[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[12:31] We welcome to the Standing Committee's meeting for Wednesday, September 2, 2026. All council meetings will be live streamed on the city's website, and for guest speakers joining us at the table, please do not turn off your microphones.
[12:43] Our first order of business is roll call. Will the clerk please take the roll?
[12:47] Mr. Shireling.
[12:49] Mr. Fag Hill.
[12:50] Ms. Gross.
[12:54] Mr. Lvel.
[12:58] Mr. Mosley.
[12:59] Mr. Soanetra here, Mrs. Warwick, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Strasperger chair, five members present.
[13:12] Thank you. Our next order of business is to amend the agenda. Can I please have a motion to amend?
[13:17] So moved? Can I have a second? Second? All in favour?
[13:22] Hi, agenda is amended. Our next order of business is the public comment. I would like to remind
[13:29] all speakers that the rules of council state that comments are limited to matters of concern,
[13:33] official action, or deliberation which are or may be before city council and profanity will not be permitted.
[13:39] Please state your name and neighborhood for the record. You will have three minutes to speak. Our first
[13:44] registered speaker is Cassie Ficter.
[14:11] Good morning. Cassie Ficter, Squirrel Hill. I'm speaking today
[14:15] about DPW's proposal to build a division-wide maintenance hub
[14:19] on prospect drive and assembly park.
[14:22] This proposal cannot be minimized.
[14:24] DPW plans to erect an 11,000 square foot building
[14:28] and paid 1.8 acres of green park land,
[14:32] a complex serving 24 parks from Polish Hill to Hazelwood,
[14:36] cutting down old growth trees in the process.
[14:39] It would turn a peaceful corridor
[14:40] into an industrial scale driveway
[14:42] or park-goers are forced to share the road with heavy trucks and snowplows.
[14:48] It would house conference office space, a garage with a vehicle wash bay and dedicated storage for road salt pesticides and fertilizer.
[14:57] Believing parkland is precious, I've been shocked.
[15:00] I read about a recent city code chapter 488, which is built on the principle that Parkland is precious. In just three days, 250 people have also signed our petition requesting that this RFP stopped, and that an alternative appropriate site be found, they also believe that Parkland is precious. But this is not about just one park. This is the first time that chapter 488 has been put to the test to my knowledge, and precedent is being set through our actions.
[15:28] To me, the law says that we must do better, that the city did better than the city did in 1890s
[15:34] when Highland Parks, Highland Parks, the arts were established, better than in the 1950s
[15:39] when Frick Parks complex was built, that the city of Pittsburgh wants to break from this
[15:43] precedent and establish a new kind of stewardship to the green spaces of our city.
[15:49] The maintenance facility for the Emerald View Division built off of Parkland is proof that
[15:54] can be done successfully.
[15:56] As was the fact that the newly-practice facility
[15:58] has been off of Parkland for the last 19 years.
[16:02] We firmly believe D.P.W. workers do vital work
[16:05] and serve a modern and deserve a modern safety facility,
[16:07] but that can and must be accomplished off of Parkland
[16:10] without land use violations and extreme landslide risks.
[16:14] Prospect Drive is not just any green space.
[16:17] An article dating back to the 1980s calls
[16:19] at the beautiful most beautiful spot in the park.
[16:21] It serves as a safe bike trail linking squirrel hill and greenfield.
[16:25] Community yoga, dog walkers, the vintage grand-brand pre, it's where I
[16:29] not my younger son on an almost daily basis. It's also home to the
[16:34] tree of life memorial and historically home to an AIDS memorial garden.
[16:38] I feel grateful to be living so close to this particular park land.
[16:43] It is something truly special that demands preservation,
[16:47] not industrialization. My father will go into more detail,
[16:50] I'll jump ahead to a special request that counsel pause the RFP and take two immediate actions.
[16:56] First, request a formal city solicitor, legal opinion on chapter 4, ADA compliance.
[17:01] Second, release and evaluate all geo-technical reports on the 2013 Pocusset Street Collapse
[17:06] before spending more capital.
[17:08] Thank you very much.
[17:10] Thank you.
[17:14] Our next speaker is Dr. Janet Marlin.
[17:22] Thank you.
[17:22] My name is Jan Marlin. My husband's Dan Marlin is also here with me and I'm speaking for both of us.
[17:30] We own and have resided for over 40 years in the house of 5,400 Hobart Street,
[17:36] which is the last house on the left at the top of Hobart, just before the prospect drive.
[17:41] Before prospect drive in the park area, be on there.
[17:45] A strong incentive in our choice of this home in 1984 was it being right next to this lovely and peaceful park site
[17:51] When we frequently walk with our dogs over the many years we've resided there, as well
[17:56] as enjoyed observing the deer and other animals that reside in this part of the park.
[18:03] We now are quite horrified by the prospect of our park area becoming a site for large commercial vehicles,
[18:11] construction and maintenance equipment with the predictable noise disruption in their
[18:21] and other animal residents, they're in the park.
[18:25] Another concern is how this utilization of the park
[18:28] would compromise the serenity of the recent memorial
[18:30] to the victims of the Tree of Life massacre
[18:33] at the beginning section of the park.
[18:36] A further concern is the known historical instability
[18:39] of the very back areas of the park,
[18:41] some of which had previously collapsed,
[18:44] creating a significant danger to the homes and streets
[18:47] in the neighborhoods below the back of the park.
[18:50] And finally, a more personal concern is that these proposed plans could significantly damage
[18:56] the value of our home and property, and so far as it stands in such a immediate proximity
[19:02] to the proposed utilization plan.
[19:06] We appreciate you taking these things into consideration.
[19:10] Thank you.
[19:13] Thank you.
[19:14] Our next speaker is Chris Eroski.
[19:23] Thank you very much.
[19:25] I'm also here to speak about the DPW's proposed relocation to Shennley Park, and obviously
[19:32] these comments are directed at the Public Works Standing Committee.
[19:36] Who is the Chair of the Public Works Standing Committee?
