Regional Leaders Discuss Emergency Plans
During its September meeting, COG's Board of Directors discussed area emergency plans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and what could be done in conjuction with city and county managers to recommend necessary improvements to current plans. Elected officials at the meeting included Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson, Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connolly, District of Columbia Council Member Carol Schwartz and COG Chair J Davis. In a conference call held separately, Duncan and others agreed to ask COG to help the region’s local governments, the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia and key federal agencies re-evaluate emergency coordination plans adopted since the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Commuter Connections Releases State of Commute Report
Commuter Connection's 2004 State of the Commute Report shows the number of employees telecommuting under formal work programs has increased by 27 percent -- to 32 percent of all workers -- since the last survey was conducted in 2001. The report documents trends in commuting behaviors in the metropolitan Washington Region, and is based on a survey of 7,500 commuters.

Economic Trends Report Details Regional Growth
A new report released in September reveals the metropolitan region grew by more than 351,800 people and added 124,738 jobs between 2000 and 2004. The annual report, Economic Trends in Metropolitan Washington, 2000-2004, reveals the majority of the region’s almost 4.9 million residents lives in the inner suburbs. “We are extremely pleased with the economic health of the region as a whole, but this kind of rapid population and job growth requires a commitment to sound, sustainable development,” said Executive Director Dave Robertson. “Where we put these jobs and people will greatly affect our quality of life in the near future.”

A separate report, Commercial Construction Indicators 2004 Annual Summary, showed a slight decrease in commercial construction. Developers broke ground on more than 27.7 million square feet of space, about 3 million less than in the previous year.

HOMELAND SECURITY

National Capital Region Launches Preparedness Campaign
The National Capital Region Emergency Preparedness Campaign was launched in September to advise the public about how to prepare and respond in case of a major emergency or terrorist attack. The campaign is intended to complement local efforts to inform residents about emergency preparedness, and includes radio and television advertisements that lead people to the website www.makeaplan.org.

IRE Graduates 23 New Managers
COG's Institute for Regional Excellence graduated 23 new public managers in September. The graduates -- all mid- and senior-level managers -- were trained to better assist local governments in dealing with the challenges associated with meeting the needs of residents in a growing metropolitan area. "It is extremely important in any metropolitan region, but in the nation’s capital especially, to have leaders who are equipped to collaborate across jurisdictional lines," said COG Board Chair Judith F. Davis. "Because they stuck with it, these graduates are now better prepared to meet the responsibilities that come with leading a large and complex metropolitan area." Now in its fifth year, IRE is a collaborative effortthat includes partnerships between COG's Board of Directors and the George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Municipal Management, as well as Chief Administrative Officers and Personnel Directors from member jurisdictions.