County Council
Some businesses to get help on permits for asbestos abatement, others to get hit with the cost of removing lead.
Landlords must address chipped or peeling lead paint but aren't required to remove it. Now, county council has authorized the health department to remove lead from private properties when it's a public health hazard. The owner will be billed for the work plus a 10% fee. Another bill halves asbestos permit costs for disadvantaged or distressed businesses.
Written by Amy Whipple
New legislation will help the Allegheny County Health Department mitigate lead and asbestos that was used in local construction.
Council authorized two bills to address the hazardous substances.
The first subsidizes half of the cost of asbestos abatement permits for “disadvantaged or distressed businesses.” Permits currently range from $375 to $2,600.
The county will allocate $500,000 from the Clean Air Fund toward subsidies for the first year.
The second bill allows the health department to abate lead in private properties such as apartment buildings and hotels if it’s deemed a public health hazard. The department will bill the property owner for the cost of the contractor plus a 10% administrative fee.
Lead exposure is particularly hazardous to children younger than 6. Landlords are required to address chipped or peeling lead-based paint, but they are not required to remove it.
An investigation by WESA and PublicSource, however, found that landlords ignore repeat-violation fines and that the health department also has stopped bringing summary and misdemeanor charges.
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Medical examiner expected to investigate all jail inmate deaths.
About 20 people died in Allegheny County Jail custody from 2020 to 2025, TribLive reported. Now, county council has unanimously passed legislation requiring the medical examiner to prioritize investigating those deaths. Reports must reach the warden, the Jail Oversight Board, and the county manager within three business days of completion. Still, it doesn't address public access to autopsy reports.
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Walnut Capital to get a $1.2 million tax break from the county.
Walnut Capital is already building a 480-bed complex for college students in Oakland. Now, Allegheny County Council has authorized $1.2 million in tax relief for it, despite misgivings. The 10-year break starts with two years of no property taxes. Members' concerns included council's inconsistent definition of deteriorated areas and subsidizing projects that would happen without county help.
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City plans to rebuild salt storage next to Saw Mill Run.
The city's primary salt storage building is beyond repair, a public works official told council Dec. 10. Public works has requested $6.9 million to tear it down and build a new one. But a council member questioned the cost, noting the county built a comparable facility for $1.4 million. For now, council will hold the request for one week.
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Four startups partner with city government.
Next year, local startups plan to search rivers with underwater robots and find heat loss in buildings for the city. Four startups in the city's PGH Lab program will each get $25,000 for a six-to-nine-month contract. Other projects aim to expand the city's AI use and create 3D maps. A program manager said adding the stipend last year increased applicants by 78%.
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Cultural Trust wants to take city street for its venue.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust wants the city to give it part of 8th Street for an outdoor venue. A council member raised concerns about giving up public riverfront property and suggested a lease instead. For now, council didn't send the bill to a vote. Members want to explore options such as an extended lease and ensuring public passage.
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City fleet maintenance is another hole in the budget.
The city needs $400,000 to cover six months of vehicle repairs it didn't expect. It can't do the repairs in-house because the vehicles are modified for Pittsburgh's narrow roads and terrain. Council has placed the request on its legislative agenda. A fleet manager said expected savings on fuel and fees will cover the cost.
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City employees may receive prepaid bus passes.
Some city employees may get their bus passes paid for under a proposed one-year pilot. Only full-time employees under 65 who work Downtown would qualify, with the city paying $28 a month per pass. The finance chief estimated it would cost about $275,000 for 750 workers. Next, the passes will go on council's legislative agenda.
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There may be less of an opportunity to build affordable housing.
Money for affordable housing could take a hit as council looks to cut $30 million from the mayor's 2026 budget. That could include the Urban Redevelopment Authority's proposed $10 million for its Housing Opportunity Fund. Council members strongly support the fund, which helps build and preserve affordable housing. For now, council is holding the bill for two weeks.
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Health and Safety workers reach out where the police can’t.
