Director's Welcome
This is the September 2007 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 past editions of the e-newsletter visit:
www.h-gac.com/CEeNewsletter Please click on the links below to view information regarding each topic.
IN THIS ISSUE
Pedestrian-Bicyclist Call for Studies
H-GAC Receives Pedestrian-Bicyclist Special Districts Award
2007 Parks & Natural Areas Honor Awards
Recreation Grants 2007 Public Hearings
Galveston Bay Education and Outreach Grant Program
Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop
Workshop on Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility
Environmental Awareness Roundtable
Texas Forest Expo and Institute
Enhanced Water Quality Standards Information On-Line
Power to People Energy Efficiency Initiative
Energy-Cost Reduction Grants
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES
FY08-09 Solid Waste Management Funding Plan
TCEQ Water Quality Implementation Projects Application Workshop
Trash Bash Meeting
H-GAC Pedestrian-Bicyclist Subcommittee
Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop
Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility
Environmental Awareness Roundtable
Regional Monitoring Workgroup
Smart Growth Initiative
Recycling Roundtable: Household Chemicals & Electronics
Trash Bash Meeting
Applications for 2007 Parks & Natural Areas Honor Awards
Regional Flood Management Council
Solid Waste Management Committee
IN THIS ISSUE
Pedestrian-Bicyclist Call for Studies
H-GAC is requesting proposals from communities within the 8-county Transportation Management Area (TMA) to develop pedestrian-bicyclist mobility plans that will lead to the implementation of pedestrian-bicyclist improvement projects. Four such plans have been developed since we began this program in 2004. Projects have been completed for districts within the Cities of Houston and Galveston, and a Sugar Land plan is nearing completion this year. A number of projects that evolved through this planning effort have entered the Transportation Improvement Plan funding process. H-GAC will work closely with project cosponsors through a cooperative funding agreement (requiring a 50% local match) to develop these community conceptual plans. For additional information please contact Dan Raine at 832-681-2525 or dan.raine@h-gac.com.
Back to Top H-GAC Receives Pedestrian-Bicyclist Special Districts Award
H-GAC received the Transportation Achievement Award for Bicycles from The Institute of Transportation Engineers at its August 2007 annual meeting. This award recognizes H-GAC for the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Districts Conceptual Plan and Project for the City of Galveston as a significant and outstanding achievement for safety improvements in transportation.
Back to Top 2007 Parks & Natural Areas Honor Awards
Are you a park innovator? If so, we invite you to increase your visibility locally and across the state by submitting examples of your work for the H-GAC Parks and Natural Areas Honor Awards. Applications are due to the H-GAC offices by 5:00p.m., October 15, 2007. Read more about the awards and download the application here: www.h-gac.com/parks.
Back to Top
Recreation Grants 2007 Public Hearings
The 80th Texas Legislature has approved HB 1 and HB 12, which provide significant new funding for state parks. HB 1, the appropriations bill, and several related provisions in HB 12 will provide approximately $182 million in additional funding for state and local parks in the 2008-2009 biennium.
TPWD is requesting input into the rule-making process to accommodate the upcoming changes to the local park grant program. TPWD has scheduled the following public hearings to review proposed changes to the Recreation Grants Program, including Outdoor Grants, Indoor Grants, Small Community Grants, Regional Grants, Community Outdoor Outreach Program Grants, Recreational Trails Grants and Boating Access Grants. All hearings will be from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. For more information contact the Recreation Grants Branch at (512) 912-7124. Austin-September 11, 2007
TPWD Commissioner's Hearing Room
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78744
512-912-7124 The Woodlands-September 20, 2007
Community Associations of The Woodlands
2201 Lake Woodlands Dr.
The Woodlands, TX 77380
281-210-3800
Back to Top Galveston Bay Education and Outreach Grant Program
The Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announces the opportunity for eligible entities to secure grant funding for up to two years to perform Galveston Bay education and outreach education efforts.
GBEP expects to award, but does not guarantee, $100,000.00 in Fiscal Year 2008 federal funds to multiple grantees.
