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Record of Proceedings

Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - July 22, 2026

City Council — Wednesday, July 22, 2026
BodyPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, July 22, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:14:25

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:18

Good morning and welcome to the regular meeting of City Council on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026.

0:24

Will the clerk please take the role?

0:25

Mr.

0:26

Charland, Mr.

0:27

Coghill, Ms.

0:29

Gross, Mr.

0:31

Mosley.

0:32

Here.

0:32

Mrs.

0:33

Salonetro.

0:34

Here.

0:34

Mrs.

0:35

Strasberger.

0:36

Here.

0:36

Mrs.

0:36

Warwick.

0:37

Here.

0:38

Mr.

0:38

Wilson.

0:40

Mr.

0:40

Lavelle President.

0:41

Here.

0:42

Five members present.

0:43

Thank you.

0:43

For those who are able, please rise for the pleasure of Legionists remaining standing for a moment of silence.

1:01

Justice for all.

1:07

Thank you.

1:07

Our next order of business is to amend the agenda.

1:10

Is there a motion to amend?

1:11

So move.

1:12

Second.

1:12

All favor say aye.

1:13

Aye.

1:14

The agenda has been amended.

1:15

Our next order of business is proclamations.

1:16

I'll begin with Councilman Warwick.

1:30

We have everyone come up who's here for Tony Chaffee.

2:12

Tighten up the ass.

2:23

Thank you all for coming.

2:24

So I'll read uh I'll read the proclamation and then ever anyone who wants to say a few words can is welcome to say a few words, okay?

2:31

Um well I'll just say quickly uh to start off you know, right away with the Glen Hazel properties, uh I started working with Tony immediately when I came on council, and I just such a joy to work with, right?

2:47

So responsive, uh, cares so much about the residents um in the communities, and um has just been a great um a great partner, right, with my team and working to just you know make the apartments better and also bring in new management.

3:05

I mean, just the the whole the whole A to Z, right?

3:07

Just really I'm so grateful.

3:09

So anyway, I'll read this.

3:12

All right.

3:13

Whereas Anthony Chaffee is the senior director of asset management, oh councilman, you want to come up?

3:24

So this is uh we put this together together, um, the two of us, so yeah.

3:31

Thank you.

3:32

Um so whereas Anthony Chaffee is the senior director of asset management for the housing authority of the city of Pittsburgh, HACP, and after dedicating 15 years to public service with HACP, we'll be transitioning into a new opportunity.

3:47

And where is Anthony's leadership in overseeing one of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's largest affordable housing portfolios has strengthened property operations, resident services, and organizational effectiveness?

4:00

And whereas Anthony has built meaningful partnerships among neighborhood organizations, public agencies, and elected officials to strengthen Pittsburgh neighborhoods, and whereas included in those partnerships is collaborating to establish a working relationship between Caligary Plaza residents and hilltop community organizations, helping to create a foundation of trust and mutual respect among residents and community partners, and whereas Anthony is also a problem solver who supported the Fresh Start program in Glen Hazel, a program which prevented the displacement of dozens of families.

4:48

His ability to connect people, find common ground, and move initiatives forward has been one of his greatest strengths during his time with HACP.

5:00

And whereas Anthony is a lifelong resident of Lawrenceville, who has followed the legacy of his grandparents, Anthony and Mary Ann Chaffee, and his father, the honorable district judge Tony Chaffee, to be an active, engaged resident in his community.

5:12

And whereas Anthony is as devoted to his family as his work, including his daughters Gabriela and Avalina.

5:20

And whereas Pittsburgh City Council wishes Anthony well as he will continue his commitment to community development and affordable housing in this transition to senior director of property operations with Trek Development Group.

5:34

Now, therefore be it resolved that the council of the city of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, July 21st to be Anthony Chaffee Day in the city of Pittsburgh.

5:45

Maybe we have a motion to approve.

5:47

Second, I think we say hi.

