Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting – July 7, 2026

The Pittsburgh City Council held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. All nine council members were present. The meeting included proclamations, public comments, introduction of new legislation, and final votes on committee-recommended bills. Notable actions included the adoption of two proclamations, approval of several appointments and contracts, and the defeat of a land bank acquisition resolution.

Proclamations

• 2026-0699 – Honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Anthony D. Hall. Adopted unanimously.
• 2026-0715 – Declaring July 1, 2026 as “Younger Brothers Bar Day” in Pittsburgh. Adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Bethani Cameron (Informop.org) presented survey results from 50 readers: 75% supported continued funding for the Safe Passages youth violence prevention program even without Pittsburgh Public Schools’ financial participation; 77% supported adding more accessible vehicles for the Office of Community Health and Safety.
• Carlino Giampolo alleged that Council Members Barbara Warwick and Robert Charland have shown an “I don’t care” attitude toward neighborhood impacts of the Oakland DIY skate park, including early-morning noise, vulgar graffiti encouraging underage drinking and drug use, and a dozen police reports. He called for the council to report the members for violating the city’s code of conduct and urged Mayor O’Connor to shut down the skate park.
• Yvonne F. Brown (715 Mercer Street, Bedford high-rise) expressed frustration over poor bus service in her area compared to Oakland and voiced support for Mr. Giampolo’s opposition to the skate park, stating that older adults should not have to endure disturbances from late-night skateboarding.
• Unique Brown (homeless mother) described difficulty obtaining housing vouchers and rental assistance, criticized slum landlords, and asked the council to create a permanent homeownership program for Pittsburgh residents, noting that existing purchase-assistance programs are limited to outside the city.
• Special Agent Sunshine made rambling remarks referencing identity theft fraud, religious references, and accusations against Council Member Warwick, and urged support for homeless individuals.
• Rick Smith (North Oakland, District 8) commented on the TRID post-agenda and finance, noting a better understanding of Controller Heisler’s suggestion for improved bookkeeping on transfers to the URA, and requested continued learning on budgeting and bond guarantees.

New Business (Presentation of Papers)

• 2026-0700 (Gross) – Interdepartmental transfer of $76,601.25 from Police computer maintenance and $1,080 from Finance computer maintenance to Innovation & Performance, to consolidate funding for B-Three software retirement through June 2027. Read and referred to Committee on Innovation, Performance, Asset Management, and Technology.
• 2026-0701 / 2026-0702 / 2026-0703 (Mosley) – Land Bank acquisitions of city-owned properties at 0 Kelly Street, 0 Lincoln Avenue, and 169 Auburn Street (all Council District 9), at no cost to the city. Read and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs.
• 2026-0704 (Salinetro) – License and Maintenance Agreement with Larimer Consensus Group for limited-term public art. Read and referred to Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure.
• 2026-0716 (Salinetro) – Resolution consenting to an extension of the Planning Commission’s deadline to act on Council Bill #2026-0609. Passed finally by a vote of 8-0-1 (Council Member Gross out of room).
• 2026-0705 (Strassburger) – Amending the 2018 Capital Budget to reduce Swimming Pool Maintenance by $52,854.68 and increase Play Area Improvements by the same amount. Read and referred to Finance and Law.
• 2026-0706 / 2026-0707 (Strassburger) – Warrants for expert legal/witness services in two litigation matters ($20,197.71 and $6,200). Read and referred to Finance and Law. (Executive sessions scheduled for 7/7/26.)
• 2026-0708 – Appointment of Karen Dixon as Assistant Chief of Administration, Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Approved unanimously.
• 2026-0712 – Appointment of Zachary Workman as Deputy Director, Department of Mobility and Infrastructure. Approved unanimously.
• 2026-0709 – Extension of the term of the Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, for 90 additional days through October 9, 2026. Approved unanimously.
• 2026-0714 (Lavelle) – Ordinance amending the Zoning Code to add a new subsection for Multi-Suite Residential (General) in the UC-E District. Read and referred to Land Use and Economic Development.
• 2026-0710 / 2026-0711 / 2026-0713 – Communications from OMB (grants status update, acting pay request for Branwyn Turnage as Fleet Manager) and URA (2025 Housing Opportunity Fund Annual Report). All read, received, and filed.

Final Action on Committee Reports

All committee reports from July 1, 2026, were read, received, and filed. The following bills received final passage:

• 2026-0655 – Increase PJ McArdle Roadway Bridge preliminary design funding by $500,000 (federal funds, no city cost). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0656 – Decrease TransDev fleet management authorized spend by $988,402.29 (new total $78,260,941.46 over six years). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0657 – Warrant for Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company ($10,000). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0667 / 2026-0668 / 2026-0669 – Capital budget amendments (removing unencumbered funds, re-appropriating closed funds, park reconstruction reallocation). All passed 9-0.
• 2026-0680 – Professional Services Agreement with Operation Better Block for Safe Passages youth violence prevention program ($250,000). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0652 – Preliminary Engineering agreement with STV Incorporated for McArdle Bridge ($997,407.91, 100% reimbursable). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0653 – Amended Reimbursement Agreement with PennDOT for preliminary design of PJ McArdle Roadway Bridge ($1,250,000, increase of $500,000, 100% reimbursable). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0664 – Expansion of Residential Parking Permit Program Area HH in Central Northside (additional address). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0658 – Facilities Usage Agreement with Macedonia FACE at Ammon Recreation Center for senior services (September–April, two years, no cost to city). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0651 – Amendment to Equipment Leasing Authority cooperation agreement (increase $85,000 for Public Safety/OCHS vehicles; decrease $1,983,750 for EMS; new total $26,289,269). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0659 – Land Bank acquisition of 0 Chalfont Street lots (Council District 3). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0660 – Land Bank acquisition of 169 Auburn Street (Council District 9). Passed 9-0.
• 2026-0412 – Land Bank acquisition of multiple lots on 0 Lincoln Avenue and 0 Mayflower Street (Council District 9). Defeated 0-9 after Council Member Mosley requested colleagues vote no, noting he had mistakenly not given a negative recommendation in committee.

Key Outcomes

• Defeated legislation: Bill 2026-0412 failed to receive any affirmative votes (0-9).
• Approved appointments: Karen Dixon (Assistant Chief of Police) and Zachary Workman (Deputy Director, DOMI).
• Contracts and funding authorized: Safe Passages youth violence prevention ($250,000), McArdle Bridge engineering and design ($997,000 and $1.25 million, both fully reimbursable), fleet management contract reduction, and multiple capital budget amendments.
• Next meetings announced: Executive sessions on bills 2026-0706/0707 (1:00 PM July 7); Committee meeting July 8 at 10:00 AM; Public hearing on East Carson Street NID (July 8, 1:30 PM); Public hearing on Kelly Street rezoning (July 9, 11:00 AM).