July 2009 AACOG Region Newsletter

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, AACOG presented the 2009 AACOG Regional Awards during the semiannual meeting of the Area Council and Board of Directors. The semiannual meeting took place at 1 p.m., in the Al J. Notzon III Board Room, located at 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio. AACOG has given out these awards every year since 1974.

Ms. Tracy Talley, RN, the Director of Clinical Programs at the University Health System Family Focused AIDS Clinical Treatment Services (FFACTS) Program, received the 2009 Regional Citizen of the Year Award. Ms. Talley will be recognized for playing a champion role in coordinating the provision of services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the San Antonio Transitional Grant and Health Service Delivery Areas. Through her individual and collaborative efforts, she has helped bring in more than $15 million in funding for the FFACTS Program. She has dedicated more than 15 years to participating in planning services for the Alamo Region, and has dedicated 24 years of her nursing career to helping the South Texas HIV Community receive the best medical care and supportive services.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas received the 2009 Corporate Citizen of the Year Award. The organization was nominated for their mentoring program, which helps at-risk children in the Alamo Region make positive choices needed in order for them to stay in school, stay out of prison, and graduate from high school or earn their GED. The cost to support a mentoring relationship for one year averages $1,000, compared with an average of $30,000-40,000 per year to keep a child in Texas in a juvenile detention facility. The preventive nature of the program sets it apart from costly intervention programs that address the issues that arise once a child has already begun to engage in risk behaviors. View Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas Website

Ft. Sam Houston received the 2009 Community Project of the Year Award for their support of the annual Christmas Along the Corridor Grand Finale and Fair at Ft. Sam Houston for the past 10 years, which has had a significant impact on the success of the Finale and to the overall importance of regional tourism in the AACOG rural counties. In addition to the major contribution of allowing AACOG to hold this annual event at the Post, the Public Affairs staff was invaluable in helping to coordinate with all the various Army departments to ensure the success of each event. Ft. Sam Houston and the U.S. Army are highly valued community partners in the AACOG region. View Fort Sam Houston Website

Alamo Colleges received the 2009 Governmental Regional Project of the Year Award for helping rural Texas communities such as New Braunfels, Floresville, Kerrville, and others to obtain a technical training facility in their counties. They have helped to elevate the educational standards of these communities beyond measure-offering current and future generations of youth with educational and vocational opportunities to improve their future and having a definitive positive and strong impact on the entire economy and quality of life of the Alamo Region.
View Alamo Colleges Website

Other individuals recognized at the event:

Outgoing Board Chairmen:

Outgoing Board of Directors Chairman / City of San Antonio Councilman Louis E. Rowe (January-May 2009)
2006 Board of Directors Chairman / Bandera County Judge Richard A. Evans

Outgoing Board of Directors Members:

Former City of San Antonio Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan (Member 2007-2009)
Former City of San Antonio Councilwoman Delicia Herrera (Member 2005-2009)
Former Mayor of Devine Steve A. Lopez (Member 2005-2009)
Former Mayor of Windcrest Jack H. Leonhardt (Member 2004-2009)

Outgoing Advisory Committee Chairwomen:

Ms. Nancy Hunter (MR Planning Network Advisory Committee Chairwoman 2008-2009)
Ms. Ginny Funk (Alamo Senior Advisory Committee Chairwoman 2007-2008)
Ms. Mary Will (Bexar Senior Advisory Committee Chairwoman 2007-2008)

AACOG also presented a memoriam resolution to Linda Williams, the widow of the late Sid Williams III, in honor of the former Frio County Judge and AACOG Board Member’s lifelong contributions to the AACOG region.

To be notified when AACOG begins accepting applications for the 2010 AACOG Regional Awards, contact AACOG Community Relations Coordinator Tiffany Harris at tharris@aacog.com.

Please note: Click on links above to view photos taken at the event.

Clean Air City status is in Jeopardy

For the third time this year, one of the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality’s continuous air monitoring sites in the Alamo region registered ground-level ozone at a level higher during an 8-hour period than that which is considered acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This latest air pollution incidence that occurred on June 5 was preceded by two earlier such occurrences at the end of May.

High ground-level ozone readings are of concern because, according to the EPA, ozone can cause or make worse a number of respiratory ailments. If local ozone levels are found to exceed federal clean air standards, the EPA may declare our region to be in violation of these standards in 2010. The federal government would then mandate programs and policies to improve our air quality.

