Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Directors Report

April 2004 Executive Director's Online Bulletin

David Robertson, COG Executive Director, presents to Virginia’s Sen. John Warner the COG Board of Directors special award that was given to each member of the region’s congressional delegation for work done on homeland security issues.

Upcoming Events
COG Board Meeting	April 14, 2004
Transportation Planning Board Meeting	April 21, 2004
Town & Gown Conference	April 29, 2004
more >>

Welcome to the first issue of our newly revamped, electronic newsletter, the Executive Director's Online Bulletin. Each month, you can expect to receive timely bulletins keeping you current on news, programs, and activities at COG.

IN THIS ISSUE:
°	Equipment, Training Needs Outlined for Public Safety First Responders
°	Local Crime Solvers Programs Unite
°	TPB Analysis Reveals Critical Transportation Funding Shortfalls
°	Partnering with the Private Sector to Promote Telework
°	Wise Water Campaign Hits the Ice
°	MWAQC Approves Regional Air Quality Plan

HOMELAND SECURITY

Equipment, Training Needs Outlined for Public Safety First Responders
At the last meeting of the COG Chief Administrative Officers Committee, the region’s fire officials detailed their spending requests for personal protective equipment and training needs for events related to terrorism. Law enforcement officials also have been working with the CAOs on the similar needs for their community. Federal funds available under the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) will provide for the equipment and training. The first responders must determine the resources they need for a baseline level of personal protective equipment plus additional gear if needed. The COG Fire Chiefs Committee also requested funds to reimburse departments for Incident Management Team Training at the National Fire Academy and a Fire Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) course at George Washington University’s Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute (READI). Additional seminars at the Response to Emergencies and Disasters Institute (READI) in March and April focused on equipping emergency management and hospital medical personnel to handle patient treatment and transportation in the event of exposure to weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and other terrorist incidents.

Local Crime Solvers Programs Unite
Local police chiefs met for a press conference at COG last month to announce the new consolidated National Capital Area Crime Solvers, Inc., a regional umbrella organization for existing local Crime Solvers programs in the District of Columbia and suburban Virginia and Maryland. The community-based program works with law enforcement agencies and news media throughout the metropolitan area to solve crimes by offering rewards for information that lead to an arrest or the recovery of stolen property.

TRANSPORTATION

TPB Analysis Reveals Critical Transportation Funding Shortfalls
A new detailed analysis of the region’s short-term transportation funding needs outlines unfunded needs totaling $13.2 billion. The Transportation Planning Board developed the “Time to Act” brochure in response to funding shortfalls and a looming gridlock crisis threatening the region’s roadways and transit systems.

Partnering with the Private Sector to Promote Telework
A new cooperative effort by the Council of Governments and the Greater Washington Board of Trade (BOT) aims to encourage 50,000 more telecommuters in the region by 2005. The "Better Work Through Telework" initiative marks the first time that public and private organizations in the metropolitan Washington area have come together to promote telecommuting, also known as telework. COG supports telework through its Commuter Connections program, an annual conference, and periodic seminars for employers. Last year, the program launched an aggressive mass marketing campaign to promote using mass transit, ridesharing, and telecommuting as alternatives to commuting alone by car.

ENVIRONMENT

Wise Water Campaign Hits the Ice
The Wise Water Use public education campaign sponsored a night with the Washington Capitals during the March 30, 2004 game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The campaign, which promotes tips for conserving water in everyday activities, was highly visible throughout the MCI Center with a display table, video and audio public service announcements, along with paraphernalia such as logo tattoos and t-shirts. Similar sponsor nights also are being scheduled for this summer with minor league baseball teams. For more information, contact Jim Shell at 202-962-3342.

MWAQC Approves Regional Air Quality Plan
In February, the Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC) approved a Severe Area Air Quality Plan (SIP) for the states to submit to EPA. The plan details the actions planned to reduce the region’s air pollution from ground-level ozone and outlines programs adopted by COG member governments such as purchasing wind energy, retrofitting diesel school buses, and purchasing alternative fuel vehicles. MWAQC also approved a Gold Book of innovative programs that local governments can adopt to clean up the air. Those programs probably will be needed: in April, EPA is expected to adopt a more stringent standard for measuring ozone pollution and metropolitan Washington is expected to be in violation of that federal standard, too.

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