Stemming directly from the creation of this year's Legislative Session resolutions, we have created what we're calling CONNECTed Issues - a boiled down summary of the issues we are currently addressing and why they need to be addressed. These succinct blurbs are easily sharable with your communities, such as in a newsletter or social media posts, or a helpful page to refer to when learning about CONNECT.
Read the 11th Annual Legislative Session resolutions here.
Transportation (Resolution 20-03)
Transit-Oriented Development is an important part of addressing the needs of our communities. CONNECT has been a long-time partner of the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Over the past several years, CONNECT municipalities worked with Port Authority and Dover Kohl & Partners to produce a Best Practices Guide, Toolkits, and other materials to encourage Transit-Oriented Development in communities. The next step involves a long-range plan formed by Port Authority. This plan aims to better serve Allegheny County, and CONNECT commits to working on this plan to represent the needs of residents.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Economic & Environmental Development Working Group.
Regional Climate Action Plan (Resolution 20-04)
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to the safety of our communities and our planet. Over the last 150 years, greenhouse gas emissions have increased. Many CONNECT policy issues are embodied in the development of Climate Action Plans. To address this issue, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, municipalities, and CONNECT staff and interns partnered together to produce municipal Climate Action Plans. This effort included conducting research, analyzing data, and supporting the work of the Regional Climate Action Plan Coordinator. Looking forward, CONNECT supports the creation of a regional Climate Action Plan to address this pressing issue.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Infrastructure & Utilities Coordination Working Group.
Water (Resolution 20-05)
Stormwater cleanups present a public safety hazard to our communities. Stormwater and flooding cleanups are also a strain on municipal budgets, with the cost only increasing due to the growing number of annual extreme weather incidents. This issue cannot be confronted by a single municipality; stormwater and flooding present major regional challenges. To address these challenges, the Infrastructure & Utilities Working Group convenes CONNECT members and partners on the issue of water. Collaborative action on a regional scale is needed to develop best practices.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Infrastructure & Utilities Coordination Working Group.
Coordinate PA (Resolution 20-06)
Coordination between utility companies and municipalities can save time and taxpayer dollars when it comes to completing projects. In 2015, CONNECT partnered with PA One Call to address coordination efforts and the Coordinate PA Software was created. The software saves time and costs by finding ways for municipalities and utility companies to coordinate. To make Coordinate PA effective, it needs to be widely used. CONNECT serves as a liaison between Coordinate PA to emphasize its value.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Infrastructure & Utilities Coordination Working Group.
Recycling (Resolution 20-07)
Recycling is an important part of environmentally conscious policy. The fragmentation of regional recycling programs makes it difficult to improve these processes. CONNECT’s Economic and Environmental Development Working Group has identified recycling as a key issue. Through the efforts of the GSPIA Capstone report and the Regional Recycling Research Coordinator, data has been compiled on the current state of recycling programs. Member municipalities can assist this effort by sharing information and continuing to use the Economic and Environmental Development Working Group as a tool.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Economic & Environmental Development Working Group.
LEAD (Resolution 20-08)
Law enforcement officers and other stakeholders in our community have brought to attention the need for new tools to address the root causes of repeated arrest. CONNECT has committed resources to address the rise of opioid overdoses as well as prepared to uniquely adopt the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in Allegheny County. This effort will bring together social workers, municipal councils, managers, police departments, and community members to plan to pilot LEAD in member municipalities.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Public Safety, Health, and Human Resources Working Group.
Lead Safety (Resolution 20-09)
The health of our communities is more important than ever. The presence of lead in paint or water is still frequent and presents a high health risk. As a member of Lead Safe Allegheny’s Policy Committee, CONNECT members are looking into best practices and seek the creation of ordinances that will protect our region from the harmful effects of lead. One way this is will be accomplished is by compiling a library of model ordinances for reference.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Economic & Environmental Development Working Group.
Volunteer Fire (Resolution 20-10)
Volunteer fire departments are an important part of fire suppression and emergency services. The number of volunteer firefighters in Pennsylvania is dropping. Municipalities are facing an aging volunteer firefighter population as well as an inability to pay for expensive fire equipment as many face revenue losses due to COVID-19. One way this problem has been addressed is through a report produced through the CONNECT Capstone course at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. CONNECT continues to research the volunteer firefighter crisis and collaborate with partners to find strategies.
All issues naturally intersect our three working groups, but this issue is housed in the Public Safety, Health, and Human Resources Working Group.