Pittsburgh City Council approves extension for acting police chief and multiple funding and property resolutions

Pittsburgh City Council on Thursday approved a set of resolutions that extended the term of the acting chief of police and authorized grant, procurement and land-disposition actions affecting public safety, public works and neighborhood projects.

The measures the council approved include a 42-day extension of the acting police chief’s appointment and a $1,666,279 award of FY24 Community Project Funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund a field house, amphitheater and community gathering space in Homewood Park. Many items were presented by committee chairs and adopted on roll-call votes after committee reports.

Why it matters: the extension of the acting police chief maintains current leadership while the department’s hiring or appointment process continues; the HUD community-project funds will pay for capital construction in Homewood Park that council said will provide recreation and community space. Several approvals also move forward noncongregate shelter contracting, public-works easements and routine procurement and legal payments.

Votes at a glance (bill number — short description — vote tally — outcome):

- Bill 18-62 — Authorize a 42‑day extension of the term of the acting chief of police through 02/01/2026 — 7 ayes — approved.

- Bill 17-69 — Transfer $10,000 in the 2025 operating budget from city council salaries to the office of the city clerk for professional services — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-33 — Issue a warrant payable to Dickie, McKamey & Chilcote for one-time legal services not to exceed $12,503.75 — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-21 — Accept up to $583,100 from the Pennsylvania Auto Theft Prevention Authority to support the Auto Squad — 7 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-22 — Authorize purchases of police canines through VanderHaas/German Shepherds, Inc., and Bronner Group Canine Services, LLC (costs not to exceed $30,000 over three years) — 7 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-30 — Grant easement(s) to Duquesne Light Company for a pole and wires across identified city parcels at no cost to the city — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 2024-0749 (presented as part of Bill 18-58) — Authorize agreement(s) with Oberly for noncongregate shelter services related to the HOME-ARP program, total not to exceed $1,500,000 — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-29 — Authorize a two-year sponsorship agreement with Clearview Federal Credit Union for the 2025 and 2026 gingerbread house display and tree lighting ceremony, at no cost to the city — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 15-89 — Enter a cooperation agreement with Pittsburgh Regional Transit for post-construction access and maintenance of city-owned steps at Downing Street, at no cost to the city — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-25 — Adopt an official sewage facilities plan revision for 1300 Gardner Street (no cost to the city) — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-26 — Authorize the mayor and budget director to accept HUD FY24 community project funding up to $1,666,279 for construction of a field house, amphitheater and community gathering space in Homewood Park — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-27 — Approve execution of an agreement related to property at 2829 Bedford Avenue in the Fifth Ward, at no cost to the city — 8 ayes — approved.

- Bill 18-28 — Approve disposition by sale between the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Land Bank for Block 10Ks, Lot 345 (McLaren Street), at no cost to the city — 8 ayes — approved.

What passed on consent vs. discussion: most items were presented through committee reports with affirmative recommendations and were adopted without extended floor debate in the transcript. Roll-call votes were taken for the measures above; the transcript records the vote tallies shown.

Public comment and other business: the meeting included two registered public commenters who spoke during public comment; committee chairs read a broader set of bills and communications that were received and filed. The council also read communications from the Office of Management and Budget and the City Controller to the record and closed the meeting after announcing committee schedules.

Next steps: bills approved on final action take effect according to their terms (for example, the acting chief extension specifies the new expiration date). Other presented measures not recorded in final-action roll calls during this session will return for later committee or final-action votes as required by council procedures.