[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6331062,"mediaKeyId","2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6","parentId",2313136,"title","Council member raises concern about 311 software switch from QAlert to Salesforce","audioSeconds",161,"startMs",5161000,"endMs",5322000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6&start=5161&end=5322","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6/thumbnail_5161000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331062/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-member-raises-concern-about-311-software-switch-from-QAlert-to-Salesforce","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331062-733acae3f82f216290b6c85fb0ac2464/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232163&Signature=fNAkLTXgFxi9~Mipa4m4plDWx32AVj6kUBCYyYt6txBWupf08YTOvLApvKEIryUNgDuDLraBZNu9O2YFHQgUuAl9ImUk22ZfHvx~ifXZE80vqsMR3X3SJiNiDAeXwVZhdq1IweoDuQWUzEoo6~3RdTNfCy9D1gASDBm0OF0KtwJwJg9PIlwDkaRWQnxKfBwEtKp6umiVdAlRed1BC2CMldHr06rbkYOmMVBdmVIhPeVPZ5cn4mrwyLfzEkhirZWExSIeOwC8yhTUFiPRW7Ft9e5meePoCP2LZFyjbwFISg9nq9a3j3PDs-la0lRb-VkX568D7XeYQsT7OQv7OKdbAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsburgh City, PA","date","2025-02-04T00:00:00Z","article","A councilmember told colleagues on Feb. 4 that the city’s 311 system is scheduled to switch software vendors this week and that the planned overlap between the outgoing QAlert system and the incoming Salesforce platform is shorter than expected.

Councilman Charland reported he learned the QAlert system would go offline this week, and that only two or three days of concurrent operation were scheduled. He said council had been led to expect a longer overlap to allow staff to work through implementation bugs and avoid service disruptions. Charland said he had just learned of the shorter overlap the previous evening and requested that the administration provide an explanation to council.

Council response: Councilwoman Gross said she asked staff to reach out to Director Norman \"ASAP\" to get clarification. Council members agreed the implementation timeline and continuity of service warranted follow-up.

Why it matters: 311 is a primary channel residents use to report nonemergency problems and request city services. Short transition periods between reporting platforms can create confusion for residents and risk lost service requests if not managed carefully.

Ending: Council members requested prompt follow-up from the administration and the Office of Management and Budget.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pittsburgh City Council Regular Meeting - 2/4/25","oneSentenceSummary","A councilmember said the city will switch its 311 service from QAlert to Salesforce with a truncated overlap period and asked for clarification; staff said they would follow up with council.","taxTitle","Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2965,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331067,"Councilwoman urges colleagues to sever ties with groups she says \"doxx\" opponents",319,4813000,5132000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6&start=4813&end=5132","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6/thumbnail_4813000.jpg","/articles/6331067/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Councilwoman-urges-colleagues-to-sever-ties-with-groups-she-says-doxx-opponents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331067-eea761f692ee3b5a5535e749835180b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232163&Signature=BTlt6wg9Pj3aKOzwsLoUT7lBu4j-CBmyr848b2PdJwFYfY3Rb~izA5Usis37CHWzxOA2AANQZZYL4QaSwT8DK6C1Ygp1TaZG4UgVoQCeYxqKnYT-XF3ufwqGElydRLwvidAjIuFpUeUKtF5wOop~0CSKHGJM2Tc1EnzmxYXoE06nQF80cPaGLU2PMhOBIUT55fTFahl5l6Pg5RnBx816zITWT0o5ncWll5OpoclHlr3QzJlwAvHuEpeqUGw3jaR~1ADqEm9zbQqU7MLaZNTIZWBiTJ~4LoQlU0wuIgy0Ha5o9zyCWPnXKpBPFaCulPkrANvnyfpPr1~Xdy52b60pig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilwoman Barbara Warwick used her remarks during motions and resolutions on Feb. 4 to call attention to what she described as doxxing by the leadership of a pro-development advocacy group and urged elected officials to cut ties with organizations that engage in harassment.

Warwick said the leader of Pro Housing Pittsburgh had been posting personal information about people who disagree with the group on Twitter, including addresses and tax information from public records. She called the behavior \"totally unacceptable\" and asked colleagues to consider severing formal ties with any organization that participated in doxxing or harassment.

Councilwoman Theresa Kale Smith acknowledged Warwick’s concerns and said the question of who funds advocacy and zoning-related activity deserved further scrutiny. Kale Smith said she would consider calling for investigations into zoning-related funding and would work with Warwick to schedule further review.

Why it matters: Allegations of online harassment against civic groups intersect with local policy debates on planning, zoning and development. Councilmembers said they expect professional conduct from groups engaging with government and said funding streams and advocacy tactics merit scrutiny.

