OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Standing Committees Meeting – April 29, 2026

City CouncilWednesday, April 29, 2026
BodyPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, April 29, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
9:07

Good morning, and welcome to the standing committee's meeting for men Monday or for two Wednesday, April twenty ninth, twenty twenty-six.

9:17

All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website.

9:20

And for guest speakers, please do not turn off your microphones.

9:26

Clerk, please take the role.

10:00

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, and profanity will not be permitted.

10:09

Please state your name and neighborhood for the record.

10:11

You will have three minutes to speak.

10:14

We have no registered speakers, so are there any speakers who wish to come to the podium?

10:42

Good morning.

10:43

Council of Selective Urcy.

10:48

Council of Unequal Attention.

10:52

Counsel of dismissed voices.

11:08

Just dressed up in better language.

11:11

And unsupervised policies.

11:15

And I'm not here just to sit quietly and watch it repeat.

11:19

I'm here to make sure my story is on public record.

11:23

And I'm going to fight with everything I have to make sure people in power do not keep getting away with what's been allowed generation after generation.

11:34

When is it going to stop?

11:36

Because when I'm living through right now, this isn't confusion.

11:42

This isn't miscommunication.

11:44

This is discrimination.

11:52

And then it just disappeared.

11:54

The only answer I get is that it was rescinded and I'm back on the list for others to pick me up.

12:01

It's been five months now, and I still have no results, no real answers, and then I have another CEO lying on me, lying on me, and nothing happens.

12:15

Nothing.

12:16

It feels like being told to follow the rules, then watching the rules change the moment you do.

12:22

It feels like the ground being pulled from under you the moment you thought you finally were able to stand.

12:29

I'm tired of the systems that work perfectly when it's time to deny us, but suddenly break down when it's time to help us.

12:39

If a signed agreement can disappear, then your word means nothing.

12:45

If a CEO can lie and face no consequences, then your titles mean nothing.

12:54

If I can stand here and tell you all of this and still be told nothing can be done, then what exactly are y'all here for?

13:04

And nobody's here, so obviously nothing.

13:08

Because nothing can be done if not an answer.

13:11

It's an excuse.

13:13

And excuses do not house families, excuses do not protect children, excuses do not fix harm.

13:21

They protect the people who caused it.

13:24

So I'm putting it on record.

13:26

A housing offer was made and then taken after I signed.

13:30

No one told me why.

13:38

A domestic violence survivor.

13:40

This is allowed in Pittsburgh.

13:44

Thank you.

13:46

Thank you.

13:47

Next speaker, please.

13:55

Good morning.

13:56

Cerese Taylor, the missing child.

13:59

Now known as Special Agent Sunshine.

14:11

How is God serving his purpose through you?

14:15

Before starting your day, say this prayer.

14:18

Lord, I choose your way.

14:20

Accomplish your will in me.

14:22

Whatever it takes.

14:26

When you do, things will happen in your life that you never expected.

14:31

God will bless you beyond all measure.

14:34

That comes from Galatians 6 9.

14:39

What can you do for God?

14:43

Everybody got their hand out again again again again again again.

14:46

It's all about me getting given again.

14:50

I do a lot.

14:54

With nothing, I still tithe.

14:56

With no job, no bank account, no credit cards.

15:00

I still tithe.

15:02

Somebody gives me five dollars.

15:04

That's 50 cents.

15:05

That's my tithe.

15:06

If you don't know how to tithe, it's 10% of your increase, whatever it is.

15:11

It doesn't have to go to a church.

15:13

It can go in a tip jar.

15:15

It can go to somebody laying on the street.

15:18

However, you see fit.

15:20

Please give God his 10%.

15:23

Everything that you have comes from him.

15:25

Why would you not want to give him his 10%?

15:29

It's only 10%.

15:35

Ecclesiastes 8 8 says.

16:10

So you can all go because you have to go.

16:12

You're in the way of these future generation of children.

16:15

They will not be practicing voodoo of any size, shape, or form in Jesus' name.

16:22

Freedom in Christ.

16:24

Galatians 5 1 says, it is for, it is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

16:30

Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

16:38

Which is why I don't have a real job.

16:40

My job is I work for the Lord.

16:43

I come out here and be a blessing.

16:45

Because that's the only way I know how to get one.

16:48

Doesn't take an hour to preach that.

16:50

So there it is.

16:52

I love y'all.

16:53

Thank you, Lord, for using me as a vessel to do your will, not mine.

16:56

In Jesus' name, amen.

17:01

Thank you.

17:02

Next speaker, please.

17:12

Good morning.

17:13

My name is Yavon F.

17:14

Brown.

17:15

Well, we're all the councilpersons.

17:17

You're the only one here.

17:18

Only this only one.

17:23

See, I don't understand how they're getting away with it.

17:26

I don't understand how they're getting away with it.

