City of Pittsburgh

510 City-County Building
414 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Legislation Details (With Text)
File #:

2018-0715

Version: 2

Type:

Ordinance

Status:

Passed Finally

File created:

7/13/2018

In control:

On agenda:

9/12/2018

Final action:

Committee on Land Use and Economic
Development
9/18/2018

Enactment #:

35

Enactment date: 9/18/2018
Effective date:

9/20/2018

Title:

Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title One: Administrative, Article IX: Boards, Commissions
and Authorities, by adding Chapter 178E titled “Registered Community Organizations” in order to
establish requirements and benefits for community organizations.

Sponsors:
Indexes:
Code sections:
Attachments:

1. Summary 2018-0715

Date

Ver.

Action By

Action

Result

9/20/2018

2

Mayor

Signed by the Mayor

9/18/2018

2

City Council

Passed Finally

9/12/2018

2

Standing Committee

Affirmatively Recommended as Amended Pass

9/12/2018

2

Standing Committee

AMENDED

Pass

8/29/2018

1

Standing Committee

Held in Committee

Pass

7/25/2018

1

Standing Committee

Held in Committee

Pass

7/17/2018

1

City Council

Read and referred

Pass

Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title One: Administrative, Article IX: Boards, Commissions and
Authorities, by adding Chapter 178E titled “Registered Community Organizations” in order to establish
requirements and benefits for community organizations.
The Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The Pittsburgh Code, Title One: Administrative, Article IX: Boards, Commissions and Authorities,
is hereby supplemented by adding Chapter 178E titled Registered Community Organizations, as follows:

CHAPTER 178E: REGISTERED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
§ 178E.01 PURPOSE
It is the intent of the City of Pittsburgh to obtain informed and inclusive participation from as many
neighborhood stakeholders as possible through the creation of a framework to improve cooperation
between the various agencies and departments of the City and community organizations representing a
geographic area or field of interest by improving the flow of information between these groups and the
City of Pittsburgh

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City, enabling such organizations to participate in civic affairs, and enhancing the livability and character
of the City and its neighborhoods. The City of Pittsburgh values the benefits these organizations bring to
the community and holds each in equal regard. The City of Pittsburgh encourages community
organizations to work cooperatively with adjacent or overlapping community organizations and to conduct
business in an organized, representative and fair manner, in order to include as many neighborhood
stakeholders as possible. Community organizations are also encouraged to cultivate neighborhood
participation that reflects the ethnic and socio-economic composition of the neighborhood they represent.
Registration of organizations with overlapping boundaries is allowed but the formation of numerous
overlapping community organizations is strongly discouraged. This chapter sets out the basis for City
recognition of such community organizations and the associated responsibilities and benefits.
§ 178E.02 DEFINITIONS
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION: A voluntary group of individuals organized around a particular
community interest or geographic area for the purpose of collectively addressing issues and interests
common to that group. A community organization is not a subsidiary of the City of Pittsburgh
government.
PUBLIC HEARING: A meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, Planning Commission, Historic
Review Commission, Art Commission or other legislative or quasi-judicial body conducting City business
during which the public or other agencies are allowed to give testimony concerning issues under
consideration.
§ 178E.03 MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
Any community organization and/or coalition of community organizations seeking recognition pursuant to
this Chapter must comply with the following standards:
(a)

Has properly registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in good standing with the state of
Pennsylvania, or obtained fiscal sponsorship with a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in good standing
with the state of Pennsylvania via a Memorandum of Understanding;

(b)

Has adopted bylaws;

(c)

Has adopted a Conflict of Interest Policy;

(d)

Has adopted a statement of purpose or mission;

(e)

Has an identified geographic boundary, identified either by approved bylaws or passed by
another action of the organization;

(f)

Has a transparent Board selection process and defined terms;

(g)

Has a written communication strategy which includes the following provisions:
(1)

The methods the community organizations uses to reach out to community;

(2)

The reasons they use those methods, including data to support these reasons;

(3)
(4)
(h)
City of Pittsburgh

Strategy to inform residents and businesses about the community organization's
communication strategy and where the community can access this information;
Strategy to provide outreach to the community of upcoming meetings.
Holds regular meetings, not less than twice per calendar year, which are open to all members of
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the public in an ADA-accessible space;
(i)

Has adopted a Policy Against Discrimination; and

(j)

Has a website which provides the following information:
(1)

Advance notification of meetings;

(2)

Meeting Agendas, Decisions, and Minutes.

§ 178E.04 REGISTRATION
The Department of City Planning shall maintain an official registration of community organizations
recognized under this chapter. It shall be the responsibility of the community organization to provide
updated information and any changes to the registration items of this section to the Department of City
Planning in a timely manner. With the exception of Section 178E.04(c), The Department of City
Planning shall make this information available to the public. Any community organization meeting the
requirements of section 178E.03 of this chapter may register by filing the following:
(a)
Official name;
(b)

Boundaries;

(c)

The names, mailing addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of its current officers or
Board members;

(d)

The name, mailing address, e-mail address and telephone number of the individual(s) to serve
as the recipient for official communications from the city;

(e)

A copy of the organization's IRS Determination Letter or Memorandum of Understanding;

(f)

A copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy;

(g)

A copy of the statement of purpose or mission of the Organization;

(h)

A copy of the bylaws;

(i)

Schedule for electing officers or Board members;

(j)

Communication Strategy;

(k)

Time and place of regular meetings; and

(l)

A copy of the Policy Against Discrimination.

