Pittsburgh City Council minutes — April 28, 2026: approvals on capital projects, grants, land transactions, and settlements

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS

PUBLIC COMMENTS

PRESENTATION OF PAPERS

COUNCILWOMAN DEBORAH L. GROSS PRESENTS:

Resolution amending Resolution 119 of 2025, which authorized the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works to enter into a Professional Services Agreement or Agreements with RouteSmart Technologies, Inc., which provides trash and recycling routing optimization, for the purchase and implementation of navigation software that will provide turn-by-turn directions to Environmental Service Drivers through November 30, 2027, by increasing the total amount by One Hundred Thirteen Thousand Two Hundred Eighty Dollars ($113,280.00) for a new total not to exceed Three Hundred Sixty Thousand Four Hundred Seven Dollars ($360,407.00).

COUNCILMAN KHARI MOSLEY PRESENTS:

Resolution adopting Plan Revision to the City of Pittsburgh’s Official Sewage Facilities Plan for 217 - 239 Halket Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, at no cost to the City.

Resolution amending Resolution 571 of 2021 in order to authorize the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, to amend a cooperation agreement or agreements with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for maintenance of plantings and other planting related infrastructure in the public rights of way throughout the City of Pittsburgh at no cost to the City.

Resolution amending Resolution 297 of 2025, providing for a Reimbursement Agreement or Agreements with Pittsburgh Water for costs associated with the Smithfield Street Phase 1 project where Pittsburgh Water would be responsible for paying 100% of the actual expenses involved in certain work to be described in the Agreement(s), at an amount not to exceed One Hundred Twenty-Three Thousand Dollars ($123,000.00) and further amending Resolution No. 924 of 2024, effective December 18, 2024, entitled “Resolution adopting and approving the 2025 Capital Budget, the proposed 2025 Community Development Program, and the 2025 through 2030 Capital Improvement Program” by increasing Smithfield Street Phase 1 (TIP) by One Hundred Twenty-Three Dollars ($123,000.00).

Resolution authorizing The Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire all the City's Right, Title and Interest, if any, in and to the Publicly-Owned properties in the 12th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh designated in the Deed Registry Office of Allegheny County as Block 125-A, Lot 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118,133 (0 Lincoln Avenue & 0 Mayflower Street - Council District No. 9), at no cost to the City.

Resolution authorizing The Pittsburgh Land Bank to acquire all the City's Right, Title and Interest, if any, in and to the Publicly-Owned properties in the 15th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh designated in the Deed Registry Office of Allegheny County as Block 55-P, Lots 15 (0 Chatsworth Avenue - Council District No. 5), Lot 16 (0 Chatsworth Avenue - Council District No. 5), Lot 45 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 57 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 58 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 60 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 62 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 64 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 67 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 68 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 69 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 70 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), Lot 71 (0 Monongahela Street - Council District No. 5), and Block 56-B, Lot 37 (0 Berwick Street - Council District No. 5), at no cost to the City.

COUNCILWOMAN KIM SALINETRO PRESENTS:

Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of Finance, on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh, to enter into an agreement or agreements or amendments thereto with various parties for the purpose of accessing City property while certain railroad crossing at Lock Way East and Lock Way West (Council District 7) are being upgraded or removed, at no cost to the City.

Resolution amending Resolution 866 of 2025, which authorized the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works to enter into a Professional Service Agreement between the City of Pittsburgh and Studio Zewde for costs associated with the Homewood Park - Construction Project for the Construction Administration schedule extension and transfer of fee from reimbursable expenses; by increasing the total spend by Forty-Eight Thousand Dollars ($48,000.00) for a new not to exceed amount of Two Million, One Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eighty-Two Dollars and Thirty Cents ($2,137,082.30).

