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Committee roundup: RCO ordinance held for outreach; tunnel inspections, bridge work and multiple budget bills set for hearings
Summary
The standing committee handled routine governance business Nov. 19: it held the RCO ordinance for three weeks, approved a PennDOT tunnel‑inspection agreement, approved a $674,192.87 engineering contract for the Balloon Field Bridge, approved a small settlement and held a package of 2026 budget bills for public hearing. P‑card approvals were passed after two items were stricken pending clarification.
The City of Pittsburgh standing committee on Nov. 19 took several procedural and fiscal actions across multiple committees.
Public comment: Residents and neighborhood representatives urged careful treatment of the Registered Community Organization (RCO) process. Laurie Fitzgerald of the Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition asked that RCOs keep a liaison role and that the Department of City Planning take on logistics to create equity for neighborhoods without RCOs.
RCO ordinance: The committee agreed to hold Bill 21-09 (amending City Code Chapter 178E) for three weeks to allow outreach and a briefing for council members.
Property sales and settlements: A resolution (Bill 24-35) authorizing sale of several properties acquired at tax sale received an affirmative recommendation. The committee also approved a warrant to Tatiana McCosco in an amount not to exceed $5,090 as a full settlement for property damage caused by a city tree on 07/11/2024.
Budget bills: The committee read bills 2451 through 2466 (annual budget authorization bills and related fiscal-year items) and voted to hold them for a cablecast public hearing.
P-cards and procurement: The committee approved invoices and interdepartmental transfers. On P-cards, two items under OMB (consultation charges totaling $3,500) were stricken pending legal or procedural clarification; the remainder of the P-card approvals passed.
Infrastructure items: The committee approved a resolution authorizing the city to execute an agreement with PennDOT to inspect city-owned highway tunnels at no cost to the city; DOMI staff said the agreement formalizes inspections already carried out for two city-owned tunnels (the Corliss Tunnel and the 579 structure). The committee also approved a resolution to enter an agreement with STV Inc. for preliminary engineering on the Balloon Field Bridge, with costs not to exceed $674,192.87 (reimbursable).
Next meetings and public participation: The committee noted upcoming budget hearings for the Bureau of Animal Care and Control, EMS and Fire, and other departmental budget hearings through Nov. 21; regular committee and council meetings are scheduled for Nov. 24. The clerk reminded members of registration procedures for public comment.
Votes at a glance: Bill 21-09 (RCO ordinance) — held for 3 weeks for outreach; Bill 24-35 (tax-sale property sales) — affirmative recommendation; Warrant to Tatiana McCosco — approved for $5,090; Bill 24-68 (tunnel inspection agreement) — approved; Bill 2,469 (STV contract for Balloon Field Bridge) — approved, not to exceed $674,192.87; Bills 2451-2466 (budget bills) — held for cablecast public hearing; P-cards — approved after striking two items for clarification.