Eligible entities that may be interested in applying for a grant include: state agencies; colleges and universities; city and county governments; school districts; political subdivisions of the state (port authorities, river authorities, soil and water conservation districts, groundwater conservation districts); councils of governments and other regional authorities; and non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations. Interested parties are encouraged to view the Request for Grant Applications (RFGA) for complete specifications at http://esbd.tbpc.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=71525. Additional information on the Galveston Bay Estuary Program can be obtained at http://www.gbep.state.tx.us/. The deadline for responding to this RFGA is September 6, 2007.
Back to Top Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop
Thursday, September 20, 2007 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Houston Marriott North at Greenspoint 255 N Sam Houston Pkwy East Houston, Texas 77060 The Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop will give participants the tools and knowledge required to apply Context Sensitive Solution's flexible and responsive approach to transportation planning. CSS recognizes that transportation facilities have positive and negative impacts beyond their transportation function and are an integral component of a successful community. The end result is a transportation facility that is compatible with the surrounding community and reflects the goals and values of local residents. Hot Topics Include: - What are Context Sensitive Solutions and why should we care?
- The Context Sensitive Solutions design approach
- How are Context Sensitive Solutions applied?
- How do Context Sensitive Solutions function in the Houston area?
Click here to Register Now – Space is limited! Cost is $75 per participant and includes breakfast and lunch For more information or to register by phone or email, please contact Sandra McKnight at (713) 993-2461 or ce_workshop@h-gac.com. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information about sponsoring the Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop, contact Angela Marbley, 713-970-2145.
Back to Top
Workshop on Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility
H-GAC will host a free 2-day workshop September 24-25 on how to apply guidelines and policies to public rights-of-way to meet requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The workshop will include a walking audit to a known problem area to help participants understand and identify obstacles to walking and suggestions for potential short and long-term solutions. RSVPs are required by September 20, 2007. For additional information, please contact Dan Raine at 832-681-2525 or dan.raine@h-gc.com.
Back to Top
Environmental Awareness Roundtable
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. H-GAC Conference Room A 3555 Timmons Lane Houston, TX 77027 The Environmental Awareness Roundtable is designed to facilitate idea-sharing between city staff, county staff, and community organizations to create effective environmental awareness campaigns. Join us at the next Roundtable as we address cultural and language barriers to effective environmental outreach. Our special guest Anne Morris of PB&J'sSouth Caroline office will provide solutions to the various obstacles that can hinder outreach in minority and limited-English-proficiency populations. Topics Include: - Developing effective and appropriately translated publications
- Determining how and where to distribute publications, ads, and articles
- Increasing participation in public meetings and stakeholder groups
- Identifying community "gate-keepers"
Please RSVP by September 21, 2007. For more information, to RSVP, or to be added to the EAR announcement list, please contact Christy Corse at (832)681-2564 or email christy.corse@h-gac.com.
Back to Top TexasForest Expo and Institute On October 26th and 27th at the Lone Star Convention Center in Conroe, Texas the Texas Forest Service will host the "Texas Forest Expo and Institute". This event is the first of its kind and is being made possible thanks to the outstanding team effort of several dedicated TFS employees. For more information visit http://texasforestexpo.tamu.edu/. If you are outside of East Texas and would like to receive flyers or posters please feel free to contact us at texasforestexpo@tfs.tamu.edu .
Back to Top Enhanced Water Quality Standards Information On-Line EPA has upgraded the web site that provides Agency guidance for administering state and tribal water quality standards. Containing EPA's 1994 Water Quality Standards Handbook, the web site has been upgraded to provide over 100 new links to EPA documents and web pages with supporting information. The Handbook has become a very popular Office of Water site in recent years. It provides comprehensive guidance for implementing EPA's water quality standards regulation. You can visit the enhanced site on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/handbook/, where you can get direct access to the Handbook and download printable copies. For more information, contact Grace Robiou, Chief of the National Water Quality Standards Branch, at (202) 566-2975.