Resolution amending Resolution No. 201, effective May 14, 2022, entitled “authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works, to enter into an Agreement or Agreements, or the use of existing Agreements, between the City of Pittsburgh and Klavon Design Associates, Inc. for the professional landscape architectural services for Sheraden Park I Design. The total cost not to exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00),” by increasing the total allocation by the amount of Ten Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Five Dollars ($10,945.00) for a new total of Three Hundred Ten Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty-Five Dollars ($310,945.00).

Resolution providing for an Agreement or Agreements with A. Merante Contracting Inc. for costs associated with the Construction phase of the Smithfield Street Reconstruction project; providing for the payment of the costs thereof, not to exceed Six Million Six Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand Two Hundred Two Dollars and Fifty-Six Cents ($6,672,202.56).

Resolution authorizing acceptance by the City of Pittsburgh for dedication of certain right-of-way in and around North Avenue and Brighton Road in conjunction with the bridge reconstruction thereto at no cost to the City, located in the 22nd Ward of the City of Pittsburgh.

COUNCILWOMAN ERIKA STRASSBURGER PRESENTS:

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Mary Ellen DeMarco-Ruby, for a single payment in 2026 in an amount not to exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), in full and final settlement of litigation filed in the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, at No. GD 25-004124. (Executive Session held 4/28/26)

COUNCILWOMAN BARBARA WARWICK PRESENTS:

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, located at 317 East Carson Street, West Tower, Suite 230, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 for the reimbursement for horticultural and forestry work completed in Allegheny Commons, August Wilson, Emerald View, Highland and Riverview Parks in the amount of TWO HUNDRED, FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS and NO CENTS ($250,000.00).

COUNCILMAN R. DANIEL LAVELLE PRESENTS:

Communication from Rea Price, Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, submitting to City Council the attached status update from the Grants Office for the week ended April 24, 2026.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

REPORTS OF COMMITTEE - FINAL ACTION

COUNCILWOMAN ERIKA STRASSBURGER PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON FINANCE AND LAW

Report of the Committee on Finance and Law for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Joseph Knitz and their legal counsel, Bordas & Bordas, PLLC, for a single payment in 2026 in an amount not to exceed Eighty-Five Thousand Dollars ($85,000.00), in full and final settlement of litigation filed in the Common Pleas Court of Allegheny County, at No. GD 16-022882. (Executive Session held 4/16/26)

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Foster & Foster for payment for professional services rendered in the Act 111 Interest Arbitration between the City of Pittsburgh and the Fraternal Order of Police, for an amount not to exceed Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred Fifty Dollars ($17,850.00) over one year. (Executive Session held 4/16/26)

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Sargent’s Court Reporting Service for legal transcript services for an amount not to exceed Eleven Thousand Seventy-Eight Dollars and Fifty Cents ($11,078.50) over one year. (Executive Session held 4/16/26)

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant in favor of Ronald Talarico, Esq. for arbitration services for an amount not to exceed Seventeen Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty-Six Dollars ($17,726.00) over one year. (Executive Session held 4/16/26)

Resolution further amending Resolution No. 840 of 2019, effective December 23, 2019, entitled “Resolution adopting and approving the 2020 Capital Budget and the 2020 Community Development Block Grant Program, and the 2020 through 2025 Capital Improvement Program” by reducing FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS - CITY FACILITIES by Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) and increasing LOWER HETHS RUN by Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).

COUNCILWOMAN KIM SALINETRO PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Report of the Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title I, Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, Chapter 174: Right-of-Way Accessibility Needs Inventory, by updating the Chapter number to 162B.