[19:40] Housewoman Salana.
[19:41] Ah, great.
[19:42] Thank you.
[19:43] I want to address the line that the administration seems to be taking that other city parks have
[19:52] P.W facilities and that's a reason for Shenmue to have one.
[19:56] In fact, that's a reason for Shenmue to not have one.
[19:59] This is a city one.
[20:00] My problem with D.P.W. facilities in city parts. Riverview Park has been working for decades, friends of Riverview
[20:07] Park to move their D.P.W. facility out of the park. Mayor Padoo introduced legislation in 2021 to
[20:14] do just that. Similarly, hats run in Highland Park has major problems with their D.P.W. facility. It's an ongoing
[20:21] community issue. In addition, just this week in the trip, the mayor's spokesperson said that
[20:29] the D.P.W maintenance facility. That is not true. In fact, it could be argued that we've never
[20:36] had a maintenance D.P.W maintenance facility in Shemley Park. They were located behind trips
[20:42] to service for many years, but that was a no-man's land. No park go was went back there, and
[20:47] it was at the end of the fruit tree extension, so really on the edge of the park where nobody
[20:54] goes for recreation.
[20:57] Similarly, McKinley Park has a brand new facility,
[21:00] DPW facility being built.
[21:01] It is not in the park.
[21:03] It's a block away adjacent to an EMS building
[21:07] and some other DPW facilities.
[21:11] So again, I'll just simply push back right now on this notion
[21:15] that every park has a DPW facility,
[21:18] and that's a reason to put it in shemmy.
[21:20] That is not a reason that's a reason to keep it out of shemmy.
[21:22] Thanks very much.
[21:26] Thank you.
[21:28] Our next speaker is Dylan Besescu.
[21:33] Thank you.
[21:34] My name is Dylan Besescu.
[21:35] I'm a resident of Southside Flats.
[21:38] I'd first like to note that I understand the council is considering the neighborhood improvement
[21:42] district or NID proposal later this afternoon.
[21:46] I appreciate the consideration of it and I hope it will go through.
[21:50] It's a needed degree of improvement and tax revenue brought into the south side to improve local businesses
[21:56] for local residents.
[21:58] That said, I don't think it will have as much impact as the council would appreciate given
[22:03] the continued enforcement of the lockdown zone on 12th at 18th streets on East Carson.
[22:09] This has been a long-running problem all summer.
[22:13] My time, as much as I've loved it with all of you, will be coming to a close shortly with
[22:18] the end of that, hopefully on September 12th and as much as it is continued for the duration
[22:25] of this summer, I pray to you that it will not return the next summer or any summer
[22:29] after that because frankly it has been a cataclysm for the south side.
[22:35] I myself was able to see firsthand what happened this weekend where myself and my friend
[22:43] were even denied the ability to walk down the street because we were not residents of the
[22:48] Pacific area adults as we are above the age of 21 able to show ideas not able to walk down the street because we did not live within that specific area.
[23:00] That is no way to run a city.
[23:03] It is no way to run a city to set up fences that can be and I know this myself easily pass through at many of the areas not guarded by police. These are not as secure as any of you would think they are.
[23:16] It is not a way to run a city to get off who can go where by asking them for their papers.
[23:25] This is completely unacceptable.
[23:28] And even if you do not care for the civil liberties issues that are present here,
[23:32] you should care about the well-being of the local businesses that have seen a precipitous drop-off
[23:38] in the amount of business they do during their most active hours in the evenings and on weekends.
[23:44] This is not a solution that has worked.
[23:47] It is a solution that we were asked to bear for one summer to see how it went.
[23:52] And now we can say, with hindsight, that it has not gone well.
[23:57] It will not go well in the future, and those asking us to wait for a more convenient season
[24:03] to see are simply asking us to wait indefinitely and to suffer this indefinitely.
[24:09] We will not suffer this indefinitely, we must not suffer this indefinitely, and it must end.
[24:17] This must not return for another season, and I hope that all of you will do everything in your power to make sure that something like this never happens again.
[24:24] Thank you.
[24:27] Thank you.
[24:30] Our next registered speaker is William Slyvka.
[24:38] Hello, my name is Bill Slyvka and I live in Squirrel Hill, and I really appreciate the opportunity to have the public provide comments.
[24:44] I've never done this before, so forgive me.
[24:47] I'm here in opposition to the proposal to build a new department of public works facility
[24:52] and prospect drive in Shemley Park, so City Council in 2023 passed legislation that
[24:56] advanced most development in the city's parks and greenways.
[25:00] The law exists because Parkland once pays paper over does not come back.
[25:05] Sheenley Parks, 456 acres of historic, very replaceable green space, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[25:12] And prospect robes one of the last undeveloped corners left in it.
[25:15] Families, as you've heard, families use it, use that grassy stretch to teach kids to write bikes.
[25:20] People walk there with strollers. It's Parkland that's doing exactly what Parkland is supposed to do.
[25:29] in vehicle traffic and critically, a site that probably stores salt.
[25:34] And that salt doesn't stay in one place.
[25:36] It runs off.
[25:37] It gets into the soil, probably into Panther Hall into the watershed that this park was built
[25:41] around.
[25:42] We'll be treating a peaceful green space for a source of industrial runoff inside a national
[25:47] historic landmark and direct tension with a law that counsel passed itself past a few years
[25:53] ago.
[25:53] I understand the Shennley maintenance division has a real problem.
[25:56] They're working out temporary trailers on generators and pin dot and pin dot is about to force them off that site.
[26:03] Certainly that's a legitimate operational need, and I don't think anyone here wants DPW crews working out of trailers indefinitely.
[26:10] Pittsburgh has industrial and underuse sites outside the park boundary that could house this facility without violating the city's own greenway protections are risking run off into his historic watershed.
[26:21] I ask the Standing Committee to require a genuine, genuine comparison of non-park alternatives
[26:27] with real cost and time-long numbers.
[26:29] We have not seen that before any site is approved.
[26:32] We don't get Shennley Park over back once it's built over.
