02/10 2016

Mayor’s Civic Leadership Academy – Applications Due 3/4, Starts 3/30


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  Applications for the Spring 2016 Civic Leadership Academy are now available!  The Civic Leadership Academy (CLA) is a FREE ten week course for City residents that provides an inside look on how City departments and authorities operate.Throughout the course, 12 City departments and authorities present on their day-to-day operations, budgets, new initiatives, and upcoming projects, and residents have the opportunity to ask questions, tour facilities, and network with fellow civic-minded residents.
30 students are accepted into the program from all different backgrounds, ages, and from neighborhoods all over the city.  We will also continue to reserve up to 15 seats for New Americans as part of Mayor Peduto’s Welcoming Pittsburgh Initiative. 
Applications are due Friday March 4th, and classes begin Wednesday, March 30th.  Students will be alerted of their acceptance by the third week of March.  Classes are held every Wednesday for 10 weeks from 6-8:30 pm downtown as well as various locations throughout the city. 

01/15 2016

Community Info Mtg – Wed 2/3 6pm Oakland Career Ctr


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Inline image 1On Wednesday, February 3, OPDC is convening a community-wide meeting at 6pm at the Oakland Career Center for residents to discuss the many proposed developments in Oakland with City of Pittsburgh representatives. The agenda will include the Oakland Gateway Venture Project at Bates and the Blvd of the Allies, the potential redevelopment of the Jewish Federation’s property on McKee Place, and the expanded Campus Advantage Project on Forbes Avenue. Please share the flyer with friends and neighbors. It is located here:  http://www.opdc.org/plan-partner/development-in-oakland-a-community-wide-meeting-on-february-3/

01/14 2016

CIty Offices Closed, Refuse Collection Postponed For MLK Jr Holiday Mon 1/18


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The City of Pittsburgh offices will be closed on Monday, January 18, 2016 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Normal business hours will resume on Tuesday, January 19, 2016.
 
Refuse
 
Refuse, bulk waste and recycling collection will not take place on Monday, January 18, 2016. The Department of Public Works has released the following schedule for the week.  For example:
 
If your scheduled day of collection is Monday, January 18, you will be serviced on Tuesday, January 19.  If your collection day is Tuesday, January 19, you will be serviced on Wednesday, January 20. 
…and so on.
Citiparks
Several Citiparks facilities will adjust operating schedules on Monday, January 18, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Closed Facilities:
  • Citiparks' 10 recreation centers and 14 Healthy Active Living centers for seniors
  • Oliver Bath House indoor swimming pool
Open Facilities:
  • Mellon Park Tennis Center (regular operating hours)
  • Schenley Park Skating Rink (Sessions: 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. and 4 – 6:30 p.m.)
01/04 2016

City Hires New Public Safety Director


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Mayor William Peduto today announced the hiring of Wendell Hissrich as the City’s next Public Safety Director.
  
He will replace former Public Safety Director Stephen A. Bucar, who left in September to become Deputy Commissioner of Staff with the Pennsylvania State Police.    
  

02/25 2014

Mayor Peduto Invites HS Students To Apply for Pub Educ Task Force, Due Fri 3/7/14


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Mayor William Peduto giving high school students full voting power on public schools task force

PITTSBURGH, PA – City high school students, don’t miss your chance to tell Mayor Peduto what to do.

The deadline is next week for Pittsburgh Public Schools high schoolers to apply for a spot on Mayor William Peduto’s task force on public education. The 21-member body will meet through the spring and summer to study and recommend ways to strengthen our public schools and surrounding communities, and issue a report at the start of the next school year. For more information on the task force, click here.

School officials, community leaders and parents are part of the task force but the mayor wants students to help as well. He’s reserved three spots for Pittsburgh high school students, each of whom will serve with full voting power. Here’s how to apply:

Go to http://pittsburghpa.gov/mayor/education-task-force and fill out an application form. You also need to submit via the website a resume and a one page letter to the Mayor explaining why they would like to serve on the task force. Applications and all materials are due by March 7, 2014.