That is why AACOG is asking everyone to be especially aware this summer of the many small ways we can commit to improving air quality as part of our "Big Push" effort. Especially when an Air Quality Health Alert is in effect, please take lunch to work rather than driving out at noontime and "trip-chain" -- run all your errands during the same trip. If possible, do not fill your gas tank until after 6 p.m. that day. Avoid idling your car’s engine at the bank or restaurant drive-though and go inside instead. Put off your painting or mowing job until the evening. More information on measures that can be taken to improve air quality may be found at www.CleanAirDrive.com.

This month's focus is on Brooks Development Authority, one of the newest members of AACOG.

Who is Brooks Development Authority--what is your mission and purpose? The Brooks Development Authority's mission is to position Brooks City-Base as a premier location for science, research, technology and business through creative economic development. Brooks City-Base is an innovative model of collaborative economic development. This world-class science, research, technology and business center has the distinction of being a sustainable master-planned development achieved through preservation of its rich history while building for the future. We take pride in being a safe, vibrant and environmentally-sensitive community.

What is the role of the authority in the Alamo Region? The role of Brooks Development Authority in the Alamo Region is to create investment and job opportunities for the southern sector of the Alamo Region. The Brooks Development Authority is able to offer a number of potential incentives providing a friendly environment for investment. Companies that locate at Brooks City-Base may be eligible for a City/County Joint Tax Phase-In Abatement program. Also at the local level, workforce development assistance may be available, and in certain circumstances, development financing through bonds or loans may be issued by the city’s Industrial Development Authority.

Brooks City-Base is located in an area that is designated as a State Strategic Investment Area, and some businesses may qualify for the state’s Freeport Exemption Program. On the federal level, Brooks City-Base is located within a Federal Empowerment Zone (EZ) and Foreign Trade Zone, and since the campus is in a Federal EZ, it qualifies as a State EZ as well.

What made you decide to become a member of AACOG? We decided to become a member of AACOG to increase our economic development network and become a part of a comprehensive economic development strategy for the Alamo area. Membership also helps us provide more outreach and exposure to the Brooks City-Base development.

Visit Brooks City-Base Website

AACOG staff recently developed an AACOG Region Economic Stimulus Package Impact Summary identifying: 1) Federal appropriations for economic stimulus under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA); 2) ARRA allocations to be made directly to the State of Texas, and 3) the amount of ARRA funding expected (whether directly from the Federal Government or passed through State agencies) for the AACOG 12-county region. The summary is sorted into the various funding categories described in the ARRA bill and reflects the funding, if any, received by entities within the region. This summary will be updated each Friday as long as new information is available. Additional ARRA information is available at www.aacog.com/arra.

On Friday, June 19, 2009, AACOG hosted Mike Gerber and Brooke Boston, Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director for the Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs (TDHCA) respectively, for a Housing Roundtable with more than 25 individuals participating, including congressional staff, housing agencies, municipal governments, county governments, developers and community organizations from within the AACOG region. Gerber and Boston gave a good 1 1/2 hour update on the various programs to be funded by the Recovery Act. Included in the discussion were the following programs:

Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program - $41.5 million will be available to provide homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing of persons that have become, or are at risk of becoming homeless. Eligibility: local units of government and nonprofit organizations.
Weatherization Assistance Program - $326.9 million will be added to this national program to help low-income persons control energy costs and reduce the state's overall energy burden. Eligibility: Thirty-four existing Weatherization Assistance Program network (includes AACOG), plus several cities (San Antonio) and nonprofits. To find out how to apply for Weatherization Assistance Services, click here.
Community Services Block Grant Programs - $48.1 million will provide for administrative support to a network of local Community Action Agencies . These agencies provide low-income persons with essential services, i.e., childcare, health and human services. Eligibility: The existing CSBG network [includes the Community Council of South Central Texas, Inc. that services the 11 rural (AACOG) counties; and the County (government) of Bexar].
Tax Credit Assistance Program - $148 million will provide for HOME Program funds for Housing Tax Credit developments. Eligibility: HTC developments awarded in 2007-2009.
Housing Tax Credit Exchange Program - $314 million will allow tax credit allocating agencies to choose to receive a portion of their 2009 and returned prior year HTCs in the form of a grant from the federal government rather than as tax credits. Eligibility: HTC developments.
Homebuyer Tax Credit Downpayment Program - (Amount TBD) Provides for federal tax credit to first-time homebuyers; 5% of mortgage loan up to $6,000 per household. Eligibility: Network of participating lenders for first time homebuyers program.
Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) - $102 million to allow for the purchase of foreclosed or abandoned properties to demolish or create affordable housing and stabilize existing neighborhoods. Eligibility: local governments and nonprofits.