[26:34] I'm asking you to protect it at the hold of city to the standard except for itself previously.
[26:39] Thank you.
[26:42] Thank you.
[26:44] Our next speaker is Lewis Siler.
[26:53] Morning.
[26:55] Lewis Siler.
[26:56] maintenance hub, and as the previous speaker just stated, the 488A is really a wonderful
[27:01] ordinance which you've passed, and I think that it should be the hallmark for cities
[27:04] all across the country as a matter of fact, congratulations to you. But to make this ordinance
[27:08] have any meaning whatsoever, this is the time, this is the place ladies and gentlemen, it
[27:13] truly is. You will lose 1.8 acres of irreplaceable green space if you do not act properly.
[27:19] And again, the foundational purpose of this, the ordinance is to prohibit non-recreational
[27:23] development in parks and greenways, there are the RFP indicators, there's been no review of the
[27:29] applicability of Section 488 and yet there are the DPW's blasting forward with this project.
[27:36] I would point out to you that, again, the limitations are two, one is that it applies to all
[27:40] maintenance facilities, except those structures for vehicles and equipment within the park and
[27:44] which it is built. Okay, and again, except for again, to house vehicles and equipment,
[27:51] This goes far beyond that in 11,000 square foot building and let's not minimize this it's 11,000 square foot administrative building plus 1.8 acres
[28:00] Okay, it's huge and then also just to maintain the Parkway in which it is built
[28:05] Now, let's say that you have doubts in your mind. You do not know does it apply doesn't apply is this you know
[28:11] This is law really apply in this situation. What should we do read the last part of law, which simply says this it says that
[28:18] All reviews of chapter 488 shall favor and not the court-part-the-injunctive relief, but the preservation of parks and greenways.
[28:27] All reviews of chapter 488 shall favor the preservation of parks and greenways.
[28:32] That's what you have to remember at every time here.
[28:35] Now, on another topic, folks, not only is there the bad problem, but there's also the fact that this is proposed to be built
[28:42] on top of a really hazardous or dangerous potentially situation.
[28:46] I'm not a geotechnical engineer.
[28:48] But remember this, that Professor Drive, which
[28:50] runs up from the Greenfield Bridge up to the proposed site,
[28:53] is banned for to be a killer traffic.
[28:55] In 2013, there was a major landslide there.
[28:59] And yet, has deep, has there been any geotechnical
[29:01] evaluation done?
[29:03] No.
[29:03] Do the, in fact, if you look at the request for proposals,
[29:07] they say that's been no geotechnical, I'm studying it all.
[29:09] Well, there must be papers.
[29:11] And you should, again, not allow anything to go forward
[29:13] until such times, all the prior documents
[29:15] have been taken out from the prior landslide until a full evaluation has been done of this.
[29:21] And if you don't do this, you're really setting yourself up for a disaster in the making
[29:24] that 1.8 acres of paved land, where is the run off going to go?
[29:29] If you get your jogging shoes on, get your walking shoes on, walk up from green fuel bridge
[29:32] up to the site.
[29:33] Take a look and see how well the existing drainage has been maintained.
[29:37] It hasn't been ladies and gentlemen, and nor will anything in the futures who think, well
[29:41] we'll have this perfect drainage system, but take care of 1.8 acres worth of drainage.
[29:44] It's not going to happen. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you. Please think about this.
[29:50] Might might might deepen since your thank you to you all.
[29:54] Thank you.
[29:55] There have been no further registered speakers. We will now take comments from those in the audience.
[30:00] We're pushing to speak.
[30:01] Good morning.
[30:04] Carly, no jumpol, Panther hollow.
[30:07] My testimony today is titled,
[30:09] Compits for Progress from Silence and Inaction to a City of Dignity.
[30:15] Yesterday, I talked about the distress from shameful actions of Council members,
[30:19] Robert Warwick and Bob Triller,
[30:21] pertaining to the illegal construction of the Oakland,
[30:24] do it yourself, skate park.
[30:25] that testimony on the website, pantherhaloplayground.com, the
[30:30] reparable actions also extend to their attempt to strip away the
[30:35] identity of our historic neighborhood by naming our playground.
[30:40] They may illustrate. Last week I had a conversation with a skateboarder at the
[30:44] park and told him that no homeowner, long time, resident in Pantherhalo,
[30:49] supports this illegal skate park. He replied that this isn't Pantherhalo.
[30:54] This is the Oakland DIY skate park.
[30:58] As part of my opening records request,
[31:01] I received screenshots of text messages
[31:04] exchanges between Council Member Warwick
[31:06] and the pitch student, who is the leader of the skate borders,
[31:10] preparing for a hearing concerning the naming of our playground.
[31:14] That public hearing occurred on June 10, 2025.
[31:18] Only two individuals were present,
[31:20] Council Member Warwick and the pitch student.
[31:23] No matter how long time rather than on our homeowner, including myself, we're given direct notice
[31:30] of the public hearing.
[31:32] The next day, June 11th, a standing committee's meeting was held.
[31:37] Council Member Charlan said to Council Member Warwick, quote,
[31:41] I would like to remind you that you are changing the name as a part in my district and of quote.
[31:47] However, tragically, Council Member Charlie took no action to represent and protect ourhalo
[31:55] community. The following week on June 17, the final vote for the naming our playground occurred.
[32:02] The day before on June 16, I had a conversation with Council Member Warwick in front of
[32:08] the skate park. She never mentioned that the changing of the name of our playground
[32:12] and that the final vote would be on the next day.
[32:17] This sorted morally corrupt state park issue has been passed on to Mayor Corio
[32:23] Connor and his administrators.
[32:26] The mayor has the opportunity to respect his own dignity,
[32:31] and then to respect the dignity of the longtime residents,
[32:35] homeowners and heritage of Panther Hall,
[32:37] by shutting down the illegal state park.
[32:41] By doing so, the mayor can move the city forward onto the path of dignity.
[32:51] We're by Pittsburgh, can begin to become known as the city of dignity.
