This Week’s Top Agenda Items
- Security and space agreements approved as city prepares for NFL Draft
- New vendor rules in place ahead of NFL Draft
- City renews energy contract to keep costs below national average
Security and space agreements approved as city prepares for NFL Draft 🔗 🔗 🔗
As the NFL Draft draws closer, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) continues to get the city in shape.
Pittsburgh City Council gave preliminary approval at its March 11 committee meeting for three Department of Public Safety (DPS) requests.
As part of draft preparation, technology director Dan Shak said the city has been removing some light poles and infrastructure on the North Shore to make room for more people walking there.
One of the poles, however, currently holds a crowd monitoring camera that DPS would like to move to the top of the Gold Lot 1 Garage by the stadium for the duration of the event. The Stadium Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Shak said, asked the city to sign an indemnity agreement, which must be approved by council. The associated cost is a dollar.
DPS also wants council to provide two similar agreements for The Buncher Company, a real estate agency, at no cost to the city. One is to use space at Gateway View Plaza from approximately April 1 through May 15. The legislation says it’s intended for operating around the Draft.
The other is to use a warehouse for police training activities. The dates for these sessions were not included in the legislation, but the usage request would cover two two-day training sessions.
No one from DPS spoke at the meeting about these two requests.
During major events like the NFL Draft, which public safety concerns matter most to you?
| Traffic and crowd management |
| Emergency medical access |
| Petty crime such as pickpocketing or theft |
| Neighborhood disruption (noise, parking, street access) |
| Public Intoxication |
| Other |
City may create one vendor fee with an add on for prime spots ahead of NFL Draft 🔗
The Department of Permits, Licenses and Inspections (DPLI) is rolling out new rules and a new fee schedule for vendors and peddlers.
Last year, council approved changes to the city code to expand vendor and peddler licenses. This week, DPLI requested expedited approval from council for the new schedule. This would consolidate fees for DPLI, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) and the Department of City Planning.
DPLI Director Dave Green said some of the revenue will help cover the costs of DOMI’s additional work.
Under the old fee schedule stationary vendors and mobile vendors, such as food trucks, had to pay $135 for their license with door-to-door peddlers paying $75.
The proposed fee is $135 for all categories with an added $2 technology fee.
Vendors who want a priority permit, which will get them access to the same location every day, will be charged an additional $50 for the permit, a $2 technology fee and $15 for the city to inspect the site.
Each of the categories also has a $50 “administrative fee” that may be charged in the future for some licenses, but city planning will not tack that fee on now.
There are no licenses required for vending in the Strip District or on private property, such as yards and parking lots, just the property owner's permission.
Finance Director Jen Gula said the consolidation is revenue neutral. The new structure should also make it easier for vendors to apply for permits. “This is important ahead of the [NFL] Draft where we expect large numbers of vendors to be coming,” she said.
Council gave preliminary approval of the request and is scheduled to
vote on it at next week’s general meeting.
The NFL Draft is expected to bring a large number of out-of-town visitors to Pittsburgh. Would you support or oppose giving Pittsburgh-based vendors priority when choosing vending locations?
| Strongly Support |
| Somewhat Support |
| Unsure |
| Somewhat Oppose |
| Strongly Oppose |
City renews energy contract to keep costs below national average 🔗
The Department of Public Works (DPW) wants a cheaper way to keep the lights on.
Representatives from DPW requested council’s approval for a six-year contract with Enel X Advisory Services.
According to DPW finance manager Don Mudrick at the March 11 committee meeting, Enel X watches the market and advises when to buy energy units. He said that, year over year, using the service along with other communities has allowed the city to pay less than the national average.
The city’s current contract with the company expires March 31.
The city is part of the Western Pennsylvania Energy Consortium (WPEC), which consists of the city, county and 23 other municipalities and large nonprofits. WPEC negotiates better energy prices because of its size. Members share the costs of using Enel X, proportionate to usage, even though they sign individual contracts.
The request before council said that it would be with no additional cost to the city. The 2026 budget allots $8 million for electric bills.
Pittsburgh joined WPEC in 2020. Planning Manager Matt Mahoney said that membership allows the city to acquire 50% of its energy from renewable sources, including 30% from a wind-generating farm in Ohio. He also said that participation allows for better cost stability during volatile markets.
Council voted to move forward with the request.
Pittsburgh currently pays below the national average for electricity while sourcing 50% from renewables through a regional consortium. Which is closest to your view?