Topic
City Council
Last November, council learned of $13 million in unaccounted-for city water bills. In April, it heard the city had pulled $10 million from two trust funds for general expenses. On Oct. 13, two council members introduced five finance reform bills to end such surprises. One would train members to read a budget, and another would put quarterly finance meetings into law.
City Council
More of Pittsburgh's leftover pandemic aid is headed to street paving. On Sept. 23, council advanced moving $346,683 from streetlight and mobile toilet projects to paving. If it isn't spent by the end of 2026, a budget official said, it'll likely go back to the federal government. She said shifting unspent money to paving is the only quick way to get it out the door.
City Council
Many no parking signs go up with no construction in sight. On Aug. 31, a city transportation official told council a 2025 permit process replaced a one-size-fits-all approach to no parking. She also said aging pipes can break from paving vibrations, so newly repaved streets sometimes get dug up again. Still, she said better coordinating street closures would take more staff.
City Council
A South Side council member said his district looks like a jungle this year, largely because crews lack trailers. On Sept. 2, council agreed to move forward with buying 12 new landscaping trailers for nearly $60,000. Crews have only two now to haul lawn and snow equipment. The acting fleet manager said a dozen is the minimum to work efficiently.
City Council
City outreach workers could soon get a wheelchair van to help residents with disabilities. Council moved forward with the request on July 1. Meanwhile, unexpected repairs to the city's aging fleet are on track to cost almost $5.3 million this year, against $3.9 million budgeted. The acting fleet manager said new vehicles should help bring those costs down.
City Council
City income from permits, licenses, and investment interest is already falling short this year. The acting budget director said the 2026 deficit could top $24 million. If so, the city would have one more year to turn things around before falling under state financial control. Still, she said the city will have a better picture in about a month.
City Council
After paying nearly $770,000 to have its streets photographed and measured, the city still relies on the company to host the data. On June 17, council agreed to move forward with a three-year, $46,590 extension to keep access. The mobility director said the data lets some projects be done in-house. Still, a council member questioned paying for continued access.
City Council
The Fern Hollow Bridge had been federally listed in poor condition since 2011 before it collapsed in January 2022. Now, nine people who sued the city over the collapse may share $445,000 in settlements. Resolutions to approve the payments, from $40,000 to $90,000 each, were introduced in council June 16. A preliminary vote is scheduled for next week's committee meeting.
School Board
The city halted a roofing project at Westwood Elementary because its contractor lacked proper permits. About six months later, the Pittsburgh Public Schools board approved a roof replacement of just over $1 million for Grandview PreK-5. This time, it chose an Ohio firm that picked the lowest bidder as subcontractor. Work starts this month and should wrap by 2028.
Forward Township
As part of ongoing infrastructure needs, supervisors approved a resolution to pursue $500,000 in funding to renovate the Kelly Hollow and Rippel Road bridges.
City Council
Snow removal contractor A. Folino Construction still hasn't detailed its $481,320 bill to the city. On April 15, council put off approving the invoice for another week. A council member said the public should know what the bill covered, since it's one of the larger ones. The acting public works director said he'd seek details, but Folino hadn't responded.
City Council
After years of advocacy, neighbors on lower Dunmore Street in Lincoln-Lemington are set to get a new retaining wall. Council voted to proceed with $134,831 to remove and replace the collapsed wall. The mayor's office had called it private property, but WPXI found conflicting property records. The money comes from an East End development fund.
Forward Township
Cline gave a report on the recent Steel Rivers Council of Governments (SRCOG) meeting. Forward Township is a member of SRCOG, a coalition of 19 municipalities which collaborate on sustainable solutions to shared problems.
Forward Township
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has pushed the township’s Board of Supervisors to resolve a longstanding sewage problem in the Axelton neighborhood.
City Council
During the late-January snowstorm, 37 city plows broke down in one night. On March 18, council put a proposed new-vehicle fund on hold for six more weeks. A council member sought the delay because the mayor plans to reopen the 2026 budget. Meanwhile, the city spends about $400,000 a month on repairs, a budget official said.
City Council
On March 4, council gave preliminary approval to use $1 million in grant money for two new ambulances. A council member also asked about two out-of-service fire vehicles. The city's senior fleet manager said the city should push hard to buy fire vehicles. But he said new ones must be modified for narrow streets and hills, so they can take years to arrive.
Westmoreland County
While public comment centered on immigration enforcement, most formal actions taken by commissioners focused on housing, public health and infrastructure investments.
Forward Township
Cline announced that the Interstate 376/Commercial Street Bridge on the Parkway East in Pittsburgh will close for 25 days for construction.
County Council
In her Feb. 10 address to council, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato reported progress on snow clearing, public safety, and housing. She said homicides fell last year to the lowest level since electronic records began, crediting violence interruption teams. Her Feb. 5 executive order introduced a Housing Investment Fund. Her goal is $50 million to $100 million in public and private money for affordable housing.
City Council
Last month's snowstorm left some wheelchair users stuck at home for weeks, a council member said. So she's proposing a citywide inventory of curb cuts, intersections, and transit stops to guide snow clearing. It would also have the city cite owners who don't clear sidewalks. But council held the bill for two weeks to get feedback from city planners.