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

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.