April 2008 AACOG Region Newsletter

April marks the beginning of another "Ozone Season" for our region. Ozone Season runs from April to October and involves a variety of activities and events to highlight the issue of Ozone pollution and air quality within the AACOG region.

In 2007, the Ozone Season was very important as this was the last chance for the region to comply with federal air quality standards. In 2005 AACOG regional partners had entered into an Early Action Compact agreement to take voluntary measures to comply with Ozone standards. The voluntary measures and increased awareness of the Ozone problem helped the region meet the federal requirements. In early 2008, the region was designated as "attainment" under the federal Ozone standards. Read this entire article...

AACOG is currently accepting nominations for the 2008 AACOG Regional Awards, to be presented to the winners at a special ceremony on June 11, 2008. These nominations are open to the public. The deadline for receipt of the nominations is Thursday, May 1, 2008.

Categories for nomination are:

Regional Citizen of the Year
Corporate Citizen of the Year
Community Project of the Year
Governmental Regional Project of the Year

For more information about the awards, visit www.aacog.com/award. Submit your nomination today!

At the request of some Planning and Zoning (P&Z) members from surrounding communities, AACOG has coordinated a special P&Z workshop to address P&Z issues relating to Extra Territorial Jurisdiction's (ETJ's) and to hear the latest revisions to P&Z regulations. The workshop is scheduled for April 10, 2008 in the AACOG board room starting at 1:00 pm. The presentors are from the Firm of Denton, Navarro, Rocha and Bernal, P.C. and TML's Scott Houston. There is a $25 charge per participant that must be paid and confirmed by April 3rd. Click here for more information about the workshop.

The Alamo and Bexar Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) were awarded a Housing Bond Grant from the Texas Dept. of Aging and Disabilities Services to fund a joint program called "Free Our Seniors." This program will provide each AAA an additional allocation of $14,285 to build ramps for senior homeowners who are mobility impaired and home bound. Priority will be given to individuals with the greatest economic and social needs, or who are at-risk for institutional placement.

The AAAs will partner with current vendors who build ramps using volunteer labor or offer steeply discounted rates. Through this partnership, the program will offer new freedom and independence to seniors who are prisioners in their own homes." To find out more, call 1-800-960-5201 (Bexar County) or 1-866-231-4922 (Alamo Region) or e-mail gmurden@aacog.com.

Alamo WorkSource will officially unveil its new branding and name change to Workforce Solutions-Alamo in May 2008. The workforce development area has been renamed as a result of a state-wide initiative led by the Texas Workforce Commission for a more recognizable name and brand across the State of Texas.

The new agency identity will now permeate across the state. For those who seek employment services outside of our service area, you will find it easy to locate your Career Center office because it will be called Workforce Solutions, wherever you are in Texas. Read this entire article...

AACOG will be hosting the regularly scheduled quarterly meeting of the Alamo Area Regional Coordination Committee for the public transportation providers in the AACOG Region. The meeting will be held on April 8, 2008, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78217.

The Alamo Area Regional Coordination Committee submitted their Regional Plan to TxDOT in December 2006. The plan is located here: www.regionalserviceplanning.org/texas_regions/plans_presentations. Every quarter the public transportation providers meet to report the progress on the items in the plan. The main focus of the plan is to coordinate services between the providers and continue to search for ways to be more efficient and effective as providers meet the growing demand on public transportation services. For more information about this meeting, contact Beverly Lutz at (210) 362-5238.

AACOG and Bexar County have agreed to transfer the Ryan White/HIV Services program back to Bexar County effective April 1, 2008. The transfer comes on the heels of a recent funding announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services Health and Services Administration (HRSA), that this area will receive an additional $300,000 above the 2007-2008 grant year amounts for HIV Emergency Relief.

The HIV Services program was managed by AACOG from June 2006 through March 2008. In addition to programs improving the lives of Bexar County residents, these services included Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) and Health and Social Services Delivery in the Victoria and Uvalde Health Services Delivery Areas. Ryan White funds are designed as "Payer of Last Resort." They are used to fill the gap when no other funding sources for qualified categories of services supporting persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS are available. For more information, call (210) 335-7050.

Justice for Victims. Justice for All.
April 13-19, 2008

Each April since 1981, OVC has helped lead communities throughout the country in their observances of National Crime Victims' Rights Week (NCVRW). Rallies, candlelight vigils, and a host of commemorative activities are held each year to promote victims' rights and to honor crime victims and those who advocate on their behalf. Click here to find more information about celebrations being held during this week.

AACOG is participating with the City of San Antonio's Foreclosure Task Force, which includes representatives from major financial institutions, banks, the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Texas Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA), NeighborWorks, the Federal Reserve Bank, area Fair Housing counselors, and other agencies in the state. The purpose of the task force is to identify and to work with people facing foreclosure in an effort to help keep them from losing their homes. Mortgage assistance and other options are discussed and considered. Read this entire article...

AACOG's Mission:
To enhance the lives of all residents of the Alamo Region by working in mutual respect and partnership with all levels of government, the business sector, and the community at large to meet regional challenges and to create regional strengths.