[32:58] It is so, and so it is.
[33:07] Thank you.
[33:08] Next speaker please.
[33:23] Good morning, children.
[33:27] Class is back in session.
[33:28] And I'm going to talk about what I taught you last week.
[33:39] Like I said from previously, I could move my point when other neighborhoods come here
[33:47] is the man's.
[33:49] It's what y'all cannot do to them communities, but we beg and plea for y'all just
[33:57] fix our communities.
[34:00] And so now I have the mask. Fix our streets and on sidewalks. Stop
[34:10] letting these construction companies do whatever they want in our neighborhoods. I'm
[34:16] talking about the percent street repairs. The police won't win, they start paving, but somehow
[34:23] the way is more uneven and dangerous than before. It's like the contract is fixed to fix
[34:31] the streets in the most we aim in an inefficient way possible. Children, let's start the
[34:39] fifth avenue. Why is it so uneven? So uneven. You cannot even move into the other lane without
[34:49] You can physically see that it's uneven, and that's the way that they want.
[34:56] Call traffic to play, stop running, if that isn't going to stay that way.
[34:59] And now.
[35:00] With the prison construction down there, that's been going off for six years. The hospitals are blocked. But I guess because that's the hospital going to emergency, they might really care about the people on these hospitals.
[35:12] You can block them off, they can down over there. They gotta go all the way down the street and round, but there was a street to go straight there in the emergency.
[35:20] Somebody is on y'all to come to the construction site, right? They can just comment on neighborhoods and do that because when I drive to other neighborhoods, for me though,
[35:29] I never stayed any type of construction like this.
[35:33] And on a speed box Anthony,
[35:36] if you go higher than eight miles an hour,
[35:39] the front of your course, slam it down.
[35:42] And the ambulance has to write those streets.
[35:44] Why, when they come and pay for a plane,
[35:48] there's a bus, there's a bus gap.
[35:50] It's not, it doesn't smooth out.
[35:52] It might take a month before they come, smooth it out.
[35:55] Why is that?
[35:56] And that how they are able to call me contact me and on calls to get messed up, we are
[36:02] in the core community.
[36:04] Now we're going to go through the mechanic when y'all fix our streets.
[36:10] I'm done.
[36:14] Thank you.
[36:15] Next speaker please.
[36:23] My name is Annie Quinn and I live in Greenfield.
[36:27] And I also represent a nonprofit called The Mon Water Project.
[36:31] So I am here first to thank the Department of Public Works because I have spent
[36:37] A lot of my time at my non-profit pushing and pushing and pushing for flood protection and storm
[36:44] on our management that is able to protect residents who live in the run, who experience
[36:49] a human health emergency, what it rains and sewage backsups and bathesments into the neighborhood.
[36:56] And without success of getting Pittsburgh water to pick the project construction back up, we were
[37:00] able to get Department of Public Works to do so and I really appreciate that the restoration
[37:05] in a Panther hollow lake will be an incredible opportunity for us to restore a lake to ecological
[37:12] function, but also for us to reconnect our neighborhood with an open water asset. And also,
[37:19] we'll back 100 year flood. So these are really important aspects of conservation, which is why
[37:25] it is so odd that I'm also standing here saying, please don't develop in our parks. Our parks
[37:31] are a incredible asset and I need the expansion of your understanding of the economy of our city to grow in order for us to protect Shemli Park.
[37:45] The environmental assets that are provided by trees that are provided by roots that are provided by grass that are provided by green space are actually a documented economy.
[37:56] There are also a part of the infrastructure of our city, so to build a department public
[38:01] works building on Prospect Drive and or on a golf course or any available green space
[38:08] that we have today is to eliminate the environmental economy that is being provided by those assets.
[38:15] I hope that with the conservation of a lake we can bring Shemning Park into an overall plan
[38:23] and conserved and restored park that will be a benefit to all of the density of residents
[38:30] from the universities that are on the side of the golf course to the residents who rent
[38:38] and live in squirrel hail and along the park themselves. As we move forward as a society,
[38:46] it is vital for when you're evaluating these types of projects. You take into consideration
[38:51] the true environmental impact that you were considering for these projects, which today we haven't been
[38:57] great at. But if you would take that economy of the infrastructure of green space into account,
[39:03] these projects would be outrageous. They would never be suggested. We have so much impacted land
[39:09] in the city of Pittsburgh, move the Department of Public Works Division there. Please, I also,
[39:15] Like I said, we'd like to say that the conservation of the park is preeminent and we can do so by having both the lake and beautiful green space.
[39:28] Thank you. Next speaker, please.
[39:39] Good morning, my name is Yvonne F. Brown. I live at 7.15.
[39:43] in Mercer Street, that's the high rise that the top of Beffert was 1952 apartments in there.
[39:51] I'm trying to hold this up so you can see the signs that I have and it's saying that we must
[39:58] defend democracy.
[40:00] When I came down to city council to explain that I lived up in KU or over stars and that the crack addicts were taking over, we were being with hammers, sticks,
[40:18] the one lady, she got beat up, her granddaughters came to confront the woman in the elevator and she cut one of them.
[40:27] She does not live in the building, and she can come anytime she wants.
[40:32] I'm saying that the police said that it was our management and fatigue, the magistrate that was dropping the ball.
[40:44] We had this woman, Rashida McKinley, who came into the building and grabbed the manager by her neck.
[40:54] And they ended up rolling on the floor.
[40:57] It was the large white man from corporate I think.
[41:02] He was trying to get in to help the manager.
[41:06] What I'm saying is this, we are living in the building.
[41:11] And it's had, hey, it's at the federal government, it's funded by her.
[41:17] We live in the building where there's a woman that is coming and threatening also
[41:24] She had beaten the one woman, the mother and daughter, the mother died.
[41:29] She stole the money order of my neighbor, and he died.
[41:34] This woman is coming to the building.
[41:37] Her mother just recently moved in just last week.
[41:41] And I was sweeping down in the cellar in the building.