17:28

They can stay home.

17:29

What did they call in?

17:30

I missed it.

17:32

But I started off today.

17:34

I was gonna say, I came down with happy.

17:39

I'm happy.

17:40

And the reason why I am, you see the shirt.

17:42

That's what the fathers to take the sons, take the fathers to church.

17:47

I mean school.

17:49

This is the shirt that they had given us.

17:53

This is the church that they had given us.

17:55

And then special agent.

17:59

You know what God is good because I got a chance to talk to all of the men.

18:04

That commit committee, I went to the main ones, and I said that the teenagers, the kids are beating people up on the bus, and they need to go down to Rock and Square.

18:17

That they come to the school, they go to the school.

18:20

And I said, God is good because you're getting ready to go to the school.

18:24

They said the 18th.

18:25

And I said, Well, you talk to the children.

18:28

Tell them you know what you're doing.

18:30

And the one man said, one um man said that he'll be up in Peri High School.

18:36

He said, he will make uh Nostrum on the PA.

18:40

Now, they've done a good job, and they do go into the schools, these fathers do.

18:46

And some that are surrogate fathers.

18:50

But what I'm saying is that I'm telling them, and they agree, that we need to have the men ride the bus if they're fighting the people.

18:59

We also need for women, and I have said to Dr.

19:03

Brown that if they started a list that maybe we could have the names of what days you could come down just to be there with the children.

19:11

Sometimes they do need an adult to be there.

19:15

Because if they're not, they're just doing what they want to and saying what they want to.

19:20

Whereas if we have an adult, they will listen.

19:23

Some of them will, but we still need for the ones that don't listen for the men to be on the bus.

19:30

And they said that they were gonna be making an announcements.

19:34

So if any of you parents want to come down, you can call our president, Mr.

19:43

Lavelle, and leave your name and number.

19:46

And I'm sure someone in his office can find out what you want to do in what days.

19:50

So please, and I thank God that those men came yesterday because I got a chance to tell them something that they need to do.

20:00

They've done a good job of going to the school.

20:01

Now let's protect the people in the city.

20:05

And I thank you.

20:06

Thank you.

20:07

Thank you.

20:08

I am so happy.

20:09

You really don't realize because we're losing our children.

20:12

We're losing them one by one.

20:16

They're killing each other.

20:18

They're fighting the older people.

20:20

We have to get the men.

20:22

A lot of times that's what they need for a man to speak.

20:26

But we women can also try to speak to the young girls.

20:29

We can tell them that this is I mean, why are you doing this?

20:33

Would you want someone to do it to your family?

20:36

But I do want you to know when I'm coming down here and I'm fussing, I'm fighting for the children.

20:42

I'm on now.

20:44

Hey, I ain't got that long to be here.

20:46

But our children, they are our future.

20:49

And we must we must um contrive to control them.

20:54

Thank you.

20:55

Next speaker, please.

20:58

Are there any further speakers?

21:01

Seeing no further speaker speakers, we will move on to our standing committee's agenda.

21:07

Our first committee is the Finance and Law Committee.

21:10

Deferred Papers, Bill 16.

21:13

Ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title II, Fiscal Article 5, Special Funds to add a new chapter 239 fleet vehicle fund to create a fleet vehicle fund to fully fund the City of Pittsburgh's fleet needs and establish the purposes for which monies in the fund may be used.

21:32

Motion to approve discussion.

21:34

Second.

21:35

For discussion, Councilmember Warwick.

21:37

Yeah, I'd like to hold this for I'd like to motion to hold this for 12 weeks, please.

21:43

Second.

21:44

Discussion.

21:45

Seeing none, all those in favor of uh holding Bill 16 for 12 weeks, please say aye.

21:52

Aye.

21:52

Aye.

21:53

Bill will be held.

21:54

New papers, Bill 391.

21:56

Resolution amending resolution 390 of 2025, which authorized 93 opened and professional service agreements with multiple vendors to provide on-call professional services as needed by the various departments of the city of Pittsburgh, with each agreement being at an amount not to exceed $750,000 annually for a three-year term by authorizing an additional 58 agreements for an updated total of 151 open and professional services agreements.

22:25

Motion to approve.

22:30

Second discussion.

22:36

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 391, please say aye.

22:41

Aye.

22:42

Aye.

22:44

Affirmative recommendation.

22:45

Bill 392.

22:53

Resolution amending resolution 389 of 2025, which authorized 93 open and professional services agreements with multiple vendors to provide on-call professional services as needed by the various departments of the city of Pittsburgh, with each agreement being at an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 annually for a three-year term by authorizing an additional 58 agreements for an updated total of 151 opened and professional services agreements.

23:27

Second discussion.

23:31

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 392, please say aye.

23:36

Aye.

23:37

Affirmative recommendation, Bill 393.

