Pittsburgh City Council approves multiple funding, contract and plan measures; Baxter Park match noted

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025, approved a series of resolutions and committee reports authorizing professional services contracts, budget reallocations and a sewer-plan revision for parcels in the city. Votes on multiple items were unanimous in the 8-0 roll calls shown in the meeting record.

The measures approved included authorizations for on-call professional services, contract supplements and reappropriation of funds to cover 2024 water service costs in 2025. Several capital-budget amendments realigned American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations for facility repairs, park reconstruction and sidewalk projects. Councilman Kahari Mosley singled out a local match tied to Baxter Park in Homewood and thanked colleagues and city staff for support.

Why it matters: The passed items authorize spending and contracts that affect parks, public-safety hiring supports, capital improvements and storm/sewer plan work in multiple neighborhoods. They also move ARPA allocations and city operating expenses from 2024 into 2025 for payment, a routine but necessary budgeting step.

Votes at a glance

- Bill 1358 — Resolution authorizing an open-end professional services agreement with Assured Polygraph Services Inc. to provide polygraph testing services, not to exceed $25,000 annually for a three-year term: passed, roll-call 8-0 (see roll call for members).

- Bill 1364 — Resolution amending the 2024 capital budget by transferring $150,000 from facility improvements (sports facilities) to park reconstruction: passed, roll-call 8-0.

- Bill 1371 — Resolution authorizing the mayor and finance director to contract with Meyer Dussell for auditing services, total cost not to exceed $470,990 over three years: passed, roll-call 8-0.

- Bill 1372 — Resolution reappropriating $4,600,000 from the Department of Finance to the Department of Public Works Bureau of Administration to pay 2024 Pittsburgh Water Services costs in 2025: passed, roll-call 8-0.

- Bill 1357 — Resolution amending the 2022 capital budget by reducing Southside Slopes Neighborhood Association by $3,832.54 and increasing Community Human Services Corporation by the same amount: passed, roll-call 8-0.

- Bill 1359 — Resolution authorizing the Department of City Planning to accept a $20,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to complete an updated architectural inventory of the Manchester neighborhood, with a local match of $20,000 (total project $40,000); the bill was amended on the floor to clarify direction and then passed, roll-call 8-0.

- Bill 1370 — Resolution adopting a plan revision to the city of Pittsburgh’s official sewage facilities plan for 449 Melwood Avenue in the 5th Ward at no cost to the city: passed, roll-call 8-0.

What council members said

Councilman Kahari Mosley, chair of intergovernmental and educational affairs, thanked colleagues and city staff for support of a local match that will accompany philanthropic funds for renovation and revitalization of Baxter Park in Homewood. "I just wanna ... thank my colleagues, for supporting the match, that will be provided, to philanthropic support that Parks Conservancy has raised, for the renovation and revitalization of Baxter Park in Homewood," Mosley said during debate on committee recommendations.

Public comment

During the meeting’s public-comment period, resident Yvonne F. Brown of 715 Mercer Street urged council members to press state officials for more funding for senior services and said she had been promised weatherization assistance that had not been completed. "I'm asking you to ask her to call Josh Shapiro and ask him to put more money in for the seniors so they can stay in their home," Brown said.

Other notable items presented (no final vote recorded at this meeting)

Council members introduced several resolutions and contract authorizations that were read into the record and will appear on future agendas, including: a proposed agreement with Community College of Allegheny County for customized applicant preparation training for public-safety applicants (not to exceed $40,000 over three years), an amendment to a business tax and revenue management software agreement with CSS Inc. increasing that contract by $3,526,659 to a new total not to exceed $8,526,659 over an additional five years, traffic-study and construction-inspection contracts for street and sidewalk projects, and a license agreement with Friends of the Riverfront for trail maintenance privileges at no cost to the city.

What’s next

Council announced its standing committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025, at 10 a.m. Speaker registration for that meeting closes at 9 a.m.