Houston-Galveston Area Council Newsletter February 2022 |
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January Board of Directors Meeting |
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At its first meeting of 2022 on Tuesday, Jan. 18, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Board of Directors authorized new contracts and renewed existing contracts for various transportation and aging services programs. It also adopted a resolution recognizing January as Parks and Natural Areas Month. The 2021 Parks and Natural Areas awards ceremony will take place virtually on Friday, Feb. 11. Award-winning projects serve as models for project planning and implementation throughout the region.
Additionally, the board approved the Draft 2022-42 Regional Solid Waste Management Plan. The plan will guide the work of H-GAC's solid waste program and serve as the basis for evaluating consistency of proposed solid waste facilities. Goals outlined in the plan include promoting responsible planning for municipal solid waste disposal and management, educating on all aspects of materials management, and supporting programs that encourage environmental protections and minimize safety risks. To read the plan in its entirety, visit H-GAC's Solid Waste and Recycling Publications page.
Towards the end of the meeting, the board approved new appointments to the Area Emission Reduction Credit Organization and the Gulf Coast Economic Development District.
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Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, Feb. 15
The next board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 15. 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.
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H-GAC Program Spotlight: Criminal Justice Grants |
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At its January meeting, the H-GAC Board of Directors listened to a spotlight presentation about H-GAC's process to apply for criminal justice grants. |
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The Criminal Justice Planning Program assists local governments and agencies with community planning, provides technical assistance, and prioritizes grant applications for the Criminal Justice Division of the Governor's Office. Criminal Justice Division grants support programs that reduce and protect people from crime and promote accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency within the criminal justice system.
Applications must be submitted through the Texas eGrants website no later than 5 p.m., Feb. 10. H-GAC then reviews eligible applications in March and forwards them to the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for scoring. Priority lists are developed using those scores and presented to the board of directors for approval. Finally, the lists go to the Governor's Office for the final funding decisions.
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Program Contact: Larry Smith
Title: Lead Program Coordinator, Public Safety
Contact Phone: 713-993-2455
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H-GAC also conducts mandatory workshops for all criminal justice grant applicants covering the funding announcements and application process. To learn more about applying for criminal justice grants, visit the Criminal Justice Grants page on the H-GAC website.
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New Board Officers Elected, 2021 Milestones Highlighted, and Year's Objectives Discussed at Annual Assembly Meeting |
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H-GAC held its annual assembly meeting on Friday, Feb. 4 at The Briar Club. Chuck Wemple, H-GAC executive director, presented awards to outgoing board chair Phillip Spenrath, Wharton County judge, and to State Representative Garnet Coleman for their years of distinguished service to H-GAC, their communities, and to the region as a whole. |
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Chuck Wemple presents service award to outgoing Board of Directors chair Phillip Spenrath |
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Chuck Wemple accepts a distinguished service award on behalf of State Rep. Garnet Coleman, who was unable to attend the meeting. |
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The newest officers for the 2022 Board of Directors were announced and sworn in. William H. King III, mayor pro tem of Dickinson, Texas, and H-GAC Home Rule Cities Representative, will serve as the new board chair, Sally Branson, Friendswood city councilmember, will serve as vice chair, and Kenneth Clark, Galveston County commissioner, will serve as chair elect. |
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William H. King III, mayor pro tem of Dickinson, Texas, will serve as chair of the 2022 Board of Directors. Sally Branson, Friendswood city councilmember, will serve as vice chair. Not pictured is Galveston County Commissioner Kenneth Clark, who will serve as chair elect. |
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Additionally, H-GAC released the 2021 annual report and video, highlighting H-GAC's biggest milestones in 2021 that contributed to the growth and prosperity of the region. |
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Click the above image to read the 2021 H-GAC annual report. |
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Click the above image to watch the 2021 annual video. |
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Towards the end of the meeting, keynote speaker Phyllis Saathoff, executive director/CEO of Port Freeport, discussed the regional importance of our Texas ports and how future investments and expansion projects will contribute to the continued growth of the local, state, and regional economy. |
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Phyllis Saathoff, executive director/CEO of Port Freeport, discussed the economic impact and planned expansion of Port Freeport and other Texas ports in her keynote presentation. |
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Election Season Is Here. Get the Most Current Information on Conducting Elections at H-GAC's 2022 Election Law Workshop |
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Please mark your calendars for H-GAC's 2022 Election Law Workshop to be held on Thursday, Feb. 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Embassy Suites - Houston Energy Corridor located at 11730 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079.
