The latest

County Officials Report on Winter Services for Unhoused People and Share Plans for the Rest of the Year.

In 2024, the county and its partners helped house about 1,700 people, including some couch surfing or living in cars. Efforts to address camps along riverfront trails and in the Business District have moved 75 people into shelters. The county expects to hit its goal of 500 affordable units in 500 days this October, the human services director said.

Council to Approve Funding for Recruitment Video Aimed at Addressing Police Shortages.

Pittsburgh police are short on officers and looking for new ways to recruit. Now, the department has asked to spend $32,000 from a state grant on a recruitment video for social media and YouTube. It'd show officers in units such as K-9, SWAT, and River Patrol. Council was pleased to hear that more people are taking the civil service exam.

Portable Restroom Back Payment Sparks Inquiries into the Prevalence of Closed Public Restrooms in City Parks.

The city has spent $219,000 on portable restrooms for parks without working permanent ones. Parks have 20 open public restrooms, but the public works director had no exact count of closed ones. Reopening them would take public approval and tax funding, the director said. Council members agreed there should be a plan to start tackling the long-standing issue.

Open-Ended Professional Services Contracts Add 27 Unspecified New Vendors.

City departments can hire certain outside professionals for jobs estimated at $100,000 or less without a council vote on each one. Now, new legislation adds 27 vendors to that program, but it doesn't name them. Informup asked council for the list but hadn't heard back by publication. One council member worried the system could lead departments to overlook minority contractors.

Councilperson Kail-Smith Leads Sweeping Post-Agenda Meeting on Zoning and Housing Issues Currently Before Council.

The more public interest an issue draws, the longer a bill takes to pass, a council staffer said. Council has weighed many zoning bills in the last 18 months, from community homes to parking. One member criticized people acting in bad faith, including a lawyer for non-residents with a stake in blocking changes. Others urged serving residents and working together.

Council Approves Funding for Penn Ave From Evaline to Graham and Considers Accepting a Settlement from the Finland Street Pedestrian Bridge Lawsuit.

Penn Avenue between Evaline and Graham streets is set for a full rebuild, from sidewalks to traffic lights. Now, council has approved an amended state agreement raising the total cost to about $12.3 million. The city is responsible for 20% of that. Meanwhile, council put off a proposed settlement over the demolished Finland Street pedestrian bridge for two weeks.

Council Debates Pros and Cons of the Longtime Owner Occupant Tax Exemption Program (LOOP), Details, and Timing.

Under a proposed program, eligible longtime homeowners whose taxes rose 50% after reassessment would pay only 25% more. For now, council is holding the bill until a public hearing, which isn't scheduled yet. One member worried about unknown financial effects while reassessment isn't imminent. But two others said passing it now could reassure older homeowners afraid of future tax increases.

Council considering property tax exemptions for longtime residents.

Rising values in redeveloping areas can mean higher property taxes for longtime homeowners. Now, the mayor has sent council a plan letting some defer or be exempt from those increases. It aims to keep low-income residents from being taxed out of their homes. Owners generally need at least 10 years of ownership and residency, among other rules.

Concerns raised about diversity amid changes to the Housing Authority Board.

The Housing Authority's board sets policy for an agency serving over 20,000 residents. The mayor has named three new members and reappointed one, pending council interviews. One council member questioned dropping a West End member, citing his diversity as an immigrant, LGBTQ+ person, and veteran. All four are people of color, and the council president agreed to schedule a discussion.

City to use state grants to improve intersection safety.

Two city intersections will get safety upgrades paid for by state grants. In North Oakland, Centre Avenue and North Dithridge Street will get a traffic light in place of a two-way stop. On the North Shore, East General Robinson and Sandusky streets will get a modernized traffic light. That project also includes a road diet meant to improve pedestrian safety.

Council Proposes New Hiring Process Following Interim Chief Ragland's Departure, a New Downtown Substance Abuse Center, and a Study to Reunite Manchester and Chateau—City Council Week of March 3.

Council Discusses Residents' Frustrations on Snow Removal with No Action Taken, Sidewalk Repair Program for Low-Income Residents to be Made Permanent—City Council Week of Feb 24.

Providing Fire and Emergency Management Services to Wilkinsburg.

The Pittsburgh Fire Department will provide fire and disaster management services to Wilkinsburg under a five-year deal. Council approved the agreement, which has a total cost of about $11.9 million. The two have had these deals since 2011, and the new one is retroactive to January 2024. Services include smoke detector installation and fire code enforcement, but each keeps its own emergency medical services.

Council to Use Future Tax Revenue to Fund Infrastructure for North Side Esplanade (Ferris Wheel) Development.

Most new tax revenue from a planned North Side development would be reinvested on-site and in Manchester. Right now, the area brings in $84,000 a year in taxes, and that's projected to reach $8 million after the project. Council gave preliminary approval to creating the tax financing district, with a final vote next Tuesday. Future apartments and shops will still need separate approvals.

Goodwill Authorized to Receive $200K to Run 2025 Learn and Earn Summer Youth Employment Program.

Youth from low-income households can get summer jobs through the Learn and Earn program. This year, Goodwill of Southwestern PA is authorized to receive $200,000 to run it. The money covers only administrative costs and doesn't pay participants' wages. Over six weeks, participants earn about $7.25 an hour in fields like social services, media, and science.

Public Hearing on Adopting the Manchester-Chateau Transit Revitalization Investment District Phase 1 Implementation Plan.

The North Side's Manchester and Chateau neighborhoods could get apartments, shops, a hotel, and a Ferris wheel. The Phase 1 plan uses a financing district that taps future tax revenue for development near transit. After a public hearing, council will hold a preliminary vote on Feb. 19. County Council and the school board must also sign off.

$2.4 Million Funding for Downtown Ambassador Program To Be Approved.

Downtown has ambassadors who help visitors, respond to opioid overdoses, and call in police or social services. Council voted unanimously to extend the program's funding from $1.2 million over two years to $2.4 million over four years. At the Feb. 5 committee meeting, members praised its work. Several, though, worried whether the funding is sustainable, since other districts could benefit too.

Appointment of Chief of Police Held until Public Hearing.

Christopher Ragland, a Pittsburgh officer for over 30 years, has been interim police chief since October 2024. On Feb. 1, the mayor officially nominated him for chief. Now, council has approved a member's request for a public hearing before appointing him. The member cited concerns from constituents and the NAACP.

Pittsburgh Joining Allegheny County in Supporting Programming for Children, Youth, and Families.

Learn and Earn offers summer jobs to young people ages 14 to 21 from low-income households. Now, a one-year city and county pilot will help fund it and other youth and family programs. The city will put in $4.2 million and expects $5 million from the county. The partnership also opens the door to more state funding.

Three Referendums to Amend the Home Rule Charter Heading to Voters.

Come May, city voters will see three Home Rule Charter changes on the primary ballot. They'd add an anti-discrimination policy, limit the amendment process, and restrict private sale or lease of the water and sewer system. The first two respond to a local divestment group's push for its own referendum. Council members worry that group's measure would hamper the city's ability to do business.