Houston-Galveston Area Council Newsletter January 2023 | |
December Board of Directors Meeting | |
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At its final meeting of 2022 on Tuesday, Dec. 20, the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) Board of Directors approved the 2023 Budget and Service Plan, which will allow H-GAC to continue its programs and services in the new year. H-GAC plans to continue growing its services and staff while also adopting a more community- and customer-centered approach to how it engages with local governments, stakeholders, and residents.
Items on the consent agenda approved by the board included an agreement to develop new hazard mitigation plans for Austin, Liberty, and Walker counties and the city of Angleton; conduct a transportation study for the city of Pearland of the FM 518 corridor from Barry Rose to Edgewood Drive (in Friendswood); and the updated Regional Conservation Initiative priority projects list.
Next, the board approved the creation of a new Regional Strategic Transportation Fund. This fund will provide a mechanism to exchange transportation development credits for local funds, which would then go towards supporting lower-cost, high-impact transportation projects in the region, such as maintenance and preservation of roadways in smaller, rural, and economically disadvantaged communities, pedestrian safety improvements, and local active transportation projects.
Later, the board approved the slate of nominations for its 2023 officers, which consist of chair, chair-elect, and vice chair. The general assembly will vote on the nominees, and the results will be canvassed at the H-GAC annual meeting on Friday, Jan. 20.
Towards the end of the meeting, the board approved resolutions recognizing the service of outgoing members Judge Nate McDonald of Matagorda County and Commissioner Jimmy Henry of Walker County. It also approved new appointments to the Aging and Disability Advisory Committee, the Natural Resources Advisory Committee, and the Regional Flood Management Committee.
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Next Board Meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 17
The next board meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 17. 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: Human Resources | |
At its December meeting, the H-GAC Board of Directors listened to a spotlight presentation about the H-GAC Human Resources Department’s employee programs for 2022. | |
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In 2022, the Human Resources team ramped up its activities to get employees better situated with hybrid work, promote physical and mental health and wellness, and recruit quality candidates to join H-GAC’s rapidly growing team.
The department hosted a summer speaker series focusing on mental health, and it hosted wellness challenges throughout the year encouraging employees to get active and foster teambuilding and camaraderie while working towards shared wellness goals.
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In October, HR hosted an employee health and wellness expo that brought in healthcare providers to discuss employee benefits, area nutrition and wellness vendors, and health and wellness activities, such as free screenings, nutrition classes, and yoga.
Human Resources also worked to strengthen relations with colleges and universities in the region to encourage young, talented graduates to make H-GAC their employer of choice to grow fulfilling, lasting careers. HR team members participated in job fairs and career events at premier colleges and universities in the region, such as the University of Houston, Texas A&M, and the University of St. Thomas.
The group helped bring in Ana Munguia, a political communications major, to intern with the H-GAC Intergovernmental Relations team from September to December 2022. Munguia’s experiences will help lay the foundations for an H-GAC internship program, which is set to launch later this year.
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H-GAC Is Hiring!
H-GAC is seeking talented, dedicated individuals who enjoy working in public service and share our commitment to make the 13-county region a great place for families to live, work, and thrive. To learn more about working at H-GAC, job opportunities, and benefits, visit h-gac.com/careers. Also, scroll to the bottom of the newsletter check out our featured job openings!
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We're Less Than Two Weeks Away from the H-GAC Annual Meeting! Join Us on Friday, Jan. 20. | |
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We are less than two weeks away from the H-GAC Annual Meeting! Join us at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 at The Briar Club (2603 Timmons Ln.). Executive Director Chuck Wemple will deliver a State of the Region address, where he will share highlights of H-GAC's accomplishments in 2022 and provide a preview of plans for 2023. H-GAC will also unveil the 2022 annual report and video at the meeting and announce the new Board of Directors officers for 2023.
For more information and to register to attend, visit h-gac.com/events/annual-meeting.
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Get the Latest Information about Election Laws and Procedures at the H-GAC 2023 Election Law Workshop | |
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If you are responsible for conducting elections, we invite you to join H-GAC for the 2023 Election Law Workshop from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2 at The Briar Club (2603 Timmons Ln.) Magnolia Ballroom. Participants at this one-day workshop 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.
Speakers include:
- Maria Jackson, TRMC, CMC – City Secretary, City of Humble
- Crystal Roan, TRMC – City Secretary, City of Missouri City
- Lee Woodward, TRMC, MMC, CPM, RP – City Secretary, City of La Porte
Registration for H-GAC members is $125 and $150 for non-H-GAC members. Workshop registration includes breakfast, lunch, and meeting materials. Click here to register.
Deadline for registration is Monday, Jan. 30 at 5 p.m. Registrations cancelled after the deadline are subject to billing.
For more information contact Cynthia Jones.
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Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Workforce Solutions Seeking Public Comments on an Updated 2021-2024 Local Workforce Plan | |
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Texas’ Gulf Coast Workforce Board and operating affiliate, Workforce Solutions, together are seeking input on the updated 2021-2024 Local Workforce Plan.
