Standing committees: grants, easements and infrastructure moves forward; Sheridan grant held for public hearing; North Shore signage bill sent back to planning

Pittsburgh City Council standing committees on June 25 advanced a range of municipal actions: easements with a utility company, grant applications for transit-oriented planning, engineering and construction-inspection contracts for major street and bridge projects, adjustments to community development block grant (CDBG) budget lines, and a substitution and referral of a North Shore signage ordinance back to the Planning Commission for further review.

Why it matters: The items cover capital projects, grant-seeking that could direct state funds to local planning, and park and public-right-of-way approvals that affect neighborhood planning and public space. Several items drew discussion about community engagement, permit processes for public events and park impacts.

Key outcomes (committee-level action):

- Bill 19‑42 (Duquesne Light easements): The committee recommended approval of an amended resolution authorizing the mayor and director of finance to enter easement agreements with Duquesne Light Co. to install and maintain four poles, three anchors and wires across specified city-owned parcels at no cost to the city. Affirmative recommendation recorded.

- Bill 19‑43 (Sheridan Bus Station planning grant, $250,000): Committee members moved to hold the item until a public hearing; the motion to hold for a public hearing passed. Council members stressed community consultation before applying for or programming grant funds for Sheridan.

- Bill 19‑44 (South Hills Junction planning grant, $250,000): The committee voted to advance the grant application for the South Hills Junction site with the condition that staff provide answers to outstanding community and council questions before the next meeting; the item received an affirmative recommendation with one recorded abstention.

- Bill 19‑45 (Larson Design Group — Liberty Avenue HSIP construction inspection): The committee recommended approval of an agreement not to exceed $1,476,674.46, reimbursable at 80%.

- Bill 19‑46 (Alfred Benesch & Company — Swinburne Bridge preliminary engineering): The committee recommended approval of a supplemental agreement increasing the contract by $477,712.39 to a total not to exceed $1,308,284.86; reimbursable at 95%.

- Bill 19‑47 (Whitman, Requardt & Associates — Penn Avenue Phase 2 construction inspection): The committee recommended approval; the amount reported in the transcript appeared garbled and is recorded here as not specified in the meeting transcript.

- Bill 19‑48 (Norfolk Southern positive train control equipment, Allegheny Commons Park): The committee recommended approval of an agreement allowing positive train control equipment to remain in the park and to supersede earlier temporary licenses. Chris Winstein, director of Public Works, said the equipment is "necessary for the safe operation of the railroad" and that the equipment "will be screened" as part of the agreement. Several council members urged the city examine design and review standards for installations on park property.

- Bill 18‑51 (Neighborhood Academy conditional use for school additions): The land-use item received an affirmative recommendation; council members praised the Neighborhood Academys work.

- Bill 19‑38 (Garfield parcels rezoned to Parks): The committee approved an amendment adding Parcel 50F213 to the rezoning and sent the amended ordinance to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation.

- Bill 19‑49 (CDBG budget adjustments): The committee recommended approval of an amendment to a prior capital/CDBG resolution to move small line items and increase CDBG personnel funding to allow spend-down of 2018 funds that expire on Aug. 22, 2025.

- Bill 19‑63 (Noble Reach Foundation/Noble Reach fellowship grant): Approved — resolution authorizes accepting up to $78,000 in grant funds and a local match not to exceed $152,000 to support two fellowship positions in data science and cybersecurity (total project cost not to exceed $230,000).

- Bill 19‑39 (Starfire fireworks contract for Independence Day display): Approved; the resolution modifies the account and authorizes a three-year professional services agreement not to exceed $252,200 funded from the general fund.

- Special motion on signage (Bill 2024‑0959 — North Shore Entertainment District): Councilman Wilson moved to rescind a previous referral and the committee adopted an amendment by substitution to create a North Shore Entertainment District signage overlay, remove advertising permissions and require council approval for very large displays. The substituted ordinance was sent back to the Planning Commission for report and recommendation.

Other routine items: invoices, interdepartmental transfers, and P‑card approvals were recommended by committee for approval.

Notable discussion themes: Several council members and city staff discussed community engagement procedures (particularly for Sheridan and South Hills Junction planning work) and special events/park permitting after large events caused damage to Mellon Park; directors said staff are reviewing permitting and enforcement processes and working on park repairs and capacity management.

Next steps: Items that received affirmative recommendations will be considered by full council. Held items (Sheridan Bus Station planning) await a public hearing. The substituted North Shore signage ordinance will be reviewed by the Planning Commission before returning to council.