Pittsburgh council committees approve capital adjustments, construction contracts, software extension and Riverfront license; several items held for follow-up

The standing committees of the Pittsburgh City Council on Jan. 21, 2025, recommended approval of a package of resolutions that adjust capital budgets to reflect American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations, authorize engineering and construction contracts for sidewalks and traffic studies, expand a city tax-software contract, and permit a license agreement for maintenance of the Riverfront Trails.

The actions were taken across the council's Finance and Law; Public Works and Infrastructure; Human Resources; Recreation, Youth and Senior Services; Innovation, Performance, Asset Management and Technology; and Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs committees. Most items received brief discussion and affirmative recommendations; a handful drew specific questions and at least two abstentions were recorded pending follow-up.

The most significant financial item discussed in detail was an amendment to the city's contract with CSS Inc., the vendor for the city's comprehensive tax and revenue management system. Jen Goula, director of finance and city treasurer, told the Innovation, Performance, Asset Management and Technology Committee that the vendor's system replaces two legacy systems and will include a public-facing portal for online payment. "CSS is actually our comprehensive tax payment system," Goula said. She said the city will run systems in parallel during a rollout and retain read-only access to historical data to ensure continuity as the real-estate portion is brought online. The committee approved extending the contract by $3,526,659 and extending the term for five additional years to a new total not to exceed $8,526,659.

Several transportation and pedestrian-safety items moved forward in Public Works and Infrastructure. The committee recommended approval of a professional services agreement with McCormick Taylor Inc. for the Beaver Avenue traffic study phase, not to exceed $208,315.56, reimbursable at 100 percent. It also recommended a supplemental agreement with Mackin Engineering and Consultants for construction inspection and contract administration on critical sidewalks, gaps and the Sylvan Avenue project, increasing the agreement by $24,532.32 to a new not-to-exceed amount of $491,048.40. Council members, including Councilwoman Cale Smith, asked for clarification on grant funding and district-level sidewalk needs; Cale Smith pressed administration staff to confirm who is paying for specific projects and whether similar assistance was available in her district.

The committee also recommended awarding a construction-phase agreement to A Filino Construction for a Safe Routes to School project, not to exceed $156,156.15, reimbursable at 100 percent. Council members asked whether a list of specific project locations would be available before the full council vote.

Parks and community items advanced with fewer questions. The Recreation, Youth and Senior Services Committee recommended a resolution authorizing the parks department to enter into agreements up to $10,000 with performers, instructors and others for recreational programming. The committee also recommended a three-year, not-to-exceed $40,000 professional services agreement with the Community College of Allegheny County to provide applicant preparation and civil service exam training for public safety applicants.

The Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs Committee recommended adopting a plan revision to the city’s official sewage facilities plan for a property at 6277679 Meadow Street in the East Liberty neighborhood at no cost to the city.

A license agreement that would define maintenance privileges for Friends of the Riverfront along the city's Riverfront Trails was introduced and received an affirmative recommendation. Council members asked questions about insurance and related operational concerns; the administration offered to follow up with the solicitor's office and with the Friends if needed.

Votes at a glance

- Bill 1388: Resolution amending resolution 886 of 2021 (2022 capital budget and CDBG program) by decreasing ramp in public sidewalk by $673.61 to align with the most recent ARPA allocation — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1389: Resolution amending resolution 723 of 2022 (2023 capital budget and CDBG program) by reducing facility improvements, recreation and senior centers by $425,104.38 to align with ARPA allocation — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1390: Resolution amending resolution 857 of 2023 (2024 capital budget and proposed 2024 CDBG) by reducing facility improvements, recreation and senior centers by $78,322.24 to align with ARPA allocation — affirmative recommendation; one abstention recorded.

- Invoices and purchasing card (p-card) approvals — affirmative recommendations.

- Bill 1391: Agreement(s) with McCormick Taylor Inc. for Beaver Avenue traffic study phase, not to exceed $208,315.56, reimbursable at 100% — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1392: Supplemental agreement with Mackin Engineering and Consultants for construction inspection and contract administration for critical sidewalks, gaps and Sylvan Avenue projects, not to exceed $491,048.40 (increase of $24,532.32) — affirmative recommendation; one abstention noted pending confirmation on specifics.

- Bill 1393: Agreement(s) with A Filino Construction for construction phase of Safe Routes to School project, not to exceed $156,156.15, reimbursable at 100% — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1394: Authorizes mayor and department directors to enter into a license agreement with Friends of the Riverfront for maintenance privileges along City of Pittsburgh Riverfront Trails at no cost to the city — affirmative recommendation; council asked staff to follow up on insurance questions.

- Bill 1384: Professional services agreement with Community College of Allegheny County for customized applicant preparation training for public safety applicants and civil service exam preparation, not to exceed $40,000 over three years — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1387: Authorizes Department of Parks and Recreation to enter into agreements of $10,000 or less with performers, instructors and others for recreational and instructional programs and events — affirmative recommendation.

- Bill 1385: Amendment to agreement with CSS Inc. for business tax and revenue management software adding $3,526,659 and extending the agreement five years for a new total not to exceed $8,526,659 — affirmative recommendation; director Jen Goula provided rollout and data-retention details.

- Bill 1386: Adopts plan revision to the city's official sewage facilities plan for 6277679 Meadow Street, East Liberty (15206) at no cost to the city — affirmative recommendation.

Notable discussion and follow-up

- Councilwoman Cale Smith asked for clearer confirmation about which sidewalk and accessibility projects are funded by grants and which are not, citing a Sheridan district project where constituents were told assistance was unavailable. The administration said DOMI staff had been expected to attend and would be asked to follow up.

- Council members questioned Friends of the Riverfront maintenance insurance and operational concerns; a council member offered to consult the solicitor’s office and to follow up with Friends staff.

- For the CSS Inc. amendment, Director Jen Goula said the city purchased a read-only version of the legacy business tax system to preserve historical data and plans to operate systems in parallel during rollout to verify records and continuity. "We are gonna run systems in parallel, for a time to make sure that everything is working properly," Goula said.

What’s next

All items with affirmative committee recommendations move to the full City Council for consideration at the council’s regular meeting; several council members requested additional confirmations from administration staff before final votes on some items. Council also announced upcoming public zoning hearings (inclusionary zoning and a package of zoning amendments) and a request for a public hearing on two introduced ballot-referral bills (1425 and 1426).