Pittsburgh City Council Meeting – July 28, 2026

The Pittsburgh City Council met on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 12:30 PM. The meeting included proclamations, public comment, committee reports, and final action on several bills. The most contentious item was a resolution (Bill 531) to adopt the Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization Investment District (TRID) Implementation Plan, which passed after a failed motion to hold for a legal opinion. Council also passed resolutions accepting significant donations for emergency services and approved several other bills.

Proclamations

• Councilman Coghill presented a proclamation declaring July 28, 2026, as "Chelsea Averell Day" in Pittsburgh, recognizing her achievements in softball and community service. The proclamation was approved unanimously.
• Three additional proclamations were read into the record and approved: declaring August 4, 2026, as "Darcia Ashley Amber Reed Day" (presented by Councilmember Salonetro); August 22, 2026, as "Vera May Williams Threat Day" (presented by Councilmember Lavelle); and July 30, 2026, as "Rich Hoffman Day" (presented by Councilmember Warwick).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Dr. Ronald Miller (Highland Park): Called attention to Dr. Hong Wang, winner of the 2026 Fields Medal, and questioned whether the NCDF is administered by anyone elected from the 90 neighborhoods.
• Unidentified speaker: Criticized the city's focus on downtown aesthetics (e.g., painting train trestles) while neglecting issues like high maternal mortality rates for Black women, homelessness, rising housing prices, and the central business district being a food desert. Urged a vote against the transit revitalization improvement district.
• Bethany Cameron (Overbrook/Inform of Pittsburgh): Presented survey results from 46 readers. Key findings: 63% strongly disagreed that council should pass the downtown TRID as currently written; 57% strongly agreed the city should avoid committing future tax revenue to development projects until deficits are resolved; 64% strongly disagreed that requiring workers to waive the right to strike is reasonable for job protections. A reader said borrowing against future tax revenue for 40 years to benefit developers is "insane."
• Ralph Williams: Thanked council for granting a proclamation to Anthony Chaffee regarding the Housing Authority; criticized the TRID for excluding other neighborhoods; urged focus on public safety and juvenile crime; opposed the $1,000 shoplifting threshold.
• Chief Ikahana Hamakina (AirCar Confederacy): Called for data protection, holding tech companies responsible for breaches of privacy and harm to children, and promoting healthy environments for youth. Urged council to look at research on internet effects.
• Stave Fisher (Wood Street): Proposed pollinator-friendly solar energy garden parks for East Liberty and agrivoltaic sites south of the parkway.
• Rick Smith (North Oakland, District 8): Wished for a "do-over" on the TRID planning process, including comprehensive planning input, legal clarification, controller's office concerns, and better diagrams from URA. Thanked council members for their work.
• Yvonne F. Brown (Bedford): Shared positive stories about a local bookstore owner in Wilkinsburg and a woman cooking at an A Plus on Center Avenue; urged council to listen to senior residents and community committees, not just officials.
• Special Agent Sunshine: Read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, criticizing lack of justice and urging abolition of government not working for the people. Mentioned the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.

Presentation of Papers (Bills Introduced)

• Bill 773: Transfers $200,000 to Parks and Recreation from Stop the Violence Trust Fund for staffing and supplies at McKinley Recreation Center.
• Bill 776: Transfers $270,270 within the 2026 operating budget to the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure for operational services.
• Bill 781: Authorizes agreement with U.S. Soccer Foundation for a $100,000 mini-pitch grant at Ormsby Recreation Center.
• Bills 782–791: Various resolutions amending capital budgets and reappropriating funds for project closures.
• Council President presented a communication from the Office of Management and Budget with a grants status update received and filed.

Reports of Committees (Final Action)

• Committee on Finance and Law: Bills 777, 735 (settlement and postage reallocation) passed unanimously (9-0).
• Committee on Public Safety and Wellness: Bills 722 (accept $4M/year for 5 years from Highmark Health for fire vehicles) and 723 (accept $5M/year for 5 years from UPMC for EMS vehicles/equipment) passed unanimously (9-0).
• Committee on Recreation, Youth, and Senior Services: Bill 643 (transfer $200,000 to Parks and Recreation from Stop the Violence Trust Fund for Bergwin Recreation Center) passed unanimously (9-0).
• Committee on Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs:
  • Bill 531 (Downtown TRID Implementation Plan) – Passed 6-3 after extensive debate (see Discussion Items).
  • Bills 703, 724–729 (land bank, property disposition, sewage plan, and a $3M donation from Carnegie Mellon University for education and infrastructure) passed unanimously (9-0).

Discussion Items

• Bill 531 – Downtown TRID Implementation Plan:
  • Councilwoman Gross moved to hold for a legal opinion, arguing the plan may violate state law because the value capture area is not coterminous with the investment area. She also noted letters from the Strip District Business Association and North Shore Chamber of Commerce requesting more time.
  • Councilwoman Warwick supported the hold, citing legal concerns, the controller's negative revenue impact projection, and public comment. She argued the plan is not an "investment" in the traditional sense (the city owns no equity), and that $200 million could instead stabilize all vacant properties citywide.
  • Councilman Wilson opposed the hold, asserting the TRID boundary and value capture area are the same, and the investment area is a smaller subset—consistent with law. He criticized the groups that sent letters as opposed to bike lanes and paid sick leave, and argued council members Gross and Warwick were not being truthful.
  • Councilman Coghill supported the plan as an investment that gives the URA control and creates prevailing-wage jobs for building trades.
  • Council President Lavelle stated he had legal counsel from the URA and believed the plan is lawful, so he opposed the hold.
  • Councilman Mosley voted no on the bill but supported the amendment protecting 32BJ workers. He said his constituents in District 9 had raised valid issues, but he respects all perspectives and hopes the plan proves successful.
  • Councilwoman Salonetro supported the plan as a creative response to COVID's impact on downtowns.
  • Councilwoman Strasberger argued the TRID is a tool to stop "vertical blight" and generate future tax revenue for neighborhoods; she noted the URA board will vote on investments.
  • Council President Lavelle clarified that developers pay 100% of current taxes; only the incremental increase from reassessment is diverted, so it is not a tax giveaway.
• Motion to hold for legal opinion: Failed (2-7), with only Gross and Warwick voting in favor.

Key Outcomes

• Bill 531 (Downtown TRID): Passed 6-3. Ayes: Charland, Coghill, Salonetro, Strasberger, Wilson, Lavelle. Nays: Gross, Mosley, Warwick.
• Highmark Health donation: Bill 722 passed 9-0.
• UPMC donation: Bill 723 passed 9-0.
• Carnegie Mellon University donation: Bill 729 passed 9-0.
• All other bills: Passed unanimously 9-0.
• Next meeting: Standing committee meeting on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at 10:00 AM. A public hearing on liquor license transfer (Bill 606) was held at 1:30 PM on the same day.