2026-10-14 - City Council - Standing Committees

00:06[music]

00:17Good morning. Welcome to the seating

00:19committee's meeting for Wednesday,

00:20October 14th, 2026. All council meetings

00:24will be livereamed on the city's

00:25website. And for guest speakers, please

00:27do not turn off your microphones. Our

00:29first order of business is roll call.

00:30Will the clerk please take the role?

00:32>> Mr. Charlotte, Mr. Cogill

00:34>> here.

00:34>> Miss Gross

00:36>> here.

00:37>> Mr. Lavell

00:38>> here.

00:39>> Mr. Mosley, Miss Salonetra

00:41>> here.

00:41>> Miss Warwick

00:45>> here.

00:47>> Mr. Wilson, Miss Stberger, chair

00:49>> here.

00:50>> Six members present.

00:51>> Thank you. Our next order of business is

00:53to amend the agenda. Is there a motion

00:55to amend?

00:56>> Second.

00:57>> Discussion. All in favor?

00:58>> I I agenda is amended.

01:02>> Our next order of business is public

01:04comment. I would like to remind all

01:05speakers that the rules of council state

01:07that matters uh comments are matters

01:10limited to matters of concern, official

01:11action or deliberation which are or may

01:13be before city council and profanity

01:15will not be permitted. Please state your

01:16name and neighborhood for the record.

01:18You will have three minutes to speak.

01:20And our first registered speaker is Ava

01:22Meadows.

01:34Hi, good morning everyone. Um, I'm Ava

01:37and I live on the north side. Um, so I'm

01:40going to begin by reading this passage

01:42from Man and His Symbols on page 22. Um,

01:46a case in point might be that of a

01:48secretary who is jealous of one of her

01:50employer's associates. She habitually

01:52forgets to invite this person to

01:54meetings, though the name is clearly

01:55marked on the list she is using. But if

01:58challenged on the point, she simply says

02:00she forgot or was interrupted. She never

02:03admits, not even to herself, the real

02:05reason for her emission. Many people

02:07mistakenly overestimate the role of

02:09willpower and think that nothing can

02:11happen to their minds that they do not

02:12decide and intend. But one must learn to

02:15discriminate carefully between

02:16intentional and unintentional contents

02:18of the mind. The former are derived from

02:20the ego personality. The latter,

02:22however, arise from a source that is not

02:24identical with the ego, but is its other

02:26side. It is this other side that would

02:29have made the secretary forget the

02:30invitations.

02:36Again, um good morning to the council

02:39members and everybody watching online.

02:41Hope everyone's having a blessed morning

02:43today. My name's Ava. I live in the

02:45north side. Last week, I spoke about

02:47Roots, the resource center in the north

02:49side that the city of Pittsburgh

02:51recently shut down on October 2nd and

02:53have yet to replace with other services

02:55that are desperately needed. Um, they

02:57are exploring other options. Where are

03:00the concrete details? There was an

03:02$800,000 back-end funding for street

03:05teams for outreach. Yet, I haven't seen

03:08one person out there. I know that

03:10because I'm actually on East Ohio Street

03:12every day interacting with community

03:14members, directing them to food and

03:16clothing back at community, the

03:18independent organization I volunteer at.

03:21Um, Mayor Corey Okonnell, um, along with

03:24the office of community health and

03:26safety, where what are you doing

03:28directly today for the 60 to 80 daily

03:30visitors and roots? What happened to

03:32funding for organizations like Assemble,

03:34Homewood Children's Village, and Propel

03:36Schools around May 2025? Do you really

03:39hate our black children and neighbors?

03:41Do you profit from removing their

03:43resources?

03:45Why are you kidnapping, killing, and

03:46victimizing our black and brown people?

03:49Today, I'd like to talk about shame.

03:51This is a poem I wrote. I'm an activist,

03:53an artist. I'm queer and my father is a

03:55black man. So, I feel for my neighbors,

03:58even if the men here on council could

04:00care less. Um, being a woman is hard.

04:03We're expected to be soft. Being an

04:05angry woman is harder when you're told

04:06not to talk. Men, do you remember when

04:09your mother would shame you, tell you

04:11you're dirty and you're wrong, and make

04:13you feel shameful? A mother's advice is

04:15as simple as be nice. But are men have

04:18demons? Most men have advice. Every man

04:20has a mother. It's impossible to not.