23:40

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of you Sean Liu and an amount not to exceed $6,084 and 75 cents over one year in full and final settlement of a claim for damage to his park vehicle on carryway from a city ES vehicle on November 13, 2025.

23:59

Motion to approve.

24:01

Second.

24:02

Discussion.

24:04

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 393, please say aye.

24:08

Aye.

24:09

Aye.

24:09

Affirmative recommendation, Bill 394.

24:12

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of exponent inc for a single payment in 2026 and an amount not to exceed 16,275.50 cents.

24:23

And for professional services related to litigation filed in the common police court of Allegheny County.

24:32

Second.

24:33

Discussion.

24:35

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 394, please say aye.

24:39

Aye.

24:39

Aye.

24:40

Aye.

24:41

Affirmative recommendation, Bill 395.

24:44

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Robert Mahouski and his legal counsel, Samuel J.

25:00

Cords and Associates for a single payment in 2026 in an amount not to exceed 101,256 and 25 cent as payment in satisfaction of the terms evidenced by the private agreement executed on the fourth day of August 2023 and for the full and final closure of the litigation file in the common police court of Allegheny County.

25:10

Motion to approve.

25:14

Second.

25:15

Discussion.

25:17

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 395, please say aye.

25:22

Aye.

25:22

Affirmative recommendation.

25:24

Bill 396.

25:26

Resolution designating banks and lending institutions to act as depositories for the years 2026, 2027, and 2028 in accordance with the Pittsburgh Code, Title II Fiscal Article III depositories.

25:41

Motion to approve with discussion.

25:44

Second.

25:45

Second with discussion, Council President Laval.

25:47

Sure.

25:47

I just want to thank the controller's office, Director Goula, Councilman Strassberger, Councilman Wilson, and all those involved with the committee who put the work in to bring these recommendations forward.

26:02

Also just want to say per discussion that we had around the table, there's interest to try to also find a way to get dollars into credit unions and other smaller lending institutions.

26:15

And so I've been beginning to draft legislation towards that end.

26:19

And so I will share that with members as it begins to take fruition.

26:24

Further discussion.

26:29

Appreciate all the work that all parties at the table have done and appreciate the that future work as well.

26:37

Seeing no further discussion, all those in favor of Bill 396, please say aye.

26:42

Aye.

26:44

Affirmative affirmative recommendation.

26:46

Bill 399.

26:48

Resolution amending resolution 197 of 2025, which authorized 92 open and professional services agreements with multiple vendors to provide professional services on an on-call basis is required related to various professional services as needed by the various departments of the City of Pittsburgh, each agreement being at an amount not to exceed $750,000 annually for three-year term and providing for funding of the cost thereof by authorizing 39 additional agreements for a new total of 131 open and professional services agreements.

27:21

Motion to approve.

27:24

Second.

27:25

Discussion.

27:28

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 399, please say aye.

27:32

Aye.

27:33

Aye.

27:33

Aye.

27:34

Affirmative recommendation, Bill 400.

27:36

Resolution amending resolution 196 of 2025, which authorized 92 open end professional services agreements with multiple vendors to provide professional services on an on-call basis as required related to various professional services as needed by the various departments of the City of Pittsburgh, each agreement being at an amount not to exceed $1,500,000 annually for three-year term and providing for funding of the cost thereof by authorizing 39 additional agreements for a new total of 131 open and professional services agreements.

28:10

Motion to approve.

28:12

Second.

28:13

Second.

28:14

Discussion.

28:16

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 400, please say aye.

28:21

Aye.

28:22

Aye.

28:22

Affirmative recommendation.

28:24

That moves us on to invoices.

28:27

Is there a motion on invoices?

28:30

Motion to approve.

28:34

Second.

28:35

Discussion.

28:38

Seeing none, all those in favor of invoices, please say aye.

28:43

Aye.

28:43

Aye.

28:43

Aye.

28:44

Affirmative invoices are approved.

28:47

That takes us to P cards.

28:48

Is there a motion on P cards?

28:50

Motion to approve.

28:54

Second.

28:55

Discussion.

28:57

Seeing none, all those in favor of P cards, please say aye.

29:02

Aye.

29:02

Aye.

29:03

P cards are approved.

29:05

That takes us to public safety and wellness committee chaired by Councilman Coghill.

29:09

Bill 383.

29:11

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of PFM Group Consulting LLC for payment for professional services rendered in the Act 111 interest arbitration between the City of Pittsburgh and a fraternal order of police for an amount not to exceed $90,588.24 cent over one year.

29:32

Is there a motion?

29:33

Motion to approve.

29:34

Second.

29:35

Discussion.

29:37

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 383, please say aye.

29:42

Aye.

29:44

Affirmative recommendation.

29:45

That moves us to the public works and infrastructure committee chaired by Councilwoman Salonetro.

29:50

Bill 387.

