Pittsburgh City Council approves multiple grant, transportation and technology measures

Pittsburgh City Council on March 4 approved a set of resolutions authorizing state grant agreements, amendments to transportation reimbursement agreements, professional services contracts and membership dues aimed at funding infrastructure projects, youth programs and city technology upgrades.

The measures included amended Penn Avenue and Route 51 bridge agreements with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, contracts for a Route 65 planning study and enterprise resource planning consulting work, and several grant and procurement items reported out of committee with affirmative recommendations. Council members voted on the items after committee reports; most passed with unanimous ayes, while one technology contract received one no vote and one abstention.

Why it matters: the approvals secure state and regional funding for roadway projects and provide city departments with consultants and software services that the administration says are necessary to advance capital improvements, plan a major corridor study and modernize certain city operations.

Council took final action on the following measures. Unless noted, council recorded unanimous roll-call approval.

Votes at a glance:

- Bill 15-61 — Resolution adopting and approving the 2023 capital budget amendments and the 2023 Community Development Program and 2023–2028 Capital Improvement Program, which reallocated $500,000 from facility improvements, recreation and senior centers to park reconstruction. Final action: passed (8–0). Roll call: Charland (aye), Gross (aye), Mosley (aye), Kale Smith (aye), Strassburger (aye), Warwick (aye), Wilson (aye), Lavelle (aye).

- Bill 15-62 — Resolution authorizing the mayor, budget director and director of public safety to enter grant agreements with the Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner for Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services grant funds: $15,000 for training and certification of Freedom House participants and $15,676.48 to purchase gear/bags. Final action: passed (8–0). Roll call recorded as above.

- Bill 15-63 — Two resolutions from Public Works & Infrastructure including (1) authorizations listed with no city cost and (2) a membership dues payment to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) for 2025 not to exceed $33,125. Final action: passed (8–0).

- Bill 15-64 — Resolution authorizing Goodwill of Southwestern PA to administer administrative services related to the Learn & Earn summer youth employment program, cost not to exceed $200,000. Final action: passed (8–0).

- Bill 15-65 — Amendment updating a previously authorized grant name to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Flag Football Foundation and authorizing a subsequent agreement for $10,000. Final action: passed (8–0).

- Bill 15-66 — A package of three items reported by the Innovation, Performance, Asset Management & Technology Committee: • Bill 15-14 — Agreement with Plant Moran PLLC to serve as ERP consultant for requirements gathering and procurement, cost not to exceed $300,000 over two years. Final action: passed (6 ayes, 1 no, 1 abstention). The roll call recorded one no vote and one abstention on 15-14; council recorded six ayes. • Bill 15-21 — Amendment to an existing Granicus Inc. agreement to increase the total by $9,286.03 to a not-to-exceed $498,088.07 for software upgrades, hosting and maintenance. Final action: passed (vote recorded as part of the package). • Bill 15-60 — Amendment to extend and increase a routing/navigation software agreement with Ruth Smart Technologies Inc. by $72,707 for a new total not to exceed $247,127. Final action: passed (vote recorded as part of the package).

What council said: most presenters moved the measures forward from committee and there was little floor discussion before roll call; multiple items were described in committee reports read into the record and received affirmative recommendations. Several council members requested follow-up information on program implementation for the youth employment program.

Background and funding highlights: the Penn Avenue Phase 2 reimbursement agreement was amended in committee (bill presented earlier in the meeting) to increase reimbursable costs to $12,275,000 (an increase of $10,200,000) with Commonwealth reimbursement at 80% and any municipal share capped (municipal share not to exceed $68,400, an increase of $50,400). A separate PennDOT reimbursement amendment for the Route 51 (Woodruff Street/parking lot bridge) demolition project listed a new capped Commonwealth-share amount and a municipal share increase; the transcript lists a not-to-exceed figure of $4,377,305.33 for that item as presented to council. The Manchester (Route 65) planning study contract with Michael Baker International Inc. was presented with a not-to-exceed cost of $1,356,447.21.

Formal distinctions: the article distinguishes committee reporting and introductions (items presented or placed on the agenda) from final action taken on the bills listed above. Where the transcript recorded roll-call votes, the article reports those tallies; where a specific member recorded a no vote or an abstention, that is reported for the affected bill.

Next steps and follow-up: council noted upcoming meetings, including an executive session on bill 15-72 (litigation) and scheduled standing committee meetings; departments and contract managers are expected to complete procurement steps and execute agreements in alignment with the approvals.

(For the record: the meeting included ceremonial proclamations, public comment and committee reports; this article covers formal legislative action taken during the March 4 meeting.)