In all, TDHCA will be receiving over $980 million in housing programs that will definitely benefit the people living in the AACOG 12-county region. Benchmarks, stricter rules and regulations, possible applicability of Davis-Bacon requirements, and limited administrative funds for some programs will be the challenge for TDHCA and the sub-recipients of these programs. For more information, contact Brooke Boston at 512-475-1762 or visit www.tdhca.state.tx.us.

This monthly feature in the AACOG Region Newsletter spotlights our AACOG Board Members. This month features Universal City Mayor John Williams, who was recently appointed to the AACOG Board.

Education and career highlights: BA in Journalism, Drake University, MA in Mass Communications, University of Oklahoma. Career Air Force Officer, 25 years service, Retired Lt. Col, Vietnam Veteran. Worked as VP for the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, as President of Randolph Metrocom Chamber of Commerce, and as PR director for Cancer Therapy and Research Center. Currently Adjunct Faculty member, Northeast Lakeview College teaching Mass Communications and Advertising.

What do you like best about your work as the Mayor of Universal City? It is a chance to give back to the community that supported me and my family, as well as all military personnel and their families throughout the years. I can use my years of experience in both military and civilian life to help make my city a better place in which to live and work.

What is the best advice you have received in working as an elected official? Integrity and honesty above all in the execution of duties as an elected official. Do not be influenced by others who have a hidden agenda. Treat every citizen comment, complaint or concern with respect and follow up where necessary.

What excites you about being an AACOG board member? The opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with other officials in matters that affect us all in the region.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Golf and Music, but most of all being with family. Between my wife Betsy of three years and myself we have six children (three each) and 10 grandchildren...all of them are my real passion for life.

What would people be surprised to know about you? I have been a member of a song and dance group, Made to Order, since 1991. I am also a cantor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. I also do volunteer work as an on air personality for KLRN public television during membership drives throughout the year. Finally I am a die hard Green Bay Packers fan as well as a Spurs fanatic.

What is going on in Universal City? We will be celebrating our 50th birthday next year and plans are well underway to conduct events throughout the year. Although not totally new, we have a championship golf course in Universal City, Olympia Hills, which is owned and operated by the City.

The Alamo Forest Partnership is reaching out to the City of San Antonio and surrounding communities and asking you to join us for the first annual Regional Urban Forest Conference. The conference will be held on Friday, July 10, 2009, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at 1901 S. Alamo, San Antonio, Texas.

Trees play a critical role in providing sustainable and livable communities and their impact does not stop at city limits or county lines. By coming together to discuss the issues, we can combine resources and expertise to improve the communities we live in.

Topics to be discussed:

Tree Inventories
Working with Growers to Increase Tree Species’ Diversity
Trees and the San Antonio River Improvement Project
Trees and Energy
Round Table Discussion on Tree Issues Important to Your Community, Business and or Organization

The conference is free of charge thanks to CPS Energy, but registration is required and limited. Click here to register by July 7, 2009. For more information call (210) 207-8053 or e-mail Debbie.Reid@sanantonio.gov.

AACOG would like to invite all local government representatives and purchasing staff to a free workshop to introduce attendees to the State of Texas Cooperative Purchasing Program. The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2009, from 9 to 11 a.m. in AACOG's Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78217.

Attendees will learn about the benefits and resources available to program members, as well as how this program can help them save time and money. The workshop will also allow attendees to get acquainted with the state's new TXSmartBuy online purchasing system. The presentation will be given by Charlene Rendon, State of Texas CO-OP Program Coordinator - a certified Texas purchaser. Contact Charlene at (512) 463-3336 for more information about the workshop. To register call Joe Ramos at (210) 362-5212 or jramos@aacog.com.

