docketcity.com

Rules, Chambers, Intergovernmental Relations and Strategy

March 5, 2026 ·6:00 PM Final ·Workshop with Lehigh County Commissioners

Council Chambers

Agenda — 3 items

  1. 1 Roll Call: Chair Napoli, Gerlach, Mota
  2. 2 Facilitated Conversation with County Commissioners 1. Welcome & Purpose (6:00 – 6:10 PM) Chair Napoli • Welcome and introductions • Recognition of elected officials and department leadership • Statement of purpose: This workshop is designed to identify specific areas of City–County cooperation and leave with defined action items for follow-up. Format overview: • Focused issue blocks • 2-minute talkers • Identify 1–2 action items per category • Assign follow-up responsibility Understanding City & County Roles Objective: Ensure clarity on responsibilities and areas of overlap. • Chair Napoli – 3-minute overview of City responsibilities and Council functions • Commissioner Brace – 3-minute overview of County responsibilities Issue #1: Housing Development (6:20 – 6:35 PM) Objective: Identify specific coordination tools to increase housing access/development Topics: • Welcome Home Plan • County tax sales/land banks • Use of publicly controlled land for housing Discussion Prompt: What is one achievable coordination improvement we can commit to in 2026 to better align our housing-related work? Future Action: • Confirm and/or establish designated housing liaisons and quarterly coordination meetings • Set timeline for follow-up discussion Issue #2: Homelessness & Weather Response Coordination (6:35 – 6:50 PM) Objective: Improve City–County coordination on unsheltered residents and emergency response. Topics: • Encampment coordination ahead of summer • Warming/cooling centers • Weather emergency protocols • Dedicated County homeless services coordination Discussion Prompt: What immediate actions and/or improvement can be implemented before Summer 2026? Future Action: • Identify coordination protocol gaps • Confirm and/or establish whether City and County coordination Issue #3: Public Safety & Public Health Collaboration (6:50 – 7:05 PM) Objective: Clarify how City and County systems can better integrate mental health, crisis response, and health services. Key Focus Areas: • CIS program coordination and expansion • Mental health staffing support • 988 access and service gaps • First responder mental health resilience programming • Emergency preparedness training alignment • Community gardens Discussion Prompt: Where are we duplicating efforts — and where are we leaving gaps? Future Action: • Confirm and/or establish joint public health coordination meeting • Evaluate feasibility of shared resilience initiative Issue #4: Youth Engagement (7:05 – 7:15 PM) Objective: Explore collaborative pathways to engage youth in public service and workforce development. Focus Areas: • Cross-government exposure opportunities • Internships and student placements Discussion Prompt: Is there any potential for the City and County to collaborate on youth engagement initiatives? Future Action: • Identify organizations working in this area • Confirm and/or explore joint internship pipeline Issue #5: Constituent Services & Communications Alignment (7:15 – 7:20 PM) Objective: Improve resident experience accessing City and County services. Key Focus Areas: • Snow emergency and overall streamlined communications • Unified messaging during emergencies Discussion Prompt: What is one tangible improvement residents would notice within 12 months? Future Action: • Identify communications liaison structure • Confirm and/or establish quarterly communications coordination call _______________________________________ 4. Action Summary & Next Steps (7:25 – 7:30 PM) Chair Napoli • Distribute note cards to folks. Based on this conversation, what are the topics that interest you in pursuing for collaboration between the two legislative bodies? • Give the floor to Mayor Tuerk and Executive Siegel for closing remarks (2 minutes) • Public Comment (7:25 – 7:30 PM)
  3. 3 Adjournment

Watch Allentown

This is one agenda. Allentown publishes another every few weeks, and the thing you care about is rarely on the one you happened to find. Name it and we will email you when it appears.

Free for 14 days, no card — and nothing charges itself: at day 14 the emails simply stop unless you choose to subscribe ($19 a month). One email when something matches, and nothing else. Unsubscribe from any of them. Searching stays free — it is public record.

↑ Back to top