29:52

Resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the finance to enter into an easement agreement or agreements with Duquesne Light Company for the installation of one poll and one anchor on city owned parcel ID 76D 102.

30:07

Second.

30:09

Discussion.

30:10

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 387, please say aye.

30:14

Aye.

30:14

Aye.

30:15

Affirmative recommendation.

30:17

Bill 389.

30:21

Resolution authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Public Works and or the Director of the Department of Finance to enter into an agreement or agreements with the Student Conservation Association for the purpose of volunteer services provided by the CSCA, resulting in improving the City of Pittsburgh's environmental conservation at no cost to the city.

30:44

Discussion.

30:51

Yes, is someone here to discuss this.

31:04

Come up here, right?

31:06

You come up here.

31:08

Oh Theresa.

31:09

Hi Lisa.

31:11

You're doing a great job for me, by the way.

31:14

You really are please introduce me.

31:24

Okay, Lisa Toffee, City Forester.

31:26

I'm here.

31:27

Joanna Lemon with the Student Conservation Association.

31:32

Thank you so much for being here.

31:51

Sure.

31:53

So Joanna Lemon with the Student Conservation Association.

31:58

And I'm the partnership manager for our organization.

32:02

And just as some background, we're a national organization that supports young people working in conservation jobs.

32:12

So we hire young people around the country between the ages of 14 and 35 for service jobs in public spaces.

32:42

Most of them are trail projects as well as small infrastructure projects, tree plantings, and tree maintenance.

32:53

Those are the primary categories that we work in.

33:20

So every year, spring, summer, and fall, we complete projects for the city that are needed in an alignment with the sustainability plans for each park.

33:32

And we work with park managers to make sure that those projects are getting done appropriately.

33:42

And so right now we're we're hoping to enter into a long-term agreement so that the flow of information and the flow of communication is just easier for us.

33:56

Right now we have to do permission letters submitted to the city of Pittsburgh and DBW.

34:05

They look at that permission letter and they assign that to us for every single project we do.

34:10

So there's a lot of back and forth that happens between me, our our team of agreements folks, and the city just to do a few pretty basic projects every year.

34:34

And then from there, what we would do is we'd still communicate with our park managers and folks at DPW to say what projects do you need done?

34:44

Then they would tell us and we'd add it to a work plan that we'd we would submit every year.

34:53

Well I uh very much appreciate it and thanks for explaining that.

34:57

This makes a lot of sense to me.

35:00

Ums we need all the help that we can get uh you know to do everything that we need public works to give.

35:08

So um thank you for you know being able to bring other people in and pitch in.

35:15

Um very thankful for for the efforts here and um we can also if I could throw a pitch in with always use your help in South Side Park.

35:24

So yeah, we're typically in South Side Park.

35:28

Um we work alongside the friends group um every season.

35:31

Yes.

35:32

So yeah.

35:32

That's what I thought.

35:33

Yeah.

35:35

All right.

35:36

Uh that's all for me.

35:37

Thank you, Madam Chair.

35:38

Thank you.

35:38

Councilman Wilson, and then Councilman Cockel.

35:41

Yeah, I just want to uh say that I'm really happy to see this resolution here because I know the good work that you and your team uh accomplish at SCA.

35:52

And uh, you know, all the great work that you do at Riverview Park is very much appreciated.

35:59

And uh looking forward to seeing what you can what else what else happens in the future with this with this organization.

36:05

So thank you.

36:07

Thank you.

36:08

Yeah, Councilman Coghew.

36:10

Thank you.

36:10

Thank you, madam chair.

36:11

Uh welcome Joanna.

36:13

Julian, and welcome Joanna.

36:15

Hi Lisa.

36:16

So you mentioned trail building.

36:18

Yeah, so uh I have trail building going on in one of my um greenways, seldom seen.

36:24

I didn't know.

36:25

Are you involved in that at all?

36:27

Yeah, we have been involved in the greenway since before it was a park.

36:31

Correct.

36:32

Um and yeah, we we work alongside land force and the parking lot of the city.

36:37

Land forces, yeah.

36:38

Yep.

36:38

Um so we kind of split up which which projects need to get done and do the maintenance there for that.

36:44

It's fantastic.

36:45

I grew up in those woods, honestly.

36:47

I you know, as a kid building shacks and running around, but uh it's a huge area, and they're really making some serious improvements.

36:54

There are people though that are concerned when we s although they planted hundreds of trees, hundreds, which are beautiful.

37:01

And they took out like this weeded, I don't know, just heavy brush area that used to be.

37:07

You couldn't even walk through there.

37:09

And they got trees everywhere and steps going up.

37:12

It's very challenging.

37:12

I mean, it's a it's it's a long walk up the hill.

37:16

So um I love the work that they do.

37:19

I love the work that you do.

37:20

And you'll sometimes put half a dozen people on a project or something like that.