5:55

Well, thank you, Councilwoman.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████14%
Affordable Housing███████████11%
Community Engagement███████████11%
Public Engagement█████████9%
Personnel Matters███████7%
Budget███████7%
Public Safety██████6%
Zoning Code██████6%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - July 22, 2026

Note on date: The meeting date provided in the instruction is July 22, 2026, but the official minutes and transcript indicate Tuesday, July 21, 2026. This summary follows the instruction date; refer to official records for correct date.

The Pittsburgh City Council held a regular meeting on [July 22, 2026] (per instruction) at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers. All nine members were present. The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, proclamations, public comments, presentation of new legislation, and final votes on several committee reports.

Proclamations

  • Council declared July 21 (per minutes) as "Anthony Ceoffe Day" (sponsored by Council Member Warwick) and "Yvonne F. Brown Day" (sponsored by Council President Lavelle and all members). Both were adopted unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Dr. Ronald Lynn Miller (Downtown) criticized Councilwoman Deborah Gross for a 30% meeting attendance absence rate between 2024 and 2026, alleging neglect of duty and threatening impeachment under the Home Rule Charter.
  • Rosalind Tosh (Bloomfield, CMU student) urged the city to stop using police against teenagers and instead create more community spaces, citing the Market Square youth curfew and hostility toward teen gatherings.
  • Bethany Cameron (Overbrook, representing Inform Pittsburgh) presented survey results from 76 readers: 43% said large events like the NFL draft have mixed impacts, 23% mostly negative; 59% feel unsafe crossing streets often or every day, with specific dangerous intersections noted.
  • Bernadette Mosey opposed the Piatt Companies esplanade redevelopment project (Bill 755), arguing it gives tax breaks to wealthy developers while the city needs funding for home repairs, fire trucks, and ambulances. She called for a public database of developer LLCs for transparency.
  • Special Agent Sunshine accused council of illegally moving federal funds, citing Compass Natural Gas contract ($882,000) and Charles Anderson Bridge project ($4 million) as examples. She prayed and warned of divine judgment.
  • Unique Brown (shelter resident) criticized the city’s affordable housing shortage (11,000 units short per Pittsburgh Foundation), slow pace of the Housing Opportunity Fund (129 units from $10M), homeless sweeps, and a $250,000 cut to a food program. She demanded action.
  • Yvonne F. Brown (Hill District) after being honored with a proclamation, shared her personal story of her son’s death at the hands of police in Wilkinsburg, pleaded for council to listen to the people and remember their oath.

Presentation of Papers (New Legislation)

Council members introduced several bills (2026-0744 through 2026-0771), including:

  • 2026-0744 (Coghill): Accept $1 million grant from Ross and Carol Nese Foundation to hire a Head of Talent Acquisition for Public Safety.
  • 2026-0745 (Gross): $73,050 warrant for Musco Sports Lighting software for digital control of ballfield and park lighting.
  • 2026-0746 (Mosley): Up to $302,400 over four years for federal government affairs consulting with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.
  • 2026-0747 (Mosley): Cooperation agreement for HOME-ARP program at no cost.
  • 2026-0748 (Mosley): $64,373.50 for Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission 2026 dues.
  • 2026-0749 (Mosley): Sewage facilities plan revision for 2039 Broadhead Fording Road.
  • 2026-0750 (Mosley): Amended reimbursement agreement with Pittsburgh Water for RAISE grant, increase to $100,000.
  • 2026-0751 (Mosley): Approval of URA land sale at 604 Liberty Avenue to MK Liberty Partners LLC.
  • 2026-0752-0755 (Salinetro): Supplemental agreements for Charles Anderson Bridge ($4,077,687), Newton Street project ($1,124,727), West Carson Street Bridge final design ($1,378,913), and Three Rivers Heritage Trail esplanade redevelopment with Piatt Companies (no cost to city).
  • 2026-0756-0759 (Strassburger): Repealing prior sales, selling tax-delinquent properties (15 parcels), quitclaim deed at 7217 Monticello Street to Marvin Miller for $3,000, and $515,000 settlement for Brian and Donna Albert litigation.
  • 2026-0760-0761 (Warwick): Shift CDBG funds from 31st Ward Community Action Group to Lincoln Place Presbyterian Church ($468.49 and $10,000).
  • 2026-0762-0763, 0770-0771 (Wilson): Amendments to capital budgets for HUD clawback, HOME-ARP supportive services ($105,820), reallocation for park reconstruction, and ordinance change to remove vehicle protection exception in parking prohibitions.
  • 2026-0764-0765 (Lavelle): Communications from OMB regarding grants office status and acting pay for fire bureau. All bills were read and referred to appropriate committees.