Back to Top Power to People Energy Efficiency Initiative The City of Houston invites residents to participate in the Houston Power to People Energy Efficiency Initiative. This campaign is more than an educational tool. Mayor White's goal is to make the City of Houston not only the energy capital of the world, but also the energy conservation capital of the world.
Energy conservation is not only good for the environment, but it saves money, cuts back on the emissions associated with power generation and it helps ease the need for more power plants. The city has set up a contest for Houstonians to register to win $200 off their August electricity bill. Simply go to http://www.houstonpowertopeople.com/ to get more information and to enter the contest.
Back to Top
Energy-Cost Reduction Grants
$21.9 million is available through the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to help rural communities cope with extremely high energy costs. Communities have until October 1 to apply for grants under this program.
Funds may be used to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade or otherwise improve energy generation, transmission or distribution facilities serving communities in which the average residential cost for home energy exceeds 275 percent of the national average. Grants are available to individuals, businesses, non-profit entities, states, local governments and federally recognized Indian tribes. Grants may not be used to pay utility bills or to purchase fuel. Also, grant funds may not be used for the sole benefit of the applicant.
Applications for grants must be postmarked by October 1. The grant announcement and application guide for this grant program can be found at http://www.usda.gov/rus/electric and at http://Grants.gov under Code of Domestic Federal Assistance (CDFA) Number 10.859.
Back to Top
H-GAC MEETING NOTICES:
Unless otherwise specified, all meetings are held at H-GAC conference rooms A, B, or C
3555 Timmons, 2nd Floor
Houston, TX 77027
For directions please visit our online map.
Back to Top
September 6
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
TCEQ Water Quality Implementation Projects Application Workshop -- Room A
For more information contact Carl Masterson at carl.masterson@h-gac.com or 713-993-4561.
Back to Top September 11
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Trash Bash Meeting -- Room C
For more information contact Jean Wright at jean.wright@h-gac.com or 713-499-6660.
Back to Top
September 13
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
H-GAC Pedestrian-Bicyclist Subcommittee -- Room B
For more information contact Dan Raine at dan.raine@h-gac.com or 832-681-2525.
Back to Top September 20
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop -- Greenspoint Marriott
For more information contact Meredith Dang at meredith.dang@h-gac.com or 713-993-2443.
Back to Top September 24
8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility -- Room C
For more information contact Dan Raine at dan.raine@h-gac.com or 832-681-2525.
Back to Top
September 25
8:30AM - 12:00 PM
Designing Pedestrian Facilities for Accessibility -- Room C
For more information contact Dan Raine at dan.raine@h-gac.com or 832-681-2525.
Back to Top
September 25
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Environmental Awareness Roundtable -- Room A
For more information contact Christy Corse at christy.corse@h-gac.com or 832-681-2564.
Back to Top September 25
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Regional Monitoring Workgroup -- Room C
For more information contact Jean Wright at jean.wright@h-gac.com or 713-499-6660.
Back to Top September 26
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Smart Growth Initiative -- Room C
For more information contact Jeff Taebel at jeff.taebel@h-gac.com or 713-993-4560.
Back to Top October 04
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Recycling Roundtable: Household Chemicals & Electronics -- Room A
For more information contact Cheryl Mergo at cheryl.mergo@h-gac.com or 713-993-4520.
Back to Top October 09
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Trash Bash Meeting -- Room C
For more information contact Jean Wright at jean.wright@h-gac.com or 713-499-6660.
Back to Top
October 15
5:00 PM
Applications for 2007 Parks & Natural Areas Honor Awards -- DUE!
For more information contact Kathleen Ramsey at kathleen.ramsey@h-gac.com or 713-499-6653.
Back to Top October 17
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Regional Flood Management Council -- Room A
For more information contact Carl Masterson at carl.masterson@h-gac.com or 713-993-4561.
Back to Top
October 24
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Solid Waste Management Committee -- Room A
For more information contact Cheryl Mergo at cheryl.mergo@h-gac.com or 713-993-4520.
Back to Top
To unsubscribe, add another subscriber or offer any comments on the e-newsletter, please e-mail cep_news@h-gac.com.
|