37:26

Um our youth crews, which are ages 14 to 18, are typically 10 10 youth and two adult leaders between the ages of the leaders are between the ages of 21 and 35.

37:37

Yeah, so you carry insurance on them if they're going over cliffs and things like that, right?

37:42

So okay.

37:43

Yeah.

37:43

And no cost to the city, your coordination.

37:46

Yeah.

37:46

Well, the coordination may be back and forth, but uh, you know, that's okay.

37:51

I think also too, this is this agreement sort of is an example of how future agreements with other nonprofits can work because again, every single project requires a letter of you know, some type of of a letter from a director giving approval, and we're looking to work earlier to get a work plan for the entire year together, and as projects come up that we feel would be also good candidates, we can just sort of insert those.

38:15

But it just would be you know a blanket type agreement, which is what we'd like to do for some other groups too.

38:20

Right.

38:20

And and one of your priorities, Joanna is planting trees.

38:24

Yeah, we have um support and funding from DC and R that has made a huge push on urban forestry.

38:32

Um and so our spring team is fully funded by DCNR to basically increase the tree canopy, and we do that through our workforce.

38:41

So trees come from different places like Tree Pittsburgh and the city, and we um we train people to put them in the ground and maintain them and make sure they stay alive.

38:50

That's really cool.

38:51

Maybe I could work you in on um an orchard that I have.

38:55

Yeah.

38:55

And yeah, probably 40 or so trees there.

38:58

It's constant weed and constant, you know, um whatever.

39:02

Your wood chips, thank you very much.

39:04

So I might need another load.

39:05

I'll call you on that, right?

39:07

But uh and and I love what they dumped a load there, it was huge.

39:11

And it covered the entire area, at least.

39:13

So something like that again.

39:14

We had to move it from there, but uh maybe we can get the kids to move it next to you.

39:18

So yeah.

39:19

Yeah, we're always looking for good project work for the youth.

39:22

So if something came up impromptu like that.

39:26

Do you have to go through a bunch of channels to get it all organized and or is it just like, hey, yeah, we'll go out to the orchard tomorrow?

39:33

It depends.

39:34

For us, we uh right now we're planning our summer season and we'll have four crews out in the parks.

39:41

Um and then fall we'll we'll definitely have a team of fall youth as well.

39:45

So for us it's just getting it on the calendar.

39:48

This agreement will allow us way less back and forth because it's like, okay, we've already got in place like the city says we're allowed to work in these places and we have that permission with this 10-year agreement.

40:00

So then it's just a matter of the case.

40:01

Yeah, good, good.

40:01

So if it's something that you you would entertain, yes.

40:04

Um, like I say, whatever um we'll call it cleaning up the orchard.

40:09

Um I mean you you put it in the system and then we schedule it, and then you know, at some point we'll um yeah, yeah.

40:17

Things come up all the time.

40:18

We just got a request to do something in Riverview Park with a trail, and it was a perfect project.

40:22

We were thinking, well, okay, this would work out well.

40:24

So I think also, too, there's sort of a hopefully a push towards renaturalizing some of the spaces we have by planting them instead of mowing.

40:32

Okay and going in and we do, you know, looking at removal of invasives and replanting with the correct.

40:37

That's what I saw at Seldom C.

40:39

It was amazing with this area that they took that I've always known from when I was a child, it was like just space by space.

40:45

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

40:46

Yeah, it was incredible.

40:47

Hundreds and hundreds of trees there.

40:49

So um so great work on of course some full support and look forward to working with you, Diana.

40:54

So thanks for being here.

40:55

Yeah, let us know if there's any projects in your districts.

40:58

We'll be happy to add them.

41:00

Yeah.

41:00

Okay.

41:01

Great.

41:03

Thank you.

41:04

Any further discussion?

41:07

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 389, please say aye.

41:12

Aye.

41:12

Affirmative recommendation.

41:13

Thank you both.

41:14

Thank you.

41:14

Thank you.

41:16

That moves us to land use and economic development committee chaired by Councilman Wilson.

41:21

Bill 390, resolution further amending resolution 863 of 2018, effective January 1, 2019, as amended entitled resolution adopting and approving the 2019 capital budget in a 2019 community development block grant program and a 2019 through 2024 capital improvement program.

41:40

So it's to reallocate 55,692 dollars and sixty cent of community development block grant cares act funding to two food banks and authorize a subsequent agreement or agreement.

41:51

Motion to approve.

41:54

Discussion.

41:56

Uh yeah, just a one quick question.

41:59

Um what is the money coming from?

42:04

Is there someone who can't do that?

42:06

Yeah, there's there's someone here.

42:07

Uh councilwoman.

42:10

We're just walking up right now.

42:23

Kelly Russell, Assistant Director of Community Development.

42:26

AJ Miller, program supervisor, community development.

