roundups: 19

This data as json

rowid	muni_id	week_of	headline	article_html	article_md	created_at
19	8	2026-06-29	Pittsburgh council OKs $553K in settlements, $400K library grant	<p>Pittsburgh City Council wrapped up a busy two weeks by approving more than $550,000 in litigation settlements and a $400,000 grant for the Carnegie Library system, along with new tax exemptions for Northside construction, licensing rules for amusement devices, and the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties.</p> <h2>Legal settlements and library grant</h2> <p>Council on June 30 voted 6-0 to settle four civil lawsuits, with payments totaling $328,296.64. The cases involved Robert Mahouski ($108,296.64), Thomas and Sarah Bench ($70,000), Joseph Engelmeier ($60,000), and Daryl and Karen Luciani ($90,000). Those approvals followed a June 24 meeting of the Finance and Law Committee, where members recommended that package plus four additional settlements — including a $125,000 payment to the Perry estate — bringing the committee-recommended total to $553,296.64. The committee also gave a green light to a $400,000 Keystone grant cooperation agreement to replace the Carnegie Library’s HVAC system and roof.</p> <h2>Tax exemptions, amusement devices pass unanimously</h2> <p>On June 24, council enacted two ordinances by 8-0 votes. One creates a real estate tax exemption for new construction or adaptive reuse of buildings on the Northside. The other establishes a licensing and taxation framework for mechanical amusement devices. Both measures had been the subject of public hearings earlier in the month. The Northside bill (2026-0426) was drafted to spur redevelopment; the amusement device ordinance (2026-0544) adds a new chapter to the city code.</p> <h2>Sale of tax-delinquent properties</h2> <p>Council on June 23 gave final approval to a resolution authorizing the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties across multiple wards. The vote was on a motion that carried without opposition. The same meeting saw the adoption of three ceremonial proclamations designating June 23 as Aphasia Awareness Day, Ryan Lestitian Day, and Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day.</p> <h2>Appointments and extensions</h2> <p>During the June 30 session, council confirmed Lori McCartney as assistant chief of police, 6-0, and extended the term of the acting director of innovation and performance by 90 days, also 6-0. The body also declared July 5 “Martyrs Day” and June 30 “Idella L. Michaels Day.”</p> <h2>Infrastructure and committee actions</h2> <p>The July 1 standing committees advanced several capital budget adjustments. Among them, members affirmatively recommended increasing McArdle Bridge design funding by $500,000, boosting a STV Incorporated engineering contract for the same bridge, and decreasing vehicle fleet management spending by $988,402.29. A refere ndum question on budget approval rules was held in committee until July 29, and a $60,000 transfer for play area and public safety equipment was also held. Committees approved routine departmental invoices and p-card transactions.</p> <h2>Coming up</h2> <p><b>July 7, City Council</b> — Council will consider a $1.25 million PennDOT reimbursement agreement and a $997,407.91 engineering contract with STV for the McArdle Bridge over Hillside project, a six-year extension of the TransDev fleet management contract valued at $78.26 million, a $250,000 Safe Passages youth violence prevention contract with Operation Better Block, and the Pittsburgh Land Bank’s acquisition of three vacant city-owned properties.</p> <p><b>July 8, Committee on Hearings and Policy</b> — A public hearing on Bill 2026-0518, which would create the East Carson Street Neighborhood Improvement District, will review bylaws, a management plan, and the list of properties subject to assessments.</p> <p><b>July 8, Standing Committees</b> — Members will vote on a contract for social services programming at Burgwin Recreation Center (up to $250,000), an IT network support agreement with ePlus Technology ($95,440 annually), a four-year state legislative consulting contract with Malady & Wooten Inc. (maximum $264,000), and a no-cost license for ALCOSAN to build diversion structures at 2200 Spring Garden Avenue.</p> <p><b>July 9, Committee on Hearings and Policy</b> — A public hearing on Bill 513 will consider rezoning three Kelly Street parcels in Homewood West from residential single-unit detached to urban industrial, with review of a planning commission staff report.</p>	Pittsburgh City Council wrapped up a busy two weeks by approving more than $550,000 in litigation settlements and a $400,000 grant for the Carnegie Library system, along with new tax exemptions for Northside construction, licensing rules for amusement devices, and the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties. ## Legal settlements and library grant Council on June 30 voted 6-0 to settle four civil lawsuits, with payments totaling $328,296.64. The cases involved Robert Mahouski ($108,296.64), Thomas and Sarah Bench ($70,000), Joseph Engelmeier ($60,000), and Daryl and Karen Luciani ($90,000). Those approvals followed a June 24 meeting of the Finance and Law Committee, where members recommended that package plus four additional settlements — including a $125,000 payment to the Perry estate — bringing the committee-recommended total to $553,296.64. The committee also gave a green light to a $400,000 Keystone grant cooperation agreement to replace the Carnegie Library’s HVAC system and roof. ## Tax exemptions, amusement devices pass unanimously On June 24, council enacted two ordinances by 8-0 votes. One creates a real estate tax exemption for new construction or adaptive reuse of buildings on the Northside. The other establishes a licensing and taxation framework for mechanical amusement devices. Both measures had been the subject of public hearings earlier in the month. The Northside bill (2026-0426) was drafted to spur redevelopment; the amusement device ordinance (2026-0544) adds a new chapter to the city code. ## Sale of tax-delinquent properties Council on June 23 gave final approval to a resolution authorizing the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties across multiple wards. The vote was on a motion that carried without opposition. The same meeting saw the adoption of three ceremonial proclamations designating June 23 as Aphasia Awareness Day, Ryan Lestitian Day, and Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day. ## Appointments and extensions During the June 30 session, council confirmed Lori McCartney as assistant chief of police, 6-0, and extended the term of the acting director of innovation and performance by 90 days, also 6-0. The body also declared July 5 “Martyrs Day” and June 30 “Idella L. Michaels Day.” ## Infrastructure and committee actions The July 1 standing committees advanced several capital budget adjustments. Among them, members affirmatively recommended increasing McArdle Bridge design funding by $500,000, boosting a STV Incorporated engineering contract for the same bridge, and decreasing vehicle fleet management spending by $988,402.29. A refere ndum question on budget approval rules was held in committee until July 29, and a $60,000 transfer for play area and public safety equipment was also held. Committees approved routine departmental invoices and p-card transactions. ## Coming up July 7, City Council — Council will consider a $1.25 million PennDOT reimbursement agreement and a $997,407.91 engineering contract with STV for the McArdle Bridge over Hillside project, a six-year extension of the TransDev fleet management contract valued at $78.26 million, a $250,000 Safe Passages youth violence prevention contract with Operation Better Block, and the Pittsburgh Land Bank’s acquisition of three vacant city-owned properties. July 8, Committee on Hearings and Policy — A public hearing on Bill 2026-0518, which would create the East Carson Street Neighborhood Improvement District, will review bylaws, a management plan, and the list of properties subject to assessments. July 8, Standing Committees — Members will vote on a contract for social services programming at Burgwin Recreation Center (up to $250,000), an IT network support agreement with ePlus Technology ($95,440 annually), a four-year state legislative consulting contract with Malady & Wooten Inc. (maximum $264,000), and a no-cost license for ALCOSAN to build diversion structures at 2200 Spring Garden Avenue. July 9, Committee on Hearings and Policy — A public hearing on Bill 513 will consider rezoning three Kelly Street parcels in Homewood West from residential single-unit detached to urban industrial, with review of a planning commission staff report.	2026-07-05 02:20:18