Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committee Meeting – June 3, 2026
Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committee Meeting – June 3, 2026
The standing committee of Pittsburgh City Council met on June 3, 2026, to consider numerous legislative items, including routine approvals and a major discussion on the proposed Downtown Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID). Five members were present. The meeting included public comments on veterans' banners, bus service, and a university project. Several bills were approved, while Bill 531 (TRID) was held for one week after extensive debate.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Carlino Giampolo (Panther Hollow) opposed the University of Pittsburgh's electric vehicle charging station project, calling it a "shameful wrongdoing on all levels" and threatening to remove the "Italian sense of place" if the project is completed.
- Unique Brown criticized the cost of military tribute banners in the Hill District ($449) compared to neighboring communities ($70–$145), arguing that working-class families face barriers to honoring veterans.
- Yvonne S. Brown (715 Mercer Street senior home) raised the lack of bus service from Bedford Avenue to Mercy Hospital, describing years of inaction by County Council member DeWitt Watson and reading a poem about former Council President John DeFazio.
- Special Agent Sunshine / Cherise Taylor made statements about alleged illegal conservatorship, identity theft, and religious themes, requesting a "night of sunshine" project.
Consent Calendar
Multiple bills were approved with little or no discussion:
- Finance and Law: Bill 537 (warrant for 1410 East Carson LLC, $3,151) approved; Bill 39 (referendum on budget approval rules) held for four weeks. Invoices and P-cards approved.
- Public Safety and Wellness: Bill 527 (trauma certification, $8,100) and Bill 528 (deer management, $103,132.88) approved.
- Public Works and Infrastructure: Bill 414 (railroad crossing), Bill 532 (Manchester Park grant, $287,500 total), Bill 533 (Budford Park planning, $287,500 total), Bill 534 (Beaver Avenue Esplanade, $1M increase), and Bill 535 (Liberty Avenue HSIP, $14.88M increase) all approved.
- Human Resources: Bill 526 (Neighborhood Employment Program, $210,000) approved after staff described six selected organizations and a network approach.
- Recreation, Youth and Senior Services: Bill 538 (Independence Day Festival performances, $54,950) and Bill 539 (BNY Mellon sponsorship, $50,000) approved.
- Innovation and Performance: Bill 529 (Granicus website contract increase, $394,636) approved.
- Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs: Bill 530 (sewage facilities plan for 1208 Forbes Avenue) approved.
Discussion Items
- Bill 2250 – Vape Shop Zoning Regulation: Councilman Wilson presented the ordinance to regulate vape shops through conditional use requirements and buffers. Discussion focused on enforcement challenges: Councilpersons Charland and Warwick noted that illegal vape shops operate despite permits and that enforcement is slow. The bill was approved affirmatively.
- Bill 531 – Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID): Representatives from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and Mayor's office presented the plan. Key elements:
- Creates a value capture district covering the Golden Triangle, portion of North Shore, and Strip District up to 33rd Street.
- 75% of incremental real estate taxes (above a $5M construction threshold) diverted for up to 40 years to a reinvestment fund.
- Initial borrowing up to $50M to fund infrastructure, transit improvements, and gap financing for office-to-residential conversions.
- City acts as guarantor for bonds; individual borrowings require separate council approval.
- Council members raised concerns: loss of tax revenue (Councilman Coghill, Councilwoman Gross), map accuracy and inclusion of Polish Hill parcels (Gross), lack of affordable housing requirements (Councilwoman Warwick), need for public hearing (Gross), and risk to future budgets (Councilwoman Salonetro). Supporters (Councilman Wilson) argued it is necessary to stabilize downtown's tax base and stimulate development.
- Motion to hold for one week passed 5-2 (Councilpersons Charland and one other voting no).
Key Outcomes
- Bills 527, 528, 414, 532, 533, 534, 535, 526, 2250, 538, 539, 529, 530 were approved affirmatively.
- Bill 39 held for four weeks; Bill 531 held for one week.
- Announcement of proposed new tax (Bill 544) on mechanical amusement devices (classes 1–3) with estimated revenue of $2–3 million per year.
- Future meetings: June 4 public hearing on bills 487/516 (Serpentine Drive); briefing on opportunity zone recommendations.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning and welcome to the standing committee's meeting for Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026. All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website. And for guest speakers, please do not turn off your microphones. Mr. Charlotte, Mr. Coghill, Miss Gross, Mr. Laval. Mr. Mr. Mosley. Here. Miss Salonetro. Here. Miss Warway. Here. Mr. Wilson. Miss Strasberger Chair. Here. Five members present. Thank you. Our next order of business is to amend the agenda. Can I have a motion to amend the agenda? No moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Amend it is it uh agenda is amended. 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, and profanity will not be permitted. Please state your name and neighborhood for the record, and you will have three minutes to speak. I share those concerns and I focus in my initiatives three and and six on local city government and LI cities. The leaving of those. Why is that? Why is that not under the Democratic Party leadership? I'm going to skip down to the last of these. Thank you. Our next speaker is Chief Icahana Helmakina. Not seeing her, we will now move on to those who are in the audience wishing to speak who have not yet registered. Good morning. Carlino Giampolo, Panther Hollow. In my testimony yesterday, I read excerpts of an email sent to University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Joan Gable last week, pertaining to the University's Electric Vehicle Charging Stations project in Panther Hollow. Here is a similar email sent last week to the Duquesne Light Company president, the main electrical contractor for this project. President Kevin Walker, why would you bring shame to yourself and Duquesne Light Company just for four EV charging stations? As President, you set the moral compass, ethics, and values of the company. You can delegate authority for your to your administrators, but you cannot delegate your heightened responsibility. Both in written and in spirit, with your company now becoming involved. The EV Charging Stations Project is a shameful wrongdoing on all levels spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. Deny the shame by proclaiming this is a university project, or ignore the shame which you continue to do. However, shame that is masked, denied or ignored, continues to grow.
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