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