04:22Would your mother be proud or are you

04:24embarrassed to be caught? Look in the

04:26mirror that shines after cleaned. See

04:28your reflection and think of being

04:30redeemed. God is watching as those as

04:33well as those who have passed. They all

04:35help guide you. So listen when they say

04:37you're being bad.

04:42Thank you. Our next speaker is Chief

04:45Ikahana Helmakina.

04:54I don't believe she is with us.

05:00So, we will move on to those in the

05:02audience wishing to speak.

05:09>> Good morning, Carino Jolo, Panther

05:12Hollow. I sent an email to the city of

05:15Pittsburgh Law Department on October

05:1712th, 2026. The entire email is on the

05:21website pantherhollowplayground.com.

05:27Here are excerpts.

05:29This email serves as formal notification

05:32to the city of Pittsburgh regarding the

05:34unauthorized and illegal construction of

05:36the Oakland do-it-yourself skate park.

05:40The illegal Oakland do-it-yourself skate

05:42park exposes the city to serious

05:45liability at a time when the city has

05:48budgetary challenges.

05:50Constructed without permits,

05:52inspections, or safety oversight, the

05:55skate park presents tremendous liability

05:59exposure to the city that could result

06:01in claims in tens of millions of

06:03dollars.

06:04This is true especially if there is a

06:07fatality or if a child who does not

06:10fully comprehend the physical dangers

06:13has a catastrophic

06:16spinal or brain injury and becomes

06:19incapacitated for life. The lawsuits

06:22would be grounded in the city's

06:24negligence for failing to remedy known

06:27dangerous conditions.

06:29A small self-appointed group of

06:31skateboarders had effectively seized

06:33public property and converted it to

06:36their private use. There has been no

06:38enforcement of the city's zoning and

06:40permitting laws. The city has been

06:42complicit to this unlawful conduct.

06:46The failure to enforce city code and

06:48related provisions exposes the city not

06:51only to potential litigation and

06:52liability, but also claims for unequal

06:56enforcement and deprivation of community

06:58use rights. The illegal skate park is a

07:02total denial of our community's civil

07:04rights to notice and participation and

07:08it is a dangerous precedent for the

07:10city.

07:12The Pittsburgh Law Department and or

07:14other appropriate departments in the

07:16city will accept the legal, political,

07:18and financial consequences should no

07:21action be taken to end this injustice

07:24against our Panther Hollow community.

07:27This process will compel disclosure of

07:30city records, correspondence, and

07:33internal communications regarding this

07:36unlawful construction.

07:39To safeguard public safety and insulate

07:43the city from severe liability, it is

07:46urgently recommended that the city of

07:48Pittsburgh Law Department uphold the law

07:52and direct the appropriate city

07:55department to shut down the Oakland

07:59do-it-yourself

08:01skate park.

08:03Thank you for your attention.

08:05[snorts]

08:06>> Thank you. Next speaker, please.

08:10There any further speakers?

08:14Seeing no further speakers, we will move

08:16on to the standing committee's agenda.

08:19The first committee is the finance and

08:20law committee. And we have new papers.

08:22Bill 95 54 resolution authorizing the

08:27issuance of a warrant in favor of

08:28Barbara Klene and her legal council

08:30Burger and Green PC and an amount not to

08:33exceed $25,000 and full and final

08:35settlement of litigation filed in the

08:37Alageney County Court of Common please.

08:39Payable over one year.

08:42>> Motion to approve. Second

08:43>> discussion.

08:46Seeing none, all in favor of bill 954,

08:49please say I.

08:50>> I. I. Affirmative recommendation. That

08:53takes us to invoices. Is there a motion

08:55on invoices?

08:56>> Motion move.

08:58>> Second.

08:59>> Discussion.

09:02Seeing none, all in favor of invoices,

09:06please say I.

09:07>> I.

09:07>> I. I.

09:09>> Affirmative recommendation or invoices

09:11are approved. Excuse me. That moves us

09:13to transfers.

09:15Is there a motion on interdep

09:16departmental transfers? [clears throat]

09:17>> Motion to approve.

09:18>> Second. discussion.

09:21Seeing none, all in favor of transfers,

09:23please say I.

09:24>> I.

09:24>> I

09:26interdep departmental transfers are

09:28approved. Takes us to PE cards. Is there

09:30a motion on PE cards?

09:32>> Motion to approve.

09:33>> Second.

09:34>> Discussion.

09:36Seeing none, all in favor of PE cards,

09:39please say I.

09:40>> I.

