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CAPCOG recommends SHSP projects
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Grants
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CAPCOG”s Executive Committee recommended the region’s prioritization list of 18 projects seeking funds from the State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) in March to the Office of the Governor; the projects are reviewed and prioritized by the Homeland Security Task Force which includes a variety of public safety staff from all ten counties in the CAPCOG region. Altogether the projects were seeking nearly $4.5 million, but CAPCOG anticipates the region receiving about $850,000 from the program. Projects that were prioritized the highest included funding for planning and training, HazMat equipment and equipment used to search for survivors in collapsed structures.

While CAPCOG is required by the state to submit the prioritized list in March, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has yet to release the Notice of Funding Opportunity that supports the State Homeland Security Program — the notice outlines the national funding priorities and prioritization guidance for the SHSP based on the 2022-26 FEMA Strategic Plan. CAPCOG expects the notice to be released in late June. As in previous years, CAPCOG will work with the Office of the Governor to ensure as many projects as possible meet the federal priorities and receive funding.

CAPCOG’s prioritized its SHSP recommendations based on a project’s ability to enhance and maintain regional capabilities to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism. The prioritization of the projects was completed by the task force and its subcommittees before being finalized by the CAPCOG Executive Committee.

Review the prioritized list of projects.

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Lee County TED seeks public input
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Planning
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CAPCOG will host its second community outreach meeting seeking input from residents and area stakeholders for the Lee County Transportation and Economic Development (TED) Plan at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 11, 2024, at 631 N. Rockdale Street in Lexington.

The plan seeks to identify actionable goals to ensure future business development aligns with transportation infrastructure, but also to plan infrastructure improvements to support economic development. Issues identified in the first outreach meeting on March 28th in Giddings included finding funding for the business park infrastructure and expanding the airport, identifying broadband funding options, and expanding tourism downtown. The likely location of a bypass was also discussed related to anticipated industrial and residential growth in the north end of the county.

The community outreach meetings provide valuable insight about transportation and economic development challenges, according to Charles Simon, CAPCOG’s Regional Planning & Services director. The project, which represents a partnership between CAPCOG and the Austin TxDOT District Office, started with the appointment of steering committee by the Lee County Commissioners Court. After the outreach meetings, CAPCOG will review all input and recommendations, analyze data related to population, traffic, workforce, and other community growth trends, and work with the steering committee to finalize recommendations for final action by the Lee County Commissioners Court. CAPCOG anticipates the plan being completed late in the fall of 2024.

Read more about the CAPCOG Economic Development Program.

RLEA graduates 30 in Class No. 100
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Training
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The CAPCOG Regional Law Enforcement Academy graduated its 100th class in March; the milestone graduation builds on decades of educating officers while evolving the training to meet the ever-changing profession of policing. Just like many classes before them, all 30 graduating cadets passed their TCOLE exam on the first attempt.

“BPOC 100 is full of amazing new police officers, whose accomplishments are not going to stop at graduation,” said Sergio Flores, CAPCOG Chief Instructor. “Their results on the TCOLE exam as well as our 7 plus months of instruction is the prologue to their resolve and dedication for serving the residents in the 10-county region and beyond.”

The academy improves its curriculum and teaching methods through feedback, evaluation, and adaptation, drawing on lessons from previous graduating classes to meet the growing demands and challenges of law enforcement. It focuses on team building and personal growth with emphasis on physical training and self-accountability. The BPOC includes instruction beyond the required TCOLE curriculum to ensure graduating officers are ready for working communities in the CAPCOG region; this includes certification courses such as OC spray, ASP baton, radar and lidar and body-worn cameras.

“We eagerly look forward to the next 100 classes and continuing our mission — our tradition — of producing highly skilled and ethically grounded officers who have an extensive legal knowledge and uphold the values of justice, integrity, and service,” Flores said. “Together, we are prepared for future challenges and making a difference in the communities we serve.”

Course honors went to valedictorian Rondolfo Perez, salutatorian Starr LaSalde, and Top Gunn Dillion Scherr. LaSalde and Scherr also earned Director Awards for scoring higher than a 90 on their TCOLE exam. The academy is scheduled to graduate another class of cadets in April and start its next full-time BPOC.