Resolution authorizing, pursuant to Ch. 210 (“Acceptance of Gifts to City”) of the City Code, the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works to accept a donation from Laborer’s District Council in the amount of THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($300,000.00) dollars for the purchase and installation of scoreboards at fields used for youth sports in the City.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of Public Works, to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with Pirates Charities for the purpose of receiving grant funds in the amount not to exceed THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($300,000.00) dollars to provide upgrades to Youth Baseball and Softball Fields.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of Public Works to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program to provide funding for the Emerald View Park Tree Implementation Project. The grant proposal includes an ask not to exceed TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($250,000.00) dollars with a match not to exceed TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($250,000.00) from the City of Pittsburgh’s Capital Budget for a total project cost not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000.00) dollars for this stated purpose.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program to provide funding for repaving a portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. The grant proposal includes an ask not to exceed TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($250,000.00) dollars with a match not to exceed TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND ($250,000.00) dollars from the City of Pittsburgh’s Capital Budget for a total project cost not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000.00) dollars for this stated purpose.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of Public Works to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program to provide funding for the Renovation of Fort Pitt Park. The grant proposal includes an ask not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000.00) dollars with a match not to exceed FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND ($500,000.00) dollars from the City of Pittsburgh’s Capital Budget for a total project cost not to exceed ONE MILLION ($1,000,000.00) dollars for this stated purpose.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with the University of Pittsburgh for the purpose of receiving grant funds in an amount not to exceed FIVE MILLION ($5,000,000.00) dollars to be used for parks, capital improvements, URA Main Street Programs, public safety facilities, equipment, fleet or special initiatives.

Resolution providing for an Agreement or Agreements with Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. for costs associated with Construction Inspection and Contract Administration for the RAISE grant project; providing for the payment of the costs thereof, not to exceed One Million One Hundred Sixteen Thousand Thirty-Four Dollars and Eighty-Seven Cents ($1,116,034.87), reimbursable at eighty percent.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of City Planning to apply for grant funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Community Conservation Partnerships Program to provide funding for the Allegheny Riverfront Trail Connectivity Planning Project. The grant proposal includes an ask not to exceed FIFTY THOUSAND ($50,000.00) dollars with a match not to exceed FIFTY THOUSAND ($50,000.00) dollars from the City of Pittsburgh’s Capital Budget for a total project cost not to exceed ONE HUNDRED Thousand ($100,000.00) dollars for this stated purpose.

Resolution providing for an amended Reimbursement Agreement or Agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation for costs associated with the Preliminary Design, Final Design, Right-of-Way, and Construction phases of the Smithfield Street Reconstruction project, and providing for the payment of costs thereof, not to exceed Ten Million One Hundred Twenty-Six Thousand Dollars ($10,126,000.00) an increase of Two Hundred Thirty-Six Thousand Dollars ($236,000.00) from the previous resolution, reimbursable at eighty percent; and the municipal share of Commonwealth Incurred Costs not to exceed Forty-Five Thousand Dollars ($45,000.00), a Zero Dollar ($0.00) increase from the previous resolution (72 of 2026).

COUNCILPERSON ROBERT CHARLAND PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

Report of the Committee on Human Resources for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Resolution providing the authorization to make all legitimate expenditures for payments and agreements or agreements with various agencies to provide job development and employment services, wages and fringe benefits for supervisor, staff, workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, vocational skills training and on-the-job training, outreach, recruitment costs and administrative expenditures necessary to implement the 2025 Pittsburgh Partnership Employment Program; and providing the periodic transfer of funds to be used in the 2025 Pittsburgh Partnership Employment Program, and for payment of cost thereof, cost not to exceed Three Hundred Twenty Thousand ($320,000.00) Dollars.

Resolution providing for the filing of applications by the Commonwealth of PA, Department of Human Services for grants in connection with the Joint Jobs Initiative Program Employment Advancement and Retention Network (EARN) and providing for the authorization to enter into agreements with various agencies and to pay for expenditures for costs to support, implement and administer the program. Cost not to exceed Three Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Eight Thousand Five Hundred Ninety-Four ($3,828,594) Dollars.

COUNCILMAN BOBBY WILSON PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON LAND USE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Report of the Committee on Land Use and Economic Development for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Resolution further amending Resolution No. 863 of 2018, effective January 1, 2019, as amended, entitled “Resolution adopting and approving the 2019 Capital Budget and the 2019 Community Development Block Grant Program, and the 2019 through 2024 Capital Improvement Program,” by reducing FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS - RECREATION AND SENIOR CENTERS by Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) and increasing REMEDIATION OF CONDEMNED BUILDINGS by Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000).

