Houston-Galveston Area Council Newsletter    December 2021
November Board of Directors Meeting
At its meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 16, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Board of Directors unanimously approved the first list of priority projects for the Regional Conservation Initiative.

The Regional Conservation Initiative aims to provide coordinated support to local governments and nonprofits in developing, financing, and implementing environmental conservation projects that increase resiliency, promote economic development, and enhance overall quality of life for the 13-county H-GAC region. The 23 conservation projects included in the list cover communities from Colorado County to Harris County to Matagorda County. They are organized into three tiers based on the level of support needed by H-GAC for implementation. The full list of projects with descriptions can be viewed here, and a map of where they are located is available here.

Additionally, the board approved agreements to conduct several new transportation studies and surveys that will assess the needs and conditions of seven different corridors and thoroughfares, evaluate bicycle and pedestrian safety needs in four neighborhoods, explore extending regional transit and bus rapid transit into Fort Bend County and beyond the region's urban core, and better understand the evolving habits and travel patterns of transit riders. The board also approved updates to the Natural Resources Committee bylaws that will better clarify roles and responsibilities, refine the process for filling vacancies, and better incorporate virtual components into their meeting processes.

Towards the end of the meeting, the board approved new appointments to the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, Regional Flood Management Committee, Transportation Advisory Committee, and Transportation Policy Council.
Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 21

The next board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 21. If there are any scheduling or location updates to this meeting, we will notify the public immediately. For more information on H-GAC's Board of Directors, past meeting agendas or minutes, or to find dates for future meetings, visit the Board of Directors website.
H-GAC Program Spotlight: Livable Centers
At its November meeting, the H-GAC Board of Directors received a summary report update on the Livable Centers program.
Established in 2008, Livable Centers partners with local communities to reimagine auto-focused neighborhoods to be more walkable, connected, and accessible by multiple modes of transportation.

In November, Livable Centers released its 2021 summary report update. Over the last two years, the program has experienced a $76 million increase in Livable Centers studies occurring in communities across the region, and 90 percent of those studies are on track for full implementation.

Additionally, the Montrose Livable Centers Study, which was completed this year, was recently recognized by the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association with a Silver Best Practices Award. The award recognizes projects that demonstrate innovation and state-of-the-art planning methods to help communities create lasting value.

More information about the Livable Centers program is available at h-gac.com/livable-centers. Also, check out the Livable Centers data tool for an interactive, digital map of all the studies in the region completed, happening now, or in the future in our region.
Program Contact:
Anita Hollmann

Title: Principal Planner, Community and Environmental
Contact Email: [email protected]
Contact Phone: 713-993-4587
General Law, Home Rule Cities H-GAC Board Representatives Selected at November Caucuses
H-GAC 2021 board members representing General Law Cities (from left to right): Mayor Joe Garcia, City of Pattinson (representative); Councilmember Teresa Vazquez-Evans, City of Kemah (alternate); Councilmember Nancy Arnold, City of Waller (representative); Councilmember Susan Schwartz, City of Bunker Hill Village (alternate)
H-GAC 2021 board members representing Home Rule Cities (from left to right): Mayor Cecil Willis, City of Stafford (alternate); Mayor Pro-Tem Willing H. King III, City of Dickinson (representative); Mayor Carolyn Bilski, City of Sealy (representative); Mayor Brian Rowland, City of Prairie View (alternate)
Earlier in November, H-GAC held its annual caucus meetings for Home Rule Cities and General Law Cities. Members selected four officers each to represent them on next year's Board of Directors.

General law cities operate according to specific state statutes that define their power and duties. City of Pattison Mayor Joe Garcia and Councilmember Nancy Arnold with the City of Waller were elected to serve as the primary board members representing General Law Cities for another term. Councilmember Teresa Vazquez-Evans with the City of Kemah and Councilmember Susan Schwartz with the City of Bunker Hill Village were selected as their alternates.

Home Rule Cities have populations of more than 5,000 residents and operate under their own charters. Officials elected Dickinson Councilmember William King III with the City of Dickinson to serve as a primary board member for another term along with Sealy Mayor Carolyn Bilski. Stafford Councilmember Cecil Willis will serve as the alternate representative for King, and Prairie View Mayor Brian Rowland will serve as Bilski's alternate.
Save the Date for Next Year's Annual Meeting
The H-GAC 2022 Annual Meeting will take place from 8:30 to 11 a.m., Friday, Feb. 4 at The Briar Club. Click the above image to view the full invitation and details. We look forward to sharing all we accomplished in 2021 and to an informative discussion on our plans for 2022.
H-GAC Joins Local and State Leaders for Groundbreaking for Shepherd-Durham Major Investment Project
H-GAC Transportation Director Craig Raborn joined transportation colleagues, elected officials, and stakeholders at the groundbreaking ceremony on Dec. 4 for a long-term construction project that will completely remake the Shepherd-Durham street corridor in the Houston Heights. 

