roundups: 20
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| 20 | 8 | 2026-07-06 | Pittsburgh roundup: Council sells 23 tax-delinquent properties, passes Northside tax exemption and amusement device tax | <p>Pittsburgh City Council approved the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties and passed two ordinances creating a Northside real estate tax exemption and a mechanical amusement device tax framework. Standing committees also recommended over $553,000 in litigation settlements and a $400,000 library grant.</p> <h2>Property sales and proclamations</h2> <p>On June 23, City Council passed finally a resolution authorizing the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties across multiple wards. The motion carried. Council also adopted three proclamations unanimously: June 23, 2026 as Aphasia Awareness Day, Ryan Lestitian Day, and Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day. On June 30, council declared July 5 as "Martyrs Day" and June 30 as "Idella L. Michaels Day" (6-0).</p> <h2>Ordinances passed</h2> <p>On June 24, council passed two ordinances on final reading, both by 8-0 votes. The first creates a real estate tax exemption for construction or adaptive reuse of buildings on Pittsburgh's Northside. The second establishes a tax and licensing framework for mechanical amusement devices.</p> <h2>Settlements and financial actions</h2> <p>On June 24, the Finance and Law Committee recommended approval of eight litigation settlements totaling $553,296.64. These included $108,296.64 for Mahouski, $70,000 for Bench, $60,000 for Engelmeier, $90,000 for Luciani, $40,000 for Nichols, $60,000 for Runco, and $125,000 total for T. Perry and V. Perry estate settlements. The committee also recommended a $400,000 Keystone grant cooperation agreement for Carnegie Library HVAC and roof replacement.</p> <p>On June 30, council passed several of these settlements: $108,296.64 for Robert Mahouski (6-0), $70,000 for Thomas and Sarah Bench (6-0), $60,000 for Joseph Engelmeier (6-0), and $90,000 for Daryl and Karen Luciani (6-0). Council also passed a $31,508.90 transfer to the Slope Failure Remediation fund (6-0).</p> <h2>Appointments and committee actions</h2> <p>On June 30, council approved the appointment of Lori McCartney as Assistant Chief of Police (6-0) and a 90-day term extension for the Acting Director of Innovation and Performance (6-0).</p> <p>On June 24, the Public Safety Committee recommended acceptance of a $10,190.95 office furniture donation, while the Public Works Committee held a railroad crossing agreement for further review.</p> <p>On July 1, the Finance and Law Committee held a budget approval referendum question in committee until July 29, 2026, and held a $60,000 play area and public safety equipment transfer. The committee affirmatively recommended increasing McArdle Bridge design funding by $500,000, decreasing vehicle fleet management spend by $988,402.29, and re-allocating 2025 and 2026 capital budget funds. It also recommended a Safe Passages youth violence prevention agreement, expansion of Residential Parking Permit Area HH, and Macedonia FACE facility usage at Ammon Recreation Center.</p> <h2>Public hearings and discussions</h2> <p>The Committee on Hearings and Policy held public hearings on June 22 for Bill 2026-0426 (Northside tax exemptions) and June 23 for Bill 2026-0544 (mechanical amusement devices). On June 25, the committee held a hearing on Bill 531, the Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization Investment District Implementation Plan. A July 1 Post Agenda discussion on Bill 2026-0531 (Downtown TRID plan) resulted in no vote. On June 24, a Post Agenda discussed the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the first quarterly report for 2026.</p> <h2>Coming up</h2> <ul> <li>**July 7, City Council:** Agenda includes a $1.25M PennDOT reimbursement agreement and a $997,407.91 STV engineering contract for the McArdle Bridge over Hillside project. Also scheduled: a TransDev fleet management contract amendment to $78,260,941.46 over six years, a $250,000 Operation Better Block Safe Passages contract, and Pittsburgh Land Bank acquisition of three vacant properties at 0 Kelly St, 0 Lincoln Ave, and 169 Auburn St.</li> <li>**July 8, Committee on Hearings and Policy:** Public hearing on Bill 2026-0518 to establish the East Carson Street Improvement District.</li> <li>**July 8, Standing Committees:** Review of up to $250,000 for Burgwin Recreation Center programming, IT support capped at $95,440 annually, and state legislative consulting up to $264,000 over four years.