Pittsburgh officials to phase-in return to in-person operations; meetings to remain virtual

After more than a year of doing business remotely, Pittsburgh’s city employees will be returning to work in upcoming weeks.

But council meetings and similar meetings of the city’s boards and commissions will continue to be virtual until further notice, the city said Tuesday.

“We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with mitigation measures being lifted and new daily covid-19 cases dropping,” Mayor Bill Peduto said in a statement. “We believe that we can now safely bring our staff back into the office, while making reasonable accommodations for childcare and family needs.”

The city is working to clean its offices that have been unused, along with the heating and air conditioning systems. It will provide masks, sanitizer and staggered schedules to allow for social distancing to continue.

The mayor’s office, office of community health and safety, community affairs and finance will return to work starting June 21.

Other departments will follow in phases over the next five weeks, the city said.

Masks will still be required at the City-County Building and the John P. Robin Civic Building (200 Ross St.).

Finance counters, cashiers and the business tax counter, which have been open since April, will continue to operate in-person from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Some departments that moved to virtual operations during the pandemic,will remain virtual. The OneStopPGH counter won’t reopen; applications for permits, licenses, inspections and similar activities will remain online at OneStopPGH.

Applications for sports fields, park shelters and grove rentals will also remain online, the city said.

Despite the reopening, officials are asking people to continue to use online services when possible. Those who are unable to do so are asked to call 412-255-2621.