[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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],{"_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",6283314,"mediaKeyId","2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7","parentId",2589046,"title","Votes at a glance: Council committee actions, March 12, 2025","audioSeconds",3787,"startMs",1173000,"endMs",4960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7&start=1173&end=4960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7/thumbnail_1173000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283314/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-Council-committee-actions-March-12-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283314-7d0e7f35538d4429dee058becd5a438c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178082&Signature=Q90qvkHHr2lpGdm46MlTsq50hoLXVh2h48O~GvclTRu8bYVnDUZM9TGUzqaDSNVAhz747-zLkRnzLFOCZG4jA675wivFTynAlIlkEhBlFuAHjYxPoW6FI7Nh9Qqf11-LSa0rA~gBrkfTzhDdBConV7E-gdzFC6YQTzCm5GCN6oZJU6fpsjBSQjf~3Y1e1IQ8qizXsPgq8xJV8O8vS2bgnhGa6gpTXVDtLsq5-qnByFPMqiuYimC~bFxg5UOexjU42crFlFIQcDp3WBJknPzKKpFqKbw34WXl869L3j7SdufxUb7Do-hFDDazFi9yKym5T6a~sQdJJmZRBdR8KXvCZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsburgh City, PA","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","The following is a short summary of formal committee actions recorded at the standing committees meeting on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. Where discussion was brief or none, the committee recorded an affirmative recommendation; where members asked for time to consult constituents or staff, the committee held the measure for a future meeting or public hearing.

Key committee outcomes (committee recommendation/action):

- Bill 15-71: Resolution amending Resolution 8-41 (procurement technical assistance partnership). Committee recorded an affirmative recommendation (voice vote: aye).

- Bill 15-72: Resolution authorizing the city to accept $316,367 in full-and-final settlement regarding the Finland Street pedestrian bridge. Councilwoman Gross moved for a one-week hold to allow district discussion with affected neighborhoods and neighboring council district; committee voted to hold the bill for one week.

- Invoices and procurement card approvals: Affirmative recommendations recorded.

- Bill 15-31 (clinical affiliation agreement with Community College of Allegheny County for EMS training): Motion made and seconded to hold for two weeks; committee voted to hold for two weeks.

- Bill 15-73 (Penn Avenue Phase 2 reimbursement agreement with PennDOT; increase not to exceed $12,275,000): Affirmative recommendation recorded.

- Bill 15-74 (parking lot/bridge reimbursement agreement with PennDOT; increase not to exceed $4,377,305.53): Affirmative recommendation recorded.

- Bill 15-75 (professional services agreement with Michael Baker International — Manchester/Route 605 planning study; not to exceed $1,356,447.21): Affirmative recommendation recorded.

- Bill 15-79 (Title IX zoning — reduce minimum lot sizes): Held for a cablecast public hearing (procedural hold; sponsors and City Planning to provide maps and briefing).

- Land Bank resolutions (Bills 15-90 through 15-97, and Bills 15-91–15-97 individually): Multiple resolutions authorizing transfers of city-owned parcels to the Pittsburgh Land Bank and related temporary easement authorizations (including Bill 15-90 for URA temporary construction easement) received affirmative recommendations; clerk recorded voice votes.

- Bill 15-69 (cooperation agreement with Sports and Exhibition Authority re: street dedications around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center): Affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-70 (reimbursement agreement with Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission for member planning services): Affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-68 (extension of equipment/software agreement with OPEX Corporation, maintenance funding): Affirmative recommendation.

For many measures the minutes record only voice votes (ayes) or motions to hold; specific roll-call tallies were not read into the committee record for every item. Items held have target follow-up for a future standing committee or for a cablecast public hearing as noted above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees - 3/12/25","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of committee votes and holds taken during the Pittsburgh City Council standing committees meeting on March 12, 2025.","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},6283319,"Council approves $1.875 million state grant to open downtown substance-use drop-in center",217,3008000,3225000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7&start=3008&end=3225","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7/thumbnail_3008000.jpg","/articles/6283319/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-approves-1875-million-state-grant-to-open-downtown-substance-use-drop-in-center","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283319-1d45fd295743f305b51b9be8a1cb164c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178082&Signature=d2V21O0iyRNpHWMl1kq9SgCcwgV0sF4PnfO-5NYLPkwMsLkvlvAm5~XGhIF66HZ-ACHbHG5RtRbALs7EOv3-pdRj8EFBetXgNqk5hwvHGzQqoSCBUE8zSpqzqqfPaA0q70jDdd16TTEeONg3MdZjPxhqbg9VZof9sNQV0oJuHPIIdM~6J24uC7L5fbdL5gzc1vfCgYbOLJ5v4Gx~oOVO8KCnJnYb9qFE-hwSHH~g-HRd2zX-lDJzmZkJ~jLuiVzMcH9ladwB6cHbteCStkSnl8giXJZ~CNOxDgK6hSsN-X1PKA9lMj6sghnkE3Y4L6eKqcEswM94lv01I1Qw9niDUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday voted to accept a grant not to exceed $1,875,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to create a new substance-use drop-in center and extended-hours services. The resolution authorizes the mayor and the director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Public Safety to enter into agreements to receive the funds at no cost to the city.

City staff told the committee the Office of Community Health and Safety (OCHS) applied for and won the grant after submitting a statewide proposal; the office said it was one of two awardees in Allegheny County. Presenting staff said the drop-in center will operate extended hours (proposed 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.), provide de-escalation, harm-reduction supplies, basic needs support and connections to benefits, and add nurses, crisis clinicians and diversion case managers to city teams responding to nonemergency behavioral-health incidents. The grant is written to fund staffing and program costs for roughly two-and-a-half years with no city match required.

