Scranton council votes to ask Lackawanna County to reconsider Code Blue threshold

Scranton City Council voted to send a letter to Lackawanna County requesting the county consider raising the temperature at which Code Blue shelters open, part of an ongoing city conversation about homelessness services and shelter staffing.

Councilmembers debated whether the county or the city should set thresholds and discussed trade-offs in staffing and overtime costs. The existing county threshold discussed during the meeting was described as 20 degrees; councilmembers referenced other counties that operate at 32 degrees. "We could choose 32 degrees," one councilmember said during debate, acknowledging additional funding and staffing would be required to operate shelters more nights.

Councilmember Rothschild moved and a colleague seconded the motion to send a letter initiating a county discussion; the motion passed by voice vote. Members said the city will continue work with the solicitor and appropriate departments to determine whether Scranton should adopt its own ordinance and to estimate budgetary implications.

The vote directs staff to draft and send a formal letter to Lackawanna County asking that county officials review Code Blue criteria and consider increasing the temperature threshold that triggers countywide shelter activation. Councilmembers stressed the city remains engaged on staffing and funding decisions and will report back with options for local action.