Ending: Council members agreed to continue conversations, and Kale Smith said she would follow up on scheduling investigative work if the issue persisted.","Councilwoman Barbara Warwick admonished an advocacy group for posting opponents’ personal information online and urged colleagues to cut ties; other council members said they would consider investigations into campaign and zoning funding.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331071,"Speakers spar over immigration policy; council defends city’s noncitizen-policing stance",4011,1283000,5294000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6&start=1283&end=5294","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6/thumbnail_1283000.jpg","/articles/6331071/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Speakers-spar-over-immigration-policy-council-defends-citys-noncitizen-policing-stance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331071-f05e401756db8cfb0a1ec552b127f2be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232163&Signature=HsvKG-mCdSlzXAydFzQkzQz2rfWvbBK0FxJsHNWR~3Vc9tiab5Ir7mL99SoPVGk8goa924qEzXvNyMDLvMOVc-nx0aHyizfryGpl9C30BXNcrWBSjbHqvE-csXoJ46ZrfmBsktFjp54dP3hE-gdEkS~0nWjkNel2TqxAWs5ZUmoQWf0SYyAbDMc1w3x2byRzVZwwN51U1bDpMQVIAzDtm3JTM2y0H~QHFABJxSaUk0yhBDsyyoEtlQ~iiXV61B~FXAcc7Bx5MdxQNqmhyLIqEtCfeefcqMGcHmYXeiVegcdNGmVNkFDC8wS8oFdWDBTGevTS9YnJ2FdbtN9c5h1hyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commentators at Pittsburgh City Council’s Feb. 4 meeting urged elected leaders to change course on immigration cooperation with federal enforcement, while others thanked the mayor for policies they said protect immigrant residents.

Joseph Grama of Pleasant Hills told council he opposed the mayor’s public statements that the city would \"do whatever necessary to make our city welcoming,\" arguing that the mayor’s stance ignores enforcement of federal immigration law. Chad Ringblum of Brentwood also criticized the administration and urged council to \"repudiate the policy\" of welcoming undocumented immigrants, citing violent crimes in other jurisdictions.

By contrast, Margaret Fisher of Squirrel Hill thanked the mayor for actions she said protect immigrants, including friends who came legally from Venezuela. Fisher said her adopted daughter — a U.S. citizen born in Guatemala — now carries a passport and other safeguards because of fear of immigration enforcement.

Council response: Councilwoman Erica Strasburger, speaking during the council’s public-comment response period, called the rhetoric from some speakers \"hateful and inaccurate\" and defended the city’s longstanding policy that first responders and city police do not inquire about citizenship status. Strasburger noted that the Allegheny County Jail is run by the county, not the city, and said compliance with federal and state law continues. She also corrected terminology, saying the recognized term is \"undocumented immigrant,\" not \"illegal alien.\"

Why it matters: The exchanges highlight sharply different community views on immigration enforcement and underline the practical effect of local policing policies on public safety and trust in immigrant communities.

Ending: Council members signaled they will continue to monitor federal enforcement actions and reiterated that city departments follow applicable state and federal law.","Public commenters urged council to reject the mayor’s stated approach to immigration enforcement while other residents thanked the city for protecting immigrants. Council members responded by defending existing local policies and correcting terminology used by speakers.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331076,"Council advances referendums on anti-discrimination and water ownership for May ballot",1035,3123000,4158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6&start=3123&end=4158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6/thumbnail_3123000.jpg","/articles/6331076/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-advances-referendums-on-anti-discrimination-and-water-ownership-for-May-ballot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331076-b6d3d6ddbd1f2a22b8d0f872ea70b22e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232163&Signature=TP-p5Wcy0yYrEzfV3LlcTHWB6kln~H24EcHgWDbGmtfgjBqqRXHmc4FdjuWTyym7JDMbbuVf1~tju7zywm5nPaA2SNDSzFAwnwWMSsbwLyggT2ImDvF23E8ZiJdL-50Z4lAn6TvhIJayr2mx~cnILanxZkiFRtYFWwYKrFOm-AK8AZAgog2Nz5d84Aiy97A0Ost5VSKYz~HDommU~dSLjxpX5uHvVPTkxpFRT1bvEnqTVeF0idVX-HEJoy3Az370ZnIwbu9YTre~uu4n1uS-fzX8Nmj2WT8YVSE88DeT1aPhENU6IBW2ZU90jvBxCBUIlReqBK~IQtV-7nfFcyIdhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council on Feb. 4 moved forward multiple proposed ballot questions that would amend the city’s Home Rule Charter to add anti-discrimination language and to restrict sale or lease of the city’s potable water, wastewater and storm sewer systems.

Council members in the finance committee meeting read multiple referendum ordinances that would place questions before voters in the May 2025 primary. The measures read into the record included adding a new charter section to prohibit discrimination in city conduct on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or expression, disability, place of birth and national origin; a separate proposal would limit use of the charter amendment process to prevent adding duties beyond the city’s lawful authority; and another ordinance would create an article asserting a \"right to public ownership\" of potable water, wastewater and storm sewer systems.

Why it matters: The water-ownership question is intended to protect public control of water and sewer assets and was discussed in the context of an ongoing asset-transfer process involving Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA). The anti-discrimination question would expand the charter’s protections and was debated amid concerns about whether the charter amendment process should be restricted.

What council members said: Councilman Charland asked how the referendum would affect the city’s ability to transact property under the state’s second-class city laws; a council member noted the city currently does not own the water system and that PWSA would be the asset owner under ongoing negotiations. Councilwoman Strasburger said referendum language includes a limited \"relief valve\" to allow a narrow, unforeseen private transfer if absolutely necessary.