The public comment period for the updated local plan is open now until Jan. 31, with a public meeting scheduled for Thursday, Jan 19 at Workforce Solutions - Northline (4424 North Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77022). Learn more at wrksolutions.com/localplan.
We rely on input from the business community, community-based organizations, and economic development corporations as well as our region’s leaders to help bridge the gap between today’s job market and employers’ future workforce needs. Review the updated plan, and submit a comment today.
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H-GAC's Next Missing Middle Housing Peer Exchange Takes Place on Thursday, Jan. 19 | |
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H-GAC invites city and county officials, developers, and community organizations for the second Missing Middle Housing: A Regional Conversation peer exchange event from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Learning and Development Center - Houston (4501 Leeland St.). Attendees will hear innovative approaches to developing Missing Middle Housing and preserving affordable workforce housing from a panel of housing experts.
Click the above graphic for more information and to register. For specific question about the event, contact Jose Cantu.
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H-GAC's Silver Santa Gift Drive Brings Joy to Nursing Home Residents during the Holiday Season | |
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Thanks to everyone who contributed to the Silver Santa holiday gift drive! Because of your generosity, the H-GAC Ombudsman Program delivered gift packages that included a throw blanket, socks, a bath item, and a game or trinket of their ability (e.g., puzzle, music therapy, large print book, fidget blanket) to nursing home residents at Sugar Land Health Care Center and Cambridge Nursing in Fort Bend County just in time for Christmas!
To learn more about the H-GAC Ombudsman Program, visit their program web page at h-gac.com/area-agency-on-aging.
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Calling All Regional Transportation Providers! Take Just a Few Minutes to Add or Update Your Information in Our Mobility Links Database. | |
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With the arrival of the new year, now is a great time to make sure your organization’s transportation services are listed in H-GAC’s Mobility Links database. Mobility Links is H-GAC’s searchable online listing of all the transportation services available in the region, helping connect travelers to the transportation options that meet their needs.
If your service is new or not listed in Mobility Links, please visit our provider portal to give us some information about your service. If your service is already listed in Mobility Links, or if you’re not sure, please email Sandy Klanfer. Take a few minutes to add or update your service information today!
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Learn How the City of Lake Jackson Is Revitalizing Its Downtown at This Month's Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable | |
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Join us for the new year's first Bringing Back Main Street Roundtable from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The event will be in person at the Lake Jackson Civic Center (333 Highway 332 East, Lake Jackson). Join us to discuss strategies and tools the city of Lake Jackson is using to revitalize downtown, including public art installations and beautification projects. Registration is requested.
The Bringing Back Main Street initiative offers local communities a place to share best practices and engage in a regional dialogue about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. Each quarter, community leaders gather for a roundtable on topics ranging from small business support to sidewalk infrastructure.
For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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Parks and Natural Areas Summit and Awards Ceremony Will Take Place on Feb. 10 | |
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H-GAC will hold the Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognition ceremony from 10 a.m. to noon, Friday, Feb. 10 at the H-GAC office (3555 Timmons Ln.) second floor conference rooms.
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 Programming. Participants will also hear about trends in parks and natural areas from industry experts.
Registration is requested but not required to attend. For more information, contact Andrea Tantillo.
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Save the Date for the Next Trash Free Texas Adopt-a-Spot Webinar | |
Start the New Year Right by Attending a Free Bike Safety Training Near You | |
Sometimes riding a bicycle around Greater Houston can be daunting or intimidating. H-GAC is tackling this challenge head-on by offering free bike safety courses that will teach cyclists vital bicycle handling skills, rules of the road, and more. Below are virtual and in-person courses for both novice and experienced riders/drivers. | |
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CyclingSavvy
CyclingSavvy is a virtual bike safety course you can take in the convenience of your home. This comprehensive course creates a solid foundation of biking as an adult. It is easy to understand for a novice and has golden nuggets of wisdom for the seasoned cyclist.
Learn more and register at Houston.cyclingsavvy.org.
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For new or experienced bicycle riders, this on-the-bike class teaches riders how to anticipate the most common scenarios they will face and provides the tools to address real world challenges, from debris to sharing the road, in order to boost confidence and enhance the riding experience. Classes will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, Jan. 14 at Bates Park, Angleton, Texas
- Saturday, Jan. 21 at Liberty Municipal Park, Liberty, Texas
- Saturday, Feb. 4 at The Crossroads Plaza, Dayton, Texas
- Saturday, March 18 at Eagle Pointe Recreation Complex, Mont Belvieu, Texas
- Saturday, March 25 at Magnolia Unity Park, Magnolia, Texas
- Saturday, April 15 at the Aquatic Center, The Woodlands, Texas
- Saturday, April 22 at Pearland Education Support Center, Pearland, Texas
- Saturday, April 29 at Winnie Stowell Park, Winnie, Texas
Learn more and find a ‘Train Your Bike’ class happening near you at h-gac.com/pedestrian-bicyclist-planning/bike-safety.
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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, H-GAC 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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