01/30 2014

Public Hearing And Post Agenda On Land Banking Bill – Thu 2/6/14 1pm


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Public Hearing and Post Agenda to focus on Land Banking Bill currently under consideration in City Council
Sent 01/29/2014 @ 10:53 am
Greetings Residents and Neighbors of District 6-
In late 2012, the State of Pennsylvania passed legislation authorizing municipalities to create land banks, entities that acquire, manage and dispose of vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties to facilitate their redevelopment and reuse.
City Council is currently reviewing an ordinance that would create a land bank for the City of Pittsburgh (to access a copy, click here). The legislation will forever change how real property and development are dealt with in Pittsburgh. In District 6, certain neighborhoods, such as the Hill District, Perry North and South, hold up to 50% of properties which would be eligible for the land bank.
Some key highlights in the bill include:
  • The creation of a new authority in the City to manage the land bank
  • The creation of a Mayoral controlled board to oversee the authority with no formal oversight or checks and balances from City Council
  • The ability for the authority to seize any and all property they deem necessary including owner occupied, tax-delinquent property
  • The lack of a process for formal community input
Given the significant impact this legislation will have on the City of Pittsburgh and in our District, it is important to inform ourselves of the bill’s provisions, its implications, and to discuss how it could be improved to better serve the interests of our communities. To this end, I encourage you to attend a Pubic Hearing being held on Thursday, February 6, at 1pm in Council Chambers to share your thoughts on the Land Bank bill. There will also be a Post Agenda on the subject the same day,February 6, 2pm in Council Chambers.
I look forward to seeing you there, as we work together to craft a bill that truly benefits the residents of our district and the greater City of Pittsburgh.
Sincerely,
R. Daniel Lavelle
04/10 2013

ARTPGH + DESIGNPGH PUBLIC MEETINGS: APRIL 2013


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PlanPGHSix dates & locations to choose from

Sent 04/01/2013 @ 10:04 am

On April 22nd-25th, 29th and 30th, there will be a second round of public meetings for ARTPGH and DESIGNPGH, the Public Art and Urban Design components of PLANPGH, the City’s first comprehensive plan. These will be six “open house” meetings conveniently located throughout the City that will allow residents to participate near where they live or work.  Get more info about the meeting format below the schedule.

Meeting Locations:

  • Monday, April 22nd (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • The Kaufmann Center
      1825 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
      412-392-4400
      Public Transportation: Bus 81, 82 and 83
  • Tuesday, April 23rd (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • Schenley Ice Rink
      10341 Overlook Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
      412-422-6523
  • Wednesday, April 24th (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, East Liberty Branch
      130 S. Whitfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA
      412-363-8232
      Public Transportation: Bus 71A, 71B, 71C, 74, 77, 82, 86, 87, 88, and 89
  • Thursday, April 25th (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • West End Overlook Shelter
      Access parking from northern end of Fairview Avenue
      Public Transportation: Bus 26, 27, and 29
  • Monday, April 29th (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
      10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212
      412-322-5058
      Public Transportation: Bus 1, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 2, 4, 54, 6, 7 and 8
  • Tuesday, April 30th (drop in anytime from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.):
    • Mount Washington Senior Center
      122 Virginia Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15211
      412-488-8405
      Public Transportation: Bus 40, 43 and MI (Monongahela Incline)

Please note that for outreach purposes, we have divided the City into six study areas. While you’re welcome to attend any meeting you wish, it’s recommended that residents attend the meeting in the study area in which they work or live as the content will be relevant to those specific neighborhoods. View a map of the study areas.

RSVP is requested, but not required. We kindly ask that you please RSVP to the meeting you plan on attending using one of three methods:

Click here for a PDF flyer for distribution

If you require special accommodations, please contact ADA Coordinator Richard Meritzer: 412-255-2102richard.meritzer@pittsburghpa.gov


Meeting Format:

The meetings’ workshop format will allow residents to arrive at any time during the 4 pm to 7 pm timeframe and to rotate through three 20-minute workshops. The three concurrent sessions will present and discuss preliminary plan recommendations on:Public Art Policies; the Urban Design Manual; and Neighborhood Visions. The session on neighborhood visions will provide a list of visions from existing community plans, of which attendees may offer feedback and suggestions. Within the public art session, initial best practices and suggested policy recommendations will presented and discussed, and in the third concurrent session, preliminary recommendations for the urban design manual, including recommendations on development that captures neighborhood character, will be presented.