09:40>> I. [clears throat]

09:41Pec cards are approved. That moves us to

09:44public safety and wellness committee

09:45chair by Councilman Cogill. Bill 945,

09:48resolution authorizing the mayor and the

09:50director of the department of public

09:52safety to enter on behalf of the city of

09:54Pittsburgh into a professional services

09:56agreement or agreements with the center

09:57for emergency medicine of western

09:59Pennsylvania for the provision of

10:01medical direction services at a cost not

10:03to exceed $50 over 5 years.

10:08>> Motion to approve.

10:10>> Second

10:11>> discussion.

10:14Seeing none, all in favor of bill 945,

10:18please say I.

10:19>> I.

10:20>> Affirmative recommendation. That moves

10:23us to public works and infrastructure

10:25committee chaired by councilwoman

10:26Salenro.

10:27>> Supplemental newspapers bill 980

10:29resolution providing for the issuance of

10:31a warrant in favor of PPW Industrial in

10:34the amount of $8,946.90

10:37to purchase equipment for use and

10:39remediation of graffiti across the city.

10:42>> Motion to approve.

10:43>> Second. Second

10:44>> discussion.

10:47Seeing none, all in favor of bill 980,

10:49please say I.

10:50>> I.

10:51>> I.

10:52>> Affirmative recommendation. New papers

10:54bill 951. Resolution amending resolution

10:57284 of 2026, which authorized the mayor

11:00and the director of the Department of

11:02Public Works to enter into a

11:03professional services agreement or

11:05agreements or amendment amended

11:07agreements with Studio Zoo for costs

11:09associated with the Homewood Park

11:11construction project for the

11:13construction administration schedule

11:14extension by increasing the total spend

11:17by $25,678.75

11:20for a new not to exceed amount of

11:222,162,76

11:25$615.

11:27>> Motion to approve.

11:29>> Second

11:30>> discussion.

11:32Seeing none, all in favor of bill 951,

11:35please say I.

11:36>> I.

11:37>> Affirmative recommendation.

11:43Bill 952. Resolution amending resolution

11:47152 of 2024, which provided for an

11:49agreement or agreements with SAI

11:51Consulting Engineers for costs

11:53associated with the construction

11:55management and construction inspection

11:57phases for the Charles Anderson Bridge

11:59project providing for the payment of the

12:01cost thereof not to exceed $3,24,26.96

12:07an increase of $350,2085

12:11federally reimburseable at 100%. Motion

12:14to approve.

12:15>> Second.

12:16>> Discussion.

12:19>> Seeing none, all in favor of bill 952,

12:22please say I. I. Affirmative

12:25recommendation. Bill 953. Resolution

12:27providing for an amended reimbursement

12:29agreement or agreements with the

12:30Pennsylvania Department of

12:31Transportation for costs associated with

12:34the construction phase of the city steps

12:36project and providing for the payment of

12:37the cost thereof not to exceed

12:39$8,217,000

12:42a decrease of 1,653,000

12:45from the previously executed agreement

12:47reimburseable at 100% and a municipal

12:50share of Commonwealth incurred costs at

12:52a cost to the city of Pittsburgh not to

12:54exceed $20,000. a decrease of $26,000

12:58from the previously executed agreement.

13:01>> Motion to approve.

13:02>> Second.

13:03>> Discussion.

13:05Seeing none, all in favor of bill 953,

13:08please say I.

13:09>> I.

13:10>> I. Affirmative recommendation. That

13:12moves us to land use and economic

13:14development committee chaired by

13:15Councilman Wilson. Defer papers bill

13:17834, ordinance amending the Pittsburgh

13:20Code, Title 9 Zoning Code, Article One,

13:22Introduction and Establishment. Chapter

13:25901, General Provisions. Chapter 902,

13:28zoning districts in general. Article 2,

13:31base zoning district. Chapter 903,

13:34residential zoning districts, excuse

13:36[clears throat] me. Chapter 904,

13:38Mixeduse Zoning Districts. Chapter 905,

13:42Special Purpose Districts. Article 3,

13:44overlay zoning districts. Chapter 906,

13:47environmental overlay districts. Chapter

13:49907, development overlay districts.

13:52Article n article four, planning

13:54districts. Chapter 908, public realm

13:57districts. Chapter 909, plan development

13:59districts. Chapter 910, downtown

14:02district. Article 5, use regulations.

14:04Chapter 911, primary uses. Chapter 912,

14:08accessory uses and structures. Chapter

14:10913 use exceptions and conditions not

14:13listed in use table. Article six

14:16development standards. Chapter 915

14:19environmental performance standards.