[41:45] She walked past me.
[41:47] And I spoke to her.
[41:48] It was her, she gave two years of scarf, sometimes a half, she covers up her face.
[41:55] And all of a sudden, they don't know who she is.
[41:58] I know who she is, and she's threatening me.
[42:02] I believe there were over 10 years.
[42:06] And remember that this is food for food bank.
[42:10] Food stamps.
[42:11] You know there's a lot of programs that are being cut.
[42:14] And those programs, some of them families, the children are being the ones that they're losing their benefits.
[42:22] And in our building, we have a food bank that management has taken over and makes a decision
[42:29] who can get food bank services.
[42:34] My husband, Harold Brown, who worked for the city over 20 years.
[42:38] He worked in the housing authority.
[42:39] He is now hand-gap. He, I cannot get his little bank.
[42:47] I'm finished. Thank you Mr. Hampton.
[42:51] Thank you very much.
[42:54] Next speaker, please.
[43:00] Good morning, Special Agent Sunshine.
[43:02] Lord, thank you for using me as a vessel
[43:04] and opening my eyes to all deceptive people, places and things.
[43:10] Today's message is entitled an attempt to hide.
[43:16] Council on Jeremiah 2324 which says,
[43:19] Can anyone hide himself in secret places?
[43:23] So, I still not see him.
[43:25] This is the Lord.
[43:26] Do I not feel heaven and earth?
[43:29] Here's the question.
[43:30] Who play secretly with God?
[43:32] Let's see.
[43:32] present well, mostly, do you think is you're not here, you're invisible? Are you hiding from
[43:40] who or what? The truth.
[43:44] With and for the day comes from Proverbs 183, when wickedness comes, the concept, and with
[43:52] same comes disgrace. It is disgrace, how this counsel has stolen so much money from this city.
[44:00] That now, as of January 1st next year, we will have to pay for copies at the library.
[44:07] Imagine that.
[44:08] You can't even get an ink pen at the library.
[44:11] Cut the bunches.
[44:13] Really?
[44:15] Stop going to the beach without money.
[44:23] You asked the Department of Justice?
[44:25] I've got some numbers for you.
[44:28] Because they really think you're stupid.
[44:30] I'm going to show you.
[44:30] Just how they think.
[44:32] And now from the Florida Department of Public Works Bureau of Operations,
[44:37] and now from 100,000 dollars for vehicles to 1,000 dollars for operational supplies.
[44:48] That's a lot of money for operational supplies.
[44:51] Don't you see, here's another one.
[44:53] 80,000 dollars, maybe, in pregnancy, maybe.
[45:00] Ladies from 80,000 to 80,000 dollars per week operation, no surprise. That's a lot of money for a break.
[45:10] These are getting up and ready to want to operate.
[45:13] That's a lot of dollars for operating. Now you want 80,000 more.
[45:18] OK, really, $9,370 dollars amount from $370 dollars for operational supplies to $9,370 dollars
[45:33] for cleaning, really, people that cleaned don't make that count a month in a week.
[45:41] Stop playing with God.
[45:42] You will pass for everything you sow, you will reap everything you sow in Jesus' name, and that we're going back to remove the hands, I promise you, I got a list, the law of discipline is 18, the one that I
[46:03] can tell you this message next week, thank you Jesus for loving me.
[46:08] Thank you, next speaker please.
[46:14] Are there any further speakers?
[46:16] Seeing no further speakers, we will move on to our stand-in committees agenda, and our first
[46:21] committee of the day is the Finance and Law Committee.
[46:24] Differed papers fill 39.
[46:26] Ordnance directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to place before the qualified
[46:30] voters of the City of Pittsburgh, at the 2026 May primary election a referendum question.
[46:37] Shall the Pittsburgh Homewood Charter, Article 3 legislative branch, be amended by changing the budget
[46:44] approval rules to ensure timely passage at the end of legislative sessions.
[46:50] Motion to approve.
[46:54] Question.
[46:55] The discussion.
[46:56] Council President.
[46:57] Thank you.
[46:58] I have a good view of the administration a couple weeks ago.
[47:00] We are working on trying to do this to the ordinance.
[47:10] Council President, if you're speaking, we cannot hear you currently.
[47:19] You cut out.
[47:20] You said that you had a good conversation with the administration.
[47:23] and you're looking to do a fight ordinance, and that's all we heard.
[47:27] Yes, that is correct.
[47:29] So with that, we'll make a motion to hold for four weeks.
[47:34] Discussion?
[47:36] On fever of holding Bill 39 for four weeks, please say aye.
[47:39] Aye.
[47:40] Bill will be held for four weeks.
[47:42] Thank you very much.
[47:43] That moves us onto invoices.
[47:45] Is there a motion on invoices?
[47:47] Motion to approve.
[47:50] Second.
[47:52] Discussion?
[47:58] I'm going to put out two numbers that we have another influence from cell phone, which we have a track before, which says for me, please, you know, from a user, to train people looking for you in no time by their cell phone.
[48:23] And when we asked about it, obviously, the administration that they would, it was only
[48:33] to use in case of a judicial warrant, which we've talked about a couple before, the
[48:54] And so I just wanted to remind some of the stuff on one of the things that we have not.
[49:03] I have more information on what I'm hoping is going to remind that it's too much this week from the risk of performance.
[49:09] Department on surveillance and privacy issues and guidelines.
[49:13] I think it's important to know how many circumstances there are and how many users in the
[49:20] subscription who have access to this type of data and what are the cleverest internally
[49:26] and to ensure that on a place follow the guidelines.
[49:33] There's a critical thing that I haven't had in terms of literally just going to test this
[49:38] from the world of the public, just one moment we're on the question, about another
[49:44] influence and how those lessons will hold LLC. It seems to me that you call
[49:52] just something nice a year ago, but I'm not sure I have the things under it,
[49:58] and that it is older.
[50:22] Thank you. Thank you. Any further discussion on the invoices?
[50:27] Seeing none all in favor of invoices, please.