42:29

Uh councilwoman, these are our C D C V C D C V funds.

42:34

Uh this bill was up a few weeks ago.

42:36

Unfortunately, there was a math error.

42:38

Uh so we're just correcting the $63 to make it the correct amount to spend on these funds before the deadline uh come June 1st.

42:47

Okay, so what was it allocated to you?

42:49

I just because I you know, just because I know that we're moving money around, so just to know what it was coming from.

42:55

Absolutely.

42:56

So this bill, uh, there's not actually new money moving from here.

43:01

We took the whole amount away from the previous projects and um did not add the whole amount to the new food banks.

43:09

That's why so we're just correcting that $63 that was off.

43:12

I switched a couple numbers around.

43:16

Oh, I see.

43:16

Okay, but can you remind what the money was coming from?

43:21

Yes, so this was coming from three separate projects that had not been able to use their CD funding.

43:29

Um so it was partner for work, I think an action housing, and there was a third one with a really small amount of money that I can pull up.

43:36

I'm sorry.

43:37

It sounds like it's neighbor, I'm sorry, neighborhood housing services.

43:41

Yes, thank you.

43:42

Neighbor works.

43:45

Okay, great.

43:46

Um I guess uh just just to sort of just um when when we organizations are sort of coming up against the deadline.

43:55

Is your office working with them to try and help them use the funds that they have or figure out a way to spend down the money that they're allocated so that we don't run into situations where we have to move it when they lose when they lose funding that they got?

44:11

Or did the organization say, you know what, we don't need this money, go ahead and something else.

44:17

No, for some of these organizations it was a combination of both where some spent down the funds but couldn't spend down all the funds, or some couldn't spend the funds, and we just wanted to make sure to make one move toward the end with these special funds, given this was COVID funding, so we could just kind of wrap it all up and kind of get it out the door, so to speak.

44:36

And if you I was just gonna say that's why we wanted to give the money to the food banks because they've done this before, especially with this being so far removed from COVID.

44:46

We had to make sure that uh how did how did she phrase it?

44:50

This is COVID funding, so it's not it doesn't just have all of the restrictions of our regular funding, it has extra restrictions.

44:57

Yes.

45:00

Um so it has to be and initially it was for responding to the uh pandemic, and now it has to be for preparing for future pandemics and preventing.

45:09

So that's why some of the organizations were not able to, they were awarded these large amounts and they were not able to justify the funding as COVID projects specifically, so they did relinquish them.

45:20

Right.

45:20

Got it, got it.

45:21

Okay, great.

45:22

No, that that's good, of course.

45:26

And then uh just just um I think I know the answer, but when we give money to the greater Pittsburgh community food bank, uh is that are those funds do they make sure that those funds are going to you know smaller food banks in the city or what whatever they're using it for that it's being used in the city?

45:48

Yes, they uh very strictly track all of their beneficiaries, make sure they are only city residents.

45:53

Um so what they're actually using this money for is the implementation of a new system that helps them better track their inventory, and they did a lot of math to figure out what percentage of that system benefits just their city of Pittsburgh science because uh our pantries located within the boundaries represent about sixteen percent of their partner pantries, but they keep really good data on making sure their beneficiaries are city residents.

46:21

Great, great, and then of course the you know big fan of the Spoiler Health that serves uh much behazilwood so okay, thank you.

46:30

Thank you.

46:31

Further discussion.

46:34

Seeing none, all those in favor of bill.

46:38

Sorry, scoot it on 390, please say aye.

46:42

Aye.

46:43

Aye.

46:44

Affirmative recommendation.

46:45

Thank you very much.

46:46

That moves us to innovation performance asset management and technology committee chaired by councilwoman gross.

46:52

Bill 384, resolution amending resolution 20 of 2025, which authorized the city of Pittsburgh to enter into a professional services agreement and or contracts with core business technologies for software, equipment, and services related to payment, processing, and cash hearing systems for the Department of Finance and the Bureau of Police by extending the contract by one year and increasing the approved amount by 104,172 and 75 cents for an amended total cost not to exceed 500,229.35 cents.

47:27

Second.

47:28

Discussion.

47:32

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 384, please say aye.

47:38

Aye.

47:38

Affirmative recommendation.

47:40

That moves us to intergovernmental and educational affairs committee chaired by councilman Mosley.

47:45

Bill 385 resolution adopting plan revision to the city of Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities plan for 3634 Penn Avenue at no cost to the city.

47:56

Motion to approve.

47:58

Second.

47:58

Discussion.

48:02

Council Woman.

48:03

Yes.

48:04

Hello.

48:07

Um, so I tried to reach out to Councilman Mosey, I wasn't able to reach him.

48:11

Um this project 3634 is a smaller relative for my committee about um project about 15 minutes, I believe.

48:21

Um, in Lawrenceville.

