Pittsburgh City Council passed new rules yesterday for naming, renaming and renumbering streets, after ensuring that changes will occur only where police, firefighters and paramedics have had problems finding addresses.

"The city of Pittsburgh is not just going to go out and fix every street that has screwed-up addresses, because there are too many of them," said Councilman Jim Motznik. "We're going to focus on public safety concerns."

An amendment by Councilwoman Darlene Harris requires that "public safety concerns only" drive renaming and renumbering. New streets and changes will be guided by National Emergency Number Association standards, and handled by an internal city committee, with six votes on the nine-member council required to override its decisions.

The legislation now goes to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, whose administration has supported it, for signature.