(m)

A signed letter from the Member(s) of Council whose Council District(s) contain the
designated geographical area(s).

After review of a registration request form, the Department of City Planning shall register an
organization as an RCO if it finds that the organization meets the requirements of Section 178E.03 and
178E.04. The Department of City Planning shall notify an organization whether its registration request
has been granted. If the organization’s request has been denied, the Department of City Planning must
clearly state, in written form, the reason for such denial. The denial of an application shall not preclude
an organization from reapplying during the next or any subsequent registration period.
§ 178E.05 RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION
Biannual renewal of registration of community organization is mandatory. By December 1 of every other
City of Pittsburgh

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year, each registered community organization must submit a request for renewal of registration with
current information required in Section 178E.04. Failure to submit such a request by December 1 will
result in removal of the community organization from the official registration. Upon approval, a
community organization will be registered from January 1 of the next year through December 31 of the
following year.
§ 178E.06 RESPONSIBILITIES OF CITY
(a)
Publication: The City shall maintain a current map of the boundaries and a current list of the
official names, boundaries, officers, and contact persons of all registered community organizations. In
an effort to notify the public about the existence of registered community organizations and encourage
participation in these organizations, at least once a year the City shall make a reasonable attempt to
provide a list of all registered community organizations and their contact information to all residents,
property owners, business owners, schools and nonprofit agencies in the City of Pittsburgh.
(b)

Education: The City shall adequately educate community organizations and the public on city
policy, procedures, and actions.

(c)

Public Engagement: Each city department shall strive to utilize best public engagement
practices to educate, engage, and receive input from the public at a level that is consistent with the
scope of impact of a proposal or project.

§ 178E.07 RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
(a)
Renew registration with the Department of City Planning on a biannual basis.
(b)

Establish orderly and democratic means for forming representative public input through civil
and respectful dialogue.

(c)

Establish and follow a clear method for reporting to the city actions which accurately reflect
their position. Include the means by which a recommendation or decision was reached, how many
residents and businesses were involved and what the outcome was.

(d)

By interaction with its members, residents, and the city, foster open and respectful
communication between the community organization and representatives of city departments on plans,
proposals and activities affecting the interests of the community organization.

§ 178E.08 ROLES IN DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
(a)
Neighborhood Plan Adoption/Recognition: The City shall develop a Neighborhood Planning
Manual which outlines policies and procedures to formally adopt/recognize Neighborhood Plans
developed by registered community organizations.
(b)

Reregistration Notification: The Department of City Planning shall notify each registered
community organization of pending requirements for reregistration prior to December 1 of that year.

(c)

Development Activities Meeting: The Department of City Planning shall require an applicant to
coordinate with the applicable RCO to schedule a time, date and place of a public meeting to discuss
the applicant’s proposal. That meeting, in which the applicant must participate, must take place at
least thirty (30) days prior to the first public hearing. The applicant shall then notify the Department of
City Planning and neighborhood planner of the time, date and place of the public meeting. If there are
two or more RCO’s whose registered boundaries include the applicant’s property, the Department of

City of Pittsburgh

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City Planning shall schedule a time, date and place of a public meeting to discuss the applicant’s
proposal with the applicable RCO’s. That meeting, in which the applicant must participate, must take
place at least thirty (30) days prior to the first public hearing. A meeting shall be required between an
applicant and the applicable registered community organization(s) for any development activity that
requires a public hearing and where such projects involve the following:
(1)
A new structure erected of a size equal to or greater than two thousand and four hundred
(2,400) square feet; or
(2)

An existing structure enlarged by a size equal to or greater than two thousand four hundred
(2,400) square feet; or

(3)

Any new construction that includes four (4) or more new residential dwelling units; or

(4)

A new or enlarged parking area that contains at least ten (10) parking stalls; or

(5)

Use Variances; or

(6)

Zoning Map Amendments; or

(7)

Project Development Plans; or

(8)

Planned Developments - PDP; or

(9)

Planned Developments - FLDP; or

(10)

Master Development Plans; or

(11)

Institutional Master Plans; or

(12)

Any application submitted to the Historic Review Commission; or

(13)

Any application submitted to the Art Commission.

§ 178E.09 DE-LISTING AND RE-LISTING
Any registered community organization which does not meet, or ceases to meet, the eligibility standards and
requirements of Section 178E.03 or which does not renew registration as required by Section 178E.05 shall be
no longer considered a registered community organization and shall cease to be listed. Upon demonstrating that
it has corrected the deficiency that caused its de-listing, a community organization shall, at that time, be relisted as a registered community organization.

City of Pittsburgh

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