COUNCILWOMAN DEBORAH L. GROSS PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON INNOVATION, PERFORMANCE, ASSET MANAGEMENT, AND TECHNOLOGY

Report of the Committee on Innovation, Performance, Asset Management, and Technology for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Resolution authorizing the issuance of a warrant payable in favor of InsightSoftware, LLC for one-time auditing and accounting technology services for an amount not to exceed FIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND NINETY-NINE DOLLARS AND NINETY CENTS ($5,499.90) over one year.

COUNCILMAN KHARI MOSLEY PRESENTS COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AND EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS

Report of the Committee on Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs for April 20, 2026 with an Affirmative Recommendation.

Resolution amending resolution No. 662 of 2024, entitled “Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to enter into an NFL Draft Funding Agreement or Agreements with the Greater Pittsburgh Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. d/b/a VisitPITTSBURGH for the coordination of municipal, governmental, and other services required for the 2026 NFL Draft, at cost not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) over three years, plus the value of various in-kind City services”, to provide authorization for an amendment granting receipt by the City for an amount not to exceed two million dollars from VisitPITTSBURGH for reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by the City as a result of the 2026 NFL Draft. (Wavier of Competitive Process Received)

Resolution authorizing the acceptance of a deed by the City of Pittsburgh for a parcel of real property from Pittsburgh Regional Transit for the purpose of dedicating the property as public park space to be incorporated into Brookline Memorial Park at no cost to the City.

Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Public Works to enter into an Agreement or Agreements with the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (“HACP”) for the City of Pittsburgh (“City”) to access HACP’s land for tree planting and trail establishment, at a City cost not to exceed One Dollar ($1.00) for the duration of the project.

Resolution approving execution of a Contract for Disposition by Sale of Land between the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and GaiaScape LLC, or a related entity, for the sale of Block 50-F, Lots 147 and 148, in the 10th Ward of the City of Pittsburgh (Rosetta Street - Council District No. 9), at no cost to the City.

MOTIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

EXCUSE ABSENT MEMBERS

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

ADJOURNMENT

WHEREAS, Friday, May 15, 2026 has been designated as the 28th Annual “Take A Father to School Day” in the Pittsburgh Public Schools; and,

WILLS OF COUNCIL

WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has taken steps to support local musicians through conducting research on the music industry, passing venue support proposals, and providing relief for artists during COVID-19; and,

WHEREAS, born on September 20, 1954 in Pittsburgh, Pa’s, Northside neighborhood, Rick found boxing at an early age of 11. The son of Paul Jr and Mary, boxing was in the bloodline of the future “Pride of Northside.” His father boxed while in the Navy in World War II, while his grandfather did the same while in the Army in World War I; and,

WHEREAS, Ronnie “RD” Dunlap first started in the fire academy on April 26, 1993. He graduated from the academy on August 21, 1993 and officially became a city of Pittsburgh Fireman. Ronnie’s wife Charlotte, newborn daughter Alyssa, and family watched as he got his badge pinned on, and;

COUNCILMAN BOBBY WILSON PRESENTS:

Ordinance amending and supplementing the Pittsburgh City Code, Title Two: Fiscal, Article IX: Property Taxes, by creating a new Chapter 269: Real Estate Tax Exemptions for Construction or Adaptive Reuse of Buildings on Pittsburgh’s Northside.

COUNCILPERSON ROBERT CHARLAND PRESENTS:

Ordinance amending “Ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances, Title I, Administrative, Article VII, Procedures, by adding a new Chapter, ‘Chapter 173A: Housing Data Dashboard’.” by amending the Chapter number to conform to the numbering in Article Seven of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances. The new Chapter shall be numbered “162A.”

WHEREAS, Randy Frankel has served as the dedicated Director and heart of the Squirrel Hill Baseball Association for 38 remarkable years, fostering a love for the game in thousands of young athletes; and,