[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",6283338,"mediaKeyId","2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554","parentId",2588951,"title","Votes at a glance: standing committees approve routine warrants, contracts and programs; several items held","audioSeconds",3660,"startMs",551000,"endMs",4211000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554&start=551&end=4211","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554/thumbnail_551000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6283338/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Votes-at-a-glance-standing-committees-approve-routine-warrants-contracts-and-programs-several-items-held","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283338-df4d75cdf516366d06960d44fb40b941/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026385&Signature=NC9QYRchxSnacltsuUqt0ve4gXDpSin7RH8RmRiS1isuos2IThp2smdGKFej77BcAwy2wyolfF4-1rqd3RCVXTMNvK2QBmscqCIac82TgCJsM94GvDUuNTon0JB9CtsX9HyNsUn2Rv-gRUY98f-FEqv3~dKJ~2Ub2Jb4OVuswXCx7G1SWzrwz1cX-Ck8iFPEXBiq5jsSR2bP094fFgB~b0JR7R3GyiN6AM7wW1vEJ9suXwPmlHNDsUIFXzOaw-7fBmVqLquDc6T6yTuv2aalSUZLhjkHsS43H3jI~ahykl7O9aFMHH-2rQWKc~UJKjfjdz~aRXygOPM8E7EQV3gN8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsburgh City, PA","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","Pittsburgh City Council's standing committees on March 5 handled a batch of routine bills, granting affirmative recommendations or approvals for contracts, warrants and program agreements with little or no extended debate. Several items were approved by voice vote; a few matters were held for further consideration.

Notable approvals

- Bill 15-32: Resolution amending Resolution 603 of 2024 to increase and extend a professional services agreement with Fisher Phillips LLP for labor-related legal services by $150,000 to a new not-to-exceed amount of $210,000 and adding one year to the contract term. Committee gave an affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-33: Resolution authorizing issuance of a warrant to Dickie, McKamey & Chilcoat, PC, for expert legal services in a federal litigation matter, amount not to exceed $54,082.90. Committee gave an affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-34: Resolution authorizing a warrant to Comer Miller, LLC for expert legal services in a federal litigation matter, amount not to exceed $35,109 over one year. Committee gave an affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-35: Resolution authorizing a warrant to Summers, McDonnell, Hudock, Guthrie & Rouch, PC for expert legal services in a federal litigation matter, amount not to exceed $41,590 over one year. Committee gave an affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 15-36: Resolution authorizing payment of annual member dues to the Major Cities Chiefs Association, amount not to exceed $7,500. Committee gave an affirmative recommendation.

- Bills 15-37, 15-38 and 15-39: Resolutions authorizing warrants to the U.S. Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to return seized funds in specified federal cases (amounts not to exceed $8,900; $9,220; and $6,428 respectively). Committee gave affirmative recommendations.

Other committee actions

- Bill 15-31: Clinical affiliation agreement with Community College of Allegheny County to allow EMS precepting and training at no cost to the city. Committee approved by voice vote.

- Bill 15-42: Resolution authorizing agreements or amendments with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Baltimore District) to perform non-invasive geophysical surveying in Arsenal Park at no cost to the city; committee approved and guests from the Corps described planned outreach and an April survey window.

- Bill 15-29: Resolution to amend and extend a professional services agreement for on-site and off-site childcare for city employees and community events; committee approved an increase of $45,000 for a new not-to-exceed amount of $90,000.

- Bill 15-30: Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental cooperation agreement with Allegheny County and Partner4Work for shared administration of the Learn and Earn summer youth employment program for the 2025-2027 cycles at no additional cost to the city; committee approved. Staff and Partner4Work representatives described district-level placements, application supports and a new tiered pay structure.

- Bills 15-43 and 15-44: Ordinances accepting new street names recommended by the City Addressing Committee (Coal Seam Street, Darby Street, Lucas Court, Lucas Street, Pitwell Street and Riley Street) were given affirmative recommendations; council members noted these relate to ongoing Middle Hill redevelopment.

Holds and other procedural items

- Bill 7-49 (HOME-ARP funding) was moved to be held for six weeks.

- Bill 15-59 (extension of acting chief of police for 90 days) was tabled after extended debate; see separate report.

How these votes were taken: Most routine financial warrants and contracts were approved by motion with standard \"aye\" voice votes and recorded as affirmative recommendations in committee minutes. The Learn and Earn and childcare items produced brief substantive discussion about program reach, applications and staffing; Partner4Work and other program representatives attended to answer questions.

