Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Executive Directors Report

May 2004 Executive Director's Online Bulletin

Upcoming Events
COG Board Meeting	June 9, 2004
TPB Meeting	June 16, 2004
Human Services Policy Meeting	June 18, 2004
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Welcome to 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:
°	Bike to Work Day Draws Thousands
°	Air Quality Changes
°	Second Annual Foster Gala
°	Smart Growth Video Ready for Distribution
°	Scholarship Applications Online
°	WAHP Releases Report on Area Rental Housing Costs

TRANSPORTATION

Bike to Work Day Draws Thousands
More than 4,000 Washington area commuters abandoned their cars and other methods of transportation to participate in “Bike to Work Day.” The event, co-sponsored by COG and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, offered 19 pit stops throughout the region for riders to take a break, enjoy refreshments, register for prizes and listen to a host of elected officials speak about the environmental and health benefits of biking to work. This year’s event drew 1,400 more riders than it did last year.

ENVIRONMENT

Air Quality Changes
The Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Committee (MWAQC) is taking steps to keep up with new federal air quality standards as hot summer months – and higher pollution levels – approach. Beginning this summer, the Environmental Protection Agency’s new eight-hour standard for measuring ground-level ozone will be the official method for MWAQC’s daily forecasts of the region’s air pollution. For the first time, meteorologists will measure particle pollution year round using the same color coded Air Quality Index (AQI) applied to ground level ozone from May to September.

HUMAN SERVICES

Second Annual Foster Gala
The second annual Foster Parent Appreciation Gala drew a crowd of more than 800 foster and adoptive parents, family members, elected officials, and social services administrators. COG and the Freddie Mac Foundation held the event to present awards to nine outstanding foster families and to honor the generous people who open their hearts and homes to children in need. For the second year, the evening’s program was hosted by Barbara Harrison, NBC-4 news anchor and host of the “Wednesday’s Child” program.

Smart Growth Video Ready for Distribution
The COG Board approved at its April Meeting the 15-minute informative video, “Smart Growth Begins at the Local Level.” The video and an accompanying interactive website are intended to educate a wide audience on the value of using Smart Growth principles in land use and development decisions. It has been submitted to the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) to compete for this year’s Major Metro Achievement Award.

Scholarship Applications Online
Child Care Providers can apply for COG’s Child Care Higher Education Scholarship Project (HESP) without leaving their computers. As COG begins accepting applications for the 2004-2005 academic year, interested child care providers can use their keyboards to apply for the newly downloadable the application packet. In 2003, COG provided $45,000 to help child care providers complete courses in early childhood development at local colleges and universities.

HOUSING

WAHP Releases Report on Area Rental Housing Costs
As rental costs rise, so does the need for affordable housing in the metropolitan Washington region. A new report released by the Washington Area Housing Partnership (WAHP) during the COG Board of Directors May meeting compares the cost of renting with average hourly wages of various occupations. The new analysis, ”Can You Afford to Live Here?”, shows that average rents in the National Capital Region increased 16.6% in one year, from $992 per month in 2001 to $1,157 in 2002. The breakdown is based on data submitted by local jurisdictions and information from the U.S. Department of Labor.

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