48:22

Um, everyone's really supportive of the project.

48:25

However, they have one last piece of paperwork to sign to complete the planning module.

48:31

And as you all know, I prefer that all of the other modules be complete before we approve the sewer modules.

48:37

And the last piece of the work that needs to be signed is actually their um agreement for the inclusionary zoning units.

48:44

I hope that many of you saw the the really heartwarming media this morning on WESA about the residents for moving into the brand new completed building of 280 units on Butler Street.

48:57

Um, and just how uh meaningful those affordable units are for the people who are moving.

49:03

Um back to Lawrenceville or um into Lawrenceville who really needed the affordable department.

49:09

So I'd like to just hold this one week.

49:11

I think that the paperwork is easily completed.

49:14

Um motion to hold one week.

49:17

Second.

49:18

Discussion.

49:20

Seeing none, all those in favor of a one-week hold for Bill 385, please say aye.

49:25

All right, aye.

49:26

Bill be held one week.

49:28

Thank you.

49:28

Bill 386.

49:30

Resolution approving and authorizing the mayor and the director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh to enter into a right-of-way license agreement or agreements with the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority in lieu of permits for the occupation of certain portions of the public right of way in the city of Pittsburgh.

49:50

Motion approved.

49:51

Second.

49:52

Discussion.

49:54

Seeing none, all those in favor of Bill 386, please say aye.

49:58

Aye.

49:59

Aye.

49:59

Aye.

50:00

Affirmative recommendation.

50:39

All in favor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████████████████████34%
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████21%
Housing███████████11%
Fiscal Sustainability██████████10%
Youth Programs████████8%
Community Engagement████████8%
Public Safety█████5%
Environmental Protection███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Standing Committees Meeting – April 29, 2026

The Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees met on April 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. Eight members were present (Council Members Wilson, Salinetro, Charland, Coghill, Warwick, Lavelle, Gross, Strassburger); Council Member Mosley was absent. The committees considered a deferred ordinance, numerous resolutions authorizing professional services agreements, claim settlements, depository designations, an easement, a volunteer services agreement, a CDBG-CV fund reallocation, a software contract extension, a sewage facilities plan revision, and a right-of-way license agreement. Public comment was heard from three individuals.

Consent Calendar

  • Invoices and P-Cards: A batch of departmental invoices and P-card approvals (weekly report 4/14/26-4/20/26) were approved.
  • 2026-0391 (Finance & Law): Amending Resolution 390 of 2025 to add 58 open-end professional services agreements (aggregate $750,000 each annually) for a total of 151 agreements. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0392 (Finance & Law): Amending Resolution 389 of 2025 to add 58 open-end professional services agreements (aggregate $1,500,000 each annually) for a total of 151 agreements. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0393 (Finance & Law): Settlement warrant for Yushan Liu, $6,084.75 for vehicle damage from a City ES vehicle on Nov. 13, 2025. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0394 (Finance & Law): Settlement warrant for Exponent, Inc., $16,275.50 for litigation services (Allegheny County GD 22-005855). Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0395 (Finance & Law): Settlement warrant for Robert Mahouski and counsel, $101,256.25 for litigation closure (GD 25-014112). Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0399 (Finance & Law): Amending Resolution 197 of 2025 to add 39 open-end professional services agreements ($750,000 each annually) for a total of 131. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0400 (Finance & Law): Amending Resolution 196 of 2025 to add 39 open-end professional services agreements ($1,500,000 each annually) for a total of 131. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0383 (Public Safety & Wellness): Warrant for PFM Group Consulting LLC, $90,588.24 for Act 111 interest arbitration between City and FOP. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0387 (Public Works & Infrastructure): Easement with Duquesne Light Company for one pole and anchor on city-owned parcel ID 76-D-1-0-2. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0384 (Innovation, Performance, Asset Management, & Technology): Amending contract with CORE Business Technologies for payment processing/cashiering systems; extending one year and increasing by $104,172.75 to a total not-to-exceed $500,229.35. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0386 (Intergovernmental & Educational Affairs): Right-of-way license agreement with ALCOSAN for occupation of public right-of-way. Affirmatively Recommended.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Unique Brown (neighborhood not stated): Expressed frustration about a housing offer that was made and then rescinded after signing, stating it felt like discrimination. She identified as a domestic violence survivor and criticized the system for protecting those in power rather than housing families.
  • Special Agent Sunshine (self-identified as Cerese Taylor, missing child): Delivered a religious message, encouraging tithing and prayer, and quoted scripture (Galatians 6:9, Galatians 5:1, Ecclesiastes 8:8).
  • Yvonne F. Brown: Praised a program involving fathers/surrogate fathers going into schools and urged that men ride school buses to stop fighting among students. She called for adults to be present on buses and asked parents to contact Council President Lavelle’s office to volunteer.