[50:30] Aye. Aye. Aye. aye. Virred?
[50:33] Opposed.
[50:34] Opposed.
[50:36] siinä Senses�
[50:38] Investigations
[50:38] invoices are approved that
[50:39] moves us to enter department
[50:41] transferred. Lesson to approved.
[50:46] Second. Discursion.
[50:50] Seeing none all in favor
[50:52] of transfers please say aye. Aye. Aye.
[50:56] Transfer is approved.
[50:56] That moves us on to
[50:57] Cards is their emotion on Peacards.
[50:59] Motion to approve.
[51:01] Second.
[51:02] Discussion?
[51:04] You know, none all in favor of Peacards.
[51:07] Please say aye.
[51:09] Peacards are approved.
[51:12] That moves the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee
[51:14] chaired by Councilwoman Salon Etrell.
[51:18] Different papers bill 414.
[51:21] Resolution authorizing the mayor and the Director of Finance
[51:24] on behalf of the City of Pittsburgh to enter into an agreement
[51:27] or agreements or amendments there too with various parties for the purpose of accessing city property
[51:33] while certain railroad crossing at Lockway East and Lockway West, Council District 7,
[51:40] are being upgraded and removed at no cost to the city.
[51:44] Thank you for your discussion.
[51:46] Thank you.
[51:47] With the discussion, Councilwoman Salonatro.
[51:49] I'd like to call to hold this bill for eight weeks, please.
[51:53] Thank you.
[51:55] Discussion?
[51:57] Seeing none all in favor of holding Bill 414 for eight weeks, please say aye.
[52:03] All right.
[52:04] Bill will be held.
[52:06] That moves us to land use and economic development committee chaired by Councilman Wilson.
[52:10] Different papers, Bill 2224, ordinance supplementing the Pittsburgh Code of ordinances,
[52:17] Title IX, zoning code, Article I, Introduction and Establishment,
[52:21] CHAPTER 902, Zoning Districts in General, at Section 902.01, Establishment of Zoning Districts by adding a new residential planned unit development district, at Subsection 902.01, D2A, to be identified as, thanks to Golden Horizons at Article 4, Planning Districts, CHAPTER 909, Planted Development Districts, Section 909.02,
[52:51] PUD planned unit development district by creating a new residential planned unit development district
[53:00] at Subsection 902.09.02-D7 to be identified as thanksfield Golden Horizons, including rules and regulations
[53:10] in by amending the city of Pittsburgh's zoning map by changing from residential multi-unit
[53:17] moderate density and residential single unit detached low density to banksville, golden horizons,
[53:24] property consisting of the present Marion Manor and in adjacent parcel of vacant commercial land
[53:30] by specific by Greenboro Lane, all located in the 20th Ward.
[53:35] What is in the hole for cable cars public hearing?
[53:38] Second.
[53:40] Discussion?
[53:42] Seeing none, all those in favour of holding Bill 2225, 2224, for cable cars public hearing.
[53:55] All those in favour.
[53:57] Bill will be held for public hearing.
[54:00] Intergovernmental and Educational Affairs Committee, Chair by Councilman Moosely.
[54:04] If we're at papers, Bill 606.
[54:06] Resolution requesting the approval of an intramunicable transfer of liquor license from the
[54:11] crossings landing club LLC to the applicant Silver Ashes Hospitality Group LLC.
[54:19] Located at 7208 Copeland Street, pursuant to amended Pennsylvania liquor code,
[54:25] statute 4-461.
[54:27] Motion to approve. Second. Discussion? Seeing none, all in favor of Bill. So six, please say aye. Aye.
[54:37] Aye. Affirmative recommendation. New papers Bill 804. Resolution amending resolution 37126 and 399,
[54:46] which authorize an amendment to the cooperation agreement or agreements with the city of Pittsburgh
[54:51] equipment, leasing authority for the purchase and leasing of vehicles, equipment, and accessories.
[54:57] Equipment, support and for structure and purpose.
[55:00] Professional Services in fiscal year 2026 by the increasing, by increasing the authorized amount, by
[55:09] 59,180 dollars to purchase trailers for the Department of Public Works for a new not to exceed total of 26,348,449 dollars.
[55:26] Thank you, I know I believe we have a guest here today to give us some more insight
[55:32] on this particular piece of legislation.
[55:40] Good morning.
[55:41] Good morning.
[55:41] You can add it to yourself.
[55:43] My name is Bronwyn Tarnage and I am the Acting Fleet Manager.
[55:47] Thank you.
[55:47] I believe we have some questions from two of my colleagues.
[55:50] Okay.
[55:52] Let's start with the mentor if that's okay.
[55:55] I thank you for being here.
[55:58] I have some questions I guess we're buying trailers with this legislation.
[56:02] Is that right?
[56:03] Correct.
[56:04] So this is coming from the DPW Trust Fund and this is going to impact both parks and
[56:08] rack as well as streets.
[56:10] They need at least 12 trailers to operate effectively.
[56:14] It would allow them to move snow equipment.
[56:17] It would allow them to address 311 calls more efficiently.
[56:20] So that is the concept.
[56:25] So how are we buying 12 trailers with this?
[56:27] Is that right or we're getting ourselves up to 12 trailers?
[56:30] We're buying purchasing 12.
[56:33] Will these be able to be used for long-care equipment?
[56:38] So I have mostly the fourth division in my district.
[56:44] We've unfortunately been working out of the strip district for the last nine years.
[56:48] Any time we want to move equipment into the district, we have to move it by trailer and this has been a huge problem for us, not having trailers.
[56:59] My district is incredibly overgrown. It looks like a jungle there this year.
[57:04] And the large part of that is the trailer issue, borrowing trailers from environmental services and elsewhere.
[57:10] But, you know, we're also adding like an hour of time to every little job to move along
[57:17] the Lorraine or throwing the back of a pickup truck.
[57:20] So I'm thankful to see this happening.
[57:23] What are we doing to make sure that we don't end up in a situation where we're in dire need
[57:26] of something as simple as trailers again?