Read more about RLEA’s BPOCs.

The graduating cadets included:

  1. Laura Benjaminson — Manor Police Department
  2. Albert Betancourt — Austin ISD Police Department
  3. David Bobbitt — Independent
  4. Jacob Burchett — Austin ISD Police Department
  5. Corbin Casey — Independent
  6. Marcette Favors — Manor Police Department
  7. Peter Fleming — Kyle Police Department
  8. Jon Paul Fritz — Elgin Police Department
  9. David Henry — San Marcos Police Department
  10. Michael Herrera — Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
  11. Dawson Jackson — Kyle Police Department
  12. Mariah Kittrell — Victoria Police Department
  13. Starr LaSalde — Elgin Police Department
  14. Juan Lopez III — Kyle Police Department
  15. Daniel Mahoney — Elgin Police Department
  16. Josiah Marschall — San Marcos Police Department
  17. Jonathan Martin — San Marcos Police Department
  18. Cameron McLaren — Austin ISD Police Department
  19. Juan Mercado, Jr. — Austin ISD Police Department
  20. Aaron O’Brien — Independent
  21. Derrick Payne — Independent
  22. Rodolfo Perez — Williamson County Sheriff’s Office
  23. Peter Rinderknecht — San Marcos Police Department
  24. Edwin Salazar — Bee Cave Police Department
  25. Dillon Scherr — Elgin Police Department
  26. Oscar Taboada — Independent
  27. Brazhon Thomas — Elgin Police Department
  28. Clarissa Valenzuela — Travis County Constable Pct. No. 2
  29. Christopher Vigee — Elgin Police Department
  30. Jimmy Zhen — San Marcos Police Department
CAPCOG announces criminal justice grant presentations
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Grants
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The CAPCOG Criminal Justice Program has announced that grant application presentations will take place on April 1, 2024, for the General Victim Services – Direct Service Program and Violence Against Women Justice and Training Program projects, followed by Criminal Justice Program and Truancy Prevention Program projects on April 2 and Juvenile Justice Program projects on April 3. This year applicants can select a preferred presentation time by following the link sent to them in a grant notification email.

The Office of the Governor routed 55 project applications, requesting $14.3 million across the four programs, to CAPCOG for review and prioritization as part of its Plan Year 2025 grant process. Last year, CAPCOG reviewed 50 applications requesting $15.2 million while the region’s budget estimate was about $10.7 million; the Office of the Governor ended up awarding 35 projects from the region $10.3 million. This year’s regional budget estimate is anticipated to be released later in March.

The CAPCOG Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (CJAC) will review the applications with the presentations accounting for one-fifth of their score before ranking the projects for prioritization. The CJAC may also ask applicants questions about their project during the presentations. After the CJAC prioritizes the projects, the CAPCOG Executive Committee will finalize the COG’s funding recommendation at its April 10 meeting and send those to the Office of the Governor for final approval.

Read more about the criminal justice grant process.

Read more about the criminal justice program.

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Air Quality Program prepared for new standard
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Articles, Planning
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decreased the annual national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) in February from 12 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) to 9 µg/m3. At least one county in the region is not currently meeting the new standard, but the region already is taking action to reduce the pollutant.

The only PM regulatory monitors in the region are in Travis County, and they have recorded between 9.1 and 10.3 µg/m3 PMs during the last decade a half, making it unlikely that the county’s levels will drop quickly enough for the county to remain in attainment of the NAAQS. It also is unknown if the other counties in the metropolitan statistical area — Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, and Williamson — will share Travis County’s attainment status or if they will be considered separately. While CAPCOG’s Air Quality Program and it’s Central Texas Clean Air Coalitions have focused on ground level ozone for 20 plus years, they began to combat PM pollution in 2021 when local governments adopted measures to start reducing the pollutant and CAPCOG received two EPA grants to monitor PM levels with eight new air quality monitors.