AACOG would like to introduce the new directors of the Bexar Area Agency on Aging (Bexar AAA) and the Bexar Mental Retardation Authority (Bexar MRA).

Dr. Martha Spinks became the new director of AACOG's Bexar AAA on June 1, 2009. Dr. Spinks holds an M.A. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, an MSW from Our Lady of the Lake University, and a Ph.D. in Social Welfare Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. For the past nine years, she served as Executive Director of Saint Barnabas Senior Services, a large social service agency serving low-income seniors residing in the most ethnically diverse and densely populated neighborhood in downtown Los Angeles. In 2000, she retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Army after 24 years of service directing soldier and family support programs and being involved in health care research.

On May 8, 2009, Anthony Jalomo became AACOG's new Bexar Mental Retardation Authority (BMRA) Director. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Sul Ross State University, Anthony began his career in 1997 with the Bexar Mental Retardation Authority providing case management services, and was later promoted to Service Coordination Manager. Most recently, Anthony worked as the Data and Utilization Manager and successfully developed and implemented several new data systems for the BMRA program. Anthony has gained extensive knowledge in the area of the Mental Retardation programs and services not only as a staff member with the BMRA, but as a parent of a child with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Anthony provides expert leadership and personal experience to all staff, clients and their families within the Bexar County region.

On June 11, AACOG's Area Agencies on Aging, City of San Antonio, and WellMed Charitable Foundation hosted a forum entitled Redesigning Communities for Aging in Place: Developing a Livable San Antonio Metro Region for All Ages. This forum focused on local assets that are already in place and how they can be improved, particularly health and wellness, social integration, planning and mobility. The event was held at the beautiful Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center in San Antonio’s eastside neighborhood. There were 120 people who attended representing professions such as city and county government, planning/consulting firms, social service personnel, aging advocates, and academic researchers.

The keynote speaker was Kathy Sykes, Senior Advisor for the Aging Initiative of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Kathy spoke on how to raise awareness among older adults, caregivers, health care providers and leaders in aging about environmental health hazards and how to encourage older adults to become environmental stewards to address environmental challenges that face our society. She encouraged all audience members to really think about how to redesign the San Antonio Community for Everyone.

Carol Zernial, Executive Director of the WellMed Charitable Foundation, spoke on Opportunities for Improving Health and Wellness and sited work that her organization is doing in Central Texas to benefit seniors. Don Smith, Director of Tarrant County Area Agency on Aging in Dallas, focused on Opportunities for Improving Social Integration by presenting on the successful Neighbors Helping Neighbors program that his county uses to reach out to isolated and low-income older adults. Ken Hosen, Principal of KFH Group, a consulting firm in Austin, talked about the importance of mobility and transportation options and provided examples of small but effective ways to help older adults be mobile that also benefit the larger community. The final presentation was from Dr. Heywood Sanders, Professor in the Department of Public Administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio, who discussed Opportunities for Improving Planning in the San Antonio region. During his talk, Dr. Sanders used demographic models to show where seniors live and photo slides to demonstrate how this group was gradually being affected by new planning or lack of planning in the metropolitan area.

Workshop attendees were also given information on applying for a Jump Start Grant. For information on these grants click here. All presentations from this workshop are available at www.aginginplaceinitiative.org/SanAntonioPresentations. For information on this initiative, contact Debbie Billa, Alamo Area Agency on Aging Director, at (210) 362-5240.

AACOG and the University of North Texas are hosting the annual Public Funds Investment Act Workshop August 24-25, 2009 in the Al J. Notzon III Board Room. The training provides a total of 10 hours of PFIA training and CPE credits. Registration for both days (10 hours) is $270 on or before August 17th or $290 after August 17th, registration for one day (5 hours) is $135 on or before August 17th or $145 after August 17th. You may register online at www.unt.edu/cpm.

Elected Officials from across the AACOG region attended AACOG's Annual Newly Elected Officials Workshop on June 30, 2009. More than 30 council members, city administrators, mayors, and others attended the workshop, which covered such topics as the duties of elected officials; an introduction to city government; the roles of the mayor and council; budgeting and financial management; legal issues; and media relations. This workshop will be held again in June of 2010. For more information about this workshop, contact Joe Ramos at (210) 362-5212.

The AACOG Region Newsletter is compiled and distributed monthly
by Tiffany Harris, AACOG Public Relations.