Manager's Welcome
This is the August issue of the Houston-Galveston Area Council's (H-GAC's) Community and Environmental Planning (C&E) E-newsletter. We hope this monthly newsletter will keep you up to date on the wide variety of community planning, economic development and environmental planning programs going on at H-GAC. We want this information to be useful and are very interested in your feedback! If you have any questions about any of our programs, please feel free to contact me at 713-993-4560 or Jeff.Taebel@h-gac.com. To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com. To view the current and past editions of the e-newsletter, please visit:
www.h-gac.com/CEeNewsletter Please click on the links below to view information regarding each topic. IN THIS ISSUE
New Grant Money for Restrooms at Boat Ramps along Coast
H-GAC Recognized for Pedestrian Bicycle Planning Program
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
Natural Resources Advisory Committee
CDBG Hurricane Rita Disaster Recovery Program - Infrastructure Projects Applicant Workshop
Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Workshops
Galveston Pedestrian and Bicycle Plan Public Workshop
Cities and Counties Planning for Growth OTHER MEETING NOTICES
9th Annual Texas Recycling Summit IN THIS ISSUE
New Grant Money for Restrooms at Boat Ramps along Coast
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department applied for and received $600,000 under the federal Clean Vessel Act for 75/25 matching reimbursement grants for construction of new or renovation of old public restrooms that are adjacent to public boat ramps along the Texas coast. The funds are intended to serve recreational boaters who are launching boats on coastal waters or in bay areas. The Recreation Grants Branch will award $75,000 maximum per project. Please email Rec.grants@tpwd.state.tx.us or call Andy Goldbloom at 512-912-7128 for more information on this new grant. Applications will not be ready until September 2006.
Back to Top H-GAC Recognized for Pedestrian-Bicycle Planning Program
H-GAC has received Honorable Mention in the Federal Highway Administration/Federal Transit Administration Transportation Planning Excellence Awards program. This national recognition was for H-GAC's Pedestrian-Bicyclist "Special Districts" planning program. This effort included development of an innovated GIS tool to identify and prioritize areas for investment in facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists. Thus far, H-GAC has funded three "special district" plans in Houston's Third Ward, Gulfton and Montrose areas. These plans look at pedestrian and bicyclist mobility and accessibility, along with recommended improvements. H-GAC has set aside funding in its Transportation Improvement Program to support local sponsors in making some of these improvements. H-GAC currently has a special district planning study underway in Galveston and another slated for the fall in Sugar Land. The original special districts study along with the first three plans are available on www.h-gac.com. For more information, please contact Dan Raine, AICP, at 832-681-2525 or draine@h-gac.com.
Back to Top H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
CDBG Hurricane Rita Disaster Recovery Program - Infrastructure Projects Applicants Workshop
The H-GAC Hurricane Rita Disaster Recovery program includes $10.7 million dollars in Community Development Block Grant funding to meet unmet housing and public infrastructure needs in communities directly affected by Hurricane Rita. On Friday July 28, 2006, TDHCA approved an allocation of $3.6 million dollars to address infrastructure> projects for eligible communities in the H-GAC region. Eligible communities for infrastructure funding include the Counties of Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery and Walker and all cities within. To expedite delivery of these funds, H-GAC is announcing a call for infrastructure projects and will host a grant application workshop. Funding for infrastructure projects is competitive but provides for a minimum of one project per eligible County. Examples of eligible infrastructure projects include local match for FEMA hazard mitigation grant program projects and critical infrastructure projects. The Maximum grant amount is $350,000. All projects must be related to damage caused by Hurricane Rita. An overview of the application process is attached. Additional information and application guidance will be available in the next couple of days. In the meantime, please plan to attend the workshop on August 4th. If you are unable to attend in person, you can join the meeting via teleconference by calling 713-627-3200. For more information or to RSVP, contact Chuck Wemple at cwemple@h-gac.com or 713-993-4514, indicating whether you will be attending in person or via teleconference.
Back to Top Natural Resources Advisory Committee
August 3, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Topic of interest: Public meeting, discussion and action on 2006 Water Quality Management Plan Update. Contact Carl Masterson cmasterson@h-gac.com or 713-993-4561 for more information.
Back to Top Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials Workshops
Elected Officials, planning directors, parks directors, public works directors and county engineers are invited to attend one of four remaining NEMO workshops throughout the region. Topics include micro-detention, landscaping for nonpoint source pollution, managing wastewater, and reducing impervious surfaces. H-GAC: August 10, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A
3555 Timmons, Houston, TX 77027
1:30 p.m to 4:30 p.m. Baytown: August 17, 2006
Baytown Community Center, Meeting Room
2407 Market St., Baytown, TX 77520
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sealy: August 23, 2006
W.E. Hill Community Center
1000 Main St., Sealy, TX 77474
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kingwood: August 24, 2006
Kingwood College, SFA 125/126
20000 Kingwood Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. RSVP is required THREE days prior to event. Please visit www.h-gac.com/swrsvp. Contact Amy Boyers for more information at 713-993-2441 or aboyers@h-gac.com.
Back to Top Galveston Pedestrian & Bicycle Plan Public Workshop
August 16, 2006
Rosenberg Library Wortham Auditorium
2310 Sealy Avenue
Galveston, TX 77550
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Come tell us what you think! Using input gathered from two rounds of public workshops, the City of Galveston and H-GAC have developed a list of potential projects to improve and enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility on Galveston Island. The City and H-GAC are holding a public workshop to present the proposed projects for discussion and comment. The potential projects provide possible solution to local needs and concerns such as establishing safer routes to schools, improving and creating new sidewalks and crosswalks, increasing access for persons with disabilities, disignating new or additional bike routes, and improving signage, striping and intersection treatments. At this workshop and via the project web site, www.walkbikegalveston.org, the public will have the opportunity to submit comments and vote for projects they feel would be the most beneficial to the area. Voting will begin on the web site August 5 and close August 27. Contact Dan Raine draine@h-gac.com or 832-681-2525, or visit the project web site for more information.
Back to Top Cities and Counties Planning for Growth
September 15, 2006
H-GAC Conference Room A, 2nd Floor
3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, TX 77027
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. H-GAC is holding the Cities and Counties Planning for Growth workshop. The workshop program focuses on planning and management principles that have the potential to improve a community's economic competitiveness, cost efficiency and "livability." The workshop will include information on H‑GAC's regional growth forecast and its implications for regional mobility and flood management. Both of these issues are becoming increasingly regional in nature, spanning the boundaries of incorporated and unincorporated areas. The workshop will also highlight best practices for coordinating land use, transportation and flood management planning to produce a high quality environment. Featured presentations will include an overview of current growth trends in our region and their potential environmental impacts. We'll also review regulatory authority of counties, economic incentives for growth standards and legislative issues. The workshop will conclude with a panel discussion covering topics such as successful growth planning, overcoming challenges and coordinating local government efforts. For more information, contact Cheryl Mergo at cmergo@h-gac.com or 713.993.4520. RSVP is required. You may RSVP at www.h-gac.com/swrsvp.
Back to Top OTHER MEETING NOTICES
9th Annual Texas Recycling Summit
Sponsored by the Recycling Alliance of Texas, the Recycling Summit will be held August 26-30, 2006, in Corpus Christi. Technical Session topics will include the green building strategies; construction and demolition debris reuse and recycling; environmental management systems (EMS); solid facilities; clean energy; professional skill development (will be taught by the Texas Leadership Institute); composting; recycling; and e-waste management. Other activities included professional development tours, a silent auction, and a golf and softball games with alliance members. For more information and registration details, visit http://www.recycletx.com/.
Back to Top
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