The PM monitors started collecting data in January and will provide a better understanding of how PM is created and travels throughout the region allowing local governments to target solutions. CAPCOG’s ground-level ozone history also could benefit a quick return to compliance as many of the reduction efforts are similar, such as incentivizing new technologies that are cleaner, adopting EVs, constructing more energy efficiency, and reducing vehicle and equipment engine runtimes. Residents can help reduce the pollution by decreasing drive time, ensuring vehicle and lawn equipment run properly or switching to electric equipment.

Go to AirCentralTexas.org to learn more about improving air quality.

Read more about the CAPCOG Air Quality Program.

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AAACAP brings families together for caregiver webinars
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Training
Click to read more about the caregiver workshop.

The Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area (AAACAP), a CAPCOG division, conducted two caregiver webinars about family members supporting each other while caring for their loved ones. A recording of one of the webinars is now available at capcog.org for families who could not attend.

“Caregiving and family dynamics can both be complex, and when you add them together stressors may mount even more,” said Shirley Trapani, AAACAP assistant director. “Through these webinars, we wanted to bring family caregivers new strategies about how to come to equitable decisions while developing an understanding that the needs of each caregiver may vary in the process.” The webinars were facilitated by clinical psychologist, family therapist and family caregiver advocate, Dr. Barry Jacobs who covered topics such as developing consensus among siblings, divvying up caregiving responsibilities fairly, and fostering trust. More than 50 people attended the two sessions, but AAACAP hopes other families can continue to learn from them by watching them online.

The webinars were made possible through funds from Changing the Care Conversation Grant from Funders at Grantmakers in Aging that was initially awarded to CAPCOG through the St. Davids Foundation on behalf of the Aging Services Council to work in conjunction with AAACAP to perform caregiver outreach for strengthening community caregiver support.

Learn more about AAACAP.

View the video on YouTube.

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Solar eclipse summit ties state, local plans together
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Planning
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The CAPCOG Homeland Security Division hosted state, regional and local public safety officials to discuss emergency preparedness plans and safety measures they are taking to support communities during the April 8, 2024 solar eclipse. More than 60 people from various agencies participated in the discussion which is helping develop regional planning efforts for the event.

“The total solar eclipse will have a significant impact on the region’s western communities, but every community in the region will experience an aspect of people attending the spectacle,” said Martin Ritchey, CAPCOG Homeland Security director. “It is important to prepare together and know what each other are doing to face the challenges the eclipse may bring.” It is anticipated that up to 720,000 people will visit Texas as the eclipse path travels across the state from Eagle Pass to Texarkana through Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Llano, Travis and Willaimson counties.

During the summit, state and regional agencies such as Texas Department of Transportation and the Texas Department of Public Safety State-Wide Interoperability Coordinator discussed how the state is planning to keep traffic moving along the smaller highways and how agencies are already testing and coordinating radio communications that may see a significant increase in usages as the visitor population booms. State and regional officials also addressed DPS trooper presence, emergency medical services ambulance usage, and area hospitals plans. Local organizations also shared information about their most recent preparedness plans, while CAPCOG urged communities to start logging their information into WebEOC, so assets and information is easier to share the day of the event.

CAPCOG will host a third Eclipse Planning Summit in March — date to be determined — virtually. The first summit was held in October and topic specific regional planning meetings have taken place between the first and second summits; such meetings will continue until April 8.

Learn more about the Homeland Security Division.

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CAPCOG Solid Waste Program funds collection projects
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Grants
Click to read about the CAPCOG Solid Waste Grant Program Grant Writing Workshop.

CAPCOG awarded 13 projects from around the region $274,000 to help fund household hazardous waste and community collection events along with other landfill diversion projects at its February Executive Committee meeting. The projects will take place during the 2024-25 biennium.

“These grants assist local governments in providing their residents with the means to help keep their homes, neighborhoods, and communities clean, beautiful and healthy,” said Ken May, CAPCOG Solid Waste program manager. Of the 13 projects, 12 received full funding and one received partial funding; the latter project could receive additional funding along with four other projects if programmatic savings are realized during the biennium. Ten of the projects were community and household hazardous waste collection events — such events collected 160 tons of material in 2022-23. The three remaining projects pertained to improving recycling operations.