Residents will provide feedback on this current planning work, that will set the framework for the draft ARTPGH and DESIGNPGH plan documents. ARTPGH andDESIGNPGH will set policies and tools to guide the City in the areas of public art and urban design for the next 25 years. The recommended policies and findings will be presented for public feedback later this year.


Also, you may have heard that TALKPGH is coming your way! TALKPGH is the mobile outreach component of ARTPGH and DESIGNPGH. It is an artist-led project that will travel to each of the 90 neighborhoods and interview residents relevant to these plans. Check it out here!


ARTPGH is developing a strategy for the City to engage local, regional and national artists, facilitate care for its extensive art collection, and involve artists in public space, facility and infrastructure design. DESIGNPGH is examining existing types of urban design and devise a plan with set guidelines that will inform future developers about the quality and character of design that is expected and feasible in our neighborhoods.

The public art and urban design plans are heavily dependent on public participation and are estimated to be completed over the next 9 months. There will be ongoing opportunities and subsequent public meetings for the public to become involved. Please visit planpgh.com to sign up for email updates related to ARTPGH,DESIGNPGH and other components of PLANPGH.

02/21 2013

Mayor Ravenstahl’s Civic Leadership Academy – Apply Today!


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MayorCityofPittsburgh

 
I hope you are doing well and staying warm during these frosty days! The Mayor’s Civic Leadership Academy is accepting applications for the Spring 2013 session! The Civic Leadership Academy is a free 10-week course about local government created by Mayor Ravenstahl to foster more informed, effective and inspired community and civic leadership. Participants learn about a different City departments and the services they provide to make for a safer, more livable City. It includes tours, hands-on demonstrations, and fun activities that give an up-close and personal view of how the City is governed and run. 
 
The Spring class will kick off on March 13, 2013 and wrap up on May 15th, 2013; classes will be held every Wednesday evening from 6-8:30 pm. Applications are now available; individuals can apply online at: pittsburghpa.gov/cla/application. Applications are due this Friday, February 22! Please contact (412) 255-2280 with any questions and concerns! Thank you so much and I look forward to the Spring class! 
 
Best, 
Melanie


Melanie Pfeiffenberger

Civic Engagement Associate, Mayor’s Office of Service and Civic Engagement
City of Pittsburgh, Office of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl
02/20 2013

Vacant Property Registry


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CityCouncilDistrict6Councilman Lavelle is set to propose an ordinance that would require financial institutions upon commencing a foreclosure action, to:

  • Register the property with the Bureau of Building Inspection. The registration would require appointing a local point of contact (within Allegheny County) who would respond to any problems that might arise with the property
  • Maintain the property to all applicable exterior building codes.

Failure to register the property will result in additional penalties and fees.  For the purposes of this legislation, financial institutions will be required to perform an inspection of the property, no later than 30 days after foreclosure is initiated, and if the property is determined to be vacant, then the property must be registered.  Periodic re-inspections of properties will be required to ensure that properties are maintained and occupancy status is well-known.

Cities throughout the country have implemented programs such as the Vacant Property Registry to deal with abandoned bank-owned properties, often referred to as REO (Real Estate Owned) properties.  These similar programs have demonstrated potential to address blight and abandonment in our communities. Councilman Lavelle and his staff have sought the input of community groups and banks in this process in order to refine and strengthen the proposed ordinance, and we look forward to the introduction of this ordinance.

If you would like more information about the Vacant Property Registry, contact PCRG’s Land Use Policy Coordinator, Ed Nusser, at enusser@pcrg.org or (412) 391-6732 ext. 203.