Discussion Items

  • 2026-0016 (Deferred – Finance & Law): Ordinance to create a Fleet Vehicle Fund. Council Member Warwick moved to hold the bill for 12 weeks (due back by July 22, 2026). The motion carried.
  • 2026-0396 (Finance & Law): Resolution designating banks and lending institutions as depositories for 2026–2028. Council President Lavelle thanked the Controller’s office and noted interest in including credit unions and smaller institutions; he is drafting legislation toward that end. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0389 (Public Works & Infrastructure): Resolution to enter into a long-term agreement with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) for volunteer services at no cost to the city. City Forester Lisa Toffee and SCA Partnership Manager Joanna Lemon explained that the agreement would streamline permissions for projects such as trail building, tree planting, and invasive removal. Council Members Salinetro, Wilson, and Coghill expressed strong support, with Coghill noting SCA’s work in Seldom Seen Greenway and discussing potential orchard maintenance. Lemon confirmed SCA crews (10 youth aged 14-18 plus 2 adult leaders) carry insurance and that a 10-year agreement would reduce administrative back-and-forth. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0390 (Land Use & Economic Development): Resolution reallocating $55,692.60 of CDBG-CV (Cares Act) funding to two food banks (Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and another). Assistant Director Kelly Russell and Program Supervisor AJ Miller explained the funds were reclaimed from three projects (Partner for Work, Action Housing, Neighborhood Housing Services) that could not fully spend COVID funds. The correction fixes a $63 math error from a prior vote. Funds must be used for pandemic preparation/prevention. The food banks will use the money for inventory tracking systems, with 16% of partner pantries inside city boundaries. Council Member (likely Wilson) inquired about ensuring benefits to city residents, and was assured strict tracking. Affirmatively Recommended.
  • 2026-0385 (Intergovernmental & Educational Affairs): Resolution to adopt a plan revision for the Official Sewage Facilities Plan for 3634 Penn Ave. Council Member (likely Strassburger) moved to hold the bill for one week because the applicant had not yet completed the inclusionary zoning agreement paperwork. The hold was seconded and approved, with a due back date of May 6, 2026. Council Member noted broad support for the project and referenced a heartwarming WESA story about residents moving into affordable units at a completed 279-unit building on Butler Street.

Key Outcomes

  • Bill 2026-0016 (Fleet Vehicle Fund): Held in committee for 12 weeks (due back by July 22, 2026).
  • Bill 2026-0385 (Sewage Plan Revision for 3634 Penn Ave): Held in committee for one week (due back by May 6, 2026) pending completion of inclusionary zoning agreement.
  • All other resolutions (391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 399, 400, 383, 387, 389, 390, 384, 386) received affirmative recommendations from their respective committees.
  • Invoices and P-cards were approved.
  • Council President Lavelle announced intent to draft legislation to allow deposits in credit unions and smaller lending institutions.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, and welcome to the standing committee's meeting for men Monday or for two Wednesday, April twenty ninth, twenty twenty-six. All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website. And for guest speakers, please do not turn off your microphones. Clerk, please take the role. 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, and profanity will not be permitted. Please state your name and neighborhood for the record. You will have three minutes to speak. We have no registered speakers, so are there any speakers who wish to come to the podium? Good morning. Council of Selective Urcy. Council of Unequal Attention. Counsel of dismissed voices. Just dressed up in better language. And unsupervised policies. And I'm not here just to sit quietly and watch it repeat. I'm here to make sure my story is on public record. And I'm going to fight with everything I have to make sure people in power do not keep getting away with what's been allowed generation after generation. When is it going to stop? Because when I'm living through right now, this isn't confusion. This isn't miscommunication. This is discrimination. And then it just disappeared. The only answer I get is that it was rescinded and I'm back on the list for others to pick me up. It's been five months now, and I still have no results, no real answers, and then I have another CEO lying on me, lying on me, and nothing happens. Nothing. It feels like being told to follow the rules, then watching the rules change the moment you do. It feels like the ground being pulled from under you the moment you thought you finally were able to stand. I'm tired of the systems that work perfectly when it's time to deny us, but suddenly break down when it's time to help us. If a signed agreement can disappear, then your word means nothing. If a CEO can lie and face no consequences, then your titles mean nothing. If I can stand here and tell you all of this and still be told nothing can be done, then what exactly are y'all here for? And nobody's here, so obviously nothing. Because nothing can be done if not an answer. It's an excuse. And excuses do not house families, excuses do not protect children, excuses do not fix harm. They protect the people who caused it. So I'm putting it on record. A housing offer was made and then taken after I signed. No one told me why. A domestic violence survivor. This is allowed in Pittsburgh. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Good morning. Cerese Taylor, the missing child. Now known as Special Agent Sunshine. How is God serving his purpose through you? Before starting your day, say this prayer. Lord, I choose your way.

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