What to watch next: Items given affirmative committee recommendations will proceed to the full council agenda. Committee members asked for additional financial detail or program dashboards in some cases (for the sidewalk program, learn-and-earn reporting and childcare usage data).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pittsburgh City Council Standing Committees - 3/5/25","oneSentenceSummary","The March 5 standing committees approved multiple financial warrants, legal contracts, program agreements and street namings by voice or unanimous votes; a separate item to extend the acting police chief's term was tabled.","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},6283343,"Committee tables 90-day extension for acting police chief after weeks of debate over confirmation process",1936,913000,2849000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554&start=913&end=2849","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554/thumbnail_913000.jpg","/articles/6283343/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Committee-tables-90-day-extension-for-acting-police-chief-after-weeks-of-debate-over-confirmation-process","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283343-fd5ccf62952f4942e1b08372bb4765e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026385&Signature=XqSEcLY5MnlCnSrjLSjEHwEr3DJvgwem6uVkLztsmXr8gqXiqf5-qKPg6fmcukJ0IVTuYWh~qCkyHiIkh-OBAJAcI-38Qsq0Dj8xKab4qg9estNb9l1OCSmVtRz9NdyP8q51p0277hGzEaGD1LNqiH1V834OFmt3rqf83W0xpmRBGuDKkihy08dM2fsMGHZ2xbRZQTU-cu76SmLx3PhpBBEn3S4w7QN2Jn2NIJU3nwTyUn13SAOGicZ3LKTlXRvwdoUuaYV1R7gaBuS19voXSPVxteoxWe9m9uKUKI5-eAtGXhM1rboekixxXjCHYF6LVf5UFsqqoqCX32IF2SRtkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council's Public Safety and Wellness Committee on March 5 voted to table a resolution (Bill 15-59) that would have extended the acting chief of police's term for 90 days. The tabling motion passed by roll call, 9-0.

Committee members spent more than an hour debating the process by which the council and community would consider a permanent police chief, and several council members urged a formal, multi-zone public engagement process before any confirmation vote.

Councilmember Kale Smith opened the policy portion of the discussion by saying the confirmation process should be structured and nonpolitical: \"I have said from the very beginning of this process that the public safety department and public health should never be part of politics.\" Smith said meetings with community groups and officers had shown deep morale and trust issues that should be addressed by a public process and training rather than a rapid confirmation.

Several members, including Councilmember Warwick, praised Acting Chief Chris Ragland's work during his four months in the role: \"He was a champion of our Vision 0 initiative to eliminate traffic deaths in the city,\" Warwick said, and noted Ragland's engagement with community meetings and a neighborhood policing pilot. But multiple council members said public hearings and zone meetings were needed to give residents and rank-and-file officers a chance to weigh in.

Councilmember Charland said he supported a multi-zone process and said, \"If the mayor wants to claim that there was an, you know, an ethical dilemma in what happened here, I encourage him, put your money where your mouth is and put an ethics complaint in.\" Councilman Coghill, chairing parts of the discussion, said he had stressed to Ragland the importance of knowing who the chief would appoint as assistant chiefs and commanders, calling those staffing decisions a necessary part of earning the committee's support.

Ragland announced he would not proceed with confirmation amid what he described publicly as a politicized process and an \"ethical dilemma,\" comments that several council members said they wished to understand directly from him. Council members said he was welcome to return to the committee to answer questions.

Action taken: Councilmember Kale Smith moved to table Bill 15-59; the motion carried on a roll-call vote recorded in the transcript as nine ayes and zero noes. The clerk read the roll call with the following recorded ayes: (named in transcript) Mr. Charland; Mr. Cargill; Ms. Gross; Mr. Lavelle; Mr. Mosley; Ms. Kale Smith; Ms. Warwick; Mr. Wilson; Chair Strasburger. The committee announced the bill was tabled.

Why it matters: Council members framed their request for a multi-zone process as an attempt to avoid a repeat of a previous, costly search and to increase transparency and community trust. Several members said the city risks additional officer departures this summer as large numbers of officers become eligible for retirement without a clear and stable leadership plan.