Since Nov. 17, residents can request a crisis team through 911. Under a new model, social workers from the Office of Community Health and Safety ride in pairs without police. Their response time averages 10 minutes, about the same as EMS, an assistant public safety director said. For now, though, the teams work only during weekday business hours.
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From horses to drones, city police use all available tools.
This year, the city approved police drone use in the field, and the bureau has now bought nine. The acting chief said they'll help officers gauge incidents, aid search and rescue, and document crime scenes. The money came from a trust fund that can only be used for unique purchases. Meanwhile, the mounted unit has eight new part-time riders.
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Fire budget will not cover free smoke detector program.
The city doesn't fund the fire bureau's effort to give residents free smoke detectors. On Nov. 20, the fire chief said there's a backlog of 1,000 requests. Even so, his $20,000 request for detectors was denied in the preliminary budget. Like other public safety departments, the bureau also has too much overtime pay.
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Emergency Medical Services looks to expand its training academy.
The city's emergency medical services bureau has 15 paramedic vacancies. On Nov. 20, its chief said she hopes the city will someday open an in-house paramedic academy. However, the 2026 preliminary budget can't cover such a program. A deputy chief said the bureau has also spent $7.2 million on overtime this year, twice what was budgeted.
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DPW officials say they need more money for equipment, capital improvements.
Roofs and heating and cooling systems at some recreation facilities, fire stations, and EMS headquarters are in critical or failing condition. On Nov. 19, public works officials told council the repairs need a little over $4.5 million. However, the proposed capital budget includes no money for them. For now, an assistant director said, the department has to wait until something fails.
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Pittsburgh Water bills sink budget.
Council's budget director said the city can't afford its $13 million Pittsburgh Water bill. Until last year, swapped services offset the cost, the authority's chief executive said. This year, the city is being charged the full retail rate for the first time. Next year's preliminary budget sets aside $8.5 million, short of the projected $10 million cost.
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City and Pittsburgh Water iron out sale of treatment plant, pipes.
For $1, Pittsburgh Water is ready to buy the city's water and sewer systems. That option came with the 1995 lease, so council can't block the sale. The deputy mayor said the bill of sale includes a charter amendment restricting any private sale. Council agreed to take up the bill at a legislative session.
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Vendors may be appearing on city sidewalks again.
Street vendors are a step closer to selling on city sidewalks. After a two-week hold, council members added limits, including keeping vendors 150 feet from competing storefront businesses. The bill also allows vending in parks, though specific spots will need a separate public process. Next week, council will take a final vote.
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New contract could bump up household hazardous materials collections.
Old paint, electronics, and household chemicals should be easier to get rid of next year. Council has moved forward with a recycling contract with Noble Environmental Specialty Recycling. It includes twice weekly drop-off hours at five neighborhood centers and curbside pickup on request, both for a fee. The one-year deal costs $571,250, but Noble hasn't released its fee scale yet.
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City looks to keep more compostables out of the landfills.
Organics like food scraps and yard waste made up 24-28% of the county's municipal solid waste, a 2022 study found. Soon, three city departments will start phase two of a community composting pilot. It'll explore collection options, like curbside pickup on request or farmers market drop-offs. Still, a city official said the city can't afford pickup at every home.
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It will be a long climb to fix the city’s steps.
Pittsburgh has more stairs than any other city in the country, with 45,000 steps in all. This week, the mobility and infrastructure department requested $705,180 for final designs on the next set of repairs. That brings total design costs to nearly $1.4 million. Construction will begin next year, the acting director said.
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Clean ups barely make a dent in litter problem.
Every year, the city's 311 line gets 6,000 litter complaints. On Oct. 28, public works staff told council the problem keeps getting messier despite cleanups. The director estimated that handing out trash cans with tight lids would cost $8 to $9 million. Meanwhile, the Clean Pittsburgh Commission recommended public education about litter and a staff member to coordinate volunteers.