Executive Directors Conference Draft Agenda

Major Metros Meeting

Join your fellow executive directors from major metropolitan regional councils in a discussion of how they are responding to the surge in COVID-19 cases.    

Mobile Tour – Artist Boat Coastal Heritage Preserve

Optional, additional cost ($50.00).

Don your shorts, sunglasses, sunscreen, and comfortable close-toe shoes for an epic island adventure to Galveston’s premier Coastal Heritage Preserve on the West End of Galveston Island. Board the island shuttle with Karla Klay, Executive Director of Artist Boat, for a personal tour of the Downtown and Seawall as you make your way to the Preserve to observe the wildlife, wetlands, and coastal prairie of this 690-acre conservation area. Enjoy a walking tour of the boardwalk, Bird Observatory, nature trails, and Kayak Pavilion as you learn how Artist Boat has implemented a program to promote awareness and preservation of coastal habitats and the marine environments through science and art. 

Welcome to the Region 

Chuck Wemple and the Houston-Galveston Area Council welcome you to the region.  

Rapid-Fire Innovations 

Share with your colleagues (in two minutes or less) a new project, study, revenue enhancement, or other innovation your regional council is pursuing. Handouts and other materials are welcomed but not required.  

Facilitator:   

Ty Warner, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission 

Networking Lunch

This is your opportunity to network with your fellow executive directors over lunch. 

Housing Affordability  

Housing stocks are dwindling and prices are escalating, making it increasingly difficult for lower- and middle-income persons to find affordable housing that is adequate and safe. Learn from two of your colleagues what they are doing to create affordable housing in their regions.  

Speakers:   

Josh Brown, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council 

William Murdock, Executive Director of the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission 

Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Session 

GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 10,000 cities and local governments to reduce annual emissions by 2.3 billion tons of CO2 by 2030. Representatives from GCoM will share what they are doing and how your organization can become a part of the covenant. 

Speakers:   

Chuck Bean, Executive Director of the Washington Metropolitan Planning Council of Governments  

Lauren Palmer, Director of Local Government Services at Mid-America Regional Council 

Unconference 

You set the agenda for this session!  

Prior to the session, attendees will be prompted to suggest discussion topics. Attendees will vote on their favorite topics and those topics will be used for several roundtable exchanges. Each roundtable will be led by the person who suggested that table’s topic. Participants will be free to attend whichever sessions interest them and can move between groups if they would like. 

Facilitator:  

Ryan Vogt, Executive Director of Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments 

Importance of Juneteenth  

Presentation followed by App-guided self tour of important Juneteenth sites. Plan to incorporate networking happy hour and dinner plans along the tour path. Golf carts available to rent for tour, if desired. 

The Houston Region Welcome

The Texas Association of Regional Councils’ 24 Regional Councils help local governments find common ground across Texas to find solutions to pressing problems.  A panel of four organizations will highlight some of their innovative programs across regional boundaries.

Talking Economic Resilience with the Economic Development Administration  

Millions of jobs remain lost due to the pandemic, and the Economic Development Administration (EDA) offers regions an unprecedented opportunity to invest in communities with funds from the American Rescue Plan.  We are delighted to welcome US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo to share EDA’s vision for a more resilient future and the opportunities they are offering to make that vision a reality.

Speaker:  The Honorable Alejandra Y. Castillo, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development 

Infrastructure and Recovery Funding: What’s in it for Regions and MPOs 

Congress is on the cusp of providing historic, once-in-a-generation multi-trillion-dollar funding to support a wide swath of the nation’s infrastructure. In two pieces of legislation – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, which includes reauthorization of the surface transportation program, and a reconciliation package – Congress would bring unprecedented levels of spending to states and localities to help address regional priorities in a number of crucial areas. NARC staff will present what is in these bills, what it means for MPOs and other regional organizations, and the bills’ prospects for passage. 

Facilitator: Erich Zimmermann, Deputy Director/Director of Transportation Programs National Association of Regional Councils