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Council holds consultant terminations, orders review of $6M comprehensive plan contracts
Summary
Pittsburgh council voted to hold two resolutions that would terminate comprehensive-plan consultants, directing staff and council members to meet Dec. 4 for a financial and outreach review before deciding whether to proceed or rescind work.
Pittsburgh City Council on Monday voted to hold for two weeks two resolutions that would have terminated contracts with Common Cause Consultants, HRNA Advisors and Urban AC LLC, directing a limited review of the comprehensive plan’s remaining budget and outreach strategy.
Councilman Coghill, who introduced the measures, said the intent was not to "scrap the comprehensive plan" but to reassess remaining funds and increase council engagement. "The intent of this legislation was not to scrap the comprehensive plan," he said, adding that the goal was a "reevaluation" of where money remains and whether any savings can be returned to the operating budget.
Multiple council members expressed concerns about outreach, equity and costs. Councilwoman Gross said she earlier voted against the plan and reported benchmarking that suggested the city’s consultant costs were far higher than peer cities: "If anyone has more information out there about cities who have paid $20 per capita for a comprehensive plan, please let me know," she said, adding that her research found typical per-capita consultant costs far lower. Councilwoman Morbeck pushed for more in-neighborhood workshops, saying residents in some wards had limited access to meetings.
Planning Director Jamil Bay said invoices remain outstanding and that the $2.5 million figure previously cited did not include November invoices. Bay told council that the planning team would continue work already contracted for this phase but would not begin new engagements, and that staff would return with a clearer accounting.
Council agreed to a limited meeting on Dec. 4 involving council leadership, planning staff and selected members to inventory remaining expenses, identify elements that could be scaled back or completed in-house, and recommend next steps to the full council. The motion to hold passed by voice vote.
The hold does not immediately terminate the consultant contracts; council members said the measure aims to preserve the plan’s integrity while ensuring fiscal oversight and improved neighborhood outreach.
The matter is scheduled to return for further consideration after council members and staff meet and report back on December 4.
