Pittsburgh council approves settlement warrants, grant agreements and engineering contracts; sends other items to committee

City Council on June 30 approved a series of resolutions, settlement warrants, grant reimbursements and engineering agreements across multiple standing committees and recorded final votes on several items.

Finance and Law reported an affirmative recommendation on a slate of items that included settlement warrants and capital-program adjustments. Among items read into the record were a single-payment settlement warrant for $108,296.64 (read as payable to Robert Mahoski and counsel) and several other settlements and warrants in amounts ranging from $40,000 to $90,000; Council approved the slate by roll call, with the clerk announcing the tally "Six ayes, zero noes." The committee also reported a cooperation agreement allowing the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to use $400,000 in Keystone Recreation Park and Conservation Grant funds to replace HVAC and roofing systems at the Squirrel Hill branch.

The Committee on Public Safety and Wellness reported Bill 612, authorizing acceptance of a donation of office furniture valued at $10,190.95 from King Street Productions; the bill passed final action by roll call. Council members approved numerous Public Works and Infrastructure items including agreements for preliminary engineering phases (Corliss Tunnel preliminary design reimbursement for costs not to exceed $1,000,000, reimbursable at 80% with a municipal share capped at $10,000) and STV-incorporated contracts for bridge projects (East Sycamore Street Bridge and Mercado Bridge) that were presented as reimbursable engineering agreements. The council approved multiple paving recommendations under Section 417.06 of the Pittsburgh Code of Ordinances.

Human Resources presented Bill 611 to authorize operation and administration agreements for the Learn and Earn Summer Youth Employment Program at a cost not to exceed $1,000,000 over one year; the bill passed final action. Land Use and Economic Development reported a capital-budget amendment increasing sports facility improvements by $250,000 and remediation of condemned buildings by $163,351 (no city cost, funded by HUD program allocations); the measure passed final action.

Council also moved to "waive Rule 8" to allow Bill 680 (a resolution authorizing a professional services agreement with Operation Better Block for the Safe Passages youth violence prevention program, not to exceed $250,000 over one year) to be placed on the standing committee agenda for tomorrow; that action was procedural and does not represent final authorization of contract funds.

Where clerk roll calls were recorded, the meeting transcript repeatedly shows unanimous or near-unanimous recorded tallies in favor for final actions called that day (announced as "Six ayes, zero noes"). The measures approved range from one-year service agreements and reimbursements to settlement warrants and grant-related contracts; specifics on contract vendors and exact amendment language were read into the public record during committee reports.