Unfinished Business & Reports of Committee - Final Action

The council took final votes on bills from committee reports:

  • 2026-0739 (Finance and Law committee report) – Received and filed.
  • 2026-0705 (Capital budget amendment: $52,854.68 from pool maintenance to playground improvements) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0706 (Legal services warrant for Comber Miller LLC, $20,197.71) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0707 (Expert witness services for MedicoLegal Inc., $6,200) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0730 (Amend Compass Natural Gas contract to extend term and increase by $126,000 to $882,000) – Passed 8-1 (Council Member Gross voted no).
  • 2026-0740 (Public Works committee report) – Received and filed.
  • 2026-0704 (License and maintenance agreement for public art with Larimer Consensus Group) – Passed 9-0. Councilman Wilson praised the project as a grassroots traffic-calming art initiative.
  • 2026-0741 (Land Use committee report) – Received and filed.
  • 2026-0513 (Rezone three parcels in Homewood West from R1D-L to Urban Industrial) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0742 (Innovation committee report) – Received and filed.
  • 2026-0700 (Interdepartmental transfers for software maintenance consolidation, $77,681.25) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0743 (Intergovernmental committee report) – Received and filed.
  • 2026-0701 (Land Bank acquisition: 0 Kelly Street) – Passed 9-0.
  • 2026-0702 (Land Bank acquisition: 0 Lincoln Avenue) – Passed 9-0.

Key Outcomes

  • Council passed seven final action bills, all but one unanimously (Bill 730 received one nay from Gross).
  • Council introduced 28 new legislative items (bills 744-771) for committee consideration.
  • Council scheduled an executive session for July 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM regarding litigation bills 731, 758, 759.
  • Standing committee meeting scheduled for July 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM with cablecast post-agenda discussion on controller’s audit of code enforcement.
  • The meeting adjourned after approval of minutes.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning and welcome to the regular meeting of City Council on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026. Will the clerk please take the role? Mr. Charland, Mr. Coghill, Ms. Gross, Mr. Mosley. Here. Mrs. Salonetro. Here. Mrs. Strasberger. Here. Mrs. Warwick. Here. Mr. Wilson. Mr. Lavelle President. Here. Five members present. Thank you. For those who are able, please rise for the pleasure of Legionists remaining standing for a moment of silence. Justice for all. Thank you. Our next order of business is to amend the agenda. Is there a motion to amend? So move. Second. All favor say aye. Aye. The agenda has been amended. Our next order of business is proclamations. I'll begin with Councilman Warwick. We have everyone come up who's here for Tony Chaffee. Tighten up the ass. Thank you all for coming. So I'll read uh I'll read the proclamation and then ever anyone who wants to say a few words can is welcome to say a few words, okay? Um well I'll just say quickly uh to start off you know, right away with the Glen Hazel properties, uh I started working with Tony immediately when I came on council, and I just such a joy to work with, right? So responsive, uh, cares so much about the residents um in the communities, and um has just been a great um a great partner, right, with my team and working to just you know make the apartments better and also bring in new management. I mean, just the the whole the whole A to Z, right? Just really I'm so grateful. So anyway, I'll read this. All right. Whereas Anthony Chaffee is the senior director of asset management, oh councilman, you want to come up? So this is uh we put this together together, um, the two of us, so yeah. Thank you. Um so whereas Anthony Chaffee is the senior director of asset management for the housing authority of the city of Pittsburgh, HACP, and after dedicating 15 years to public service with HACP, we'll be transitioning into a new opportunity.

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