[57:30] Well, I think that kind of circles back to the conversations we've been having and just, you
[57:33] know, recognizing that our fleet is underfunded for so many years and we're currently trying
[57:38] and dig herself out of a hole.
[57:41] So, I mean, having these constant conversations and realizing that, you know, we need to find
[57:45] a long-term solution to this funding process, I think is probably what we need to continue
[57:50] to do in order to continuously replenish the fleet, so they're within their life cycle,
[57:56] and we can actually manage our projects effectively.
[58:00] How long should a trailer allow us this?
[58:04] Well, it depends on the size and the material of the trailer.
[58:07] of course, you know, we have a lot of salts and things of that nature, so those things
[58:10] do break down equipment faster than if we were in different areas.
[58:14] But overall, you know, I would say between six to seven years is probably the life span
[58:18] before you start to have a lot of repairs and considering we are very conscientious of
[58:23] our budget.
[58:24] At this time, you know, we constantly have to consider every repair.
[58:28] Is it really necessary?
[58:29] Is it really going to prolong the life of the trailer?
[58:32] Is it more sustainable to just purchase new?
[58:34] So that is all part of the process.
[58:37] How are we determining that?
[58:40] I mean, like I said, it really depends on the trailer itself.
[58:43] There is a standardized life cycle for vehicles and equipment that we look at.
[58:48] But really it comes down to the fact that since we are so underfunded we're just looking at need.
[58:53] This is something that we cannot live without.
[58:55] Obviously we spend the money to repair it and keep it in the fleet.
[58:59] However, with these new conversations, new funding, we're helping to avoid having to repair bad equipment and vehicles.
[59:08] So, I'm thankful that we're doing this today.
[59:11] And I believe this is the first time that I think you've read at the table before when I was virtual, so I didn't get an opportunity to say this.
[59:17] The thing that I just want to reiterate as much as I can is not just having, you know, grant street make those decisions,
[59:25] but actually going to the streets division and talking to the employees that are working
[59:28] there to find out what actually works for them and what doesn't, you know, a lot of the
[59:34] low guys on the total sort of speak, they've got an unbelievable amount of knowledge of, you
[59:39] know, this works, this doesn't work, we can't actually use this, the city bonus this and it just
[59:44] sits at the division because, you know, for it can't make the turn or it becomes more of a hassle
[59:49] and it's just easier to throw things in a pickup truck. And I just cannot reiterate enough
[59:55] that we need to be talking to our own employees that may not feel comfortable.
[1:00:00] All right, giving their concerns and taking them through the director, but actually just talking to the folks in the divisions and making sure that, like, hey, does this make sense?
[1:00:11] Because these are the guys that are using the equipment, you know, not, not, you know, a bunch of abstinence suits here.
[1:00:18] You know, I'm making those determinations. So having those conversations are just so important.
[1:00:24] And I hope this is able to help out with some of the overgrowth and just the fill the
[1:00:31] condition that my district is in right now.
[1:00:34] I'm just saying you're perspective and my colleague and I who are running the fleet
[1:00:38] at this time totally agree with that.
[1:00:40] We have opened up dialogue, we've started a conversation with departments and we have great
[1:00:44] support with DPW, so we do very wholeheartedly take into consideration what is best for
[1:00:50] use our first. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the discussion.
[1:00:56] Oh, Councilman Cochol, I think it raised his hand and then Councilmember Warwick. Thank you,
[1:01:01] thank you, Madam Chair. First, I just want to say, Brownman, you're doing a great job. You stepped
[1:01:06] in at a really critical time when we're making all these purchases and you'll be back at this
[1:01:11] table probably with it in the next couple weeks with some really important purchases that we're
[1:01:17] So you and the team are doing a really good job and you have a lot on your hands right now but it's all good stuff.
[1:01:27] Once we get through and get our fleets situated I hope another year or two will be much better times.
[1:01:35] Yes, no thank you. I appreciate that we do have a lot of projects and it's an exciting time and fleet.
[1:01:40] You know, like the changes and things advanced, it's very, yeah.
[1:01:43] I can't remember the last time we were, I was at a man like, what are we going to buy?
[1:01:47] It's a good problem.
[1:01:49] Yeah, it is.
[1:01:50] And we need it, of course.
[1:01:52] So the only question I had about the trailers was, did we, are we replacing trailers?
[1:01:57] Did we not have them in public works?
[1:01:58] So we adding them or does this?
[1:02:00] So we had, I want to say we had about six unfortunately.
[1:02:04] We have a couple.
[1:02:05] We need a full of at least 12 and it's, you know, to your point
[1:02:09] when things break down considering we don't have funding to always repair it's nice
[1:02:12] to have spares and I'll just in case so we can't get things moving as quickly
[1:02:16] and efficiently as possible. So the concept would be to make sure that each division
[1:02:20] has the right amount of trailers and the right amount of spares and this would help
[1:02:24] with that. Yeah, good deal. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. Thank you.
[1:02:27] Thanks a number of work. Yeah, thank you. So yeah, just with regard to, you know, this long-term
[1:02:37] issue of funding for the fleet. So, you know, in 2026, so this, this 26 million, 300,000, that includes
[1:02:44] all the gifts for these, including all the funding sources that have been allocated to this
[1:02:49] co-op, correct? Yeah, for this year. So, you know, so that's 26 million for this year. And I always
[1:02:55] like to remind the public and our members that we put in 10 million of that, right? Like that
[1:03:03] council recognized in this at the end of last year. So, and when I say we, that means the tax
[1:03:12] payers, right? That means the residents of Pittsburgh. So, and these gifts are very welcome,
[1:03:21] right? So, obviously, Kudos to the administration for getting that money from our nonprofit
[1:03:26] partners, but I do just want to remind members, of course, that there is still, you know,
[1:03:33] it's on hold, but we do have a bill on the table for a fleet vehicle fund. Now the bill
[1:03:40] is a $20 million number on it. That is the number that we have been told over the years is what
[1:03:47] the city minimum should be investing to kind of keep our fleet long-term where it needs to be,
[1:03:54] so that we don't find ourselves, you know,
[1:03:56] this years and years and years of disinvestment
[1:03:58] and then finding ourselves, you know,
[1:04:00] as Councilman Charlottes said,
[1:04:03] without the equipment that we need
[1:04:04] and then having overgrown neighborhoods
[1:04:06] that are overgrown and us,
[1:04:08] our workers not being able to do the work, essentially.