The project, expected to last at least five years, will rebuild North Shepherd Drive and Durham Drive, between North Loop 610 and Interstate 10, and add bicycle lanes, new and wider sidewalks, landscaping and new underground infrastructure for water, wastewater and stormwater drainage. Memorial Heights Redevelopment Authority and the Memorial Heights Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone are leading the project. H-GAC helped acquire $40 million for the project that, matched with $10 million in local matching funds from the TIRZ, will help fund its second phase, from West 15th Street and I-10.

Check out the news coverage about the groundbreaking ceremony and the project by KHOU, The Leader, and Community Impact.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Passage Expected to Bring about $35 Billion in Funding for Transportation Projects throughout Texas
The passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is expected to bring about $35 billion to the state over the next five years to launch transportation and infrastructure projects as well as advance existing projects.

Here is the breakdown of the funds that Texas is expected to receive based on federal estimates:

  • Federal highway programs: $26.9 billion
  • Public transportation: $3.3 billion
  • Drinking water infrastructure (and removing lead pipes): $2.9 billion
  • Airports: $1.2 billion
  • Bridge replacement and repairs: $537 million
  • Electric vehicle charging network: $408 million
  • Broadband expansion: $100 million
  • Wildfire protection: $53 million
  • Cyberattacks protection: $42 million

For more information about the potential impacts of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, view a fact sheet presented by the President's Office or listen to H-GAC Transportation Director Craig Raborn's presentation to the Transportation Policy Council on Nov. 19.
H-GAC Seeks Information on Conservation Projects in the Region
As part of its Regional Conservation Initiative, H-GAC will actively assist with preparing grant applications, convening stakeholders, and otherwise supporting the implementation of priority conservation projects across the 13-county H-GAC region. To guide our efforts, we are collecting information about planned conservation projects from local governments and non-governmental organizations and categorizing the projects in a priority list. 

There is no funding associated with this project priority list, but selected projects will be eligible to receive H-GAC staff assistance. 

On Nov. 16, the H-GAC Board of Directors approved the inaugural priority project list. The list will be updated quarterly.  
 
Staff encourages you to submit your conservation projects by completing our priority project list intake form online, or email [email protected] with any questions. 
Montrose Livable Centers Study Earns Planning Association Award
The Montrose Livable Centers Study was recently recognized by the Texas chapter of the American Planning Association with a Silver Best Practices Award. This award is for a specific planning tool, practice, program, project, or process. This category emphasizes results and demonstrates how innovative and state-of-the-art planning methods and practices help to create communities of lasting value. 

Completed in 2021, the Montrose Livable Centers Study provides recommendations for the Montrose Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ). The goal of the study was to complete the first comprehensive and stakeholder-driven plan for Montrose that builds off previous plans, leverages past and current infrastructure improvements, improves pedestrian and bike infrastructure, access to transit, greenspace amenities, and housing and economic development into a unified vision and implementation plan. 

For more information about H-GAC's Livable Centers program, visit h-gac.com/livable-centers. 
Mark Your Calendars for the Parks and Natural Areas Summit and Awards Ceremony in February 2022
The Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognition ceremony is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Feb. 11, 2022. 

Though the event is currently scheduled to be virtual, it may be held as a hybrid in-person and online event. Register for the online event, and check our web page frequently for more information about the possible in-person event. 

Award-winning projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Projects will be honored in four categories: Planning Process, On-the-Ground Projects Over $500,000, On-the-Ground Projects Under $500,000, and, new this year, Programming.

For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
Make Safety a Priority While Traversing the Roads this Holiday Season
As more people take to the roads to travel during the holiday season, H-GAC would like to remind drivers to practice safe habits and use caution when traversing our roads. The region has experienced tremendous population growth and a corresponding increase in traffic-related injuries and deaths. Last year, traffic fatalities increased by 7% in Texas and by 11% in the eight-county metropolitan planning area. Improving traffic safety will take every one of us working together. Otherwise, we will continue to pay the price.

Visit h-gac.com/paytheprice for tips and resources on how you can help improve transportation safety in the region.
H-GAC is Hiring
Home to more than 7 million people, the Houston-Galveston region is one of the fastest-growing and most diverse regions in the country. Making sure the region remains one of the nation’s leading places to live, work, and prosper doesn’t just happen - it takes planning and partnerships.

If you are looking for a career where you can help make a difference in urban, suburban, and rural communities, the Houston-Galveston Area Council has exciting opportunities for you. For more information or to apply for a job, visit the careers page on H-GAC's website.
FOLLOW US