Council committee backs 30‑day extension of disaster declaration, debates storm response and tree authority

Pittsburgh City Council's standing committee on May 7 recommended ratifying a resolution to extend the city's disaster declaration for 30 days to document and support the city's response to the April 29, 2025, severe thunderstorm.

The declaration, discussed as Bill 18 o 1, will allow the city to "waive certain contracting provisions as well as, move more quickly in ways that we normally can't," David Geiger, director of legislation and policy, told the committee during the discussion.

The measure is intended primarily to allow the city to document response activities for potential state or federal reimbursement and to give limited operational flexibility during the active response. "Emergency declarations authorize, the waiver of certain requirements or the expediting of certain procedures," said Jay Paulas, Dean of Management and Budget, describing how the declaration affects emergency procurement and documentation for PEMA and FEMA.

Why it matters

Officials said the extension helps the city speed limited activities tied directly to public safety and storm response (for example, waiving fees at city yard‑waste drop‑off sites) and helps assemble the damage documentation that state and federal agencies require before they consider disaster aid. City staff emphasized they do not currently anticipate using emergency contracting…