[1:04:11] Whether that's CPW, whether that's public safety,
[1:04:14] whether that's, you know, whoever it is,
[1:04:17] right, we need vehicles for almost every,
[1:04:19] everything that we do at the city.
[1:04:20] So I just do one of the remind members
[1:04:22] that that is on the table. My understanding you know that we got to that 20 million dollars
[1:04:26] because that was always my understanding from the various experts who've come to this table
[1:04:32] that that is kind of the bare minimum that we should be spending every year and also to remind
[1:04:38] members that this the way that bill is written this fund could include gifts right like it
[1:04:46] doesn't have to just be taxpayer right it can be gifts that go in but just to make sure that
[1:04:52] the city of Pittsburgh in total every year is investing $20 million. And maybe that number is to even
[1:05:00] So that's the sort of bare minimum that we have been told we need to be investing. We understand we always
[1:05:09] have to tighten belts. So even if that number is a little lower, that really would allow us in a long
[1:05:16] term way and allow our equipment, leasing authority to plan ahead, years ahead, because they would
[1:05:22] know, regardless of administration, regardless of that every year they were going to get. You know,
[1:05:31] minimum of $X dollars, right? $20 million a year and to remind members that the way the bill is
[1:05:38] written is that if there were, is that we would vote on that allocation every year just like we
[1:05:43] vote on all of our trust fund allocations. And so if there were a given year that we were already
[1:05:51] flush or maybe we had money left over from the year before or something like that, we could vote
[1:05:55] that year to allocate less as needed. So I just just want to remind folks that that is on the table
[1:06:01] And that, you know, I am obviously very supportive of that, of that bill and happy to continue that conversation, especially now as we move into a bunch of season.
[1:06:13] Thank you.
[1:06:14] Thank you.
[1:06:15] Thank you for your work.
[1:06:15] I appreciate it.
[1:06:16] Thank you.
[1:06:16] Thank you.
[1:06:17] Councilman Wilson.
[1:06:20] Thank you, Chair.
[1:06:24] Welcome back to everyone.
[1:06:25] First time I spoke since I've been back from recess.
[1:06:28] I'm always happy to be reminded that the amount, that's on the table, to authorize, never
[1:06:36] correlate the amount of time that we speak for $59,000, I mean, how many trailers are
[1:06:43] we getting?
[1:06:44] We're getting 12.
[1:06:47] It seems like there'd be pretty cheap and flimsy for $59.
[1:06:51] Okay.
[1:06:51] No, it's not necessarily mean we actually, that's on average.
[1:06:54] I mean you're looking at.
[1:06:55] Yeah.
[1:06:56] a corner is more than 60 k so I actually have just recently done another purchase for trailers
[1:07:03] for Delme and they run anywhere between when we do the solicitation process between five and
[1:07:08] probably 12,000 just depending on the type of equipment that length of the trailer what we're
[1:07:13] hauling on it. The ones that the DPW is specifically picked out that would be most efficient for
[1:07:19] their operations landed at this estimated cost. Of course this will have to go through a solicitation
[1:07:24] process, but we asked them to do the due diligence and reach out to vendors who they feel
[1:07:28] like they would like to have bit on them and provide estimates. So that's like a nice round
[1:07:33] number for us to work with. And that's how we then move forward with, you know, later slightly
[1:07:38] in the funds over to the yielding. So you think they don't last? What's the warranty on it?
[1:07:42] Warranties, depending on the manufacturer, can run anywhere between three to six years.
[1:07:48] And I do think they will last probably as long as any other standard equipment. I mean, the biggest
[1:07:53] right now, like I said before, these are outside pieces of equipment. We're not housing them.
[1:07:58] We don't have any sort of washing or spray system at the moment. Everything is done by hand.
[1:08:05] So, I mean, it's just taking the time and making sure that the maintenance is done on them,
[1:08:09] they should last. Are these like the real light duty ones with the mesh on it?
[1:08:12] No, these are a little bit heavy duty because they're going to be moving like he said, like he said,
[1:08:16] that moers and whatnot. The ground master moers, which are very heavy.
[1:08:20] All right, thanks for your time.
[1:08:21] Thank you for their discussion.
[1:08:28] Seeing none all those in favor of Bill 804, please say aye.
[1:08:32] Aye. Aye.
[1:08:33] A firm in a recommendation. Thank you very much for joining us.
[1:08:37] That exhaust our today's extending committee agenda.
[1:08:43] We do have some meeting announcements.
[1:08:46] This afternoon at 130 PM, Councilful Hold, a cable cast public hearing on Bill 518,
[1:08:51] 18, pertaining to the East Carson Neighborhood Improvement District.
[1:08:55] Speaker registration will close at 11.30 a.m. Wednesday morning.
[1:09:00] Next week, due to the Labor Day holiday, Council will meet Wednesday September 9th for the regular
[1:09:05] and standing committees meeting at 10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. respectively.
[1:09:09] Speaker registration will close at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning for the regular meeting
[1:09:12] and 12.30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon for the standing committees meeting.
[1:09:17] To register to speak at these meetings, please fill out the sign-up form on the Council
[1:09:20] meeting webpage or contact the clerk's office at 412-255-213-8 by the applicable registration
[1:09:27] deadlines.
[1:09:28] It's or anything from members.
[1:09:32] Seeing none, I will take a motion to approve the minutes and adjourn the meeting.
[1:09:37] To move.
[1:09:38] All in favour?
[1:09:39] Aye.
[1:09:40] Meeting is adjourned.