July 2007 AACOG Region Newsletter

AACOG presented the 2007 Regional Awards on June 13, 2007, at the semiannual meeting of the AACOG Area Council and Board of Directors.

Mr. Al J. Notzon III received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the advancement of the region through AACOG with the creation of advisory boards; and his work as a member of numerous boards and committees throughout the region for the past 40 years.

Mr. John Kight received the Regional Citizen of the Year Award for being a strong voice for regional transportation as former Chairman of the Rural Transportation Advisory Committee. He was Kendall County Commissioner for eight years, and is still involved in his community, serving as Vice President for Cow Creek Ground Water Conservation District, Chairman of Hill Country MHMR, and a county representative on the state water planning committee. He has also been conducting Rainwater Harvesting Workshops throughout the region.

Lone Star Capital Bank received the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award for their community outreach, including their involvement in the American Heart Association’s HeartWalk, in which they hold a Valentine’s Day event, a bowling tournament, a raffle, and a garage sale to raise money for the event.

Fredericksburg High School Principles of Technology course received the Community Project of the Year Award. The rocket class is a curriculum model that allows students of all socioeconomic and academic backgrounds to become a part of the engineering and aerospace fields. The course is being replicated in a pilot program in seven regional high schools. The program succeeds in graduating numerous college-ready engineering students each year.

Outgoing Criminal Justice Advisory Chairman Ed Coffey and Bexar Senior Advisory Chairman Sterling Neuman, as well as outgoing AACOG Board members City of Balcones Heights Mayor James Craven and former Boerne Mayor Patrick Heath were also recognized for their years of service at the meeting.

•AACOG sponsors a one-day workshop on the duties and responsibilities of elected officials. Representatives of AACOG, local attorneys, and a local elected official will address the participants. The next workshop will be held on Monday, July 16, 2007, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio. Click here for more information about the upcoming workshop.

AACOG offers a workshop for planning commissioners, elected officials, and staff. This workshop is sponsored by the Texas Chapter American Planning Association in cooperation with the City Planners Association of Texas, the Texas Association of Regional Councils, and AACOG.

The next workshop is scheduled for Thursday, July 19, 2007 in the AACOG Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio. The registration fee for this workshop is $70. Below is a list of topics that are covered in the workshop:

Texas Planning: What You Need to Know in 2005
Being an Effective Planning Commissioner
Roles, Responsibilities, Ethics, and Legal Issues
Learn by Doing - An Exercise in Decision Making
Planning for Communities with Limited Staff
Planning in the ETJ
Legislative Action and Court Decisions Impact on Planning
This Year's Hot Topics for Your Area

Click here for more information about the upcoming workshop.

The Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) has submitted their preliminary recommendations for the 2007-2008 Texas Community Development Block Grant Program to the State Review Committee. The State has allocated a total of $2,000,000 in funds to the AACOG region for program year 2007. The preliminary funding allocations for program year 2008 are $2,500,000. However, the 2008 recommendations may be revised depending on the actual allocations from HUD appropriations, the State’s actual 2008 CDBG allocation, and the percentage of CDBG funds allocated for the Community Development (CD) and Community Development Supplemental Funds (CDS).

Click here to see the AACOG communities that have been recommended for funding for the 2007-2008 Texas Community Block Grant Program based on the combined scoring of the AACOG Regional Review Committee (RRC) and ORCA.

To promote a better quality of life in the San Antonio region, AACOG and the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) challenge area citizens to practice "smart miles". Smart miles refer to efficient and healthy modes of transportation that reduce our trips to the gas pump, save money, improve air quality, and provide health benefits. Smart miles include carpooling, vanpooling, riding the bus, cycling, or walking.

This summer, AACOG and the MPO will conduct the 3rd Annual Walk & Roll Challenge to reward individuals who log the most smart miles between July 1 and October 31. The individual logging the most mileage in a category (walking, cycling, busing, and car/vanpooling) will win a prize. Click here for more information.

Stroll to Milam Park (501 W. Commerce) during lunch on July 13, 2007 for Fresh Air Friday! Highlights of this event include food, games, music, prizes, and the announcement of the 2007 Walk and Roll Corporate Challenge winner!

Fresh Air Friday will provide an opportunity to showcase what local organizations do to improve air quality and transportation and keep the region beautiful. Visit anytime from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more information, contact Amber Mayne at (210) 362-5213 or visit www.cleanairdrive.com/FreshAirFriday. Fresh Air Friday, the first in a series of planned annual events, is sponsored by AACOG and the City of San Antonio.

AACOG received a Regional Emergency Response Unit on June 18, 2007. The Response Unit will be available to respond to any agencies in the region. The Response Unit was purchased with Regional 2004 State Homeland Security Grant funds. The unit is a 53-foot long, triple axel van, complete with five air conditioning units, dual 20-kilowatt diesel generators, restrooms, work stations for response workers and two conference areas. In addition, a 50-foot long awning is installed to provide additional work area space outside the unit. The van will be outfitted with satellite communications, radio communications equipment and computer terminals. For more information, contact Don McFarland at (210) 362-5296.

On Thursday, July 26, 2007, the Alamo Area Clean Cities Coalition will conduct a one-day Advancing the Choice seminar on natural gas (Compressed Natural Gas & Liquid Natural Gas). This follows a very proactive measure by the City of San Antonio to replace a portion of the municipality’s diesel-powered refuse fleet with cleaner-burning, CNG models. To maintain the momentum this step provides to our region, local governments, businesses, and school districts are invited to attend an informative Advancing the Choice seminar and learn about natural gas, e.g., applicability to fleets, opportunities to partner with the City or other organizations, funding opportunities, and infrastructure development.

The seminar will be held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The cost of the event is $25 and includes lunch. Contact Andrew Hudgins at (210) 362-5228 for more information or click here to view the draft agenda.