A list of CAPCOG awarded projects can be viewed at https://www.capcog.org/transparency/transparency-reports/. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality still needs to give final approval, which is anticipated by the end of February. CAPCOG also will hold a grant management workshop in late March or early April for communities that will receive the funding.

Review the list of CAPCOG approved grants.

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TCEQ announces fueling facility program
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Grants
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The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) announced that $12 million is available for projects to construct or reconstruct natural gas, electric charging, and other alternative fuels fueling facilities within the Clean Transportation Zone, which includes seven counites in the CAPCOG region — Bastrop, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Travis and Williamson. The TCEQ funding opportunity has a 5 p.m. March 22 deadline.

The Alternative Fueling Facility Program, part of TCEQ’s Texas Emissions Reduction Plan, is available to individuals, state and local governments, corporations, or any other legal entities. The TCEQ has reserved $4 million for small businesses and noted that facilities open to the public will be considered before private facilities. Eligible alternative fuel types for projects include compressed natural gas, liquified natural gas, or a combination of the two; hydrogen; biodiesel; biodiesel blends; propane; electricity; and methanol — at least 85 percent by volume. Grants may reimburse a maximum of $400,000 for compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG) projects, $600,000 for projects combining CNG and LNG, or 50 percent of the total eligible project cost with a maximum of $600,000 for fuels other than natural gas such as electricity.

The TCEQ is conducting a 1 p.m., Jan. 30 webinar in English and a 3 p.m. Jan. 31 webinar in Spanish for those interested in applying to the program. Interested parties must register to attend by 5 p.m. the day before their preferred webinar.

Register for the English webinar.
Register for the Spanish webinar.
Read more about the Alternative Fueling Facility Program and apply.

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CAPCOG honors 2022 Air Central Texas Award Recipients
Posted on by mason canales Posted in Recognition
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CAPCOG and the Central Texas Clean Air Coalition (CAC) on Wednesday recognized Rich Segal, Dr. Peter Beck, Olivia Prior, Bill Gibbs, and Movability with its 2023 Air Central Texas awards. The awards celebrate the activities by organizations and individuals that have made significant contributions to the region’s air quality and inspire future actions to support the CAC’s ongoing regional air quality planning efforts.

Movability ​​received the 2023 Air Central Texas Outstanding Organization Award. It currently have 86 member organizations, representing roughly 30,000 employees. Through its work, these organizations offer commuter benefits and reduce demand for drive-alone trips and parking resources. Members have logged 7,500 commute trips a year, which has resulted in a 24-ton reduction in CO2, a 31.4 lb. reduction in NOX, and saved commuters roughly $34,000.

Rich Segal received the 2023 Air Central Texas Media Award for his exceptional media coverage of air quality or air quality issues within the past year as a meteorologist at KXAN. Segal has regularly announced Ozone Action Days, and highlighted the Be Air Smart School Sensor program, which is jointly run by Air Central Texas, the Clean Air Force and Austin FC.

Dr. Peter Beck received the 2023 Air Central Texas Environmental Education Award for his exceptional leadership on air quality and environmental education. Beck was an Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Policy (ENSP) at St. Edward’s University from 2003-2023. He was responsible for starting the ENSP program at St. Edward’s, which has taught thousands of students about the effects of environmental pollution on ecosystems and human communities, and the pros and cons of various policy solutions. He is being honored posthumously.

Olivia Prior received the 2023 Air Aware Student Leadership Award for her roles as the Governmental Affairs Director for Students for Sustainability and as a Senator for the Student Government Association at St. Edward’s University. In these leadership capacities, prior shares information about the importance of reducing air pollution during Ozone Action Days, the availability and impact of using public transportation, and how we can rethink transportation and commuting in Austin.

Bill Gibbs received the 2023 Bill Gill Central Texas Air Quality Leadership Award​ for his distinguished work as the Executive Director of the Clean Air Force of Central Texas. A lifelong advocate of sustainability, he committed to keeping air quality in Central Texas in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards so all can enjoy healthy air. As leader of the Clean Air Force, Gibbs reached out to local businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, and government agencies to bring them together as advocates for the reduction of air pollution.

Find additional details and photos at AirCentralTexas.org.

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