</li> <li>**July 9, Committee on Hearings and Policy:** Public hearing on Bill 513 to rezone parcels 125-G-13, 125-G-14, and 125-G-15 on Kelly Street from Residential Single Unit Detached (R1D-L) to Urban Industrial (UI) in Homewood West.</li> </ul> | Pittsburgh City Council approved the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties and passed two ordinances creating a Northside real estate tax exemption and a mechanical amusement device tax framework. Standing committees also recommended over $553,000 in litigation settlements and a $400,000 library grant. ## Property sales and proclamations On June 23, City Council passed finally a resolution authorizing the sale of 23 tax-delinquent properties across multiple wards. The motion carried. Council also adopted three proclamations unanimously: June 23, 2026 as Aphasia Awareness Day, Ryan Lestitian Day, and Dravet Syndrome Awareness Day. On June 30, council declared July 5 as "Martyrs Day" and June 30 as "Idella L. Michaels Day" (6-0). ## Ordinances passed On June 24, council passed two ordinances on final reading, both by 8-0 votes. The first creates a real estate tax exemption for construction or adaptive reuse of buildings on Pittsburgh's Northside. The second establishes a tax and licensing framework for mechanical amusement devices. ## Settlements and financial actions On June 24, the Finance and Law Committee recommended approval of eight litigation settlements totaling $553,296.64. These included $108,296.64 for Mahouski, $70,000 for Bench, $60,000 for Engelmeier, $90,000 for Luciani, $40,000 for Nichols, $60,000 for Runco, and $125,000 total for T. Perry and V. Perry estate settlements. The committee also recommended a $400,000 Keystone grant cooperation agreement for Carnegie Library HVAC and roof replacement. On June 30, council passed several of these settlements: $108,296.64 for Robert Mahouski (6-0), $70,000 for Thomas and Sarah Bench (6-0), $60,000 for Joseph Engelmeier (6-0), and $90,000 for Daryl and Karen Luciani (6-0). Council also passed a $31,508.90 transfer to the Slope Failure Remediation fund (6-0). ## Appointments and committee actions On June 30, council approved the appointment of Lori McCartney as Assistant Chief of Police (6-0) and a 90-day term extension for the Acting Director of Innovation and Performance (6-0). On June 24, the Public Safety Committee recommended acceptance of a $10,190.95 office furniture donation, while the Public Works Committee held a railroad crossing agreement for further review. On July 1, the Finance and Law Committee held a budget approval referendum question in committee until July 29, 2026, and held a $60,000 play area and public safety equipment transfer. The committee affirmatively recommended increasing McArdle Bridge design funding by $500,000, decreasing vehicle fleet management spend by $988,402.29, and re-allocating 2025 and 2026 capital budget funds. It also recommended a Safe Passages youth violence prevention agreement, expansion of Residential Parking Permit Area HH, and Macedonia FACE facility usage at Ammon Recreation Center. ## Public hearings and discussions The Committee on Hearings and Policy held public hearings on June 22 for Bill 2026-0426 (Northside tax exemptions) and June 23 for Bill 2026-0544 (mechanical amusement devices). On June 25, the committee held a hearing on Bill 531, the Downtown Pittsburgh Transit Revitalization Investment District Implementation Plan. A July 1 Post Agenda discussion on Bill 2026-0531 (Downtown TRID plan) resulted in no vote. On June 24, a Post Agenda discussed the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the first quarterly report for 2026. ## Coming up - **July 7, City Council:** Agenda includes a $1.25M PennDOT reimbursement agreement and a $997,407.91 STV engineering contract for the McArdle Bridge over Hillside project. Also scheduled: a TransDev fleet management contract amendment to $78,260,941.46 over six years, a $250,000 Operation Better Block Safe Passages contract, and Pittsburgh Land Bank acquisition of three vacant properties at 0 Kelly St, 0 Lincoln Ave, and 169 Auburn St. - **July 8, Committee on Hearings and Policy:** Public hearing on Bill 2026-0518 to establish the East Carson Street Improvement District. - **July 8, Standing Committees:** Review of up to $250,000 for Burgwin Recreation Center programming, IT support capped at $95,440 annually, and state legislative consulting up to $264,000 over four years. - **July 9, Committee on Hearings and Policy:** Public hearing on Bill 513 to rezone parcels 125-G-13, 125-G-14, and 125-G-15 on Kelly Street from Residential Single Unit Detached (R1D-L) to Urban Industrial (UI) in Homewood West. | 2026-07-06 12:06:29 |