If you are charged with conducting elections, this one-day workshop is designed especially for you. Participants will receive detailed updates on election laws and step-by-step procedures for conducting an election, including duties prior to, on, and after election day. Our speaker panel includes leading experts in this field:
Crystal Roan, TRMC – City Secretary, City of Pearland
Doris Speer, TRMC – City Secretary, City of Tomball
Gladis Sanchez, TRMC – Open Government Analyst, City of La Porte
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H-GAC to Honor Region's Most Outstanding, Innovative Parks and Natural Areas Projects at Online Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 11 |
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H-GAC will honor the region's most outstanding and innovative parks and natural areas projects at the annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards ceremony happening online at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 11.
The awards ceremony is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click here to register for the event. Award-winning projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region.
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Transportation Safety Manager David Fink Provides Safety Tips for Stranded Motorists in Houston Chronicle, Texas State Networks Radio Interviews |
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Fink encouraged motorists who find themselves stranded along the freeway to stay inside their vehicle, put their seatbelt on, and wait for assistance to arrive.
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Photo credit: Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer |
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H-GAC's Gulf Coast Regional Tow and Go Program offers no-cost tows to motorists if their vehicle breaks down from mechanical failure. The service area covers all camera-monitored freeways in Harris County, Bellaire, Jersey Village, La Porte, and Humble, Texas. Contact Tow and Go by calling 713-881-3333. To learn more about the Tow and Go program, visit TowandGo.com.
Click here to read the Houston Chronicle story, and click here to check out the Texas State Networks article and radio interview.
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Learn How You Can Help Keep Our Region Beautiful at Trash Free Texas Adopt-a-Spot Webinar on Feb. 24 |
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Learn how you can make a difference in keeping our region beautiful by attending a Trash Free Texas Adopt-A-Spot webinar from 9 to 10 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 24.
At this webinar, participants will learn how to use the Adopt-A-Spot website as part of new or ongoing litter cleanup efforts and engage with Adopt-A-Spot partners, who will share success stories and answer questions. The event will be online, and registration is required.
This webinar is part of the Trash Free Texas project. H-GAC has partnered with the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment to establish a coordinated community approach to litter abatement of the six river basins in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston-Galveston regions.
An online toolkit with more resources for Adopt-a-Spot partners is now available on the Trash Free Texas website. Also, stay up to date on Trash Free Texas news and events by subscribing to the quarterly newsletter.
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Child Care Assistance Program Available for Service Industry Workers Impacted by Pandemic |
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Workforce Solutions' Service Industry Recovery Child Care program is designed to provide care for children of parents who are employed in the service industry and have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. If eligible, the parents can receive 12 months of child care assistance without a parent share of cost.
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Save the Date for the 28th Annual Trash Bash, Texas' Largest Single-Day Waterway Cleanup Event |
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Since its inception, more than 114,000 volunteers have collected over 2,300 tons of trash, 20 tons of recyclable materials, and 11,629 tires. Find out how to volunteer and promote a healthy Galveston Bay watershed at one of their many cleanup locations on March 26. Trash Bash hopes you will come out and help "Clean it like you mean it!"®
Find more information, including registration links and public health guidelines, at www.trashbash.org.
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LinkedIn Article Focuses on the Health Benefits of a Mindful Commute |
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Strategies such as powering off devices, opting to view scenery while traveling to work or school, and creating an atmosphere of positivity all support mindfulness. Check out the article to learn how your daily commute affects your life and how you can practice mindfulness while commuting.
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Final Draft of Updated Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan Coming Soon |
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The final draft of the updated Regionally Coordinated Transportation Plan (RCTP) will be made available soon. Updated every five years, the RCTP aims to guide local governments, agencies, and partners on creating more effective, efficient public transportation services across the 13-county region, especially for seniors, people with disabilities, low-income residents, veterans, and youth.
In January, H-GAC held a series of virtual open houses to showcase how earlier feedback collected from surveys and focus groups had impacted the update to the RCTP. H-GAC staff will review public comments received at these open houses, submitted by email, and by phone. The feedback will be incorporated into the final draft of the RCTP, which is expected to be presented later this spring.
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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.
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