A staff presenter described planned operations: a centralized downtown site at 611 Second Avenue (the OCHS transition site), shared staffing with OCHS outreach teams and a day-to-night operational model to provide alternatives to hospital or arrest for people in crisis. The office said program elements will include harm-reduction supplies, a nurse, crisis clinicians, a benefits coordinator to assist with SNAP and other public benefits, and diversion case management for higher-acuity clients. The presenter said the facility would also free up emergency responders during overnight hours by providing an alternate response and care option.

Councilmembers asked about facility readiness, timeline and sustainability. Staff said facility renovations are minimal and that DPW will assist with building work; the presenter said hiring would begin after council approval, with an operational target of spring or early summer (Q2–Q3) 2025. Staff said some portion of future funding could be billed to Medicaid or other payors as programs mature and that the grant dedicates most funds to personnel and direct participant services.

Council voted in favor by voice vote; the clerk recorded an affirmative recommendation. Several councilmembers congratulated staff on securing the grant and noted it expands city capacity for noncarceral, public-health responses to substance-use crises.","Council voted to accept a $1,875,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs to fund a new drop-in center and extended-hours services operated by the Office of Community Health and Safety; the grant carries no matching city dollars and funds staffing and services for 2.5 years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6283324,"Council holds minimum lot-size zoning measure for public hearing after public urges housing package be kept intact",4858,102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7&start=102&end=4960","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2589046-07ea6defc2121801c82c59b598e89cf7/thumbnail_102000.jpg","/articles/6283324/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-holds-minimum-lot-size-zoning-measure-for-public-hearing-after-public-urges-housing-package-be-kept-intact","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283324-3a24af36be136549ca26fc1ac018d935/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178082&Signature=flXu6SdJdIO-gmu7HljBNqjauG09hXJiedN4znCcgHjV0ySqfa4fkGe9pThkGLlU8MHzHrqkIr4wkbkgxuHxih5u5sa~OlWHUJtPrIAKAXfm1jxg~Q4QbVf-wPpBpUyHUz0qIrnOGeo0Fm9qZoZ5xoYUl8VMBjWnidTe4JApH9G3R9ILeO5KUT1FAKWs9aDf1DhFYwpQ7eIrzFXSE07YeatAgHBIb0EO~WjOtCYfXxGUbXtgzNEJlv22wlZW4BAY~tXCjora6X2KK8XZILMPmDgo-qUvjFJU0KAvJZD5Qq3WFaR03Tid-13WBNQig-gCyGuZI3EZL-A2T4eQslxR5Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council on Wednesday held for a cablecast public hearing a zoning bill that would reduce minimum lot-size requirements across several residential subdistricts, after public commenters and several council members urged that the provision remain tied to the city’s larger housing needs assessment package.

The bill, introduced by Councilman Wilson, would reduce or remove minimum lot-size requirements in several residential zoning subdistricts and alter the minimum lot-size-per-unit standard in multi-family zones. Council voted to hold the measure for a cablecast public hearing (the council clerk recorded an affirmative voice vote to hold the bill for public hearing).

Advocates and residents who spoke during public comment said the minimum-lot-size change is one piece of a larger package of reforms and should not be separated. Andrea Boykowitz, executive director of Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, said she was “concerned to learn that a bill has been introduced that separates out the FAR component of the housing needs assessment package” and that “this component deserves to be considered together with the other components of the package.” Laura Chu Weens, executive director of Republic Transit, told the committee that splitting bills after months of engagement was confusing to the public: “It is impossible for the public to follow this legislative process when yet another competing bill is being introduced after the public has already weighed in about the totality of the housing needs assessment package.” Josh Malloy, chapter director for Pittsburgh United, said the housing package “has had the most comprehensive community engagement that we’ve seen in a very long time,” and urged council not to fragment it.

Sponsor Councilman Wilson said the text before council is the same language that went to the City Planning Commission and that splitting the package was required procedurally because the omnibus was separated into component bills. Wilson argued the minimum-lot-size change is needed to encourage housing production and development that create tax revenue for city services.

Councilmembers expressed differing views on timing. Councilwoman Gross and others requested technical clarification from planning staff and asked for more time to review how the measure would affect specific neighborhoods; Director Andrew Dash, deputy director of City Planning (present on Zoom), answered council questions about the prevalence of substandard lots and the intent of the change. Council President recommended sponsors meet and proposed a compromise hold; after discussion council voted to hold the bill for a cablecast public hearing (the procedural hold schedules the public hearing and provides the council additional time for outreach and staff briefing).

The committee and staff said planning will provide maps and examples showing where the changes would apply and the kinds of existing lot forms the changes are intended to relegalize. Councilmembers said the public hearing period will provide time for community briefings and for sponsors to coordinate amendments or clarifications before final votes.

The matter will return to council after the public hearing is scheduled; no final zoning change was approved at Wednesday’s meeting.","Pittsburgh City Council held (scheduled a cablecast public hearing for) a bill to reduce required minimum lot sizes after residents and advocacy groups urged that the change remain part of the broader housing needs assessment package rather than be passed alone.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Council committee actions, March 12, 2025

Council approves $1.875 million state grant to open downtown substance-use drop-in center

Council holds minimum lot-size zoning measure for public hearing after public urges housing package be kept intact