Vote and next steps: Several of the ballot-related bills were reported from committee and advanced. When final votes were taken later in the meeting, the clerk announced that Bills 14-07, 14-08, 14-24, 14-25 and 14-52 passed with recorded affirmative tallies; Bill 14-26 (the provision intended to prohibit use of the charter amendment process to add duties beyond the city’s authority) passed on a 6–2 recorded vote during the final roll call.

Ending: Council members said legal counsel and committee staff will continue to refine language and provide legal context before council takes any further action.","Council members debated and advanced ballot questions to supplement the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter with anti-discrimination language and a provision restricting sale or lease of water and sewer systems; one charter-related bill passed by a 6–2 recorded vote.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6331081,"Council approves settlements, contracts and a 30-day extension for acting police chief",492,2558000,3050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6&start=2558&end=3050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2313136-1a0ee6e01a17dec6180555bcf3c167b6/thumbnail_2558000.jpg","/articles/6331081/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-settlements-contracts-and-a-30-day-extension-for-acting-police-chief","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331081-41d6bd17ecdf34e86b0ffd30040a4962/orig.mp4?Expires=1771232163&Signature=h2oM8GsG1t9nO5Y552HYON2G1pT0r1a1eOC1fbXANomItc~EOuhq71KgR2O4sg211HopFnGPgvPxqSAJfmVZDUDyx2XjDv3o6Adp32mfdkO~fY6ClE99ep47EfCX~r6L04C-mUZq3KAeQ2iJ-bYJNwUI0li5Gf36SKY5pQnTat6SeK~~aRhPMiFSAc6fFJWV44fgiT90G7PUjnwvTEkVD8yweM2vboS0Ql9ks7X~FhQsm2mVgv7bZqt-vO2HGpdxdwUNwQ~1Y-9xR7VaZpcwwo-bOou61hufb3q5af4GOLtWdvKeFw8bqrcMz00mdxNPStQqInUcTm6Jsu3vtM-lGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday voted to approve multiple settlement payments, service contracts and a 30-day extension for the acting chief of police.

The council approved several warrants and professional service agreements including settlement payments totaling $248,001; membership dues to the National League of Cities; a professional-services contract with the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) for eviction-prevention work not to exceed $2,000,000 over one year; and a contract with Binkley Canopy Group LLC for work on the city’s annual financial report not to exceed $40,300. Council also approved a small expert-witness warrant not to exceed $8,071.25 and a construction contract increase for the South Side Signals Project (an increase described in the meeting as $542,335.96).

The council extended the acting chief of police’s term for 30 days beginning Jan. 31, 2025, a motion the body approved by roll call.

Why it matters: The eviction-prevention agreement with the URA represents a large, time-limited investment intended to fund tenant-focused services; the settlements and contract authorizations finalize legal and operational obligations that affect city finances and service delivery. Extending the acting chief’s term preserves continuity in the police bureau while the administration completes a search for a permanent chief.

Key approved items and outcomes (as read at council meeting):
- Bill 14-60: Settlement warrants totalling $248,001 (breakdown read into the record). Outcome: approved.
- Bill 14-62: Agreement(s) with the Urban Redevelopment Authority for eviction prevention, not to exceed $2,000,000 over one year. Outcome: approved.
- Bill 14-63: Professional services agreement with Binkley Canopy Group LLC for the popular annual financial report, not to exceed $40,300 over two years. Outcome: approved.
- Bill 14-59: Warrant in favor of Kittleson LLC for expert witness services, not to exceed $8,071.25 over one year. Outcome: approved.
- Bill 14-65: Amended agreement for construction services with SET Inc. for the South Side Signals Project, with an increase identified in the meeting as $542,335.96. Outcome: approved.
- Bill 14-73: Extension of the term of the acting chief of police for 30 additional days, effective Jan. 31, 2025. Outcome: approved by roll call (8 ayes recorded in the roll call announced at the meeting).

Procedural notes: Several bills were reported out of committee and then advanced; roll-call tallies announced at the meeting indicated most final actions passed with unanimous recorded support (8 ayes on several items). One of the ballot-related bills discussed elsewhere in the meeting (Bill 14-26) passed by a 6–2 recorded vote when called later in the session.

Council members presenting items included Councilwoman Erica Strasburger (committee on finance and law) and Councilwoman Barbara Warwick (public works and infrastructure). Controller and administration communications (grants status, acting-pay requests, a controller performance audit and the Equal Opportunity Review Commission quarterly report) were received and filed.

Council actions do not create additional substantive policy beyond the contracts and extensions listed; several items direct the mayor or city departments to execute agreements already described in the resolutions.

Ending: Council scheduled follow-up committee work and executive-session discussion on litigation matters for the next day.","Pittsburgh City Council on Feb. 4 approved a series of settlement warrants, professional-service agreements, an eviction-prevention contract with the Urban Redevelopment Authority and a 30-day extension of the acting police chief’s term.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

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Council advances referendums on anti-discrimination and water ownership for May ballot

Council approves settlements, contracts and a 30-day extension for acting police chief