Next steps: Councilmember Kale Smith said she would draft new legislation next week to formalize a public confirmation process and bring it back to the committee. Several members invited Ragland to appear before the committee under oath if he wished to answer questions about his public statements about the confirmation process.","Council committee voted to table a resolution extending Acting Chief Chris Ragland's term after extended discussion about a public confirmation process, community meetings and accusations the process became politicized.",{"_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},6283347,"Council committee gives affirmative recommendation to permanently adopt sidewalk and curb repair program",3968,80000,4048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554&start=80&end=4048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2588951-4ebda52e7eeb17606a2ef1a31b37d554/thumbnail_80000.jpg","/articles/6283347/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Council-committee-gives-affirmative-recommendation-to-permanently-adopt-sidewalk-and-curb-repair-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6283347-11983564c14c261b34d5f94c732beb61/orig.mp4?Expires=1771026385&Signature=cAwvansrEPwurbnzluCc-oOofDi-nZFRt1ATkQXA7CwK3b8T68G2mEpcSdD3X4KqKRAqcAd43hafIDpSxag-R1yR6bG01I36KC69irl1mPa24FSVYNBJMdSgMlp5BlI~Pi7NF-vHIZThocGuiAlULaLC1lxumWLH5juI2e4hlKxqVrKAZ0fw5mzhyobRyO4ZgOoznGn81j3NLWkSNM-~OcWSNNNTTbql0o2BaR-bxKXSjk93xUyHTphLnQz6pibeSaCkzPaBkwsMbulAtLsrViv0vtXQLmwRoJTNZJNYwxc7qY2miaGzFz6mQa6XxrGKVUlD3tC-CyjVssytcuA~gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pittsburgh City Council's Public Works and Infrastructure committee on March 5 recommended approval of an ordinance (Bill 15-41) to permanently adopt the city's sidewalk and curb repair program and allow the city to enter agreements to provide assisted repairs to eligible property owners.

The recommendation came after public commenters urged the council to maintain and expand the program and after city officials described plans to focus work and reimbursements in neighborhoods where sidewalks are missing or in disrepair.

Supporters said the program addresses pedestrian safety and accessibility. Amy Zace, speaking as a member of Bike Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Walks, told the committee, \"We envision walking infrastructure that is accessible and enjoyable throughout all of our 90 neighborhoods.\" Jeff Mulhern, a Squirrel Hill resident, described tripping hazards from shifting slabs and said the program would \"provide a universal benefit to all residents.\" Director Keith Lucas of the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure told the committee that \"the sidewalks are actually the responsibility of the adjacent property owners,\" and that the program allows the city to partner with owners who cannot otherwise afford repairs.

Why it matters: Council members said sidewalks in poor condition reduce safe access to transit and services and create hazards for people who are older or have limited vision or mobility. Committee members noted the program's role in connecting sidewalk repair to other infrastructure goals including tree-planting and safer street design.

Details and rollout: City staff said the program moves beyond an earlier limited pilot by enabling the city to enter repayment agreements with property owners and to recover part of construction costs. Staff said the reimbursement schedule is income-weighted and that the program has adjusted unit charges: an early pilot charged about $75 per square yard; current proposals move the charge closer to $300 per square yard to better reflect construction costs and reimbursement targets. Staff reported roughly $14,000 in reimbursed work from the pilot phase but did not provide a full collection ledger at the committee meeting.

Neighborhoods named by staff for the assisted-repair work include Homewood, Perry South, Hazelwood and Carrick in an initial list; planned projects later this year were listed as the Hill District, Larimer, Beltzhoover, Stanton Heights and Windgap. Staff said some sidewalk work nearby is separately funded or occurs on city-owned parcels and therefore is handled outside the reimbursement program.

Committee members asked for lists of collection targets and urged the administration to pursue absentee landlords for unpaid repairs and other property code enforcement where appropriate. Councilmember Kale Smith asked staff for evidence about collections and whether the city had succeeded in recouping costs from absentee owners; staff said they would provide more detail to council offices.

Context and background: The city has thousands of miles of sidewalks and a code regime that places primary maintenance responsibility on adjacent property owners. City staff and council members said the pilot allowed the administration to test a partnership model that combines city construction capacity with owner reimbursement agreements and income-based subsidies. Committee members also discussed longer-term ideas, including a dedicated funding mechanism such as a referendum authorizing a sidewalk fund.

What the committee decided: The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee gave Bill 15-41 an affirmative recommendation. The motion was approved by voice vote in committee.

Next steps: The ordinance will move to the full council for further consideration, with committee members and staff expecting to supply additional detail on collection results, reimbursement rates and planned project lists for the coming construction season.","Pittsburgh standing committees recommended approval of an ordinance to make the city's sidewalk-and-curb repair pilot permanent, citing safety, targeted neighborhoods and a sliding-scale reimbursement for property owners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: standing committees approve routine warrants, contracts and programs; several items held

Committee tables 90-day extension for acting police chief after weeks of debate over confirmation process

Council committee gives affirmative recommendation to permanently adopt sidewalk and curb repair program