Pittsburgh council passes a package of routine bills, rejects proposed Munhall snow-sharing agreement

Pittsburgh City Council on Oct. 14 approved a batch of administrative and capital measures — including contract increases, design and construction agreements, land dedications and program authorizations — while voting not to advance an intergovernmental snow-and-ice services agreement with the borough of Munhall.

Councilmembers voted to extend the planning commission deadline for council bill 2025-1993 and to pass a series of bills reported out of committee. Items approved included increased authorizations for the Swindell Bridge design and construction work; amendments to existing contract amounts for engineering and construction services; urban forestry program agreements with TreePittsburgh and Landforce not to exceed $50,000 each; and multiple property conveyances and dedications. Several measures passed final action by recorded roll call with unanimous 8-0 votes where noted.

The council took roll call votes on numerous committee reports. For example, a motion to pass a package of finance and law committee items (including settlement warrants and bond counsel authorization) passed on final action by roll call, recorded as 8 ayes and 0 nos. A public-works committee package including bridge project supplemental agreements and a professional landscape design services authorization also passed on final action, 8-0.

Separately, a proposed cooperation agreement with the borough of Munhall for mutual street operations and snow-and-ice services (committee bill 23-42) was reported with a negative recommendation and the council adopted that negative recommendation on Oct. 14 by roll call, 6 ayes and 2 nos, removing that authorization from immediate consideration. The clerk recorded the votes on that committee report as: Charland — aye; Gross — aye; Mosley — aye; Theresa Kale Smith — aye; Strassburger — aye; Warwick — no; Wilson — aye; Lavelle — no (6 ayes, 2 nos).

Actions recorded as final passage during the meeting included multiple resolutions authorizing the mayor and department directors to execute agreements for project delivery, funding increases reimbursable through PennDOT and federal sources, and acceptance of parcel dedications at no cost to the city. Where the clerk recorded final passage, the meeting minutes stated the bills "having received the legally required number of votes is passed finally." Many of these final actions were recorded 8-0.

The council also voted to extend the planning commission deadline for bill 23-58 (8 ayes, 0 nos) and took final action on several land-use and economic development items reported from committee with unanimous support.

Members announced further committee hearings and public meetings for the coming days before adjourning.

Votes at a glance (selected items from Oct. 14): • Bill 23-58 — extension of deadline for planning commission action: adopted, 8 ayes, 0 nos. • Select finance and law items (warrants, bond counsel, capital budget amendments): final passage recorded, 8 ayes, 0 nos. • Swindell Bridge supplemental design agreements and related PennDOT reimbursements: final passage recorded, 8 ayes, 0 nos. • Urban forestry programming contracts (TreePittsburgh, Landforce): authorized, totals not to exceed $50,000 each. • Bill 23-42 — proposed cooperation agreement with Munhall for snow/ice services: committee reported negatively and council adopted the negative recommendation, 6 ayes, 2 nos (bill not advanced).