
• Post-agenda hearing on teen takeovers scheduled.
• The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at 10:00 AM; the next standing committees meeting is Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 10:00 AM.