14:21Chapter 916 residential compatibility

14:23standards. Chapter 918 landscaping and

14:26screening standards. Chapter 919 signs.

14:29Chapter 920 childcare regulations.

14:33Article 7 nonconformities. Chapter 921

14:36nonconformities. Article 8, review and

14:38enforcement. Chapter 922, development

14:41review procedures. Article 9,

14:43measurements and definitions. Chapter

14:46925, measurements. Chapter 926,

14:49definitions.

14:51>> It's my understanding that the there's

14:53an ask by the administration to hold

14:55this bill for one week.

14:56>> Second.

14:57>> Oh, motion to hold. One week.

14:58>> Thank you. [laughter]

15:00>> Is there a second?

15:00>> Second.

15:01>> Discussion. Seeing none, all in favor of

15:03a oneweek hold for bill 834, please say

15:06I. I

15:07>> I

15:08>> Bill will be held for one week. That

15:10moves us to Intergovernmental and

15:12Educational Affairs Committee chaired by

15:13Councilman Mosley.

15:16Bill 946, resolution authorizing the

15:19mayor, the director of the office of

15:21management and budget, and the director

15:23of the Department of Public Safety to

15:25enter into an agreement or agreements

15:26with the Department of Homeland Security

15:28for the purpose of receiving grant funds

15:30from the Assistance to Firefighters

15:32Grant in the amount not to exceed

15:34$715,99

15:37for fire apparatus, vehicle training,

15:40and backfield salaries. The grant

15:41requires a match from the city of

15:43Pittsburgh and an amount not to exceed

15:45$71,590.91

15:49for this stated purpose for a total

15:50project cost not to exceed $787,500.

15:57>> Motion to approve.

15:58>> Second discussion.

16:01Seeing none,

16:04all in favor of bill 946, please say I.

16:07I.

16:07>> I. Affirmative recommendation bill 947

16:13>> resolution authorizing the mayor, the

16:15director of the office of management and

16:16budget and the director of the

16:18department of public safety to enter

16:19into an agreement or agreements with the

16:21department of homeland security for the

16:23purpose of receiving grant funds from

16:25for the purpose of receiving grant funds

16:27from the assistance to firefighters

16:29grant in the amount not to exceed

16:31$153,590.90

16:35to purchase immediate dangerous to life

16:37or health monitors. The grant requires a

16:40match from the city of Pittsburgh any

16:42amount not to exceed $15,35910

16:46for this stated purpose for a total

16:48project cost not to exceed $168,950.

16:54>> Motion to approve.

16:55>> Second discussion. [snorts]

16:59>> Seeing none, all in favor of bill 947,

17:01please say I.

17:02>> I.

17:03>> I. Affirmative recommendation bill 948.

17:06Resolution adopting plan revision to the

17:08city of Pittsburgh's official sewage

17:10facilities plan for property on the 3100

17:13block of Smallman Street at no cost to

17:14the city.

17:18>> Motion to approve.

17:19>> Second.

17:20>> Second.

17:21>> Discussion.

17:23Seeing none, all in favor of bill 948,

17:25please say I.

17:26>> I.

17:26>> I. Affirmative recommendation. Our final

17:29bill of the day, Bill 949. Resolution

17:32adopting plan revision to the city of

17:34Pittsburgh's official sewage facilities

17:36plan for 733 North Highland Avenue at no

17:38cost to the city.

17:41>> Motion to approve.

17:42>> Second

17:43>> discussion.

17:45Seeing none, all in favor of bill 949,

17:48please say I.

17:49>> I.

17:49>> I.

17:50>> I. Affirmative recommendation. That

17:53exhaust standing committee's agenda for

17:55the day. We do have meeting

17:56announcements. Next week, council will

17:58hold the regular meeting on Tuesday,

18:00October 20th, and standing committee's

18:02meeting on Wednesday, October 21st, both

18:05at 10:00 a.m. Speaker registration will

18:07close at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday

18:09mornings. To register to speak at these

18:11meetings, please complete the sign up

18:12form on the council meeting webpage or

18:15contact the clerk's office at 4122552138

18:19by the applicable registration deadline.

18:23Is there anything from members?

18:27Seeing none, I'll take a motion to

18:29excuse the absent members, approve the

18:32minutes, and adjurnn the meeting. So

18:34move second.

18:35>> All in favor?

18:36>> I

18:36>> I meeting is adjourned.

18:54Heat.

19:06[music]

19:13Heat.

19:16[music]